SCCA STR 370z Progress Thread.... It can be done!

[MIKE_STR]

Ok... a lot going on since race season hit again in Utah.

New Parts:

GTM 8 quart capacity oil pan...





Nice piece. Seemed like a better value than just doing the oil pan spacer modification. There currently isn't an allowance in the ST rule set that lets me install an oil cooler. So, an extra large finned aluminum oil pan seemed like the best way to control oil temps.

Once the car has been running for awhile..., it doesn't really make a difference temperature wise. However, it takes a lot longer for the oil temperatures to get to 220 degrees now. I never saw anything over 220 down in California... which was nice. It looks like oil coolers are on the agenda for 2015 (FINALLY). So, maybe the SCCA will get with the times. Until then, this is a good solution.

I got the car tuned @ Specialty Z in Chatsworth, CA. Sebastian is a great guy. Great customer service and a quality experience.

Current Power Modifications:
3" Custom Single Exhaust
Berk High Flow Cats
Z1 Intake Silicone Intake Pipes
K&N Drop-in Filters.

Here's the Dyno in 4th Gear:


Here's the 5th Gear, Money Pull, 1:1...


El Toro Pro Solo Results...

http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/...lToroFinal.pdf

Yes, I finished 15 out of 18 competitors. Now I just have to find out why...

WHY?!

Simple really... I could always drive better. That's a given.

Secondly, the car had gobs of power that I couldn't use. What a hand full! I really was on the wrong tires as well. I had switched this spring to the BFG Rivals (245/40/18) because no one seems to make a 255/40... except, of course, for the Yokohama ADO8R.

Why switch to the 245/40? Gearing. The car has tons of power. The 255/35 Hankook RS3's that I had been using previously were like rubber bands. As a result the gearing was limited in 2nd gear. With the 255/35 and a 7500 rpm redline, the top speed in 2nd gear was about 62mph. With the 245/40 its about 64ish.

The extra speed in 2nd gear wasn't worth the less tire. I should have known that. However, you'll learn through reading this thread that I make a lot of dumb decisions which ultimately lead to me loosing my *** at every event I attend.

Next tire, if I stay in STR, will be the ADO8R in 255/40/18. Best of both worlds... just $350 more a set... *sigh*

I also think my spring rates are too high. The gentleman driving the ultra fast BSP 350z pointed this out earlier... in this actual thread. Why don't I listen to people? The car really didn't seem to have enough lateral grip. Obviously tires are an issue.. but I think a slightly softer spring front/rear will help with the grip and ultimately putting power down "better".

Luckily, I already have sets of 12k, 14k, 16k, and 18k springs. I currently have 18k on the front and 14k on the rear. I'm going to try 16k front and 12k rear.

Honestly, I've just about given up on STR. I synced one of my left side videos with a left side video that Brian Peters, the living legend, posted on facebook.

Now, this isn't scientific... but based off the sync, he put about half a second on me just in the launch shoot. Then, about another 2/10ths exiting the first pinch, about a half a second exiting the large sweeper, and by the time we reach the last element... about another second. The lines driven look to be the same. The biggest difference is the power delivery. Every where I need to put down power he's putting time on me.

My Sunday Runs:
El Toro 2014 Sunday Runs - YouTube

Peters Video...


This course was a very "flowy" course. The no power wonder MX5's never even had to lift... Neither did STX for that matter. I don't think Max Hayter hit the brakes in his BRZ more than once on course. Once those cars get moving... they're so damn good at speed maintenance.

So..., I decided to buy a set of 18x11" wheels and do some NASA events locally. I still plan on doing some local autoX events in STR. However, until I can literally kill the local competition, it's not worth spending all that money to go get pounded at a National level.

[Rangerz]

[\QUOTE]
So..., I decided to buy a set of 18x11" wheels and do some NASA events locally. I still plan on doing some local autoX events in STR. However, until I can literally kill the local competition, it's not worth spending all that money to go get pounded at a National level.[/QUOTE]

Mike you going to run next weekends HPDE at Miller?

[MIKE_STR]

Originally Posted by Rangerz

[\QUOTE]
So..., I decided to buy a set of 18x11" wheels and do some NASA events locally. I still plan on doing some local autoX events in STR. However, until I can literally kill the local competition, it's not worth spending all that money to go get pounded at a National level.

Mike you going to run next weekends HPDE at Miller?[/QUOTE]

I'm planning on it. Just tooling around for now. I still have a lot of work to do to the car. I'm going to post some pics soon of the 18x11" wheels.

This might turn into an ASP/ NASA build thread... lol.

[Rangerz]

Originally Posted by MIKE_STR

Mike you going to run next weekends HPDE at Miller?

I'm planning on it. Just tooling around for now. I still have a lot of work to do to the car. I'm going to post some pics soon of the 18x11" wheels.

This might turn into an ASP/ NASA build thread... lol.[/QUOTE]

Sweet, we need some more Z's. What group will you be in ? I'll be 3,4 and TT