Moderators: Mike Simanyi, Leonard Cachola
and kinda got a feel of whats what but, I won't really know til I get out there and "dunk my junk".
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Jon,Jon Nishikuni wrote:Hi All,
Just want to say hey and looking forward to doing Solo 2 events with you all. I'm a total newbie to the sport but I've talked to some people and watched the YouTube vids
Anyways, I drive a '04 350Z daily driver. My number is #149 and I'm with Club No$(thanks Thomas!). Keep an eye out for me at El Toro. I'll be the one with the question mark floating above my head
laterz,
Jon Nishikuni
Jon - what mods have you done to your car?Jon Nishikuni wrote:Hi DocBrown!
I was going through the rule book to try and class my car and CST seemed to fit except my tires are much higher than the 140 treadwear limits. I think next season I'll invest in some softer tires.
Jon,Jon Nishikuni wrote:Hi DocBrown!
Wow, a fellow Z driver! I'm surprised that there's not too many of us in here huh? Maybe the other Z drivers are into the sideways stuff. That's pretty popular now. Doc, thanks for the advice. I really could use all that I can get. I have zero seat time so I'm pretty much trying to be like a sponge soaking everything up. It is alot too! I also think I entered my car in the wrong classification. I was going through the rule book to try and class my car and CST seemed to fit except my tires are much higher than the 140 treadwear limits. I think next season I'll invest in some softer tires. Oh well, we'll get a good chuckle when I line up to run. Maybe the techs will re-class my car into the proper classification? I'm not too worried about it, I just don't want to break any rules. Just do my best and have a blast doing it. It'll be "baptism by fire".
Doc, I pre registered for the El Toro event. I'll look for you there.
Thanks again,
Jon
Hi KJ,KJ Christopher wrote: Jon - what mods have you done to your car?
Hey Mako, wow, looked like Z heaven. I'll have to keep an eye out for the next one. Thanks!Mako Koiwai wrote:You missed the Motorsport Z Auto Cross a few months ago: http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2009-a ... uto-cross/
Art Rinner, owner of Sunrise Z garage in Glendale is our big "classic" Z rep in CSCC: http://www.sunrisez.net/
Jon Nishikuni wrote:Hi KJ,KJ Christopher wrote: Jon - what mods have you done to your car?
The mods I've done are limited slip diff,coilovers, wider tires and wheels and JWT pop charger air filter.
Jon
Hi DocBrown,Dennis R. Brown, DDS wrote: Jon,
If you registered on Axware you can change your registration to Novice. You will be overmatched in CST (there is a Silverstone Z that races in that class already). As long as your tires are over 140 (I believe), and your mods are limited you will be fine in Stock or the Street Tire classes, running as a Novice. Your first year should be to improve the driver, and then you can improve your car after that first year of experience. Like KJ asked, what mods have you already done, but also can those mods be removed for now until you progress further?
Doc you are up late huh? Me too but I'm at work right now. LOL. Well, my wheels are 18's but 9.5 w/255 front and 10's w/275 in the back. It's a 'Base' model so not close to stock size anymore. I will definitely go to the Novice classification and ask for an instructor ride along.Dennis R. Brown, DDS wrote:
The JWT Pop Charger is ok for stock, the wheels may be ok if the 18" and probably no more than 9" wide. If you are running 265 in the back and 225-245 in the front you should be ok b/c I believe that is in the allowable limit of the stock 350Z wheels. That is if you are in a Touring or Track model because they come with 18 inch wheels. The LSD and the coilovers are going to be problem for Stock. If your tires are rated 140+ you should consider running in the Street Tire class (SK2 I believe). However, make sure you run in the Novice class so you can take full benefit of the Instructors. As a Novice you can run in the Novice class for a full year, which gives you the use of Instructors during every event. The Instructor will run your car the first time through the course to show you the line. The second time through the Instructor will ride shotgun and evaluate your run. You can opt to have the Instructor ride with you for the rest of your runs. Using the Instructors is like getting several hundred dollars of private lessons for free, or at least that is the way one of the Instructors put it to me.
So good luck, and I'll see you at El Toro. Feel free to ask any more questions between now and then. Everyone here at CSCC SOLO is very helpful.
Then there was the gal that peed her pants ... Mako, I will definitey take full advantage of the instructor ride alongs. I won't have to worry about peeing in my pants, cuz us guys just crap in ours!Mako Koiwai wrote:>>>Instructor Ride Along<<<
You will want one of our many Instructors to drive you around. Most Newbs reaction to being driven is, "Wow ... I didn't know my car could do that!?
Experiencing what can be done with your car will give you a lot of confidence in it, and really help get you going. We regularly take turns driving each others cars ... and don't abuse them. When you see a Multi National Champ like Ken M take many seconds off your best time, while starting oh so gently, it makes you wonder how much faster he could be if he did use the clutch a bit harder.
The LSD and coilovers take you out of stock and SK1. (As will the wheels if they are other than stock size and w/in .25" offset and the air filter if it doesn't fit in the stock housing.)Jon Nishikuni wrote:Hi KJ,KJ Christopher wrote: Jon - what mods have you done to your car?
The mods I've done are limited slip diff,coilovers, cat-back exhaust, wider tires and wheels and JWT pop charger air filter.
Jon
The added LSD would only take you out of stock class if it wasn't a line-item factory option. If it was part of a package, then the ENTIRE package would have to be installed, including the LSD. Also, it has to be an OEM LSD for that year's Z, not an aftermarket one. For example, if you have a Base 350Z and the LSD only came with the Sport model, you would have to add all the parts that are additional in the Sport model to the Base model.KJ Christopher wrote: The LSD and coilovers take you out of stock and SK1. (As will the wheels if they are other than stock size and w/in .25" offset and the air filter if it doesn't fit in the stock housing.)
I'm assuming you have an aftermarket LSD, since I hear that the stock one sucks rocks.Leonard Cachola wrote:The added LSD would only take you out of stock class if it wasn't a line-item factory option. If it was part of a package, then the ENTIRE package would have to be installed, including the LSD. Also, it has to be an OEM LSD for that year's Z, not an aftermarket one. For example, if you have a Base 350Z and the LSD only came with the Sport model, you would have to add all the parts that are additional in the Sport model to the Base model.KJ Christopher wrote: The LSD and coilovers take you out of stock and SK1. (As will the wheels if they are other than stock size and w/in .25" offset and the air filter if it doesn't fit in the stock housing.)
KJ, I won't be able to fit the stock category due to the mods I've done to the car. After reading all your guys posts, thank you very much by the way, I really appreciate the help, I went back and double checked the class requirements and yes, I do fit the STU or CST class. Wheel and tire size was the main cutoff point between STX and STU. For tires STX(2WD)-265 mm and STU(2WD)-285 mm tires. For Wheels STX (2WD)- 9" and STU- unlimited. I'm rolling on 275's wrapped on 10's. LSD is "STX, STU: 2WD vehicles may use any LSD unit". So, I have to go with STU or CST and after looking at the roster for STU maybe better I stay in CST. I hear those Subbies are pretty sticky with the AWD! Hopefully the guys in CST aren't forced induction.KJ Christopher wrote: The LSD and coilovers take you out of stock and SK1. (As will the wheels if they are other than stock size and w/in .25" offset and the air filter if it doesn't fit in the stock housing.)
I'm not entirely familiar with the STU rules, but you might qualify for our local SST class, depending on wheel size (and if the LSD is allowable. I can't keep straight on the ST* rules). CST also works, since it is a run-what-you-brung local class.
It did state that air intake system up to but not including the engine inlet may be modified or replaced, but, I'm not sure if CST is their way around this. I'll be indexing myself as novice anyways so hopefully I won't take too bad a thrashing. It's all for the rush anyway. Hi Leonard, yeah the mods took me out of stock class completely. LSD is after market. So no way for stock class. I'll be running CST but indexed as Novice. It'll be fun.Leonard Cachola wrote:The added LSD would only take you out of stock class if it wasn't a line-item factory option. If it was part of a package, then the ENTIRE package would have to be installed, including the LSD. Also, it has to be an OEM LSD for that year's Z, not an aftermarket one. For example, if you have a Base 350Z and the LSD only came with the Sport model, you would have to add all the parts that are additional in the Sport model to the Base model.KJ Christopher wrote: The LSD and coilovers take you out of stock and SK1. (As will the wheels if they are other than stock size and w/in .25" offset and the air filter if it doesn't fit in the stock housing.)
Doc, I can't wait for El Toro!!!Dennis R. Brown, DDS wrote:The Leonard that is responding to your post is the Leonard I advise you to use as your instructor. I've learned much from every instructor, but I think Leonard is the best overall Instructor I've had the pleasure to learn from. A very close second would be KJ because he runs in the same class as me, B Stock, and it's great to see how someone from the same class drives the course. KJ was my instructor for the June Solo, and I'm not sure if he's ever driven a Z before, but he beat my best time that day, IN MY OWN CAR, by almost 4 seconds.
It's very easy to get disillusioned and down on yourself when you see the times some of these guys are able to post (especially when they are drive your car and not there's!!!). Another piece of advice I would give to you before you start your Soloing is to stick with it, even when it seems like you are doing terrible. To get good at anything, you need lots and lots of practice. You WILL be discouraged with your times, and you will question whether you will ever be good enough to compete. However, just keep trying and get as much seat time as you can. Become a student of the sport, and learn as much as you can, that is the only way you will get better. Another thing to remember is the fact that we compete in the TOUGHEST SOLO REGION in the entire country. We probably have over a dozen Solo National Champs in our region, and several of those Nat'l Champs are several times over. In fact, in my B Stock class, I have to compete against Jason Isley, whom I believe won the B Stock Championship 6 years in a row (2003-2008). If you become good enough to post times close to, or better than, some of these guys in our region, you could probably go to another region and do VERY WELL.
Hi Mike, so, It will be ok to stay in CST class indexed as Novice? And don't be surprised to see me get out and run laps around my car after my first run too!Mike Simanyi wrote:Your Z is not eligible for STU, but if the addons comply with the STU rules you definitely qualify for two of our local class SST, which adopts the STU rules, as well as another local class, CST.
Both classes will be very quick. Don't be discouraged by your results or embarrassed to join us. You *will* have a blast. I remember the first time I drove - slowly - my adrenaline rush was so overwhelming that I almost couldn't walk.
Mike