The Z Car Garage Drag Racing Series returns for 2010. Z Car Garage (www.zcargarage.com) is hosting a drag competition for all-years of Zs, Gs, and Datsuns at Sears Point (Infineon) Raceway. Come join us for a few nights of fun and Z-ing “in a straight line”. Walt (Fowlman) won the last series in his supercharged 350Z. There will be one event per month starting April 7th and continuing through November 11th assuming the weather cooperates with us.

Generally, the Wednesday Night Drags events are held at Sears Point Raceway on most Wednesday nights during the year. The gates open at 3:30 and racing is from 5-10pm. One typically gets a few practice (non-competitive) runs in before the racing starts assuming you get there early. All the information you need about the track and racing itself is located here: http://www.infineonraceway.com/racew…y_night_drags/

Prizes!
1st Place: One Pair of New BF Goodrich Drag Radials courtesy of Z Car Garage
2nd Place: $100.00 Gift Certificate at Z Car Garage

Points:
Sears Point Wednesday events are bracket racing. If you show up early, each driver gets 4 or 5 practice runs before the sessions begin. This is a competition of skill, not of speed, so come show off even if you’re SLOW!

1 point: Once the sessions begin, each time you advance
(Sears Point staff puts a smiley face on your slip), you get one point. The goal is to NOT run against each other until absolutely necessary (i.e. everyone stages in the same lane until the final brackets)

3 points: Runner-up (loss in the finals) – trophy awarded

5 points: Winner of class – trophy awarded

Points are only valid on the dates ZCG goes to Infineon (4/7, May, June, July, August, September, October, possibly November). I’ll update this post as we set the dates for future months.

All competitors must sign waiver @ Z Car Garage before entering competition (or sign at track and give to Rob).

We are shooting for 7 April as the first event in the series, but stay tuned here, and join your fellow Datsun and Nissan enthusiasts for some friendly, safe, and legal racing!

Hello Z Car fans!

I can’t believe its been 6 years!  ZCG will celebrate its 6th birthday on April 7th 2010.  Its been a great ride with lots of Z cars and good times.   Zonc will be joining us to host our Dyno day celebration.   See the details below.

This blog entry comes from Bill N.  Z33 Driver…Enjoy

I am registered for Hooked On Driving’s Friday 3/12 track day at Thunderhill Raceway Park and would love to have other Datsuns and Nissans there. Been wanting to give it a try? Then sign up! Not quite ready to do a track day? Come on up and check it out! Visitors are always welcome. If you come, please find my car in the paddock and say hello.

Thunderhill is a blast to drive and is also one of the safer tracks around, with lots of wide open spaces if you happen to exit the asphalt (which rarely happens with HOD’s excellent coaches on board).

Below is a photo from my last Thunderhill event back in September. The 1972 240Z next to my Z33 was used to help develop the ZCG 240Z brake upgrade. David Ray, Hooked on Driving founder and former 240Z and 350Z racer, helped with the testing. Click here for the article. ZCG and the owner did an awesome restoration job. This car is gorgeous.

Here is a video clip from the event. At the time, the car was still on stock brakes and street tires. Lots of tire noise and early braking!

Video Clip – 9/18/09 – HOD at Thunderhill

Hello Z car fans,

As ZCG gets ready to leave for the ZONC Hearst Castle Cruise, we have a Blog entry from Bill (a Z car fan and spirited driver).  He gives us a full report from his last track day at Infineon Raceway.  Have a great weekend and don’t forget your Valentine’s day card for your special someone.

Long live the Z

Rawb

The photos and videos are from Hooked on Driving’s January 27th track day at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.

This 2003 350Z Touring model has seen a handful of track days. It started going to the track on the stock 1-piston brakes and street tires with only a few upgrades: Stillen dual exhaust and AEM cold air intake. Recently added (from ZCG) were StopTech’s small front and rear brake kits with Performance Friction 97 pads. This was the car’s first event on track tires: 245/40-18 BF Goodrich g-Force R1s on the original 18″ wheels. Track tires with tire pressure monitors! The car is otherwise stock (with heated leather seats to take the chill out of winter track days). Despite the upgrades, this is not a track-only car. After swapping back to street tires, it handles the daily commute to and from work.

Infineon is a very technical track, which is challenging but makes for a lot of fun. It has elevation changes, two hairpin turns and the famous esses. The track was wet in the morning. There were a few spins and other incidents, including this car’s slide off the pavement at turn 3a (notice the mud on the left front tire). Nothing hurt but the driver’s pride. A wet track really helps a driver learn to be smooth, a very important part of going fast when the track is dry.

The sun came out in the afternoon and speeds went up. The driver reports that the tires are great, but the StopTech brakes are amazing! With the track pads and regular bleeding with high-performance fluid, they haul the car down from speed over and over without a hint of fade; a huge increase in braking performance over the stock brakes.

This video is from the last session of the day in the intermediate group. It starts out with a few laps of lead-follow with an Audi S4. This run group started out small and by this session, many drivers had packed up for the day, leaving very little traffic. Gotta love having room to roam!

Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv4Md5XmSpw

Video Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOXHgn8PCUs

Hooked on Driving, a longtime ZONC supporter, is well known for putting on quality track events. With a strong emphasis on education and safety, it’s a great place for beginners to get started. The event prices include a catered lunch and individual coaching for beginning through advanced drivers. At noon, the coaches fire up their own cars and give beginners hot laps around the track. Big fun! Their web site, www.hookedondriving.com, has lots of information and videos for first-timers.

Even though most of this blog’s track day posts feature modified cars, a stock Z33 is a great track car if properly prepped. Track prep is not complicated. It includes checking the wheel bearings, lug nut torque, belts and hoses. It might also include replacing old brake fluid to help the brakes handle the higher temperatures generated on the track. ZCG can take care of prepping your car for the track.

Please note that in addition to providing full-service maintenance and upgrades, ZCG can also supply parts for do-it-yoursefers. This car’s StopTech brakes were sourced from ZCG and installed by the owner.

Mid–February can only mean two things, don’t forget to get your special someone a Valentine’s day card and get your Z car prepped for the ZONC Hearst Castle cruise.

Here are the details as a reminder…