Bathurst In December

[260DET]

The regularity time has been reduced from 2.40, to 2.36 I think but would have to check that to make sure of the exact time.

Most of us who are doing regularity normally do sprints but the general consensus is that, particularly for first timers like me, the Bathurst experience is the most important thing. It's not like we will be going slow, my V8 Zed should be capable of 260kph there with a 3.69 diff. One of our lot who is quite experienced has a race prepared 370Z, he intends to do the sprints.

[hrd-hr30]

Hope the groups do work out well and the traffic problems I'm imagining don't happen - it's just too much money for me to take the risk. I don't have the money now anyway - just bought another car and the Soarer's up for sale.

Is the V8 up and running now Richard?

[260DET]

What have you bought now Harry? Hard to keep up with your purchases

Sorting out the TCU (transmission control unit) is just about done now for the Z, what a PITA that has been. But I love the result, it would not suit everyone but it suits me and it's bloody fast.

[hrd-hr30]

pretty much the exact opposite of a Soarer - SW20 MR2 with Camry 3VZ-FE 3.0 V6, light flywheel, Quaiffe diff, coilovers... slower, but I imagine it will be far more "involving" to drive Only had it for a day, but it's an event just driving it in traffic - can't wait to get it out on some decent roads this weekend!

Edited April 15, 2016 by hrd-hr30

[zebra]

Any good bits on the soarer harry?

[hrd-hr30]

Nothing much: Torsen, BC coilovers (I changed the front spring rate), stainless exhaust, FMIC, transmission cooler, HKS SLD & FCD, 18x9.5 and 10.5s

Series II, Black on black - so no horrible multi-tone brown or green interior... but pov pack cloth trim, no sunroof. SAAS fixed position drivers seat and JZA80 passenger seat (stock seats included). Pretty average paint and some no f**ks given hacks for track cooling and stuff... Mechanically A1 $4800 as it is, but I might pull some bits out of it and throw a stock front bar on before selling it a little cheaper - plywood ducting may not be for everyone...

Edited April 15, 2016 by hrd-hr30

[260DET]

A MR2 eh Harry, you like a handling challenge, looks like you have one right there

[Dale FZ1]

A MR2 eh Harry, you like a handling challenge, looks like you have one right there

We didn't struggle "too much" with setting one up to handle respectably.

The challenge is in adapting to driving them correctly. Rear weight bias changes things, but there's enough video of Porsche 911 and Lancia 037 on gravel to show what rear engine cars can do.

[hrd-hr30]

I think the handling 'issues' are a common misconception. Proper motoring journos (ie the ones who could drive - like Tiff Needell) raved about them when they were first released, and they were untouchable in their class (NA sports cars) at Bathurst's 12hr Production car races - even ending up with a 4th outright.

[260DET]

Sounds like it should go well Harry, sub 60 second Lakeside laps easy.

[hrd-hr30]

lol I may have neglected to mention it got it's 4th outright mainly through fuel economy and not having to change brake pads like all the big powerful cars.

Stock Camry power is not going to get anywhere near 60 sec! And that's not what the car's about anyway. It's about the rorty NA engine, razor sharp handling, and enjoying a totally different driving experience.

[260DET]

Lol the 'razor sharp handling' and any twin cam three litre engine in a smallish modern chassis adds up to good lap times, there have been a few under 60 sec Lakeside laps done by older inferior spec cars as you well know Harry so the expectations are high and the pressure is on Don't cop out by using crappy tyres either, I'm watching.

[hrd-hr30]

you've got no idea... It's just a 200bhp mid 90s 3VZ Camry motor. Power to weight is about the same as an 86. They've got pretty sharp handling too. With suspension setup by the best - MCA, and Josh Coote driving, they run 63s. I'll be happy around that.

And crappy tyres are my trademark! So you're going to be dissapointed

But it's not really about Lakeside, or any other track for that matter. It's just for the fun of it, and for the totally different driving experience of a small, light(ish), rorty naturally aspirated mid engined car.

[260DET]

63's!!! Old Zed cars do that, the very best do under 60's. The best driving experiences I've ever had were when pushing it around Lakeside, street driving has no comparison, you must be getting soft Harry

[260DET]

Latest on the topic has 300+ drivers registered with the organiser of which 49 are on the Z Car Club Q regularity list. So, as expected, this event is 'selling out' quickly. If want to get on the Z list then I suggest you contact Dave toot sweet.

[hrd-hr30]

63's!!! Old Zed cars do that, the very best do under 60's. The best driving experiences I've ever had were when pushing it around Lakeside, street driving has no comparison, you must be getting soft Harry

Funny - it takes some Zeds that weigh less than this MR2 over 450rwbhp to just barely sneak into a 59 on one single lap ever... Not to mention expensive MCA suspension, aero and years and years of trying...

And the old "280Z" cheater spec race car Zed that held the Class S sportscar lap record ran a best of 64, and it just sold for approximately 12 times the cost of this everyday road car MR2...

The only two old Zeds powered by Datsun motors to ever break 60 sec both have 3.3l $30K motors alone and needed super soft slick tyres to do it...

Edited April 22, 2016 by hrd-hr30

[260DET]

Plenty of average spec Zeds doing 63's though Harry, costs can't be compared because a pretty ordinary standard Zed will bring ~$15k and it costs a lot just to bring one up to specs that all modern cars have except for their good stiff chassis.

When I heard of the best time the 86 you mention did I was pretty suprised, thought it would do better than that. Lol at the '280Z', I used to rubbish him for being one of the slowest Zeds out there but Lakeside is a lot about the driver and maintaining momentum as you well know.

[hrd-hr30]

Plenty of average spec Zeds doing 63's though Harry

There should be - hundreds of kilos lighter and capable of as much power as the MR2 easily, with cheap easy 'average' brake upgrades etc, but there's certainly not "plenty". Unless 2 or 3 counts as plenty in your books... and by average, you mean only the fastest of the state's Zeds that are basically race cars...

Edited April 25, 2016 by hrd-hr30

[260DET]

86's are pretty good, I hung onto one for a lap and a bit with the crappy running Zed the other day at Morgan Park, it was a Neal Bates 86 race series spec one and being driven by Glenn Seton, boy am I dropping some names here lol. Anyway, it's handling and acceleration showed no sign of it being over weight or having any other impediment, went like a 60 second Lakeside lap car in my humble............ Only sorry that I didn't have the incar camera going.

[hrd-hr30]

edit: nevermind...

but now my MR2 road car should 'easily' be faster than the lighter, more powerful 86 race car with a Pro driver...

Edited April 25, 2016 by hrd-hr30