SCCA Solo Nationals F Prepared Z has Still Got It!

[jmortensen]

Tom, you going to post some videos on your website? We'd love to see 'em.

Oh, and congratulations!!!

[Red-Eye]

This was the biggest showing in FP in a long time and we had a wide range of makes and models but the Z's were the most dominant taking 4 of the 6 trophies. I was a great time. I have a few pics of the complete FP field that I can post as soon as I get them resized a bit.

Tom

Great Job! Looking forward to your pics...Robert

[XelderX]

I was out there and got to see the FP Z guys drive by a few times. I was running in FSP and didn't get to see any of the Z's run though.

[tholt29]

I posted some pics of the FP class in grid. No action shots and no video yet... I have to get those from other folks. Click on my screen name and select to view my gallery. Nothing too exciting... If you look in the photo details I have the names of the drivers.

Tom

[preith]

Good pics. I didn't notice Don Bunt in the standings and was quite surprised to see his EP car in your pics. It was featured in SCCA's Sports Car when the Z was first being re-introduced to the production ranks in '98. It was a major source of motivation for me.

[26th-Z]

These scans from the latest issue of Sportscar magazine

[jmark]

Z cars dominated FP!

[cking769]

How much does it cost to set up a z car to this level? Motor, interior, chassis customization, bracing... Thats some amazing work. Are there any shops that can get a car most of the way there?

I hope this isn't too irreverant to post these qus here.

VR,

Steve

[TomoHawk]

I thought FP was a production class? I usually go in ES

[tholt29]

Well Steve... as the completely overused line goes on cost... 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it'. Okay maybe it's not that bad.

First off the FP we are discussing is autocrossing's F Prepared, not road racings F Production (where Z's are not legal). The prepared rules evolved from the production rules a long time ago and within the last 10 years there has been a focused effort make the Prepared rules completely independent of the production and GT rules. So technically speaking FP is a production based class, but the Prepared rules stilll allow cars prepped up to the GT rules (full tube frame cars with fiberglass bodies) to compete in Prepared with a 10% weight penalty. There are only a few cars prepped "in excess" of the Prepared rules and they are primarily in the V8 classes (CP and the now defunct BP). As far as FP goes we have the occasional GT2 car run at Nationals but they are typically not a threat for the win.

Comparing F Prepared to E Production, the Z's road racing class, FP has much more open rules. In FP compression and cams are unrestricted, as is carburetion or fuel injection (thats new for'07). I believe EP allows Z's to run up to 12:1 compression and they must run SU carbs. Comparing an EP motor to an FP motor would probably show similar HP numbers but you will see a lot more torque on the FP cars starting a lot lower in the RPMs. Another big difference is in the wheels... I believe EP isliimited to 15x7" wheels and FP is limited to 16x10" wheels with no penalty and up to 12" wide wheels with a 100 lb penalty. There are many other differences but those are the biggest.

Getting on to cost, to quote another overused line, "how fast can you afford to go?" I bought my car fully built( but kind of tired) about 14 years ago for $5250. When it was first sold as a national champion car in '88 or '89 it sold for about $8500. I got a good deal. To build nationally competitive car from scratch, would be well over $10,000.

Here is a rough list to duplicate my car:

14:1 Engine (long block only) professionally built ~$5000+

triple carbs on ebay probably $1000

16x10" alloy wheels $1600 +

New 22x10x16 Hoosier slicks $1200 (plan on 2 sets a year)

Roll Cage - $300 in materials + $500 or more for installation if you don't weld

A good seat $200

good racing shocks $1600 or more

Limited slip diff $500?

A small fuel cell $200 (112 octane gas is about $7.50/gallon now)

Racing radiator $200

gauges $500

lexan windows/windsheild $100

Fiberglass hood and fender flares $800

A decent paint job $1000

Pimpy flame decals and numbers $100 if you have a friend with the equipment

A gazillion other details I left out ~$1000

So to build my car would probably cost about $15,000, assuming you have a rolling chassis. The donor car is usually the cheapest part of the puzzle. That all being said, I've been beat by guys in cars that had less than $5000 in them. Autocrossing is at least as much driver talent as it is car prep, and i am only moderately talented...

Hope that answers all of your questions! It should... cuz I feel like I just wrote a novel! Let me know if you want to know more. I'm always happy to see interest and growth in the class!

Tom

[26th-Z]

I was surprised to see your figure as low as it is, Tom, but you hit all the high points including the two "grand statements"! I would comment to throw in the cost of a trailer and tow vehicle, spare wheels and tires, supplies. F Prepared today is very much like what F Production was to me years ago when Zs were in C Production. I marvel at what it would cost me to go road racing today. Good answer!

[TomoHawk]

According to the SCCA list, it has the 280Z if the E stock class even, which is very similar to the production clas, IMO.

http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/Lists/2006/stockc.html#ES