JGTC Racing

[Zrush]

I've just recently started to see a few programs dedicated to this type of Japanese racing called "JGTC". I heard that this Japanese racing will be making it's US debut at the California Speedway on December 18th & 19th of this year. Along with other auto manufacturers, the big three are Nissan with the 350Z, Toyota with the Supra and Honda with their top of the line race car, don't know the name, NRX (?). Anyway, I know we don't dicuss the 350Z here but from what I been watching that's the car to beat. Anyone know more about this type to Japanese racing that's soon to come to America. I'm very interested and would love to know more.


Vicky

[26th-Z]

Here you go, Vicky. Check out this site
http://www.jgtc.net/
Make sure to watch the promo movie

[PrOxLaMuS©]

yeh...

the JGTC is going to be HUGE in USA soon...
they never air it on SpeedTV here in America.. well.. maybe once every few months...


but sweet cars... and much more interesting than our GT class races...

a twin turbo 350Z and 500HP Skyline's racing Ferrari's and Lambo's are much more exciting than a Cadilac V8 racing a BMW.

[26th-Z]

You are welcome, Vicky! That is a cool site. Not to worry about the Japanese - just cruise the site for the pictures! When I was at the national convention, Katayama san gave me a commemorative pin for the 350Z win in the first round. My mind has really come around to appreciating the 350Z pocket rocket.

I'm pretty sure SpeedVision is broadcasting the whole series. Hope it does well in America, however I have my doubts.

[Zrush]

Previous JGTC info for Victor


Vicky

[jmark]

I think it would be huge here.

[26th-Z]

I want to thank Ben for posting his pictures and express my envy. I hope you didn't have too much fun, Ben!!!

The JGTC series has been a great success and I have been following it all year. How I wish I could have attended at least one race. Ron Carter's car is absolutely superb and the photos with the 350Z are beyond exclamation. WOW!!! What a great photo!

Many thanks to everyone. You have given me a smile.

[Bambikiller240]

I hope that SPEED will air the JGTC races at a reasonable time slot. This year they have put the Aussie V8 series on in the mid mornings (weekdays) and never show them in the evening. Make it almost impossible for many people to see the races.

The JGTC reminds me of the glory days of IMSA.

[Zrush]

Did the 350Z win in California this weekend?


Vicky

[26th-Z]

Yes it does remind me of IMSA, and that's exactly why I like it so much. Rock'm - sock'm - let's race action and spectacle extrodinaire. Money is no object / talent prevails, and may the best effort win. You all check out that link I posted a few threads up and make sure to catch the Umbrella Girls in the photo galleries. It is all part of the show.

[HS30-H]

Did the 350Z win in California this weekend?
Vicky

Were they calling them "350Z"s?

I think Ben got it right in his photo captions. The NISMO JGTC race cars are Fairlady Z-based.

[e_racer1999]

i love jgtc... can't wait for it to explode in US

[jmark]

Cause they are based on the 350Z. I believe the 350z's in GT500 are turboed and the GT300 class NA.

[26th-Z]

Yes perhaps, Vicky. Check this JGTC link http://www.jgtcusa.net/jgtc_origins.html
The California event was more of a demonstration of how much fun they are having over in Japan. The top 25 cars from the series were invited as well as some American entrants. The race was 200km? I think and this car won in the GT 500 class. It is a Type Z33, 3 liter, twin turbo DOHC 24 valve developing 465+ HP at 5600 rpm (ie. "rocket ship"). Toshihiro Kaneishi and Erik Comas drove the car. The Xanavi Fairlady Z won the championship in the GT 500 class. I love that picture with Ron Carter's car; "A pair of champions"!

[HS30-H]

Cause they are based on the 350Z.

No, I don't think they are. They are based on the Japanese market versions, not the Export versions.

[jmark]

OK. Isn't it a 350Z in Japan?

[ChrisA]

OK. Isn't it a 350Z in Japan?

No its a Fairlady Z. Has been since the first Z. Right hand drive, different options available also. Alan (HS30-H) could explain it better than I.

Chris

[jmark]

OK. I'll give you that. It is still a Z.

[Zrush]

OK, I'm sorry. I guess I should have said "Did the Z win". Geez :stupid:

Vicky

P.S. jmark, your freshly painted Z looks fantastic :love:

[jmark]

OK, I'm sorry. I guess I should have said "Did the Z win". Geez :stupid:

Vicky

P.S. jmark, your freshly painted Z looks fantastic :love:I knew what you meant. :) As far as the paint job goes "Thank you". Means a lot coming from someone with a beautiful Z car.

[Bambikiller240]

Guess "the teacher" is gonna flunk somebody (again). :stupid:

[HS30-H]

Guess "the teacher" is gonna flunk somebody (again). :stupid:

Who's "the teacher" then Carl? :rolleyes:

Vicky, you're taking my comment completely the wrong way. If you really think I'm trying to score points off somebody then you must think I'm really sad. All I'm interested in is getting this stuff straight. It might be a small point to you, but calling the JGTC race Z cars "350Z"s is starting off on just the same wrong foot as calling all first generation Z cars "240Z"s. Why not nip it in the bud? These are JGTC race cars for Christ's sake! They came over to the USA to show you what they have been getting up to over there in Japan for the last few years. Can't we at least do them the honour of realising that Japan has some homologation specials that the rest of the world does not?

Geez. :stupid:

[Bambikiller240]

Who's "the teacher" then Carl? :rolleyes:



Nope, not me.

But when the teacher keeps insisting on correcting EVERYBODY at EVERY TURN, when virtually everybody understood which car was being referenced; well it diminishs the light in which that "knowledgable professor" is looked upon. People do come here for more reason than to be corrected at every turn.

That being said, I seriously doubt Vicky meant any disrespect to the designers and builders of the JGTC racers.

Just like when people call cetain cars FACTORY RESTORED. Ooohh, I'm in trouble now. How many times do I have to write "They are NOT Factory Restored, they are Vintage Z Cars" on the blackboard? :bandit: :lick:

[Zrush]

Whoa, whoa, whoa there Alan. I did not in any way mistake your comment. I WAS wrong in calling the car a "350Z". My error. The icon of the club over the head is for me. Thank you for setting me straight :classic:

Did I say you were trying to score points off of someone????? Now that confuses me :D

Vicky

[26th-Z]

Alan,
You are absolutely right. And, looking back, I noticed I said the same thing. It's the "race-on-Sunday / Sell-on-Monday" American way of looking at things. Like NASCAR fans actually think there are Chevrolets racing out there! It's simply the American way of expression and no harm is meant. To us, the Fairlady is the 350 because that's what we can identify with. Porsche, BMW and Mercedes people have the same problem. Incidently, the NASCAR engineers and designers spend most of their time out of the country talking to European and Japanese teams about the latest technology. Few Americans realize that.

[Zrush]

Carl said the "F" word LOL ROFL


Vicky

[HS30-H]

Nope, not me.

But when the teacher keeps insisting on correcting EVERYBODY at EVERY TURN, when virtually everybody understood which car was being referenced; well it diminishs the light in which that "knowledgable professor" is looked upon. People do come here for more reason than to be corrected at every turn.

That being said, I seriously doubt Vicky meant any disrespect to the designers and builders of the JGTC racers.

Just like when people call cetain cars FACTORY RESTORED. Ooohh, I'm in trouble now. How many times do I have to write "They are NOT Factory Restored, they are Vintage Z Cars" on the blackboard? :bandit: :lick:

Vicky,
Take a look at Carl's reply to me and tell me if you think I'm being just a little bit paranoid?

I'm sorry if I misunderstood the meaning of your "Geez :stupid:" - but can you see where I'm coming from? My original comment was just a general point, and not really aimed at anyone in particular.

Stickling is stickling. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. If I make a mistake then I'm very happy to be put straight on it. Be my guest.

Alan T.

[HS30-H]

Alan,
You are absolutely right. And, looking back, I noticed I said the same thing. It's the "race-on-Sunday / Sell-on-Monday" American way of looking at things. Like NASCAR fans actually think there are Chevrolets racing out there! It's simply the American way of expression and no harm is meant. To us, the Fairlady is the 350 because that's what we can identify with. Porsche, BMW and Mercedes people have the same problem. Incidently, the NASCAR engineers and designers spend most of their time out of the country talking to European and Japanese teams about the latest technology. Few Americans realize that.

Thanks Chris,
I appreciate you sticking up for my point of view.

I realise that no harm is meant, and I honestly mean no harm myself in pointing out the difference ( although offence is taken all too quickly - and frankly, it seems - all too happily ).

Notice that Ben ( v12horse ) got it right in his picture captions, and even pointed out the fact that the GT500 Fairlady Z is based on a Japanese market-only homologation special. Ben has the gift of learning and thinking in a worldly way about these things, and considers what he writes very carefully.

Carl, I noticed you did some swift editing again :cheeky: Too bad you can't do the editing in your head before you put it down on the page.

Alan T.
( Edit: Carl - I think you still have some editing left to do on your spelling ROFL ).

[e_racer1999]

granted i know what everyone was talking about, but i'm gonna have to side with alan. if we start referring to cars incorrectly it's going to lead us to future confusion... :P plus, i'm always right... :D

[Bambikiller240]

Your own post states you want to "nip it in the bud". Can't people just discuss the event without being corrected? I thought that was what the thread was all about. As 26th-Z stated, to most of the USA, the Fairlady IS the 350Z. Because that is what Nissan calls the car that they sell here. Blame the confusion on the factory (Oh, there is that word again), since they chose to use different names in different markets.

[Bambikiller240]

Sorry for the spelling error, teacher, what punishment do you choose for me this time?

[jmark]

350Z or Fairlady Z they are still bad ass cars. Nissan really needs to get back into GT racing in the US & Lemans.

[Bambikiller240]

350Z or Fairlady Z they are still bad ass cars. Nissan really needs to get back into GT racing in the US & Lemans.
Agreed. (ten charecers)

[HS30-H]

Nissan really needs to get back into GT racing in the US & Lemans.

Don't know about the US, but NISMO wants to get back into international sportscar racing - and they say it would most likely be with the "350Z" ( ie - the Export version of the Z33 ). This would be in the renamed 'GT2' division for 2005.

British team RJN Motorsport ran an RHD 350Z in selected rounds of the FIA GT Championship this year, with the support of Nissan and NISMO. They are one of the companies in the running for the contract to prepare and run the 'Works' cars for Nissan in 2005.

Article scan from UK magazine Autosport here:

[v12horse]

Hello everyone. I have been planning to go to this event since the summer, and I must say that it was spectacular. I was a little sad to learn that the Skyline has been replaced with the FAIRLADY Z (Z33), but the Z's are really tearing through the competition. you will find all of the info about the race and what JGTC is at JGTCusa.net . I took more than 300 pictures, but many are multiples, and a lot of them are NSX's, Supra's etc. I am sure that many of you noticed it, but I thought I would point it out any way. The Fairlady Z type E street car that was produced by Nissan Motor Co. LTD. is the car that the GT500 Z33's are loosely based on. The longer nose and rear are what the cars were able to use since the type E Z33 was strictly a homologation special. Once again, all the cars put on a great race. Both the GT500 and GT300 cars performed spectacularly. I wish I could have gotten pictures of the cars at night with their brake rotors glowing orange after braking from high triple digit speeds. I can't imagine that the cars are only rated at 300bhp and 500bhp.

I was there when Peter Brock drove Ron Carter's BRE 240Z replica out and it sounded fantastic. It sounded louder than some of the JGTC cars! He really did an exceptionaly job of recreating the original race car. I wish I could have gotten a better look.

Take care,
Ben

p.s. If there is a particular car that they want more photos of, just tell me and I will post. Also, if some of you cannot download these to your computer send me an email at V12horse@hotmail.com and I will send you some photos (include how many megs you can recieve).

[ron carter]

thanks 26th- Z!! Cant wait for the spread in Sports Car International written by Pete Brock.


Ben, your welcome to come by anytime for a ride!! Again, great photos!

R