TomoHawk

I had a neat idea of using the judging sheet as a kind of detailing of checklist. Car show judges will be looking specifically for those things (to start with), so you might as well make sure you have those things fixed up straight away. Then clean or fix anything of the like or in the area or anywhere else on the car. I used the ZCCA judging sheets: http://www.zcca.org/downloads/JudgingRules_rev2005.pdf

Upholstery shops.... They usually just want to recover your seats- and only if it's a late-model car with new covers readily available. I tried to get a new sunvisor to fit my bigger-sized mirror, and they guy just kept saying " it's too thick to go through the sewing machine."

They're all so heavy & rigid-looking. Anything with a lighter material? thx

I tried that search, and I found a video where they compared the speeds of the different generations of Zs, from 240Z to 350Z, and they assumed the 350Z would walk away from the others..... The 260Z beat the 350Z, and all the others. but the 300ZX turbo.:laugh:

Is there a place that has fender covers that you can use on a Z? You can't just use the generic kind, because the fenders on a Z are much wider than your average car. Something maybe even with a big Z on it would be good. thx

I had a front shimmy when I got my (florida) car, and it turned out to be the steering rack bushings were so dry that there ws play in the steering. Two new bushings fixed it up right.

Also check your spark timing, and make sure your coil is good.

Both good suggestions. GPS is good only to the point where the receiver is working. You'll also need map data for the area. For TSD rallies, all you'll need is two brains (people), but otherwise, you'll need the GPS & computer, custom software, etc. all costing money, and the software taking time to create, then creating the computer instructions & verbal instructions for the drive itself. Recording a tape takes only the amount of time to drive the course, then just run it through the computer & burn CDs.

That's why there is a 5- or 10- second warning before a turn. For recording the instructions, you would probably either take the most prabable or the tightest line around curves. But that's the idea of this style- to carry your average speed down the road to the next point. Just like in a TSD rally, where you get penalized for being early or late. You would need to learn to drive aggressively to keep the correct pace without being reckless. Even then you could pause the recording for a moment.

Check this video out. It's a Type R Vs Nissan 350 Z. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13SnWHOCbjk&mode=related&search= In the video, the civic gets ahead of the 350Z right off the line (rolling start on a freeway) and gains. Sounds like the 350Z driver didn't want to shake the car to death ( video was waay too shakey) or was just out for a joy ride, and the civic people were out to fake things.

While driving from Hotel to car show last weekend, I got an idea for a way you can do a rally course without a navigator. Instead of putting the diagrams on sheets to read, the intructions could be recorded onto a cassette tape or CD. This would guarantee that if you were going the right speed, you would reach each point where a stop, turn, or whatever, would be made. All you need to do is listen, and do what the instructions tell you. Of course you'd need a CD player, or a cassette tape player, in your car. For example, if you were driving down the road to an intersection 2 miles away, you would hear the instructions to "Drive 30 MPH" and then about 4 minutes later, you would hear an instruction to "turn right in 10 seconds" and 10 seconds later, "turn right." If you can maintain the correct speed or the distance, you'd be spot on. Cheating would be very difficult, but it would also be possible to finish the course if you were off by pausing the play-back. Probably the most difficult thing to do would be to drive the course yourself, while recording theinstructions. Your speed would have to be as correct and steady as those driving the course later. I think I will try one of something simple like a recording of the drive to school or to the Post. thx

Anybody ever use them with success? I was at a place that does vinyl & leather repair, and I got an estimate for $100 to repair some small cuts & gashes along the top of the door panel. thx

What doesn't work on your unit?

Yeah, how can you do a reality show when everything happens spontaneously? You'd have to give everybody "brain-cams" and another dozen or more all over the place to catch things that aren't face-to-face.

Cleveland in 2008 is correct. They're preparing a web page with info, but it's so far off, there may be nothing to say for months. I think there's a plan to go to Mid-Ohio for a day for track time. Maybe a trip to Cedar Point amusement park. I'll be posting a link to the info page when there's something in concrete. Will, i'll see you next summer probably. My gf lives off I-275 north off Tampa, & dad is south of the bay. Today (this weekend) is the regional "Z Heritage meet" in Akron, OH. thx

Maybe it didn't perform like some of the kill stories (5.0 mustang, vette, porsche) that you've read about, but It's still a geat car- just maybe a different turbo, or nitrous, or just get the engine or electricals right. Maybe even some flares & fat rubber, and turn it into a road course car. It's gotta be worth a lot that way for sure.

Has anybody heard anything about the 2008 ZCCA convention? Just wondering.

I'd say that "crush the car" is just a way of saying "trash the car" or to just get rid of it, like some kind of Texan euphemism.

Just in case... the poop sheet for the product I bought, as well as all the web sites I've researched so far, have all said that the whistle becomes active at about 35 MPH.

I thought the Z had a v-8 in it, because they kept saying "Team HybridZ" and as you all know, over at HybridZ, they favor the V-8 swap. BTW, where's the Pinks forum?'

Just ESPN's idea of a nighttime soap opera?IMO, the Z looked pretty nice, but the back needed a bumper of some kind- looked kinda naked back there.:surprised Now that I think of it.... the dead battery problem was about normal, no?

Usually, doing that means you're afraid of losing. in drag racing, I'd say it was damn reckless. "You can't focus on where you're driving for TWELVE SECONDS!??"Anybody notice how in some scenes it was night, and for others, it was day? At the end the Chevy driver sad "How am I going to get my big arse in the little car?" Probably why he needed 510 HP to go down the road.

I hope he wasn't feeling so bad. I think they did a terrific job, considering what they were up against, and what they put into it ( someone said "racing on a budget." It could've been Bob Motz!

I think if it is ever tried again, the engine should be setup both with and without the nitrous, then decide whether or not to use it when you get to the track. I think that if the Z had nitrous, it would have been MUCH closer, and the negotiations would have been easier. Then, even if the Z had lost, it wouldn't be so bad. BTW, I thought the Z had a turbo V-8...

They showed better video ofn the Chevy, and they showed of the Z was some quick shots of the tail lights. If it's a show about drag racing, show the racing! Not just close-ups on the drivers & tire smoke. The Chevy should have lost- their battery died & they diden't bring a charger! U'm glad the audio was working well- It sounds like my car...