We’ve known Patrick for a long time and when he is not running City Tech Auto Body he is out on the track his Time-Attack prepped Porsche orange 350z. Patrick was running an NA motor then made the jump to forced induction via the Vortech supercharger. He installed the kit himself and visited ZCG for tuning and advice on how to keep the VQ cool during blazingly hot track days ie. Buttonwillow Raceway. Here is an update from Patrick from Round #5 of the Redline Time Attack:

As some of you might know, our Z Car Garage and CityTech Auto Body Sponsored 350z has been through a lot of struggling with overheating problems after we installed the a Vortech Supercharged Kit. We have spent tons of time and testing to make it cool down. Our goal is to make it last through the whole 20mins session without worrying about overheating with full power.

07/20/2013 Saturday: The first practice day of the Redline Time Attack event was at 102F, a perfect day to put a ultimate heat test to our new setup. Compared to our last event which the Z lasted only 2 laps before overheating, we installed a 2nd oil cooler, running 50/50 Methanol water injection and de-tuned. Also, Rob suggested that to remove the aftermarket electric fans and put back the stock fan with shrouds. With all the help from our crew and Z Car Garage, we double checked all the fluid levels are full, adjusted tire pressure and started our first 20mins session. The Z felt great with the supercharged power on the first lap, pulling on every gears to the redline. But will it last full 20 mins without a drop of power? 4th lap passed by, our Nitto NT-01 tires started to get greasy due to the heat, but Oil temperature still stayed at 230F, intake and water temp stay cool without a sign of overheating, no power dropped. We are so amazed because our last event only last 1 ½ lap before oil temp reached 290F. We managed finished with the best lap time of 1’58.8 running CW13 configuration.

07/21/2013 Sunday: This was a much hotter day at 107F. In our first qualify session, everyone was running slower time than yesterday. We managed to qualify at the lap time of 1’59.5 which placed us third in our class. All other vehicles in our class were full race gutted car and our Z still have the full dash, door and windows in place. During the race session, temperature got worse which rose up to 108F. Despite the burning sun and air, the Z’s water and oil temp were both stayed cool and no overheating throughout the entire race session, however, the tires were giving up after the 2nd lap from the heat. We couldn’t get any better time than the qualifying session due to the hot temperature and traffic on the track and ended up the time 2’00.391. We ended up third place in modified RWD Class.

Special shout out to Z Car garage crews for their awesome work keeping the Z at operating temperature while making great power in this extreme operating environment.

The next event will be at AutoClub Speedway, Fontana on Sep 15, 2013. We will be doing some more modifications and possibly installing a full roll cage on the Z. We will keep you guys updated.

 

 

We recently had the opportunity of tuning the famous “Kas” Kastner Triumph race car. This 1971 Trimph Vitesse sports sedan was designed to run against cars like the Datsun 510 in the SCCA’s Trans-Am racing series. Though car wasn’t successful in the series it became a winner in the hands of privateers for last 30 years.

 

It’s a really quick car powered by an inline-6 with triple carbs, independent rear suspension and 4-wheel discs. Find out more info HERE. Butch Gilbert is the current owner of the car and found Z Car Garage through Datsun racer/specialist Troy Ermish. Here is Butch practicing with CSRG at Thunderhill…the sound is almost S30-like!

Rob dyno-tuned the Triumph and picked up significant hp/tq while increasing the rev-limit…Butch is happy!

 

 

 

Butch has been racing since the 50’s and owns a bunch of cool cars. This is a 1958 Hagemann-Sutton Special. It has a 283 with Hilborn injection and Lehman cross drive front cover.  Weighing in at only 1980lbs with an aluminum body/cromoly frame and Halibrand drive pin wheels:

 

Here is Butch driving the “Birdcage” at the  2013 Monterey Historics….oh that v8 sound!

We love working with authentic race cars so big thanks to Butch for visiting ZCG!

Stunato Racing Machines is breaking speed records again! Z Car Garage helped tune their #477 Sprint car and recently dyno’d their Studebaker to go after a record at the Bonneville Salt Flats. While on the dyno the Studebaker blew a tire! This was a first and fortunately nobody was injured.

 

275hp/416tq to the wheels! We love helping this great group of racers and look forward to more record breaking passes!

Remember Todd Green and his VQ-powered Datsun Roadster race car? Here are a few pictures from him running Solo2 at Grattan Raceway in Michigan earlier this week. Shown above, Todd is crossed-up going sideways at the top of 4th gear (8,000rpm) preparing for a 90 degree right hander!

 
We love this beast of a roadster and how Todd runs it hard. “I was at the top of 6th gear going across the finish line. I could hardly see as my head was getting beat around violently by the turbulence”
Keep at it Todzilla! Datsuns Are Driven!

Mark G. came to ZCG to have his T/C bushings replaced, NISMO wheels re-finished and an UPREV tune. Since his Z is a base model the entire steering wheel/gauge cluster was replaced along with the clutch switch. Now Mark can use the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel to switch between his 5 fuel maps!

UPREV tuning yielded significant gains for a total of 270hp/253tq to the wheels: