The newest Fastrack is out. This electronic newsletter is used by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) to update the latest rules and design specs for racing. The SCCA Comp Board finally classified the 370Z into the Touring 2 (T2) category after several delays and Nissan fans were hopeful the Z34 would be competitive in the class.

Unfortunately, the specs the comp board released for the 370Z are far from that. Minimum weight is listed at 3,400 pounds; almost 140 pounds MORE than the car weighs in stock trim. That means the interior cannot be stripped and lead ballast will have to be added. They also specify use of 19" wheels and 245/F and 275/R tires. Good luck with that- it'll be difficult to even source R-compound tires in a 19" size with those dimensions.

Last year SCCA had some competitive balance at the front with three marques qualifying within a few tenths of each other. Nissan was NOT one of those marques. This latest ruling certainly makes it seem the SCCA Comp Board doesn't want Nissan to be competitive in T2 National racing any longer. When our T2 350Z is outgunned by 70-80 HP (by turbo cars or V-8s) and the 370Z is made into a heavy, understeering pig there's just no joy in mudville...

The method SCCA uses to classify cars is not a very transparent one. The CRB has a super secret computer program that takes into account power/weight ratios, tire size, frontal area and other factors and spits out a bunch of results. Problem is, the class parameters change when a car undergoes a lot of R&D over the course of a season. Case in point, the Solstice GXP was race engineered by GM Performance a few seasons ago. They were able to start with bodies-in-white and build from there. SCCA rules allow reprogramming of the ECM and factory engineers were assigned to increase engine output.

Significantly enhanced boost levels meant that the top running T2 Pontiacs were running practically as fast as the T1 Z06s and Vipers (would have qualified in the top six of the 2007 T1 field). That's also a tribute to the good driving and car prep by Phoenix Engineering to build these factory spec racecars. Solstices have won the last four Runoffs and there's been precious little to slow them down.

At least there's some parity at the front end of the grid: Evo IV also benefits from ECM development and turbo boost, BMW M3 and Z4 M Coupe have lots of $$$ behind their development as well and now the new Mustang and Camaro will get V-8s to encourage a Ford/Chevy rivalry.

None of this is meant to say that hard work and knowledge wouldn't help any of the Nissans as well. But with the pullout of Nissan Motorsports a few years ago, there is little support to continue developing and campaigning the Z (either Z33 or 34). And while I'll continue providing feedback to the CRB on their classifications, there's really no sense in b****in' about it. My Nissan Sport 350Z remains competitive in T2 on many tracks outside of Road America. I'll continue to develop the VQ35HR motor and will campaign races in both SCCA and NASA for 2010.

An update on the 370Z racing in SCCA. Rick Kulach, who runs the twin of the Nissan Sport Project T2 350Z (with NISMO bodywork) is preparing a yellow 370Z for its competition debut later this year. His plan is to gut much of the interior and build a rollcage that will fit tightly. This will also mean ballasting the car with plenty of lead, but a recent rules clarification from SCCA means he can place the ballast (properly tied down, of course) where he needs it to balance out the car.

Rick has been a loyal supporter of Nissan Sport Magazine, so he plans to have Nissan Sport graphics on the Z as well. Look for this yellow rocket to debut at the SCCA Runoffs at Road America in September.

There were three 370Zs in SCCA T2 action this year. Both Rick Kulach and Tony Rivera campaigned out of the SW Division and Randy Tauro debuted one at the Runoffs. The SCCA Comp board decided to make all 370Z weigh in at a minimum of 3,500 lbs, so its certainly no overdog. All three 370Z pilots had good seasons, but Rivera's NISMO 370Z model proved particularly quick. He won the prestigious June Sprints and was in the front row at the Runoffs before crashing during a sudden rain storm. Brian Kleeman came through to finish third in his 350Z, so Nissan congrats to him!