Altima Coupe Race Car - Skullcandy Team Nissan

[Mr. Music]

Hey folks,

I was checking out some of the teams in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Challenge racing series and came across something rather interesting that I want to share with the crew here at NicoClub...



That's Skullcandy Team Nissan's (team website; team owner's blog) #33 Altima Coupe race car, which competes in the Street Tuner (ST) class of the Continental Tire Challenge. From the research I've done, I found that the team moved from a Civic to the Altima Coupe for this season and finished eighth in class at their first race with the car in the Barber 200 on March 31 (click here to view that race's results if you're interested).

I'll be at the next race in the series, the Kia 200 on April 28 at Homestead Miami Speedway, and hope to get some more info on the car during the "Continental Tire Series Fan Walk & Autograph Session" a couple of hours before the race. As far as performance modifications go, the series pretty much only allows changes to the exhaust (as evidenced by the side exit visible in the image above) and suspension, so I hope to get a look at the goods come race day. I also want to find out if it's the VQ or QR engine since the series allows both types.

A.M. Performance's 370z got totaled (video) at the Barber 200, so it's up to the Altima Coupe (and the GT-R pace car if you want to count it) to represent Nissan this weekend. I'm hoping for a good showing from the #33 car.

I'll try to get some pictures of the car and happenings this weekend and post them here, so stay tuned. Anyone else in the area heading to the Grand Prix of Miami?

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Very cool stuff.

Thanks for stopping in. Haven't seen you around much!

[DJ_B_Easy]

VERY cool stuff. Doesnt look like they did anything height wise with the suspension, probably just stiffened it up a s*** ton. It almost looks RAISED in the rear, maybe to put more weight on the front for better traction?

Looking forward to some updates after the race...

[sndtgr08]

VERY cool stuff. Doesnt look like they did anything height wise with the suspension, probably just stiffened it up a s*** ton. It almost looks RAISED in the rear, maybe to put more weight on the front for better traction?

Looking forward to some updates after the race...

+1 on updates

[skiski329]

COOL!!!! Thanks!! i posted a pic of that A/C on the FB page, and wanted to find out who's that was. I hope they make or give feed back on the parts they put in.

[Mr. Music]

Hi all,

So, the Grand Prix of Miami came and went, along with several feet of rain so far (no end in sight, say the weather folks). Skullcandy Team Nissan was nowhere to be found; I guess they didn't make it down to Homestead. I was pretty excited to see the car and hopefully talk to someone on the team, but so much for that. If you guys still want to find out more about the car, check out the team's website and the links to their Facebook and Twitter pages; maybe shooting them some messages will get us some info.

Anyhow, I took a load of pictures, click here to see the set on Flickr. If your interested, here are the highlights from Sunday's race. You may also want to check out the recaps from Saturday and Sunday as well.

There was an Accord Coupe running in the ST class as well; it clearly sounded like a four-pot. Considering that and the other cars in the field, I'm comfortable in assuming that the # 33 Altima Coupe has the QR25 under it's hood. These cars were running with upgraded brakes, exhaust, suspension, and mostly stripped out interiors with roll cages and all the other safety/communication stuff found on race cars these days.


If anyone goes to another Grand-Am race and spots the # 33 car, try to get some info!

[ShadowAC]

look at the side exit exhaust, pretty nice touch

[RicerX]

CVT or MT? And I wonder if they modded the diff to have an LSD if it is a 6MT?

I'm curious about the powertrain specs for it.

I'm also curious as to the suspension setup - I see STANCE on the headlight panels... I know those guys don't make a set of production coilovers for the coupes. Given how many people complain about the price of Teins, I would expect most coupers to fall over at the price of stance's coils. LOL

[wade001]

CVT or MT? And I wonder if they modded the diff to have an LSD if it is a 6MT?

I'm curious about the powertrain specs for it.

I'm also curious as to the suspension setup - I see STANCE on the headlight panels... I know those guys don't make a set of production coilovers for the coupes. Given how many people complain about the price of Teins, I would expect most coupers to fall over at the price of stance's coils. LOL

It would be very stupid if they used a CVT! It doesnt have a HLSD swapped in, dont know if that is allowed for the class !

[Mr. Music]

I'm also curious as to the suspension setup - I see STANCE on the headlight panels... I know those guys don't make a set of production coilovers for the coupes. Given how many people complain about the price of Teins, I would expect most coupers to fall over at the price of stance's coils. LOL

Unfortunately, the "STANCE" company that sponsors this car makes socks (of all things), not suspension parts.

As for the transmission, the rest of the cars in the ST class (and the GS class as well) had row-your-own gear boxes so I'd be willing to bet that the Altima has the same. I doubt that the factory CVT can stand up to the abuse of serious racing anyway. Since any sort of LSD isn't factory equipment on these cars, I don't think the regulations would allow one to be added.

I don't know much about the car, but I do know that I'd love to take it for a spin!

[RicerX]

I'm gonna go ahead and be a betting man and wager that this car is a 2.5 6MT. Reason for saying this is that I don't know why they would take the time and delete the fogs and replace the mirrors with the signal-less mirrors, unless of course they allow weight reduction.

Exhaust mods are allowed, which would make a case for using a catless header and a race pipe all the way out for the side exit setup they have. I can't wait to see specs on the car.

[Skull candy#33]

Hey guys just saw that some people were talking about the Skullcandy Team Nissan Altima. So I joined up to answer any questions. We just finished racing up at Road America were we finished in 12 place out of 38 I believe. The car is a SE-R 3.5 coupe, with the manual trans. We are running koni race coil overs. The rules are pretty strict so most items are stock. The trans is running a OS Gilken diff too.

Hope that helps you guys out. We are running Watkins glen next week then Indy at the end of July so come out and cheer us on!

Thanks.

Josh

Also, the 370z is being run by Doran Racing. Not A.M. Performance. They ran 370's last year.

[DAAN.]

no foglights, 2.5
I wager $5

[Skull candy#33]

In the area where the fog lights should be we are running brake cooling ducts.

[DAAN.]

owe you $5 and I like the idea

let's see the piping, you stirred our curiosity

[RicerX]

Welcome to NICO and thanks tons for posting about the car!

Are the Koni Coilovers a one-off or are they considering mass production? I'm assuming the diff is also a one-off.

[Skull candy#33]

The koni's are Grand-am spec coilovers double adjustable.

Thanks.

[dangeris]

What dates are you running Watkins? I love that track. Ran yrs back when they allowed racebikes.

[Skull candy#33]

We practice thursday the 28th, practice and qualify fri the 29th and race saturday the 30th at 3pm.
The Road America race will air on Speed July 8th at 12noon for those that want to watch the race.

Josh

[Skull candy#33]

Photos by Sput Dodge

We are in Watkins Glen this week. Thursday is practice, friday practice and qualifying and Sat the race is at 3 pm.

Josh

[AZhitman]

Welcome aboard, Josh! I'm thinking we need to do a homepage feature article on the car and the team!

[Skull candy#33]

That would be cool. Thanks

Josh

[MuranoDriver]

Welcome aboard, Josh! I'm thinking we need to do a homepage feature article on the car and the team!

Please do!!

[Skull candy#33]

Car is set up, practice tomorrow. Pics Coming tonight.

Josh

[AZhitman]

That would be cool. Thanks

Josh

Let's talk when you have more time. I figure race teams can use all the exposure they can get.

[DJ_B_Easy]

See Greg! Not every AC is bedazzled!

@Skull Candy, I might be coming out to Watkins. Have a friend that said he could get me pit/track access for some photography ops. If I make it Ill be sure to keep an eye out for you.

EDIT: Josh if you can post a link to some info about the event in between practices (yeah right) Id appreciate it. Im not sure we are talking about the same race here.

[Skull candy#33]

http://www.grand-am.com/events.aspx?eid=3443&sid=2
http://www.grand-am.com/Portals/0/Image ... hedule.pdf


Here's the event info for this weekend.

Josh

[DJ_B_Easy]

Dude you rock, thank you so much.

[Skull candy#33]

No problem. There's a big Nissan display with Grand Turismo simulators and cars and stuff very cool.

Josh

[Skull candy#33]

http://m.facebook.com/pages/Skullcandy- ... earch&_rdr

Team Facebook page

Josh