What Motorsports is the 300zx best at?

[Fearspect]

...if any.

Assuming you had unlimited budget (and assuming competition vs other cars with a similarly large budget), had to use the 1990+ chasis, and wanted something as capable as possible. Two possible builds:

a) VG30DETT Motor
b) Any motor swap of your choice

Is there anything the 300zx can be a true contender in? Drifting? AutoX? I know it had a short stint as a top GT car, but it's just not in use anywhere that I can see anymore.

Is there any sort of competition that the 300zx chasis appears purpose built for?

[NolimitZ32]

The Z32 was "Purpose Built" as a GT car (grand touring) it was built as a luxury long range cruiser for the public and as a grand touring (think long range LeMans type racing) in race form. If you have an unlimited budget go buy a Elise and put some sort of FI on it and you will end up with an AWESOME AutoX car or how about a lingenfelter vette. Personally if I had a truly Unlimited budget my Z would be exactly what it is now a sweet weekend cruiser with a good bit of power and some sexy body bits. For a dedicated race car I'd have something purposebuilt like a Gumpret Apollo or a Ascari A10.

[Fearspect]

Well... I did say 'had to use the 1990+ chasis', otherwise, yeah, an answer could just be to buy a purpose built formula 1 car if you had an unlimited budget...

I'm just wondering what it could properly compete in?

Drifting is something that is intriguing me at the moment, and actually seems like something that would work better in my current 2+2 than in a 2+0 (adds to the wheelbase). I have seen the odd posts out there about people asking why no one seems to drift 300zx cars much, but the three general replies don't really make sense to me:

1) It's too heavy... but Supras are drifted competitively and are nearly the same weight. There's lots of places to drop weight on this thing too (strip interior for two racing seats, clear out sound deadening, right there you have over 300 lbs lost).
2) It's too expensive to work on and buy parts for... but 350z is drifted competitively and has less aftermarket support and costs more.
3) It has heat issues... which can be remedied with parts that are out there, such as upgraded oil pan, ash spec intercoolers, etc.

That, and a quick comparison of the wheelbase to other great drift cars seems to have it in nearly the same specs of the Supra also. Oh, and unlike the 2JZ, the VG30DETT has a wider powerband and useable torque.

[300ZXttZMAN]

I'll tell you what I'm doing since I'm in to competitive racing as well... I'm also into drifting... Here's the thing, if I were to drift my Z competitvely I would have to remove creature comforts which is not what I want to do... My Z is my weekend warrior. Its the car I bring my girl out in, the car I autox, and the car that I enter in shows. Y'all get the point...

So for drifting I bought a s13 hatch which I will build after I'm done with my Z.

Keep in mind if you drift your Z competitively it will get cosmetic damage. I suggest you look into purchasing a second vehicle. Unless you are making a straight track Z32 and don't care.

[Fearspect]

Well, as a Canadian owner of a 300zx, I already own another car that gets me from A to B for the 8 months of winter we seem to have per year

Thanks for the advice. At the end of the day, I don't exactly have $40k+ kicking around to immediately convert it into a crazy track car in one go, so bit by bit it will be converted toward that goal. Meanwhile, I will be focusing on maximizing track time while doing work in the following order:

1) Reliability and minor Cooling (radiator, oil cooler) (this winter)
2) Full Suspension overhaul (this winter)
3) Tires/Wheels
4) Go back and finish the Cooling (Dual Pop, IC Upgrade, etc) and upgrade Transmission and Brakes
5) Add ridiculous power, rebuilding engine proactively (or V8 swap? I just don't think that's needed)
6) Strip Interior, roll cage, racing seats, etc.

Might take years, but that just means every year I will be combining more skill with a better car.

[NolimitZ32]

Well in that case, AutoX and Road rally since it is very comfortable on long range drives. BTW supras are about 200-300lbs heavier in stock form, just FYI.