SpecZ Racing @ NASA June Jam - 6/13

[StormFront]

Russell@Z1 asked me to come down to Road Atlanta last weekend to cover Z1 Motorsports efforts in SpecZ class racing. for those that haven't heard about it yet, Spec Z is exactly what it sounds like, a spec class for 350Z's with varying weights, power limits and aero limitations depending on year just like Spec E30 and Miata classes. Z1 acquired this true Nismo 350z recently and built it to spec for the HR engine. I forget the specifics but I remember it's 3400 (or more) pounds and limited to 275whp. for the weekend, local hot shoe Joe Ippolito was behind the wheel of the Z and he ended up winning the first race on saturday. on sunday morning, during qualifying, a higher class Camaro dive bombed Joe into turn one, understeered and nudged him as he headed up hill. this spun Joe out but thankfully he came to a stop before the wall. however it broke both motor mounts. fixed just minutes before the race started a few hours later, Joe made the start of the race but ran into issues about 2/3rds of the way through the race when a power steering line, pinched by the engine, broke and he had to finish the race without PS. this cost him a lap he couldn't recover from but he was leading up until that point! now for the pics...

album:

SpecZ Racing @ NASA June Jam '13 - JPMcG Photography (http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/SpecZ-Racing-NASA-June-Jam-13/30041650_LbmLzL)

fav's:

1. Joe coming around 10b heading past spectator hill
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/SpecZ-Racing-NASA-June-Jam-13/i-DBTR7x6/0/XL/IMG_6324-XL.jpg

2. cooling down after the saturday morning qualifying
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/SpecZ-Racing-NASA-June-Jam-13/i-CL7xLnX/0/XL/IMG_6428-XL.jpg

3. Kyle examining the rear suspension
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/SpecZ-Racing-NASA-June-Jam-13/i-f2xtZfB/0/XL/IMG_6475-XL.jpg

4. just past the uphill Esses
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/SpecZ-Racing-NASA-June-Jam-13/i-6ZnZbGj/0/XL/IMG_6999-XL.jpg

5. just before dinner, we got all the Spec Z racers together for a group shot
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/SpecZ-Racing-NASA-June-Jam-13/i-gNcmVcH/0/XL/IMG_7456-XL.jpg

6. we worked late into the night on the car getting it ready to do battle again Sunday morning
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/SpecZ-Racing-NASA-June-Jam-13/i-2fk6Gdf/0/XL/IMG_7469-XL.jpg

7. Joe coming in to turn 1 headed uphill
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/SpecZ-Racing-NASA-June-Jam-13/i-RKB45Qx/0/XL/IMG_7629-XL.jpg

8. two wheels up over turn 3!
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/SpecZ-Racing-NASA-June-Jam-13/i-5FkMvhc/0/XL/IMG_8335-XL.jpg

thanks for looking! comments welcome as usual! plenty more of all the other cars competing in the album so check them out!

[Ruergard]

Loving the shots as usual. Please keep pics from these kind of events coming, great fun to see! :thumb:

[StormFront]

thanks! i'm hoping to go to three more world challenge races this year if work allows. the driver i shoot for just signed a 2 year deal with nissan to continue racing and they are finishing up a 2nd car for their GT Academy driver to pilot (and rent) as well :)

[Ruergard]

Sweet!

Sounds like you've got yourself less spare time then.;)