TransAm - TraNZam

cybersdorf · 10 Oct 2002, 22:23 (Ref:400724)

Since we have a few TransAm experts here, maybe you can tell me if there is any connection between the "original" and the series that is run in New Zealand. Are the regs identical, and do some American drivers occasionally race there during the Northern "off season"?

Warwick · 11 Oct 2002, 21:22 (Ref:401448)

I know some of the cars raced in NZ are ex USA,but I can't find a NZ site to compare regs.

I remember Paul Gentolozzi racing one year along with Peter Brock,Dick Johnson,Jim Richards and a few other Aussies,but this was a few years back.

This year the Tranzam cars aren't even part of the national series.

cybersdorf · 11 Oct 2002, 21:56 (Ref:401460)

Quote:

Originally posted by Warwick
This year the Tranzam cars aren't even part of the national series.

Why's that - not enough entrants?
And, since I have the chance to talk to a Kiwi race fan - NZ used to have a couple of 500km races, are they still run? I believe the Wellington street race is dead, right?

muggle not · 11 Oct 2002, 22:59 (Ref:401513)

In season 2000 New Zealand had 2 drivers running in the Trans Am race at Laguna Seca in California. Alan Ferguson from Auckland finished in 17th place in a Camaro (not bad) and Grant sylvester from Christchurch finished in 23rd position in a Mustang...also not too bad in a field of 34 cars. I am very proud to say that our driver, Marybeth Harrison, finished in 13th position ahead of both of them

as well as in front of 21 other cars.

racer69 · 12 Oct 2002, 12:02 (Ref:401982)

As far as i know TransAm and TraNZam rules are exactly the same. As warwick said a couple of overseas drivers used to head to New Zealand for their TraNZam series. I believe however that entries began to drop and for 2002/03 NZ season TraNZam was dropped as a national category, ironically i have heard as entries were just beginning to rise again. A Trans-Tasman type championship is trying to be put together where the NZ cars would go up against Australian Sports Sedans (a formula were pretty much anything goes, but must be in the body, albeit allowed to be heavily modified, of a road car, think something similiar to silouette), with modifications made to even out the competition.

As for long distance races, there was the Nissan-Mobil 500 series for Touring Cars which took place between 1985-1996, which regularely attracted international entries. In involved a 500km street race around Wellington, followed a week later by a 500km race around the Pukekohe circuit. The Schnitzer BMW team won the Wellington event four straight years 1988-1991.

The Wellington street race died because the council wouldn't update the circuit to meet FIA standards. In 1999? a new 500km race for New Zealand Touring Cars was run at Pukekohe, and has been run every years since, but has now moved on to another circuit, not sure which though.

Didn't Craig Baird finish 2nd at the Texas? Trans-Am race in 2000.

Warwick · 13 Oct 2002, 09:19 (Ref:402571)

The 500km race is now the Yellow pages 500 and is on at Ruapuna next weekend,last year it was called the Liquor King 500,combined car/motorcycle meet,i'll be out in the middle picking up dead bikes and such,Tranzam will run at this as support races.

Tranzam has some opposition from Osca (open saloon car association)which is mostly run in the South,basically older and more varied body shapes,V8 cortinas,capris,lexus V8 civics,bigger engines,6.0l,carburetted can't remember the rest,they have sometimes raced mixed classes but seem unable to agree on rules to allow them to race together.

cybersdorf · 13 Oct 2002, 10:34 (Ref:402629)

I found this link but the site seems to be down right now - www.osca.co.nz
How do the NZ V8 touring cars compare to the AUS V8 Supercars - are the regs the same?
Thanks for your patience

racer69 · 13 Oct 2002, 12:40 (Ref:402770)

I think the NZ V8s are built to a lower spec, more production based than a V8 Supercar.

alfasud · 14 Oct 2002, 06:55 (Ref:403468)

Here are some links to the NZ TraNZam races:
http://www.motorsport.org.nz/mrnz/Pages/Tzpage.htm

The rules are designed so that you can take a U.S. built TransAm car and compete with minimum changes. Aussie Sports Sedan rules are a bit looser, so the quickest Aussie Sports Sedans are a bit faster than the TraNZam cars.

Rules for Motorsport NZ series are here:
http://www.motorsport.org.nz/Regs/regulations.htm

If you scroll down to appendix 4 you can find the V8 touring car rules.

muggle not · 16 Oct 2002, 20:54 (Ref:406048)

Anyone need any Trans Am cars there are a lot for sale. Tom Gloy has ALL his for sale as he is now leaving TA after the VIR race. He was in TA for a long time. Gentillozi and Gloy are 2 of the better teams in TA and it is tough to lose them. Guess that means we wont see Leitzinger in TA next year.

cybersdorf · 17 Oct 2002, 11:16 (Ref:406397)

"TransAm crisis"?

muggle not · 22 Oct 2002, 22:39 (Ref:410733)

Rumor mill....Trans Am being sold by Panoz. His dream of building a car empire through TA (like in the movie Tucker) did not pan out. Maybe this week or next. Paul G a possible buyer? P.G. is friends with Paul N., maybe a partnership?

Anyone else hear anything along these lines?

cybersdorf · 23 Oct 2002, 08:19 (Ref:410984)

So why then would Gentilozzi start an ALMS project?

muggle not · 23 Oct 2002, 11:58 (Ref:411139)

He probably wouldnt start an ALMS team if he in fact buys out the TA series. He would have his hands full with TA.

We will know something this week or next.

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