CA Sport-Skullcandy Nissan 370Z completes improbable journey from street car to Thunderhill Enduro podium in just two weeks

WILLOWS, Calif. — This past weekend, the black #33 Nissan 370Z that had been a street car just two weeks earlier finished the grueling NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill an amazing third in its class and 10^th overall Sunday at the 3.0-mile, 15-turn Thunderhill Raceway Park in northern California. The result was nearly even better, as the car ran consistent and fast race laps well into the morning hours, leading the class by four laps until a couple long unscheduled stops and fueling penalties dropped the car back.

The team of 2011 GT Academy champion Bryan Heitkotter, Vesko Kozarov, Lara Tallman and Aarron Pfadt clawed its way to the class lead in the overnight hours, with Heitkotter pulling a triple shift just before dawn.

“The car was so easy to drive; it is amazing to think it had never turned a lap on a race track until Saturday,” said Heitkotter. “We all ran consistent, steady laps to conserve the car, and after some early setbacks our race went like clockwork.”

It all didn’t start off so well. Steady rain made practice a challenge and a power steering pump issue nearly grounded the team before the green flag dropped on Saturday, December 7. No qualifying time meant starting at the back, and the team had to dispatch Heitkotter and his girlfriend to drive three hours south to Santa Clara and back to pick up a spare. The pair arrived late Friday night, missing qualifying but allowing time to install the pump before Saturday’s 11 a.m. start. The team’s racing experience paid off, showing patience with a strategy to lay down consistent and fast pace laps to inch their way up to the front after eight hours.

The team had a comfortable lead by hour 12, and maintained that cushion by daylight Sunday, with just five hours left.

“The Z was awesome to race – just super fun,” said team owner and driver Lara Tallman. “For some reason we were having trouble getting fuel into the car with the standard fuel cans without spilling it. Each time we spilled we took a five minute penalty. Twenty-five hours of racing will take its toll – a few off track excursions in the mud and track debris messed up the front splitter. Late in the race, the car ran hot, and we think one of the cooler hoses took a hit and leaked coolant.”

The CA Sport crew entered two cars, with the 370Z and other car making a combined 45 pits stops over the 25 hours. Tallman gave a lot of credit to her crew.

“We’ve got a couple beat up looking cars and we’re all very tired. The crew did an awesome job to get both cars across the finish line and on the podium,” she said. “It’s time to pack up and head to the shop now, but I can’t wait to drive the Nissan on track again.”

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Steve Yaeger
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E-mail: steve.yaeger@nissan-usa.com