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Pontiac Solstice Finishes Third in SCCA Club Racing (SSB)

12942 Views 34 Replies 19 Participants Last post by  jfaphoenix32, 
sixgun
Pontiac Solstice made a podium debut this past weekend in its first ever Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) race, finishing third in the Showroom Stock B (SSB) class during the New England Region May National at New Hampshire International Speedway on May 6.

Newly classed by SCCA in SSB for 2006, the Solstice was race-prepared by Phoenix Performance and driven by 18-year-old amateur driving sensation Andrew Aquilante.

http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=32329

Aquilante finished only 1.3 seconds out of first behind two Mazda Miatas, and set the fastest lap time for the race at 1:18.030. Out of seven entries, he was the second fastest qualifier with a time of 1:17.832, which was merely .009 seconds off the pole heading into Saturday’s race.

“Finishing on the podium in its first race is quite an accomplishment for the Pontiac Solstice, especially when you consider the two cars ahead of Andrew finished first and third overall last season in the Northeast Division SSB class,” said GM Performance Division’s racing expert “Heinrocket” John Heinricy. “We’re thrilled with the outcome and excited for an even better finish at Nelson Ledges.”

Aquilante will race the team’s Solstice in the Mahoning Valley Region May National event at Nelson Ledges Road Course in Garrettsville, Ohio on Sunday, May 28.

The car is one of the first to roll off the line with the Z0K Club Sport regular production order option package, which is designed for the weekend racer and currently available to order through any Pontiac dealership.

Developed by GM Performance Division, the Club Sport package features the standard five-speed manual transmission along with antilock brakes (ABS), a limited-slip differential, an improved power steering cooler and FE3 suspension. The FE3 suspension will be standard on the recently announced 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP.

No other options are available when ordering the Club Sport Solstice, but some components and safety equipment are required by SCCA to make it track ready, including a hardtop, racing tires, higher friction brake pads, rollcage, seatbelts, etc. A catback exhaust system (sans muffler) will maximize the power output.

Aquilante is the 2004 Northeast Division Rookie of the Year and 2005 Philadelphia Region Driver of the Year. He is also the two-time defending Northeast Division Touring 1 (T1) champion for 2004 and 2005 driving a Corvette C5 Z06.

GM Performance Division develops compelling, low volume, high-performance production and specialty vehicles, including the 205 hp Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged, 395 hp Chevy Trailblazer SS and 400hp Chevy SSR; the 400 hp CTS-V, 469 hp STS-V and 443 hp XLR-V from the Cadillac V-Series; and the 205 hp Saturn ION Red Line.

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jimbo
It will be great to see these cars out on the track.

I don't know about the rest of you all, but it's been way too long for me since I've actually been excited about the cars I own. I know this is juvenile, but I've always loved seeing race cars on the track that look just like the one I'm driving. FWIW, I would make a terrible race car driver, so don't take this the wrong way - as if I am a wanna be or identify with racers in any way.

Even while knowing it is silly, I can't help get caught up in the excitement about my car and seeing them win on a racetrack just feels good to me, when there is no logical reason why it should. That is immature, but I don't care.

I'm an insufferable car nut and I buy the marketing, the hype, the "win on sunday sell on Monday" and I am shamelessly unapologetic about my shallowness in this regard.

It makes me happy. Nuff said. :party:
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DCLocal
jimbo said:
It will be great to see these cars out on the track.

I don't know about the rest of you all, but it's been way too long for me since I've actually been excited about the cars I own. I know this is juvenile, but I've always loved seeing race cars on the track that look just like the one I'm driving. FWIW, I would make a terrible race car driver, so don't take this the wrong way - as if I am a wanna be or identify with racers in any way.

Even while knowing it is silly, I can't help get caught up in the excitement about my car and seeing them win on a racetrack just feels good to me, when there is no logical reason why it should. That is immature, but I don't care.

I'm an insufferable car nut and I buy the marketing, the hype, the "win on sunday sell on Monday" and I am shamelessly unapologetic about my shallowness in this regard.

It makes me happy. Nuff said. :party:
Click to expand...
:agree:
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D
Hear! Hear!
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stang
jimbo said:
It will be great to see these cars out on the track.

I don't know about the rest of you all, but it's been way too long for me since I've actually been excited about the cars I own. I know this is juvenile, but I've always loved seeing race cars on the track that look just like the one I'm driving. FWIW, I would make a terrible race car driver, so don't take this the wrong way - as if I am a wanna be or identify with racers in any way.

Even while knowing it is silly, I can't help get caught up in the excitement about my car and seeing them win on a racetrack just feels good to me, when there is no logical reason why it should. That is immature, but I don't care.

I'm an insufferable car nut and I buy the marketing, the hype, the "win on sunday sell on Monday" and I am shamelessly unapologetic about my shallowness in this regard.

It makes me happy. Nuff said. :party:
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So you're saying that you might be buying a Miata at the end of the year! :eek:

Mazda finished #1 & #2. You said:
I'm an insufferable car nut and I buy the marketing, the hype, the "win on sunday sell on Monday" and I am shamelessly unapologetic about my shallowness in this regard.
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Pontiac didn't win, so using your logic, you probably have already been to the Mazda dealer. :lol:

In case anyone takes this the wrong way. I'm just kidding. :D
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mceb
Cross link to thread over in our racing forum. Has a few pics of race in that thread:
http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15890

Also note the "Solstice forum.com" sticker on hood :thumbs:
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6
stang said:
Pontiac didn't win, so using your logic, you probably have already been to the Mazda dealer. :lol:
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Solstice had the fastest lap time, so technically it was the fastest car in the race. Our "whiz kid" driver was going from a ZO6 to a 4-banger and will need some time to adjust his technique. On the other hand, the MX-5's room for improvement is very limited, while Solstice is "jus' gettin' started".
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SolsticeMan
Of course, the big unknown is how the NC MX-5's will do. I believe the setups are different between MX-5 cup and SCCA (rule differences). If it is unfavorable for the NC MX-5 to run SCCA, they may not participate in SCCA SSB racing this year, they have MX-5 cup and other stuff to do...
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L
SolsticeMan said:
Of course, the big unknown is how the NC MX-5's will do.
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Nope, an NC already won SSB at Summit Point Nationals

It's my understanding that a SSB Solstice was there but didn't run because it was raining.
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SolsticeMan
LBJay said:
...It's my understanding that a SSB Solstice was there but didn't run because it was raining.
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Sorry, LB', gotta throw the
flag on that one. Nice rumor, but not true.

My understanding is that the SSB Solstice that was there was a GM-owned "race-ready Media Car" at the race for static display by GMPD. It didn't run because GM is not directly sponsoring any of the cars competing in national races. They are all privateer piloted cars, and the first car that ran at NH is really the first production Z0K car (built to race specs by Phoenix Performance) to compete officially in an SCCA Club Racing National Event.
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jimbo
stang said:
So you're saying that you might be buying a Miata at the end of the year! :eek:

Pontiac didn't win, so using your logic, you probably have already been to the Mazda dealer. :lol:
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THAT'S FIGHTIN' TALK. COME AND GIT YER CAN O' WHOOP ASS!! :cuss: :smash: :mad:



:jester:
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L
SolsticeMan said:
Sorry, LB', gotta throw the
flag on that one. Nice rumor, but not true.
Click to expand...
Just passing on what I heard from a SM racer.

Solstice SSB results from Summit Point National Race...

My father asked them why the weren't racing and they told him it was too wet... Oh well...
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Maybe they were pulling his leg...
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J
The SSB race At summit point was won by a 1999 Miata driven by Jim Ocuto... It was not a new style Miata...

He was in second place when the first place car (a 2002 Pontiac Firebird V6, driven by Don Knowles) developed a fuel stumble 3 laps from the end and slowed down...

The Solstice on display was a race ready GM Media car and will not be used for racing.. It is for demo display only...

Joe
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sixgun
Pontiac Solstice Nabs Thirds

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=115301#4

Great photo's in this article. Click on the link.
Nice to see it ahead of the Mazda.

WARREN, Mich. — The Pontiac Solstice notched a podium debut this past weekend during its first Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) race, finishing third in the Showroom Stock B class at the New England Region May National at New Hampshire International Speedway on May 6.

Newly classed by SCCA in SSB for 2006, the Solstice was race-prepared by Phoenix Performance and driven by 18-year-old amateur Andrew Aquilante. He finished only 1.3 seconds out of first behind two Mazda Miatas, and set the fastest lap time for the race at 1:18.030.

The car is one of the first to roll off the line with the Z0K Club Sport regular production order option package, designed for the weekend racer and currently available to order through any Pontiac dealership.

Developed by GM Performance Division, the Club Sport package features the standard five-speed manual transmission along with antilock brakes (ABS), a limited-slip differential, an improved power-steering cooler and FE3 suspension. The FE3 suspension will be standard on the recently announced 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP.

No other options are available when ordering the Club Sport Solstice, but some components and safety equipment are required by SCCA to make it track ready, including a hardtop, racing tires, higher-friction brake pads, rollcage and seatbelts. A catback exhaust system (sans muffler) will maximize the power output.

What this means to you: Racing seems a lot cooler when you can actually own the cars you're watching.
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brentil
2
Images from article.

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SolsticeMan
jfaphoenix32 said:
The SSB race At summit point was won by a 1999 Miata driven by Jim Ocuto... It was not a new style Miata...

He was in second place when the first place car (a 2002 Pontiac Firebird V6, driven by Don Knowles) developed a fuel stumble 3 laps from the end and slowed down...

The Solstice on display was a race ready GM Media car and will not be used for racing.. It is for demo display only...

Joe
Click to expand...
Knowles... I bet he'd be a great driver behind the wheel of a sol'.... if he fit :lol:

Dude can DRIVE!
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J
Obe don Knowle does fit...
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brentil
5
Thanks to bigblau it's mad crazy image time. :thumbs:
1~5

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brentil
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