Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

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SLOroadster
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Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by SLOroadster »

It was a beautiful day for racing. After making a whole pile of changes to the car to get it ready to play at Sears Point at the beginning of the month, I was excited to try it on the autoX again. Before I was having traction issues still and on top of that, understeer issues. Well, they were gone this time. The course was tight and technical, but a lot of fun. I had a guest driver, a friend from San Luis Obispo who has been my semi- arch rival for the past 2 years. He holed his radiator in his 510 and came up with another friend. I offered the car up because I wanted a tire warmer. Since I was running bias ply Hoosier Street TDs, I wasn't sure how it would do. Well, I had nothing to worry about. My co driver had never driven with race tires, and was about to be in for a big surprise. He also wasn't used to having power in his car either. He made steady improvements through out the day. After his 4 runs, it was my turn.

After taking 4 trips through the course with my co-driver, I knew how the car felt, I knew where I could be faster, and I could feel that it was working the way it should. My first run was a good opening pace, with a passenger, but I left some time on the table. 2nd run was faster, cleaner in some areas, worse in others. I got a rerun, so the tires were really starting to get warm now. On my 3rd clocked run, I was really starting to get into the swing of things, and was running a good line, lost a little here and there, but had a solid time going. 4th run, I threw caution to the wind and went out to have fun. The car was totally neutral through all the corners, the understeer I had run into before was totally gone, and the car was nicely driftable. I put down my fastest time for the day drifting most of the course, and it was just as fast as not drifting. I think it was a product of the tires being used, but they were predictable and a lot of fun to run. I managed to pull off a 2nd in class, couldn't catch the guy in the 914 running a new set of Hoosier A6s. (I pretty much knew I couldn't get close, but 2nd was doable.)

Here are a series of pics with me flinging the car through the finishing slalom/box. The car was very stable, and never once wanted to swap ends even though I was hammering through the section.
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The car seems much more flat through the corner with this setup. I like it.

A little drift action...
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Is that 3 wheel action I see?
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More drifting...
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That is without a doubt 3 wheel action, I didn't know I was doing that, infact I've never seen the car do that before.
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I think I was really pushing it through this section.
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November 8th is the last race of the season, I wasn't planning on running the Roadster for it, but after this last event, I think I might have to. I think I might have to lure my friend Tim Arnett out to run it as well.

Will
Last edited by SLOroadster on Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:01 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Sorry, I find modern engine swaps revolting. Keep your G, R, or U series in your Roadster!
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SLOroadster
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by SLOroadster »

Ok, what the heck, why did my links not work?

Will
Sorry, I find modern engine swaps revolting. Keep your G, R, or U series in your Roadster!
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by ppeters914 »

SLOroadster wrote:Ok, what the heck, why did my links not work?
You somehow deleted the first bracket "[" of the closing IMG tag.
Pete
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by SLOroadster »

Thanks, now only one of the links doesn't work, oh well.

Will
Sorry, I find modern engine swaps revolting. Keep your G, R, or U series in your Roadster!
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ppeters914
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by ppeters914 »

SLOroadster wrote:Thanks, now only one of the links doesn't work, oh well.
Replace thumbnail with IMG
Pete
-------------------------------------
'67 1600 - frame off started in 2014. Now I know why roadster projects take so long. What a stupid idea. :smt021
'66 1600 - parts car
'66 WPL411 ***SOLD***
A couple of Porsches, a RAV4 Hybrid, and a motorcycle
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by SLOroadster »

I so wish I could find the in car video I shot. I hate my computers filing system. It eats videos off my digital camera.

Will
Sorry, I find modern engine swaps revolting. Keep your G, R, or U series in your Roadster!
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by dridge11 »

Looks great man...wish I could join you for the last race. Also really dig the black wheels on your ride.
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by RC240z »

looks good Will, that last photo looks like 10/10ths as you are crossed up on three wheels...

I think you need to just slightly lower your roll center in the rear or slightly tighten the front of your car to keep all 4 on the ground...

What do you think?

R
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SLOroadster
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by SLOroadster »

Roll center in the rear, yes, the front felt great. It didn't push at all. The last time the car felt even remotely close to this good was when I first put the Kuhmo V710s on and had never driven a car with R compounds before. I'm thinking the back end should come down another .5" to .75" (It will look better as well.) I don't have time to get another set of lowering blocks made between now and Nov 7th, so they will have to go on the list to be taken care of this winter. I couldn't feel any axle wrap nor did I have any noticeable lateral movement in the back end.

I'm debating on running one more track day at Thunderhill in December, but I don't know that I can trust the weather.

Will
Sorry, I find modern engine swaps revolting. Keep your G, R, or U series in your Roadster!
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SLOroadster
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by SLOroadster »

I found the video for this, but I can't link it here easily, so to youtube it goes.

Will
Sorry, I find modern engine swaps revolting. Keep your G, R, or U series in your Roadster!
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SLOroadster
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by SLOroadster »

[youtube][/youtube]

enjoy,

Will
Sorry, I find modern engine swaps revolting. Keep your G, R, or U series in your Roadster!
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RC240z
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by RC240z »

Hi Will,

The car looks controllable and will drift out (oversteer) a little under power, I would lower the back of the car just a touch and test again, see if you can get it to stick a little better...Of course tires could help here too.

All in all, really solid looking.
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Re: Nor Cal UFO AutoX event #9

Post by st3ph3nm »

Will, those pics are awesome! Looks like you're having a ball. I'm heading to a hill-climb this coming weekend, but only to spectate, I'm afraid. Competition is going to have to wait for next year, and new tyres. You've certainly got some commitment in those last couple of shots! You already know my feelings on the ride height issue - I also think you'll have it pretty much sorted when you can fix that up.

Cheers, and congrats on a great 2nd place!
Steve
SR311-01113 U22
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