Autocross, Sunday May 21st.

[ShoMotion93]

OK, guy/gals, I know this is the breakfast date in Walpole. I also realize that after breakfast planning may be in the works. I know some of you are not interested in autox, but some of you may be or are curious if you've never attended one, for those folks here's your chance. I plan on registering my car under two numbers (16 runs, or approx. 32 miles). I want to make myself clear, I'm not trying to cram this on anyone, but most places you can't even get onto an autocross site unless you know someone there. There is no entrance fee at our events (other than drivers) you need only to sign a waiver form and mention my name and/or car number (24). We are there until 5PM so there is no time crunch to worry about. BTW, we do run in the wet unless it's a monsoon (standing water on the track and fast cars do not mix well). Rather than clutter this up any further, please, if you are interested in checking out New Englands longest autocross track (to my knowlege) contact me by e-mail, please put May 21st autox on subject line or it may get deleted. One last thing, the "Cone Shark" (for lack of a better name) passed its first '06 outing with flying colors.

 

[zak]

Ken, great idea, I could give rides in my car as well. I was thinking you might be able to get the smaller front sway bar on there. Also, tires are a significant differentiator (even amogst street tires), you were runnning some kind of Kuhmo summer tire, not one of the street tire contenders, while I was running the Bridgestone S03's. These can be had half worn for $30 to $50 a tire on Ebay at times. Also I have a used source for them but this fellow tends to stock near full tread depth ones (more $s). The S-03 was the winning tire in the first STS National event back in 2000 or so, and the only one that comes in 225-55-16. Another area that could really help is a 16 x 7 or 16 x 7.5 rim. The 93-95 T-bird SC's in 16 x 7 are only 16.1 lbs, Greenleaf in Leominster carrys them and looks like they are starting a Pick-n-Pull.

If all goes right I will be there on race tires . . . zak

 

[ShoMotion93]

John, thanks for the heads up on the info. I am seriously considering the smaller front bar (nicer weather would help).The car still suffers from wheel spin in second gear even in the high speed off sets. The car seemed to track ok, the nose felt a lot better with some of the weight off and the rear seemed to stick well (except for the spin on my first run) That spin was a result of too much air pressure. Once I adjusted for that it felt much better. I'm not used to taking tire temps but the right front was running at 120 and the left front at 112 and gained 3-3.5 psi on a run. Rears ran about 88. those are average temps across the tire with a final psi adjustment of 38 front, 34 rear. I'm a little leary of lower psi with a 55 tire on a 6.5 wheel. I think the car has more potential with a tire/wheel upgrade. BTW, I do have a keen interest in those items you mentioned

 

[zak]

Folks, the fvront page of www.neshoc.com shows the runway system we use.

The entrance and paddock area are on the lower right. Course start is on the lower right where the two main runways intersect, and proceeds all the way around, ending on the main runway near the intersection on the lower right.

Ken, drop me a private message with your e-mail, I located a couple of possibilities yesterday (one set already has a partially complete set of race tires).

- zak

 

[zak]

BTW, Ken you might end up overheating your tires with that many runs . . . .better bring one of those squirter setups with water to cool down the fronts, as Pat M. was using.

zak

 

[zak]

Bumping this thread to remind the breakfast crew . . . zak

 

[batchman]

Hey guys it was great to get the MTX out on the course! Many many thanks to Fred at NESS for pulling together my clutch/trans swap amongst a predictable host of other discoveries. Held up very well Fred, NE SHO Specialists come through again !

With the MXs the car had very good grip, once I worked out the tire pressures (47/38). Just enough rear rotation, excellent turn in and transition. Funny the difference from my usual 99 Cobra. With the SHO I took the left in the last optional slalom to shorten distance, with FWD I just couldn't quite get the right rotation through the high speed sweeper if going right.

Too bad about the rain, and I wish I'd been in the same run group as you guys so we could have compared notes more/traded rides etc. I hope to make the SHO my "rain car" so will be trying to get it out again this summer to sort and learn it further. Seat time is GOOD.

And for those who are on the fence, I know hanging out and bench racing are great but there is just no substitute for taking your car out on a closed course and finding out exactly what it, and you, can do together. You really can't come anywhere even close to the limits on the street, and there's a *perfect* venue nearby and cheap to boot. Far less costly than just one simple speeding ticket, never mind the surcharges!

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[ShoMotion93]

Glad you brought the SHO out to play Jeff. I don't know what the deal was this time, did someone magnetize those cones seemed like a lot of 'em getting bagged. You did pretty well in class, spanking a Vette and a couple of Vipers among others. Shoot, I can lay claim to 1 Viper but that won't last long with Paul instructing him...if he come back.
Too bad about the rain, If we had waited it out a bit the wet track would have been a great equalizer
Did you get that minor issue squared away ok?

 

[batchman]

Did you get that minor issue squared away ok?

Heh - that was a pretty good laugh. Been so long since I messed with a carb'ed vehicle that I'd forgotten the magic elixer - starting fluid! Of course though with all those helping hands the firing order was toast, and with an Edelbrock on it there was no firing order to be found. Luck was with me though as I also recalled from long ago that at cranking there's 12v to the coil, at run only 9. So my remote starter switch was only giving me a 9v ignition system. Of course by myself it was not easy to crank from inside without throttle control - until I found a hunk of bailing wire right near where we towed it to...

Long and funny story short eyeballing the wires I hopped a couple and got from 4 cylinders firing to 6, which was enough for me to get home *almost* uneventfully. Gave me a good laugh though, hadn't spent that kind of time on a fussy motor since the 70s.

Plugs/cap/rotor/wires and a good cleaning/siliconing on all connections have it starting like a champ. Now the original problem, can't find the right throttle cable - have one broken, one too short, one too long... May just stick with my hand throttle LOL!

- Jeff

 

[batchman]

Hey Ken good to see you last Saturday, can't believe those Firestones are still holding up. You are on the right path though, best to sort things out with low grip then be ready for fast with a more suited set of tires.

I actually thought your car was sorted pretty well, though ABS sure spoils a guy (sorry about that cone!). I did come to think though that the rotation I found was probably from the 3/4 tank of gas. I'd try the same pressures you wound up at, but try to get to the event with only 1/4 tank. It's a lot of weight to have in motion, like a big pendulum. Thinking about it I think your car may well dial in better than mine, it did feel enough lighter to make a difference!

I just hope I wasn't babbling too much about that Z06 - man I never should have taken that fun run. It just did everything like I meant and man was it dissappointing to get back into my car!

Cheers,
- Jeff

 

[MYSHO1]

Ken next year i will be at every event with you, maybe, MAYBE one this year...

 

[ShoMotion93]

Sorry for the delayed reply. Jeff thanks for your advise and your points are well taken regarding the fuel. I will try that out on the 5th. I'm glad the tires are being used as "development" rubber because as you stated ABS is a good thing and getting used to the braking characteristics resulted in some flat spotting that became evident as soon as I hit the highway. I too feel the difference of weight compared to my '93 and found the car very "catchable" with the thottle in a couple of situations. BTW, I remember you mentioning you bought a laser pyrometer, would you share where you found that, I remember the price was attractive. MySHO1 hope to see there! have to run to get ready for work.

 

[batchman]

Hi Ken sorry to hear about the flat spots, I'm sure I contributed to that. Tried to modulate but not much luck. Hope they wore back round by the time you got home.

This outfit http://www.cumminstools.com did a truckload sale at my local VFW, maybe you can find it on their site. I think it was $39 or some such, just a cheapie laser dot pyrometer but enough to tell what's going on if you check right after a run. Turns out you can't really see the dot on a sunny day.

I was going to suggest you should get to at least a "known" alignment too. I was trying for -1.5 deg camber front, -.75 degree camber rear, and 0 toe all around but didn't quite get there as my usually good alignment guy at Sullivan Tire decided I was prime for a porking. I won't be back.

Cheerio and see you on the 5th (I hope). For the rest of you guys you've really got to check this out it just beats the **** out of anything on the street.!
- Jeff

 

[ShoMotion93]

No worries about the tires I'm sure they will be abused in the next 3 events I need an excuse to get new ones, the "other half" sees stuff laying around (Kumos on chromies) and its "why can't you use those".
I've talked to a couple of alignment places and they want to go right by the book. I guess I'll have to check out some more places, or learn to do it myself. Thanks for that link, I'll check it out. I'll be there on the 5th, hopefully with a few hours sleep Did Pat post the results of the last event on the Cobra web site or is something else going on?

 

[batchman]

Darn. Just went all through that site and their sales brochure and no sign of the cheapo infrared laser-dot pyrometer, you could try their 800 number. You're welcome to use mine at the events, you do have to do it as soon as your run ends though. Since it's not a probe type you're really only getting a surface reading and that cools off fast. I'm thinking I should be checking before even getting back in line. And I had my MX's at 165 degrees at the grid, think I was overdriving them much?? LOL! What you're really after though is the difference across the tire, to help dial in your alignment and pressures versus your driving.

Pat emailed the results, I'd send them but they're on my box at work and I don't think I can send an attachment through the email feature here. Do you have his email address? Drop him a note.

Best,
- Jeff