AutoX/Track Day fans?

[fdesalvo]

Been itching to race.  Haven't since I left Louisiana.  Any of you guys have any seat time?

[Willabe]

What is it?

Louisiana, where?


                      Brad       

[fdesalvo]

Haha, I'm out on SoCal now and have access to Willow Springs.  $150 get's you a day at the track.  Back home, we had SCCA AutoX events all over.  Just wondering if anyone else has tracked their car or had a little fun with orange cones in parking lots.  Here's my little beastie -

What is it?

Louisiana, where?


                      Brad       

[DummyLoad]

used to, on 2 wheels tho.

much more fun on 2. 

--DL

[Willabe]

She looks beautiful.


                 Brad       

[fdesalvo]

used to, on 2 wheels tho.

much more fun on 2. 

--DL

Cornering fast enough will get you on 2!

[fdesalvo]

Thanks!

She looks beautiful.


                 Brad       

[Ritchie200]

Oh man!  She looks nice!  You hit a soft spot with me!  I know what you mean by itching to race!

Can you guess the track?  It is in the Formula 1 layout....  The photo at the start/finish line was at ~145 - well it was at the end of the straight before braking into turn 1!  Notice, no helmet?  Story behind that...

Gateway in Illinois across the river from St. Louis has track days about 3 times a year.  Kind of short, but still fun.  That is, until the pesky little Miatas catch you in the twisties!  Highlight was a couple years ago I got a ride in Roland Linder's F40LM, you may remember his Mother's commercials on Speedchannel.  We were the only two Ferraris to show up against the onslaught of Porches.  I told him he owed me!

Jim

[fdesalvo]

SWEET 308 son!!!

LMAO @ Miatas - the ALWAYS get you in the corners!  SO funny..the track instructor at Willow Springs always gives the same speech before letting people on the track: "You guys in your vipers and Corvettes - when you see the little Miata behind you as you enter the corner, get out of his way because he's faster than you are."  

I'm the only one of my friends that will admit to having respect for the Miata - and it's a damn good thing for me (and my love life) that I didn't fit into the three I tried  .

But back to the 308 - brother, such a sweet ride and I have a HUGE soft spot for mid engine cars.  Amazing story about Linder, too!

My manager owns a 2004 Mustang Cobra that is fully race prepped, yet still street legal (?) and he hands out loads of ass whooping' at the track.  He takes video with his Droid and it's synced with an app that produces and overlay that's tied into the phone's GPS, so it can help you log your time and gives you access to tons of data.  I've seen him crush Porsches, Ferraris, AWD turbo cars, etc on the track.  Sometimes I think he's a great driver.  Other times I think people aren't as serious and don't want to risk scratching their $150K toys hehe.

Edit - awesome pics and shot quality - what did you shoot with?  That third one is going to be my background for a while.

Oh man!  She looks nice!  You hit a soft spot with me!  I know what you mean by itching to race!

Can you guess the track?  It is in the Formula 1 layout....  The photo at the start/finish line was at ~145 - well it was at the end of the straight before braking into turn 1!  Notice, no helmet?  Story behind that...

Gateway in Illinois across the river from St. Louis has track days about 3 times a year.  Kind of short, but still fun.  That is, until the pesky little Miatas catch you in the twisties!  Highlight was a couple years ago I got a ride in Roland Linder's F40LM, you may remember his Mother's commercials on Speedchannel.  We were the only two Ferraris to show up against the onslaught of Porches.  I told him he owed me!

Jim

[Ritchie200]

Yeah, those Miata guys are a little....  Well, let's just say that they rank up there with the Beemer drivers who all feel they should have been picked up by Haas Racing.....  I give them plenty of room....

I'm sure you know the track!  It was two days after Michael Schumacher won his last race there.  It was supposed to be a "controlled" run that became very uncontrolled!  I cleaned up that 355 in front of me - hehe!  My smile lasted for days!  We had full access to the track and facilities.  All the emergency vehicles were kind of sobering...  I think I lifted for... a second!

[fdesalvo]

So jealous!  That's a legendary track! 

[Ritchie200]

So tell me the goodies you have added to your Honda!

Jim

[fdesalvo]

Bone stock!  I normally mod my car, but this one is so well balanced I can't justify it. What's your daily driver?

[Ritchie200]

What tires do you run on track?
Jim

[fdesalvo]

BFG Sport Comp 2s right now. They have a wider contact patch than the stock RE050s that I was running, but it feels like the sidewalls flex a bit. In their defense, I am still experimenting with Diff psi. Also, its throwing the balace of the car off; I'm noticing the car push more through corners. This could indicate I need to go one step wider up front to compensate.

These cars come with a staggered setup, so I can't run the same size up front.  Stock fronts are 215/50/17 with 245/45/17 rear - the rears accommodate up to 265s and up to 235 on the front rims. I think I'll go back to stock setup or go for a 225 up front next set to balance the wider rears.

How about u?

What tires do you run on track?
Jim

[Ritchie200]

Tire Rack?

Yeah, it's amazing how a lb more or less will make a difference when you are finding the limits.  What about your roll bar bushings?

The year I drove Indy was the year of the great tire debacle where only 6 cars raced due to the failing Michelins.  The last turn after the short chute to the main straight (turn one for Indycar) still had the skid marks from Ralph Schumacher's car when his tires failed and he stuffed it into the wall - and off to the hospital.  What was I running?  Michelin....

Jim

[fdesalvo]

Yeah haha - had them installed at America's Tire - it was then they told me they could've saved me $45! 

Yeah it's frustrating now that I've upset the balance of the car to some degree.  The car has about 45K on the clock and I usually do suspension maintenance/upgrades at 60.  Nothing wrong with doing it sooner haha. 

The trouble wih this car is that stock, it's pretty much maxed out in every regard and the only upgrades worth doing are very expensive and only give marginal gains.  I/H/E will only net about 20hp and maybe 10lbft tq at a cost of $3K.  If I would do anything, it would be in the form of a supercharger or motor swap - lots of guys putting LT1s in these :D. 

How is maintenance on your red head?

Tire Rack?

Yeah, it's amazing how a lb more or less will make a difference when you are finding the limits.  What about your roll bar bushings?

The year I drove Indy was the year of the great tire debacle where only 6 cars raced due to the failing Michelins.  The last turn after the short chute to the main straight (turn one for Indycar) still had the skid marks from Ralph Schumacher's car when his tires failed and he stuffed it into the wall - and off to the hospital.  What was I running?  Michelin....

Jim

[Ritchie200]

LT1?!?!?!  That is a lot of weight!  I don't know if I would like that.  Yeah, tons of grunt but it's a glorified Viper now, huge P to W that you can't stick in a corner.  Like you said, balance is EVERYTHING.  Oversized throttle body?  Cam?  (I/H/E? Sorry!)

If you wanted to get crazy, you could put spacers on the front.  Why, you might ask?  Widen the front track and you eliminate understeer - an old racing go kart trick. Soften up the front bar?

Well the "official" Red Head is the flat 12.  My wife calls the 308 the "Beater" Ferrari.  I call her Big Red!  Most I have done is cam belts and tensioners and a water pump, plugs, oil changes, etc..  Oh, and rear wheel bearings right after I got it.  The motor is bulletproof.  I've had it over 7 grand many times and it just goes - and there is nothing like the sound of a flat crank at high RPM   The 308/328 motor was the easiest and longest lasting motor they EVER built - and one that even a hack like me could work on.  Old Bosch Jetronic injection that can't be any simpler.  Tranny is great if you take care of it.  Weak syncros and a small clutch.  It is so slick if you give it time, its not a yank and grab.  Lots of info out there to cross reference cheap parts.  The steering is the most unbelievable experience I have EVER had.  I can tell when the tires are cold, I can feel the texture and adhesion of the road surface - all through the steering wheel.  Just unbelievable.  Cost to buy and own is less than a used newer minivan. 

Oh, I just saw your question about the camera.  It was a cheap point and shoot Canon that I stuck out the roof.  If you look close at the yard of bricks pic, you can see my video camera on a tripod between the seats and poking up above the roof.  I have it all on video.  It's to the point around my house where my kids go, "NOOO!!!! Not the Indy video AGAIN!"   Ha!

Jojokeo is another big motorhead here, I'm surprised he hasnt jumped in!

Jim

[fdesalvo]

Haha, if not a LT1, I would go for the honda 3.5, but being able to mate it up to a clutch and tranny is important for me bc I don't have unlimited funds for loads of fab work - the LT1s have proven to be solid motors for these cars without disturbing the balance *too much*.

I/H/E - intake/headers/exhaust - haha -  think I'm going to let her be what she's gonna be.  Honda squeezed out 100hp/liter by making it the most efficient air pump possible!

Yeah, usually Red Head get used only for the Testarossa, but the Red Valve cover is so typical or Ferrari - I love Ferraris like no other - love a 60s Dino!  I bet yours sound like pure music!

LT1?!?!?!  That is a lot of weight!  I don't know if I would like that.  Yeah, tons of grunt but it's a glorified Viper now, huge P to W that you can't stick in a corner.  Like you said, balance is EVERYTHING.  Oversized throttle body?  Cam?  (I/H/E? Sorry!)

If you wanted to get crazy, you could put spacers on the front.  Why, you might ask?  Widen the front track and you eliminate understeer - an old racing go kart trick. Soften up the front bar?

Well the "official" Red Head is the flat 12.  My wife calls the 308 the "Beater" Ferrari.  I call her Big Red!  Most I have done is cam belts and tensioners and a water pump, plugs, oil changes, etc..  Oh, and rear wheel bearings right after I got it.  The motor is bulletproof.  I've had it over 7 grand many times and it just goes - and there is nothing like the sound of a flat crank at high RPM  The 308/328 motor was the easiest and longest lasting motor they EVER built - and one that even a hack like me could work on.  Old Bosch Jetronic injection that can't be any simpler.  Tranny is great if you take care of it.  Weak syncros and a small clutch.  It is so slick if you give it time, its not a yank and grab.  Lots of info out there to cross reference cheap parts.  The steering is the most unbelievable experience I have EVER had.  I can tell when the tires are cold, I can feel the texture and adhesion of the road surface - all through the steering wheel.  Just unbelievable.  Cost to buy and own is less than a used newer minivan.  

Oh, I just saw your question about the camera.  It was a cheap point and shoot Canon that I stuck out the roof.  If you look close at the yard of bricks pic, you can see my video camera on a tripod between the seats and poking up above the roof.  I have it all on video.  It's to the point around my house where my kids go, "NOOO!!!! Not the Indy video AGAIN!"  Ha!

Jojokeo is another big motorhead here, I'm surprised he hasnt jumped in!

Jim

[Ritchie200]

Just watched the Rolex 250 from Elkhart.  There was an RX8 that was just blowing past the Corvettes, Camaros, Beemers, Audi, and even the Porches!  I didn't know they were so potent!  I know the rotary motors wind up crazy, but this was impressive!  Well, impressive enough for 2nd place.  Oh, a Ferrari 458 won that GT class!

Dinos are cool.  My unlimited funds car would be an F40.  If business stays good and I can get my kids through college and still have a few bucks left over, my next one is a F355.  5 valves, 8500 redline, oh yeah!  An old Challenge car would be perfect - street/track!  They are getting cheap.

Jim

[fdesalvo]

355s re probably one of the nicest designs to roll out of the shop- at least ones with a manual tranny.   In la we have some amazing automotive museums and showrooms around. You have a blast just window shopping! 

Yah the ol wankel power plants can make massive numbers - just not reliably!

[Ritchie200]

Take a look at what I visited today!  Indy cars from the 50's on up, Can Am cars from the 60's, Le Mans and American series cars, spare motors, trannies, bodywork, tubs, chassis,....  Oh man, I was in HEAVEN!!!

Jim

Oh, bottom pic is a 11 liter Donovan block V8 in the McLaren Can Am car....wow.....  Look at the diameter of the injectors compared to the distributer - about 5"!  1100hp at the back wheels...

[fdesalvo]

Ah you bastard!  I'm going to the Peterson automotive museum because of this!

[Ritchie200]

THis is a company that specializes in sales of vintage race cars, parts, parts, parts, restoration and support - for clients and gets them ready for track days and vintage series.  They also provide arrive-and-drive support at the track.  Wish I had that kind of $$$$$$$$!  Talk about history!  A couple of Foyt cars, a couple of Ongais cars, on and on!  Really cool.

Jim

[fdesalvo]

Man I had no idea that existed.  Yeah to retire early with money would rock.

[PRR]

> 11 liter Donovan block V8 in the McLaren Can Am

Is an 8-Liter (494-496 cubic-inch).

On my trip to the Transportation Museum I saw this V-8 motorcycle:

[Ritchie200]

Sorry, my bad - he told me 11 so maybe it is 10+ liter.  I'm sure it was punched out.  From the website:
McLaren M8F Reproduction
 
The McLaren M8F Reproduction uses the highest standard of materials and
craftsmanship.
 
The 10 liter all aluminum Big Block Chevy race engine(Donovan Engineering) with Lucas timed injection produces a staggering 1100 hp.
 
The power is delivered to a reinforced Hewland LG600 MKII (5 speed w reverse). 
 
To ensure massive stopping power the car utilizes large 4 piston AP calipers all the way around.
 
The chassis is fabricated to the highest standards and is brand new.  The car has just been painted.
 
The engine, transaxle, fuel cells, wheels, and uprights are brand new.
 
The car is extremely attractive, ready to run and is very fast!


Are those training wheels on that bike?  Can you imagine trying to keep that upright?  I'm sure that is not an aluminum block!  No thanks....

Jim

[PRR]

> McLaren M8F Reproduction

Whoops; sorry, I missed the fact that this is a "Tribute Act".

Yes, Donovan makes "BBC" blocks 11 Liters and bigger. And has been doing it *almost* since the days of grand CanAm.

> I'm sure that is not an aluminum block!

That rig is over 3,000 pounds... good old-school cast iron. Those are landing wheels; you can't put your foot out like on a Harley.

[Ritchie200]

I'm old enough to remember the old ground pounding CanAm cars and the glorious noise they used to make.  NASCAR has nothing on these guys!

Jim