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[924RACR]

Quick summary followed by random thoughts and observations.

Went out with added track, 7mm on each corner so 14mm added both front and rear. No real other changes. Practice/Qual was spent scrubbing in a new set of tires, so didn't really comment on car performance, though it felt greasy and a bit loose (even with the rear bar on full soft).

For the afternoon race we put the old R3S03's back on and added extra fuel to keep the rear planted, and the car was stupid loose, very hard to drive. Had a hard time staying in front of a slower Rustang (for 3rd) until the shift linkage popped out on the front straight, leaving us in 3rd. Had to retire, would've cooked the motor. Really was just glad to park it, couldn't have kept it on track any longer.

It was extremely hot all weekend, with ambient temps at 90 deg in the shade and track temps 115-120 in the paddock on Sunday.

Went out for emergency practice Sat AM, rear swaybar disconnected, to check both handling and shifting. Shifter worked fine - it had just been a circlip that popped loose, and a hose clamp was added for extra security. Car started out a bit tight, but started getting loose very quickly (each lap).

Decision time; car must be tightened up to make it work. Answer was go back to what worked - took out all the spacers and put the swaybar back and full soft. Also rotated the tires, as wear was catching us. Went out for the race - started again way in the back, charged the field just like the previous race weekend. Car worked great, was more driveable, and we had all kinds of speed again! Worked our way up to the bumper of the 2nd place ITB Rustang, but couldn't get by. We had major speed on him, but were too tired to line up a proper pass. Finished 3rd on his bumper (literally - wait till you see the video!).

Yeah, I know I still owe video from the previous race.

We were happy with that result, so no major changes to the car, just refueled. Took a pound of air out of the left rear, as it'd been running a pound high. Target pressures seemed to be very happy at 43-44psi hot (again, on the R3S03's).

Went out starting 4th overall, 2nd in class. 2nd row, directly behind the 1st place ITB BMW 320. Charged hard at the start, stayed behind and in contact, and picked up the 3rd overall RX7. Didn't lose a place, unlike last time, to the Mustang behind us (same one we were chasing in the previous race). Pulled away from the Mustang, but slowly losing ground to the RX7 and leaders (maybe 2-5/10ths a lap?).

Then out-braked ourselves going into turn 1 starting lap 5. Couldn't get the car to turn, and nosed it into the kitty litter. Stuck and race over, gave up the 2nd place for that one.

Real bummer. But learned a bit more this weekend, as always.

Got the engine well dialed-in, looking at plugs (EGT's weren't working). Took much longer to get the driver dialed in, but was feeling and looking very good by the end of the weekend. Smoothness was probably the biggest thing missing earlier in the weekend, as focus was a real problem heading into the weekend - too much going on off the track.

Plans for next race - putting the new tires on, and going to try just the rear spacers alone. The car's set up from the factory with less rear track, and I'm thinking at this point that we really need to fix that and make the car more balanced. Seems like rear grip is probably our biggest limitation at this point; we'll see if we can fit all the spacers on the rear without rubbing. If we can, then we'll have pretty close to even track front/rear, should make the car more balanced. More driveable, easier on tires, less likely to change handling characteristics during the course of a race.

I'm waiting to see what the oil comes out of the engine like, but I think we're in decent shape with this motor at this point. It ran strong all weekend, with no cooling trouble. The big oil cooler really made a difference.

Somewhere down the pike we may yet get our big rear torsion bars; still waiting for those to show up.

Pulled a helluva pass on the inside of the second apex on a double-apex left-hander onto the front straight to pass a Rustang for 3rd place in that race we finished; half in the dirt at 70mph wide-open throttle, pretty crazy! I heard it was pretty dramatic. That's probably the move I should've pulled on the 2nd place Rustang too!

Oh, yeah, we finally got really good radios working now too. Still using the FRS radios, but I'm now wearing good earbuds inside the car, we've moved it away from ignition interference sources, and we've got Gregg (crew chief) a good spotter headset from Sampson Racing Comm. so that he can both hear and transmit clearly. We're also running the roof antenna, but I'm not sure how much of it that is...
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[924RACR]

Dan's posted his pics:
http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=15641
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype