Come watch AMS at One Lap

[AMS stampy]

This saturday at The Autobahn Country Club AMS Will be Competing in the First Track event for one lap of America.


The event starts at 4pm This saturday.

There is a $5 cover at the gate to spectate.

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we had a custom Carbon fiber splitter made, I think its strong enough...

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To view the Full One lap of america schedule click the link below

http://www.onelapofamerica.com/history/schedule.shtml?y=2006

The shop will also be attending Next Fridays Event at Road america

you can View the full details of Autobahn Country club here:

www.autobahncountryclub.net
Autobahn Country Club, 3795 Patterson Road, Joliet, IL 60436
Autobahn CC Phone 815-722-2223 Fax 815-722-2221

Eric

 

[schemauer]

Good luck! I live 40 minutes from Road America and I'll plan to be there on the Friday that you run. Keep my cell # and call me if there are any items you might need me to bring in with me that morning. Scott 920-360-2975

 

[Rx3]

Good luck guys! Unfortunatly, none of the stops are near my area, but I'll be following along on the website.


Do you guys still plan to attempt the Time Attack @ Beaver Run?

 

[mavisky]

I see you guys added some additional front supports as well after your test day. Car's looking sexy, best of luck out there.

 

[Greg Collier]

Sounds like a blast... wish I was out there running with you

 

[mavisky]

Crap, if the girl didn't have her EMT test and I didn't have an autox tomorrow I'd be there all day long. Maybe I can catch up with you guys at Putnam or US41 on Thursday.

 

[AMS stampy]

Thank alot for all the support guys, the more the merrier.

we will be attending the time attack series as well, including beaverun.

All event with the exception of no problem raceway park is allowing spectators.

you can view more here www.onelapofamerica.com

Eric

 

[ericbev]

I raced at the Autobahn Countryclub last year with SpeedTrialUSA. We were only on the north track though, not the whole thing.

I live about 25 minutes from the club and you can count on me being there.

I was just there 3 days ago watching some people run some laps because I got bored after I finished my work for the day. I wish I had a membership there.

Yes your EVO has a trailer hitch.

 

[logic]

Dammit! If I wasn't stuck in Colorado for work right now, I'd be there in a heartbeat. The car looks fantastic, guys; good luck!

 

[Slow old poop]

Can't make it to Autobahn, but we'll be at Midamerica Motorplex on Sunday.
With luck, we'll bring the blue Eclipse (with your AMS 2.3 stroker motor!). It'll be a good way to put several hundred break-in miles on the engine, and you can look at it and tell us all the things we did wrong.

If you've never run the track before, here are a few tips:

http://www.midamericamotorplex.com/2006/rc_maps.asp

Watch turn 3! It is a decreasing radius turn to the right. The trick is to go very deep on entry -- all the way to the grass-- before turning in. Then, not too much power until about halfway through, or you will plow right off.

Once out of 3, full power all the way to 5. The AWD will pull you through 4 just fine, although it does get a little hairy when the power comes on (I got wheelspin on all 4 wheels there once, and went off into the grass at 100+. Unless you are REALLY putting down power, you should be OK)

Go all the way to the grass before turning into 5

7-8 is a double apex. Very late entry into 7, then turn in again for 8

At 9-10, brake, clip the apex of 9 under full power, then slam on the brakes for 10. Otherwise, you get into a seesaw movement, with the car whipping back and forth.

Tap the brakes to put weight on the front tires, then flat through 12

Hope these help. I know you guys don't have much time to practice, so maybe these tips will increase your learning curve. Turn 3 is the hardest.

Rich

 

[Slow old poop]

We drove the Eclipse 200+ miles over to MidAmerica Motorplex to view One Lap, break in the new engine, check out the AMS Evo, and cheer on one of our track buddies. A few observations:

1. I never realized before how BIG EVOs are. The AMS car has a widebody kit, so it is very wide, but it is also very tall. It's amazing how such a tall , ungainly car gets around so fast. We chatted up the AMS folks for a half hour or so, and they are very easy to get along with. The AMS car generates about 500 hp to the wheels, and will be running in NASA TTR class this year. The AMS guys said they did not want to be running in the same class as their customers, so they opted for TTR instead of TTU. It's fascinating to examine a car built by pros.

2. The EVO is currently in 17th place, having suffered braking problems. Their lap time of 1:42 at MidAm is the same as what I used to run in the old 3000GT, which shows the advantages of lots of track time and using race tires instead of the street tires that One Lap makes you use. My track buddy, Damien de la Herta in a RX7 is in 6th place. Damien and I have hundreds of laps at MidAm, and we more or less lap at the same pace (he's faster). The lesson: If you want to win One Lap, spend a fortune to run laps at all the venues to learn the tracks. Cars that had never run the track before were really hurting. Here's a tip for anyone who wants to run One Lap next year, and doesn't have a zillion dollar budget: Find a co-driver who knows the tracks in his or her neck of the woods. For example, a Midwest DSMer could team up with a West Coast DSMer.

3. Thanks to all the sponsor stickers that One Lap forces upon the entrants, the cars looked really tacky. It seems like sponsors paid One Lap a thousand bucks or so (I dunno how much, really) to have cars decorated with the cheesiest stickers I've ever seen on a race car. The cars aren't rolling advertisements, like NASCAR; instead, they are rolling bumper sticker cars. Check out the AMS car, for example: In the photos above, it is a professionally stickered car, with tasteful signage. Wait'll you see what it looks like with the One Lap bumper stickers all over it. Gaaah!

4. One Lap has become a rich man's game, with out-and-out race cars masquerading as street cars. One Lap classes the cars according to what they were originally, with no points or classifying according to mods -- even engine swaps.

5. Many of the cars had braking problems, which had many of us scratching our heads. How can a car with Stoptechs suffer braking problems after only three laps on the track? Crikies, many of us can run full 20-minute sessions with no braking problems, yet these guys are boiling fluid left and right.

Be interested to hear what anyone else thinks of One Lap.

Rich

 

[drivemusicnow]

EDIT: I figure you probably already know Rich, but if not, http://www.tirerack.com/tires/hoosier/hoosier.jsp go there and buy cheap hoosiers. close out on all the old S05s.

Well, I figured I would post and show the updated stats after Sunday's event.

TOP TEN as it stands right now:

Pos Car # Vehicle Class Points

1 1 Porsche 996 TT SSGT1 BB 1670
Mark DaVia, Drew Wikstrom
2 3 Hennessey Viper SSGT1 BB 1660
Brian Smith, Nick Arevalo
3 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 SSGT1 BB 1650
Danny Popp, Bob Kasprzyk
4 6 Subaru STi Top Speed MidPri Sed 1600
Luke Russell, Doug Wilks
5 2 Dodge Viper SSGT1 BB 1585
Ronald Adee, patrick adee

6 42 Cheverolet Corvette SSGT1 BB 1545
Steve Stubbs, Leonard Way
7 71 Honda Civic Si Econo Car 1540
Bryan Johnson, Jon Midgley
8 25 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 SSGT1 BB 1515
Dan Corcoran, Kyle Corcoran
9 53 Mazda RX7 SSGT2 SB 1505
Damian Dela Huerta, Andrew Dekoning
10 5 Ultima GTR SSGT1 BB 1500
Karl H. Troy, Martin Troy



I'm personally cheering for Damian De la Huerta in the Twin Vision Studios RX7 (I love his website and all the track videos he has), and the TopSpeed WRX STi.

By the way, because DSMs were CHEAP they qualify in the Econo car class... Thus, I'm pretty sure with driving experience, a DSM would be the best qualified car to win that class.... Namely, My DSM. I'm building my car, in part, to compete in this event.

As to the OLOA stickers... well, I know they look like crap, but at the same time, they help support the costs and advertising of the event. Without the magazine publicity most of the cars would not get as much money as they do from their real sponsors. The event only costs 2500$ to enter, but you figure you're spending at least another 2500$ on hotels, gas, tires, fluids, etc. Figure another $1K or so on spares. Because of the magazine space and other advertising, I bet most of the cars have almost the entire event payed for by sponsors.

 

[Slow old poop]

I'm personally cheering for Damian De la Huerta in the Twin Vision Studios RX7 (I love his website and all the track videos he has), and the TopSpeed WRX STi.

By the way, because DSMs were CHEAP they qualify in the Econo car class... Thus, I'm pretty sure with driving experience, a DSM would be the best qualified car to win that class.... Namely, My DSM. I'm building my car, in part, to compete in this event.

As to the OLOA stickers... well, I know they look like crap, but at the same time, they help support the costs and advertising of the event. Without the magazine publicity most of the cars would not get as much money as they do from their real sponsors. The event only costs 2500$ to enter, but you figure you're spending at least another 2500$ on hotels, gas, tires, fluids, etc. Figure another $1K or so on spares. Because of the magazine space and other advertising, I bet most of the cars have almost the entire event payed for by sponsors.

Damien is a good buddy, and he organizes events at MidAm about twice a year. You should come over and run, especially if you plan to run One Lap. It's a tricky track, and takes lots of laps to learn. But, once you learn it, you'll anihilate them what don't know the track.

Yes, I agree that a DSM race car could probably take that class. If Greg Collier put a license plate on the Yellow Banana, he'd clean house. There is some serious hardware running in that class, so you'd need a well-prepped car. Are Evos and Subarus in that class?

I know they need sponsors, but does it have to look so tacky? Maybe the organizers should enforce tackiness standards so the cars don't look so awful.

Rich

 

[drivemusicnow]

Damien is a good buddy, and he organizes events at MidAm about twice a year. You should come over and run, especially if you plan to run One Lap. It's a tricky track, and takes lots of laps to learn. But, once you learn it, you'll anihilate them what don't know the track.

Yes, I agree that a DSM race car could probably take that class. If Greg Collier put a license plate on the Yellow Banana, he'd clean house. There is some serious hardware running in that class, so you'd need a well-prepped car. Are Evos and Subarus in that class?

I know they need sponsors, but does it have to look so tacky? Maybe the organizers should enforce tackiness standards so the cars don't look so awful.

Rich

Evos and Subarus run in Mid priced Sedan. To be in the econo class the original purchase price of the car must be under $20k. I still have the original sticker from when my dad purchased my car, and it rang in at 19,600. The only cars that are running in this class are a couple focus' (foci), the 06 honda civic si which is apparantly laying it down, a cavalier, and like two other cheap cars. That being said, basically the only thing that REALLy matters is top 10. Its been proven in the past, the best way to win is to NOT break. Plus having a huge network of DSMers that might be willing to help my broke on the side of a highway could help too .

haha, I don't think Greg Collier would do so well. He would probably get pulled over so many times getting to and from the event for being so far NOT street legal he might miss a few events

Once I get this car built (basically building it from the ground up, rewiring, rebuilding, and making sure that almost everything is new, or in great shape) I will be spending most of my disposable income on track time. When I actually do the event, I will be sure to visit all the tracks before hand. Right now though it is just a distant dream. I'm still in college, so building a track car is hard on the food budget

 

[Slow old poop]

Evos and Subarus run in Mid priced Sedan. To be in the econo class the original purchase price of the car must be under $20k. I still have the original sticker from when my dad purchased my car, and it rang in at 19,600. The only cars that are running in this class are a couple focus' (foci), the 06 honda civic si which is apparantly laying it down, a cavalier, and like two other cheap cars.

We watched most of the econos run, because they are running so far down in the standings, they ran last on track. The cavalier would have done much better to put the $2500 entry fee into new rings and valves, because he was smoking something fierce. I don't think he'll last long.

Except for the Honda, a DSM would demolish that class. But, like you say, it's only the top 10 that count.

Rich

 

[Greg Collier]

haha, I don't think Greg Collier would do so well. He would probably get pulled over so many times getting to and from the event for being so far NOT street legal he might miss a few events

For sure, but it would definitely get some press

Once I get this car built (basically building it from the ground up, rewiring, rebuilding, and making sure that almost everything is new, or in great shape) I will be spending most of my disposable income on track time. When I actually do the event, I will be sure to visit all the tracks before hand. Right now though it is just a distant dream. I'm still in college, so building a track car is hard on the food budget

I have no doubt that your dream will become a reality... and tell me about this disposable income and where I can get some?

 

[Slow old poop]

By the way, because DSMs were CHEAP they qualify in the Econo car class... Thus, I'm pretty sure with driving experience, a DSM would be the best qualified car to win that class.... Namely, My DSM. I'm building my car, in part, to compete in this event. .

How much did a 1990 Eclispse GSX AWD turbo cost new? Under $20,000?

Rich

 

[drivemusicnow]

How much did a 1990 Eclispse GSX AWD turbo cost new? Under $20,000?

Rich

Don't you steal my dream!

I'm not sure, and a google search didn't turn it up for me. I'm going to ASSume that yes, it is under $20k

I know you watched the honda drive... how was it doing so well? I haven't heard about the car, so I'm wondering if it is a dream team behind the wheel, or if that car is putting down some big power.

 

[Slow old poop]

Don't you steal my dream!

I'm not sure, and a google search didn't turn it up for me. I'm going to ASSume that yes, it is under $20k

I know you watched the honda drive... how was it doing so well? I haven't heard about the car, so I'm wondering if it is a dream team behind the wheel, or if that car is putting down some big power.

Hey, my car was there before, in 2003. See the pic.


Yes, I searched everywhere, but couldn't find the orignal sale price.
The Honda is supercharged with NOS.

Rich

 

[Slow old poop]

Hey, my car was there before, in 2003. See the pic.

I just looked up the 2003 results, and I see that my car competed in SSGT2. Hmmm....that's a tough class. Much tougher than economy class. Maybe this is a bad idea.

OTOH, Damien in the RX7 is leading the class, and I could run with him before I put in the 2.3 stroker. If he wins SSGT2 this year, and I can beat him with the new motor, maybe I'll give it a go.

That leaves Economy class to you and your FWD DSM. Maybe we can run as a team!

Rich

 

[wishihadatalon]

1993 TSi AWD: $17,978 (current KBB = $4,350-$4,825)
1993 TSi FWD: $15,885 (current KBB = $3,725-$4,325)

1992 TSi AWD: $17,390 (current KBB = $3,750-$4,400)
1992 TSi FWD: $15,383 (current KBB = $3,225-$3,725)

reference: http://autos.msn.com

 

[Slow old poop]

I called my local dealer, and they say -- according to NADA -- the original price for a 1990 Eclipse GSX was $16, 449. Back to Economy Class!

Rich

 

[drivemusicnow]

I called my local dealer, and they say -- according to NADA -- the original price for a 1990 Eclipse GSX was $16, 449. Back to Economy Class!

Rich

I really think if you prepared the car well enough, and have no technical issues, a DSM could definitely finish top 10. They get around the track fast enough, and have a large enough aftermarket/following that sponsors shouldn't be that hard to find if you have a proven car.

Like I said, I'm still a ways off of being competitive, but that's alright. As long as I can eventually compete I'll be happy.

I've got an extra shell that I'm seriously considering cutting in half and making into a trailor, sorta like the one AMS is using, only it would be the back half of a white 1ga DSM.
With the trailer I could carry all the tools, spares, and brakes I would need! (maybe throw an extra trans and block in there as well.. just for good measure. )

 

[wishihadatalon]

I really think if you prepared the car well enough, and have no technical issues, a DSM could definitely finish top 10. They get around the track fast enough, and have a large enough aftermarket/following that sponsors shouldn't be that hard to find if you have a proven car.

Like I said, I'm still a ways off of being competitive, but that's alright. As long as I can eventually compete I'll be happy.

I've got an extra shell that I'm seriously considering cutting in half and making into a trailor, sorta like the one AMS is using, only it would be the back half of a white 1ga DSM.
With the trailer I could carry all the tools, spares, and brakes I would need! (maybe throw an extra trans and block in there as well.. just for good measure. )

The trailor has been done before I though it was kinda cool.

 

[underradar92]

So, lemme see... Roll cage, seats, harness, entry, gas, tires, maybe next year. How does an all DSM econo class top ten sound?