1G DSM Time Attack

[Ludachris]

Yes, DSMs can be competitive, see Greg Collier's write-ups before he sold his car:
DSMtuners Sponsored Driver: Greg Collier - DSMtuners

Yes, Evos are a better platform because they have newer technology and better design. If you have the budget to buy an Evo and build one up for racing, go for it. But DSMs can be had for much less cash up front and they can be modified to be pretty competitive in a number of classes. Not many people have the money to go out and buy a $20k+ car and then throw more money at it for race parts, then risk banging it up out on the road course. Thats why DSMs are such a great option. They're cheap and fairly easy and cheap to make fast. And they're fun to drive on a road course.

 

[mavisky]

Mavisky,
I thought the Quaife center still utilized the viscous?..or so I've read. My transmission is currently at Shepherd's for a complete rebuild with a Quaife front option. When speaking with a few people about the Quaife center I've been told not to do it for a couple of reasons. Firstly, their design lends itself to premature failure which could potentially take out ALOT more than just the center diff. I wasn't about to drop ~$3K on a rebuild w/ Quaife front and have a poor design take me out in a year or two. Maybe if I was competing and money was no option. Secondly, I was told that in order for the center to work properly, it needed to have both front wheels to be slipping which is why the drag guys like them so much on hard launches. With a front Quaife, I didn't feel that the frequency of both wheels slipping was enough to see the gains of the Quaife center. I hope I didn't make the wrong decision.

All quaife's are mechanical. Dennis Grant had some issues with his that he was able to rectify by having it inspected yearly by sending it to Quaife. Then again he was performing 3 studderbox launches on 285 Hoosiers at 6-8 events per year and test and tunes inbetween.

Here's Dennis's own input on the Quaifes.
Far North Racing Team - Tech - Quaife Diffs

FWIW I still don't have one but you can bet your ass it's on my shopping list.

 

[tsiboosted]

Yes, DSMs can be competitive, see Greg Collier's write-ups before he sold his car:
DSMtuners Sponsored Driver: Greg Collier - DSMtuners

Yes, Evos are a better platform because they have newer technology and better design. If you have the budget to buy an Evo and build one up for racing, go for it. But DSMs can be had for much less cash up front and they can be modified to be pretty competitive in a number of classes. Not many people have the money to go out and buy a $20k+ car and then throw more money at it for race parts, then risk banging it up out on the road course. Thats why DSMs are such a great option. They're cheap and fairly easy and cheap to make fast. And they're fun to drive on a road course.

I couldnt agree with you more here Chris. Where as I may not be up there with Greg just yet, I bought my DSM for under $3,000 and now I am road racing with "Minimal" money invested into so far. But no where near $20,000 just for the car and I am not affraid to bang up the car if need be. Hopefully it does not come to that but hey, its racing right? Like Chris has stated above in this thread, DSMs can be purchased for far less money than an EVo can and can be made very track worthy for even less than what you would dump into an EVO right now.

But Greg is living proof that DSMs are very competetive on the track against newer and sometimes even more HP cars. I am working my tail off to get up to his status, just not quite there yet.

As for using me as an example. I bought the car for under $3,000 and have put about $3,000 into it (so far); give or take a few bucks here and there, and am doing fairly well in a very competetive road racing series against higher horsepower cars than my 184.1 WHP. Its not always the car you drive or the power you put down or even the technolgy you have there. DSMs (1Gs & 2Gs) are a great road racing car in my opnion for the money and the mass amount of parts and companies that make the parts out there for very reasonable prices. Just my $0.02.

 

[underradar92]

With a front Quaife, I didn't feel that the frequency of both wheels slipping was enough to see the gains of the Quaife center. I hope I didn't make the wrong decision.

One thing that will help in the "to LSD or not to LSD" question is, how much wheelspin does one anticipate on corner exits, on warm grippy tires? That'll depend on the courses you run, and therefore things like which gear those exits are driven out of. In autocross, I'd imagine first & second gear exits beg for limited slip, especially on a FWD.

In my limited experience, with AWD, on a track with exits in 3rd gear & higher only, and with a fair amount of HP, I have yet to have any hint of wheelspin. Your mileage may vary.

Not many people have the money to go out and buy a $20k+ car and then throw more money at it for race parts, then risk banging it up out on the road course. .

And it's extra painful if insurance doesn't cover wadding your car, while there are still payments. I can afford to bin a $1,000.00 shell, not so much a $20,000.00 one.