eclipsegsx1736
Supporting VIP
- 1,599
- 39
- Nov 11, 2003
-
Los Angeles,
California
Ok, you guys win, I've finally started a build thread! When I bought this car (Binkie is her name.. don't ask 
) back in 2004, I knew I would modify it, but I would have NEVER dreamed that the car would come as far as it has now. The car was my daily driver for years, even when it was around the 450-500whp range. I drove it in that trim every day. Sure, some stuff broke - but overall, producing well over double the factory HP, the car was damn reliable. After a few years of working on these cars, you sort of learn what it takes to keep them held together. It just takes a few of the right parts, and a few tricks here and there that you learn along the way.
About a year ago, I picked up another fun and reliable GSX as a daily driver, and I finally made the big never-turn-back decision to take Binkie off the road for good and prepare her for Time Attack competition, specifically the 2012 Global Time Attack Street AWD class. Why the "street" class? .. Have you seen the cars in Limited (the next level up)? "Street" class cars in TA these days are full race cars. You need 500hp to even stand a chance. Full cages, aerodynamics, the whole lot, all pushed to the limit of the rules. Limited cars are in the 600-700hp range, and add DOT R-compound race tires to the mix, which results in some HUGE costs to allow the car to handle those G-loads. You're talking at a minimum AccuSump systems, and ideally dry-sump conversions for such high G's. This is why I chose the street class - at least initially. Who wants to compete in a class that you just have NO chance of competing when you're on track with full sponsor-backed shop race cars?
As I've quickly been realising, preparing a car (and myself) for Time Attack is an ENORMOUS undertaking. The GTA rules are specific and strict, and GTA in particular runs under NASA CCR rules, which again are very particular, especially on safety. The tech inspections are nothing like a drag strip - they really look at everything, even using ultrasound-type devices to check wall thickness of roll cages. Another big hurdle - you have to be at least NASA HPDE-4 approved, and ideally have a NASA TT (Time Trials) certification. This means at least attending several NASA track days driving in HPDE, working your way up through the classes, each time getting signed off by an instructor, by demonstrating proper driving, safety, passing and racing lines, etc. And we haven't even discussed building a car that's fast enough to even compete.
It's also expensive. The entry fee alone is $500. Road racing in general is expensive. Expect to wear a set of tires out in maybe 3-4 weekends, and, depending on your brake setup and your driving, expect to replace your pads (race pads too - $500+ for a car-set or so) every other event, or worse.
But, there's nothing like it. I used to drag race. It's a joke compared to road racing. You want horsepower and straight line speed? That's what the straightaway is for. Who wants to play car bowling? Ever watched an F1 or an ALMS race? Circuit racing will take over your life and you'll roll your eyes at drag racers. It's not elitist.. it's just that much more fun.
If you want to catch up on the custom radiator ducting system I built, as well as see a some video/pics from me driving in NASA HPDE in my daily driver, attempting to make my way up through the HPDE system, here's the link to that thread:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/custom-fabrication/386716-my-ducted-radiator-setup-road-racing.html
Finally, a picture of Binkie hitching a ride on the U-Haul Express on her way to have the cage built!:
) back in 2004, I knew I would modify it, but I would have NEVER dreamed that the car would come as far as it has now. The car was my daily driver for years, even when it was around the 450-500whp range. I drove it in that trim every day. Sure, some stuff broke - but overall, producing well over double the factory HP, the car was damn reliable. After a few years of working on these cars, you sort of learn what it takes to keep them held together. It just takes a few of the right parts, and a few tricks here and there that you learn along the way.About a year ago, I picked up another fun and reliable GSX as a daily driver, and I finally made the big never-turn-back decision to take Binkie off the road for good and prepare her for Time Attack competition, specifically the 2012 Global Time Attack Street AWD class. Why the "street" class? .. Have you seen the cars in Limited (the next level up)? "Street" class cars in TA these days are full race cars. You need 500hp to even stand a chance. Full cages, aerodynamics, the whole lot, all pushed to the limit of the rules. Limited cars are in the 600-700hp range, and add DOT R-compound race tires to the mix, which results in some HUGE costs to allow the car to handle those G-loads. You're talking at a minimum AccuSump systems, and ideally dry-sump conversions for such high G's. This is why I chose the street class - at least initially. Who wants to compete in a class that you just have NO chance of competing when you're on track with full sponsor-backed shop race cars?
As I've quickly been realising, preparing a car (and myself) for Time Attack is an ENORMOUS undertaking. The GTA rules are specific and strict, and GTA in particular runs under NASA CCR rules, which again are very particular, especially on safety. The tech inspections are nothing like a drag strip - they really look at everything, even using ultrasound-type devices to check wall thickness of roll cages. Another big hurdle - you have to be at least NASA HPDE-4 approved, and ideally have a NASA TT (Time Trials) certification. This means at least attending several NASA track days driving in HPDE, working your way up through the classes, each time getting signed off by an instructor, by demonstrating proper driving, safety, passing and racing lines, etc. And we haven't even discussed building a car that's fast enough to even compete.
It's also expensive. The entry fee alone is $500. Road racing in general is expensive. Expect to wear a set of tires out in maybe 3-4 weekends, and, depending on your brake setup and your driving, expect to replace your pads (race pads too - $500+ for a car-set or so) every other event, or worse.
But, there's nothing like it. I used to drag race. It's a joke compared to road racing. You want horsepower and straight line speed? That's what the straightaway is for. Who wants to play car bowling? Ever watched an F1 or an ALMS race? Circuit racing will take over your life and you'll roll your eyes at drag racers. It's not elitist.. it's just that much more fun.
If you want to catch up on the custom radiator ducting system I built, as well as see a some video/pics from me driving in NASA HPDE in my daily driver, attempting to make my way up through the HPDE system, here's the link to that thread:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/custom-fabrication/386716-my-ducted-radiator-setup-road-racing.html
Finally, a picture of Binkie hitching a ride on the U-Haul Express on her way to have the cage built!:
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. And, finding time for the rest of the misc work to do (I'll be using this list as a checklist for myself as well 
I want to know where the line for the grey area is. Drew has the mod done though, so is it still really a grey area, or is he running in a different group (non-GTA)/under different rule set? Last I knew he was doing RTA which I think still used the CCR as a base rule set.
I've had various issues with shops doing some work on the car but I should have an update any day now and will post as soon as I do. The current plan is to have the car ready and tuned for MOD 2012 (Mitsu Owner's Day), then schedule in a few Buttonwillow test days before the next GTA event also at Buttonwillow in November!
