Dave532
15+ Year Contributor
- 98
- 0
- Jun 5, 2006
-
Minneapolis,
Minnesota
Gateway International Speedway
Apr 26,27 2008
Pre-race: During the off season I gutted the doors and removed the side windows. With the help of Metric Auto we yanked the ABS, re-plumbed almost the entire braking system and added a rear brake adjuster.
After much consternation I decided to leave the boost at 13 lbs for a couple of reasons; the car was reliable last year at this power level and I wanted to stay in PTC. If I gained a significant amount of horsepower I would have to re-dyno the car and possibly move up a class or two.
Ever since I owned the car it had nice 3" exhaust off the turbo with a glasspack and Flowmaster muffler. However, it is now a racecar so any restriction at all has to go. I employed the services of local exhaust shop which installed a 3" straight pipe from the turbo back to the rear.
Added some true racing tow-hooks this year as I knew the annual inspection would require it.
One of the Hoosiers I purchased at Road America last year has been slowly leaking all year which I attributed to an aluminum valve stem. After Chris at Metric looked at it, he found that the entire bead was
leaking, albeit slowly. I decided to bring this issue up with Phil from Phil's Tire Service at the first race of the year.
Annual Tech:
Tech was much more discerning this year. I got dinged for loose roll cage bolts (which I'm glad they found), steering wheel lock not removed, Killswitch not killing the car quickly enough and not wearing a balaclava (I was still employing my open-faced rally helmet). I asked for mercy and after a comment in the car's log book, they let me race. Whew!
Sat Practice: Very slippery green track due to the overnight rains. I can't seem to get the tires warmed up at all. Still getting used to Hoosier tire pressures. A quick description of the track is small and fast with very little runoff. Turns 1 and 5 are tricky where a couple cars have already been into the tire wall. It is immediately apparent I have the new brake adjuster too far forward. Between sessions I talk to Phil about the leaking Hoosier...he is also stumped. He suggests I send it to Hoosier for credit. I mount the tire on the weakest corner (LR at this track) and watch its pressure all weekend long.
Sat Qualifying: The car is getting closer to what I want. Have to cut short to poor engine note and fuel cut (ran the fuel too low). Once I get the car up in the air I see that my down-pipe has come loose from the O2 housing. The gasket is lost but I do find some replacement nuts and reattach the pipe to the turbo, sans gasket. Apparently, my local exhaust mechanic doesn't understand torque settings
Sat Race: I thoroughly go through the car and adjust tire pressures and tighten down anything loose. I will Start 9th. I lose a couple positions at turn 1 (like normal) but slowly carve my way through the field for 7 laps or so.
I am up to 5th before a Mustang blows his motor and lays down some oil in turn 1. The Mustang behind him loses control it in the oil and crashes hard into the
tire wall. Full course caution and I am "lapped" by the leaders as the pace car picked up the wrong cars. No problem as my position will still be 4th though the timesheet will show I was lapped
Green flag flies and I race a Prelude hard until he makes a mistake in turn 5 and I take the 3rd spot. We battle hard...I am faster in the infield but he can almost catch me on the main straight...but not quite. He finally catches me on the last lap at the end of the straight but I block him (only once, per the rules) going into turn 1 and keep him behind me until the checkered flag.
Sat Post Race: I finish 1st in class (only one in class) and 3rd overall.
This is my best overall finish in NASA so far. I received a few compliments from some competitors after the race...they were impressed how well the DSM negotiated the infield. I am one of the few cars that doesn't lift going through 4,5 and 6. The car appears fine. One spectator remarks my car must have ABS because he sees just a hint of tire smoke while braking in turn 1, consistently lap after lap.
Sunday Qual: I skipped the warmup due to the colder temperatures. I ran as low fuel as I dared to see what kind of lap I could squeeze out.
I am now in the 1:11's...best so far. I have been about a second faster each session.
Sunday race: I start 5th today. I get passed in turn 1 (again) by a couple cars but I pass both of them back in 6 and never see them again. A 911 ahead of me has a bearing problem and DNFs. The Prelude doesn't feel comfortable with his right front and he DNF's. The 2 cars ahead of me have at least 2-3 seconds a lap on me...the only way I can catch them is if they make a mistake so I just cruise to the finish with a 1st in class and 3rd overall again!
Post Race: Before the next event I will have to re-wire the kill switch and remove the steering wheel lock. I also called Hoosier to see what they would like to do about my strange bead leak. The DSM performed very well but I believe it is time to do some chassis stiffening, especially in the rear. The rear brake adjuster is set full rear and I'm still not getting rotation I want. Getting a DSM to turn is a never-ending quest!
Also picked up my 2007 Midwest PTC Championship trophy from last year!
Apr 26,27 2008
Pre-race: During the off season I gutted the doors and removed the side windows. With the help of Metric Auto we yanked the ABS, re-plumbed almost the entire braking system and added a rear brake adjuster.
After much consternation I decided to leave the boost at 13 lbs for a couple of reasons; the car was reliable last year at this power level and I wanted to stay in PTC. If I gained a significant amount of horsepower I would have to re-dyno the car and possibly move up a class or two.
Ever since I owned the car it had nice 3" exhaust off the turbo with a glasspack and Flowmaster muffler. However, it is now a racecar so any restriction at all has to go. I employed the services of local exhaust shop which installed a 3" straight pipe from the turbo back to the rear.
Added some true racing tow-hooks this year as I knew the annual inspection would require it.
One of the Hoosiers I purchased at Road America last year has been slowly leaking all year which I attributed to an aluminum valve stem. After Chris at Metric looked at it, he found that the entire bead was
leaking, albeit slowly. I decided to bring this issue up with Phil from Phil's Tire Service at the first race of the year.
Annual Tech:
Tech was much more discerning this year. I got dinged for loose roll cage bolts (which I'm glad they found), steering wheel lock not removed, Killswitch not killing the car quickly enough and not wearing a balaclava (I was still employing my open-faced rally helmet). I asked for mercy and after a comment in the car's log book, they let me race. Whew!
Sat Practice: Very slippery green track due to the overnight rains. I can't seem to get the tires warmed up at all. Still getting used to Hoosier tire pressures. A quick description of the track is small and fast with very little runoff. Turns 1 and 5 are tricky where a couple cars have already been into the tire wall. It is immediately apparent I have the new brake adjuster too far forward. Between sessions I talk to Phil about the leaking Hoosier...he is also stumped. He suggests I send it to Hoosier for credit. I mount the tire on the weakest corner (LR at this track) and watch its pressure all weekend long.
Sat Qualifying: The car is getting closer to what I want. Have to cut short to poor engine note and fuel cut (ran the fuel too low). Once I get the car up in the air I see that my down-pipe has come loose from the O2 housing. The gasket is lost but I do find some replacement nuts and reattach the pipe to the turbo, sans gasket. Apparently, my local exhaust mechanic doesn't understand torque settings
Sat Race: I thoroughly go through the car and adjust tire pressures and tighten down anything loose. I will Start 9th. I lose a couple positions at turn 1 (like normal) but slowly carve my way through the field for 7 laps or so.
I am up to 5th before a Mustang blows his motor and lays down some oil in turn 1. The Mustang behind him loses control it in the oil and crashes hard into the
tire wall. Full course caution and I am "lapped" by the leaders as the pace car picked up the wrong cars. No problem as my position will still be 4th though the timesheet will show I was lapped
Green flag flies and I race a Prelude hard until he makes a mistake in turn 5 and I take the 3rd spot. We battle hard...I am faster in the infield but he can almost catch me on the main straight...but not quite. He finally catches me on the last lap at the end of the straight but I block him (only once, per the rules) going into turn 1 and keep him behind me until the checkered flag.
Sat Post Race: I finish 1st in class (only one in class) and 3rd overall.
This is my best overall finish in NASA so far. I received a few compliments from some competitors after the race...they were impressed how well the DSM negotiated the infield. I am one of the few cars that doesn't lift going through 4,5 and 6. The car appears fine. One spectator remarks my car must have ABS because he sees just a hint of tire smoke while braking in turn 1, consistently lap after lap.
Sunday Qual: I skipped the warmup due to the colder temperatures. I ran as low fuel as I dared to see what kind of lap I could squeeze out.
I am now in the 1:11's...best so far. I have been about a second faster each session.
Sunday race: I start 5th today. I get passed in turn 1 (again) by a couple cars but I pass both of them back in 6 and never see them again. A 911 ahead of me has a bearing problem and DNFs. The Prelude doesn't feel comfortable with his right front and he DNF's. The 2 cars ahead of me have at least 2-3 seconds a lap on me...the only way I can catch them is if they make a mistake so I just cruise to the finish with a 1st in class and 3rd overall again!
Post Race: Before the next event I will have to re-wire the kill switch and remove the steering wheel lock. I also called Hoosier to see what they would like to do about my strange bead leak. The DSM performed very well but I believe it is time to do some chassis stiffening, especially in the rear. The rear brake adjuster is set full rear and I'm still not getting rotation I want. Getting a DSM to turn is a never-ending quest!
Also picked up my 2007 Midwest PTC Championship trophy from last year!
Just kidding man. Sounds like you had a good time and a good event. Its not blocking if you just move over about half a car length. Just drift it over and its no big deal right? And picking up another trophy for the case. Nice job and writeup Dave 
