44 replies to this topic

[john mueller]

I figured one should be started cuz I'm sure there will be a discussion.

 

For the record, I'm proud of the plan John Adamczyk and I put together.  Given the level of noise that is out there but not seen publicly I feel we have it covered to the best of the current rule set.

 

The first Qualifying race just finished...  Despite what Danny said in an other thread, TECH really starts NOW....

 

Bring tools y'all.

 

 

 

 

[Charlie Hayes]

So where and what's the tech. I'm confused, all I know is SMACK.

[Jim Drago]

so far so good. I think all is going well. I really would like to be able to check tire pressures, especially after warmup and qualifying. It is so friggin hot and track temps so high .. getting tores sorted has not been as easy as it should be. 

 

Jim

[john mueller]

Tire pressures should have been allowed at Fridays warm up session and should have on pit lane during qualifying. Post Qual races I recommend not doing it....

[john mueller]

So where and what's the tech. I'm confused, all I know is SMACK.

Can't disclose anything until after the Championship race results go official and still dyno results will probably remain confidential. We're not a power to weight class so it's just data points to compare and to look for outliers... I learned my lesson last year.
Regardless, I'll post what we did very soon after the race. Like I said before I'm pleased with our plan, unprecedented for SM in NASA for at least the past 11yrs.

[john mueller]

Qual Race #2
(Unofficial results)

1. Pombo
2. Steyn
3. Bolanos
4. Tsiounis
5. Czarny
6. Crowell
7. McCallion
8. Clements
9. T.Reger
10. Mr. Drago

Bring crew with tools, jacks and Jack stands. Drivers bring a chair, it's gonna be a while.

[john mueller]

The 2014 NASA SM Rules on the web site left off the jointly used SCCA shock spec for some reason (we've tried to fix it a few times).  Anyway, for those who want to know that the spec is here is a link.

 

http://scca.cdn.race...CIFICATIONS.pdf

[Mark Drennan]

SCCA shock spec

 

http://scca.cdn.race...CIFICATIONS.pdf

 

You're all welcome.

[Danny Steyn]

Hi John

not sure what transpired, but to be honest I do believe that all the drivers should get to see their results. They can choose to share or not, and most will. I personally believe that transparency is good for the class. Once again just my opinion for what its worth.

[john mueller]

Hi John
not sure what transpired, but to be honest I do believe that all the drivers should get to see their results. They can choose to share or not, and most will. I personally believe that transparency is good for the class. Once again just my opinion for what its worth.

I agree, but not when folks don't understand what they are being used for. Of all the folks who should understand an engine/ car build should be the first.

[john mueller]

Congrats Alex.  Now the man drama begins...

 

 

[MPR22]

I don't expect any drama. The top 5 should be legal a d they were very comparable. Some of those guys did not have the fastest cars on the track, those were mid packers.

[john mueller]

[Danny Steyn]

I left around 7.30pm on Sunday, having been cleared through tech by head NASA tech and the SM guys. Both Alex's engine and Mat's engine were already torn down and in the tech shed and I have no doubt that they passed as well. Really great to see everyone working together and lending a hand to get the cars torn apart. Huge props to Alex and his dad for doing the tear down themselves. Alex you have my respect and admiration on every level.

 

Things that were teched after the race were

1. Weight
2. Dyno (3rd time for me - 126Hp / 112 TQ which as far as I know was right in the mix with Mat and Alex. 
3. Whistle
4. Restrictor
5. Intake manifold
6. Exhaust manifold
7. Head plunge cuts / relief cuts
8. Cam profiles and pin location
9. Flywheel

HUGE HUGE thanks to Mike Rossini for delaying his trip back to NC to help pull my engine down ably supported by Ryan Downtown and Tom Fowler

 

John Mueller - I had already suggested to the top NASA guys that any class like SM that requires significant post race tech gets to race in the morning or preferably on Saturday, just in case there are any issues that need appealing. We made three flight changes to deal with the tech delay.

[Danny Steyn]

Here are some photos of the tech yesterday....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dan Tiley]

Really cool event overall.  Congrats to Alex, Danny, and Mathew on their podium finishes!  What a fun race to watch.  As Danny said, watching Alex and his dad tear down their engine together in tech with their 300pc toolset from Harbor Freight was really the epitome of what club racing is supposed to be all about... good family fun.  

 

The whole concept of mandatory dyno sessions after each session was a great idea, and really helped to give all of the competitors some degree of comfort that they had as fair a chance as anyone else.  Everyone was handed out their dyno sheets at the Mazda banquet on Saturday and pretty much everyone shared their results openly.  Of the 8 cars sent for mandatory testing on Friday and Saturday, all were in the 123-126HP, except for one car that came up at 131.5 (obviously an erroneous set of pulls).  Jim, did the dyno guys ever give you an explanation as to why that happened?  

 

Regardless, it would be great to see the same thing at the Runoffs.  

[chris haldeman]

I watched Jim's pull. My opinion is the car was not straight and had one strap only on one side. Hp was high trq was low. Maybe diff out or tire spin? Not sure not a procedure I am willing too test. I and all others I know do there best too always strap the same tire pressure the same ect

[chris haldeman]

One thing we will have the same dyno and same operator at scca runoffs

[Jim Drago]

).  Jim, did the dyno guys ever give you an explanation as to why that happened?  

 

 

 

I never asked for an explanation. They ran my car with only one strap on the rear, it was left side dyno to right rear of my car. (diagonal)  The car weaved across the roller at lower rpms and settled in one spot at higher rpms. The numbers made little sense as HP was very high, almost 132 and TQ only 112. My best guess.... lower rpms when peak tq is recorded the car was wandering back and forth on drum? ( low TQ) and at high RPM, the car settled in one spot with little strapping load( one strap) and allowed it to make more peak HP? Just a guess. 

I pointed out the strap while they were dynoing the car... I was told " that strap will hold a 500 hp car" So much for procedure and consistency. IMO, the car would have been 2-3 better than "average" as the car was a rocket Thursday and Friday and has been for awhile. I needed that HP on Sunday as it was definitely the slowest of the top 6 cars.  Hopefully just intake butterflies. It will be on dyno tomorrow morning.  So we will see.  

[Marc Cefalo]

Here are some photos of the tech yesterday.

 

love the photos!

 

nice to see a significant tear down along with everyone helping out.  bet we'd never see pics like this in at the SCCA runoffs......