33 replies to this topic

[Bench Racer]

How does one go about this chore when the interior is prepped and painted so nicely as to not make it look like a patch job?

Without attracting all the wise comments, there is a rule under SAFETY  that a metal bulkhead SHALL be installed.

[RussMcB]

For the small holes ( < .25")  I used rivets with very wide heads.  I used a little RTV to help keep them from getting loose and rattling.  I have a bunch left over so let me know if you'd like some.

 

For the bigger holes I made/bent aluminum and riveted in place (or bolted using nearby existing studs or threaded holes).  A little Mothers Polish helps make it look less patch-like.

 

For some openings that were too complex or hard to get to I used "chrome metal" tape.

 

I liked someone's suggestion to use a drop light in the trunk and under the hood to shine light through and find all the openings.

 

 

 

[Brian129]

some good ideas for sealing. 

The other one I have a bunch of the rubber/plastic hole plugs,  so any hole I can fit one in I will use them

 

I plan to use the car for HPDE events before getting straight into racing,  but I have to get in racing this summer.  

I am starting to look at acquiring all the saftey gear I will need 

I have seen saferacer's site,  and the SM discount code. so I was going to start there. 

 

I was given some money for Christmas to get a helmet with, 

I was looking at 

http://www.saferacer...o-racing-helmet

 

Not sure if i should step up more though, I plan to use this with my vintage Formula Ford as well.

 

any other advice on suits or shoes and all is appreciated.  

I also plan on doing more research on a head and neck restraint setup.  I know Hans is the big name,  but there is points to use other systems.  (I guess this is one where I really need to watch using it or both cars)

[RussMcB]

The most consistant advice you'll hear is to try on different helmets and gear.  We all have wierd shaped heads.  Some more than others.  :-)

 

I've gotten my last two helmets from Trackside Tim.  Both times I stopped by his trailer at a race and tried some on and he offered a good price.

 

If you're not far from AMP you can go to the Discovery Parts store there to try on helmets.

 

Since you'll be in your open wheel car, you'll want a helmet that is pretty snug.  You may want to consider helmets with chin spoilers and other aero bits to help prevent buffeting (which you can do with windscreen mods, too).

 

My HANS has been comfortable in the SM and single seaters (but there can be a lot of variation due to seats, belt mounts, etc.)

 

Last bit of advice:  Contact Joe Cooley on apexspeed.  He's full of experience and advice when it comes to this stuff.  Very nice guy and knowledgeable.

http://www.apexspeed...mber.php?u=3451

 

I'm not too far from you.  You're welcome to come over to try my stuff (seat, crash hat, HANS, etc.)

[Brian129]

a bit of a start on reassembly

 

took off the original subframes that it was rolling on

 

Front subframe back on,  My dad went around and put some fresh black under all the fenders. 

 

 

Subframe on cart, then drop the car onto it. 

 

and in

 

Bit more of a struggle,  got the engine in where it belongs

 

Back on all 4 with all the PPF, Driveshaft, brake lines also back in. 

 

It looks pretty good,  little low in the front though.  

This was just one day of work,   a few nights after work this week, and maybe I can have it done next weekend. 

[Brian129]

a bit more than a days work, but I'm getting closer. 

it looks like a car again

 

 

 

not all done inside yet,  but it looks clean.  just need to get the seats in

 

not quite finished under here

 

 

 

the only thing I haven't figured out(or still working on) yet is the exhaust system,  

it seems to be a hacked up part of something.   it is touching the diff and the rear subframe brace,  though i know most just run a turndown just after the diff.   

I know Barber and AMP have sound restrictions,   I'm wondering what I might need to do to make sure it passes noise. 

[RussMcB]

Looks great, Brian.

 

There is a $50 slip-in silencer we use when we go to AMP.  I'll try to find the PN for you.

[Alberto]

Borla exhaust looks like a good option as well for live-able, street-able sound

[Brian129]

I finally have the car all back together, and useable. 
It still has a few safety things to correct to be fully SCCA legal, but it is close enough to use for trackdays and things before I am ready to race it (need to start working on my license soon)  I still need to move the seat forward about 1.5" and fix the exhaust,  Atlanta SCCA didn't think much of this exhaust at the Autox test day.   

looks something like a racecar

I need to get all the Mazda stickers to put on it too.  

[Brian129]

just a bit of an update, 

 

a lot of work has been done to the car since its initial build,  it is getting much closer to being a full prep 1.6. 

 

 

I am going to the Roebling race school next weekend,  or at least plan to.  

I do have one issue.  

 

back in January I was told to get the car inspected and a logbook issued before the school.   

I am still trying to get the last bits of the car together.  obviously still need some stickers too.

The Issue I am having is,  I have been told there are tech inspection locations I should take the car to,  but I can not seem to find one. 

[Keith Williamson]

Regarding Tech inspection, contact 'Racing Analytics' at Atlanta Motorsports Park.  I know they can do NASA Tech and I think they do SCCA as well. 

[Keith Andrews]

Your car will be one of the nicest ones there based on what I've seen in years gone by.  Get some clarification on the inspection.  Usually you can get that done at the track.  I would think you should be able to get that done at Roebling but it would be a distraction for you.  If you have someone going with you to the track that will really help you out.  You will be very busy. 

 

Make a phone call to an SM specialist it will put your mind at ease.  Racing Analytics, OPM Autosport, Panic Motorsports all usually attend the school.  You will have lots of people at Roebling willing to help you out.  Just reach out to them.  Being the fastest guy at school means nothing, bring your car home in one piece.  Good luck and have fun.

[Brian129]

as for my next plans with the car, Race school at Roebling road for me SCCa license.

Loaded up and heading out.


and after making it through tech. Car passed easily. And now has its logbook issued and sitting on the wiper
It's a real racecar now!


Hopefully I can report back on Sunday with the car in one piece, and a race license.


so that was from Friday night, I had just gotten the car through tech, and starting to calm down some.
Its been a crazy couple of weeks trying to get everything done and ready. And with having to go down without having teched the car, i was worried!!!!

Saturday morning was the first time I sat in the car with all my gear, and actually strapped everything in. Luckily everything worked out here as well. Unfortunately I have very few pics from the event, as I was supposed to have a crew, but they bailed.
I was advised I should bring support, but luckily, with good prep, and a well built car I was thinking I would survive.

I brought lots of tires with me, I had one set of used Hoosier SM7's , my set of Dunlop ZII street tires I have been beating on for a year, and a set of older RA1's that are in pretty decent shape. I elected to start off on the street tires, as in the beginning it was kind of slow pace, and speed was not the purpose of the event.
Still pretty clean, I was making some good runs in the morning, leading up to me personal best at Roebling a 1:27.267.
Apparently the new motor and set up changes had made a difference, as that is 1.25 seconds quicker than before, on Zii's instead of the RA1's from last time.

I had the hoosiers on the car to bring it down, so you see them scattered around.

and then lunch came, and the rain set in. I had the RA1's out as I was going to switch them on, but with the rain I held off at first.
Now, a little note here, those ZII's, that I have run everywhere, yeah I REALLY flatspotted one, and have it on the right rear, but it was a left tire, so my rears are running backwards. In the dry this should not be an issue, but when pumping water!!

My pit area


I have some video, but not much, I will work on shrinking that down and hopefully post it soon.

The rest of Saturday was wet, but the street tires were working well for me, I really was able to work on making my way through traffic, though this was not like race passing, as for the most part the speed difference was pretty large.
Don Squirek with the R-speed stickered Red NA was also on street tires, so we would have a bit of a run with each other, My car is WAY more prepped, but he was able to go just a little faster.

At the end of the day, all was well. I had kept the car on the track, and set some pretty decent pace.
I was happy to be halfway home!


Sunday morning was still wet and drizzly.
the car felt ok at first in the morning, but as we got closer to lunch, I just had NO GRIP!!! I put it off 3 times in one session.
one of the was a spin in 4, and I backed the car off into a mud puddle, it splashed up over the back of the car, and all over. now its a mess!!! I also went off in 2, and kept going, but was carrying all kinds of dirt in the front fenders!!!
At lunch it was showing signs of not raining much more, so i switched to the RA1's to try to get a little more grip, as I could not make the car do what I wanted it to.

First session after lunch, I had seen the light!! my car was back, I could put it where I wanted on track, and I was back to not being passed, and chasing down most of the cars. That was what I love about this car, Its so easy to drive, as it is really predictable.

a few more sessions and we were onto the Mock race.

I knew I had been fast all weekend, but, that was why I went in November, and why I had done all the work to the car over the winter. But for Sunday's mock race we were order by fastest time, much like qualifying. Just before lunch on Saturday Don and I were moving, and those times were what stuck. I was 4th! Behind a Caymen, a 944 turbo, and a really fast guy in a well built NB. they Caymen pulled out as he didnt want the lead for the race start, but at the end of pit out they pointed me in the wrong direction, so I was still outside row 2. The 944 was WAY to fast for the starts, so we had a few wave offs. but once they finally got us going we were off. THere was a Red NB that motored me into 1, so I went into 1 in 5th. as we round turn 3, I was just looking to the inside of the NB for 4, and I see Don on a really weird line. Im thinking, dude, if you go there, you will be in the grass, moments later, check Don in the grass, then sideways, and out in the sand trap. OK 4th.

I push, and can stay right on the bumper of the NB in the back, but onto the front straight he just pulls away. Im on the RA1's still, and most everyone is on Hoosiers, as it had gone close to full dry. Just no crew, would have been really hard to make that change. I stay right there for a few laps, until 2 more NB's (all prepped by Racing Analytics, man I got tired of staring at that sticker) made a run at me on the front straight, again, I couldnt do much with that. I would get right on their rear bumper going into 1, but there was just not a good place to put a move on. I could have forced it, but this was about being clean, not placing first. There was a really big motor CRX that came through, and motored all of us, supposedly it had 350hp!!! it had a lot!! So I thought I finished 7th, not bad, but far from what I felt I could do. I later found out the NB that was 3rd fastest, and had run away at the start had run out of gas, and had to come in. So it was actually 6th.
It was fun though, it was a train of miatas for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th and we ran nose to tail the whole race.

In the end, I was happy, I was coming home with my license, a dirty, but intact car, and I really had done quite well.
I am pretty sure the guys I finished behind, all had been running together doing something else.
The mud doesnt show up, but it sure is not shinny and clean.



all of my goals completed,
car in one piece, SCCA logbook issued, Signed novice permit, and certificate of completion for the race school


I had to pack everything up and head home, as first thing monday I had to be on a plane and headed out of town for work.
It was stressful, but I survived.

 

 

Once I get a plan together,  I hope to be out there, and race with a few of you.

[Bench Racer]