PAYMENTS

Hey guys, so do you want to make a payment for your entry fees for the race? But you really dont want to go to the chumpcar site and figure out how to do it? Totaly understand! You can just pay pal me the payment to cruelaswinter@gmail.com ( along with a note please ie: licence fee of drivers fee ect..) this way I can keep track of what still needs to be taken care of. Also, Did you know building a race car cost money? If at any point you would like to help with build cost that would be much appreiciated also.

SMOKEY AND THE DATSUN

I belive this car is the long lost japanese cousine of the infamouse Bandit Trans Am,
black gold trim, check
t- tops, check
snow flake wheels,check
Badass behind the wheel? check x5

Anyways this is the new addition to the stable, we are guna be turning some wrench on it starting on the 23rd if anyone one wants to come lend a hand.

RACE TEAM?

Talks are in the works with a certain Midwest based racing team to form a partnership. BS-Racing (Brian Steffen)  is Preping a car for the 2011 season also. It may be fun to do up the cars in the same paint scheme and represent a consolidated effort! Plus we get a discount if 2 or more members race in multiple races. This might mean changing the team name to reflect the new partnership. More on this as it develops

oh and on a un related note Japan is now making Gundams,  I guess its not totally unrelated, cause when japan takes over the world we will all be in Nissans,Toyotas and Hondas!

SO IT BEGINS

I know the Blog has been a little slow but think of it as the calm before the storm. There is one big update We have recently accuired a 3rd 280zx, this one is a Turbo so we will be harvesting some real treasures for the build! Plus it has alot of parts that can be sold to fund the build. The previous owner of the car said all this engine needs is a new distributor and it should roll, well we will see but either way we can use it. Pictures will be posted this weekend.

This is just something funny I came across while thumbing through the official Chump blog

Its from John the head organizer of chump car, this is his response after a million complaints from people saying 240sx's and Miatas should not be considered 500$ cars

UPDATE

Sorry for no updates but there has not been anything major to report. Other than a very large stack of parts in the garage and a wife that thinks I need to go to a 12 step program for people obsessed with cars. The reason we are still on hold to start the build is because the Jive5 (The corolla) is still in bucks drive way and we cant start a new project till we finish that one! But the wheels are finally in motion to get that wrapped up, Naz is welding up the intake, the ecu is getting chipped and the exhaust flange is in the mail. I will just need a few days to assemble every thing and it should be road worthy... once every thing arrives. Plus its cold and it gets dark early so Iam kinda getting lazy.
      Also check with me before you buy a helmet, i might have one for you, I have been buying them on ebay every time i see one for under 100 cause I figured not everyone has as  much time to hunt down deals as I do. And I have also put down the deposit for the race so our spot in Spokane is secured, which is good cause its one of the only 24 hour races on the west coast and is expected to sell out.

RACE UPDATE

So the latest news is that as of a few days ago the Chumpcar guys got so many complaints about the too 7 hour enduros they changed it to a proper 24 hour race! Also the official title of the race is "The Long and Winding Road...", not the most epic title but who cares. I am currently puting together a turn by turn track map, yeah I know its over kill but since i cant get to work on the car yet its all I can do! well that and buy parts but Iam running out of parts to buy.

Chump Car Spokane County Raceway 2010 Practice

Here is some spy footage, watch,study it and watch it again cause this is guna be the only practice we get till the day of the race. If you know what corner is coming up next you will be able to drive faster with more confidence.

THE SCHEDULE!!!

We now know the date of the race, July 23-24, and it will be too 7 hour enduros instead of one 24. I was excited for a 24 but this will probably be better for our first race. We will have plenty of time to fix any problems that should a rise during the overnight brake. Both enduros are run during the day so we wont need headlight!?

SEAT

We found the a suprise under the carport this weekend, the seat got droped off !

Its super comfortable and the 10degree lay back seems to be better than I thought, It should make good driver position.

THE TRACK

So here it is, the SPOKANE COUNTY RACEWAY. Its a 2.5 mile Grand Prix track , featuring one of the longest straight aways of any track in the country.If they run it the same as last year its full on, no chicanes on the straights to keep speeds down. That means speeds in excess of 100mph! That makes it the fastest coarse in the series. A proper road coarse, so study cause if you forget whats around the next corner you might end up in the gravel and that means penalty laps. Races are won and lost by the penalty laps so the fastest car does not always win the race. Which is good cause we will not have the fastest car.

FUEL CELL

So I was all set to pick up a 12 gallon fuel cell. Based on my math 12 gallons was plenty (even at full throttle) to go the 2 hour maximum allowance between driver changes. The stock tank is a massive 21 gallons ( up till 1978 it was only 15 gallons) so a 12 gallon cell would really lighten things up. Luckily I read through the rules one more time and notice this

 

10.9.1. Effective 1 January 2011, only stock fuel tanks in stock locations, or FIA/SFI-rated and  

approved fuel cells that are properly installed shall be allowed. NON-OEM
REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPED FUEL TANKS ARE NOT ALLOWED. It’s either
stock, in the stock location, or an approved fuel cell with the proper installation.
(Grandfathered exemptions for previously approved ChumpCars (prior to 31 December
2010) may be available in certain cases upon written request.)
10.9.2. Fuel cells shall be limited to the stock fuel capacity +/- two (2) gallons. (Need a special

cell size or can’t find a cell that’s close o the stock capacity? Contact ChumpCar.)

                               

Not exactly my idea of saving weight. Being the optimist that I am I have managed to look past my displeasure with Datsun for making this car into a mid size oil tanker an have come up with the following advatages of not running a fuel cell.

1. 50/50- this is the stock weight distribution. Very ideal for racing, the enginers of this car no doubt spent   alot of time getting it to this balance, and if we where to remove the fuel tank iam sure it would throw this  number off.

2. A fuel cell would sit in the trunk area, a full cell would weigh in at ruffly 100 pounds (not to mention the  extra metal shielding thats requird to meet safty tech), thats alot of weight up higher in the car instead of down low underneith thus further upsetting the center of gravity and making the car less predictable in a  corner.

3.Money- It will save some money not getting a cell, however , the orginal tank is more than likley in need of  a proper cleaning, voleeenters? anyone? no? I didnt think so, that means we have to pull the tank and have it cleaned. If anyone know a place let me know, I hear most radiator shops can do this.

NEW PAGE

Check out the new page on the left "POWER STEERING DE-POWERING".
Its for a miata ( our sworn enemy) BUT it is a good step by step and I am sure that everything will not be exactly the same but it will be very similar. But why? well there are 2 main reasons


1. No power steering means no power steering pump, and that means one less moving part to worry about   
    failing, and the more of those kinds of thing we can eliminate the easier it will be to finish the race.


2. Driving response, its all about connecting with the the car,( for referance go get a copy of  "DAYS OF THUNDER" fast forward to 47 min into the movie to the scene when Harry Hogge (as played by Robert Duvall) has decided to build one last race car, and he has a heart to heart conversation...with the car, on how he is going to build it to win, [talking to a race-car chassis]" I'm gonna give you an engine low to the ground... extra thick oil pan to cut the wind from underneath you. It'll give you thirty or forty more horsepower. I'm gonna give you a fuel line that'll hold an extra gallon of gas. I'm gonna shave half an inch off you and shape you like a bullet. I'll get you primed, painted and weighed, and you'll be ready to go out on that racetrack. Hear me? You're gonna be perfect." The moral of the story is you have to feel connected to the car to know how its going to react) and one of the best ways of being able to feel the car is by having it give you feed back threw the steerring wheel, which is impossible whith power steering.

3. It saves weight , not much but it all adds up!

BOUGHT THE SEAT

Got a seat on ebay, its not exactly what I wanted but it was close enough and was a good price, down side is it looks like darth vaders helmet.
 It is a " ULTRA-SHIELd PRO ROAD RACE" model , 17 inch wide seat, full padding,10degree lay back, I wanted the 20 degree but this was what was available.

Got the roll cage!

Well it was a small adventure to get it (had to take a ferry and drive down the scary side of the sound )but thats a big check mark on the to do list, had to pull the passenger seat on my CRX work truck to fit it in so i could get it home.

NEW STIG

So Iam Also going to add some Automotive related news just for fun.



I should say new American Stig,  With tony hawk for the new American top gear segment called "Big star in a little car" not really the same ring to it as the original.
Any early guesses as to who it is? I think we will probably find out soon enuf cause there is no way they can keep The American Stigs identity a secret for half as long as they did the British one. Right now my early guess without seeing his driving style, Iam guna say he is Mr.Gordan (from Sesame ST.).

BRAKES

Got some brakes on ebay, Since I dont have as much time as I used to Iam ok with paying a little more and having parts shipped to my door. After much research I have decided to try the 4x4 front caliper upgrade. The 4 piston heavy duty brakes should handle the heat well and give us one less thing to worry about during the race.

ROLL CAGE

Found a roll cage on craigs list for 200! Its for a 1985 Camero so there will need to be some slight modifications. In light of the obvious differances in cabin size ( A camero is 57" across and a Z is 44") the main hoop is a wash, so I also found a single roll bar on CL for a Suzuki Samuri (46") and I think I can make that work!

THE TEAM

THE TEAM
Thus far in order of appearace.

Zac
Buckaroo
Big Ben
John
Brian " Papa bear"

we are still accepting applications for both pit crew and drivers,

REQUIRMENTS FOR DRIVERS
1. You Better be able to drive cause this a 24 hour endurance race NOT a 13 second drag down the strip.
     If there is any question as to your driving ability you will be tested, so dont be offended if we expect to   
     see some proof.

2. There are going to be some equipment that you need for your own good, at minimum a
                     -SA rated full face Helmet
                     - Fire rated shoes
     Also required is a full nomex suit and nomex glove if you can find some one who will share fine  but like
     buck said " I am not really sure I wana jump into some one elses race suit after they have been siting in 
     the seat sweating for 2 hours"
     I have found some cheap stuff at  http://racedaysafety.com/lemon-chump-drivers-package.html
     this package includes Shoes,nomex suit,fire proof undergarments,gloves and neckbrace,
     If you can find this stuff cheaper let me know, but htis is about as cheap as it gets unless you really
     score on ebay/craigslist.

3.Come race day there are entry fees each driver needs to cover
   125- drivers fee
   50- Drivers school fee ( maditory saftey school before the race)
   There is also a 500$ car entry fee that will be split equaly by all team members.
   I know this sounds like alot of money guys but thats why we are getting started early! If you start saving  
   now  its only about 15$ a month! (for fees not including saftey equipment)

4. YOUR GUNNA NEED TO HELP BUILD THE CAR !!!, anything will help even if you cant bang tools
    you can help in alot of other ways, just let me know and I will put you to work!

PIT CREW REQUIRMENTS

1. At least 2 working thumbs
2. The ability use them

To do list

Well if I listed everything that needed to be done at this point we would all give up and become very depressed, but just remember 2 thing and we will make it to the race

1. Beauty is truly int the eye of the tiger
2. Nothing is impossible...except dinosuars.

With that being said

1.Get a truck and a trailer
2. Get the cars from Bens dads house and bring them to buckaroos house

Thats it for now, no big D right? So as soon as buckaroo gives us the ok we will get this show on the road.

Day 1, Step 1- Build blog done!

Ok so this Blog is basically for Our team to stay connected during the build cause if we don't we are never guna get anything done!! Iam going to be updating it with information on the actual build, deals I have found on items we will need lots of tech info on possible options on the build. So guy please stay in touch and try and check this at least one a week.