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.