This is topic Road Racing Revival!!! in forum Road Racing, Auto X & Drifting at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 
OK...

I'm kinda dissappointed that the Road Racing forum is so thin...!!!

I want to try to bring life to this forum and get all you closet road racers out!!!

I love Drag Racing don't get me wrong, but Road Racing is where my heart is.

Now I know several mustang owners in NASA (National Autosports Association) that Road Race but there has to be other guys out there that have mustangs that want to be corner carvers??? Right???

I want to take it on as my personal goal to thicken up this forum, because I want to see more Road Racing enthusiasm... especially when now is the time for building since it's the off season.

Who out there is interested in putting there mustang on a real race track and testing the g-force gods???

If you think you have to be a full competition racer... think again... I can show you how to put your street stang on the track and still drive it home at the end of the day!!!

Any Takers?

John
 

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Posted by Blu50Stang (Member # 489) on :
 
Though drag racing is fun, it is too short. Corner carving is where the real fun is(especially since the fun isn't over in a matter of seconds). I haven't gotten either of my stangs on a road course yet, but I do intend to make it out to some events.
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 
let me know how serious you are, because I may be able to help...

There is a program in the racing organization that I am a part of and you can take your street stang on the track!
 

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Posted by Roush #92 (Member # 1241) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by jcm3man:
There is a program in the racing organization that I am a part of and you can take your street stang on the track!

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What organization is that?
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 
National Autosports Association (NASA)

There are several options for all driver levels.

www.nasaproracing.com

The option that I am talking about for the guy who wants to bring his street car to the track is a good one. It is called "HPDE" or "High Performance Driving Events". This is an opportunity to drive your car on real race tracks as a alternative to auto crossing around cones. I don't have anything against auto crossing, this is simply an opportunity to drive on real road courses.

Check out the information for HPDE events at:
http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/index.html
 

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Posted by GOT 50 (Member # 1960) on :
 
Thakns for the links

Eric
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 
NP,

I am available for any questions on setup and what you would need to attend one of these events. I am also thinking about being kind of a consultant to anyone that wants to get involved with these events.

I just need to see how much interest there is for guys to put there cars on the track...

[ December 11, 2003, 05:54 PM: Message edited by: jcm3man ]
 

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Posted by GOT 50 (Member # 1960) on :
 
I want to get involved so bad. Right now i have a 93 vert with a 6 point welded in roll bar. Will this provide enought chasis stifness or am i gonna just keep on breaking stuff bending the frame and so on? I want to sell it and get a hard top would this be a better idea?
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 
I would recommend this...

If you want to get in to racing... Run the vert right now until your sure that you want to commit seriously. The vert is paid for right? This will keep your costs down and hassles of trying to find another car to replace the vert until you absolutely are sure about racing. Second I would highly recommend a LX 5.0 or a Coupe (Notchback) if you are going to race seriously. The notchback chassis is the most rigid of the 3 bodies.

There are specific things you need to look into when taking your car on the track. I should create a list of must haves at the track.

What mods have you done to your car?

[ December 11, 2003, 07:25 PM: Message edited by: jcm3man ]
 

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Posted by GOT 50 (Member # 1960) on :
 
HCI 277 hp to the wheels 301 tq
Its pretty light with me in it its about 3400.
3.73 gears. I know i was into drag racing for a bit. Thats about it. I am in the process of purchasing an A4 block 347 though. I have eibach progresive rate lowering springs which are spent. Back end sags pretty bad. blisten shoks all around and polly urathane bushings. 6 point roll bar also.
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 
I would not buy a 347!

The engine will not take the abuse of road racing!

The pistons for a 347 kit have the lower oil ring groove cut in to the wrist pin which will allow oil to pass by this first oil ring and will cause oil burn very early in the motors life. If you want to get a stroker motor I would recommend a 331 stroker. The pistons on a well built 331 do not have the oil ring issue and will last considerably longer...!

DSS and CHP both make a piston like this but I would recommend DSS over CHP because DSS actually came up with the shorter rod to accomodate the piston.

Second,

Save your money and get a Sportsman Block if you are gonna race on a limited basis. Because if you are going to make the car strictly a race car... the process can get very expensive and out of hand if you don't approach the car correctly. For example I would recommend a Dart block instead of an A4 block, which is now the R302. The R302 is not a bad block, but I have seen 3 or 4 crack down the center of the oil valley and I have never seen a Dart block crack under the most extreme abuse.

The other issue is that for road racing I would look in to a Keith Craft Racing motor instead of DSS or CHP... because I have seen the most reliability and success from engines that come from Keith Craft. The alternative may be to get a kit from DSS and buy a Dart block and have a local builder (like me, shameless plug ) assemble the kit. You can save money this way, or you can have any one of these companies send you a complete rotating assembly.

I am not partial to any one brand and I have seen varied results and I have seen both street and track combinations. I only speak from experience and I always believe in using what works, instead of spending money repeatedly.

[ December 12, 2003, 07:57 AM: Message edited by: jcm3man ]
 

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Posted by Bill/APEX Motorsports (Member # 636) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by jcm3man:
The other issue is that for road racing I would look in to a Keith Craft Racing motor instead of DSS or CHP... because I have seen the most reliability and success from engines that come from Keith Craft.

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quote:

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Originally posted by jcm3man:
If you want to get in to racing... Run the vert right now until your sure that you want to commit seriously.

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I've been road racing for about 12 years now (NASA, Shelby Club, Green Flag, etc. at Sears Point, Laguna, Buttonwillow, Thunderhill, Streets of Willows, etc.), and my first track car was an '88 GT convertible. I slowly but surely turned it into a race car for the street, and it became hard to live with on a day-to-day basis. I had a 4-pt. roll bar, Griggs Full Frame Kit, etc. The chassis was stiffer than most hatchbacks out there! However, I came to the realization after a while that it just wasn't the proper car to be seriously racing, especially as my skills and confidence level brought me up to pretty high rate of speeds. I kept driving and racing it until I got my '93 Cobra, which I decided to not get too crazy with (aside from the 351, full Griggs suspension, Baer brakes, etc.). I sold the Cobra to concentrate on my race-only car, which is an '89 notchback. I built that one as a no-compromise car. No smog. No comfort conveniences. Pretty much an engine, brakes, and a roll cage! While I do have to trailer the car to an event, that just means that if something does break, I can still get the car home and fix it at a later date.
So, the moral of the story is that I agree with jcm. Start racing the convertible, to hone your skills and get used to driving on the track. However, never forget that you're driving a car with no roof. As you get more confident and serious about opentracking over the years, then think about building a track-only car. You'll be glad you made the progression in that fashion.
I've been instructing my customers for the last five or six years, so if ever need me to attend an event with you, I'd have no problems giving you some pointers from the passenger seat.

 

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Posted by Bill/APEX Motorsports (Member # 636) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by shade-:
I'll be testing the waters early next year in various autox events which are all over the place and then I'll do a few of those track day things at Sears Point, and maybe they'll let me in on the American Iron series next year. A real simple setup right now, 13" twin piston PBR calibers (aka bullit take-offs), rear turbocoupe style discs, 2800# car w/6 pt. rollbar, tokiko 5-ways at all corners and those motorsport fixed rate lowering springs. other bolt-ons to follow but I think that should get my started. car doesn't have a lot of power (318 to the wheels) but it's a 302 with a mild cam and doesn't seem to have any overheating or reliability issues. one big question I have is would you guys recommend powersteering? I think I need it for autox, but not sure about roadcourse duty. not committed to any 'class' at this point but it looks like the SCCA will throw me to the wolves in street modified where I'd get butchered I'm sure, lol.

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quote:

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Originally posted by jcm3man:
OK...

I'm kinda dissappointed that the Road Racing forum is so thin...!!!

I want to try to bring life to this forum and get all you closet road racers out!!!

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quote:

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Originally posted by 1Sicgt:
A group of us are currently talking about renting t-hill for day, if there is interest in this amungst other drivers out there who would be interested in sharing costs of such a thing, we could have a open track day. Let me know people.

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quote:

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Originally posted by 1Sicgt:
A group of us are currently talking about renting t-hill for day, if there is interest in this amungst other drivers out there who would be interested in sharing costs of such a thing, we could have a open track day. Let me know people.

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quote:

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Originally posted by 9COBRA8:

quote:

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Originally posted by jcm3man:
OK...

I'm kinda dissappointed that the Road Racing forum is so thin...!!!

I want to try to bring life to this forum and get all you closet road racers out!!!

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Sounds good to us!! Don't hesitate to post often in this section. If you need any administrative help, feel free to email feedback@californiafords.com . We need to get the road racing section off the ground. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions on going about this?

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quote:

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Originally posted by bobh:
I be interested.

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quote:

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Originally posted by bobh:
lol
I didn't know this had turned into a multiple choice question.
A day at THill
Sorry, I ran Nasa once. Never again.

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I'm Curious...??? What turned you off to NASA? and what are you interested in as a road racing venue? are you looking for 1 day events like the one discussed or are you interested in participating more often?

[ December 20, 2003, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: jcm3man ]
 

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Posted by DropTopFox (Member # 1689) on :
 
I've been getting into the autocrossing gig lately and just purchased about $1000 worth of suspension parts from Steeda. There are quite a few on this board that autocross. Chosen1 and ON N2O got me hooked. The enthusiasm is there for some, you usually see these posts in the tech section or general talk or events because no one except the auto crossers and road racers pay attention to this section of the board, I'll try and post here for you more, see if I can help get it going again
 

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Posted by bobh (Member # 1495) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by jcm3man:
I'm Curious...??? What turned you off to NASA? and what are you interested in as a road racing venue? are you looking for 1 day events like the one discussed or are you interested in participating more often?

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Nasa was my 2nd time on the track, I believe. Couple things I didn't like:
1. Too damned many cars. It's like driving US101 at rush hour. You don't learn anything that way.
2. Instructors seemed very good, but the process they had you follow was to get you ready for their race series. That's fine if that's what you want to do.

I'm not interested in racing. I'm interested in a few open-track days a year.

I've been doing it long enough that I can help out with instructing newbies. I've taught at Tracquest a couple times and for Team Miata at Thunderhill 4 or 5 times, at the THill street school once, and with another group once.

So yeah, if someone is able to organize a track day that'd be great.
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 
More Posts!

I know there is road racer blood flowing out there

John
 

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Posted by Roush #92 (Member # 1241) on :
 
This might help...

Track day schedule
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 
Roush #92

Thanks for the link
 

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Posted by DropTopFox (Member # 1689) on :
 
this section is coming back slowly but surely
 

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Posted by NCDA (Member # 3873) on :
 
What about us, less crowded than NASA, cheaper, and less about racing, more about the enjoyment of open track.

NCDA Staff

One of our staff instructors will be out there in an 01 cobra, all stock, instructing in both traditional "grip" driving, and also putting on a drift show!

Hope to see some mustangs represent!
 

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Posted by NCDA (Member # 3873) on :
 
www.ncda.net

NCDA Inaugural Open Track Event
In Co-operation with Thunderhill Park

Drivers School

Date: January 17, 2004
Location:
Thunderhill Park - Main track
5250 Hwy 162
Willows, CA 95988
 

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Posted by DropTopFox (Member # 1689) on :
 
How much will that cost, and I have a Vert, is it a mandatory Roll bar???
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by DropTopFox:
How much will that cost, and I have a Vert, is it a mandatory Roll bar???

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The NCDA used to require a hardtop convertible only, but now they allow convertibles, but you do have to have a roll bar.

I can help you with a roll bar if you are interested.

John

[ December 28, 2003, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: jcm3man ]
 

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Posted by DropTopFox (Member # 1689) on :
 
If I wasn't doing $2000 in body work right now, I'd buy a roll bar, but I think you can understanding where funding for Droptopfox is at right now
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by DropTopFox:
If I wasn't doing $2000 in body work right now, I'd buy a roll bar, but I think you can understanding where funding for Droptopfox is at right now

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Hey, no problem...

I understand and I will be available whenever you're ready.

John
 

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Posted by DropTopFox (Member # 1689) on :
 
i'll get the bar eventually, it's hard going to school and not working
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 
FYI,

All those that are interested in Road Racing or at least having fun driving on a road course...

The first event is not that far off... Feb. 7-8

http://www.nasaproracing.com/schedules/norcal.html

Also the first drifting event is the 17th of this month. http://www.ncda.net

If you have any interest let me know.

John

[ January 06, 2004, 02:36 AM: Message edited by: jcm3man ]
 

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Posted by GOT 50 (Member # 1960) on :
 
what do i have to do to be able to enter this event?
 

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Posted by jcm3man (Member # 3834) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by GOT 50:
what do i have to do to be able to enter this event?

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