Just curious, would be love to know who these politically connected competitors are, if you can't say here, pm me.
Brian, I honestly do not remember the user names (much less the real names) of the players. This car was discussed on several message boards. I don't even remember the Nasa officials and am not sure if they are even still involved.
It was really a shame that it happened. I don't know how many pictures were taken and questions answered through the build of the car. It was an excellent tutorial for anyone who wanted to build a race car. I don't know if On Track kept a "hits" calculation, but I'd bet it was huge. Then the car was featured in one (or two?) magazines.
The car was a great marketing tool for Nasa. Then other current competitors started complaining. It was banned. A lot of people (including me) lost respect for the series.
As Brian mentions above, the people in charge said that it had an illegal rear suspension. I never saw anything but a vague rule that was used to ban it. After they banned the car, they circled their wagons and refused to budge. I even sent them an email. They answered my email in such a flippant manner that I voted with my checkbook; I didn't send in the renewal for my Nasa license.
AI has a great formula with its weight and horsepower limits. What advantage would that rear suspension make? I'd say that it is so insignificant that it can't be measured. Now the car did have one big advantage as it was built from scratch with a lot of thought and engineering. The car raised the bar in IA, and I think that is why it was banned.
It's all water under the bridge now. There is no shortage of racing series and open track events around here. There are about ten times as many events than my budget can afford. I am going to a meeting (Oct. 2nd) about a new country club race track that is being built in this area (or is supposed to be built). I haven't mentioned to my wife that we may become country club members.
Quote:
• $35,000 initiation fee (Discounted from $50,000- limited during preconstruction only)
• No monthly dues for life
• No daily use fees for life
• Founding member recognition (privileges listed above)
• Full private membership privileges including access to all member-only amenities
• Two personalized lockers in the member locker room
• Lifetime membership for immediate family
• Prime pit spots
• Early entry into events
• Full karting membership and privileges
• Access to private showers, membership deck, Starbucks, personal parties in membership lounge
• Daily guest fee is $250, 4 free guest passes annually, guest may come only twice annually
• Membership is saleable and transferable, fee of 25%, annual dues apply to new member
• Only 25 available preconstruction, subject to Interview prior to acceptance
I think that most of you can probably guess my opinion on whether or not this car should be legal in AI. I will not go into detail on it as that was hashed out years ago, but I will say this.
I find it very interesting that this car was disallowed because of the rear suspension (the notches could have been addressed but the modified IRS carrier was the nail in the coffin) while the series has started allowing some things which in my personal opinion, are far beyond the intent of the rules; i.e. carbon fiber body work, Chevrolet engines in Ford chassis', awful looking "body work" which adds 2" of track width, 18" wheels ect.
I feel that had the rules stayed within the intent of the original concept of AI that that car would be running out front at the national level. But it was not to be per the "leadership" of the organization. It's a damn shame, in the brief time the car ran in AI it was certainly competitive and with development time it would have only gotten faster.
bpt
I agree Brian, it really doesn't make any sense. I can understand if they didn't want an exotic "one off" independent rear suspension but this was something that anyone could buy through Kenny Brown. It would have been very easy for them to allow this suspension and still not go down the "slippery slope" they always seem to be fearing.
All water under the bridge but it's still a shame. I'm glad to see it will be on the track fairly soon.
____________________________________
#4 Mustang NASA Great Lakes AI
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I agree Brian, it really doesn't make any sense. I can understand if they didn't want an exotic "one off" independent rear suspension but this was something that anyone could buy through Kenny Brown. It would have been very easy for them to allow this suspension and still not go down the "slippery slope" they always seem to be fearing.
All water under the bridge but it's still a shame. I'm glad to see it will be on the track fairly soon.
I can't really agree with you guys for fear of being "banned" by the "politically connected" in AI.
So I won't
Seriously, what a beautiful car! If I knew then what I know now - it would be in another Bruce's garage. Oh, the irony of that KB suspension in Bruce's garage!
Brian, I honestly do not remember the user names (much less the real names) of the players. This car was discussed on several message boards. I don't even remember the Nasa officials and am not sure if they are even still involved.
Doc,
I was not in the "loop" so to speak at the time, but didn't realize this was something political. I agree Brian and Mark got the short end of the stick after getting the green light and later having it recinded. I have lost alot of respect for the said sanctioning body the last few years as well, but this could have been easily fixed and the car raced with very little work.
It will be great to see the car on the track again. Congrats Bruce!!
2005 NASA American Iron Midwest Champion.
2006 NASA American Iron Midwest Champion
2009 BMW M3: Interlagos blue, SMG
2009 BMW X3
1994 Cobra,The race car. (Sold)
2000 Cobra R 131 of 300 Built 3/15/00
1995 Cobra R #23 (NASA AI Midwest & AV8SS #23)
2008 Corvette Z06
2010 Camaro SS (The new racecar, build in process) carriagehousecustoms.com
My braking point entering a corner is when I see the corner worker raising the yellow flag for me
I may have emailed the Corvette Racing Team to give them an opportunity to race Bruce's new blue car.
Ron Fellows said there was no way he'd race that blue Ford. He said Bruce was cheating with that new engine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ac427cobra
I'd be honored to have Ron Fellows blow my doors off on the track!
He can get away with it.
Hell with the race team, I was talking about that privateer guy who built his own C6R that is unrestricted. That thing is crazy fast and that sequential shifter is just tits. I think Fall Line Motorsports built it.
You are much more modest now that you are the owner of the Blue BIW.
We all know that that this Fellows guy has his own Z06. I think they call it the "Ron Fellows Z06", or something.
You can tell Fellows that he can not run with ac427cobra. If this ever happens, I am sure that sociology professors, art-history majors, English majors, and animal rights activists will vote for Gov. Sarah Palin.
Nonetheless, I recently heard of a circa 1966 Ford GT40 Mk11 which will be shown as a livery of "ac427Cobra".
Afterall, the 1966 GT40 Mk11 was the first (and only) American car to finish 1-2-3 at LeMans (that is over-all Mr. Fellows). Their average speed in 1966 was 125.4 mph. That should be the average speed of the Blue BIW at Gingerman.
The "ac427cobra Special Edition GT40":
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Doc
1995 Cobra R #113
1994 Cobra (the car I ordered new) #3908
1965 Mustang FIA vintage road race car, torch red
2004 F350 SD XLT Sport V10 4X4 SC SRW 3:73LS
2010 Mustang GT w/ Track Pack, torch red
1973 Porsche 911 2.7L, 5-speed
1971 Porsche 911, red race car
To be perfectly honest with you, that sounds like a cop-out to me. Your wife doesn't drive that car.
I think you would be very well served buy the blue car. I've seen you drive. That car's easily capable of carrying you to a National Championship. I'll even throw in the motor! Deal?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ON D BIT
what about the motor? whats the goal, engine specs plus final race weight and front/rear balance?
Paitence my man, patience. All in due time!
Small block push rod motor, (Boss block) 366 C.I. shooting for 450 RWHP range, plus or minus 50 hp. I was told the car weighs in the lower to mid 2,500# range. (with what I can only imagine an almost perfect 25% per wheel, or very close) But I won't know until the car is done.
To be perfectly honest with you, that sounds like a cop-out to me. Your wife doesn't drive that car.
I think you would be very well served buy the blue car. I've seen you drive. That car's easily capable of carrying you to a National Championship. I'll even throw in the motor! Deal?!
Paitence my man, patience. All in due time!
Small block push rod motor, (Boss block) 366 C.I. shooting for 450 RWHP range, plus or minus 50 hp. I was told the car weighs in the lower to mid 2,500# range. (with what I can only imagine an almost perfect 25% per wheel, or very close) But I won't know until the car is done.
wifes car. business car. holding it for a friend. what heritage. he knows all the excuses bruce. the only thing that is 100% accurate is that it sits in his garage at night!
patience? whats that? how did you get it down to 2500lbs? i know you dont like the brakes, so that must of saved you 200lbs or so.
the only real question is this....will it be ready for road atlanta 09?
patience? whats that? how did you get it down to 2500lbs? i know you dont like the brakes, so that must of saved you 200lbs or so.
the only real question is this....will it be ready for road atlanta 09?
I didn't get the car down to 2,500#. They did.
Ok, Mark saw my post and has corrected me. He tells me the Boss block is an additional 45# or so from the std. block. So that puts the car somewhere in the range of just under 2,600# I have plans to remove an additional 50 or so (give or take) so at this point it's a wait and see game. I've learned long ago that you can't rush these things. Rushing stuff always has a way of biting you in the ass.
The car will need some shaking down and tuning so a Road Atlanta trip next year is undecided at this point. I AM going to Road Atlanta. I just don't know when.
Brakes? I don't think this car will need much braking.
Stay tuned. As soon as I know something I'll update the thread.
I laughed so hard the Cap'n & Coke squirted out of my nose and went all over my keyboard!!! 
Are you going to let BT and MW drive the car? 
Your wife doesn't drive that car. 
I'll even throw in the motor! 
Linear Mode
