First track outing of the year, been too busy with work/kids to get away, but my wife was awesome enough to spend the weekend with the kids while I hung out at the track.
I had a hell of a time getting ready for this event. I ordered a new clutch, flywheel and driveshaft to install beforehand. Got it all installed, and went to hook up the clutch the clutch cylinder...oops, the fittings didn't match. The fitting from the new clutch to the cylinder was a normal -4AN fitting, while the OEM fitting was more of a snap on fitting. We cut the OEM fitting off, and tried to find someone to install the AN on that end of the hose.
None of the companies in KC wanted to install a fitting on the old OEM hose, instead they wanted me to buy a new hose from them. I was fine with that, as it was only going to be $100 or so, BUT no one could produce the fitting that went in to the clutch cylinder, so it was 6 of one 1/2 dozen of another.
I finally found an old hot rod shop (Hot Rod Express) about 40 minutes away that said they would do it, no problem. So I dropped it off Wednesday night, and picked it up Thursday morning. $7.50 later, my problem was fixed!
We bled the clutch, which felt like it took forever. Took it out for a spin to try and 'break in' the clutch a bit, and everything went great. Came in early on Friday to load it on the trailer, and I couldn't get the car to start. I ended up getting it started by pressing the clutch pedal to the floor, and then an additional inch or so.
The clutch lockout sensor on these cars slides on the clutch lever and presses against a foam pad on the driver side of the firewall in order to let the car start. While bleeding the clutch the day before, I think I flattened the foam pad. I fixed it by cutting about a 1/3" of a 1/4" rubber line, slicing the side, wrapping it around the rod and securing it with a zip tie; worked like a charm.
Everything was all loaded up and ready to go. Got to the track about 45 minutes early so I could get unloaded and everything set up. I misread my notes on tire pressures and ended up going out the first two sessions about 5lbs heavy in each tire...oops.. but I was taking it easy anyways to break in the clutch. Ended up running consistent 1:51s on Saturday (full course, slow turn 8), which I was more than happy with. That's about where I ended last year, so to start this year like that I was happy. I was the fastest in the HPDE 3/4 group, and would've held my own in TT1 (moving up next year).
There were 5 cars that outran me, by a lot... PF Racing brought three Mustang GT4s and they were running 1:42-44s, a Viper Comp Coupe was running 1:45s, and a Radical SR3 ran 1:44-45s. We had a great time.
Sunday, it rained in the morning, making the course almost undriveable. Even the race cars were running 6-7 seconds off pace, and I lost track of how many cars ran off the track.
Next mods... swapping to a 3.55 rear end, instead of the current 3.07s, and then my Tillet seats next month. Hoping to get down to 1:48-49 next time.
Track Layout:
GT4 Porn:
I had a hell of a time getting ready for this event. I ordered a new clutch, flywheel and driveshaft to install beforehand. Got it all installed, and went to hook up the clutch the clutch cylinder...oops, the fittings didn't match. The fitting from the new clutch to the cylinder was a normal -4AN fitting, while the OEM fitting was more of a snap on fitting. We cut the OEM fitting off, and tried to find someone to install the AN on that end of the hose.
None of the companies in KC wanted to install a fitting on the old OEM hose, instead they wanted me to buy a new hose from them. I was fine with that, as it was only going to be $100 or so, BUT no one could produce the fitting that went in to the clutch cylinder, so it was 6 of one 1/2 dozen of another.
I finally found an old hot rod shop (Hot Rod Express) about 40 minutes away that said they would do it, no problem. So I dropped it off Wednesday night, and picked it up Thursday morning. $7.50 later, my problem was fixed!
We bled the clutch, which felt like it took forever. Took it out for a spin to try and 'break in' the clutch a bit, and everything went great. Came in early on Friday to load it on the trailer, and I couldn't get the car to start. I ended up getting it started by pressing the clutch pedal to the floor, and then an additional inch or so.
The clutch lockout sensor on these cars slides on the clutch lever and presses against a foam pad on the driver side of the firewall in order to let the car start. While bleeding the clutch the day before, I think I flattened the foam pad. I fixed it by cutting about a 1/3" of a 1/4" rubber line, slicing the side, wrapping it around the rod and securing it with a zip tie; worked like a charm.
Everything was all loaded up and ready to go. Got to the track about 45 minutes early so I could get unloaded and everything set up. I misread my notes on tire pressures and ended up going out the first two sessions about 5lbs heavy in each tire...oops.. but I was taking it easy anyways to break in the clutch. Ended up running consistent 1:51s on Saturday (full course, slow turn 8), which I was more than happy with. That's about where I ended last year, so to start this year like that I was happy. I was the fastest in the HPDE 3/4 group, and would've held my own in TT1 (moving up next year).
There were 5 cars that outran me, by a lot... PF Racing brought three Mustang GT4s and they were running 1:42-44s, a Viper Comp Coupe was running 1:45s, and a Radical SR3 ran 1:44-45s. We had a great time.
Sunday, it rained in the morning, making the course almost undriveable. Even the race cars were running 6-7 seconds off pace, and I lost track of how many cars ran off the track.
Next mods... swapping to a 3.55 rear end, instead of the current 3.07s, and then my Tillet seats next month. Hoping to get down to 1:48-49 next time.
Track Layout:
GT4 Porn:
