Meyer and his buddy Leno are talking about spare (unused) parts storage somewhere in LA.... Most likely the Beverly Hills area... or maybe Malibu.

Greg, you're prettier than Miley...

Smart man...I hear wives sometimes monitor this joint.


:ohsnap:


lol

Hey Greg, what width and backspace are you running up front?

Hey Vince!

They are 18"' x 9" with 5" backspacing.

:cheers:

Thanks Ron!!

That's what I'm getting too. Upper ball joint gets in the way. Too bad cause there is so much room in there.

On the one with the Ridetech suspension I can go 6" BS but the lower control arm has a funky bend in it. If it wasn't for that I can go 6 1/2" BS on a 10" wheel.

I don't know anything about the car -- I just know I can't wait to run it at Thunderhill May 2nd and 3rd...


Yippppppeeeeeeee

NorCal Shelby May 2015
 

After Ron Sutton Race Technologies prepared a plan to completely upgrade the suspension on the Mustang - this weekend was the first full weekend of being able to run the car hard and dial in all the things we all want to work on.... including the DRIVER. With that being a criteria for me... we decided to install a complete radio system. I was nervous about this at first - thinking that maybe this would be very distracting just as I'm about to enter a corner at speed etc - but it had the opposite affect. Ron can lull anyone to sleep. Kidding here. Knowing where traffic was - who was on my ass - talking me thru (when he could see me) some steps... keeping me calm and looking ahead. THIS IS WORTH EVERY NICKEL! Now I want the other guys I run with to install radios so we can talk. Might help us as a group to "group up" when on track... sometimes you're only a turn or two back and we could easily find that out and adjust our positions.

I have a simple push to talk button on the steering wheel -- and my helmet came pre-wired with ears and mic... these radios are so clear and crisp! Thanks to RSRT for guiding this process and making the right equipment choices!





Motorola FTW....





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So the larger point is - the car is faster by spades -- the driver, not so much. We're lapping at 2:07's and 2:08's -- but doing so easier by far than the old set up. The car is planted and stable - there's more than enough brake now... and I can turn wherever I choose to and be confident with experimenting on the line.






The tires took a beating... running faster is going to put more pressures on the tires -- and we had to dial in the air pressures.... and I was spending all weekend trying to learn to late apex - carry more speed - accelerate harder and faster... and on and on.





http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_7719.jpg





The bigger wider wheels and all the camber changes etc... caused some inside rubbing issues. So some mods are in order. I had to just take the offending piece out and chop it up a bit. Done!






http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_7709.jpg







YA GOTTA CUT TO CURE!! LOL






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http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_7711.jpg








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DONE!


I smoothed all of this up in case there is still some contact -- we don't need to cut a tire at 125 going into turn 1..... and now it looks like a factory stamped piece.





http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_7715.jpg






The brake bias needed some adjusting -- and a different pad COF was the decided "fix". The goal here is to buy fewer rotors.... pads are cheap... so the car is running the better Spec 37 rotors... with softer pads. What I like here is that RON made a brilliant decision to run the Race version calipers.... OMG -- A pad change is like one bolt!! BAM!






http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_7722.jpg






The other issue that was fixed was the pinion seal. This was changed out to a cast iron retainer and a positive pinion seal retainer was added. A weekend of running hard and not a single weep or drop of gear lube. This rear end was always "wet" before this fix!






http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_7723.jpg





A long story -- but I diverted to Portland to acquire another hot rod... then on up to Seattle to fetch Gwen some wine from our storage place... then back to Eye Da Ho... My favorite landing spot is just east of Pendleton Oregon (remember the shirts?) high up overlooking the valley. Since this wide spot in the road is a "scenic" viewing sight -- NOBODY pulls in there at night - making for a peaceful sleep. It was stormy and windy but cool sights! Made it hard to BBQ though! But I was successful non-the-less.





This view was looking WEST......






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This was the view if I just turned my head EAST.... LOL






http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_7642.jpg






And just because..... Fabrication is really just not an issue in my little "shed".

The Rio Red '33 Coupe is the newest addition - sadly - due to the death of a great friend. He always wanted me to have the car.... so it shall be done!






http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_7707.jpg









And a new set of shoes ready to go!!








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I'm glad everything (the motor) held together for you and the weekend was a success! Looks like you won't be needing the back up to the back up race car anymore.:D
Love the new ride!!
"Every girls crazy about a sharp dressed man"

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, Greg.
Sounds like the outing was a success, nonetheless.
You'll wonder how, and WHY, you ever raced without radios.

Should have cut higher for when you get faster. :peepwall:

Hey Greg congrats on the success of the new set up in the stang. So sorry i missed you up at the T-Hill Shelby run (family duties take precedent over mike duties lol).

Looking forward to running with ya soon (well, behind you now lol)

Sorry to hear about your friend, looks like you'll have a sweet reminder of what friendship is to look at....

ZZ Top --- and that's pretty much what the new '33 is styled after.

Nice car once I fixed a few things - like actually got the 8 stack EFI working properly!! It's the little things....







Thanks!! It's pretty much my first time fabing anything.....









They worked great! I just didn't really know what to expect...but they're very helpful. Of course it also helps when you have Sutton on the other end... It's pretty much his first time at racing.








Just fast enough to be in front of an Orange Camaro. Done! Good enough! LOL









Wienie! Family is replaceable - race dates aren't.


Stan was a really good friend -- the car is good memories.

The day I see you going into turn one at 125mph there will be chickens flying out of my butt...

That would mean that you'd actually shown up to run.....

Sorry about your friend Greg. Great progress report, sounds like now it's down to just the fine tuning. Well, and tuning the driver. lol...

First thing I tuned out was Lillard.

Best weekend EVER of tracking the car.... While you wasted your time in Lost Wages watching the worst fight of the century... We sat around the TV (okay it's a little small but it worked!).... watching the "non fight" ... BBQ'n... drinking...and making fun of you for not being there (at the track). LOL



From your "friends".....




http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_0218.jpg

I warned you about this way back at the bottom of page 104.

RE: The Warning!

You certainly did Craig!! I hope I trimmed enough off -- and if not -- I still own all the tools to do it again! LOL



People warned me about Charlie having the "bird flew" too.... but I didn't pay attention then either...

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-M...Mpb8KQB-XL.jpg

I ran up a met Greg yesterday at Oregon Raceway Park (aka: The Farm) for the second of two track days he spent there. I hadn't planned on driving, my plan was tire, camera, and video bitch, but I was informed elsewise by Greg.

He had his new supercar (Miata) there so after I gave it a little TLC I was running laps on a track I know very well for a change. After a few sessions I was informed I was driving THE Mustang next. This made my body start doing strange things......nervous like a monkey that's just eaten a handful of fish hooks may be the best description.

I know the car's previous set up pretty well and partook in numerous pit sessions with Greg and Ron Sutton identifying the cars on track manners and Greg's objectives. I was with Greg when the car was dropped off at BMR for modifications and Ron gave us a thorough tour of BMR's exceptional facility.

I had a good idea of what the car was like on track previously, and I was supposed to drive the 'old' car the day the engine developed issues......thankfully I didn't, but wish I would have so know the before and after first hand.

I get belted in and fire it up and proceed to stall it twice backing it up in reverse.....obviously it's lacking power. :D :sieg: I'm heading to the staging area thinking: Haven't driven a Jerico trans before, or a locker rear, or anything with 580 hp.......:headspin:

One easy lap to acclimate to the controls and feedback of the car and I was really impressed with the manners and all fear was gone. By the second lap I was confident and trusted the car, by the third I'm losing rear grip in 3rd & 4th gear on the uphill straights. The rest of the laps were the best time I've had in a car on track - PERIOD! Never once did this car catch me off guard or surprise me in any way. Brakes are powerful and user friendly, turn in is precise, and the transition through the apex and exit are silky smooth. Did I mention the motor in this car is OMG good!? It pulls so strong and linear it's unbelievable, never a hit, just grin inducing traction compromising big league revving pull!

Ron Sutton's entire process is methodical, thorough and very impressive to observe, but I had no idea he'd deliver a package as user friendly as this car is - especially to a first time driver. The car is so much fun to drive it's hard to describe, it really needs to be experienced. Money well spent!

Job well done Mr. Sutton. :captain1:

Man... I bet that was a fun day!! Sounds great.

Did Greg keep the notebook up for you, checking the tire temps, rotor temps, and air pressures right as you came off the track? :D

Great to see you 2 old farts having fun :D

It was Lance, first time I'd had a car on Oregon Raceway Park and it's just as much fun if not more than a bike. I'd been hearing complaints from people that the track is too narrow but I never experienced that feeling.

Regarding data acquisition.......Uh No! :snapout:

I'm thinking this is the first time I've been tagged 'old fart'.......I can easily live with that......and I wish you'd have been copilot in my car for the trip over and back. :unibrow:

You really need to put some 245's on all four corners of your car and take it too the track. That is serious hoonigan fun!!!

On a serious note those 245's keep things in check because the Mustang with big tire grip and that motor would carry stupid fast speed which can end the FUN in a hurry.......especially for old farts.

I'll never forget how sweet that motor felt! :hail:

It's my "job"..... LOL



This was a private track day trip. Friday and Saturday... ALL DAY -- 7 cars - run on and off the track at will... no groups ... passing anywhere...

The track is made for small light cars like the Lotus 2 11... the straight is very short <relative> but if you had power you could haul some ass. 2.3 miles of twists and turns and ups and downs. I don't think I've ever had so much fun. Nor have I ever driven so much in two days. OMG. I was worn out. I took a full tank in the Mustang - and 41 gallons worth of 110 octane in jugs <don't like doing that!>.... and thank god Sieg showed up with some octane booster so I could buy some 92 and boost it and then mix that with the 110. I used it all up! So I went through 60+ gallons of race gas in two days.... EEEEEHHHHHAAAAA

Lance -- A buddy of mine has a Lotus 2 11 (I have one too) and I was his tire bitch all weekend... It's actually fun! I felt like a real pit crew dude. LOL

There were only 7 cars on this track event. So we got more driving than we could use.. it was a drive - then sit and rest and water up - and drive some more kind of a day(s).

You'll see the "loss of grip" on the tighter corners where you're back on the throttle... and there's a little nose bobble... LOL The car is super neutral - and predictable.. but there's way too much power to tire width ratio! Makes it fun as hell in my book! Very visceral!

Videos never capture the speed or the track IMHO.... There's so many blind corners and "areas" on this track. There are a couple places where I just couldn't quite remember "where I was" on the track. It would take a lot more miles there to get it down. In the driver meeting - they talk about how many people go out "thinking" they have it down - and there's a LEFT where they though was a RIGHT... OUCH! LOL

Millennials ain't havin that kinda fun...lol

I like that Big Orange Camaro is front and center and Old Yeller is in the background...I mean the Stang, not GW.


:D

Hahaha. Glad you had a blast. I would loved to have ridden shotgun, anything for a bit of fun.

Sounds like a few days at Bondurant.


Looked great.

Come on Sieg, I thought your sole purpose of going up there was to fix the vertical location of that gopro mount on the Mustang.

Fail.

:twak:

ha ha ha! Seriously though...

Greg, you have a data acquisition system in the Mustang right? It really makes the videos more fun when you merge a data overlay onto the video with speed, rpms etc.

Plans change........sometimes for the better. :D

I lost a lot of time (1/30th of my total trip) sourcing some part called a lug nut. :sieg:

I was :twak: myself listening to the video that night in the toter. :waveflag:

You saw my mount failure.......at least you can hear the roar of the engine........ when the Lotus, BMW, Lotus, and Mustang creep by me:

Data acquisition in the Mustang is your back pressed into the seat.... and the heat off the floorboards... and the shifter in the palm of your hand.

You have just caused my track day withdrawal symptoms to spike. Now I want to go do a track day!

Winning.

LOL --- YEP!!!


I will say this ---- and I know this is blasphemy on a pro touring site.... but I have absolutely ZERO use for a "street" car.... The pure track car is so visceral... LOUD - HOT - stripped down to the bare essentials... and set up just for performance. I don't want to compromise the suspension settings.. or tires or any of that. Track driving is just too addicting and we don't get enough of it... so when I do... I want it to be pure "race car" feeling (I suck at driving - but I like the feedback etc). And I like to not cringe when I hear stuff hitting the car (and it does like crazy) and I like to not have to be "careful" when working on it etc. I'm really "over" having to be nice to high dollar paint... and clean beautiful interiors... Light weight, horsepower, and super sticky tires is such a fun combo!

Hey Greg, nice to meet you on Friday. That Mustang sure looked good on the track. I hope to try out that track soon.

What a great report you guys!!!

Greg, seriously, i'm glad you (read Ron here) got that car dialed (or close) and just plain having fun with it...fun stuff.

Sieg, sweet stuff huh? how do you like it compared to off road? I get the same amount of "euphoria" from either, but dont come home sore as he!! after the track.....

Hope to see y'all soon....Cheers...

You just described my car...well except for the light weight and horsepower parts... :D and the cup holders of course. ;)