Time to get ready. Car, equipment, and mental prep.
 

It's been a bit busy getting everything ready for the OUSCI. Here's a little "insider" info to keep everyone in the loop.

THE CAR

The car is the easy part, but ended up being more than expected. The day after Jeff accepted the invite I tore the old supercharger off and started replacing it with a Magnuson TVS1900. Since the engine is basically a stock LS1 with a Lingnefelter cam, it's right in the sweet spot of the 1900 curve.

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/2904/dsc02035k.jpg

Of course, the tuner at Manguson tells me last Monday that I really need to get the 100mm Lingenfelter MAF to cure a few nagging driveablilty problems. Unfortunately that meant building a completely new intake system. It's not quite as sano as I'd like it to be but it is functional and solid. I plead my case with Magnuson and they really went out of their way to make time for the car this Monday to get it tuned. It runs pretty good the way it is but there's some idle and cooling fan-on problems to fix along with getting the overall tune sorted out.

Recently the Camaro, flying the Hotchkis Sport Suspenson flag, participated in the Super Chevy Suspension Challenge. During the entire process Team Hotchkis and I were on the same page about the goals and how to get there. John Hotchkis, their Chief Engineer Arron Ogawa, and I made a great team and had a lot of fun working together. When John found out the Camaro was attending OUSCI, he offered his and Aarons assistance. I jumped on the offer. I cannot not think of anyone better qualified to help get the car handling the way it should that day.

The Camaro gets new rubber on Monday as well, and after that it's just a matter of doing some detailing and she'll be ready to go.

THE EQUIPMENT

Since the car got some upgrades I felt it was necessary to spruce up some of my stylish attire to better reflect the spirit of the OUSCI. My trademark garb has been called, lovingly, a janitors suit. Though I pick off ABS glue from the sleeves and it resembles something that a sanitation engineer would don, it pains me to think of getting rid of it. So, in the true spirit of do-it-yourself, I bring to you the latest in Hollywood fashion.

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/9001/dsc02038p.jpg

Note the two new custom pocket patches and the sunglasses in the garage. I know the sunglasses make me faster.

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/4457/dsc02040c.jpg

No real race suit would be complete unless the drivers callsign was custom embroidered on the back. This patch is a quick removal type just in case a new callsign is assigned to me, which is highly likely. How about that classy new blue sticker on the helmet, eh?

THE MENTAL

I know that I must properly prepare mentally for this challenge. So, how about driving behind someone who is an expert? Here I am, dicing it out with Fast Mary Pozzi. Nevermind that it's the TV. Or that it's last years OUSCI. Or that she's on for only eight seconds. If I play it 500 times it will be just like the real thing. Right? Of course the helmet and driving suit are mandatory during any practice sessions.

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/759/dsc02041l.jpg

I also have a trick up my sleeve but I need both SEMA and OUSCI attendees help. I'm very fortunate that David Pozzi has offered to share his hotel room with me on Friday and Saturday nights. I figure that if someone can find one of those fortune teller/wishing machines like that in the movie "Big" then David's brain can be swapped into my body. My snoring might drive him mad anyway, so why not take advantage of it? While were sleeping the magic fortune should take effect.

I need to get all of my stuff packed in the car. While watching the OUSCI 2009, which is still on the DVR from last year, Bill Howell has to go and state "Trailers are for boats." Dang it Bill! So, it looks like I'm driving the Camaro and figuring a way to get around Vegas. Road trip! :lateral:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :willy: :willy: :willy:

Greg

That sticker should be on the front of your helmet. That way I can see it out my rear view mirror. :rofl:

X2

Carl you need a bigger TV to get a better visual effect against Mary

That was hilarious Hollywood! Now you're locked in on the garb, so don't change a thing. I'll show it over and over to my kids when it comes on the DVR. They'll know I know a real celebrity...:lol:

Fixed it for ya Todd.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2197/dsc02042.jpg

^:rofl:
Maybe Todd can be Maverick??:lol:

That's some really good stuff right there!


:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

lol:lol:
VERY NICE! Epic thread.:thumbsup: :cheers:

No dude, I think Todd would have to be Iceman,the two being rivals and all. I'm confident though that by the end of Optima the two will be hugging it and want to be each other's wingman

Matt

Love the helmet. :thumbsup:

Awesome man! Me and Carl are teammates first, competitors is a distant second. Of course I say that knowing he's the brides maid. :cheers:

If you're Iceman and I'm Mav, who shot down more planes? Yeah, I thought so.

I'm not hugging you either.

It's all good :thumbsup:

My new favorite thread----LOL---good stuff.

Doug

Classic :thumbsup:

Great thread Carl, I'm sure I dont have to remind you you'll have a blast!! :thumbsup:

I'm looking forward to it! I wish Todd and I could go join Charlie and blast around for a while. Events like these are kind of a tease for road course junkies like us where it takes 10 minutes to get warmed up/in the groove and 20 minutes total is the norm.

As of this afternoon the car is 100% mechanically ready to go after the Magnuson tune. I'll post up some chassis dyno sheets tomorrow or Wednesday for perusal. She sounds pretty damn wicked at full song.

Next: New motivational signs. That will come later this week. I don't want to mentally peak too early. Yeah, peak is stretching it a bit for me.

I also want to say thank you to everyone who has offered a helping hand and for the moral support in the forum. The day it was announced that I was going to OUSCI I received four phone calls with offers to help. It really means a lot to me that you guys stepped up to help a fellow gearhead. I hope to return the favor someday.

10-4 Maverick, you better get those afterburners tuned at full song. Iceman has the target dead ahead. :unibrow:

Thats good:lol:

Thats even better:lol:

That is very cool to hear Carl. Goes to show how awesome the people here really are.:lateral: :cheers:

Four unplanned work days this past week in Kingman, AZ was a curve ball that I did not want, but everything is progressing well. I'm packing the car tonight with every little hole in the trunk and cabin being filled with SEMA and work stuff.

Magnuson finished the tune on Monday morning. Andrew worked out the idle bugs and put in a super-safe tune. There's another 25+hp/tq in it but I do not want to hurt anything. There's more than enough power to get me into a lot of trouble in a hurry. The engine is an LS1 with a Lingenfelter GT2-3 cam, PAC valve springs, Ferra exhaust valves, and ARP main/rod/head fasteners. That's it.

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/9356/scan0001rs.jpg

The dip in the curve at 4600RPM is where the tune goes rich (11.3:1 AFR.) There is zero blower whine. That's a good and bad thing. It's great since it adds to the stealthiness, but that whine is really cool!

Looks stout, we are both outgunned in the HP department. We'll have to make up for it in good looks. :rofl:

I've leveraged my last name to make up for many more things than that!

Really?? When I called your house the other day - and was told you weren't home - I asked how you were doing.... "barely adequate" was the response...:rofl:

I must be getting better. Usually she just laughs.

I only link this video on special occasions, and now seemed appropriate,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIq5x8-QL-o

Matt

Now I'm back in my air shock jackup 69 Camaro just after high school and it had 14" Crager bought at Trac Auto. :woot:

You figured out who the best driver is yet?
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...nSema10008.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...nSema10005.jpg

Oh no he didn't... see ya in a few Kazanski.

it just me, or is it weird your right bicep is much bigger then your left??....... please leave out the details:D

It's an optical illusion. :unibrow: Kazanaski was loud and proud at the Lateral G party last night.