Greg Weld's 65 Mustang fastback track car

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Cool pic.

So, Peter Brock must be like what... 5'3" or 5'4"?

phct up man haaaa haaaa aaaaa

[Panteracer]

Greg,
Sears is a tough track to get right.. I bet
Ron had a bunch of info to help out... just
wondering did you guys play with shocks and
tire pressures only or bar, alignment adjustments, etc

I know you had the car close.. just wondering what
else Ron does to fine tune things.. I guess weather
changes tire temps to some extent

The hard part I have is giving some info back to
the guy that knows what the car is supposed to do
I think that is harder than driving the car

thanks,

Bob

[Che70velle]

Greg, I mean we are friends and all, but you suck!

[Ron Sutton]

Originally Posted by Panteracer

Greg,
Sears is a tough track to get right.. I bet
Ron had a bunch of info to help out... just
wondering did you guys play with shocks and
tire pressures only or bar, alignment adjustments, etc

I know you had the car close.. just wondering what
else Ron does to fine tune things.. I guess weather
changes tire temps to some extent

The hard part I have is giving some info back to
the guy that knows what the car is supposed to do
I think that is harder than driving the car

thanks,

Bob

Hi Bob !

I don't want this to sound arrogant. Anyone that knows me knows I'm just a car guy. But as long as I have all the measurements & specs on a car, 95 times out of 100 I can work up a suspension package that is really close right out of the box. Greg's car is that way.

Because we measured everything in the suspension when we did the suspension & brake make over on Greg's Mustang at the BMR shop, I was able to work out the optimum front & rear spring rates, front & rear sway bar rates, panhard bar heights, camber, caster, toe, etc to be spot on from the get go. We haven't needed to adjust or change any of that. Not even a panhard bar adjustment. Because all the front suspension geometry is optimum, the spring & bar rates are harmonious and we hit the target with the spindle geometry, KPI, caster, camber to achieve full contact patches ... really all the car has needed is fine tuning.

So far (and this doesn't give away any of Greg's set-up secrets) we have:
Dialed in tire pressures
A few clicks on the rear shock valving
Adjusted brake bias
Added .5° caster

On the other hand, if someone's car has the geometry off, wrong spring & sway bar rates and/or less than optimum contact patch due to suspension geometry ... trying to get that type of car drivable can be challenging to say the least. Getting it fast takes a ton of trial & error ... aka testing & tuning.

Hope that helps clarify the process a little.

---------------------------------------------------------

P.S. Greg was running the full Sears Point course at 1:56.5 in the heat of the day. Where most of his buddies ... that previously had been significantly faster than him ... were running 1:58-2:02's. The car could be a lot faster with tires wider than the 245's he runs and with some aero downforce of a wing & splitter. But I don't think that's his goal. In only one of the sessions did we focus on passing cars & running a fast lap. All the rest of the time was just focused on having fun running with his buddies. He may add to that, as I can't really speak for Greg.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Panteracer

Greg,
Sears is a tough track to get right.. I bet
Ron had a bunch of info to help out... just
wondering did you guys play with shocks and
tire pressures only or bar, alignment adjustments, etc

I know you had the car close.. just wondering what
else Ron does to fine tune things.. I guess weather
changes tire temps to some extent

The hard part I have is giving some info back to
the guy that knows what the car is supposed to do
I think that is harder than driving the car

thanks,

Bob

Bob --- the car was just barely loose on exit.... and I'm running faster with more confidence building in the set up and trusting the new Borello motor etc... plus I am getting more track time etc...

So -- we raised the tire pressure up front 2 lbs... which is what needs to be done as you go faster... and to dial in a little more grip in the rear - we added rebound and some bleed. BAM! Secret Sauce.

Now --- I always want to repeat this.... SUTTON is the best part you'll ever buy for your car. The reason I repeatedly say that - is with him at the track - you get driver coaching - and car tuning....

We have a PRO set of Motorola radios built into the car --- and he gets high up to see the track -- and then talks me thru various options and corners - traffic - who / what's coming up.... having a spotter and a driver coach is going to make anyone better.

Typical dialog goes like this --- "remember Turn 4 is coming up and I want you to stay out wider and turn in a little faster...." Or -- traffic coming up -- or "remember to drive your line and pick up your spots" (this comes as he can see I'm chasing someone - or have someone (rare) on my ass).... or "Keep your eyes up" or "The Cortex Mustang is behind you... (the Cortex car he has timed and knows it runs 1:47's to my 1:58's).... to which I reply "F Cortex! I see Gaetano!!" (Track Junky).... LOL

The whole thing is very calming and reassuring.... and the reminders about what we've discussed in the pits - and drawn pictures of lines etc... really helps. Otherwise I do the typical "visor down! Race On!"....

Actually -- I don't think I can strap myself in anymore without him.

[DBasher]

B E Utiful! Sounds like a great weekend! The cars working, the motor is healthy, confidence is up and your lapping Gaetano....awesome!

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Che70velle

Greg, I mean we are friends and all, but you suck!

Sucks to be me -- Sucks worse to be Charlie... LOL

[GregWeld]

I truly suck at video -- mostly because I just really don't care... so I forget to turn the camera on - or whatever. But here's some footage from me at the 2015 Shelby Mini Nats at Sonoma -- running with my buddy Karl. He's pretty fast and carries lots of speed... with his amazing 2.3L turbo... We like running together and trust each other -- so it makes it fun to just do lead follows. I play -- opening a gap if I can - and then see if I can reel him in etc.

There's another guy in a Fox body Mustang -- his name is Adam - he races Formula Ford - and has this pretty fast Mustang... and he and I talk before we go out -- because he likes running with me and he's another guy I can trust to not loop it in front of me -- so we can run pretty tight. I'll post that video up tomorrow. I ran with him a couple times in the Mustang -- and then also on Sunday with the Lotus.

[Ron in SoCal]

Just....Awesome, Greg!

Oh and ya missed a shift!

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Ron in SoCal

Just....Awesome, Greg!

Oh and ya missed a shift!

Wasn't just a miss! I thought I might have broke it. It's a Jerico - so no clutch on the upshift (I use the clutch on downshifts).... and I just got L A Z Y...

Actually -- my driving style is L A Z Y.... I'm really much more about just enjoying myself than I am about banzai driving.