NorCal Shelby Mini Nats - Aug 2nd and 3rd

[DBasher]

Isn't that the same set up you currently have? Was it just the ballpoint or did the spindle fail, I can't tell.

[Sieg]

A fully documented one of six GT ordered without factory stripes that's campaigned in Vintage Racing East and West.

[clill]

Your yellow car has been faster than most for years as is. I think this is more of you just can't sit still.

[GregWeld]

NOTHING gets done without the CheeseBalls!

Originally Posted by Sieg

Tuning table.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by clill

Your yellow car has been faster than most for years as is. I think this is more of you just can't sit still.

GUILTY AS CHARGED.

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Sieg even managed to run the Lotus in Red while sporting a Green group sticker.

Sundays are generally far less crowded than Saturdays and are more fun to me with less traffic to contend with in all groups.

Busted! I got head-faked by Ron rushing to get Greg's tires set and Pete and Greg appeared to be hurrying to get fuel. So I just suited up and headed down to the hot pit and the cars had just been released and they were all waving at me to go go go! LOL

As it worked out there was about 50% less cars on track than the green group, in the no passing zones their pace killed your lap times, but in the gaps I could really focus on my lines and rhythm vs maintaining pace which I really needed having never been to this track before. Being trapped in the esses would result in 2:20-2:25 laps, I think the best finish line to finish lap in this video was a 2:02. Which according to Ron's timing was a couple seconds faster than many cars were running in the green session I was supposed to be in.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Two reasons, he doesn't know better or doesn't have the funds. How many racers do you know that would spend there last nickel on a go fast part?

I'm with you, this is serious business.

I actually think that it's people "DON'T KNOW" because until recently - we didn't have a Ron Sutton on board that knows and is willing to share.... I really think it's something we just don't put much thought to. We (as a group) are not racers -- we're basically hot rodders.... and we hot rod what we know. More motor - big brakes - big fat sticky tires - Fancy paint and a little gap spray. That all works until you go to start to beat on this stuff!

The reason I'm even mentioning it is to RAISE AWARENESS for others here that are more and more trying to track their cars.

Originally Posted by DBasher

Isn't that the same set up you currently have? Was it just the ballpoint or did the spindle fail, I can't tell.

Chicken and the egg..... did he have an off track excursion and cause breakage or did he break and go off track? I didn't talk to him so I can't answer the question.



Here's what I do know - and what I do think about - now that RS has brought this all to my little pea brain...

Speeds on these tracks are quite high... and that K wall starts rushing up at you real quick - like at the exit of T10 in Sonoma. I don't need to smack that because of a few parts that can easily be uprated. Frankly -- If I knew I was only going to take myself "out" -- okay -- but I'd sure hate to take out one or two other innocent guys with me because I was negligent (now that I know the dangers/potential issues).

[Ron Sutton]

The weak point in these cars ... and by that I mean ALL 60's-80's production cars from GM, Ford & Chrysler ... are the:
1. Front spindle snouts (very small, made with low grade steel - Prone to overheating, becoming brittle & snapping)
2. The front spindle/hub bearings (Small - not made for this kind of load or heat - Prone to overheating & self destructing)
3. The ball joints (Small shanks, made with low grade steel, over heat treated - Prone to snapping off)
4. The rear 1-piece flange type axle (Design not intended for high power twist & high-G side loads we put on them. Made with low grade steel - Prone to breaking flange off at bearing.)
5. Rear axle bearings (Open Roller or Ball Bearing Roller) - Never designed for the high-G side loads we put on them - Prone to disintegrating.)

They were very safe for street driving with G70-14 tires ... like they were intended. But we put modern suspensions, wide/sticky tires, hotter brakes & big HP in these these cool cars ... and the 5 areas I listed above are the weak links.

I'm not surprised they break. I'm surprised they last as well as they do. But it's like playing Russian roulette with a 24 bullet cylinder. Yes, the odds are better than a 6 bullet cylinder, but eventually it's going to bite you.

There are cheap ways to reduce your risk. And there are spendy ways to upgrade these areas where they are no longer a weak link.

[Chassisworks]

While I agree 100% with all of Ron's points, the blue Mustang went off track with all parts intact. The wreck caused the balljoint to break, not the other way around. We spoke to the customer a day or so after the fact.

[DBasher]

Carl are those stock spindles on the fastback, they don't look quite the same as mine, maybe just a later year.

Besides the BJ, how did the rest of the equipment do? And just to clarify, I'm not throwing stones or starting anything, (this time) just trying to learn.

Dan