SMOTY / OUSCI Has this ever happened??

[Stuart Adams]

Racing is like golf. You will never perfect it, you have to love the journey to get better and realize todays success does not mean tomorrows success. Each day the course is different or the conditions change on the same course hourly.

Going to different venues and the nuckleheads here are the fun.

[garickman]

So with all the discussion going on, does anyone have any sneak peaks of who is bringing what to Columbus this year?

[Cris@JCG]

James- BB 2 is on hold till we finish out some other hot projects we have now.. We are taking all that we learned from BB 1 & building a purpose built car...

Originally Posted by SLO_Z28

I think Blu Balz 2 is still in the works right Karl? With Cris getting advice from the pros he is now, you might have a serious contender in that car.

Albert- Thank you for the compliments on BB.. I apprecaite the props!

I have been working with DSE on some of the changes we have done to the car.. I have relayed info over to Kyle & have had in depth conversations with him about it.. He drove the car @ RTTC & Delmar.. but we have also had some of the best Auto-x drivers in the hot seat.. BB is gonna be a great car for the road course.. but still trying to find its happy spot on the Auto-X..

In the last year or so.. we have been pushing cars to the limits of what product was designed for.. DSE is aware that changes for adjustments on their suspension will be required.. The Mustang product they have been working on incorporates that.. Per conversation with Kyle.. I can't wait to check that out.. The cool thing about DSE product is you set the car to their recommended aligmment specs & you have a car that drivess just like a new car.. Tracks straight..

I know of some guys that are not engineers but know how to build suspension & are some of the best drivers.. so they can be very competive.. Stielow is a deadly combination! An engineer plus a "DAMM' good driver.. I would consider the Tuckers in the same catagory.. I would hand over to these guys & gals anytime to my own personal car to track it.. but would also do the same with Mary, Brian H, & Mike Maiers.. drivers can give you some much input on what a car needs for it to be complient..

Originally Posted by tazzz2_ca

Karl has a killer car in Blu Balz and Chris did a beautiful job building the car without question,,,,, Now if you want the car to run nails give the Dam thing to DSE....
With respect here guys,,,,, who the hell are these "Pro's" that know how to optimize a suspension system better that DSE who engineered it...DSE's owners are trained engineers specifically in the area of suspensions and worked for a major car manufacture in that area... Logic and history, not to mention being the designers of the product make the decision pretty simple when reviewed....

Chris has done a beautiful job and is to be commended for building such a beautiful car...

Addressing Jeff's comment,,, your opinion is based on what engineering background???? And you've worked at what major car manufacture to have such depth of knowledge about suspension engineering???? Man sometimes I really think you like to hear yourself Talk Jeff,,, God knows I'm over your all to often offered/posted opinions on things you have nominal knowledge about already.... What a F--king joke,,, Rant Over......

Karl- Damm funny!

Originally Posted by dunnjun

Quote: "To me SMOTY is turning into what happened at indoor ISCA shows. As soon as the masses feel like they have lost touch with the possibility of attaining a goal, they will move on to something else."Quote


Even though all of us are awed by the quality of all of the cars that are capable of winning a SMOTY, to most of us, they are not representative of the street/race trend of todays builds. Maybe there needs to be a new award that is more reflective of the direction our sport is headed. Since design is still a quarter of the points at OUSCI, and most of our cars are still street driven. It would seem that we're looking at an award that would take form and function into consideration. Something short of SMOTY, it would honor design, but the award would also recognize the race car focus and capabilities that are major goals of an increasing number of current builds.

To that end I propose the Street Car Racer Of The Year Award, the SCROTY. And IMO BLU BALZ has this one in the bag.

Ron- Thanks for reminding about this invite..
Karl- BTW we got invited to this event after Goodguys in Columbus!

Originally Posted by Ron in SoCal

Maybe you were thinking of this?

http://blogs.popularhotrodding.com/6...ear/index.html

Mary- With 850 springs & 550 in the rear.. we need some changes... Brian & Casey have recommended that we need to loosen the car in the front.. At MATS we disconnected the front roll bar & softened the rear bar.. Got the car to bite in a tight corner but the wave trac didn't like it.. We were losing power to the rear wheels.. We went back to the settings that we started @ when we arrived .. Delmar .. We were fighting a bunch of issues.. But their we ran with no sway bars to get the car to commit to tight corners.. But had plenty of springs.. The car is to tight right now on springs.. Plus changing tires.. going to Pilot Super Sports.. 305-30-19 in the fronts.. 345-30-19 in the rear.. These are the last changes & it will be ready for Karl..

I have learned alot from driver to driver.. But BB has never been happy on tight hairpin turns with You, Brian or Mike.. Karl was fighting it too @ MATS.. the car pushes off on a tight turn like that.. SO we are putting bigger tires on the front.. I also have to listen to you on the fact that the car needs to come up on the front too.. Kyle also recommended it..

I am hoping this special blend of soup will eventually will lead to better times & compliancy!

Originally Posted by mpozziCPL

You do know that when BB struggled at Del Mar, calling for advice had said "Pro" opining with "Go back to your old set-up." There are so many different variations that allow suspension and chassis tuning but one thing is crystal clear. The car has to be compliant, first and foremost.

One question I asked in the very beginning of all this was "Are you chasing a time or chasing compliancy?" as if you have one, you'll most likely have the other. With a really, really good driver, something with holes in the handling can be forced to get around a corner and yes, turn a fast lap anywhere.

At last conversation with Cris and this may have changed by today, BB currently has very stiff springs and (I think) shocks set accordingly which, to me, doesn't work with my driving abilities. Neither Dave nor I have driven this car since it's initial outing at a local event so can't comment on what's happening currently. There are a lot of cooks throwing ingredients in the soup pot and hopefully one or two will hit on that special something that's makes it a winner.

Good luck!

Mary Pozzi

[Vegas69]

Originally Posted by Matt.A

*Waits for Todd to post about how he he has been saying that every car needs to be tuned for its owners specific style of driving*

Matt

Bingo was her namo.

Finding the balance between street, autocross, and road racing is the real trick. Throw in the speed stop squared and it's gets real interesting. From springs, shocks, brake pads, alignment, power plant, you just can't have it all in every event. Pick one that you are great at or walk the tight rope. To me that's what this pro touring is about.

If your car knocks your teeth loose on the street or it wants to hook a rut on the road and put you into the median, that's not my idea of a compliant pro touring car.

When Cris, Brian, and I sat down to talk shop over some drinks, I told Cris what I felt the best compliment I had heard about the car. Brian said, "Blue Balz feels better than a new car and I can't stop thinking about it".

It's my opinion that many around here are forgetting that variable of the sport we enjoy around here. Do you want a race car or a pro touring car?

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

It's my opinion that many around here are forgetting that variable of the sport we enjoy around here. Do you want a race car or a pro touring car?

Not forgetting... it's the growing # and quality of events, and the desire to place well or win at these events that is driving the direction more than individually chosen goals.

It's a fair question, but more and more people are answering "race car" with their parts and tuning choices. And there's really nothing wrong with that.

Hell, we all know tons of nice PT (non-race) cars that can but don't get driven hardly at all except on a track or autoX. And maybe that's where this niche is slowing gravitating toward... cars that run on tracks and appear to be pro touring cars, but don't actually do the "pro touring" thing?

Seeing cars like Brian's car and Mike Maier's car kick ass and look and sound like they do will surely make many want to follow that direction. They have inspired me that's for sure.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Who is Jeff?? I want to be pissed at him too....

Originally Posted by tazzz2_ca

A very rare rant on my part Greg,,,, sorry gang..

Albert -- no need to apologize -- you simply wrote what many others already think.

[Vegas69]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Not forgetting... it's the growing # and quality of events, and the desire to place well or win at these events that is driving the direction more than individually chosen goals.

It's a fair question, but more and more people are answering "race car" with their parts and tuning choices. And there's really nothing wrong with that.

Hell, we all know tons of nice PT (non-race) cars that can but don't get driven hardly at all except on a track or autoX. And maybe that's where this niche is slowing gravitating toward... cars that run on tracks and appear to be pro touring cars, but don't actually do the "pro touring" thing?

Seeing cars like Brian's car and Mike Maier's car kick ass and look and sound like they do will surely make many want to follow that direction. They have inspired me that's for sure.

You are misunderstanding my direction here. My point is, you don't know what you have until your project is on the road. Not everybody around here wants a rowdy race oriented car and may not understand the difference until it's to late. Clearly you are about as far to the race side as could be. I talked to Matt Alcala last weekend and he said he would rather move more towards the other end of the spectrum and his car is far from rowdy. Everybody has their own idea of their perfect pro touring car. But do they have the experience under their belt to build it?

In regards to Mike & Brian. When Brian and I sat down we talked about this whole deal. I personally prefer these type of cars and I'm glad they have joined our group. It's just not possible to compete with them in a car like Blue Balz. My point was that Blue Balz is an awful nice pro touring car to turn into a race car. If that's what the owner desires, then so be it.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

You are misunderstanding my direction here. My point is, you don't know what you have until your project is on the road. Not everybody around here wants a rowdy race oriented car and may not understand the difference until it's to late. Clearly you are about as far to the race side as could be. I talked to Matt Alcala last weekend and he said he would rather move more towards the other end of the spectrum and his car is far from rowdy. Everybody has their own idea of their perfect pro touring car. But do they have the experience under their belt to build it?

In regards to Mike & Brian. When Brian and I sat down we talked about this whole deal. I personally prefer these type of cars and I'm glad they have joined our group. It's just not possible to compete with them in a car like Blue Balz. My point was that Blue Balz is an awful nice pro touring car to turn into a race car. If that's what the owner desires, then so be it.

And that's a different point you just made and one most people have learned the hard way. I was "lucky" in the fact that I was building the wrong car for me (right at the time, or so I thought) and had to sell it. You have tougher choices to make because you built such a nice damn street car that you now beat like a race car.

If you're competitive like I know you and I both are, it is difficult to not succumb to making those "performance first" improvements. Especially when the fast get faster.

In regards to Matt... a blown motor will do that to ya.

I don't know anyone who isn't glad Mike and Brian joined the group... unreal cars and nice approachable guys with no egos.

Originally Posted by Vegas69

My point was that Blue Balz is an awful nice pro touring car to turn into a race car. If that's what the owner desires, then so be it.

People have been saying that about your car for awhile now.

[Vegas69]

Until you've lived it, you really don't know what you want. I've chosen my route. I can't lose the streetability of my car unless I want to cut the value of the car dramatically. I think I'll just keep enjoying myself for a while.

[Matt@BOS]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

I talked to Matt Alcala last weekend and he said he would rather move more towards the other end of the spectrum and his car is far from rowdy. Everybody has their own idea of their perfect pro touring car. But do they have the experience under their belt to build it?

Alright Todd, I'll let you drive my car at El Toro next year. I'm hoping it will be sorted, however I always change things before hand, and every year I seem to bring a car with untested parts that break. The last two years my car has had engine issues, and the first year it was completely unsorted and had an idiot driver. Anyway, other than the sheer amount of noise yours makes over mine, you'll probably be surprised how far it feels from being a tame street car, despite looking it. I drove with Kyle Tucker back to back in my car and Rodger's Chassis Works Camaro, and mine felt way less like a street car on the track than Rodger's. Weird, huh?

Anyway, that got me thinking, and I realized, something that looks and feels like a race car doesn't necessary have to handle like one, and vice versa.

The one thing I don't like about my Camaro is actually its level of refinement. Often, I wish it was either more refined, or less refined. It is kind of stuck in the middle. Some days I love it as is, some days I want a car like Dave, or Brian or Mike has, and some days I want a nice quiet grocery getter like the Newman wagon

Going back to driving school recently made me realize that I really want a car kind of like my Camaro, but with a quieter interior, better ride height so I'm not always scraping on speed bumps, and every type of cooler known to man, including one to hold beer at Good Guys shows

Basically I want to build something like my Camaro but with a quieter interior and extensive sheetmetal work! In other words, something that harder in refinement, design, and driveability. Maybe it will be runner up to top five at SMOY, and mid pack at Optima

Matt