ANOTHER New Track Toy on the Way

[rown4au]

Well after nearly a year of thinking about it and waffling back and forth I took the plunge and picked up a track car. It's a 1998 Cobra that has been running the American Iron series for the last few years and I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning waiting for it to get here from North Carolina. This bloody Irene headed up the USAC has messed up my auto transporter schedule thus far so not sure when it will get here but I have already signed up for my first track event at MSR Cresson on 10-11 Sept with it so it will be a mad rush to get it ready to go when it arrives (hopefully) sometime next week.

6768

[68fastback]

Congrats, Jaime!! Best of luck and lots of fun with it!!!

[Joe G]

:congratulations:

[onecrazydog]

Cool!!

[CH53Driver]

Congrats!

[mustang loco]

nice,congrats and have fun!!

[Boston Mike]

Saweet!!! Sorry I won't be able to catchup with you that weekend since I'll be up I new England (hanging with Dan at tasca hoping to understand 1/100th of what he's talking about).

[Stew]

Very nice. :wtg:

[Shlbylvr]

Congrats on your new toy... Hope you have a blast with it..


Saweet!!! Sorry I won't be able to catchup with you that weekend since I'll be up I new England (hanging with Dan at tasca hoping to understand 1/100th of what he's talking about).
:spitcopy: Just nod, you'll be fine.

[Tommy Gun]

Now you can save that hoopdee GT500 that you drive. :tease2:

.

[68fastback]

Saweet!!! Sorry I won't be able to catchup with you that weekend since I'll be up I new England (hanging with Dan at tasca hoping to understand 1/100th of what he's talking about).

:spitcopy: ...we just cancelled trip to see the the kids due to the hurricane (we were all packed), so we *may* be in NJ for Tasca weekend for some grandkinder lovin' ...at least, either way, it will be fun!!

[CH53Driver]

:spitcopy: ...we just cancelled trip to see the the kids due to the hurricane (we were all packed), so we *may* be in NJ for Tasca weekend for some grandkinder lovin' ...at least, either way, it will be fun!!


:quitter:












:sofa:

[Joe G]

:quitter:












:sofa:

:goodpost:

[Tommy Gun]

You all are so bad. :nonono:


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[68fastback]

:giggle: http://stangsunited.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6771&d=1314323219

[Tommy Gun]

More pics? :waiting:


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[Joe G]

More pics? :waiting:


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:goodpost:

[Tommy Gun]

:webers:

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[rown4au]

Well the hurricane held up the pickup :boink: so it is still in Roanoke, VA and should be picked up tomorrow and delivered in Houston this Weds or Thursday.

I already have new tires (I have to run street legal tires for the group I run with down here until I get promoted a few notches), rotors and pads on the way and am going to have to figure out a passenger seat for the instructor as giving him an empty paint can to sit on is not likely to go over well.:redcard:

[Tommy Gun]

Well the hurricane held up the pickup :boink: so it is still in Roanoke, VA and should be picked up tomorrow and delivered in Houston this Weds or Thursday.

I already have new tires (I have to run street legal tires for the group I run with down here until I get promoted a few notches), rotors and pads on the way and am going to have to figure out a passenger seat for the instructor as giving him an empty paint can to sit on is not likely to go over well.:redcard:


:grin:


Mastersmech just bought a cheap seat for the instructor i believe.

Problem is a seat belt. They aren't that cheap.

I get away w/ a comparable seat belt for my passenger side when I have an instructor.

I haven't had an instructor for a while, but may opt for one next time to get some new pointers....always a good thing.


Instructors intimidate me.

I don't like the fact that I'm endangering someone else's life in the car at the speeds I'm going, but I always get some good pointers to go by.

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[rown4au]

The car currently has a Sparco Evo2 in the drivers seat and it has been suggested that I replace that with a Kirkey, Ultrashield or similar road race seat and move the Sparco to the instructor seat which I will do eventually. The seller threw in a second set of harnesses so i don't have to deal with that but I don't have the time to get all the mount fabbed up for the aluminum seat so I will probably source a junkyard seat from a GT for the weekend for the passenger seat and bolt the harnesses in on the other side for my first event in Sept.

[Tommy Gun]

The car currently has a Sparco Evo2 in the drivers seat and it has been suggested that I replace that with a Kirkey, Ultrashield or similar road race seat and move the Sparco to the instructor seat which I will do eventually. The seller threw in a second set of harnesses so i don't have to deal with that but I don't have the time to get all the mount fabbed up for the aluminum seat so I will probably source a junkyard seat from a GT for the weekend for the passenger seat and bolt the harnesses in on the other side for my first event in Sept.


:wow2: Jamie posted at night. :faint:


:rofl3:




I have 2 Mustang GT seats I wish I could sell to make room in my shed. :look:

.

[rown4au]

:wow2: Jamie posted at night. :faint:

I have 2 Mustang GT seats I wish I could sell to make room in my shed. :look:

.

Well unfortunately the car is getting picked up tomorrow so no time to throw it in and I am just trying to pick something up cheap to get me through one track weekend. My guess is that the shipping along to get one here would be too much and your seats are probably worth more than I want to spend for a one weekend use.

I wonder if I can just pick up a track from a salvage yard and bolt one of my jeep seats in... doubt the tracks would line up though.

[Tommy Gun]

Well unfortunately the car is getting picked up tomorrow so no time to throw it in and I am just trying to pick something up cheap to get me through one track weekend. My guess is that the shipping along to get one here would be too much and your seats are probably worth more than I want to spend for a one weekend use.

I wonder if I can just pick up a track from a salvage yard and bolt one of my jeep seats in... doubt the tracks would line up though.


dude, my wife says go get a McFlurry.


LOL


Sorry, my kid wants a McFlurry right now bad.


.

[Tommy Gun]

:rofl3:

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[Joe G]

dude, my wife says go get a McFlurry.


LOL


Sorry, my kid wants a McFlurry right now bad.


.


:drool:








:banghead:

Now I want a McFlurry too! :rant:

[Tommy Gun]

Seriously you should hear the conversation right now in this room.

Two people in this room are to buzzed to drive and the other is on a learners permit. :rofl3:

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[Joe G]

Seriously you should hear the conversation right now in this room.

Two people in this room are to buzzed to drive and the other is on a learners permit. :rofl3:

.

I'm getting in the car.


Be there in......... about 12 hours.




Wanna McFlurry for lunch? :rofl3:

[Tommy Gun]

We're dying! :rofl3:



Sorry Jaime for Joe's response. :rofl3:


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[rown4au]

Thats OK I found a guy on Craig's list who lives 20 min away and happens to collect 94-98 mustangs and sold me a seat and track for $75 and even said he's buy it back when I put in the permanent racing one. Now if only I could get the car hauler to actually show up!!!! the driver is MIA never showed up to get the car and the company is looking for a back up driver. :yikes:

[Tommy Gun]

:ohsnap:

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[rown4au]

Well after a lot of trials and tribulations my new car is fianlly enroute to Texas thought with a different carrier than it was supposed to be but I digress... (long story)

Anyway, to quote the driver who called me tonight "it sounds like king kong is under the hood of that thing when it starts up!". I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning! :yay:

[Joe G]

Well after a lot of trials and tribulations my new car is fianlly enroute to Texas thought with a different carrier than it was supposed to be but I digress... (long story)

Anyway, to quote the driver who called me tonight "it sounds like king kong is under the hood of that thing when it starts up!". I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning! :yay:

:waiting2:

[Tommy Gun]

Well after a lot of trials and tribulations my new car is fianlly enroute to Texas thought with a different carrier than it was supposed to be but I digress... (long story)

Anyway, to quote the driver who called me tonight "it sounds like king kong is under the hood of that thing when it starts up!". I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning! :yay:


Aweesome Jaime! :yay:

[rown4au]

The best thing is all the things I need are already here waiting so I shouldn't need to scramble to get it ready for the event at MSR Cresson on 10-11 Sept. http://www.motorsportranch.com/3.1-road-course.cfm

I need to change out the front rotors, rear pads, bleed the brakes, have the new tires mounted and balanced and install the new (used... thank you craigs list) seat for the instructor.

Driver's ETA is Friday evening or Saturday AM so should have plenty of time (famous last words) to get that done.

[Tommy Gun]

Cool. :grin:

[Joe G]

:grin;

:dufus:

[Tommy Gun]

:dufus:


Man, that was as fast as a red car dude!

[Joe G]

Man, that was as fast as a BLACK VERT dude!

True dat.

[rown4au]

Hmmm well guess I am going to find out how fast a white car is too...

[Tommy Gun]

:biteme:




Say the word rown4u and Joe is :ban: :spitcopy:


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[Tommy Gun]

Hmmm well guess I am going to find out how fast a white car is too...



White is the second fastest.


>

[rown4au]

in a straight line?

[Tommy Gun]

Gotta have curves :bunny:


http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv61/fastestshelby2/VIR%20August%202011/th_MOV09833.jpg (http://s670.photobucket.com/albums/vv61/fastestshelby2/VIR%20August%202011/?action=view&current=MOV09833.mp4)


http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv61/fastestshelby2/VIR%20August%202011/th_MOV09839.jpg (http://s670.photobucket.com/albums/vv61/fastestshelby2/VIR%20August%202011/?action=view&current=MOV09839.mp4)


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[rown4au]

Well its finally here, the truck dropped it off tonight around 6:30 outside our house. Not a great pic but Jenny was herding the kiddo while trying to take pics.
6819

[Joe G]

:woohoo:



Any more :pics:

[rown4au]

I started it up and drove it off the trailer, and it sounds like an animal... Way louder than the shelby it had the neighbors on the front lawn wondering what was going on in short order. I let it idle in the driveway to charge the battery a bit and I think it scared them. Definitely not a car to be tuning up first thing on a Saturday morning if you want to remain friendly with the rest of the neighborhood.

6820

68216822

[Joe G]

What exhaust does it have? Headers with straight pipes out the back?

[rown4au]

The car is filthy but overall seems to look pretty good particularly for a race car. The interior isn't pretty but that's not what its for anyway.

I received all the paperwork for the car a few days ago and the previous owner seems to have been pretty meticulous and kept receipts for nearly everything. I found the receipts for the engine rebuild and he paid 2/3 of what I spent on the whole car just on rebuilding the engine in 2008 and according to the records it hasn't been used all that much since.

[rown4au]

Bassani mid length header and SLP loudmouths with turndowns under the car. I spoke to the previous Owner after it arrived and he mentioned it might be a good idea to wear earplugs while on the track... I am not surprised!

[rown4au]

Pic of headers and the SLP's 6825

[Tommy Gun]

The underneath looks exactly like my set-up. :wtg:

You're going to love the feel on the track!

[Tommy Gun]

I see you have some sponsors also. :look:

.

[Tommy Gun]

Oh, and you suck on having a lift. :sad2:


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[rown4au]

Actually the lift isn't mine, those pics were taken by the previous Owner where he stored it. I don't have a lift at the moment. If I ever finish the cabinets and paint the shop a lift will be sometime thereafter.

[rown4au]

I see you have some sponsors also. :look:

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I think I will leave those on and just peel off his name from the windshield, they do look kinda cool I think.

[rown4au]

The underneath looks exactly like my set-up. :wtg:

You're going to love the feel on the track!

I can't wait, I am very comfortable saying the slowest thing in this car is going to be me by a long shot!


I am about to head down and bolt in the passenger seat and take a look at trying to start on the brakes. He wasn't kidding, the front rotors are cooked!

[Tommy Gun]

Actually the lift isn't mine, those pics were taken by the previous Owner where he stored it. I don't have a lift at the moment. If I ever finish the cabinets and paint the shop a lift will be sometime thereafter.


Okay, you don't suck then. :rofl3:

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[Tommy Gun]

I think I will leave those on and just peel off his name from the windshield, they do look kinda cool I think.


They do look cool, everyone will think you have a sponsor. :rofl3:

[Tommy Gun]

I can't wait, I am very comfortable saying the slowest thing in this car is going to be me by a long shot!


I am about to head down and bolt in the passenger seat and take a look at trying to start on the brakes. He wasn't kidding, the front rotors are cooked!


Once you start driving hard, you will be replacing complete brakes every 3-4 track weekends.

Keep an extra set on hand, rotors and pads all the time. Trust me. :grin:


.

[rown4au]

What are you running for motor oil? Previous owner was running mobil 1 5w 30 but suggested I might want to run something heavier due to the heat down here so not sure if I should change it up.

[Tommy Gun]

I think I'm currently running Motorcraft 5W-20 Syn Blend, don't quote me though I'm not sure. :rofl3:

I think that is what I put in there last.

[rown4au]

What about your rear diff breather? I noticed that this one still has the stock POS diff breather on it and the previous owner said he never got around to replacing it with a catch can. I am considering just trying a longer breather tube and breather/filter on the end zip tied up under the trunk. I would prefer not to be spitting diff grease my first day out with the new car.

[Tommy Gun]

What about your rear diff breather? I noticed that this one still has the stock POS diff breather on it and the previous owner said he never got around to replacing it with a catch can. I am considering just trying a longer breather tube and breather/filter on the end zip tied up under the trunk. I would prefer not to be spitting diff grease my first day out with the new car.

Definitely put a longer hose on it.

I ran a longer hose up under the car where it bumps up over the axle and put a metal fuel filter on the end for a catch just in case it ever gets that far.

No issues w/ that now.

It is also a good idea to eventually put a longer breather tube on the tranny vent. This is more complicated to get to because it is at the very top of the trans.

I got pulled off the track this time because my trans fluid dripped a little out of the vent and they saw some smoke (that I never saw) when it hit the exhaust. I had to drain a bit of fluid to go back out. (which is a pain at the track.)

That vent is so high that unfortunately it need to go through a hole of some sort above the trans and into the car. I've seen guys mount a plastic catch can on the passenger side of the trans tunnel to catch fluid just in case. (I doubt it would actually get that far if the trans is filled correctly.

I had a mechanic change the fluid for me last time since it is a pain for me to do w/o a lift and perhaps he put just a little too much in it.

I removed maybe 2 cups if that and it was good.


For the diff I think 75W-90 is called for in the manual, but I use 75W-140 Synthetic because of the abuse it takes.

I have a new Torsen for the car and have to look into the recommended fluid for that (even though I already bought 75W-140 again for it :look: )

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[rown4au]

I was reading about tranny breather vents as well and I might need to do that as well. He put a TKO in the car a few years ago but no breather vent tube/catch can. It is a real tight squeeze in the tunnel so not sure you can even access it without doing something drastic like pulling the tranny. I will wait until I start having issues before I mess with that.

I googled the diff breather thing as I am not sure the shelby fix would fit with this suspension and outside of that set up nearly all the catch can set ups showed them going inside the car somewhere which I don't like the idea of. My trunk isn't partitioned off or I would just do it in there but it seems like a bad idea to have something with hot oil going into it in the drivers compartment.

I think I am just going to see what I can pick up at the auto parts store today and see if I can rig up the longer hose and filter on the rear axle and see how it does.

[Tommy Gun]

It really doesn't take much.

If you fill the diff correctly, you should never see enough to really need a can, just definitely a longer hose run up to (or into) the frame, etc.

.

[Tommy Gun]

Not sure where the vent is on a TKO but you may access it from the top through the shift boot area?

I'm hoping I can get to mine like that.

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[rown4au]

It really doesn't take much.

If you fill the diff correctly, you should never see enough to really need a can, just definitely a longer hose run up to (or into) the frame, etc.

.

I rigged a longer hose with a breather filter up near where the fuel filter is mounted, hopefully that will solve the problem. Rear brake pads and front rotos are replaced, passenger seat is in, so all I need to do is check the fluid levels in the rear diff and the tranny and I should be ready to go.

[Tommy Gun]

Good news.

Hope the weather cooperates for you.

[rown4au]

Well not a good first outing for me. After the first familiarization session with the instructor taking it easy I went back out and picked up the pace a little bit and the car was making a loud ivbration howling noise on left turns in particular. After the session finished I had the race mechanics on site go over the car and see if they could find anything obvious. When they put it on the lift one wheel will spin and the other does nothing. Not good... they said that diff is ready to let go and it needs to be replaced or rebuilt. However they didn't take the cover off and even look at it (not impressed but thats a different subject) so I am not sure what the real story is but something isn't right in the diff.

It is SUPPOSED to have a torsen T2R in it so this doesn't make sense I have never heard of one of these going bad and asking a few of the mustang racers around none of them had either. It is also a gear driven diff so there are no clutch packs to wear out so I have no idea what the story is. I am going to drop it off at a local race shop and have them take a look at it and see what the story is sometime next week most likely. In any case this meant my weekend ended before it really began as we had to load it up on the trailer and drive back home for 4.5 hours. To top it off my daughter wasn't feeling well either and screamed pretty much the whole way home.

On the bright side the new trailer towed beautifully and stops great and the go pro camera my wife gave me for Fathers day also worked well on the one session I used it for. I have only had a chance to watch a few min of it though so I need to see if I can hear the noise on the video and see if I can figure out how to put it on youtube.

[Joe G]

Sorry you had a bad first outing... but at least no one got hurt and the Stang is still in one piece. :wtg:

[68fastback]

...sorry to hear you had problems ...hope you figure it out. Possibly, the diff wasn't maintained properly? I notice that for the FR500S (325HP) Ford recommends changing diff lube on T2R after ever 4 track hours ...possibly the Torsen's 'hot-dog' gears and/or bearings got toasted ...or somthing like that?

[Joe G]

Hot dog gears? :drool:


Sounds yummy. :hungry:

[Tommy Gun]

Did you drive it at all when you got it? Was there any noise then?

I would bet on it being a wheel bearing at the end of the axle.

Mastersmech just went through one and I had one going. Could be the carrier bearings also.

I am having a Torsen T2R put in this weekend.

[rown4au]

Did you drive it at all when you got it? Was there any noise then?

I would bet on it being a wheel bearing at the end of the axle.

Mastersmech just went through one and I had one going. Could be the carrier bearings also.

I am having a Torsen T2R put in this weekend.

No I drove it maybe a total of 150 feet in my driveway before loading it onto a trailer and heading for the track. Its obnoxiously loud and not even close to street legal so didn't want to chance it even around the neighborhood. In this case I don't think it would have mattered as the first session when we drove around the track at an easy pace about 6 or so times (its a 3.1 mile track) it didn't make any noise. It was when we picked up the pace a bit on the 2nd session that it started making the noise about halfway through and it is much more noticeable when turning left. It also doesn't make the noise at all when you are going straight. I was hoping it was a wheel bearing but when they put it on the lift they didn't find any play in any of the wheels.

Where did you get the T2R? I am thinking if they pull it apart and find that the diff is shot (I suspect it may not be a T2R) that I replace the old diff with one so I may need to pick one up. If I do I think I will have them change the ring and pinion to 3.73's as well to avoid having to do that all over again as the 4.10's feel very low.

[Tommy Gun]

No I drove it maybe a total of 150 feet in my driveway before loading it onto a trailer and heading for the track. Its obnoxiously loud and not even close to street legal so didn't want to chance it even around the neighborhood. In this case I don't think it would have mattered as the first session when we drove around the track at an easy pace about 6 or so times (its a 3.1 mile track) it didn't make any noise. It was when we picked up the pace a bit on the 2nd session that it started making the noise about halfway through and it is much more noticeable when turning left. It also doesn't make the noise at all when you are going straight. I was hoping it was a wheel bearing but when they put it on the lift they didn't find any play in any of the wheels.

Where did you get the T2R? I am thinking if they pull it apart and find that the diff is shot (I suspect it may not be a T2R) that I replace the old diff with one so I may need to pick one up. If I do I think I will have them change the ring and pinion to 3.73's as well to avoid having to do that all over again as the 4.10's feel very low.


I agree 4.10's are too much, at times I think my 3.73's are a bit much but leaving for now.

I bought the TR2 through Joe G, there are 2 versions.

There is the FR500 version w/ a 4.0 ratio, and a Boss302 version w/ a 2.7 ratio. Straight from Ford we were told the better version for our use is the Boss version.

Please sit down when you decide to order, this thing is very expensive. I can't believe it would be the TR2 though.



I think I have the ratios correct? It is the Boss version I have though, there is a thread here about it...

[Tommy Gun]

:waiting:

[rown4au]

Well after the debacle at MST Cresson with the horrible noise I dropped the car off at the local race shop that a few guys had recommended Bumbera's Racing (talk about an awesome place but that's another story http://www.bumberas.com/).

They had it for nearly three weeks going over it with a fine tooth comb and after all that the final result was that yes it has a T2R and the noise we were hearing was brake moan. On a number of mustangs when you start to push them on the road course and side load the axle you can get a sympathetic vibration on the rear axle with the brake pads (especially when new and mine were); it sounds pretty horrible but its nothing to worry about. I was completely relieved to hear that and that the bill was only $115 for servicing the rear axle.

The car has a minor transmission leak and it looks like oil the pan gasket is leaking slightly, but in his words... "its a race car they all leak from somewhere and these are not worth bothering with". The only other issue he had was with the car after the full inspection was the cage. He said its fine for the open track stuff I am doing now but if I wanted to start racing side by side I should rip it out and start over. He also estimated that to do it right would be about $3k for a full internal cage with NASCAR door bars on both sides... ouch :spend: I need to get a few other prices from qualified people in the area but this guy builds full on NASCAR cars that are things of beauty so he knows his stuff so likely to go with him so I know its done right.

The cage diagnosis was not what I was hoping to hear but given he said otherwise the car was a great car and I thought I could have been facing a much bigger bill than the $115 for the rear axle servicing its not a horrible otucome.

[Birdman]

Good to see you Jamie !
Funny you should say this about the brakes causing a noise like that which made you think it was a bad rear differential. I remember experiencing the same thing from a Bondurant Mustang I was given to drive as part of my 4 day driving course years ago. Thinking it was a problem with the rear diff I ended up giving them the car back and replacing it with another. Looking back now I'm sure it was probably the same thing you experienced.


Love to see some :pics: of the car too!!

[Tommy Gun]

Mine makes the same noise.

I believe it is because the e-brake cables are tight and non adjustable.

When the car is cornered hard and the body tightens up it pulls on the cable and hence the brake pads/caliper and makes the noise.

After adding the cage and subframe connectors it isn't as bad because the body doesnt flex as much, but it is still there....especially when new pads are on.









Other than that, I know nothing. :innocent:

.

[CH53Driver]

Well after the debacle at MST Cresson with the horrible noise I dropped the car off at the local race shop that a few guys had recommended Bumbera's Racing (talk about an awesome place but that's another story http://www.bumberas.com/).

They had it for nearly three weeks going over it with a fine tooth comb and after all that the final result was that yes it has a T2R and the noise we were hearing was brake moan. On a number of mustangs when you start to push them on the road course and side load the axle you can get a sympathetic vibration on the rear axle with the brake pads (especially when new and mine were); it sounds pretty horrible but its nothing to worry about. I was completely relieved to hear that and that the bill was only $115 for servicing the rear axle.

The car has a minor transmission leak and it looks like oil the pan gasket is leaking slightly, but in his words... "its a race car they all leak from somewhere and these are not worth bothering with". The only other issue he had was with the car after the full inspection was the cage. He said its fine for the open track stuff I am doing now but if I wanted to start racing side by side I should rip it out and start over. He also estimated that to do it right would be about $3k for a full internal cage with NASCAR door bars on both sides... ouch :spend: I need to get a few other prices from qualified people in the area but this guy builds full on NASCAR cars that are things of beauty so he knows his stuff so likely to go with him so I know its done right.

The cage diagnosis was not what I was hoping to hear but given he said otherwise the car was a great car and I thought I could have been facing a much bigger bill than the $115 for the rear axle servicing its not a horrible otucome.

Looks like a great place! Did you see they had this for sale?

2007 #9 NASCAR Nextel Cup COT-Car of Today
Kasey Kahne raced this car. All NASCAR serial numbers on the car. This racecar is in perfect condition as built by Evernham.
Ready to race oval or road course.
Chassis #206 History
2008 Bristol Motor Speedway
Qualified 20th, Finished 7th
2007 Dover Motor Speedway
Qualified 14th, Finished 32nd
2007 Dover Motor Speedway
Qualified 4th, Finished 11th
2007 Bristol Motor Speedway
Qualified 1st, Finished 2nd
2007 Bristol Motor Speedway
Qualified 2nd, Finished 19

[Joe G]

Looks like a great place! Did you see they had this for sale?

2007 #9 NASCAR Nextel Cup COT-Car of Today
Kasey Kahne raced this car. All NASCAR serial numbers on the car. This racecar is in perfect condition as built by Evernham.
Ready to race oval or road course.
Chassis #206 History
2008 Bristol Motor Speedway
Qualified 20th, Finished 7th
2007 Dover Motor Speedway
Qualified 14th, Finished 32nd
2007 Dover Motor Speedway
Qualified 4th, Finished 11th
2007 Bristol Motor Speedway
Qualified 1st, Finished 2nd
2007 Bristol Motor Speedway
Qualified 2nd, Finished 19



Maybe TG will buy them all so we can all come down to VIR and race with him! :idea:

[Birdman]

Maybe TG will buy them all so we can all come down to VIR and race with him! :idea:

thats only one car.....Casey Cane's old Dodge..:barf:

[Joe G]

thats only one car.....Casey Cane's old Dodge..:barf:Oh... I misunderstood. Thought it was multiple cars.

[Birdman]

Oh... I misunderstood. Thought it was multiple cars.

I figured that...no problem:tiphat2:

[68fastback]

lol - I read it that way too! I was saying to myself -- wow! ...what are the odds of that kind of selection! :doh2:

...but ...TG's rich ...he can find others for us all :giggle:

[rown4au]

Bumbera's is like disneyland for car nuts. They have everything from full blown race cars to classics, street rods, dragsters, restomods, hopped up late model cars, race bikes, you name it. Kenny Bumbera (the owner) was nice enough to take probably 20 minutes and go through everything with my car with me. I was really worried I would be looking down the barrel of a scary bill but even though he spent a lot of time going through the car stem to stern he only charged me for servicing the rear axle. He has a big shop and a show room in the front with various toys that are for sale or on display, it can be a very dangerous place to visit with a checkbook...

[rown4au]

Forgot to mention I had the car out again after getting it back two weeks ago at MSR Houston for an open track session. The car did fine but I have a lot to learn and I found it goes sideways WAY easier than the shelby does on the track. I didn't spin it but I got it pretty sideways a few times. I think its a case of being more gentle with inputs as the car is much twitchier/more direct.

The clutch is also way different and I managed to break the back tires loose a number of times down shifting coming into a corner and letting the clutch out too soon so I need to do a lot of work on that! I didn't have an instructor this time so I was on my own on a new track so it was more a way for me to get some seat time in the car and get a bit more used to it.

As far as any new issues; I might have felt the clutch slip a few times in the higher rpm's going down the straights but I'm not sure about that and at the end I had the radiator temp idiot light come on during my last session but the temperature gauge was never higher than 210 which the previous owner told me was normal when he used to have it on track. I checked the water level again when I got it home (it has only water and water wetter in the cooling system) and it had cooled off and it took a little bit of water but not much so not sure what the story is there.

[68fastback]

Hi Jaime, yeah, sounds like a cool place ...and they seemed to be really straight-up with you ...great to have a shop like that nearby and glad to hear it was not a problem with the track car. :wtg: ...btw, hope you're having some 'dad' fun too ;-)

[rown4au]

She is definitely my daughter... instead of getting scared when you start up the track car (its realllly loud) she gets all excited and jumps up and down and wants to get in it!

[68fastback]

She is definitely my daughter... instead of getting scared when you start up the track car (its realllly loud) she gets all excited and jumps up and down and wants to get in it!

:biggrin: ...that's amazing!! ...a Danica in the making! ;-)

[Tommy Gun]

Well after nearly a year of thinking about it and waffling back and forth I took the plunge and picked up a track car. It's a 1998 Cobra that has been running the American Iron series for the last few years and I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning waiting for it to get here from North Carolina. This bloody Irene headed up the USAC has messed up my auto transporter schedule thus far so not sure when it will get here but I have already signed up for my first track event at MSR Cresson on 10-11 Sept with it so it will be a mad rush to get it ready to go when it arrives (hopefully) sometime next week.

6768



How has this been working out Jamie? :popcorn:


.

[rown4au]

Well the track pony has just been getting dusty sitting since its last outing in late October with other things going on and my free time has been kind of monopolized by trying finish the shop off. I am pulling the track car out this weekend and going over it as I have signed up for a track weekend on 21-22 Jan at MSR Houston so I am really looking forward to it.

[Tommy Gun]

I knew that would pull you out of the woodwork. :giggle:

[rown4au]

i tried posting on a few other threads recently and I couldn't for some reason. Could on this one for some reason though...

[68fastback]

Jaime, possibly you're not a Club Member? ...i.e. just a forum site member ...dunno.

If so, if you want to donate to join as a Club Member (only $20/year) then all Club Member "family forums" will become availabe for posting (non-members can just view them), as well as access to the members-only area. Club membership also gives you access to occasional club apparel offers and all club events. Presently ou likely can only post in the tech threads. If you do join the Club and also (optionally) want you're own forum area too, that's one-time set-up of $20. Here's a little more info (http://stangsunited.com/showthread.php?5003-Some-background-on-the-Stangs-United-Club-and-this-forum-website)to check out, if interested.

(If you decide to join, just click the blue "donate" in the second bar under the splash pic at the top of any forum page and be sure to add a 'note' as to what it's for (e.g. membership or membership+family-forum) so they'll know what it's for and your membership can be properly set-up.

[rown4au]

I was a member but didn't realize that my membership had run out... the last year has flown by.

Just reupped though so guess I should be good to go!

[rown4au]

Pulled the car and trailer out today to give them both a wash and check the fluids, brakes, etc for next weeked. Haley decided I needed help flipping the window switches back over (the previous owner had them installed upside down for some reason).

I am trying to upload pics but they are all too big... definitely pretty rusty with this. You can tell I have been off the boards for a while!

[Gr8snkbite]

Just checked jaime, you never renewed for 2011. Good to go now. Should be able to hit the other threads in a day or two once it takes....:tiphat2:

[rown4au]

81458146 I think I finally got this figured out... hopefully this works!

[Gr8snkbite]

Starting your helper off early.....:wtg:

[rown4au]

As I said I have been a bit busy, when we bought the house the previous Owner took everything in the shop with him so we had just a big empty box.(not that I am complaining he was a chevy guy anyway) I spent a lot of time planning and a lot of time turning a pile of lumber and blank white walls into this.

8147:ford:

[Joe G]

Your daughter is a cutie!

[Joe G]

As I said I have been a bit busy, when we bought the house the previous Owner took everything in the shop with him so we had just a big empty box.(not that I am complaining he was a chevy guy anyway) I spent a lot of time planning and a lot of time turning a pile of lumber and blank white walls into this.

8147:ford:

:wow2:

That's a HUGE shop!!

Awesome!

[Shlbylvr]

WOW Nice Garage..

[Gr8snkbite]

:wow2:

Dude that place rocks.....wheres the lift going. I only wish to have one that size.....:grin:

[rown4au]

Haley even helped me rotate the tires by holding lug nuts when they came off and then hading them back to me as they went back on. She was very upset :sad2: when mom would not let her stand right over me while I was tightening them down with the torque wrench as she was worried she would get wacked.

[Shlbylvr]

Haley even helped me rotate the tires by holding lug nuts when they came off and then hading them back to me as they went back on. She was very upset :sad2: when mom would not let her stand right over me while I was tightening them down with the torque wrench as she was worried she would get wacked.

She is a great helper..

I have many fond memories helping my dad in the garage.

[68fastback]

She is a cutie, Jaime!! Just got in and saw your PM ...looks like you figured out the pic thing.

That garage is friggin' awesome !!!!!! :faint: :wtg:

[rown4au]

Thanks Guys it has taken me almost two years of nights and weekends here and there. It hasn't been easy as I work long hours and have been trying to spend time with Haley as well. Still need to plumb my airlines, build a rack for sheet goods and some other various things as well, there is another bay that is still a bit messy until I can do that stuff to get a few sheets of plywood and various other lumber out of the way.

Now that most of the mess it taken care of I will probably put a two post lift where the track car is sitting in the pic at some point. The previous owner had one there before but sold it off before we bought the house. I know the one I want but I put it on the back burner until I could get the cabinets/benches done.

[Gr8snkbite]

I got some plastic air lines for my garage, with fittings and quick disconnects. Cant remember the brand but it's posted in my garage thread...FYI.....

[rown4au]

I am guessing that is the quick air system, I looked into it and it looks a lot more installer friendly but I have not decided what I am going to do yet, I was leaning toward 1/2 inch copper as I was concerned about air flow on some of the long runs that I don't know if that's necessary. I also read that moisture could be an issue as the copper or other metal pipe will allow the air to cool and moisture to condense so you get a bit of drying that way. Its humid as hell down here so that would be a plus.

Have you used yours yet? I have seen the systems advertised online but I have not spoken to anyone that has actually used the system to see how they like it.

[Birdman]

Jamie,

Your all set to go with 'club access" now. Thanks for the dues donation :wtg:

Love that shop now I know why you chose that house :giggle: awesome !

Last but not least your daughter is beautiful ,my she has grown, love the way she wants to be daddy's helper ...adorable. Say hello to Jen for me too!

[rown4au]

Thanks George Jenny says hi too, Haley is getting huge she goes actually loves going down to the shop and seems to love cars... she is definitely her fathers daughter!


Jamie,

Your all set to go with 'club access" now. Thanks for the dues donation :wtg:

Love that shop now I know why you chose that house :giggle: awesome !

Last but not least your daughter is beautiful ,my she has grown, love the way she wants to be daddy's helper ...adorable. Say hello to Jen for me too!

[Gr8snkbite]

I am guessing that is the quick air system, I looked into it and it looks a lot more installer friendly but I have not decided what I am going to do yet, I was leaning toward 1/2 inch copper as I was concerned about air flow on some of the long runs that I don't know if that's necessary. I also read that moisture could be an issue as the copper or other metal pipe will allow the air to cool and moisture to condense so you get a bit of drying that way. Its humid as hell down here so that would be a plus.

Have you used yours yet? I have seen the systems advertised online but I have not spoken to anyone that has actually used the system to see how they like it.

Haven't installed yet. Have all the block manifolds made up though. Gotta finish painting drywall, then poly the plywood and install upper border, then I'll be installing it. Probably a few more weeks.

[rown4au]

If joe wants to take a trip to houston I will buy him all the donuts he can eat :spend:if he wants to install my air lines....

[Gr8snkbite]

nice tech thread....:nonono:



dump time...:flush:

[Birdman]

nice tech thread....:nonono:



dump time...:flush:

Idon'tthinkso..:no: everything seems appropriate here

[Tommy Gun]

:doh:

[Birdman]

:innocent:

[rown4au]

Just finished loading her up and am heading out at stupid o'clock for MSR Houston (http://msrhouston.com/) for the weekend with the local HPDE group I run with. http://www.thedriversedge.net/

Should be fun but I need to go get some sleep!

[Birdman]

Have fun stay safe Jamie!!!

[Tommy Gun]

Just finished loading her up and am heading out at stupid o'clock for MSR Houston (http://msrhouston.com/) for the weekend with the local HPDE group I run with. http://www.thedriversedge.net/

Should be fun but I need to go get some sleep!

Awesome :wtg:


We have a date at VIR next weekend, but I think I'm gonna miss it. :nonono:

Need the money for GT500 tires and clutch install eventually. :banghead:

Would love to go but it cost at least $750 (up to $1000) each weekend we go to the track between registration, lodge and food. :ohsnap:

[Tommy Gun]

I need a sponsor. :idea:

[Birdman]

I need a sponsor. :idea:

Just get TG to sponsor you he's loaded....:moneyman:



:oops:

[Tob]

Jamie, unless I'm mistaken, the wheels you appear to be using are a set of Konig Villain's. I'll assume they are, as I note quite a bit of MM hardware on Tunney's old car and MM used to carry those wheels long after Konig stopped selling them. MM and Konig had some sort of exclusive relationship regarding continuation of them.

Problem is, they crack. Whether used on the street or in a spec series such as AI, there have been a number of documented cases of them fracturing. I highly suggest that you have them inspected as well as consider another wheel. Here are a few shots that may give you an idea of where to look...

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/701e61e5.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff164/grue_cc/IMGP1748.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/1b30422f.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/4d9a767f.jpg



http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy1/Tobphotobucket/Cracked%20Konig%20Villains/______________________________79bc9ca11.jpg?t=1327 165715




So before something like this happens (same type of failure)...

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy1/Tobphotobucket/Cracked%20Konig%20Villains/________________________________IMG00107-20111112-1507.jpg?t=1327165382

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy1/Tobphotobucket/Cracked%20Konig%20Villains/___________________________wheel12851845262.jpg?t= 1327165420

I highly suggest you take a serious look at them. Your life and the lives of those around you may depend on it.

[Joe G]

:wow2:

Good info Tob!

[Joe G]

Just get TG to sponsor you he's loaded....:moneyman:

:logical:

[Birdman]

Jamie, unless I'm mistaken, the wheels you appear to be using are a set of Konig Villain's. I'll assume they are, as I note quite a bit of MM hardware on Tunney's old car and MM used to carry those wheels long after Konig stopped selling them. MM and Konig had some sort of exclusive relationship regarding continuation of them.

Problem is, they crack. Whether used on the street or in a spec series such as AI, there have been a number of documented cases of them fracturing. I highly suggest that you have them inspected as well as consider another wheel. Here are a few shots that may give you an idea of where to look...

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/701e61e5.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff164/grue_cc/IMGP1748.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/1b30422f.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/4d9a767f.jpg



http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy1/Tobphotobucket/Cracked%20Konig%20Villains/______________________________79bc9ca11.jpg?t=1327 165715




So before something like this happens (same type of failure)...

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy1/Tobphotobucket/Cracked%20Konig%20Villains/________________________________IMG00107-20111112-1507.jpg?t=1327165382

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy1/Tobphotobucket/Cracked%20Konig%20Villains/___________________________wheel12851845262.jpg?t= 1327165420

I highly suggest you take a serious look at them. Your life and the lives of those around you may depend on it.

Tob I believe he is at the track with the car today. Hope all will be OK.

[rown4au]

Hi all managed to get throught the weekend unscathed as did the car. I had a great time, am much more comfortable with the car and was going way faster by the end of the weekend. My instructor was an ex Mustang racer and was really good and outside of some clutch slippage the car did fantastic with no issues. We solved some of the clutch slippage by adjusting the clutch on the firewall as it was adjusted to the very top of the pedals travel and not fully engaging but even after the adjustment it was still slipping a bit in the higher rpm's occasionally in 3rd and 4th gears. All things considered I am not too upset about that, but guess I am going to learn how to change a clutch at some point in the near future...

[Gr8snkbite]

:wtg: Jaime, glad you had a good safe event...

[68fastback]

+1 sounds like fun, Jaime!!

(...MC, I notice you also spell Jaime's name right ;-) :wtg:)

[rown4au]

Jamie, unless I'm mistaken, the wheels you appear to be using are a set of Konig Villain's. I'll assume they are, as I note quite a bit of MM hardware on Tunney's old car and MM used to carry those wheels long after Konig stopped selling them. MM and Konig had some sort of exclusive relationship regarding continuation of them.

Problem is, they crack. Whether used on the street or in a spec series such as AI, there have been a number of documented cases of them fracturing. I highly suggest that you have them inspected as well as consider another wheel. Here are a few shots that may give you an idea of where to look...

I highly suggest you take a serious look at them. Your life and the lives of those around you may depend on it.

Hi Tob;

Thanks for the heads up, I will definitely check into it. I know there are a lot of Cobra R knock offs out there so I am not sure which ones these are but I plan to call the previous Owner to ask about a few things later this week and will find out.

I did actually see the post last night on my kindle fire but couldn't post from it for some reason. I checked the rims carefully after reading this and after each run as well to make sure there were no cracks.

thanks for the warning;

Jaime

[Gr8snkbite]

+1 sounds like fun, Jaime!!

(...MC, I notice you also spell Jaime's name right ;-) :wtg:)

Is there another way......:giggle:

[68fastback]

Is there another way......:giggle:

lol ...:nonono: ;-)

[rown4au]

I caught a ride with this guy who was in in the fastest run group and was an instructor who was just not teaching this particular day. the car may not look like much but it has a hybrid floating torque arm 3 link hybrid set up he designed and built himself. (did I mention he is a NASA engineer....) I thought it was kind of cool that he bought the car new in 1991 and autocrossed it for the first time a few weeks after driving it off the dealers lot. He raced NASA American Iron for a number of years and even won the championship in 2006. Now he pit crews for a friend of his that races a Camaro in the NASA CMC challenge series and does track days with the car for fun.

He was absolutely flying and one of the best drivers out there, brought me down to earth really quickly and let me know how far I have to go!

[Gr8snkbite]

Cool story.....yea, NASA engineers are a breed of their own...

[Tommy Gun]

Hi all managed to get throught the weekend unscathed as did the car. I had a great time, am much more comfortable with the car and was going way faster by the end of the weekend. My instructor was an ex Mustang racer and was really good and outside of some clutch slippage the car did fantastic with no issues. We solved some of the clutch slippage by adjusting the clutch on the firewall as it was adjusted to the very top of the pedals travel and not fully engaging but even after the adjustment it was still slipping a bit in the higher rpm's occasionally in 3rd and 4th gears. All things considered I am not too upset about that, but guess I am going to learn how to change a clutch at some point in the near future...


Glad you had a good time. :wtg:

I put a spec clutch in my 2001 and it works awesome if your looking for what to get.

[Tommy Gun]

I caught a ride with this guy who was in in the fastest run group and was an instructor who was just not teaching this particular day. the car may not look like much but it has a hybrid floating torque arm 3 link hybrid set up he designed and built himself. (did I mention he is a NASA engineer....) I thought it was kind of cool that he bought the car new in 1991 and autocrossed it for the first time a few weeks after driving it off the dealers lot. He raced NASA American Iron for a number of years and even won the championship in 2006. Now he pit crews for a friend of his that races a Camaro in the NASA CMC challenge series and does track days with the car for fun.

He was absolutely flying and one of the best drivers out there, brought me down to earth really quickly and let me know how far I have to go!

A lot of the crappiest looking cars at VIR are usually the guys in front of the pack. Lol

You can have all the latest stuff or the latest Boss whatever, but if you don't know how to use it you will be at the middle of the pack. Lol

[rown4au]

This is the CMC Camaro his friend now races. He was there as well and is also an instructor but was concentraing on practicing for the NASA race that will be held on this track next weekend. I also grabbed a ride with him during one of the advanced sessions and he was also pretty impressive and really fast. however, we did have an off track excursion in that car when he moved offline to let someone pass in a high speed turn and dropped a wheel off.

I was actually glad he did, because he handled it really well, put the wheel straight and just drove off into the grass slowed down a bit and worked his way back onto the track when traffic allowed. Basically he did exactly like they tell us to in class and everything worked out fine.

[rown4au]

Glad you had a good time. :wtg:

I put a spec clutch in my 2001 and it works awesome if your looking for what to get.

OK good to know, I need to do some research and figure out what clutch I need for it as it has a TKO tranny the previous owner put it so the stock replacement won't fit for my application.

[Tommy Gun]

This is the CMC Camaro his friend now races. He was there as well and is also an instructor but was concentraing on practicing for the NASA race that will be held on this track next weekend. I also grabbed a ride with him during one of the advanced sessions and he was also pretty impressive and really fast. however, we did have an off track excursion in that car when he moved offline to let someone pass in a high speed turn and dropped a wheel off.

I was actually glad he did, because he handled it really well, put the wheel straight and just drove off into the grass slowed down a bit and worked his way back onto the track when traffic allowed. Basically he did exactly like they tell us to in class and everything worked out fine.


Its actually good that you can handle riding in a car at the track w an instructor driving. I understand that not many people can do that without getting sick lol.

It is a good learning experience....to show us how slow we are going. Lol

[rown4au]

A lot of the crappiest looking cars at VIR are usually the guys in front of the pack. Lol

You can have all the latest stuff or the latest Boss whatever, but if you don't know how to use it you will be at the middle of the pack. Lol

Actually that reminds me I was parked directly across from a 2011 red and black Boss 302 Laguna Seca. Absolutely beautiful car, he was running in the fastest run group as well, I was going to try and get a ride with him as well but the third session of day 1 he blew his engine.:spend::faint:He felt it go on a 4-3 downshift and I guess it overrevved but there was a huge white plume of smoke out the back of the car, I thought a car was on fire until I realizes it was coming from the back of his car.

I wanted to cry and it wasn't even my car!

[Tommy Gun]

Actually that reminds me I was parked directly across from a 2011 red and black Boss 302 Laguna Seca. Absolutely beautiful car, he was running in the fastest run group as well, I was going to try and get a ride with him as well but the third session of day 1 he blew his engine.:spend::faint:He felt it go on a 4-3 downshift and I guess it overrevved but there was a huge white plume of smoke out the back of the car, I thought a car was on fire until I realizes it was coming from the back of his car.

I wanted to cry and it wasn't even my car!

Part of the reason I bought a track turd. :yay:

[rown4au]

Its actually good that you can handle riding in a car at the track w an instructor driving. I understand that not many people can do that without getting sick lol.

It is a good learning experience....to show us how slow we are going. Lol

Yep I definitely learned a lot from going with each of them. If you ever want to make a trip to an event in Texas you can always crash here enroute (no pun intended).

Heck the events here sound a lot cheaper than VIR. I spent $295 for 2 days at the track, 4 sessions per day with an instructor in the car for every session, classroom sessions in between and the hotel was only $65 bucks for Saturday night. I didn't even need to buy dinner Saturday night as they let us pick a corner we were having issues with and then took truckloads of us out there to walk it on foot with an instructor and brought pizza and cold drinks to us out on the track.

[Tommy Gun]

Our event next weekend is $295 and hotel is $89 each night. During the rest of the year their hotel is $129 a night and the track fee is about $30 more, so pretty similar. Food there can get expensive, plus gas getting ther and at the track.

[Joe G]

Part of the reason I bought a track turd. :yay::yes:

If I ever do this, I'll get a Turd too. No way I'm learning/wrecking in a nice car. :nonono:

[68fastback]

I should have saved the Taurus wagon for that :hilarious:

[Joe G]

I should have saved the Taurus wagon for that :hilarious::goodone:

[Tommy Gun]

Drop that sucker down, do some suspension tweaking and tell Ms. G you have to go out for a weekend. :innocent:

[rown4au]

Drop that sucker down, do some suspension tweaking and tell Ms. G you have to go out for a weekend. :innocent:

hey my last track weekend there was a mom with a VW station wagon out there so why not!

[Tommy Gun]

Awesome :grin:

[rown4au]

hey any suggestions on a site to convert go pro movies to youtube files that won't take over my whole computer? we run all our itunes stuff through the same computer so don't want issues but trying to edit the video down from the weekend

[Tommy Gun]

That is a pain in the butt.

You will have to download a converter program I believe.

I forgot what I did, but it was frustrating.

[rown4au]

ok lets see if this works...

hopefully this link will send you to a youtube video of a few laps on my 2nd session on Sunday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PWtKuf0FNU&feature=plcp&context=C33af14dUDOEgsToPDskLwFXClbFzEc6Ics6Ij8KwN


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PWtKuf0FNU&feature=plcp&context=C33af14dU DOEgsToPDskLwFXClbFzEc6Ics6Ij8KwN

[rown4au]

lets try this another way:

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7PWtKuf0FNU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

ha I am clearly not very good at this embedding thing!!!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PWtKuf0FNU&amp;feature=plcp&amp;context=C33af14dU DOEgsToPDskLwFXClbFzEc6Ics6Ij8KwN

[68fastback]

Awesome!! Looks like a big fast track too :banana:

[rown4au]

Awesome!! Looks like a big fast track too :banana:

Its a lot of fun, probably hit 115-120 max on a few of the straits but my favorite is the carousel (long right hand sweeper after the start finish line) its amazing how much speed you can carry through that turn.

[Tommy Gun]

Fixed your links.

Wow, that place is flat. :rofl3:

Looks liek fun, lots of runoff area....except that last turn by the paddocks w/ the big wall in front of you. LOL

[Tommy Gun]

So how did you cut up your videos to post on youtube?

[Tob]

I caught a ride with this guy who was in in the fastest run group and was an instructor who was just not teaching this particular day. the car may not look like much but it has a hybrid floating torque arm 3 link hybrid set up he designed and built himself. (did I mention he is a NASA engineer....) I thought it was kind of cool that he bought the car new in 1991 and autocrossed it for the first time a few weeks after driving it off the dealers lot. He raced NASA American Iron for a number of years and even won the championship in 2006. Now he pit crews for a friend of his that races a Camaro in the NASA CMC challenge series and does track days with the car for fun.

He was absolutely flying and one of the best drivers out there, brought me down to earth really quickly and let me know how far I have to go!

Jamie, in what may be one of the craziest coincidences on earth...if that was Richard P.....some of the photos I showed you were of his cracked wheels!!!

Here is a snippet of one the posts he made in a cracked wheel thread at corner-carvers.com


A further cleaning and detailed inspection found visual cracks in eight spokes over three wheels. "Visual" is a little misleading since I knew exactly where and what to look for. Since I was hoping to use the fourth wheel as an emergency spare, I dug a little deeper to check its condition. After a dye penetrant inspection, I found cracks in four of the five spokes on the wheel that had absolutely no visual indication of a problem. Guess I won't be using that wheel...

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy1/Tobphotobucket/___________________________aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaWhee l_crack_origin.jpg?t=1327443201

Actually, it would be a cool experiment to run that wheel and inspect it after each session to track the crack progression and see how much life is left in it. I think I'm probably going to pass though...

Anyway, I've picked up another set of these used for almost nothing. They have a known and very limited track history. I wouldn’t buy a set of these used from a stranger. Other than the obvious shortcoming, they are a very durable wheel otherwise and I expect several years of use out of them at my current event rate. I also know exactly what to look out for.


I suggest you get ahold of him if you can. This is the penetrant he used...

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy1/Tobphotobucket/____________________________wheel_dye_pen.jpg?t=13 27443201

[The Bone]

Just go buy different wheels no need to wreck the track turd or put yourself in the hospital

[rown4au]

Thanks Tob I think it probably was the same guy, I actually thought about asking him on Sunday if he had ever heard of the issue before but never remembered to do it.

Like TG says, its not worth the risk, I checked with the previous Owner of the car and they are Konig Villains so I need to figure out what to replace them with before my next track session.

[rown4au]

Fixed your links.

Wow, that place is flat. :rofl3:

Looks liek fun, lots of runoff area....except that last turn by the paddocks w/ the big wall in front of you. LOL

Yes like pretty much all the tracks in this area of Texas its nearly completely flat. As you also noticed the tracks here are generally pretty forgiving as if you overcook a turn and have an off track excursion there is usually plenty of run off space which I have to say I am a big fan of at this stage in the learning process!

To get the go pro videos to wmv format I downloaded a free program off the net (any video converter) and then edited down the video in windows movie maker. It seems to have lost a lot of quality that way but the original is much better on my own computer.

So what was I doing wrong in posting the links?

[Tommy Gun]

I have 2 sets of these http://www.americanmuscle.com/17x9-03cobra-wheel-black.html :look:

BVM Store can get you a deal. :grin:

[Tommy Gun]

Yes like pretty much all the tracks in this area of Texas its nearly completely flat. As you also noticed the tracks here are generally pretty forgiving as if you overcook a turn and have an off track excursion there is usually plenty of run off space which I have to say I am a big fan of at this stage in the learning process!

To get the go pro videos to wmv format I downloaded a free program off the net (any video converter) and then edited down the video in windows movie maker. It seems to have lost a lot of quality that way but the original is much better on my own computer.

So what was I doing wrong in posting the links?


From Youtube.... I "copied" the link from the browser...then in your reply I clicked the "Insert video" icon (to the far right of the "bold" symbol.

In the box that pops up, "paste" the link you copied.

Then finish your post and post reply.

Hope that makes sense.

[Tommy Gun]

I like the Magnaflux idea.

I need to get some to check wheel when I have them off.

[Tommy Gun]

Jamie, in what may be one of the craziest coincidences on earth...if that was Richard P.....some of the photos I showed you were of his cracked wheels!!!

Here is a snippet of one the posts he made in a cracked wheel thread at corner-carvers.com



I suggest you get ahold of him if you can. This is the penetrant he used...

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy1/Tobphotobucket/____________________________wheel_dye_pen.jpg?t=13 27443201


TOB, I'm looking at these Magnaflux products.

Have you used them before?

Do you need 2 products to make this work? Penetrant & Developer?

Not sure I understand how it's listed?

http://www.magnaflux.com/Products/PenetrantInspection/SpotcheckVisible/tabid/82/Default.aspx

[rown4au]

I have 2 sets of these http://www.americanmuscle.com/17x9-03cobra-wheel-black.html :look:

BVM Store can get you a deal. :grin:

:wow2: I like!!! They look cool and aren't stupidly expensive either. Do you know what they weigh? At my level probably doesn't matter just curious more than anything.

[Tommy Gun]

:wow2: I like!!! They look cool and aren't stupidly expensive either. Do you know what they weigh? At my level probably doesn't matter just curious more than anything.

I think they are close to stock 2003 wheels from what I remember, not overly heavy.

[rown4au]

Well I had a new Ultrashield aluminum drivers seat put in. http://www.ultrashieldrace.com/prod.php?id=109

I tried finding a pre-fab bracket online that would be sufficient but didn't like the one I was able to find so my local race shop tabbed a custom cradle/mount for it. A bit more expensive but I didn't want to think just before I hit a wall.... gee I wish i had spent a bit more money on my seat mounting bracket!

They were also able to mount the seat lower and exactly where I wanted it this way so the reach to the wheel and shifter is much better as well.

I will post a few pics after I finish washing the car and loading it up on the trailer for TWS this weekend. (I also will be sporting a few new Stangs United stickers thanks to a certain navy veteran... thanks again MC)
:ford:

[rown4au]

Alos realized ionce the seat was in and mounted that unless your a gymnast or a stick figure your not getting in and out of the car easily with a fixed steering wheel so had to add a removable steering hub on my wheel. After looking around online I went with one from NRG:

http://www.getnrg.com/products/quick-release-kits/gen-2.5/feed

So far I am pretty impressed, installed in my car between the Momo hub and the sparco wheel with only 12 bolts and its a very positive action, indexed to only one position and installs and removes easily by pulling on the ring.

It makes getting in and out of the car a heck of a lot easier as well, and it the worst were to happen I can get the wheel off in a hurry wearing gloves and get out of dodge.

Also changed out the stock shifter on the TKO for a Steeda triax and it has a much more positive feel so between the new seat and better seating position, closer wheel (NRG hub moves it 3.5" closer), and the new shifter I am really looking forward to this weekend.

[Joe G]

WOW!! That's a serious racing seat!

That should hold you as firmly as Sharun holds her morning donuts!









:rofl:

[68fastback]

:wtg: ...smart to put safety first, Jaime ...can never be too safe and, like you said, can't do it 'later.'

[Tommy Gun]

The seat will make a big difference at the track!

I put off getting a seat until a friend convinced me it's a valuable investment, definitely was.

Much better than trying to hold yourself between the door and the console. :giggle:

I still have a factory type slider, so I can get in and out of the car.

[Tommy Gun]

Well after nearly a year of thinking about it and waffling back and forth I took the plunge and picked up a track car. It's a 1998 Cobra that has been running the American Iron series for the last few years and I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning waiting for it to get here from North Carolina. This bloody Irene headed up the USAC has messed up my auto transporter schedule thus far so not sure when it will get here but I have already signed up for my first track event at MSR Cresson on 10-11 Sept with it so it will be a mad rush to get it ready to go when it arrives (hopefully) sometime next week.

6768



Where ya at Jamie? Still running the track car?

.

[rown4au]

Hey TG, yep still running it. But a lot has changed since I last posted this. As I have picked up speed I started looking a bit closer at the roll cage and honestly it was a bit scary. If I had a high speed rollover it would have been pretty much useless so I had a new cage put in by the guys at Chicane 23. They built me a solid cage, installed a fire system, and installed the front brakes from my shelby and my stock shelby rims and some new Toyo RA1's. I ran the car two weekends so far and the cage makes the car a lot more comfortable (my head used to hit the old one) and the new tires are a HUGE difference as I was running Sumtomo street tires.

I also just picked it up Thursday from my local shop as I had to have the rear end rebuilt with new gears and bearings as the old ones were making a lot of noise the last weekend out and were shot. I am out with it the last weekend in Oct at MSR Houston. I still need to pick up another set of wheels so I can mount some rain tires but otherwise I am hopefully done for a while blowing money on the car besides consumables!!!

If you want to see some pics go on Chicane 23's facebook page and look for the album titled 98 Cobra 661 and it shows a lot of the build pics for the cage.

Besides the car I had another daughter Layla who is almost one now and work has been crazy as usual so I have not been around much. The red shelby sits too much but my older daughter Haley (3 1/2 yrs) loves both of the stangs and throws a fit if she can't be in either of them if I move them 10 feet in the driveway.

[Tommy Gun]

Good to hear from you! :wtg:

[Joe G]

Good to hear from you! :wtg:
:iagree:

Nice to see ya around Jamie!

[68fastback]

Hey TG, yep still running it. But a lot has changed since I last posted this. As I have picked up speed I started looking a bit closer at the roll cage and honestly it was a bit scary. If I had a high speed rollover it would have been pretty much useless so I had a new cage put in by the guys at Chicane 23. They built me a solid cage, installed a fire system, and installed the front brakes from my shelby and my stock shelby rims and some new Toyo RA1's. I ran the car two weekends so far and the cage makes the car a lot more comfortable (my head used to hit the old one) and the new tires are a HUGE difference as I was running Sumtomo street tires.

I also just picked it up Thursday from my local shop as I had to have the rear end rebuilt with new gears and bearings as the old ones were making a lot of noise the last weekend out and were shot. I am out with it the last weekend in Oct at MSR Houston. I still need to pick up another set of wheels so I can mount some rain tires but otherwise I am hopefully done for a while blowing money on the car besides consumables!!!

If you want to see some pics go on Chicane 23's facebook page and look for the album titled 98 Cobra 661 and it shows a lot of the build pics for the cage.

Besides the car I had another daughter Layla who is almost one now and work has been crazy as usual so I have not been around much. The red shelby sits too much but my older daughter Haley (3 1/2 yrs) loves both of the stangs and throws a fit if she can't be in either of them if I move them 10 feet in the driveway.

Good to hear you're still havin' fun, Jaime! Wow! Big congrats on daughter #2!! :wtg:

[Boston Mike]

Hey TG, yep still running it. But a lot has changed since I last posted this. As I have picked up speed I started looking a bit closer at the roll cage and honestly it was a bit scary. If I had a high speed rollover it would have been pretty much useless so I had a new cage put in by the guys at Chicane 23. They built me a solid cage, installed a fire system, and installed the front brakes from my shelby and my stock shelby rims and some new Toyo RA1's. I ran the car two weekends so far and the cage makes the car a lot more comfortable (my head used to hit the old one) and the new tires are a HUGE difference as I was running Sumtomo street tires.

I also just picked it up Thursday from my local shop as I had to have the rear end rebuilt with new gears and bearings as the old ones were making a lot of noise the last weekend out and were shot. I am out with it the last weekend in Oct at MSR Houston. I still need to pick up another set of wheels so I can mount some rain tires but otherwise I am hopefully done for a while blowing money on the car besides consumables!!!

If you want to see some pics go on Chicane 23's facebook page and look for the album titled 98 Cobra 661 and it shows a lot of the build pics for the cage.

Besides the car I had another daughter Layla who is almost one now and work has been crazy as usual so I have not been around much. The red shelby sits too much but my older daughter Haley (3 1/2 yrs) loves both of the stangs and throws a fit if she can't be in either of them if I move them 10 feet in the driveway.

Glad to hear y'all are doing well. We decided one and done with Kher. That being a great choice as after 3 years and 5 months of never waking up in the middle of the night, she now gets up religiously EVERY night around 3am screaming at the top her lungs. I'm betting some punk azz at her preschool put some scary thoughts in her head, as this is a complete 180. Oh, and height comparison..........how tall is Haley now? Kher measured up at 44" a few weeks ago, but is still toeing the line of 37-39# (has been in that range since she was 2).

[Joe G]

Glad to hear y'all are doing well. We decided one and done with Kher.

Really?? No brother or sister for Kher?

[Joe G]

Kher measured up at 44" a few weeks ago.
That's taller than Keith. :look:

[Tommy Gun]

Much taller
















:giggle:

[Gr8snkbite]

:hey2:

[Tommy Gun]

:wasntme:

[Boston Mike]

Really?? No brother or sister for Kher?

Kher going through normal 3 year old issues (scared at night, testing boundaries) + no local family for support/help + bankruptcy from babysitter bills = no sibling.

[Boston Mike]

That's taller than Keith. :look:

Pretty much..............we have had to move out of the toddler section and into the kids shoe dept.

[Joe G]

Kher going through normal 3 year old issues (scared at night, testing boundaries) + no local family for support/help + bankruptcy from babysitter bills = no sibling.

:quitter:











:lol:

[68fastback]

Kher going through normal 3 year old issues (scared at night, testing boundaries) + no local family for support/help + bankruptcy from babysitter bills = no sibling.

...so the baby-sitter is now the 1%er?!! :yikes" -lol ...yeah, kids sure ain't cheap.

[HSURB]

Mike, wait until she turns 18, you're going to loose your gray hair.

HSURB®

[JTB]

Kher going through normal 3 year old issues (scared at night, testing boundaries) + no local family for support/help + bankruptcy from babysitter bills = no sibling.


LOL, bitching about the costs of raising only ONE kid...

[Boston Mike]

LOL, bitching about the costs of raising only ONE kid...

Man, I've missed you probably as much as you've missed your hemorrhoids

[68fastback]

...the email notification... :rofl2:

[Joe G]

Man, I've missed you probably as much as you've missed your hemorrhoids
:spitcopy:

[Gr8snkbite]

:groan:

[Tommy Gun]

Nice thread.

[Boston Mike]

:spitcopy:

:grin: