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Roadster Trumps VIPERS at autocross!

To: heymanhouse2@netscape.net, darbyvet@aol.com,
Subject: Roadster Trumps VIPERS at autocross!
From: "Jim Cawrse" <nqrithjim@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 14:24:10 +0000
For all:
Perhaps I should mention that I ran in Heat 1, when the course was dry,
and the Vipers were all in heat 4, during a steady rain!

In any event, it was lots of fun, the Falkens stuck well. I ran 45PSI front
and 40PSI rear, and my calibrated tire pyrometer (hand) showed the
fronts more or less evenly warm.  The recent change to 1 deg neg camber
and 1/16 toe in each side seems a good compromise between go fast and
tire wear.  The car understeers on sharp slo speed corners, but is
wonderful on the fast stuff.  It oversteers when you lift, but not in
a way that leads to a spin.  You can also get a slight oversteer with gas on
if the inside rear dosnt break free to bad.

In case anyone wants to know, I have stock rear springs, the fronts are
squished and welded to be 1 1/2 inches shorter, the front snubbers
are cut to be 1/2 stock height, and I have the comp front bar.
Really old Tokiko shocks all around, and 14X 5.5 inch 4 spoke aluminum
wheels.  The car rides really hard, too hard for the street with high
pressure in the tires, but tolerable with about 28PSI all around.

I was getting somewhere around 6,500 in second at the fastest, and the
pushrod stroker didnt blow up, which is good.  I can hardly look at the tach
without screwing up my driving.  I was wondering about an adjustable
rev limiter, has anyone done this?

FTD for the first two heats, dry course, was a one-two Ford sweep, with a
wicked fast D-P mustang that lifts the inside front tire a foot off the 
track,
and a 302 Cobra replica about a 10th behind.  They were in the 42 second
range, my best was 48.69.  I whipped up on some miatias and a MR-2 who
were in the 49-51 second range, and also a Spec V Sentra.

The guy in the Cobra said I looked good but need to get smoother and
"saw on the wheel less"....advice I will try to take next time.  I'm sure 
there
is a few more seconds worth of driver improvement to be had.

I still have the stock steering wheel, because it looks so cool, but
I got bruises on my upper thighs from the tight fit.  Maybe its
small fat wheel time for next b-day or Christmas.

And, I drove my car there and home, on the same tires.
Felling good on Fathers Day!
Best Regards,

Jim
Chesapeake, Virginia
67 pushrod 2L, 5spd

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