DP 914- What does it take?, Spinning this off from Nat Thread.. Options

[7275914911]

The 2011 Nat thread talk about getting competitive in DP is not the first time I have had thoughts on this. After bringing a "Knife to a Gun Fight" the only 2 times I have competed on the Nat Level (SSM and FP) in my 2056. I am only going to help someone else win tires in that company.

I will be back in Oct in Blythville tho because its in my local region and it's a blast even when you are bringing up the rear!!

Enough rambling back to the topic...
What would a competitive 914 have to look like from top to bottom. What can/can't be done and what can/can't be replaced?

Thoughts/ideas/input are always welcome.....

[grantsfo]

Based on what I see running in GP I would focus on that class. DP would be very hard class to go after in a 914.

I would also say you would want to spend money on lightest bodywork available and work on weight distribution (target 50/50 - you wont get there put target that) with balast and chassis stiffing (chassis stiffing every where!) Keep all the reinforcments low and use them as balast as well), lots of focus on installing real suspension (a real suspension costs money, hard mounts with monoballs, and exploit the rules) , remove all excess rotating weight. Work on getting enter of gravity as low as possible(Remove windshield, get all top side weight off the car, fuelcell mounted low, battery on floor, etc), Then build motor to limit of the specs that can rev to 8000 RPM for short periods of time. 150 to 175 HP with decent torque curve. Work on gearing to assure you can pull second gear on national like courses.

Tires? If you are stuck with 7 inch wheels thats an issue for the 914 as your stuck with harder compound Hoosier or Good Year canti's in 15 inch size. I think Canti is only real option if 7 inch wheel restriction is part of GP. You wont get a skinny A6 or a non canti slick to stick as well on 7 inch wheels. Beg and plead with some other 914 guys to get Hoosier to make a batch of 25 b compound 15 inch cantis.

To give you a sense how slow national level GP cars are I beat 3rd place Nationals podium GP car from last years nationals by 3 seconds in my 3500 lb Nissan Street car at San Diego this year. Thats dang slow. LOL!

This post has been edited by grantsfo: Jul 22 2011, 01:35 PM

[PeeGreen 914]

Based on what I see running in GP I would focus on that class. DP would be very hard class to go after in a 914.

I would also say you would want to spend money on lightest bodywork available and work on weight distribution (target 50/50 - you wont get there put target that) with balast and chassis stiffing (chassis stiffing every where!) Keep all the reinforcments low and use them as balast as well), lots of focus on installing real suspension (a real suspension costs money, hard mounts with monoballs, and exploit the rules) , remove all excess rotating weight. Work on getting enter of gravity as low as possible(Remove windshield, get all top side weight off the car, fuelcell mounted low, battery on floor, etc), Then build motor to limit of the specs that can rev to 8000 RPM for short periods of time. 150 to 175 HP with decent torque curve. Work on gearing to assure you can pull second gear on national like courses.

Tires? If you are stuck with 7 inch wheels thats an issue for the 914 as your stuck with harder compound Hoosier or Good Year canti's in 15 inch size. I think Canti is only real option if 7 inch wheel restriction is part of GP. You wont get a skinny A6 or a non canti slick to stick as well on 7 inch wheels. Beg and plead with some other 914 guys to get Hoosier to make a batch of 25 b compound 15 inch cantis.

To give you a sense how slow national level GP cars are I beat 3rd place Nationals podium GP car from last years nationals by 3 seconds in my 3500 lb Nissan Street car at San Diego this year. Thats dang slow. LOL!

Yeah, but that class will grow and there will be people in there with nice cars and drivers who can drive them. My codriver has the potential and if I keep at it I think I stand a good shot as well. DP just doesn't make sense with what is there now. GP is a good target.