EP 914 on track... finally, Test session, wet Options

[groot]

I used this past weekend's Waterford Hills race as my first test session for the new car.

They threw this picture on the Waterford Hills website. Just thought I'd share it.

(IMG:http://www.waterfordhills.com/gallery/jgr5y0414.jpg)

Learned a lot this weekend, like how some lug nuts don't fit some wheels, how I needed more front flare (notice the flare extensions) and how much I can squeeze out of my Optima before I don't get enough juice to run (no alternator). More learning to come on 11-12 Sept, but this time at Mid-Ohio.

[Thorshammer]

Interesting work Kevin.


The rear suspension mods as Chris stated are not for Camber/Toe changes but to get the swinging arm at a better location. When you get the car stiff enough at the rear without this mod, it can become "bound up" because the arm angle is at an upslope (the rear is higher than the front) the compression of the arm can be very odd, and the force of a bump is almost a tension force on the pivot due to the angle. This is not good, also when the pivot remains in the standard location, the shock and spring are in a somewhat cantivlever action, so the spring and compresion valving is somewhat digressive, some tuners compensate this with VERY heavy spring rates, and then the bump compliance is very poor. By moving the points, we can get good bump compliance and proper "movement geometry" for the arm, the result is better tracking of the wheel over bumps, especially on the brakes when the rear is lighter.

I am running an accusump as well as the dry sump, Just something about prelubricating engines before they are started. It's like warming tires prior to use, it's just plain better for you and the tire.

As far as shocks go, I have Bilsteins right now, but have Ohlins for the rear uninstalled and will be getting the Kanna Motorsports front struts with Ohlins Internals. I know what the Bilsteins are all about, so I wanted to tune the chassis using them as a base line, then sell them and develop the Ohlins around the package I have.

As for the front end, I have been looking at several Grand am cars front suspension, as well as some development work I have been doing on my own. I may not have quite as long of front a-arms that you have, but I will be moving the rack and the front a arms up 45-50mm in the chassis and lengthening them 105-125 mm This will not be done until next year when the car gets stripped and rebuilt. I have a couple more cage changes to make for stiffness, but need to see where I am on weight first.

HP:::: I like you! So don't take any offense, You are on HP crack. No way no how. Miata, 230 HP, no bullshit, RX7 well over 210 at the wheels, don't have any crank numbers for that one. But if you factor in the 15 % dyno correction for power at the crank that would leave us at 241.5 , and I think the RX7 13B is all of that and then some. Of course these are peak numbers , but the cars seem to make enough power under the curve as well. The real winner in EP is the Rebello built 240sx and 240z, the Z makes well into 255-260hp and the sx makes better than 250. When they go, gear for gear with the Miata and weigh 350 pounds more, theres more under the hood.

As for me, EP must make 9.25 LBs/hp, So to do that, I will need 210 for 1950 lbs. Now everyone will tell you they have done it, but have they really, or did they build a "cookbook" motor and call it 220 because it had 906 sized parts in the motor. Or a legal to EP specs,using the small carbs, with the small heads ...etc No material addition is the one that kills me, if not I would have already welded and reshaped the combustion chambers to actually burn completely.

What the SCCA does not realize is once that weight is moving, and aero takes over, its only motor pushing from there baby.

My car needs to be clean, mean, well sorted and well driven to have any chance they will change the spec line for me. On a regional level, it should win, on a national level, it won't. But I have hopes the SCCA will come around and make some adjustments. Brakes "S" caliper please, 46 mm carbs with 42 venturis please, "s" 2.0 liter heads with 46mm intake and 42 mm exhaust please, Thats all I ask?



Erik Madsen in search of a Runoffs Birth in 2005