Slo Motorsports

I'm in strange territory here. I used to race a 74 Spitfire in SCCA Solo 2 back in the late 70's and early 80's. My son and I bought an 88 FC T2 for a "father/son" project to move him on from racing F1 karts. My understanding is that he can race SCCA Solo 2 (with my signed permission) as long as he has a drivers license. We have begun to get the car ready. Granted, I realize that the most important competitive thing is what you stuff into the helmet. I just thought that it would be a great experience learning to drive the car at its limits. This is what we have done so far:
Had the car completely gone through by a competent mechanic who cleaned the injectors and changed oil to Amsoil. We installed Tokiko Illumina 5's, Racing Beat Springs, Racing Beat Front and Rear Sway bars w/end links, Racing Beat Turbo back exhaust, HKS SSQ Blowoff, HKS Cold Air Intake, Fuel Cut Defensor, HKS Irridium plugs, Racing Beat Front Strut Brace, Racing Beat Racing Ignition Wires, HKS Twin Power Ignition, Rebuilt Calipers all around, Hawk MPS pads, High Temp Brake Fluid, Power Slot Rotors (not cryo).

Other stuff that we have but are not sure if we should install is:
Racing Beat light weight Alt. and front pulleys, Racing Beat rear suspension camber adjuster, Racing Beat rear suspension upright toe eliminator, Racing Beat engine torque brace, Racing Beat SS Oil cooler hoses.

We also have an Autopower 4pt roll cage on order w/bolt in cross and shoulder braces. Next would be a seat of some sort and harness.

I know that we probably should have raced the car first and then considered what mods to do but "life is short" and my son will graduate next year so I need to make the most out of the time that I have.

Any suggestions would be a good help as well as critiques of what we have done. We still need to choose tires as well. I see the threads about Kumhos, Toyos and Hoosiers. What's the best tire for Auto-X? And what about size for an FC?

OtakuRX

iTrader: (1)

Sounds good, are you going to the autox 4/23 I will be there running my FB in the SM2 class. I have a preference for Kumho tires personally.

Slo Motorsports

We're thinking about it but we would like to trailer the car. NHIS is pretty far away for us (2hrs). We don't have a suitable trailer setup yet. We will probably do Devens on 4/29. Which Kumho's do you use? V710? What size?

OtakuRX

iTrader: (1)

I am gong to run victoracer V700's on my 2nd gen ITS car, I run ASX's on my Celica GT-4 and have to deal w/ goodyears on my 83. as for size it all depends on what size wheels you're running. Small light wheels are the best to run and then you want just a medium bit of sidewall. Too little and the tires will slide more easily, to much and it adds alot of roll. Do a google search for a tire size calculator, there is a good one hosted by a miata club.

Icemastr

iTrader: (2)

I recommend as a beginner you have him start out on a good set of street tires like the Hankook Ventus, Falken Azenis, Toyo T1R, etc and race on street tires for 10-20 events. This will save you wear and flat spots on race tires but most importantly you can approach the limits of street tire and get crucial experience of driving at the limit of the tire easier than with race tires. V710s are often regarded as the best dot autocross tire right now.

OtakuRX

iTrader: (1)

Hmm, now if only I could get some of the nice street tires in a 14", tis the only problem with an FB the 4x110 bolt pattern.

Slo Motorsports

Good advice. Experience is everything. It has Michelin "Hydroedge" 205/55 R16, all season radials on it now but I have no experience with them. Hell, pump the pressure up and let them roll!!

Black91n/a

Those are by far the hardest tires I've ever seen. They've got a wear rating of 800!!!!! You'll at least want some high performance street tires. I've heard that T1-R's will chunk and blister with hard use, so I'd stay away. The best autocross street tires are the Kumho MX, the Hankook R-S2 Z212, and the best is the Falken Azenis RT-615.

You can race on nearly anything, hell, I've autocrossed on snow tires!

Slo Motorsports

I used to race Dunlops on my Spitfire back in the "old days" and they were hard as hell. But they held up even through COM time trial events at the old Loudon (before NHIS). We'll have to look at the budget and see what we can do. Thanks for the recommendations.

sar

iTrader: (1)

I'm going to say that it probably would have been better to start with a little less tuned of a car. All of those mods are going to place you well into sm which means you're basically competing with all the tuned bmws, corvettes, porsches, spec miatas, etc with really experienced racers.

At this rate you might as well race on hoosiers because all the competition will... and you'll probably get used to losing for a long time.

Imp

Can't wait to see you at the events.

There will be a Solo school at NHIS on Sat May 6th. I would suggest going to a couple events locally and then head to the shool (theres an event the day after). Make a weekend out of it.

You'd be in the SM2 class due to the BOV in the very least. Some fast cars/drivers there, but that's not a big thing as you're just there for the seat time. The hardest thing is usually finding the course the 1st few outings and not to get discouraged at being beat by people that have been doing this for a while and have their cars set up for the class. At that... he'll be competing in the "Novice Non-Stock" class... so he's competing against all the other novices not in stock class... so that helps. (Running the same time as SM2 runs, but not scored against them, just scored against other non-stock novices). There's a season championship in that novice class, so he can stay the whole year in it and go for the points.

There'll be instructors available to go with your son (and you?) to help the process at events. Be sure to be there for the novice walk through about 15-30 before the beginning of the runs.

As far as tires... since he's just starting out.. street tires are a darn good bet. Kumho MX, Falken Azenis 615, Hankook Ventus R-S2 Z212 are really the three top street tires before you head to R-Compounds (like Kumho V710 or new Hoosiers) and are cheaper. As far as what size... what can you fit under the wheel well without rubbing under load?

If he wants to come along in my car for a run, as an instructor, I'd be more than happy to let him have a ride shotgun for a run or two.

You mentioned NHIS is a couple hours away... where in MA are you? Western MA or SE Mass?

--Keith Casey
--#66 BS '04 RX8

OtakuRX

iTrader: (1)

I think we should meet up at an autoX this will be my first year and I am running my 83 LE, figure it's a good car to learn in. She weights 2190lbs (last time I checked) with a few mods:

Strut tower stay bar
little bit of intake work
straight pipes out the back
A/C completely removed
Battery relocated
no emissions
and she is getting a disk break rear w/ LSD
also have removed all insulation from the interior

In any case I hope to bump into some of you guys at the track

Slo Motorsports

We are hoping to get a transmission rebuild in early April from ESP in Sterling, MA. Once that is done we thought that we would shoot for Devens on 4/29. I also had the NHIS weekend penciled in. I haven't been on an auto-cross course for more than 20 years and have never been to Louden since its metamorphosis into NHIS. My son and I are both exicited and aren't really concerned about being competitive with anyone but ourselves. We're hoping to get some of our other father/son "Endurance Karting" friends to join in. We are in Medfield, MA and would welcome the opportunity to ride "shotgun" in your car, Keith. It would also be great to meet other fellow RX-ers like OtakuRX. Building the car has just been a fun project for us to do. We just hope that the engine holds up for a few events (it has almost 120K on it without a rebuild). I would also really like to get a trailer so that I don't have to relive trying to get back from Louden (like from the old Spitfire days) limping in a "hurt" car.

eastcoastbumps

iTrader: (1)

Keith has no idea what hes talking about. I wouldn't take any advice from him.

Pete
XP '93 RX5.7

Slo Motorsports

That seems rather harsh. Perhaps you have a reason. As for me, he seems pretty "stand up" and I've read that he flew out to CA to race with DaveTurnerMotorsports and kicked butt. I've also seen his times for events on this side of the country which are consistent with his performance in CA. So I must ask, what is your problem with him? He took the time to reach out to me and my son and all you did was bash him. It's more than you did.

Black91n/a

The wink implies sarcasm, he wasn't serious about not listening to Keith.

Slo Motorsports

Sorry Pete, I stand corrected. I'm a newbie. Next time I'll look closer and hopefully not miss the visual clues.

Imp

Pete is just jealous that his RX7 is inferior than my 8... afterall 8>7. FD

--kC
(We know each other.. it's all good.)

OtakuRX

iTrader: (1)

Just take care of the motor and they will keep on truckin. I have 224k on my girl and she flys still.

Slo Motorsports

The motor has about 120K on it and we're hoping that it will last a little while before having to bite the bullet and rebuild. When we get to that point, where would be a good place to go? ESP (Sterling) seemed to be up to the task of rebuilding the tranny but I'm not sure about the engine. I've heard of a place in Salem, MA called BPR but I don't know what they're all about. Any suggestions for local engine rebuilders?

Imp

Contact these guys: http://www.flatout-motorsports.com If they don't do it, they should know somone who does.

--kC

OtakuRX

iTrader: (1)

I have rebuilt my own so far, currently getting ready to reabuild the engine for my ITS car I am putting together (91 gtu)

Slo Motorsports

I did not even think about these guys. I met Nick Leverone at the Pittsburgh airport after an Endurance Karting event at Beaver Run while waiting for flights back. He talked about their Spec. Miata rentals/prep. but that was before my son and I started up with the FC3S's. I'll shoot him an email.

Do you know anything about ESP (Sterling) or BPR (Salem)?

eastcoastbumps

iTrader: (1)

KC knows that I was just joking. Hes also one of the fastest drivers in NER. I've been trying to catch him for three years now! He obviously knows what hes doing.

I'll probably catch you guys at a few events over the course of the summer. I've been trying to get some of my friends out to an event but I haven't had any luck. Its easier to make friends with other compeditors.

Pete

Slo Motorsports

We're all signed up in the SCCA NER. Just got on the schedule at ESP for our tranny rebuild (4/17). Also, just picked up Cobra Imola S (GT-wide) seats, Schroth harnesses and ordered seat base brackets/sliders from Wedge Engineering. Still waiting on the Autopower 4 point roll bar from IO Port. Looks like it will be down to the wire finishing up. Thinking about the Rtek 2.0 ECU upgrade but don't think that we could have it in time. Also waiting for a quote on some 16X8 rims from HMS (unfortunately they only offer Toyos). The next most important item will be "seat time"!!!!!