After Ron Sutton Race Technologies prepared a plan to completely upgrade the suspension on the Mustang - this weekend was the first full weekend of being able to run the car hard and dial in all the things we all want to work on.... including the DRIVER. With that being a criteria for me... we decided to install a complete radio system. I was nervous about this at first - thinking that maybe this would be very distracting just as I'm about to enter a corner at speed etc - but it had the opposite affect. Ron can lull anyone to sleep. Kidding here. Knowing where traffic was - who was on my ass - talking me thru (when he could see me) some steps... keeping me calm and looking ahead. THIS IS WORTH EVERY NICKEL! Now I want the other guys I run with to install radios so we can talk. Might help us as a group to "group up" when on track... sometimes you're only a turn or two back and we could easily find that out and adjust our positions.
I have a simple push to talk button on the steering wheel -- and my helmet came pre-wired with ears and mic... these radios are so clear and crisp! Thanks to RSRT for guiding this process and making the right equipment choices!
Motorola FTW....
So the larger point is - the car is faster by spades -- the driver, not so much. We're lapping at 2:07's and 2:08's -- but doing so easier by far than the old set up. The car is planted and stable - there's more than enough brake now... and I can turn wherever I choose to and be confident with experimenting on the line.
The tires took a beating... running faster is going to put more pressures on the tires -- and we had to dial in the air pressures.... and I was spending all weekend trying to learn to late apex - carry more speed - accelerate harder and faster... and on and on.
The bigger wider wheels and all the camber changes etc... caused some inside rubbing issues. So some mods are in order. I had to just take the offending piece out and chop it up a bit. Done!
YA GOTTA CUT TO CURE!! LOL
DONE!
I smoothed all of this up in case there is still some contact -- we don't need to cut a tire at 125 going into turn 1..... and now it looks like a factory stamped piece.
The brake bias needed some adjusting -- and a different pad COF was the decided "fix". The goal here is to buy fewer rotors.... pads are cheap... so the car is running the better Spec 37 rotors... with softer pads. What I like here is that RON made a brilliant decision to run the Race version calipers.... OMG -- A pad change is like one bolt!! BAM!
The other issue that was fixed was the pinion seal. This was changed out to a cast iron retainer and a positive pinion seal retainer was added. A weekend of running hard and not a single weep or drop of gear lube. This rear end was always "wet" before this fix!
A long story -- but I diverted to Portland to acquire another hot rod... then on up to Seattle to fetch Gwen some wine from our storage place... then back to Eye Da Ho... My favorite landing spot is just east of Pendleton Oregon (remember the shirts?) high up overlooking the valley. Since this wide spot in the road is a "scenic" viewing sight -- NOBODY pulls in there at night - making for a peaceful sleep. It was stormy and windy but cool sights! Made it hard to BBQ though! But I was successful non-the-less.
This view was looking WEST......
This was the view if I just turned my head EAST.... LOL
And just because..... Fabrication is really just not an issue in my little "shed".
The Rio Red '33 Coupe is the newest addition - sadly - due to the death of a great friend. He always wanted me to have the car.... so it shall be done!
And a new set of shoes ready to go!!
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
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