The OPTIMA Batteries OneLapCamaro - Final Preparations

[James OLC]

With the 2010 Tire Rack One Lap of America coming up in less than two months, David and I thought we would start a post on the final preparations of the OPTIMA Batteries OneLapCamaro. We’ll run down some of the work that we’ve done over the last year to dial in the front suspension - all the way to the work we did last weekend (updating the car with new Speed Tech upper and lower control arms) - through the next six and a half weeks of last minute preparation.

Looking back almost a year ago today, the car was just about a mess; I wish I could be kinder about that but it had a lot of issues. Don’t get me wrong, it was far and away the best First Gen that I had ever driven and was more than capable of holding it’s own but it had a ton of issues… first and foremost was a clearance problem between the outer tie rod ends and the inner hoop of the wheel. Admittedly at 5.9” of backspacing we were pushing the envelope but despite having nearly 3/8” of static clearance, there was contact due to deflection under load:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/california/shop%20060.jpg

If you notice in the picture (looking past the disturbing trail of aluminum) you’ll see that we were not running any bump stop spacers (mostly for space) at this point. The car felt good on the road 9 times out of 10 but hit a big bump and that 1 out of 10 times was ‘alarming’. HRE helped us out by rehooping the inner wheels so that we could gain some clearance and properly space the rod end for bumpsteer but that left us running a narrow tire (255/35) on a narrow rim (8”) which was less than ideal. We also had no rear sway bar (so the car was rolling pretty badly) and a very conservative alignment.

This was the starting point for David.

The first thing that we addressed at Pozzi Racing was the rear sway bar. We went through (seemingly) countless renditions to get us to where we are now. We started with an off the shelf Second Gen Camaro rear bar that David modified to work with the Lateral Dynamics 3-link:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/WillowSprings/rear%20bar.JPG

He cut the ends off and welded on an extension which allowed for adjustability. This setup was really good on the road and pretty decent (a huge improvement) on the track but we were fighting an understeer at autocrosses and the car was simply not rotating the way that we wanted it to. David modified this bar three times - progressively getting shorter and shorter - until it was working fairly well but unfortunately, the packaging was no longer working out.

Taking a step back, David then designed a completely new rear bar starting with a piece of old rebar that was kicking around the shop. One he had the geometry that he was looking for and got it to fit in the car, he called up David Wheeler and the guys at Hellwig Products who built us new rear bar that worked great!

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/Hellwig%20Rear%201.JPG

…it was a long (but fun) process of ‘trial and error’ to get it dialed in. We would go to an autocross and run the car, try an adjustment on the rear bar, and run again. We did that for probably three events until we had the rear bar exactly where we wanted it.

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/Hellwig%20Rear%202.JPG

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/Hellwig%20Rear%203.JPG

At which point we determined that we had just slightly too much front bar. Hellwig Products had built us a great hollow front bar that was working really well with the untuned rear but as we got the car to start turning in better, we wanted to soften the front a touch. Hellwig again came to our rescue and built us a new front bar with a slightly thinner tubing that reduced the rate about 10%. It took nearly 11 months and seven or eight different renditions but we finally have a car that turns.

[James OLC]

While all of the sway bar tuning is going on, David is working on his own Skunk Works style project – reengineering the steering on the car to provide clearance for wider front wheels and tires as well as near ideal bumpsteer and alignment.

We were starting with this:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/Steering%20start.jpg

And hoping for something like this:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/steering%20goal.jpg

To do that he created a new center link, repositioning the inner tie rod end pickup points:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/Center%20Link%20Comparison.JPG

Rebuilt the steering arms – moving the outer tie rod end pickup point up:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/steering%20mod.jpg

And found a new inner tie rod end that worked with a custom fabricated adjustor sleeve and a rod end for the outer…

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/Tie%20Rod%20Modification.JPG

The result was near ideal bumpsteer characteristics, no shims (but the ability to add them if need be) and more than enough clearance for the wheels:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/steering%20done.jpg

[James OLC]

And while all of this is going on, we are closing in on springs and shocks and looking at how we were going to shove another inch of tire on the front (and, ok, the back too). We went through a couple of different spring rates and added some progressive (but modified) shock mounted bump stops bet were still looking for increased travel on the front. We were borderline on the compression height and wanted to add an inch of travel just to be on the safe side; it wasn’t bad but we wanted a little bit more travel to allow the car to set and go rather than worry about bottoming on a hard corner.

The solution came from Blake Foster and the guys at Speed Tech Performance. We decided to change out our old Global West control arms in favor of a new set from Speed Tech for a couple of reasons…

First - Speed Tech’s high clearance upper control arms allow for more backspacing and still give lots of wheel clearance:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/SpeedTech%20Upper%20Arm.JPG

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/SpeedTech%20Upper%20Arm%202.JPG

And second - Speed Tech’s lower control arms have a generous spring pocket which, when combined with ATS Chicane coil over lower mounts, place the lower shock mount about ¾” lower than the GW’s. David and I had toyed with cutting the GW’s up to lower the mount but this was a much easier solution.

Lower shock mounts welded, waiting for paint…
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/SpeedTech%20Chicane%20Weld.JPG

[James OLC]

One thing that we found with the high clearance upper arms was that we needed a bit more clearance on the frame while at full droop. Mary was quick to come to the rescue…

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/Clearance%20Upper%20Mount.JPG

Shaping the frame mount just a bit
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/Upper%20Mount%20Done.JPG

Giving us a perfect fit
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/Upper%20Mount%20Together.JPG

Keeping in mind that we needed that clearance at full droop on the hoist, a condition that we acknowledge we’ll only encounter if we’re sailing through the air. But, we thought, better safe than sorry.

[James OLC]

At the end of the day, the Speed Tech upper and lower control arms went in with minimal fuss and took (significantly) fewer shims to align than we had used previously. Ultimately we decided on a conservative alignment for the car – settling in at just over 5.5° of caster (slightly more than that on the right side) and slightly more than 1.5° of negative camber; toe in is set at 1/16”.

The finished product:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/SpeedTech%20Control%20Arms%20Done.JPG

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/SpeedTech%20Upper%20CA%20Done.JPG

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/SpeedTech%20Installation%20Done.JPG

I can’t say enough about the great product and outstanding customer service that Blake and everybody at Speed Tech provided! It’s really nice to have people like them supporting the hobby with great products and advice!

[James OLC]

We were hoping to get our new ZR1 stlye front hubs installed over the weekend as well, but UPS did not share our sense of urgency. Instead we tweaked the exhaust a bit to make sure that we had all the clearance we wanted and then tacked everything to hold it in place. Once again, Mary was quick to come to the rescue:

Same line, different context… it stuck.
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/Weld%20You%20Btch.JPG

We also took the opportunity to raise the ride height a half inch on the front and ¾ or so on the back – just for bit more road clearance. We rescaled the car (3,582 pounds with a 49.8% cross weight) and tightened the rolls bars up and are one step closer to the One Lap of America starting line on April 30th.

David is working on the pinion angle now – trying to eliminate the slight driveline harmonic that has been annoying us since day 1. The ‘funny’ thing is that the pinion angle is technically correct but the driveshaft angle is a bit steep. We’ll get it figured out…

Coming next (hopefully) will be the ZR1 hub install and a quick check of pinion angle at the new ride height. Then we wait for new wheels and tires and we should be good to go at the Run To The Coast in three weeks! Oh… and I guess the trailer hitch and trailer setup have to be squeezed in here too…

We’ll keep you posted.

[zbugger]

It's looking very good James. You've got an amazing car there.

[camcojb]

great info James, thanks a lot. :thumbsup:

Jody

[monza]

Nothing but IMPRESSIVE!

[DFRESH]

James, you sure have an amazing group helping you out there between Pozzi's and Blake (and the guys at SpeedTech)---it's kinda like the PT dream team---should I have thrown Rupp's name in there as well--LOL.

Great info---I'm really looking forward to seeing the car again (at the RTTH event here in So Cal) and seeing it perform. I'll admit, it is frightning how much tweaking you have done to make the car better, and how many changes you've had to make. It makes me realize that I have a lot of work ahead of me to begin optimizing my setup---perhaps the Pozzi's have room in their shop for another 1st gen---

Great car and info as always--you are living my dream--looking forward to seeing you and the car in a couple weeks.

Doug

[James OLC]

I'll admit, it is frightning how much tweaking you have done to make the car better, and how many changes you've had to make. It makes me realize that I have a lot of work ahead of me to begin optimizing my setup
Doug

Thanks Doug. I wouldn't put too much stock in the "amount" of tweaking that we have done. I'll be the first to admit that we have been chasing the last little bit of performance for most of the year. I could have called it close enough at almost any point in the last six months but we're taking our One Lap of America effort pretty seriously... Besides, hopefully others can learn from our work.

On that note though... I should probably state that I don't recommend most of these modifications for the average enthusiast... they should be considered to be for off road use only and what works and fits on the OPTIMA Batteries OneLapCamaro may not fit or work on any other car on the planet...

[DFRESH]

Thanks Doug. I wouldn't put too much stock in the "amount" of tweaking that we have done. I'll be the first to admit that we have been chasing the last little bit of performance for most of the year. I could have called it close enough at almost any point in the last six months but we're taking our One Lap of America effort pretty seriously... Besides, hopefully others can learn from our work.

On that note though... I should probably state that I don't recommend most of these modifications for the average enthusiast... they should be considered to be for off road use only and what works and fits on the OPTIMA Batteries OneLapCamaro may not fit or work on any other car on the planet...


Hey, that last paragraph above sounds like the slogan I get from Summit Racing everytime I make a phone order---:lol:

I'm really interested in the rear sway bar and how the adjustments, and eventually a new bar, came into being to get the car to work the way it needed to. I'll pick your brain a bit more if you have time (maybe Dave's also) when you are down for the event. I've installed one as well this past week when I put the G/Bar in--will try to mess with it some before the event and see what works best.

Doug

[David Pozzi]

OLC kept telling me it wanted more rear bar so we kept at it.
I also raised the Watts bellcrank pivot to nearly the highest hole. There is one more left that might have been enough with the first bar, but using it would have required relocating the fuel filter and fuel lines coming out of the tank.

This car has way more rear stiffness than Penny with the same rear suspension. Front tires are smaller than Penny and also the weight is higher. The amazing thing about OLC is it puts the power down VERY well, and is very nimble for it's weight, it doesn't feel heavy at all, and that engine makes loads of torque and HP!

In past posts James mentioned we worked on brake balance. After changing to a smaller rear master cyl TWICE! We finally have the brakes balanced and can hit them way harder now.

About the steering mods, I raised the outer steering arms by cutting and welding. This is a prototype setup for testing and although they passed magnaflux testing, they should eventually be replaced with a billet part. The inner pieces on the tie rods I have a lot more confidence in due to their thickness, but still, welding on steering parts is a race car trick, not something I take lightly and I WON'T do it for anyone else, it just isn't worth the liability. I trust the job enough to plunk my own butt in the driver's seat, but I check them carefully every time the car is up on the lift, which is after nearly every outing we have.

I think the Speed Tech arms, especially the uppers are a better match for the tall ATS spindles. The arm is flat and the balljoint angle is much better. We also found a tiny bit of extra wheel to fender clearance, maybe 1/4" per side for some reason.
David

[monza]

Have you guys played with any of the data acquisition stuff with track mapping and or track vision yet? (with all that extra time on your hands lol)

[David Pozzi]

James has recorded it. I had a file but couldn't open it on my laptop for some reason. I have the basic G2X data system I use in Mary's Camaro and the Lola T-70. It's useful in comparing one driver to another. I like to look at the MPH plot all around the track, that tells me the most. Then look at lateral G's and braking/accel G's.

I'm starting to wish I had shock sensor data, but it's a lot of data to digest and understand so for now I'm probably better off without that.

I can't even turn the camera on right, usually I press the darn button slightly too long and it goes into time lapse mode.
David

[Vegas69]

Thanks for taking the time to post all your troubles and wins. It's insane the amount of work that goes into these cars to get them "Just Right". At the end of the day it's a bunch of bastard parts that need finessed to work together and be to your liking. I'm definitely behind you guys in race tuning but I'm a perfectionist and my car get's so much better every time I race. Best of luck to you guys in the One Lap.:thumbsup:

[James OLC]

Thanks Todd - and thanks for chiming in Mr. Co-Driver.

As David elluded to there is a bunch of "little" stuff that we worked through over the last year as well...


The brakes - as David mentioned, the rear master cylinder was changed twice before we had the "ideal"(?) balance. We started at 0.8125" before trying 0.750" and finally settling on 0.700".
The clutch - we changed the clutch master once, going from 0.75" to 0.8125".
The transmission - replacing the Rockland T-56 with a very street civilized T-56 Magnum.
The Tuning - we went from being untuned (completely untuned to begin with - no map, no nothing below 3500 rpm) to a well tuned open loop to a great closed loop setup.
The steering wheel - yes... even the steering wheel! The combination of the ATS steering box and the relatively small MOMO wheel was a little "too quick" so after some hunting we found a 15" Sparco race wheel that slowed everything down a little bit.


And that is forgetting about all of the truly small "challenges" that we worked through... the alternator, mystery grounds, binding MC push rods, and a host of others.

None of it was insurmountable - nor unexpected - but a lot of it was puzzling at the time. Thankfully, the solution was to hammer on the car every chance we got!

[Al Moreno]

James thanks for the info:thumbsup:

Curious, knowing what you now know, if you were to do it over, would you recommend going with a DSE or the likes, instead of trying to modify the existing sub?

[James OLC]

James thanks for the info:thumbsup:

Curious, knowing what you now know, if you were to do it over, would you recommend going with a DSE or the likes, instead of trying to modify the existing sub?

If I were to do it all again I would definately use an aftermarket subframe - but not because I think that there is a significant performance advantage from the suspension geometry. The advantage of an aftermarket sub, IMHO, is the ability to run a larger wheel and tire combination on the front. I would call Speed Tech in a heartbeat (and will for my other '67) and don't think you will go wrong with DSE or AME.

That being said, when I was working on the front sub for the OPTIMA Batteries OneLapCamaro there were very few - if any - proven aftermarket subs available. Some of the "older" designs weren't readily available and the "new" generation of subs were available on paper but were still 8 months from delivery.

At the end of the day, I am happy with the capabilities of the stock sub but wish there was another two inches of clearance for 315s...

[DFRESH]

Excellent stuff---thanks for all that info---I have a lot of work ahead ---

Doug

[Payton King]

post all of this up and it is very well documented.

Looking forward to many more updates during the race.

What sizing did you end up on the front for a master? I know your pedal ratio and piston sizes are probably different than mine, but I ended up .70 front and .75 rear after 2.5 years of messing with mine.

[James OLC]

We're actually opposite of that - 0.75" in the front and 0.70" in the rear. Set up like that the bias control is "neutral" and we can dial in more or less front or rear if needed.

[JohnC]

Hi James,

Awesome mods! I just got my zr1 hubs too...

Just a couple of questions:

What new wheels are you getting?? and any pics?

Also, what color and product is the bottom of your car sprayed?? ....wheelwells, pans, etc.

Thanks!

[James OLC]

Tires arrived today...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLoA/tires.jpg

Hopefully wheels are not far behind!

[James OLC]

Hi James,

Awesome mods! I just got my zr1 hubs too...

Just a couple of questions:

What new wheels are you getting?? and any pics?

Also, what color and product is the bottom of your car sprayed?? ....wheelwells, pans, etc.

Thanks!

I wish I had my new hubs - I ordered them three weeks ago and today, after hounding them for a tracking number, they admit they they don't have any in stock (despite telling me that they did). If you don't mind, PM me your source, if it's different maybe I can still find a pair in time.

The wheels are new Rushforth Night Trains - dark Titnanium centers with brushed hoops. Can't wait!

The bottom of the car was sprayed with a reduced rock guard (nothing special just thinned out) and then just single stage grey.

[JohnC]

PM sent, James.

What sizes are those PS2's?

[James OLC]

Sadly - same source.

The rears are 335/30-18s and the fronts are 275/35-18s - should be a nice improvement, especially on the front.

[98ssnova]

Sadly - same source.

The rears are 335/30-18s and the fronts are 275/35-18s - should be a nice improvement, especially on the front.

275 on the front really what is the BS for the wheels you are still using the stock "ATS: frame right

[James OLC]

Front wheels are 18 x 9 with 6.4" of backspacing.

As I have said before - what works on the OLC may not work on an other car and I do not recommend trying to do the same without testing it on your own car first.

When we first mocked up the car, I bought a dirt cheap 18 x 8.5" wheel from summit with 6.25" BS and used those to test clearance and fit. With the exception of the outer tie rod end clearance we had no issues. With the extra 0.15" we may need to increase the steering stops a touch but we will cross that bridge when we get to it.

Subframe is "stock" ATS - SpeedTech.

[David Pozzi]

Here are some new photos of recent repairs to OLC.
Radiator plug was leaking and galled, had to drill it out and chase the threads.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/davidpozzi/One%20Lap%20Camaro/IMG_1362.jpg

New petcock installed.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/davidpozzi/One%20Lap%20Camaro/IMG_1372.jpg

Reverse solenoid was not working, found a bent terminal on the left hand side of the photo. This will be a big relief!
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/davidpozzi/One%20Lap%20Camaro/transplugsm.jpg

[James OLC]

Thanks David!

The drain plug on the rad has been "on the list" since SEMA '08... the original drain that we had wouldn't clear the oil filter and got swapped out to the pipe plug at the last minute. Unfortunately the pipe plug galled the threads on the way in and wouldn't come out so, function over form, we ended up sealing it up and only thought about it when we noticed a little bit of moisture in the corner of the rad.

I'm guessing that the reverse lockout plug got tweaked when the Magnum went in over the summer. Another thing that was on the list to look at but since it wasn't keeping us from doing anything was put off and put off. Last week David switched out the brake light switch (from a pressure switch that was getting flakey to a modified electric one) and when he couldn't hear the solenoid clicking when he was done we decided it was time to dive in and see what was happening.

While David was busy in the shop, I was busy at the computer - almost finishing the update on out website - www.OneLapCamaro.com (http://www.OneLapCamaro.com). It's a complete redo and is 90% finished and 90% functional at this point. Check it out if you have a chance.[/URL]

This week... final prep for the Run To The Coast next weekend then we're wrapping the car next week. We had a bunch of issues getting the ZR1 hubs but they are finally here - I found an alternative source for them after the high profile vendor for these strung us along for three weeks before admitting they had no stock. I'm going through the same thing now with brakes (whatever happened to customer service?) but we should have that sorted out soon.

[Steve1968LS2]

Thanks Doug. I wouldn't put too much stock in the "amount" of tweaking that we have done. I'll be the first to admit that we have been chasing the last little bit of performance for most of the year. I could have called it close enough at almost any point in the last six months but we're taking our One Lap of America effort pretty seriously... Besides, hopefully others can learn from our work.

On that note though... I should probably state that I don't recommend most of these modifications for the average enthusiast... they should be considered to be for off road use only and what works and fits on the OPTIMA Batteries OneLapCamaro may not fit or work on any other car on the planet...

No wonder your car gets confused with mine.. they took the same track of "build it then fix it" lol

Personally I think just about every car needs to be built like this.. unless it's built at first by an engineer. There are just so many little things that "could be better" after the initial build.

I like your disclaimer, same as mine.. Can't wait to run with her at events this summer..

[Vegas69]

Most of these guys think when the build is "Finished" it's finished. :lol:

[David Pozzi]

Update, petcock wouldn't clear the oil filter so I had to switch to a plug, but it's a brass plug with teflon so it won't gall. New PS pump came, so I'll get than on the car next.

[James OLC]

David started working on the trailer over the last couple of days... after hunting around for a few days he found this one literally in his own back yard. It needs a repaint so David took the sand blaster to it yesterday:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/california/trailer1.jpg

It should do the job once it's cleaned up and a couple of minor issues are addressed. Best part is that it has two enclosable, lockable compartments and should be able to fit all of our gear, tools, spares, and supplies.

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/california/trailer2.jpg

Work on the hitch for the Camaro will resume after Del Mar.

[Steve1968LS2]

Very Cool.. you know how our readers LOVE Camaros with trailers!!! :lol:

[James OLC]

It was a tough choice Steve ... tow the trailer or run with a roof rack... and try as i might I still can't picture the OLC driving down the Jersey Turnpike with a 335/30 strapped to the roof.

Wait... now that I typed that I CAN picture that... :D

[James OLC]

Big changes over the last week... the most prominent of which is our new look...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/wrap1.jpg

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/wrap2.jpg

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/wrap3.jpg

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/wrap4.jpg

[JohnC]

Love the "POZZI TUNED" logo ....lol:rofl:

[David Pozzi]

It'll either get me a lot of credit, or a lot of blame! :_paranoid

[olds87]

I like the Pozzi logo also. Wonder who came up with that? :_paranoid

[JohnC]

I'm sure it'll be the first one. You guys are great. You should coin that phrase or something.... that b!*ch sticks! :cool:

[Payton King]

IS that a wrap or did you paint the 2 tone? Either way it puts your car off the charts....and I thought I was over that treatment.

Looking forward to race updates

[Warpath Pontiac]

The car looks sick now!
And I love the "POZZI TUNED" logo, thats full of all kinds of win.

Cant wait to see some action shots and racing stories.

[Blake Foster]

It'll either get me a lot of credit, or a lot of blame! :_paranoid

HaHahA no doubt!

[James OLC]

IS that a wrap or did you paint the 2 tone? Either way it puts your car off the charts....and I thought I was over that treatment.

Looking forward to race updates

Thanks Payton (and everybody else) - it's a wrap. Hopefully it offers some protection for the paint and we really wanted to change things up for a while. It should be really cool to see how it looks once all of the event decals are on it and there's a couple of thousand miles of road grime on it.

The car looks sick now!
And I love the "POZZI TUNED" logo, thats full of all kinds of win.

Cant wait to see some action shots and racing stories.

I wanted to have some fun with David and Mary and after a year or tweaking, tinkering, and experimenting - it really does stick...

[James OLC]

HaHahA no doubt!

A big shout out to Blake and the guys at Speed Tech. This thread started out showing the install of their high clearance control arms and after a long wait we finally got to try them out - both with respect to performance and clearance. Last weekend at RTTC they were put through their paces and, as expected, we had no issues with them.

This weekend in Del Mar we had our new front and rear tires on the car and although it's hard to see any difference in these pictures, there is an inch more tire up front and in back. On the front we went from an 8" rim with 5.4" of backspacing and a 255/35 R888 to a 9" rim with ~6.4" of backspacing and a 275/35 Michelin PS2 - no clearance issues except for a small but acceptable reduction in turning radius. That wouldn't have been possible with our old setup so it's a huge step forward for us and the "final piece" of our front suspension tuning puzzle.

Thanks Blake! :thumbsup:

[ccracin]

James,

Love all the work you guys have been doing to the car. This project is a great Blueprint for how to build and sort out a top notch street/track car. By the way, I had the opportunity to be in Calgary a couple weeks ago for work. Actually we stayed in Calgary, but the plant was in Exshaw. All I can say is WOW. What magnificent scenery you guys have there. It was breath taking. Best of luck with the race and I look forward to the updates. :thumbsup: :hail:

[Rybar]

That looks awesome James, nicely done :thumbsup:

[James OLC]

James,

Love all the work you guys have been doing to the car. This project is a great Blueprint for how to build and sort out a top notch street/track car. By the way, I had the opportunity to be in Calgary a couple weeks ago for work. Actually we stayed in Calgary, but the plant was in Exshaw. All I can say is WOW. What magnificent scenery you guys have there. It was breath taking. Best of luck with the race and I look forward to the updates. :thumbsup: :hail:

Thanks Chad!

The drive from Calgary to Exshaw is pretty fantastic; hopefully you got a chance to spend some time in Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louis. Better still, I hope that you were around for the warm weather - not the junk we've had this week...

We're going to try our best to have some fun with this and keep everybody up to date but we'll be looking for help from forum members to help pass the word.

Cheers!

[monza]

WOW that looks unreal!! (you know how much I like stickers on cars-not)

This thing is coming up quick... your looking totally dialled.:woot:

[ccracin]

Thanks Chad!

The drive from Calgary to Exshaw is pretty fantastic; hopefully you got a chance to spend some time in Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louis. Better still, I hope that you were around for the warm weather - not the junk we've had this week...

We're going to try our best to have some fun with this and keep everybody up to date but we'll be looking for help from forum members to help pass the word.

Cheers!

Unfortunately all I got to see was the drive to and from Exshaw. We worked til 7 every night. If I get back up there, I will try to get to those places. I have been told they are great places to see. I would skip all that for a ride in the OLC! If you are coming near Pittsburgh and you have trouble I'm only a phone call away. PM me if you want the number. You going to Columbus this year? Would love to see the car in person. Be safe.

:cheers:

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

Yall are my muthafucskin heroes..

[James OLC]

Thanks Mr. V (I think - lol)

On the way back from Del Mar, David swung by Spectre Performance who look a few minutes to get us set up with a new air intake...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/air%20intake.jpg

It's been a long time coming and is a definate improvement over the old setup. Thanks again to the guys (and girls) and Spectre Performance - they are doing some great work in the Pro-Touring community and are a really nice crew!

Yesterday David got the trailer sandblasted and dropped it off for a quick scuff and squirt so it's presentable for the trip. Still trying to hash out brake pads but we're getting close to being ready. Trailer hitch install this week, final prep next week and we're in South Bend in two weeks!

[Stuart Adams]

Looks great. Cool car.

[MarkM66]

Are spectators welcome at the stops?

I'd like to make the Gateway stop. From the looks of the schedule, there will be action all day.

[James OLC]

Are spectators welcome at the stops?

I'd like to make the Gateway stop. From the looks of the schedule, there will be action all day.

ABSOLUTELY!

After talking to Brock he says that spectators are welcome at any of the venues. I know that we would appreciate anyone coming out!

Thanks

[MarkM66]

ABSOLUTELY!

After talking to Brock he says that spectators are welcome at any of the venues. I know that we would appreciate anyone coming out!

Thanks

Great. I may have to take a loooonnng lunch that day.

I sent you a PM with my phone # on it awhile back over on pt.com, in case you need something let me know.

[ElkyZO6]

I'm taking may 3rd off to watch this car run at Hallett Raceway.:thumbsup:

[JKnight]

Killer looking as always James.

On a side note, I think this has to be the most highly anticipated trailer hitch installation ever!

[James OLC]

Cool guys - can't wait to meet you!

but... two weeks to go and the fun is beginning. This afternoon David opens up the trailer to pull the car out and is greeted by a trail of oil running from the drivers side front corner of the Camaro all the way to the back door of the trailer . It didn't take long to discover the the left front shock is toast - having a cut in the line to the remote reservoir. It's probably (ok - definately) best that it happened now - we have a fighting chance of getting it fixed before we have to leave. If it had happened when we were on the road... yech....

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/shock%20cut.jpg

We also found that the rear axle bearings were seaping a little bit (we actually noticed this last week after sprinkling Penny's wheels at RTTC). Not a huge deal but given the mileage that we're looking at we'll try to get them changed out early next week.

I love cars...

[Vegas69]

It never ends man. Especially when you drive the piss out of them. :thumbsup: I can only imagine how glad you are to be teamed up with Pozzi. Between the traveling, racing, and all the problems you'd be living in a tent. :rofl:

[Steve1968LS2]

I'm constantly break crap on my car.. that's what happens when you run them.

But each time I fix something it's a little better than before.. so breaking is usually a blessing.. except the f'ing PS pump at Optima.. but I digress.. lol

Make a list of all the crap that you thing can go wrong.. hose clamps, fuses, brackets, alternators, line repair kits.. shock oil.. third members ;)

Murphy is a lil' bitch at times.. As Nick sometime about having a nail go through his tire's inside sidewall BACKWARDS..

We're all pulling for you guys!

[Steve1968LS2]

Thanks Mr. V (I think - lol)

On the way back from Del Mar, David swung by Spectre Performance who look a few minutes to get us set up with a new air intake...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/air%20intake.jpg

It's been a long time coming and is a definate improvement over the old setup. Thanks again to the guys (and girls) and Spectre Performance - they are doing some great work in the Pro-Touring community and are a really nice crew!

Yesterday David got the trailer sandblasted and dropped it off for a quick scuff and squirt so it's presentable for the trip. Still trying to hash out brake pads but we're getting close to being ready. Trailer hitch install this week, final prep next week and we're in South Bend in two weeks!

Looks good.. BIG improvement and I bet you gained 10-20 rwhp.. It shouldn't fowl up you tune either.

Do you have an extra coil pack? Injector?

I just keep thinking of stuff you should have in that sweet little trailer of yours. lol

[Steve1968LS2]

I like the Pozzi logo also. Wonder who came up with that? :_paranoid

One is already printed up and ready for Penny.. they are taking over the world one Camaro at a time! :thumbsup:

[CrossRamRich]

I want a "Pozzi tuned" T shirt!!!!!!:beavis:

[David Pozzi]

James,
Just found out the nick in the hose was where it made contact, but the lower 45 deg AN fitting is cracked and it's leaking there, it sprayed all over and made such a mess the trailer looked like someone poured a quart of oil on the floor and it ran the full length of the car and out the back door! I had to hose it and scrub it out. There wasn't oil in the trailer at Spectre, so it must have sprung a leak on the way home in the trailer, and every bounce pumped oil out!

Spectre wants to fully weld the tube at a later time but this will get us by. After loading and unloading the car it seems to have better throttle response! :unibrow::unibrow::unibrow::unibrow:

I like the POZZI TUNED logo you did! :thumbsup:

[James OLC]

Looks good.. BIG improvement and I bet you gained 10-20 rwhp.. It shouldn't fowl up you tune either.

Do you have an extra coil pack? Injector?

I just keep thinking of stuff you should have in that sweet little trailer of yours. lol

David's foot dyno seems to think that it's an improvement already so that's a good start :) I wish we had a bit more time and another hood to play with - I have a killer idea for an air box.

Spares list as of now...

Serpentine Belt
Upper Radiator hose
Lower Radiator hose
Assorted hose clamps
Coil Pack
Spark plug wires
Spark plugs (set)
LS7 engine sensors (most)
Oil filter
Front tire
Rear tire
Fuel pump
Power steering pump
Front hubs
Third member
Brake pads
clutch disks
Engine oil
Differential oil
Power steering oil
Zip ties
200 mph tape
Safety wire
Fuses
Relays
Tools

(hence the need for a trailer)
If anyone sees or thinks that we are missing anything - please let us know. We're definately open to suggestions.

[James OLC]

James,
Just found out the nick in the hose was where it made contact, but the lower 45 deg AN fitting is cracked and it's leaking there, it sprayed all over and made such a mess the trailer looked like someone poured a quart of oil on the floor and it ran the full length of the car and out the back door! I had to hose it and scrub it out. There wasn't oil in the trailer at Spectre, so it must have sprung a leak on the way home in the trailer, and every bounce pumped oil out!

Spectre wants to fully weld the tube at a later time but this will get us by. After loading and unloading the car it seems to have better throttle response! :unibrow::unibrow::unibrow::unibrow:

I like the POZZI TUNED logo you did! :thumbsup:

And now you know how much oil is contained in a Penske shock (sigh)
I spoke to Penske this morning - if we send the shock back today they will repair it Monday and have it back to us Tuesday! Awesome customer service!

[Sti_Guy]

If anyone sees or thinks that we are missing anything - please let us know. We're definately open to suggestions.


Trailer bearings,spare tire, trailer hub.

[Steve1968LS2]

Lug nuts (maybe even a couple of extra wheel studs (front and rear)

Valve stem caps and cores

Zip ties.. BIG ONES.. biggest you can get..

metal snips for body damage repair

[James OLC]

Trailer bearings,spare tire, trailer hub.

Have bearings, two spare wheels/tires, etc...

I'm just as worried about a trailer failure as a car failure during the transit stages...

[James OLC]

Lug nuts (maybe even a couple of extra wheel studs (front and rear)

Valve stem caps and cores

Zip ties.. BIG ONES.. biggest you can get..

metal snips for body damage repair

Lug nuts - check
Caps, cores, and screwdriver - great idea, added to the list
(also have a tire repair kit)
Zip ties - assorted, lots, check

eh....

maybe a big hammer instead of snips....

[JKnight]

This could be the dumbest suggestion ever, but I don't know LS motors. A thermostat? Years ago everytime my car got near a track the thermostat would stick.

Loctite?

[Bow Tie 67]

JB Weld

[James OLC]

This could be the dumbest suggestion ever, but I don't know LS motors. A thermostat? Years ago everytime my car got near a track the thermostat would stick.

Loctite?

JB Weld

Thermostat is probably a good idea.

Locktite
JB Weld
AntiSieze (and rags to wipe it off of everything near it)
Dialectric Grease

All good ideas

[MarkM66]

At the top of my list would be a box of nitrile gloves.

It would help of you had to work on something, and then drive.

Or if you're anal like me, and just don't like dirty hands. :_paranoid

[ElkyZO6]

Maybe a small assortment of bolts and nuts.
A small tarp incase you have to cover something or put it down to lay on it.

[JKnight]

Mechanix Gloves and Sleeves to work on hot stuff on the side of the road?

I fear that little trailer will be packed to the brim if we keep going...

[James OLC]

Maybe a small assortment of bolts and nuts.
A small tarp incase you have to cover something or put it down to lay on it.

Nut and bolts - check
Tarp - check (and actually required by the rules)
Working on a pit mat with some padding if need be.

Mechanix Gloves and Sleeves to work on hot stuff on the side of the road?

I fear that little trailer will be packed to the brim if we keep going...

Mechanix gloves for sure

Yeah... the hardest thing is to resist the temptation to bring everything that we possibly can. Just because we are towing the trailer doesn't mean that we want to be TOWING the trailer.

The biggest reason for towing the trailer at all - besides the inability to carry a 335/35 spare in the trunk - is that you need to empty the car before every track event, which is a bit of a pita. With the trailer we just unhook park and are back on the road quickly when we are done. It also allows for some convenience items - folding chairs, ramps, fuel, etc. that will (hopefully) make things easier.

I asked Mark and Kyle what they felt the most important spare to bring along was and they both gave the same answer - "whatever you don't bring" - LOL

[ccracin]

Several flash lights and spare batteries. Cell phone car charger!

[James OLC]

Killer looking as always James.

On a side note, I think this has to be the most highly anticipated trailer hitch installation ever!

it's a start...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/hitch%20dev.jpg

Another Pozzi original based on the factory design.

[KPC67]

How heavy is your trailer going to be?
just wondering if you are pulling strictly from the bumper?

[Vegas69]

Never thought I'd say it but that's not bad. :unibrow:

[James OLC]

it's just the start - it will be triangulated at the bottom as well and will be welded.
All told the trailer - loaded - will probably wind up being around 500 pounds - should be about 25 pounds on the tongue.

[James OLC]

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/hitch%20low%202.jpg

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/hitch%20rear%202.jpg

[bulldog19]

How about a tap and die set and spray can of cutting oil.
Spare fuses, wire and splices for electrical issues

[Steve1968LS2]

Cool.. you know how some of our readers LOVE Camaros with trailer hitches.. lol

[David Pozzi]

The good news is, I only had to drill two holes in the lower pan to get it on. With some black paint on it I hope it will not be so visible. This was fairly quick and easy and should be plenty strong enough for the weight we will tow. If I had more time, I'd make a square tube plug in version that could be left on the car, but this only requires 4 bolts and comes off easy. I need to start on the front hubs soon.
David

[mfain]

David

What is involved in switching to the ZR1 hubs? How are they different than standard C6 hubs, and what do you gain -- stronger I assume. Will they alter any of the front geometry (scrub radius, etc)? Thanks.

Pappy

[James OLC]

The SKF hubs are a direct replacement and bolt in exactly the same was as the standard ones. As far as benefits...

Designed for durability and to maintain preload at sustained loading of 1.2g, these units were tested and proven on some of the European GT3 Corvettes for an entire race season. Don't settle for a tapered roller design. Tapered rollers are relatively effective for handling load, but have high friction and generate heat and rolling resistance which can lead to premature failure.

SKF Asymmetric - Roll formed design benefits:

1. High camber stiffness compared to a symmetric ball design

2. Reduced brake judder and piston knock-back

3. Roll formed and self retained without need for a stub shaft

4. Increased stiffness for better brake performance under high loads, higher preloads, less than 10 micron run-out on flange face


http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/skf%20hubs.jpg

[mfain]

James,

Thanks. I see Zip Products sells the hubs -- do you have another supplier?

Pappy

[James OLC]

I bought mine from the guys at the Waterford Hills Road Race Course (Direct Motorsports). I tried ordering from "the big guys" who offer these and was given the run around for three weeks - they were on their way, they were missing wheel studs, they were backordered for a month - before i had to cancel my order (horrible customer service). Finally, after seacrching for a day I found these guys who had the hubs drop shipped from SKF the same day. Incredible customer service and cheaper to boot.

[Steve1968LS2]

David

What is involved in switching to the ZR1 hubs? How are they different than standard C6 hubs, and what do you gain -- stronger I assume. Will they alter any of the front geometry (scrub radius, etc)? Thanks.

Pappy

This is what I run.. I will second that they are direct bolt in deals.. MUCH stronger and stiffer and can better handle side loading from high-g turns. Where regular hubs might last a few races these tend to last a full race season or longer.

They will noT change any front geometry. Oh when you switch hubs you need new GM TTY bolts.

[James OLC]

David finished up the hitch today - welded, painted, and ready to go:

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/hitch%20final%201.JPG

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/hitch%20final%202.JPG

Trailer should be back from the paint shop on Wednesday.

[JohnC]

They will now change any front geometry. Oh when you switch hubs you need new GM TTY bolts.

Sorry for the small hijack, but how do they change the geometry? and why TTY bolts? Where can I get them? I purchased my ZR1 bearings from Pfadt.

Thanks

[buickfunnycar.com]

I was over at the Pozzi's yesterday James,Dave did a real good job on the hitch.He was joking the whole time how he usually over-builds things,with this hitch for that little trailer,he had to remember to KISS.;)

Wrap looked real nice too...:unibrow:

[Steve1968LS2]

Sorry for the small hijack, but how do they change the geometry? and why TTY bolts? Where can I get them? I purchased my ZR1 bearings from Pfadt.

Thanks

They only change the geometry when you're tired and type a "W" instead of a "T" :rofl:

Seriously.. of all the places for a typo.. Shows there is a God with a sense of humor.

They will NOT change the geometry.. In fact they will help keep the geometry stable by resisting flex better.

[rogue]

Nice! Congrats. Shiny Side up :thumbsup:

[David Pozzi]

Got the new studs for the front hubs today, metric this time, 1/2" wouldn't fit.

Yesterday I picked up the freshly painted trailer, finished/tested the wiring in the trailer plug, it's inside the trunk and we'll just close the lid on the pigtail, it's a flat strip of 4 wires so it shouldn't get damaged. Need to tape things up and finish it today.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/davidpozzi/One%20Lap%20Camaro/trailerlights.jpg
Got the rear axle bearings sealed better, a few drops of oil were seeping past the O ring seals on the bearing OD.
David

[monza]

Sweet trailer:D Should get that wrapped as well?

[98ssnova]

Agreed the trailer turned out well are you only going to be able to drive 65 between stops.....:_paranoid

[James OLC]

Agreed the trailer turned out well are you only going to be able to drive 65 between stops.....:_paranoid

I am really amazed at how well the trailer cleaned up; it would be cool to wrap it but time and $ isn't on side for that. Instead we're going to decal it up some (Dave - find a way to get me some Source stuff before I leave) and have some fun with it.

I have to admit that I don't know all of the speed limits along the route but we're not overly worried about it. Talking to Mark last year he said that there were two schools of thought - 'steady speed limit driving' with decent mileage and 'slightly exceeding the speed limit here and there driving' with increased gas stops. Neither seemed to have a significant advantage. I think that if we can cruise at 75 more often then not that we will be happy.

[Steve1968LS2]

I am really amazed at how well the trailer cleaned up; it would be cool to wrap it but time and $ isn't on side for that. Instead we're going to decal it up some (Dave - find a way to get me some Source stuff before I leave) and have some fun with it.

I have to admit that I don't know all of the speed limits along the route but we're not overly worried about it. Talking to Mark last year he said that there were two schools of thought - 'steady speed limit driving' with decent mileage and 'slightly exceeding the speed limit here and there driving' with increased gas stops. Neither seemed to have a significant advantage. I think that if we can cruise at 75 more often then not that we will be happy.

I think he meant "Is the trailer capable of going over 65mph?"

If you need more stickers.. just let me know :)

And remember.. take GOOD photos and good journal notes.. don't be afraid to ask someone to snap a pic so you and Dave are in the shot.

[mdprovee]

The trailer and hitch turned out nice. It will be nice to have a little storage for the trip.

Good luck with it.

[James OLC]

I think he meant "Is the trailer capable of going over 65mph?"

If you need more stickers.. just let me know :)

And remember.. take GOOD photos and good journal notes.. don't be afraid to ask someone to snap a pic so you and Dave are in the shot.

The trailer should be up to the task - we hope.

If you have an opportunity send some to David - dark colors. We'll keep you hooked up.:yes:

You got it! Should be lots of camera's around for the week, we'll try to make you proud...

[James OLC]

The trailer and hitch turned out nice. It will be nice to have a little storage for the trip.

Good luck with it.

Thanks Mike. Hopefully it allows us some breathing room in the car, without it I think one of us was going to have to carry the front spare on our lap between events. The other nice thing is that it will allow us to carry a couple of jugs of fuel - a little extra breathing room will be appreciated.

[James OLC]

What a difference some fresh paint and a tune up makes...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/trailer%20new.JPG

David will fill it up tomorrow and see how much room our spares and tools up. Then... the moment of truth... the test drive!

[James OLC]

but as time gets tight - the car hits the highway Saturday - small things are sure to crop up. Lesson learned - the new hubs aren't a direct replacement for the stockers in the ATS spindles. ATS had altered the hubs to use a stud with a nut on it and the material thickness of the SKF hubs is slightly different and the swap isn'r as straight forward as you would hope...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/hub%201.jpg

David took a shot at increasing the clearance but there are still issues...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/hub%202.jpg

...so we'll have to set these aside for now and change them out after the race. I've got a spare set of ATS spindles in the garage so I'll pop a hub out and we'll bring it with us as a spare instead.

[buickfunnycar.com]

Sorry to hear you're still having problems with those spindles guys,but that trailer really turned out nice Dave,night & day from when I saw it...:wow:

Best of luck to you guys...:yes:

[Tom.A]

Trailer looks great. Best of luck and we all will be pullin for you guy's.

[James OLC]

Sorry to hear you're still having problems with those spindles guys,but that trailer really turned out nice Dave,night & day from when I saw it...:wow:

Best of luck to you guys...:yes:

The good news is that the old hubs are in good shape and, in all honesty, shouldn't be a problem unless we make them an issue. I'll pop one out and we'll have a spare if we need it - just in case.

Hopefully we have the balance of our spares in tomorrow... Kinsler has sent us a fuel pump which arrived today, as did another set of tires and (thankfully) our shock. AWESOME customer service from Penske!

Tomorrow we're expecting our Raybestos R43 pads which we'll carry as backups (on the other side of the customer service fence are the AP reps in California - after a month and a half of email and phone messages I wound up calling England to get help. As soon as the OLoA is over I think that there will be a change coming there) and some more bits and pieces.

Currie Enterprises also sent us a care package....

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/Currie%202.JPG

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/Currie%201.JPG

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/Currie%203.JPG

[98ssnova]

but as time gets tight - the car hits the highway Saturday - small things are sure to crop up. Lesson learned - the new hubs aren't a direct replacement for the stockers in the ATS spindles. ATS had altered the hubs to use a stud with a nut on it and the material thickness of the SKF hubs is slightly different and the swap isn'r as straight forward as you would hope...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/hub%201.jpg

David took a shot at increasing the clearance but there are still issues...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/hub%202.jpg

...so we'll have to set these aside for now and change them out after the race. I've got a spare set of ATS spindles in the garage so I'll pop a hub out and we'll bring it with us as a spare instead.

I had forgotten that Tyler had modded the hubs for the spindles sorry for the luck but everyhting else is looking great. Cant wait to see some action shots really pulling for you guys:woot:

[JohnC]

James,

What is the gear ratio on your new rearend? 3.89?

Also, is your magnum the .63 final gear one?

Thanks

[Steve1968LS2]

James,

What is the gear ratio on your new rearend? 3.89?

Also, is your magnum the .63 final gear one?

Thanks

I can answer this since our cars are vitural clones.. lol

Yes to both of those questions.. it makes a sixth gear that is actually usable and doesn't make the car bog down at typical freeway speeds.

[JohnC]

it makes a sixth gear that is actually usable and doesn't make the car bog down at typical freeway speeds.

When you say "useable" based on your specs (26 inch tire, .63 final gear, and 3.89 rear end) you are doing around 2500 rpm @80 mph. Wouldn't it be nicer if it was closer to 2000 rpm @80 mph?

For example, I think Jackass has specs like this:
(26.6 inch tire, .50 final gear, and 3.90 rear end= 1971 rpm @80 mph)

Let me know if my figures are off...

Thanks and sorry for the small hijack...

[James OLC]

I can answer this since our cars are vitural clones.. lol

Yes to both of those questions.. it makes a sixth gear that is actually usable and doesn't make the car bog down at typical freeway speeds.

What he said - lol

I will probably change out the gear ratio in the spare 3rd Member after the One lap to something around 3.55 ratio (give or take) for the Silver State. Eventually we want to get in to the 150+ class and a drop would be nice for that.

Excellent customer service (by the way) from Currie. We spoke to them last week and told them what we were looking for and had the 3rd member assembled and shipped out the same day. It's essentially the same as what we are running now (they rebuilt our old one last summer) - Strange aluminum housing, True-Track differential, 3.89 gears and heavy duty pinion support and yoke. Great products, great price and fast!

[James OLC]

When you say "useable" based on your specs (26 inch tire, .63 final gear, and 3.89 rear end) you are doing around 2500 rpm @80 mph. Wouldn't it be nicer if it was closer to 2000 rpm @80 mph?

For example, I think Jackass has specs like this:
(26.6 inch tire, .50 final gear, and 3.90 rear end= 1971 rpm @80 mph)

Let me know if my fiugres are off...

Thanks and sorry for the small hijack...


My personal preference is to have some more RPM vs less. I know that it's not perfect for mileage but I'm trying to balance street and track manners and I just hate borderline lugging in 6th.

But... in all honesty... the only time I've ever been in 6th I've been at 110+

[Steve1968LS2]

When you say "useable" based on your specs (26 inch tire, .63 final gear, and 3.89 rear end) you are doing around 2500 rpm @80 mph. Wouldn't it be nicer if it was closer to 2000 rpm @80 mph?

For example, I think Jackass has specs like this:
(26.6 inch tire, .50 final gear, and 3.90 rear end= 1971 rpm @80 mph)

Let me know if my fiugres are off...

Thanks and sorry for the small hijack...

I guess.. if this were my daily commuter, but I don't like my car all quiet and luggy.. When I had my T56 (.50 sixth) I never drove in 6th because it was too quiet. lol

I probably should swap to 3.70 gears given how much torque my new engine has, might make 1st gear more friendly. The hard part is that my gears are expensive (lightened and polished) so it's tough to toss them to buy new ones.

[Steve1968LS2]

My personal preference is to have some more RPM vs less. I know that it's not perfect for mileage but I'm trying to balance street and track manners and I just hate borderline lugging in 6th.

But... in all honesty... the only time I've ever been in 6th I've been at 110+

What he said...

[JohnC]

Thanks guys.

[James OLC]

Well the preparations are done and the OPTIMA Batteries OneLapCamaro is on it's way to South Bend, Indiana. David put in a huge week and I think we can safely say that we are as prepared as we can be at this point. After fabbing up the trailer hitch and taking car of the routine maintenance - change the oil, bleed the brakes, etc. - David aligned the car one last time and tweaked the corner weights before going over the car with a fine tooth comb. A couple of small issues came up but nothing major - we've gone too far to let anything slow us up at this point. The last thing to do before packing up was a final test drive...

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/olc%20wi%20trailer.jpg

Thankfully, no issues and we're on our way!

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/OLC%20loading.JPG

http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010/OLC%20LOADED.JPG

[ccracin]

Looks great James. Good luck with the race and be safe. Above all else, make sure you have fun with it. :cheers:

[waynieZ]

Xs 2 With Chad good luck and stay safe.

[JohnC]

What brand of rear end gears have you guys been using? Do you like them and would you switch to something else next time?

Good luck and be safe, James!

[JKnight]

Hey James, I had one other thought regarding just-in-case parts.

Do you guys have any sort of plan or easy way of dealing with the possibility of getting a really bad batch of gas? Maybe a bunch of water in the fuel or something like that. With the thousands of miles you'll be covering and the possibility of having to stop at some podunk stations, I was thinking that might be a concern.

[James OLC]

Jeff,

Were bringing two jerry cans for gas and a case of octane boost. In an ideal world we'll fill the jugs with race gas at the track and use it for top ups and emergencies (as well as late night "what do you mean their closed?" fillups). The Octane boost will help (some) if we run in to trouble (anything has to be better than California "premium" though) but if we get a really bad batch - well - hopefully we can avoid that.

[JKnight]

Ok, just checking. Figured it can't hurt to think about as many scenarios as possible when preparing for an undertaking of this magnitude.

Good luck gents! I'm sure you guys will do great.