I thought posting some pics and description might be interesting to some like-minded thirdgeners. I wanted to stay away from a full cage, but, the chassis needs bracing and I'm too old to scrounge around on the concrete finding a place to jack up the car. The door bars are 2x4x.083 steel tubes, welded in at each end and then riveted to the door sill with .060 6061 aluminum. Most of the rivets are 3/16 CherryQ structural rivets. The jacking system works, just don't shim with a piece of wood. See the crack in the rocker panel aero.
The foil you see is sound insulation put in by the previous owner. It's stuck on pretty good.
The ride height is as low as it can go and still have sufficient bump travel for the weight and spring rates. Going up on spring rates would make the car increasingly undrivable in the rain. I should bite the bullet and buy chassis scales. Stock front sway bar, no rear sway bar. 10 bolt posi, 4.10 gears. T-56 tranny. SBC 350 with VictorJr, 750 Holley, AFR heads, 6" rods, .525- 248/248 cam.
The first 2026 event is 3/15 at Dominion. I am excited (always a bad thing) to see what the changes do for lap time= Better headers, chassis bracing, manual brake conversion, lower rear ride height.

 

Very cool, watching this.

 

Nice. Looks like my car in the early days. Cosmetics don't make it faster. Design it to be practical and functionable. If people don't like it, they can build what they want.

 

Love tracking changes through some kind of objective measure. I changed tires on my car and picked up ~10 seconds on a 2.4 mile track. Even though I "know" what tires do, I was still rather mind-blown. Tires.

 

Thank you for the positive words, guys. If there is good footage from 3/13 Dominion test day, I'll post it to youtube and share the link here.

 

As for your design ideas, consult with a rulebook for whatever type of racing you intend to do just to make sure the changes that you want to do are acceptable within the rulebook.

 

Cool build. Looks like a ton of fun on a road course.

Do you ever make your way to the northeast tracks (Lime Rock, Palmer, Thompson, NHMS, Watkins Glen)?

 

Noted AlkyIroc. NASA TT rules don't require a roll cage or fuel cell so the car is good so far.

TransamGTA350: I'm in Fredericksburg, Va so those tracks are a haul. However, next to Summit Point, Watkins Glen is my favorite track and it would be fantastic to get back there. It would be easier to justify if someone could help crew for me. hint, hint. My son in law helps when he can.
I've never been to Palmer or Thompson. (looking those up after posting this)

 

Sure, I’ll crew for you.

I’m doing Time Attack with Gridlife @ Watkins in July and Lime Rock in August. Driver tickets are sold out, but there are always some available for resale as the event gets closer. Come out and paddock with our group.

 

The Friday was a nogo. It was so close to being done. I'm glad I didn't try to force the issue. Attaching the padding to the door bars took more time than expected and I used the pressure bleeder again and the brake pedal firmed up, that and 10 other details. The next event is this coming Sunday. Whatever happens, I'll post afterwards.

 

link to youtube clip. The spin is around 4:10. This is the first session and I'm surprised at having difficulty shifting. I came away from my heart surgery with nerve damage in my right hand. Too much rear brake bias. The gravel separated the exhaust and so, had to go into the pits for repairs. Then I forgot the camera on the second session. The exhaust came loose again so I called it a day.

Conclusions: Engine had power, 7000rpm in 4th gear. The car turns in nicely with the lower ride height and new trailing arm mounts. The manual brakes have good feel and not too much effort. Experimentation with brake bias needed.
Driver had issues with right hand making it difficult to shift. I couldn't see over the hood bulge looking for right hand apexes. It will have to be cut down.

 

 

Video clip is marked private and can't be viewed.

 

I just moved it to public.

 

I did 2 sessions at Summit Point. No video, though efforts were made.
Gears used: 3rd, 4th and 5th. The engine is good from 4-7k rpm. 3rd: turns 2 and 5. 4th: turns 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. 5th: turn 4 to keep the revs down, and around S/F line when at 7k in 4th. It also leaks oil from somewhere at the back and has to come out.
Brakes are way behind the motor and so were treated with delicacy. Bias **** one turn towards the front since Dominion.
Handling is well balanced and the grip levels good for Hoosiers with 15 plus heat cycles. Turn in, apex and power out were balanced, high grip levels.
The hood bulge will have to be modified as I can't see over it. The seat is best where it is because it puts the shifter and steering wheel where I want them, vertically speaking.
Politipixels may have pics. He is the NASA contracted photographer. I will buy any he has and post them here.

 

After some serious thought, I've decided to sell the car along with extra parts. According to the orthopedist, my right hand won't be good for at least a year. The T/A is at a trusted repair shop at the moment getting the oil leak found and fixed.

 

That sucks, it's something you enjoyed from the sounds. Getting out and hanging it out around a track, forget about whats going on for the moment and enjoy the mph.