Races from 08-17-2024 (Page 1/3)
lou_dias AUG 19, 04:39 PM
Round 1, beautiful brand new LS3 swapped Monte Carlo SS but he was on street tires so....
https://rumble.com/v5bfyh1-vs-ls3-monte-ss.html

Round 2, I guess the fluke from 2 weeks ago wasn't a fluke and I am hitting 7200+ mid-track. In my shock, I didn't shift into 3rd until he passed me. Was not accelerating for a second there.
https://rumble.com/v5bfz7t-...ieldings-camaro.html

Earlier this season I would wind out 2nd heading into turn 3.

In turn 4, I tried backing off a hair to get the inside coming out of 4 then punched it... I either didn't back-off enough or punched it to hard and spun out. Still impressive that I was ahead of a car+driver of that caliber for half the race.

Pick your favorite youtuber to watch the whole event ... Tberg Media always takes about a week.



[This message has been edited by lou_dias (edited 08-19-2024).]

Patrick AUG 21, 07:14 PM

quote
Originally posted by lou_dias:

In my shock, I didn't shift into 3rd until he passed me. Was not accelerating for a second there.



You were doing great... until you weren't. Damn.


quote
Originally posted by lou_dias:

I either didn't back-off enough or punched it to hard and spun out.



You can hear someone in the stands yelling at the end of that race... "He's backing across the line!" There's one in every crowd.

Oh well, you've got several more opportunities this season to put it all together.

I came across this rather different spectator drags Here, where at the end of the day, they throw a half dozen cars out on the track to race for five laps. I would not want to be out on the track in a street car in that type of mayhem. Have you ever done that?

[EDIT] I guess this is even worse... 86 cars starting a 100 lap "Enduro".

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-21-2024).]

lou_dias AUG 22, 01:54 PM
Uhm no - that's asking for trouble. I drive my car to the track. It's not a trailer queen despite it's many external flaws. I won't drive that far because what happens if/when something breaks... I should sell 2 Fieros and buy a trailer...I guess.
When I eventually move to Florida, I'll probably show up at Smyrna someday.

Apparently, I blew my heater core in that race ... while not using the heat. I guess the water pump getting spun by a ~7500rpm engine didn't help it much.
Perhaps I should ask La Fiera to build me a custom timing cover with inlets/outlets to support an electric water pump in the off-season. The heater core should be replaced by Monday then I can do a new dyno tune to see how the new ICM improved my top-end. Previously, I had a lot of ignition jitterness starting at 4600rpm...

I don't know if I have time or patience to switch to E85 with only 3 races left. That will probably wait until April. I'll also be back on 315 width rear wheels by then ... compared to the 275's I've been using this season.

If I manage to pull my sh!t together and beat one of the big 4 Camaros (they are all fairly equal despite their 'gen') ... Then can look forward to the podium again for next season when I have fresh coil-overs, wider tires and more power (E85).

Oh and fresh wheel bearings. I have play in my back left one now.... They never last... :-/

[This message has been edited by lou_dias (edited 08-22-2024).]

Patrick AUG 22, 04:43 PM

quote
Originally posted by lou_dias:

Apparently, I blew my heater core in that race ... while not using the heat.



Just a reminder that whether HVAC air is passing through a Fiero's heater core or not, the water pressure within the heater core is not going to be affected. If you think the water pressure might be too high due to the engine doing 7500 RPM, you could probably rig up a diverter of some sort that would bypass the heater core while racing. Just don't block off (or heavily restrict) the coolant lines that run to the heater core, as the end result can be this (as I discovered years ago).

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-23-2024).]

lou_dias AUG 23, 06:45 PM
For a different angle.



From this angle it looks like I should have just stayed outside instead of backing off and trying to cut to the inside and losing control. It's deceptive from the angle of the space between the cars...just like in the other videos it looked like we were side by side on the far turn 2 corner...
Patrick AUG 23, 06:59 PM

You got wobbly at this point on the backstretch between turns 2 and 3. What was going on there?
lou_dias AUG 24, 11:03 AM
I finally shifted into 3rd.


As I said, the suspension is shot. How good the car handles the turns depends on the momentum of body roll. My attempted maneuver in turn 4 by backing off then turning inside and gunning it gave me too much bump-steer.

If you watch one of the other videos, I was essentially coasting not too long after exiting turn 2 ... I just didn't think I'd already be at 7500ish. If I had actually shifted on time, he wouldn't have passed me.

...still it doesn't mean I'd win the race because then I'd try to baby turn 4 and all... We know how that goes...

In previous years, I was running 500# rear springs with Koni struts set in the medium position. Now it's KYB with 300#. In the front, I need to replace the 12 year old QA-1 coil-overs.
I was running 'new' Arraut rear control arms someone sold me last year but one of the heim joints already has play in it. Didn't even last 1 season.
Patrick AUG 24, 11:56 AM

quote
Originally posted by lou_dias:

I finally shifted into 3rd.


As I said, the suspension is shot.



The wobble was simply from shifting from 2nd to 3rd? Damn, tighten up that suspension.

lou_dias AUG 25, 10:13 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

The wobble was simply from shifting from 2nd to 3rd? Damn, tighten up that suspension.


My engine and transmission are solid mounted.
Patrick AUG 26, 05:57 PM

quote
Originally posted by lou_dias:

My engine and transmission are solid mounted.



Could it be of benefit to have some give to the engine and transmission mounts if this might help reduce and/or eliminate that dangerous looking "wobble" in handling during a high rev gear change? Might also help reduce breakage elsewhere in the drive train.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-26-2024).]