IT Race Car

[bbp]

Hey all,

We just got the hood back today and just about finished the vinyl on my car today.

What do you think? We were modeling the old school factory team look.

http://home.neo.rr.com/gerstonline/111-1200_IMG.JPG

http://home.neo.rr.com/gerstonline/112-1201_IMG.JPG

and muffler:
http://home.neo.rr.com/gerstonline/112-1208_IMG.JPG

[S13FREEAAK]

I think its looks like its ready to race. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[hotdogg]

man i wish my garage was that clean.


looks great!

[SR20Fastback]

Good one, cover up the lights why dont you?! Now how the hell are you going to auto x at night? haha jk man, looks really nice.

[wherezmytofu]

it may be fast....but damn it looks like pos!

[tnord]

bbp.........as a fellow racer i must say; WELL DONE. nothin like doin it up in factory team colors. there was a 240Z done up EXACTLY like the ol number 46, same number and all, only to go off in turn 7 into the swamp and ruin the car in it's first season. i don't particularly like supertrapp, but as far as how the car looks........BRAVO.

[wherezmytofu]

im gunna guess im the only one that think it looks ugly? &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'>

[AceInHole]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wherezmytofu @ May 21 2002,12:55)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">im gunna guess im the only one that think it looks ugly? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
probably, since the rest of us will support Nissan's factory race theme.


It's too bad you couldn't get the traditional "23", which is usually the number used by Nissan's race cars, as "Ni- san" would be "2, 3".

[wherezmytofu]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AceInHole @ May 21 2002,01:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wherezmytofu @ May 21 2002,12:55)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">im gunna guess im the only one that think it looks ugly? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
probably, since the rest of us will support Nissan's factory race theme.


It's too bad you couldn't get the traditional "23", which is usually the number used by Nissan's race cars, as "Ni- san" would be "2, 3".</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
i shot u 23 times from 2 feet away with a m15...why r u still alive?....asshole! that color scheme sux! ...sorry 2 say &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[AceInHole]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wherezmytofu @ May 21 2002,01:41)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AceInHole @ May 21 2002,01:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wherezmytofu @ May 21 2002,12:55)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">im gunna guess im the only one that think it looks ugly? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
probably, since the rest of us will support Nissan's factory race theme.


It's too bad you couldn't get the traditional "23", which is usually the number used by Nissan's race cars, as "Ni- san" would be "2, 3".</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
i shot u 23 times from 2 feet away with a m15...why r u still alive?....asshole! that color scheme sux! ...sorry 2 say <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
i'm alive because your post whoring has greatly affected your aim. &nbsp;

and basically you're dissing Nissan itself &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> &nbsp;
that color scheme is classic!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[DSC]

Lookin good bbp! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

tofu, it doesn't look good like "wow, I wish my daily drive could look that hot!" but it looks good because its a classic nissan race car color schema and its on a race car <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Why'd you paint the lights? &nbsp;I guess you'll never race at night?

[wherezmytofu]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AceInHole @ May 21 2002,02:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">.</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wherezmytofu @ May 21 2002,01:41)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AceInHole @ May 21 2002,01:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wherezmytofu @ May 21 2002,12:55)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">im gunna guess im the only one that think it looks ugly? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
probably, since the rest of us will support Nissan's factory race theme.


It's too bad you couldn't get the traditional "23", which is usually the number used by Nissan's race cars, as "Ni- san" would be "2, 3".</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
i shot u 23 times from 2 feet away with a m15...why r u still alive?....asshole! that color scheme sux! ...sorry 2 say <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
i'm alive because your post whoring has greatly affected your aim.

and basically you're dissing Nissan itself <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>
that color scheme is classic!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
diss nissan &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cry:'> .......no man no!....i...i ment...i like the colors they r dope! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cool:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/lookaround.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':look:'>

[HippoSleek]

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/inlove.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':love:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

Approved. That thing is way too pretty to go into ITS battle! Color scheme is awesome. Do you guys ever get over to Summit Pt. to run?

For those wondering about the lights, think about this - what happens if someone brakes too hard and our good friend bbp winds up w/ a grill full of (insert ITS car of choice)? The lights break and send little slivers of impact resistant plastic onto the road surface... soon to wind up in someone's tire at speed or at least a biatch to clean up. Anytime you are on a track you should have your front lights covered with something. Some like pretty vinyl, others the more ghetto, yet utilitarian, racers' tape.
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v5/3/17/89/32131789CFsrEJeWrA_ph.jpg
*edit* &nbsp;damb webshots seems to have figured out my evil plans of linking pics... Okay, visualize if you will an s14 and an s13 w/ tape all over all of the front lights sitting in a gravelly area (let's call it a paddock) near a race track. *

[bbp]

Thanks guys!

The headlights have to be taped over, I don't run at night. &nbsp;If I do, there will be some BIG Hella's mounted to the hood. &nbsp;The hood is painted, the rest is vinyl.

We did a supertrapp cause it is tunable. &nbsp;Since we can't easily re map the ECU, we can lean/richen by changing backpressure. &nbsp;They are pretty cool actually, after you've run the car, you remove the discs and read them like you would a spark plug, gives some diagnostics. &nbsp;I'm not crazy about how they look, but I guess it's form follows function.

Tofu: It's OK, you can dis it. I can take it. &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

Heading to Mid Ohio this weekend to a BMW club event. &nbsp;Hopefully I won't have the same resulta as tnord's buddy!

[nrcooled]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wherezmytofu @ May 22 2002,12:08)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">it may be fast....but damn it looks like pos!</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
who pissed in your Cheerios <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>

Nice car my man do you have any events lined up right now?
what's under the hood?

[boosteds14]

awesome dude, i am not a vinyl sticker fan, ( i would have got it painted) but that has to be so much. understandable, plus it would protect the paint a little from scratches

i like it <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[tnord]

remember, the car was red to start with, so it's really not that much vinyl.

[sykikchimp]

Ugly for a street car, but BEAUTIFUL for a race car. &nbsp;I hope you kick some ass in that bad boy.

[sil80]

I would have to say that is a quality job and looks very clean. The nissan color scheme is not for me though... just not a big red fan.... but again very nice work though.. are you going to run diff rims and tires... whats the deal with the exhaust? I have never seen that before....

[sil80]

ooooo ya whats your address so I can come still your duck poster.. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[DSC]

Hey, bbp, I just noticed you added a passanger seat. &nbsp;What are you running, looks like you got another race seat vs stock s13...

[sykikchimp]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (DSC @ May 22 2002,6:35)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hey, bbp, I just noticed you added a passanger seat. What are you running, looks like you got another race seat vs stock s13...</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
that looks like the stock S13 seat just with non-adjustable headrest.

[transient]

Hey BPP, can you give me some information on that roll cage? Like how much it cost to fabricate, who did it, etc? I'm hoping to get one in my car eventually.

[bbp]

DSC: It is a stock S13 passenger seat. Couldn't find a S14 in local scrap yards. I cut alot of the foam out from the bottom seat to try and lower the seating position. &nbsp;It worked pretty well, relatively comfy. &nbsp;I let my Wife and my Father do schools in it so I need to have something for the instructor to sit in.
I also can give rides when I instruct (poor bastards:sly: )

Sil80: Leave my poster alone!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

The muffler is a super trapp. &nbsp;It is tunable by adding or removing discs. &nbsp;You can adjust how loud it is and adjust how much backpressure you need. &nbsp;You read the disc as you would a spark plug to get an idea as to how the engine is running (rich/lean). &nbsp;Probably now that great for the street, doesn't sound real pretty like the aftermarket stuff, but is more suited for track use.

I have like 4 sets of stock rims. &nbsp;New rims aren't in the budget right now. &nbsp;I would love to get something with a better offset, maybe next year.

transient: The cage is custome built by Mark McMahon here in Akron, Ohio. &nbsp;He does excellent work. Can fab whatever you like. &nbsp;He does ALOT of cages for SCCA racers as well as World Challenge, PCA and Viper Club. &nbsp;I worked with him long ago, I blame him for getting me into all this stuff! &nbsp; If anyone knows who TC kline is, Mark has done all his cages since day 1. He is now running M3's in World Challenge, they are awesome! &nbsp;Where are you located I know someone on the West Coast who does quality work.


I agree with the not good for the street comments, I would feel kinda lame cruising in it, but I hope it stands out on track and represents the Nissan crowd with pride!!

I'll post some lap times from Mid Ohio this weekend.

[tnord]

pretty easy to tell who the racers on the forum are and who's just a street/drag/show person by reading posts. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[wherezmytofu]

whats the verdict on me tnord? &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh:'>

[DSC]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wherezmytofu @ May 22 2002,03:29)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">whats the verdict on me tnord? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
So uhhm? &nbsp;Why do you guys tape the lights? &nbsp;Is it a "racer" thing to &nbsp;look cool like the GT cars? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

I'm afraid me and tofu are in the same boat...cept I thought bbp's paint was cool <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[HippoSleek]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (bbp @ May 22 2002,8:54)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">DSC: It is a stock S13 passenger seat. Couldn't find a S14 in local scrap yards. I cut alot of the foam out from the bottom seat to try and lower the seating position. It worked pretty well, relatively comfy. I let my Wife and my Father do schools in it so I need to have something for the instructor to sit in.
I also can give rides when I instruct (poor bastards:sly: )</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Allright - now if anyone is the poor bastard, it is the instructor who has to ride with a student in a fully prepped IT car &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'>

How hard was it to cut out the foam and how much did it lower the seating position? &nbsp;I could really go for about one inch of headroom.

Mark
-who has been in the bitch seat w/ a few instructors and has yet to leave the car w/o a &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[bbp]

The lights are taped for safety reasons. &nbsp;When racing there is a high probabilty that you may get bumped, hit, pushed and even blasted by another car. &nbsp;They make you tape off the light in case one gets broken. &nbsp;The tape covering the lights will hold all the little broken pieces of plastic (used to be glass, back in the day when the rules were written I'm sure) in place, instaed of having all that debris fall on the track where it may cut someones tire, or even your own the next lap around. &nbsp;Make sense? &nbsp;

They way I took Tnords comment is alot of the stuff done to my car is different than what would be done to a street car. &nbsp;The parts I use are strictly for racing/performace, not based on appearance, color, sound, etc. &nbsp;I mentioned "Form follows Function" that holds true on some of the parts on my car. &nbsp;They may not be that pretty but it works (muffler, pass. seat)I posted these pics so those who aren't familiar with road racing can learn more about it and possibly gain interest in the sport.

Let's not start a rift here, it's all about the car!

[bbp]

Hipposleek: &nbsp;IT wasn't too hard to remove the foam. &nbsp;Take the seat out, unbolt the back from the bottom. &nbsp;remove all the hog rings holding the foam to the frame. &nbsp;The upholstry is attached to the seat foam, 1 piece. &nbsp;I used a razor blade and cut around the bucket area and just started pulling the foam out. &nbsp;I left the side bolster and front part under your knees. &nbsp;It will give you about an inch lower, but you can feel the springs if you remove ALL of the foam like I did, may want to keep a thin layer. &nbsp;I used ty-wraps to reattach the foam to the frame, easier than using hog rings, unless you have the right tool.

Yeah, I have seen God a few times riding/instructing in the passenger seat in &nbsp;fully prepped race cars with half prepped drivers &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'>

[thewholefnshow]

How are the Kumho r rated tires that you are using? Next time I go to the track I think I will get some of them, and I am wondering how great are they. The place that I work is a kumho dealer and they have 2 race cars, one running toyo proxes r rated tires and one running kumhos. Any preference or have you always been on kumhos??

[DSC]

Heh, I was just messing around with that last comment, bbp. &nbsp;They already answered my question about the headlights. &nbsp;I was just replying to tnords post <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

[bbp]

I have run Kumho Victoracers but I have a set of the new Ecsta V700. &nbsp;The Victo's were great, a little slower than Hoosier but lasted alot longer. &nbsp;I have run BFG R1 in the past and that was a great tire too. &nbsp;I like Kuhmo because they grip well and last longer than anything else. &nbsp;I am excited to try the new set this weekend, I'll let you know!

[HippoSleek]

bbp: Thanks for the tip. &nbsp;I just may have a weekend project now (well - in addition to brakes). &nbsp;Perhaps I will try to get a thin layer of high density foam to replace the existing stuff. &nbsp;I'll post the results once I do it. &nbsp;Thanks for the tip. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

As for seeing God - I've heard some ugly stories! &nbsp;My favorites are guys who run Spec Rx7's or Miatas (or something else that handles great but has no power) who have to instruct with a Novice in a built up Porsche or C5 or something else godawfully fast! &nbsp;My hat's off to you guys!

DSC - you better have read that... I was getting miffed <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sneaky.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':pissed:'>

...show - I am one of those people who would say don't get "R" compounds until you have a roll cage or at least a LOT of expereince. &nbsp;Most important, you will learn a lot more on street tires (which is the point of going to track days - to learn - not to go fast). &nbsp;A street tire will let you know what the car is doing and give you correction warnings well before it breaks loose. &nbsp;An R just sticks until it goes - no warning. &nbsp;You can save it w/ a street tire, but you have to feel it before it goes on R's. &nbsp;The other things is that with all that extra speed you carry comes more danger and the need for much faster reactions to keep from going off in bad ways. &nbsp;Personally, I won't run an R compound until I'm really prepared to accept throwing the car away (and what happens to me, should that occur). &nbsp;Meanwhile, I have moved from M+S to high performance street tires and have learned so much about my car and driving - but I still have no need to go to the next level yet.

[tnord]

i wasn't trying to start a war, just making and observation. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

mark - i agree with your comment about track days. the purpose of them is to learn how to go fast, not just speed around the track like a chicken with its head cut off. i also fully agree with your view on street vs R compound tires. on anything but a dedicated race car, street tires make so much more sense (no the Victoracer and other shaved DOT legal tires do not count). not only do they last longer (because they wear out fast when not at temp), but it is much easier to learn when going slow than when going fast. i learned this when switching from my old Z32 to the current 240. at lower speeds i was much more confident diving into the turn later than usual, keeping my foot in it all the way through, overall comfort level is higher allowing me to be smooth, and as some of you know, smooth=fast. this is also the same reasoning behind people saying to start with a stock car before you get crazy with the mods. so yeah, i'm not sure how on topic this is, but just thought i'd toss in a few comments.

once again....nice car bbp. even if i don't like the supertrapp, i understand it's functionality, but like you, i don't like the sound they produce. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[DSC]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (tnord @ May 22 2002,12:01)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">...not just speed around the track like a chicken with its head cut off...</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Ya, thats what the skid pad is for &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[uuninja]

bbp,

Nice car! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'> It is good to see a 240 representing in SCCA ITS for all of us that wish we could <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> You think that the ITS circuit or any thing else will bring you out me and Hippo's way (VA,MD,DC)? &nbsp;Cause if you are I call dibs on a ride allong <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

-Matt

[thewholefnshow]

I never thought of it that way. It's true, but I was gonna install all the suspension that I need to do first, I saw that an older stock suspension with no rear sway bar seems to understeer a lot on sticky tires... so the r rateds wouldn't help a ton, yet. But in the future I would like to put them on intstead of killing my street tires... and I can get them at a good price anyways.

[bbp]

I have a Tracktime school tentativly scheduled in June or July at VIR. &nbsp;Not sure if I will amke it. &nbsp;Didn't Hippo want to do something at VIR in December or something?

[HippoSleek]

Yeah - December was my plan before SpeedTrial East Coast took a turn for the worse. &nbsp;UGH! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> &nbsp; Is it Tracktime or SeatTime that only lets you drive if you are an instructor? &nbsp;(There is a CarGuys school there in July or August - 3 days VIR full for $500. &nbsp;Too bad I think in 3 days my car would be a smoking pile of doo doo &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/satisfied.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':satisfied:'> &nbsp;I gotta quit spending money driving and start getting that heap ready to drive... &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/whatsthat.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':whatthe:'>

[whoizrob]

Looking good BBP, nice to see the progress on the car.

About eh super traps, I knew they were tunable which is an awesome thing esp when dealing with tight rules in IT but I didn't realize that you could read them like spark plugs. Makes perfect sense now but wow, cool idea. Well designed, superlight, and tunable, gotta love that. For all you all show no go bois out there remember: functional is beautiful =9

Ditto on the tires and class statement. Don't make the car faster than you are. It's a waste of money and is counter productive. Get seat time, learn your cars limits and then grow with it. When you work the streets like I do (I clean up your messes) you find out that most of the purty car wrecks out there are all the riced out cars with myriads of crap bolted to the car and driven by a guy who likes to drive fast through his credit card. No respect there. I'm more excited by the understated, yet well thought out and prepped cars driven by guys who know how to handle them.

Best case in point are two of the hot drivers out in the Sacto region auto-cross scene. One runs a prepped CRX who can ROUTINELY whoop the faster cars like vettes etc, and the other who runs a Suzuki Swift. Go ahead, poke fun and laugh, talk all the crap you want, but he'll still beat you to the line EVERY day.

So props to BBP for going out and doin it and doin it with some Nissan style <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

Rob

[HippoSleek]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (thewholefnshow @ May 23 2002,10:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I never thought of it that way. It's true, but I was gonna install all the suspension that I need to do first, I saw that an older stock suspension with no rear sway bar seems to understeer a lot on sticky tires... so the r rateds wouldn't help a ton, yet. But in the future I would like to put them on intstead of killing my street tires... and I can get them at a good price anyways.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I completely understand you perdicament. &nbsp;The first time I took my 240 to the track, I had owned if for less than one month and wound up running all season tires on a bone stock car (except for brakes). &nbsp;Now, I've worked my way up to a stb and a nice set of performance tires - and I need a suspension b/c mine was beyond its limits at the last event (but I haven't idea what to buy). &nbsp;The incremental approach has been very helpful to me - don't upgrade until you need to.

I certainly would agree that a rear sway is required (I have an SE w/ factory susp.) - but otherwise, you can learn a lot on a bone stock, high mileage suspension. &nbsp;I did/am. &nbsp;Matt (uuninja) did/is. &nbsp;Where you should worry about R's isn't just oversteer though. &nbsp;They will totally change you ability to go off line, your ability to stick when you are going faster than you should, and the ability to brake or accelarate faster than you need to. &nbsp;All of this is great - when you are going for time - but when you are there to learn, it really isn't helpful at all. &nbsp;You need to learn the line and how to be smooth before you worry about going fast. &nbsp;Besides, a set of R compounds will wear very fast on the track, compared to a street tire. &nbsp;If you really want cheap, good tires, buy a set of cheap performance tires (712's or something) that is a middle of the road tire (that allows learning) but doesn't cost and arm and a leg.

[bbp]

Tracktime lets anyone play... as long as you pay. &nbsp;Not sure what the entry fee is these days.

[thewholefnshow]

Well track time at our track here is 2000$ to rent the track for the day, which is 10-3 or 4 depending on if there are races that night. So we charged 100$ for people to come for 5 hours of lapping. I drove in a few different cars then took mine out on the track and had little trouble following the line except for a long arcing double apex left hander that just snuck up on me everytime, first apex fine, second apex, understerr cause I just couldn't read it. I got the hang of it, but I never would have thought that the sloping left would be tougher than chicanes and s turns.