Sand rail autocross/skid pad build (or, why my wife hates me)

SVreX wrote: In reply to MrJoshua: Did he say my car is sort of a car? Troof. FWIW, the car hasn't even been started since the Challenge, and we've changed the entire suspension (complete unknown quantity), wheel/ tire combo (downgrade), intercooler piping, exhaust, cooling system, the fuel rail is leaking, and we can't find the tune for the MS. Actually, I have a bigger problem. Garage door is broke, and I can't get it out of the garage. So, JThw8, you're right. It's sort of a car.

Sounds like we'll all be playing it by ear then. :) Must be something about this challenge. The lizard is in the garage with the broken door too. Luckily I'm still able to open it.

I'm pretty sure you are the only person bringing a purpose-built car for this. I had plans, but....

I tip my hat to you.

SVreX wrote: I'm pretty sure you are the only person bringing a purpose-built car for this. I had plans, but.... I tip my hat to you.

And I'll probably still be the lowest scoring. Driver ability will have a lot to do with that.

You drive in a circle? How hard can it be?

In reply to JThw8:

Maybe. I've got a ringer driver, but he's just as bad as me.

Maybe that wasn't so smart....

Reminds me of a Locost version of a 911.

JThw8 wrote:

chrispy wrote: I should stop checking this thread. At the first autocross I visited, there was a guy competing with his rail buggy. It looked absurd but it got me thinking that you could "race" anything. VW engines are cheap and easy to work on, rails come up for sale all the time. Seeing it completed is giving me all kinds of ideas. I look forward to your results. In the meantime, I'll be looking at CL.

You can probably find a rail buggy frame free or very very cheap. Incomplete ones are given away often. now that being said it's not entirely cheap.

I learned long ago that nothing in the motorsports world is "cheap" (hello LeMons/Chump - $500 cars with $2k of safety gear in them), however, that looks like a whole lotta fun for $4k.

Finished product looks great! Wish I could fly up there and drive it for you to get the most out of it!

I even just happen to have applied for a vacation on Monday...hmm gonna check ticket prices...

Edit: nope, lookin' like $650-$800 just in airfare depending on how I do it

chrispy wrote:

JThw8 wrote:

chrispy wrote: I should stop checking this thread. At the first autocross I visited, there was a guy competing with his rail buggy. It looked absurd but it got me thinking that you could "race" anything. VW engines are cheap and easy to work on, rails come up for sale all the time. Seeing it completed is giving me all kinds of ideas. I look forward to your results. In the meantime, I'll be looking at CL.

You can probably find a rail buggy frame free or very very cheap. Incomplete ones are given away often. now that being said it's not entirely cheap.

I learned long ago that nothing in the motorsports world is "cheap" (hello LeMons/Chump - $500 cars with $2k of safety gear in them), however, that looks like a whole lotta fun for $4k.

Going over my notes and I may be a little high on that 4k quote. But then again I used a few parts I already had "lying around" so I may have had 4k in mind from a GRM accounting figure.

With proper scrounging and a few compromises (it doesn't HAVE to have disk brakes for instance nor torsion eliminators) you could definitely build something comparable under a challenge budget.

i'm not sad i did not see the for sale post before you anymore. nice work, it looks awesome.

Finally put a light on it and set the timing, everything sounds really solid now. I'm almost over the fear and heading towards excitement. Raining here so no test drive, maybe tomorrow I annoy the neighbors.

And the accumulator has failed a leak down test...ugh. Ordered a rebuild kit, parts will arrive friday before I leave. Might be rebuilding an accumulator at the track saturday night.

Make sure you bring anything you need to eliminate the accumulator if needed...rebuilds on those are a bit of a gamble.

GameboyRMH wrote: Make sure you bring anything you need to eliminate the accumulator if needed...rebuilds on those are a bit of a gamble.

Easy button is to close the valve, sure a little oil will still be in the line but it wont make it to the accumulator.

Optionally I can just remove the adapter plate from between the oil filter and the engine, easy peasy.

Rebuilds are a gamble because people stuff them in a vice to hold them while they tear them down and end up deforming the case. If you don't do that then its 4 o-rings and it should seal just fine.

Larger concern is running without the accumulator, I think oil starvation would be a serious likelihood if I do. I'll have a oil pressure light wired in and if the accumulator isn't hooked up then I'm shutting it down as soon as that light flickers. VW T4 rebuilds are expensive.

JThw8 wrote:

AngryCorvair wrote: did you implement the secret weapon?

Not *yet* but I still have a few days. Trying to take care of those pesky running/driving/safety items at the moment.

you've got mail. i came up with what i think is a simpler implementation and some adjustability.

AngryCorvair wrote:

JThw8 wrote:

AngryCorvair wrote: did you implement the secret weapon?

Not *yet* but I still have a few days. Trying to take care of those pesky running/driving/safety items at the moment.

you've got mail. i came up with what i think is a simpler implementation and some adjustability.

Saw it, loved it, no time to implement :( bummed.

Accumulator kit arrived at 9:30, rebuild was a success. I painted up a set of stock wheels with tires to be my "on the ground" set while towing....guess what...offset is too deep, they hit the struts #$%@. Luckily one of the terrible sets of bubba modified wheels that came with the car work, they are ugly and they have big ol' dirt/snow tires on them but they'll get me there.

Disconnected the drive axles, in theory you can tow with them on connected but the good wheels are strapped in the seats and if something moved and bumped the shifter it would be bad so axles off it is.

Oil change in the Mercury, getting loaded up now. I'll leave around 6 tonite for my folks house in MD and then head for GA early Saturday, looking forward to seeing everyone again. Trying to talk Carkid1989 into coming along for the ride.

Good luck!!

I saw a shot of your car on Facebook... I just want you to know I'm checking here for updates regularly. I can't wait to hear how the car does!

Dammit! Saw this thread bumped and was all excited for updates and video.

I'll get a bag of popcorn ready for the real updates.

Apologies for the delayed update, had to get home to the wife :) A great time was had by all. Got to put faces with names for a lot of challengers and see old friends as well.

I arrived late afternoon Saturday to the hospitality of Mental and his kick ass RV. He had his cool little Lemons truck there too (which won an award in the Concourse De Lemons and got some very kind words from Boris Said)

Beer was consumed and stories were swapped and soon enough it was sunday morning and time to head to the skid pad.

Some small prep pains were felt but nothing worth speaking of.

A young man and his father showed up with his quarter midget and stole the show. Of course the car was perfectly suited for it but the kid could drive, he's got a great future ahead of him.

Finally after letting other cars run so I could figure out how this was supposed to be done I made some adjustments and staged for a run.

First run was a bit slow but the tires were cold and I just wanted to make sure nothing fell apart or was widly uncontrollable. All things considered I'm very happy with the result. Plenty of power, very sedate handling. It didnt push or understeer hard like we expected it to but rather just started to slowly drift to the outer edge of the ring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoaOVFQGCw8&feature=youtu.be

so for 3 runs I pulle a .97g a 1.07g and then I let Mental drive and he pulled a 1.15 with a little more weight in the front end I think it would have topped 1.2

The important bits to me are that it didn't fall apart or blow up, everything worked as expected and it didn't embarrass itself.

Oh and I guess a class win is sorta cool too. ;)

A few people here, including Tom Studdard and forum user Spinout (who did not live up to his name) got to take a shot behind the wheel so hopefully they'll chime in with impressions.

Many thanks to GRM for continually giving me reasons to build silly things and putting on a really great event. If you've never gone to the Mitty put it on your bucket list.

Fantastic job. looks like it moved well. Need to get it to an autox to see how it handkes Right/left. Im jealous of your ability to finish things.

Now Next year with turbo and wings!!

nocones wrote: Fantastic job. looks like it moved well. Need to get it to an autox to see how it handkes Right/left. Im jealous of your ability to finish things. Now Next year with turbo and wings!!

Definitely going to take it to some autocrosses and see what happens. I have a set of 8" wheels that I'm going to put up front with some 205/50/15s (if anyone has some used race tires just holler) and I'm going to make a mount so I can put some weight plates in the front and experiment with more weight in the front.

Turbo not needed, it has plenty of power for its weight, wings...maybe, I still want to try out Angry Corvair's ideas for moveable weight, I think it has some merit.

It looks awesome! I'm glad to see it performed well, too.

Congrats! I suspect that a little development time would yield a much improved result but good enough for first is pretty good!

I have those tires you want but they are currently mounted on a 4x108 wheel... might be able to do something about that but it might be just as easy to hit up ebay. Of course, you already know that I love making me some home made aero bits; even though I am presently stripping off the current setup from my e30 I am down to brainstorm and fab something for the lizard.

Count me in for a trip down to bader field anytime.