SCCA EMod MGB GT V12 Build

In reply to alfadriver :

The big suspension change starts here Episode 181-Suspension change

This thread is about to hit 100 pages so I made a new video to celebrate GRM and all the wonderful people on the forum

Episode 252-The Grassroots Motorsports Special

In reply to loosecannon :

Are you getting your suspension input from Ron Sutton?

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

In reply to loosecannon :

Are you getting your suspension input from Ron Sutton?

Yes, Ron has been the key to getting the set up right. The car handles so good now that I don't even know how I can make it better. 

In reply to loosecannon :

I'm going to build a car for the Challenge and I've spent a fair amount of time reading his stuff on other forums. Just trying to figure out the spring rates and stuff based off what I've read.

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

In reply to loosecannon :

I'm going to build a car for the Challenge and I've spent a fair amount of time reading his stuff on other forums. Just trying to figure out the spring rates and stuff based off what I've read.

One of the biggest things I've read from THIS thread- cubic effort.  Ignore the engine and shocks, and of course any consulting payments- if you are really careful about getting the materials, it seems to me the fastest class possible for the challenge would be DM and EM.

Not that cubic effort has not been part of the challenge- but my challenge dreams have always meant to be legal part of an autocross class and competitive on a national basis.

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

In reply to loosecannon :

I'm going to build a car for the Challenge and I've spent a fair amount of time reading his stuff on other forums. Just trying to figure out the spring rates and stuff based off what I've read.

Both Cobra and Ferrari's were fast competitive cars. But nothing on one was the same as the other. 
What I'm saying is there is more than one way to be successful. Copying someone else makes you at least one step behind.

frenchyd said:

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

In reply to loosecannon :

I'm going to build a car for the Challenge and I've spent a fair amount of time reading his stuff on other forums. Just trying to figure out the spring rates and stuff based off what I've read.

Both Cobra and Ferrari's were fast competitive cars. But nothing on one was the same as the other. 
What I'm saying is there is more than one way to be successful. Copying someone else makes you at least one step behind.

I have to say, putting it like that is pretty ignorant.  If you are ahead, yea, copying someone who is slow is a bad idea.  If you are well behind, copying the fast person is the easy button to being competitive.  And if you are not well educated on what you are designing, trying to re-invent the wheel when you are not even sure it should be round isn't the path to take.  I'm an automotive engineer, have been for almost 30 years now, but I would not hesitate for a second to try to copy and understand someone else's ideas for suspensions.

Going out on your own- you may get lucky with your first design.  But the odds are better that you will not.

I get the notion that copying someone you are directly competing against will never make your finished product better than theirs, but that isn't what we are talking about. Copying a high level national competitors build for one of the fastest autocross classes is a pretty good way to get a competitive challenge autocross car. 

In reply to alfadriver :

I don't know SCCA classing well, but from the little I do know I think my car will fall in E-mod. It'll be a porky E-mod though, nowhere near the weight of Loosecannon's car.

When I started this build, I had a number of unusual ideas and some top level Mod class competitors asked why I was doing that. I said I was trying to be clever and they made it clear that some ideas are not done because they aren't good, and that I should look at what winners are doing for guidance. I listened and did some tried and true things and I deviated on other things. Now, 10 years later I've been accused by someone  of copying some ideas. I'll admit when I've copied a good idea and I told him that yes, I copied this and that from him but these other things were purely organic and just a coincidence that we landed up at the same place. 

There are limited ways of doing it right but infinite ways of doing it wrong-Loosecannon

We talked in the early days of your build of the original car. Just found and caught up a bit. You definitely have been busy and successful too I see. I may have missed it in my quick look at this forum but is there any thing left of what you started with. This beastie looks like a whole second car? Allen and I have two GTs but neither gets changed much any more, we just keep sloughing the same old dead horse as I don't think we have the endless energy for change that you have :-)

1970MGV8 said:

We talked in the early days of your build of the original car. Just found and caught up a bit. You definitely have been busy and successful too I see. I may have missed it in my quick look at this forum but is there any thing left of what you started with. This beastie looks like a whole second car? Allen and I have two GTs but neither gets changed much any more, we just keep sloughing the same old dead horse as I don't think we have the endless energy for change that you have :-)

 

I still have pictures of your car on my computer because I love it so much. I got the bodykit I have because of your car. Yes, it's come a long, long ways and my only wish is that I win Nationals and get to drive it more. I think if I win Nats, I'll put bigger brakes on it so I can do track days, too. 

Woah!  You guys know each other too?  Cool!!  Small World!!!

Cool, I don't think I have those ones still. Yes I did recognize the fenders on your build. Happy to be an inspiration.  Some day you might have to make the trek over to BC and run Knox with us. I bet your car would be fast and quite the show stopper. We seem to be having a hard time keeping up with these damn young guys that are showing up.  Having some moral support from another fast Brit car would be nice. :-)

I wouldn't say know exactly, Skinny. More that I watched in awe as Loose build and then rebuild his car over and over. Kinda like watching you build some of your stuff. Knowing what it took to do it just once, Oh to have that  youth and energy.

In reply to 1970MGV8 :

How often do they do the hillclimb? I might try it once I put in bigger brakes, but I'm concerned that the organizers wouldn't let me try it without adding a bunch of safety gear

We run once a year, our May long weekend. For a Mod car you need all the safety gear for a Mod Time Attack Car. Cage, Current seat belts, arm restraints on yours, proper seat. Personal safety gear, suit, helmet etc. I think you mostly have it covered. If you wanted I could certainly help walk you through what you would need. 

If I remember correctly, 1970MGV8 used to DO tech for Knox.

And Knox Mountain is in my town, so if you need a welder or a small machine shop for something, I'm 20 minutes away.

The car is packed away in the new trailer but I still think about it all the time. I can't wait to go racing again. We may try ProSolo at Springnationals. Here's a pic from way back in time

Here's a compilation of clips from every video I took in 2019 and it's not just Pink Panther clips 2019 Supercut

The SCCA announced some new EM rules, including a change in front splitter length from 6" to 8". As you know, I just built a new splitter for the car so it sucks that I have to either add to it or build another new one. I could just run it as is but with the new rear spoiler, my car would likely be understeery anyway so I should just bite the bullet and change the splitter. Also, I ordered an aluminum diff yoke and driveshaft for the car so that's a few less pounds of rotational weight.

Hawt!

Plug in the new front splitter length into your aero program and see if that helps offset the new rear spoiler down force.  With that said, build a new one anyway since you have new welding skills, a template and time.   Keep the old one and use it as a spare "Just in case" you can't get it dialed in or it gets damaged.

2020 will be an awesome year for you two...