Replies to post #203 on Bob's Track Friends Chat (TRAKDAWGS)

[OldAIMGuy]

Hi Bob, Thanks for the feedback on the T-5 box mods. Those guys have always been very friendly and informative when I've spoken with them.

Hope you'll take a ride with me at R.A. in the Pumpkin Racer in Sept. I'll have my Helmet to Helmet intercomm with me, so can talk you through the line and all. Think "Late Apex" and you'll probably do well. (actually, think "Very Late Apex")

Two weekends ago during lunchtime touring I rode with a novice driver. He's logged lots of time on video games and really wants to drive on the track.

We talked about entry, apex, exit and how RA is constructed. I'm glad he has years to improve!!! It wasn't scary riding with him, but I didn't realize just what "novice" means!!! He was driving with just his left hand while constantly resting his right on the shifter; in corners and on the straights! His seat was adjusted so that it would have been uncomfortable to have both hands on the wheel at the same time. He looked like he was cruising the Hamburger Stand!!

Even when I pointed out the "turn-in" cones, he missed them and turned in early, making two corners out of each one. So, for most of us R.A. has 14 corners, for him, there were 28!!!

As the hour rolled along, he did settle down, so maybe it was more "nerves" than lack of understanding. He finally was finding the apexes and making a good arc of the corner, but because he wasn't going very fast, he just couldn't get the hang of letting the car all the way out to the exits. He promised to practice that on his video games!
:-)

Nice kid. Hope he wasn't too frustrated that he won't come back. He has athletic talent, so he should do well given some practice time.

This coming weekend I'll be with my daughters at their first HPDE (High Performance Driving Experience) event sponsored by NASA. They've both had the 2 day Skip Barber school, but are both lacking in seat time. I may be instructing there or may just be there for joy driving. In any case, it will be in my Pedestrian Passat W8, not the Pumpkin. They'll each get 2 1/2 to 3 hours of seat time if everyone stays "on time." That will solidify a lot of things for them as far as what they've been taught so far.

They'll both be starting in the "novice" group where one has a full time instructor and also very restrictive passing. I may ride along with the girls and their instructor, but hope I'm not chosen as one of the instructors for them!!! Who wants to listen to "Dad" tell them anything!!! Much better if it's a stranger, they might actually listen!

To paraphrase the old Bob Newhart Show:
"This is my daughter Danica and my other daughter Danica."

I'll give you the full low-down on their experience next week.

Best regards, Tom

[OldAIMGuy]

Hi Bob, I'll be trying out some heavier rear springs on the Pumpkin in a couple of weeks. The car is pretty much neutral in higher speed corners with just a slight "push." The push is more noticable in the tighter, slower corners.

Most of the series drivers have gone to very heavy springs both front and rear. Remember this car has NO Anti-Sway bars - front or rear. So, the only way to stiffen the car's roll is to add spring rate. Most are running 600 to 700# front springs and 450 to 600# springs on the rear. By comparison, my car has the original set of springs that came with the kit, 500# fronts and 350# rears. To me, the car drives and feels very "vintage" with just the right amount of body roll. Apparently most of the series drivers are used to more modern "anti roll" feel and have made gokarts out of their cars with the heavy springs.


Closing on Turn 5 Apex, the tightest corner on the track.

I'm only adding an additional 50# of spring to the rear end. My hope is that it will help balance the car in the slower, tighter turns while not doing anything evil to the higher speed handling in the sweepers. With Coil-Overs it's easy enough to make a change if I'm not happy with the results.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Best regards, Tom