[mustangman65_79]

Originally posted by PKRWUD
Thanks guys!

Rev-
Yeah, actually it makes a big difference. With the 6.86's, in the high groove, the car would be taching out at close to 8k, which is a little higher than we like. 6.76's kept it under 7600 rpms. The other problem is that if he decided to drift down to a lower groove, like he usually does, and the track went dry slick, like I suspected it would (and did), the 6.86's would have spun too freely, and he wouldn't have been able to hook up. There really is a lot to setting up the car just right. The goal is to place the weight on just the right spot, at different times during the race. Things that need to be adjusted for a specific track condition include the height at which we block the frame, the amount of tension placed on each of the 4 torsion arms (each different), the rise and fall rates of the 4 shocks (also different for each), the distance out from the body that the right rear tire sits, the amount of stagger (difference in diameter) between the two back tires, and the air pressure in each tire. Our winning set up was basically blocking the frame at 4.5" across the back, and 2.5" on the right front, and 2.25" on the left front. We used easy up shocks across the front (6/2 & 5/3), a 5 shock on the right rear, and a 1/9 shock on the left rear. That last shock compresses with hardly any effort, but is a MF to get back out. This keeps the frame pitched just right so that the right rear doesn't overpower the turns, like you need for the lower groove. We had the right rear out 18.5" from the body, and had 11.25" of stagger. We also made a last minute adjustment on the right front torsion arm, adding a turn into it (raising up the right front about a half inch). The tire pressures were average, with the left front at 10psi, the right front at 11psi, the right rear at 8psi, and the left rear at 4psi. He was running it so hard, though, that when I checked the rear pressure as soon as he came off, both tires had gone up 2psi, and that was with bleeders in!!!

Then there's the changing track conditions. The track is made up of a dirt/clay mixture, and is watered down frequently. The outside factors that change things are the breeze coming in off the ocean (drys out the track), and the tide. The track is 150 yards from the ocean, and when the tide is high, the track stays damper. When the tide is low, the track dries out quicker.

There really is alot more to it than just the gears, but they are critical, too!

Christine-
I spoke with Jim again tonight. Check your email. BTW, EVERYBODY wanted to know when you'd be back! LOL. You made quite an impression!

1969Mach1-
You are more than welcome to join us anytime! In fact, a guy and his buddy that I know (but had never met) through F150online came down and joined us last night. They kinda wondered around the pits most of the night, but after we won, they didn't drift very far away from us. LOL. They didn't actually do anything, unlike Christine, and were never a part of the team, but they still had a great time. I invite anyone that wants to, to come on down! We have a lot of fun, and it's an experience you will never forget!

Take care,
-Chris

WOW, most of that was greek to me. Sounds like sometime I need to wonder down south and visit u. Would u rather I brought the '65 2+2 fastback, or the '89 Bronco pastered with Ford stickers?