challange article

congrats to everyone that attanded the challange this past year. i hav to say hats off to wreak racing for taking the over all win...you guys really pulled it off after all these years of attanding. its cool to see jonny bring back a yugo again.....

team mini-me with a new toy in a 4 door FWD mopor..thats way cool....

congrats to wheels for keep the speed king tital.... i love the best bribe award..those pistons where cool....

talk about ouch for blowing up the s-10 for best ouch award....

and thanks for the zine for bringing a new issue to everyone to read. ....sigh...have to figure out how to pay to get down there again to play with everyone...sigh.....

my favorite time/issue of the year
saturday most of us who attended this year got together with the mag and relived the event through food, beer, telling great stories and a big fire.

Yes, great issue. And thanks again for a fun event!

In reply to WilberM3:

I was there, man. I was THERE!!!!

I finally subscribed and and this is supposed to be my first issue. Can't wait to get it.

I got my copy of the latest issue a few days ago and smiled when i saw my humble old daily driver amidst all those cool cars. Congratulations again to all fellow entrants on your accomplishments and thank you again to the staff for running such a fun event.

Of course, all of the sudden I find myself looking for another cheap car and some teammates.

WilberM3 wrote: saturday most of us who attended this year got together with the mag and relived the event through food, beer, telling great stories and a big fire.

Oh, I see... must have forgotten my number or something...

I hear that the xj-r has been busy terrorizing the local bmwcca, any updates?

SilverFleet wrote: I was there, man. I was THERE!!!!

BUT you will not be there this year ... if she was a really the one the hotel does have a honeymoon suite...

If I don't see you before the big day, congrats on that one

Yay big heavy euro sedans!

tb wrote: BUT you will not be there this year ... if she was a really the one the hotel does have a honeymoon suite...

Not unless they want to share it with the Westside boys!

Had a lot of fun spectating last year, can't wait for this years event. Hopefully, the car will be ready.

I really like that weights have been added to the spotter's guide. I hope this becomes a tradition.

Good article. Editorial note...

...Jonny has attended every year, but did not bring a car every year. There have been at least 2 years without- one year he drove my car, and one year the event was Yugo-less.

Just saying...

eastsidemav wrote: I really like that weights have been added to the spotter's guide. I hope this becomes a tradition.

i agree but i'd love to see the trap speed with the ET for the drag portion as that's only half the story.

tb wrote:

SilverFleet wrote: I was there, man. I was THERE!!!!

BUT you will not be there this year ... if she was a really the one the hotel does have a honeymoon suite... If I don't see you before the big day, congrats on that one

Thanks for the congrats. The fiancee knows that a possible 1 year anniversary will be spent by me in Gainesville in 2012, and all will be back to normal. I might even bring my own car by then.

WilberM3 wrote:

eastsidemav wrote: I really like that weights have been added to the spotter's guide. I hope this becomes a tradition.

i agree but i'd love to see the trap speed with the ET for the drag portion as that's only half the story.

Agreed. It was really fun racing the AWD Fiero against some of the high HP FWD cars. The torquey AWD would just walk away from those with less traction in the 1/8th, but the batteries and 2.anchor started to fall on their face so bad that the turbo FWD cars made it look like I was on the brakes by the end of the 1/4. Made it look like my reaction times were awesome, but in reality the car was ALL launch with no follow-through. My trap speeds were usually 20 mph or so less than FWD cars with the same ET.

Bryce

Nashco wrote:

WilberM3 wrote:

eastsidemav wrote: I really like that weights have been added to the spotter's guide. I hope this becomes a tradition.

i agree but i'd love to see the trap speed with the ET for the drag portion as that's only half the story.

Agreed. It was really fun racing the AWD Fiero against some of the high HP FWD cars. The torquey AWD would just walk away from those with less traction in the 1/8th, but the batteries and 2.anchor started to fall on their face so bad that the turbo FWD cars made it look like I was on the brakes by the end of the 1/4. Made it look like my reaction times were awesome, but in reality the car was ALL launch with no follow-through. My trap speeds were usually 20 mph or so less than FWD cars with the same ET. Bryce

What was your 60 ft time, trap speed and ET?

Pat wrote: What was your 60 ft time, trap speed and ET?

This is a time slip I have handy:

60' - 1.853
1/8 - 8.848
MPH - 70.57
1/4 - 14.666
MPH - 82.48

You see what I mean?

Bryce

Nashco wrote:

Pat wrote: What was your 60 ft time, trap speed and ET?

This is a time slip I have handy: 60' - 1.853 1/8 - 8.848 MPH - 70.57 1/4 - 14.666 MPH - 82.48 You see what I mean? Bryce

Sure do! Wow. Your short time was good, but I suspect either the electric motor was becoming a drag as the batteries died or the weight of the car was killing you on the top end. Only picking up 12 mph from the 1/8 to the 1/4 = not good.

Pat wrote:

Nashco wrote:

Pat wrote: What was your 60 ft time, trap speed and ET?

This is a time slip I have handy: 60' - 1.853 1/8 - 8.848 MPH - 70.57 1/4 - 14.666 MPH - 82.48 You see what I mean? Bryce

Sure do! Wow. Your short time was good, but I suspect either the electric motor was becoming a drag as the batteries died or the weight of the car was killing you on the top end. Only picking up 12 mph from the 1/8 to the 1/4 = not good.

It's a bad combo for the 1/4. The NiMH (Prius) batteries I'm using can't take the abuse for a full 15 seconds, they run out of steam around 10 seconds in, so FWD torque drops off pretty significantly. It works out great for screwing around in town, autocross, etc. when you only need bursts of power for a few seconds at a time, it's just not enough for long pulls. If I wanted to, I could add more about 75 pounds of more Prius cells and get another 30-40 hp or so through the entire 1/4, but I don't want to...point of diminishing returns when you factor cost, effort, packaging, weight, etc. The 2.8 in back is the real hold up. It is bone stock and, with the weight of the car (around 3000 pounds), just doesn't have enough oomph to motivate the car once the batteries stop helping out. Replacing that turd with a 3400/3500 would make a huge difference (more power, less weight). If it was a track-only car, I could also shave another 200 pounds off the car as well...but it's not. If I wanted to get really silly, a HUGE turbo on a lighter 4 cylinder (Ecotec?) would be fun...the electric would pull hard off the line while the turbo spooled up, that way when the batteries give up the turbo will be at full tilt. In that manner, it would minimize weight add and increase average torque/power to better scoot down the track. It'd probably make the autocross a bear, who knows.

Interesting stuff...just not enough hours in the day to make all of my bench racing reality!

Bryce

One of the best issues ever - always look forward to the challenge car stuff. I agree, though, give me more drag race numbers, 1/8th, trap speeds, everything.

It would be interesting for the autocross to include a Slalom and skidpad so with a few easy calcs the mag could print the numbers. Would be neat to know how my $2000 crapbox compared to all the latest greatest sports cars.

MrJoshua wrote: It would be interesting for the autocross to include a Slalom and skidpad so with a few easy calcs the mag could print the numbers. Would be neat to know how my $2000 crapbox compared to all the latest greatest sports cars.

Heh, i was just thinking that, too...

Hell, i'd like to see an optional dyno.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

MrJoshua wrote: It would be interesting for the autocross to include a Slalom and skidpad so with a few easy calcs the mag could print the numbers. Would be neat to know how my $2000 crapbox compared to all the latest greatest sports cars.

Heh, i was just thinking that, too... Hell, i'd like to see an optional dyno.

neat idea - maybe a dyno sponsor would show up for free and offer each car a turn at the rollers.

tuna55 wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

MrJoshua wrote: It would be interesting for the autocross to include a Slalom and skidpad so with a few easy calcs the mag could print the numbers. Would be neat to know how my $2000 crapbox compared to all the latest greatest sports cars.

Heh, i was just thinking that, too... Hell, i'd like to see an optional dyno.

neat idea - maybe a dyno sponsor would show up for free and offer each car a turn at the rollers.

I think you guys are onto something. I've been to a few of the "Cars in Motion" tours they used to have and there were dynos there. GRM make some calls! :)

miatame wrote:

tuna55 wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

MrJoshua wrote: It would be interesting for the autocross to include a Slalom and skidpad so with a few easy calcs the mag could print the numbers. Would be neat to know how my $2000 crapbox compared to all the latest greatest sports cars.

Heh, i was just thinking that, too... Hell, i'd like to see an optional dyno.

neat idea - maybe a dyno sponsor would show up for free and offer each car a turn at the rollers.

I think you guys are onto something. I've been to a few of the "Cars in Motion" tours they used to have and there were dynos there. GRM make some calls! :)

Dynos are just anothing way to blow stuff up....with the weight and the trap speed, you can get a pretty good idea were you are HP wise if you really wanted to know.

Besides, peak hp numbers mean nothing. I've beaten plenty of cars with much higher peak hp numbers than me. Tune for a number and you leave yourself open to be beaten by someone who tuned to run. :-)

I just want to get the picture of the Wartburg that they have for the listing. I think it may be the only picture ever of a Wartburg 311 doing a massive smokey burnout from the rear wheels.