Unofficial GRM Forza Camaro Mustang Challenge

Hi gang.

It looks like weekends are just bad for me. This is what I get for having a wife and two kids. Anyway, I do not want to take drivers away from the IT7 and B-Spec series, but I would like to see if folks are interested in racing on a weeknight.

Here is what I propose: GRM CMC Series. Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday nights at 8 Pacific. I know that is late for the east coasters, but I am a westie, so deal. Racers will choose one of three eligible cars:

1990 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z

1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

1987 Pontiac Trans Am GTA

Modifications will be intended to level the playing field and make things interesting.

Full weight redux, roll cage, race suspension, race roll bars, race brakes, sport clutch, race diff, sport driveshaft, race trans. Race tires, max width of 245mm and 17in. diameter. Wheels are open. Stock aero.

Max PI is (right now) 535, Class A. There will be an adjustment for each car, but I am still in the testing process. As it looks, on Road Atlanta, the Mustang is almost 2 seconds faster than the TA, so that needs work.

Cars must have a race livery, have the GRM and NASA decals on both sides, have CMC on both sides and the rear, and show their assigned number on both front, rear, and sides.

Anyone interested?

Name Car No. Car Type

GeekSpeed (Edge of Nerd) - 89 - TBD

DustoffDave - 3 - TBD

Anti-Stance - 179 - TBD

phaze1todd - 29 - Camaro

RoadRaceDart - 44 - Trans Am

KrankyK00t - 99 - TBD

thestig99 - 717 - TBD

I always thought this would be a good race series. Like a "American Iron" style series

YES!!! Finally a Left Coast Series and not Friday or Saturday! I'm in if it's on Mondays (maybe Sundays, definitely not Tuesdays -- Wednesdays would be great too). I'll take #3 as my number, please.

I made some rules changes. I decided to go full race on some items. The thing that I don't get is why the IROC comes with a 4-speed auto when they could be had with a 5-speed manual.

Anyone want to help with testing. I usually use Road Atlanta, and right now, the Mustang, even though it is more difficult to drive, is about 2 seconds faster than the TA.

I might be able to help out with some testing tonight, after I mow the lawn.

Cool. Let me know. Some more info on the builds

The only engine mods were race exhaust and race intake for the Camaro.

For the Mustang, include street flywheel.

For the TA, I believe I did race intake, exhaust, street cams, and street heads. I will check again tonight and confirm.

The GTA and Iroc are the 350ci versions, which only came with autos. The 305 was the 5 spd.

I will sign up. #179 please.

In reply to racerfink:

Ahhhh, ok. I was not aware of that. I knew that was the case with the GTA, but not the IROC. Thanks.

I did some testing tonight. The Trans Am is consistently running 1 and a half seconds slower than the other 2. Maybe we just ditch T/A and stick to camaro and mustang. Maybe it just needs some tuning in the suspension. I just bolted the parts on and went.

I tried this exact same series a while back and got frustrated trying to balance the cars. I think the weight differences are the biggest issue. Maybe no race weight reduction for the mustang?

In reply to LainfordExpress:

I am kind of leaning that way. It is odd how much faster the Mustang is than the other two.

Ok, so I think I am much closer to balancing the cars. Here are the car-specific items that differ from what is in the first post:

Mustang - Sport weight redux

TA - Street cams, Sport valves

Camaro - Nada

Thus, the PI come out as follows:

Mustang - 515

TA - 535

Camaro - 535

Not that I'll likely get a chance to run, I ran a 1:41 at Road Atlanta (and I'm slow) in the TA.

Per the above specs and the following engine mods. Race air, race exhaust, street cam, sport valves, street oil and cooling. A535.

Trans Am GTA #44 please.

Since you guys didn't post lap times....am I even in the ball park? :)

I haven't even tried a lap yet. lol

I was running 1:11s on the short course at Road Atlanta during my short testing laps last night. I'll be running the Mustang.

Okay, I was on the long course.....

Hmm....just ran a 1:08:190 clean on the short course.....

Hey, Dart..I threw a Camaro together. Only change from stock settings was a little more camber up front. 1:40:9something clean, 1:39:6 dirty (hooked a curb in that $%^#$%^#$%^ chicane). I could probably do better, but SWMBO & son have returned, and I need to get off XBL (her night off, movie time!).

Oh, Road Atl. long, BTW. Hope the data helps!

EDIT: Okay..they want to watch something on her laptop. Back on.

Thanks for the input guys. The PI is not set in stone yet, as I want to do a little more testing as well. I was testing all three last night at Sonoma on the NASCAR course. I was getting around 1:30 for each car. I will do some testing on a different course and confirm.

In reply to Geekspeed:

Got down to a high 37 at Rd Atl after breathing on the tune a bit (90 Camaro, 534 PI). More camber/less bar up front to get it to turn, and less bar/bump (high rebound seems to be OK, I haven't touched it) in the back to keep the tail planted. I've tuned the gearbox to act like a 5-speed. I also could probably stand to up the decel in the diff. Braking without assists is a little funky with all that camber I put on the front.

As always, I'm a lazy bum. Cockpit view, no assists, manual w/o clutch. Fun car, though. I won't register yet (home life stuff), but I like what I see so far! I'll be dropping in & out, I can change my car number on nights when someone else has it.

Oh yah...hoping this helps. And as always, pop me PMs if it's not correct. GRM nym vs. Gamertags (copy/paste from B-spec, IIRC):

Anti-stance is OPCCpl.Hate.
afonseca is ParagonPlayer.
redline is Switchblade762.
Rxbalt is Lukenukemu.
mutant is mutantracing1
Geekspeed is Edge of Nerd

Griffin729 is Griffin729
TheBootsy is TheBootsy.
friedgreencorrado is friedgrncorrado.
racerfink is racerfink.
poopshovel is POOPSHOVEL999.
DustoffDave is DustoffDave
LainfordExpress is LainfordExpress
RoadRaceDart is RoadRaceDart
DelayedPenalty is DelayedPenalty

I makes counterproposal:

Let's set this at Tuesdays, 8:00PM Pacific (11:00PM Eastern?). The, mutant and I are play testing another NASA themed series: Honda Challenge H3. The can be the same night, but 8:00PM Eastern. This way, the normal can do their time zone friendly race, the hardcore can do both, one after the other, we have nice time and socially acceptable day of the week (as a 20-something single male, there are lady parts that need my attention on Fridays and Saturdays), and it can be a good old NASA extravaganza, without the faked moon landings.

Thoughts? Honda Challenge will be similarly spec, mandated tunes of different cars. Better to run the same course? Or different so no advantage (or disadvantage) from running both?

This would be cool to run it the same night and same track. It will be like the H3 Challenge will be the support race.

8 PT will be too late for me, but the Honda Challenge sounds fun! Will join based on family commitments.