Hotchkis Track Testing Jan 2015

[Hotchkis]

We take the products we build very seriously and we back up the improvements our products offer with continual testing on the street and track. Generally our base data includes Slalom, Skid Pad and Road Course times. We were testing a multitude of vehicles last week, and quite a few were Fords. We had our 65 Mustang out there with our new upper control arms and Strut rods as well as our currently available hardware; shocks, springs and sway bars. I'm happy to say that despite the 215 front tire and 235 rear tire (Falken 615K's) the little Mustang in full street trim, posted the best numbers against all the other cars out there which included the new 2015 Mustang 5.0 and BMW 228i. The Fiesta and Focus ST's were an absolute blast to drive and did very well. And I'm sure some of you were wondering, our 65 mustang pulled a .94 sustained on the skidpad, while the 2015 Mustang could only muster a .82!


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/65MustangSlalom_zpsf6f377be-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bajadak/media/Jan%202015%20Hotchkis%20Track%20Day/65MustangSlalom_zpsf6f377be.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/2series3_zpsd3ab3031-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bajadak/media/Jan%202015%20Hotchkis%20Track%20Day/2series3_zpsd3ab3031.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/Focus3_zps796d073d-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bajadak/media/Jan%202015%20Hotchkis%20Track%20Day/Focus3_zps796d073d.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/wedomath_zps38595861-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bajadak/media/Jan%202015%20Hotchkis%20Track%20Day/wedomath_zps38595861.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/FocusSTslalom_zpsa1d940e1-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bajadak/media/Jan%202015%20Hotchkis%20Track%20Day/FocusSTslalom_zpsa1d940e1.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/FiestaSkidpad_zpsbe8e4c8e-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bajadak/media/Jan%202015%20Hotchkis%20Track%20Day/FiestaSkidpad_zpsbe8e4c8e.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/2015Mustangskidpad_zps6aca8b30-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bajadak/media/Jan%202015%20Hotchkis%20Track%20Day/2015Mustangskidpad_zps6aca8b30.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/2seriesandMustang_zpsf74114b3-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bajadak/media/Jan%202015%20Hotchkis%20Track%20Day/2seriesandMustang_zpsf74114b3.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/02/toolofthetrade_zps853b9ee6-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Bajadak/media/Jan%202015%20Hotchkis%20Track%20Day/toolofthetrade_zps853b9ee6.jpg.html)


All in all it was a great day and we had a blast doing one of the most enjoyable aspects of our job.

[David Pozzi]

Thanks for the report! Probably a great test day since this year winter hasn't really happened yet.

[Hotchkis]

It was pretty chilly. Surface temps never went over 67*, I don't think ambient ever went over 60*. Didn't stop some of the tires from getting over 200* on the skidpad!

[Rod]

go little Mustang!!

[iadr]

Understand this is not taking anything away from your demo of the product effectiveness if so, but I wonder if you have any numbers to confirm my bias that the Mustang was likely the lightest car there by - what, several hundred pounds?
Dare I say, it's cool to see a car on "little" tires. A new trend? More restomod like I saw growing up in the 80's & 90's. :)

The Fiesta has been the source of controversy in autocross, as it tends to 2-wheel (precursor to rolling) on tight turns. The politics are intense, but so far the base models are banned from running, and the ST is not, even though the ST has the most issues. No issues noted?

[Hotchkis]

You are correct about the weights. The 65 weights in at a whopping 3050, and is a complete car, insulation, tunes heater, etc. It's a great platform and we'll be retesting it with 235 fronts and 245 rears in a few weeks.

The ST's were both tested on factory equipped rubber and we didn't note any adverse handling and very little inside rear tire lift. That said, things can change fast with last years' 140 legal tires in SCCA Street classing and this years' rebranded 200tw Street Tires.