Hello from Northern California

[nova6speed]

Hello everyone, I've been a "lurker" on this site for awhile. What a great site!! I'm finally registered and just wanted to say HI! I've autocrossed my Nova locally for about three years. I've seen a lot of Miatas, Datsuns and a few Corvettes at my local club. I've seen some great cars and met some nice folks at Pleasanton Goodguys Autocross events. Looking forward to making a few other West Coast Goodguys events and would like to compete in a Run to the Coast or Thunderhill Raceway event. Here are a few pics...

From bone stock...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2873749940102138415XxpqZc)

In progress...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2657801210102138415oZnkFZ)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2481343550102138415ksLboF)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2837096480102138415BfJkAo)

Hot Rods to Hell Truckarm Suspension...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2274118140102138415MrKmyR)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2450789920102138415zPCNMx)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2146448320102138415kRLNrh)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2623909770102138415xRdnma)

First autocross at The Duel at DeAnza in Cupertino, Ca
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2479632920102138415cOKzYg)

Local club event...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2905110980102138415ilDtKQ)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2363453430102138415WksIMV)

Drag racing at Infineon Raceway... 12.50 @ 111 mph, 1.94 60 ft
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2873645430102138415ZjCiis)

It was a fun build and I made a great friend in the process. I can't thank my buddy Joe enough...

Adrian

[Richio1]

Welcome and nice ride you got there.

[CruizinKev]

welcome aboard Adrian! the Nova looks great!! :twothumbs

[nine lives johnny]

welcome

[nova6speed]

Thanks! The build was fun, I learned a lot in the process. It was my first fuel injected motor build. I've had Novas for a long time, but they all had carburetors. I wanted to do something different. I did a lot of research and the LS1 craze wasn't like it is now when I started my build. I was on the phone a lot with Mark Campbell at Street and Performance in Mena, Ar. But, I'm having a blast driving the car. I'm going to Thunderhill Raceway this Saturday for a Hooked on Driving beginner class. Anyone ever taken the driving class??

[Flash68]

Adrian - welcome! Very cool car. Have a great time at Thunderhill.

A few of us are going in January. Here is the thread. Come join us if you can!

http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=34554

[nova6speed]

Adrian - welcome! Very cool car. Have a great time at Thunderhill.

A few of us are going in January. Here is the thread. Come join us if you can!

http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=34554

Thanks!! I will definetely try and make it, weather permitting. I'd like to check out some cars. My biggest concern is a lack of a roll bar and only having lap belts. For the handful of times I plan on road racing, I'm seriously considering at least a better driver's seat and harness. We will see how it goes this Saturday.

[Flash68]

Thanks!! I will definetely try and make it, weather permitting. I'd like to check out some cars. My biggest concern is a lack of a roll bar and only having lap belts. For the handful of times I plan on road racing, I'm seriously considering at least a better driver's seat and harness. We will see how it goes this Saturday.

Well best of luck and your ideas are good ones. Be sure to post some vids or pics if you have them after running this weekend.

[MrQuick]

Good hunting Adrian, Hope to see you on the track in the near future.

Vince in San Mateo

[nova6speed]

Had an absolute blast this past Saturday! Thunderhill Raceway is a great track. I really hope there's a Run to event there. I think everyone would be very pleased with the facilities. Everyone that has raced there can attest to the facilities. I learned a lot about my car and will need to make some changes to run safer. I will post pics when I receive them.

Let's have a Run to event at Thunderhill Raceway!

[solarguy09]

You will have to tell us all about it...

What safety tips did you learn.

I am a 51 year old Track Rookie, that is about to go Road Course Racing...

I am all in for a run in 2012.

By then ,i will be on the Road and ready for a REAL test...

[nova6speed]

As a 40 year old track rookie, I learned a lot. But I'll keep it short. I maxed out my car's "street" manners at the event. The speeds are so much greater on the big track compared to autocrossing or even pushing the limits on the street. I've autocrossed at Pleasanton Goodguys events and at a local club where we run on an old airport runway for the past 3 years. The Goodguys events are short tracks and last about 30 seconds. The club events run about 45-50 seconds long. Top speeds are not that great, 70 mph at the most at the club events and much slower at Goodguys. The Hooked on Driving class that I attended was a class act. They recommended going 7/10ths of you and your car's capabilities. Track manners are a must. I reached 120 mph on the main straightaway in 4th gear reaching 6k RPM. We ran 5 sessions all day making 5-6 laps around a 3 mile track. I mostly stayed in 3rd and 4th gears throughout the track. A huge difference compared to an autocross. I have 12 inch Wilwood disc brakes both front and rear with the Dynalite calipers and the "street" pads.

I changed my front end alignment as track ready as I could. Caster 4 deg, Camber 1.5 deg negative and toe out 1/8 inch. I maxed out my camber and still had outside tire wear issues. I constantly checked tire wear and pressure after every session. There is such a huge difference in brake pad compound/performance for street and race/autocross. I didn't experience brake fade, but came very close.

I knew coming into this event that my lap belts and stock bucket seats were going to be an issue, any they were. The lap belts and stock buckets give you NO stability when you're flying around the track. When I was a passenger for two laps and my driving instructor, had a very hard time holding on. You can't place your hand on the outside drip rail for support. We got flagged for it. My recommendations...change out the stock buckets and install a race seat (even for the one event), make sure to have at least a 3 point belt system. Autocrossing and track days are VERY different and safety should be paramount.

I have a Rock Valley fuel tank attached to a stock filler neck tube. At high speeds and any turns, the fuel was creaping up the filler neck and leaking out my gas cap. The odor of gas was nauseating. They almost didn't let me run again.

I pushed my car and loved every minute of it. My thought has always been....If it breaks, then I'll fix it. Nothing broke, but I'll need seats, belts, better front and rear end adjustments and fix the fuel issue before I go back out there. But if it was easy, then everyone would be doing it.......

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2389923720102138415aKwJKj)

[Flash68]

Hey great feedback and glad you had a blast out there. You sound like you had a reasonable plan going in and now have a good plan to get ready for the next one (Jan 23 perhaps?) :)

And you are absolutely right... the road course is so much more fun and exhilarating than an autoX.

Overall sounds like a very successful experience. Nice work.

[rustomatic]

Sweet Nova, Adrian! I tried the stock seats in my Falcon for a little bit, maybe the first 200 miles; my legs got a workout just trying to stay on the seats through turns. I got some cheap buckets from Summit, made some even cheaper brackets, and the experience was a million times better. During this process, I also added about 100 pounds of steel to the frame and whatnot, but the seats make all the difference; they even keep my wife from feeling sick in turns... Your car will feel way faster with seats that hold you in place.

[nova6speed]

Hey great feedback and glad you had a blast out there. You sound like you had a reasonable plan going in and now have a good plan to get ready for the next one (Jan 23 perhaps?) :)

And you are absolutely right... the road course is so much more fun and exhilarating than an autoX.

Overall sounds like a very successful experience. Nice work.

I read a lot of threads on this site and I really believe it prepared me for the track. I looked at what others did to prepare themselves and adjusted those experiences to suit my car's needs. Based upon what I learned, I will once again use those experiences and information from this site to prepare me for my next outing. I don't believe I will run at the January 23rd event, but a road trip might be in order :)

[nova6speed]

Sweet Nova, Adrian! I tried the stock seats in my Falcon for a little bit, maybe the first 200 miles; my legs got a workout just trying to stay on the seats through turns. I got some cheap buckets from Summit, made some even cheaper brackets, and the experience was a million times better. During this process, I also added about 100 pounds of steel to the frame and whatnot, but the seats make all the difference; they even keep my wife from feeling sick in turns... Your car will feel way faster with seats that hold you in place.

Thanks!! I like your Falcon, very similar to the Nova :) I didn't want to change the "stock" look. It was the theme I wanted. But it just makes sense to go with the racing seats.......

[Jeff70]

Nice Nova. Check out the Recaro seats at jjcustominterior.com or look in the for sale forum I know he has a thread their.

[solarguy09]

Excellent feedback..

I will have Seats and belts when I do run the road course..

I went with a new Gas tank and no fuel cell, so we will see about gas leakage.

And I will have the brakes and alignment for racing.

Won't have a roll bar yet, and I need a helmet..

I am almost ready...

If it breaks, I have long distance AAA

[nova6speed]

I just got some pics from my Thunderhill Raceway experience that I wanted to share with everyone.... I have video but still need to do some editing. I'm in the process of shortening the video...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2992745870102138415VzorHK)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2409446340102138415EVltYj)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2335508030102138415pGJGaT)

[Jeff70]

In pic #2 is the inside wheel coming off the ground?

[lt1chevelle]

You should see the wheels come up at the GG auto X events!! What local auto x club to do belong to? My brother and dad are looking Into doing some events and hopefully me too once I start back up on my car!

[sick63nova]

Cars looking good Adrian! Been doing some upgrades to mine, now just deciding what I wanna run out back. Let me know when u go out an do the auto cross I would be down to true it out an maybe get some help from u on how to set the coil-overs up an what not. Keep up the good work.

[Bryce]

Adrian,

One observation from your pictures, it looks like you could use a little more camber gain. Who's front clip is that? If they are a sponsor hopefully they will share the camber gain spec. I think you may need to go to a tall upper ball joint, if its in the budget a taller spindle might make more sence. Car looks good, its nice to see you using it.

[nova6speed]

You should see the wheels come up at the GG auto X events!! What local auto x club to do belong to? My brother and dad are looking Into doing some events and hopefully me too once I start back up on my car!

Although, it would be easier to handle with all four on the ground! I'm learning as we go and I need to make some modifications to the front end in order to keep all four down, fun though cuz it feels like a sprint car!!! The club is in Santa Rosa, Ca...we run at an old airport runway...here's the website. http://www.empiresportscar.org/


Cars looking good Adrian! Been doing some upgrades to mine, now just deciding what I wanna run out back. Let me know when u go out an do the auto cross I would be down to true it out an maybe get some help from u on how to set the coil-overs up an what not. Keep up the good work.

Sounds good! I'd help out as much as I can, it's fun and very addicting!!

[nova6speed]

Adrian,

One observation from your pictures, it looks like you could use a little more camber gain. Who's front clip is that? If they are a sponsor hopefully they will share the camber gain spec. I think you may need to go to a tall upper ball joint, if its in the budget a taller spindle might make more sence. Car looks good, its nice to see you using it.

Very good observations...I have a TCI coilover front end that I purchased back in 2005. TCI and other companies have better front ends out for Novas right now for autoX and road racing, but you just can't keep up with technology so I have to run what I got. I emailed some pics to TCI, we'll see what we can do to improve my car. My brother was a front end tech for many years. He and I adjusted the front end, but this was the most we could do with what we have...

I changed my front end alignment as track ready as I could. Caster 4 deg, Camber 1.5 deg negative and toe out 1/8 inch. I maxed out my camber and still had outside tire wear issues. I constantly checked tire wear and pressure after every session. But as you can see from the pics, the front tires would not plant evenly on the road.

Your not the first person to mention a taller spindle or longer upper ball joints, or even modifying the upper A arms in order to keep the front tires planted. I would like to participate in a Run to Event in 2012. I took notes on what was needed to improve my car this winter at the Thunderhill event. Before I run a road course again, I'm going to make some changes in order to make my car safer and handle better. TCI has been very good to me, I'm sure we'll make it better.

I'm new to the road racing world, so any feedback is greatly appreciated...thanks!