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View Full Version : Video from Streets of Willow Springs



JonB69FB
09-04-2004, 08:42 PM
My best lap of the day was a 1:39.7xx. I started out in the 1:52 range so I was extremely pleased with the amount of progress I was able to make.

Chasing some sort of mustang (http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-mustang.wmv)

Ferrari Challenge Stradale (http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-stradale-1.wmv)
Formula Ztec (http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-ztec.wmv) (This car was as fast as the Stradale)
Turbo Rotary Powered BMW 2002 (http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-rotary2002.wmv) (420whp!)

First Session: Following instructor in Mk4 Supra (in car) (http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-1-full.avi)
Second Session (in car) (http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-2-full.avi)
Third Session (in car) (http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-3-full.avi)
Fourth Session (from the stands) (http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-4-full.avi)

The last video was filmed by my wife in the outrageously strong winds so no, she wasn't having a siezure, she was trying not to get blown off the bleachers. I think it's the most exciting video because you can actually see something besides my dashboard!

MrQuick
09-05-2004, 08:15 AM
Hey Jon, cool vid, thanks for sharing. Sounds like it was alot of fun. I hope to be making it to a track day soon.

JonB69FB
09-06-2004, 10:52 AM
I've reencoded all the video of my car as more user-friendly .WMV files, broken up by lap. Each file is about 10mb in size and they will stream, so you don't need to right-click/save-as.

http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-1-lap-1.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-1-lap-2.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-1-lap-3.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-1-lap-4.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-1-lap-5.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-1-lap-6.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-2-lap-1.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-2-lap-2.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-2-lap-3.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-2-lap-4.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-2-lap-5.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-3-lap-1.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-3-lap-2.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-3-lap-3.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-3-lap-4.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-3-lap-5.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-3-lap-6.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-3-lap-7.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-4-lap-1.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-4-lap-2.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-4-lap-3.wmv
http://www.firebirdofdoom.com/video/sows090304-session-4-lap-4.wmv

CAMAROBOY69
09-07-2004, 09:55 AM
NOW THIS IS PRO-TOURING!!!! That is just Bad A@#!!!! That is awesome seeing someone finally posting some vids of their car at the track! I watched most of the videos and smiled on almost every single one! :headbang: :headbang: :icon996: :icon996:
What do you use to host those vids so well? They loaded instantly. :icon996:
I sure hope everyone else can view these!

CarlC
09-07-2004, 10:19 AM
Great vids! I was very close to pulling the trigger for this event. Are you going again sometime?

I think Larry still has one of us at Buttonwillow with him riding shotgun. Might be a bit bouncy. Larry? :D

JonB69FB
09-07-2004, 10:36 AM
Thanks guys. My hosting is with Server Matrix (http://www.servermatrix.com/). 1000GB/mo of bandwidth for around $90. I've been pretty pleased with their service so far, and never come close to the monthly bandwidth limit (yet).

I'm definately going to be going back to the track, but not in September--I'm just too busy at work. Speed Ventures is going back to Streets of Willow on November 12th, which is probably the first date I could work into my schedule (which is too bad because they're also doing a 3-day event at Buttonwillow in the beginning of October that looks really cool).

CarlC
09-07-2004, 11:49 AM
November 12? Perfect. I'm crossing out that day. It should be a little cooler by then as well. I've driven the big track but not Streets. Looks like fun.

MrQuick
09-07-2004, 04:35 PM
the streets? the big track? is there a difference? I thought they where the same place.

JonB69FB
09-07-2004, 05:07 PM
Yes, there's a difference. If you go here:

http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/trackinformation/maps.asp

You can see a satellite view of the tracks. The big track is obvious, and the Streets of Willow Springs is in the lower right hand of the corner.

CarlC
09-07-2004, 10:35 PM
The big track is fast, just plain FAST :icon996:

Protour_Pinto
09-08-2004, 06:28 PM
If there is ever a gathering in the canyons here in So Cal I can bring my helmet cam rig and follow people around on my bike or strap it on the cars.

Larry Callahan
09-08-2004, 07:29 PM
Carl, I'll try to capture that video in the next few days.

What a ride!!!!!

Ralph LoGrasso
09-08-2004, 07:44 PM
Carl, Jon,

What kind of speeds did you see on the big track?

JonB69FB
09-08-2004, 07:54 PM
Carl, Jon,

What kind of speeds did you see on the big track?

I've never run on the big track at Willow, but some of the Viper guys say they're well over 140mph on the back straight.

I hit around 150mph on the front stretch at California Speedway at a track event there in June (hit the 6800rpm limiter in 3rd gear). The video came out horribly from that event though.

CarlC
09-08-2004, 10:23 PM
The speedo needle was past the last mark (120 mph), but according to the tach it was in the buck25-30 range depending on how well the turn was set up.

Craig Boone added a front air dam on his. The front end was getting floaty at 130. His new mill ought to add a few more ticks to his top end.

CarlC
09-08-2004, 10:33 PM
Carl, I'll try to capture that video in the next few days.

What a ride!!!!!

Larry,

You had better get yours done before May or we might have to send you out for another round! :sad4:

Larry Callahan
09-09-2004, 07:28 AM
Next time I'll wear a seasick patch!

JonB69FB
09-09-2004, 07:30 AM
By the way Carl I'm in the process of putting a TKO600 in the car (ordered it yesterday), and came across a page on David Pozzi's website with info about a rod-end setup that mentioned your name.

Thanks! I'm planning on doing the same except using .125 wall tubing (couldn't find .110) and machining my own clutch fork-end adjuster.

BTW, are you running a stock(ish) rag joint? We got into a semi-debate about them in the chat room a while back. I've been considering making an aluminum biscuit to replace the rubber in the joint but I'm somewhat concerned about side loading the input shaft on the steering box, especially considering I'm on my 3rd box and they aren't cheap.

I've never noticed any slop in the steering that wasn't from the box, and feel is excellent, so I'm a little reluctant to experiment at the risk of damaging a $350 steering box.

CarlC
09-09-2004, 08:05 AM
Jon,

I think you will like the TKO600. What diff gears are you using?

I have an extra piece of 0.110" wall if you want it. If you want to go the whole way I have enough componenents to build another complete setup. I live in Glendale.

Getting the column and box perfectly centered so that there is no binding using a solid coupler is going to be tough. The amount of deflection in a new coupler is almost negligible and allows some "give". Plus, it's not just the gearbox that will be effected. The lower column will also be loaded, and they are not very strong. The lower bearings are also not easy to come by. I wonder what the cummulative slop of tire deflection+ wheel bearings + ball joints + links + pitman arm + idler arm + steering box would be compared to a rag joint?

JonB69FB
09-09-2004, 08:32 AM
I went with the .82 o/d transmission and I'm using 3.55:1 rearend gears.

I don't think the .125 wall will be a problem. I'll just drill out the end before I tap it, and the weight difference should be negligable. I've already got all the parts on order too.

I'd imagine that the slop in the rest of the steering/front suspension (even if they're in excellent condition) more than makes up for the "slop" in a good rag joint. Probably one of those situations where someone sees a piece of rubber and says "oh god that can't be good" without really considering the whole picture (this is sure to get me some hate mail).

Given the way the joint is put together there's a limited amount of deflection possible without shearing the through bolts off anyway, and if that little bit of deflection saves parts I'm all for it.

I guess I'll shelve my solid biscuit plans. They were more to see if the people who were telling me that "you won't believe the difference in feel" were right or wrong than any desire for more "road feel" in the steering (imo, there's plenty), and the thought of working on the car for hours with a dial indicator and shims to make sure I don't tear up another steering box or destroy an irreplaceable column part really isn't attractive at all.

CAMAROBOY69
09-09-2004, 08:42 AM
I hit around 150mph on the front stretch at California Speedway at a track event there in June (hit the 6800rpm limiter in 3rd gear).
WOW 150 in 3rd gear! Are you sure you didnt mean 4th or 5th gear?? What ratio is 3rd gear? What is your tire height?
I was happy to hit 145 in my car but I was around 5,800 rpm in 5th gear.

JonB69FB
09-09-2004, 09:06 AM
It's an automatic so 3rd gear is 1:1. 3.55:1 gear, 26" tire, 6800rpm. Without calculating for torque converter slippage it comes out to 148.something mph.

I should probably retract my 150mph statement because if you factor in slippage it more likely came in slightly below 140mph.

Based on a 6500 RPM redline the new manual transmission gear/speeds work out like this:

1st 2.87 max speed 48mph
2nd 1.89 max speed 73mph
3rd 1.28 max speed 108mph
4th 1.00 max speed 138mph
5th 0.82 max speed 169mph

I don't think the motor will have any trouble pulling to the rev limiter in that 5th gear. Keeping the car on the ground? Well, that might be different but I can say that during my banzai run @ California Speedway it was plenty stable (no, I didn't go into turn 1 anywhere near that fast, I'm chicken).

CAMAROBOY69
09-09-2004, 09:16 AM
ok I was pretty sure the 150 was too much. Yeah it was closer to about 135. Wasnt trying to call you out or anything just didnt want to mislead newbies into false formulas. :secret:

JonB69FB
09-09-2004, 09:21 AM
:rolleyes5
ok I was pretty sure the 150 was too much. Yeah it was closer to about 135. Wasnt trying to call you out or anything just didnt want to mislead newbies into false formulas. :secret:

No problem. I always forget to factor in torque converter slippage, which fortunately will cease to be a problem pretty soon. I can at least say that I went as fast as I could without running over my crankshaft! :seizure:

To attone for misleading everyone I promise to at least try to hit an honest to goodness 150 when I get back to California Speedway in December with the manual transmission. :rolleyes5

To do so should take around 6000rpm in 5th, since my Victoracers are slightly shorter than the tires I had last time there (25.3" vs an honest 26")

CarlC
09-09-2004, 04:28 PM
Jon,

Please tell more about the California Speedway gig in December.

JonB69FB
09-09-2004, 06:23 PM
Carl,

It's another Speed Ventures gig. They run on the "roval", which is about 2/3 of the 2mile NASCAR oval with a (fairly tight) road course in the infield. Think Daytona 24 hour course.

The date is December 17th, and it's the day before the JGTC (Japanese Touring Car) race, so a lot of REALLY cool cars will be in the pits and possibly on the track!

http://www.speedventures.net/12-17-2004_event.asp has more information.

The California speedway events are expensive, but you have basically the full run of the garage/pit area, which is really really cool. The facilities are just flat out awesome. The track is FAST--the faster cars are over 160mph through the banking.