Open Gingerman Track Day April 14th, 2006

[John Monnin]

Sounds great! I'll be there with some friends if you don't mind 3000GT's and Stealths

[CAMAROBOY69]

Here is an update of the car list and the break down of the 4 groups. Looks like I am in a differnt group than the Viper but thats ok it will still be a lot of fun. I will delete the list in the other thread since this is the new one.

Group 1 - Intermediate driver #2 (Full bodied street & racecars)
05' Acura RSX Type-S
03' Nissan 350z
69' Chevy Corvette
95' Mazda Miata
92' Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo
69 Chevy Camaro
ITB VW Rabbit Racecar #1
ITB VW Rabbit Racercar #2
95 Dodge Neon Spec Racecar
75' Porsche 914

Group 2 - Intermediate driver #2 (Full bodied street & racecars)
99 Mazda Miata Racecar
85 Ford Mustang GT
06' Nissan 350z
95 Eagle Talon TSI AWD
Dodge SRT-4
Dodge Viper
Dodge SRT-4
Dodge SRT-4
03' Mitsubishi Evo VIII

Group 3 - Advanced Driver (Full bodied street & racecars)
Dodge Viper GTS
05 Chevrolet Corvette Racecar
Spec Miata
05 Chevrolet Corvette Racecar
02 Porsche Boxster S
Dodge Viper or Dodge SRT-4
95' Porsche 911
05' Mini Cooper S - SSC Racecar
05' Mini Cooper S - SSC Racecar
05 Chevrolet Corvette Racecar
05 Chevrolet Corvette Racecar
05 Chevrolet Corvette Racecar

Group 4 - Advanced Driver (formula & sportcar racecars)
Spec Racer Ford
Formula ST
Spec Racer Ford
Spec Racer Ford
Sports 2000
Spec Racer Ford
Spec Racer Ford
Formula Ford

[John Monnin]

I'll be there but it looks like my buddies won't make it, there is a event at Road America the week before that they already signed up for. I like Gingerman better because its a lot cheaper if I need a tow home;)

[CAMAROBOY69]

You should try to hit the Grattan event on May 11th. I wont be able to make since its soo close to my April event but Grattan an awesome track!!

[Jewce]

Sorry I haven't been monitoring this for a while. Just too busy. Grattan is definitely a great track. I did a day in my SRT4 there last October and have run about 10 shifterkart races there as well. We catch about 4 inches of air over the jump on the backstraight in the karts if you are on line and 6-8 if you are trying to make a pass to the inside there , all while doing about 90 mph at that point. The reason this day is at Gingerman though is there is basically nothing to hit. I'd prefer it be at Grattan myself.

Come out and have fun. If you engine runs and your wheel bearings aren't siezed, you have no excuse.

[John Monnin]

Who else is going to this event?

I already paid to give me incentive to finish my turbo swap this weekend, I don't like cutting it this close but some how that is how it always happens.

[CAMAROBOY69]

I fully plan on being there. I paid my depsoit a long time ago. I got the Hydraboost and DC controller installed and working 100%. I also drive the car yesterday.
This is all I have left before Friday the 14th.
Must Do list
1. QA1 shocks in the rear
2. Getting engine fully tuned tomorrow. Carb, rockers, timing,everything
3. Bolt in the fire extinguisher
4. Try to get new pS pump straight up and down instead of at a 45 degree angle.
5. DC Controller
6. Heater core
7. Tow Hook for front.
8. Radiator Closeout piece
9. Oil Change
Want to do list
1. Flush and replace the T56 tranny fluid.
2. Sub Frame connectors (wont have time)

[BB69]

I'm in. I have been working on the car everyday after work. (Can't say the wife is happy about the home tiling project sitting idle. Oh well.)

My list of things to do:

Install wiring harness
Install driver's side header and remainder of exhaust system
Install all of the power steering system (pulley should be at home today)
Install all front end sheetmetal (going to NPD right now to get the front end fastener kit)
Install radiator
Fill transmission
Put oil in engine
Install distributor and plug wires
Put on new steering wheel (new to me, it's actually used)
Get car aligned (all new suspension)
A few other small items.

It's going to be a long week. Throw in a overnight trip for work, and you might be seeing the SRT4. I have a group of buddies coming over this weekend to help me out. We'll see.

Ken

[CAMAROBOY69]

I still have to get another Helmet. I am going to let passengers use my old one. The old one wasnt Snell approved but I dont think they are too critical on the helmets.
My little 14 year old sister wants to go for a ride with her boyfriend so I think I can actually put the back bucket seats to use for the first time and finally use the rear shoulder seat belts.. Would be killer to have a full car on the track. That would be awesome. I think it would bottom out but mabey the QA1 shocks can help me prevent that if I jack crank them up a little.

[CAMAROBOY69]

The event is this friday!!!!
I still have some things to do but I should get them all done on thursday since I am taking thursday and friday off of work for the event.
Must do list
1. Finish running exhaust out the back side by side like a Lamborghi--DONE
2. Install Hydraboost and run all lines to Power steering set up--DONE
3. Install power steering gear box.--DONE
4. Install power steering pump onto engine including brackets and belts--DONE
5. QA1 shocks in the rear--DONE
6. DC Control--DONE
7. Fire extinguisher set up inside--DONE
8. Finish welding brackets for fuel cell--DONE
9. Driveshaft loop--DONE
10. Heater core-DONE
Want to do list
11. Sub Frame connectors-Not enough time
12. Flush and replace the T56 6 speed tranny fluid
13. Tow shackle for front
14. Move inside mirror up higher to clear camcorder
15. Aluminum closeout plate
16. Install Wilwood H compound pads on front

[John Monnin]

I just finished re-installing the interior, so I'll be there tomorrow.

I'll probably be the only 6'5" guy in a Stealth so stop and say hi.

[CAMAROBOY69]

Friday was a blast and it was nice to meet everyone in person!!! I dont even know where to begin so I will just randomly babble on.

The Hydratech hydraboost worked perfect!!! Even after each 20 minute session I never had a single problem. I had to add PS fluid because it would come out of the PS pump cap but thats not a big deal and its no ones fault. The DC controller kept the car around 190-200*. Still warmer than I like but I will keep tweaking that until its where I want it. Mabey add an oil cooler eventually. The rear QA1 shocks were very very nice. I set them to 5-6 on the track and they did real well. 5 on the highway is perfect too. They ride soo nice. I need to get some for the front for sure.

When we got there the track was wet from rain. Then it dried just in time to rain again a few hours later. It rained off and on a couple times.

My car did fantastic. I was allowed 1 passenger at a time so I brought practically everyone out with me. I took it easier than I did last year because I had passengers. Heather went for the first ride on the wet track and my mom was the 2nd person that went with me. Then her brother went a few times then heather again. It was really cool having passengers out there. Even though I was taking it a lot easier on the car it still was way more fun with passengers.

At lunch time we were allowed to load the cars up with as many people as we wanted but could only go 20-30mph. Still really cool because I brought my 2 year old nephew and all the other nephews and nieces with me. At one point I had over 7 kids in my car. And it was great to seee the back 3 point seat belts put to use. They all loved it.

There was a 65 Mustang there that really shocked me. It was the original red faded paint job like heathers used to be. Now listen to this part about that mustang. I get out onto the track and see him behind me quite a ways. I look again and hes right on me. I thought wow! So when he got close enough I let him pass. It was very quite. Not too much longer he blew his radiator and was off the track . So after the race I try to find him in the pits. I look the car over and it looks like a normal mustang with a few dents and original faded paint. Then I look inside. 5 speed manual tranny!! Then.........the engine. DAMN! Brand new Mustang engine. Not sure of the year engine but it was from a newer mustang. THen to top that off it is supercharged!!!! Heather said "Holy crap thats a sleeper from hell" lol I only saw him on the track a couple times because he was having a lot of bad luck. I got video of him passing me which I will post eventually. I also have some pics to post.

Ken had his SRT Neon out there and we had a fun battle for a few laps. I caught up to him then eventually passed. After I got stuck behind a car or 2 he caught up again and I let him pass. It was great fun and all on video too. I have a new respect for those SRT Neons. They handle better than I would have imagined.

Here is the best news of the entire event. Heather had sooo much fun and she really really wants to bring her 67 Mustang to the next event. We are going to try to bring it to the upcoming event on June 30th at Grattan. It is not fast at all and only has a 6 cylinder but she will still have fun since you dont need a fast car to have a great time out there.

When I get all the pics and videos together I will make another thread with them in it. I will also have a section on my website with everything.

Just wanted to thank Dennis Lex(DLEX) for setting this up and I look forward to future events.

[BB69]

Adam,
Thanks for "letting" me pass you. I had a great time. It would have been nice to have the Camaro ready, but it just wasn't going to happen. The SRT made a good showing of itself. It needs some braking improvements (bit of a soft pedal and rear wheel hop) and less body roll, but it was really nice to just show up, run, and go home with no drama.

I'll try to post some of the pics I have as well. My favorite car of the day I think was the Lotus Elise. It's just not something you see very often, and he seemed to be making some good time. Hopefully, the pics and video will convince some more people to come out to track days.

Ken

[John Monnin]

I promised Camaroboy69 a few pictures, I just couldn't get over how well his new interior/old camaro combination looked!








I wasn't paying attention and broke a bolt while switching to race pads, so I never even got on the track. I was my own fault for not paying attention to what I was doing.

[CAMAROBOY69]

Thanks for posting the pics John. Those turned out really good. It was nice meeting you in person and I am sorry you didnt get a chance play on the track. I appreciate the pics. I dont know how many people took pics of my car but I would love to see them. There are 80 pics on my camera. Heather said she took some pics of my car too so I will try to get all the pics posted within the next few days.
The last pic you posted didnt show up. Shows red x.

[CAMAROBOY69]

Here are 2 pages of pictures from the Gingerman event on 4-14-06. I will try to get some videos up in the near future. http://www.adfabdesign.com/Race%20Ev...204-14-06.html
A couple sneak pics.