RideTech 33 Ford

[bret]

Ok...now that we've got all the known shortcomings on the car fixed, were ready to get this ready for optima.
After running a few road course event this summer I knew I needed some downforce on the rear of the car...it wanted to get light and spin the tires over the bumps at speed. Tire spin at 130 sounds very masculine...until it happens.
So we built a rear spoiler for it based on some ideas given to me by a customer who works with aero on Indycars.
We also had not ran the car on the road course with the larger 12" wide front wheels and 315mm tires...or the new clutch. Lots to test on the road course! So it's off the Putnam Park near indianapolis.
Call it superior planning and engineering...or plain good luck (like I do) but the car was so good we changed nothing...no tire pressure, no shock settings, no alignment settings...nothing. We ran a 1:20 lap time with a 147mph straightaway speed. Yes, I'm sure we could have eventually made it even faster...but we could have laso made it a lot slower...or worse. Too many stories of last minute engine changes .
We brought it home, changed the fluids and filters, wiped it off, and put it in the box for Vegas.
At this point I'm feeling pretty good about things because I'm hearing stories about other competitors with new engines, new suspension systems, new tires...all kinds of unpredictable stuff.



The results at optima have already been documented...5th in the autocross, 12th in the road course, 1st in the brake stop, and 3rd overall.
Obviously I was pleased with the results! We've had a lot of help on the car this summer. Greg Schneider at our shop was responsible for all things mechanical and worked tirelessly to make it run better every week. Paul Cox at Fox and our engineer Britt Marolf put their heads together about shock and spring tuning. Falken sold us tires and gave us a LOT of insight on how to use them. Centerforce clutches custom built a DYAD clutch for our unusual combination that works flawlessly. And Holley EFI and Mile Norris helped work through some EFI tuning. Great team, great results!

Now the 33will run the last 2 Goodguys events at Scottsdale and Delmar...then back home for the winter.
Refinements? Look for shockwave air suspension next year. It'll be even faster