Tom, this'll get you ready for springtime. Different class, sure, but oozes that vintage open-wheel spirit:

http://bcove.me/td83gxi5

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

No windscreen!

Windscreens are for sissies!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

and lotus #83 which shows at the concours in cincinnati

Attached Thumbnails

 

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1989 300ce smoke silver / brazil, in a constant state of flux ~~~

Cool video! I read the story in Road and Track and enjoyed it very much!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have been spending some time evaluating my new FF and have come to some conclusions and a list of about 30 things to do to it before next season.

From the PO's setup sheets I find that the car is about 41/59 weight distribution and weight with me in it will be about 1135 on a minimum legal weight of 1100. Most folks shoot for about 1120 with driver to avoid getting caught too low if scales vary, so I need to lose about 15# from the car or from my "muscular" torso.

Tonight I went out and removed two bars which come across the shoulders and prevent another car from coming in on your head (somewhat), not needed in autocross and the rear view mirrors, bars about 4.5# and mirrors are so light they would not register consistantly on my bathroom scales so I estimate that both might make .5# so I have gotten off 5# with about fifteen minutes effort.

I estimate that the fiberglass body weighs from 50 to 60# total. There is a beautiful scoop which comes out the side on the right which is supposed to give a ram air effect on the motor but at autocross speeds it will be more like dead weight (though lovely in appearance). I think it will have to go. that will be a pound or so.

Removing the shoulder bars made getting in easier.

Now I will digress on my body type. Folks here may remember me describing my body type as being similar to a:
a. mountain gorilla
b. neandrethal.

I stand about 5-8 and weigh a smidge over 200# nekkid. My legs are a little shorter than average and my arms spread out are about 6'- 3 which is about 7" more than average (arm width averages same as height). My hips are a little wider than average and my ribcage and shoulders are also. Once when getting my chest exrayed the lady had to shoot me twice saying I was too wide for one image. (heh!)
I wear a 44 short jacket and a 38/29 pants.

So I wiggled down into the FF and worked all the pedals and such. I will have to spread the seat a little to get my butt all the way down, but the real problem is steering. My shoulders and upper arms are so tight in the car that I can only move the wheel about 1/8 turn each way off dead center. (heh!)

Now the car has a whopping 3/4 turn lock to lock but I won't be able to reposition my hands on the autocross course I don't think so I believe I will need to do some modifying to get more turning. If I shorten the steering shaft to get the wheel away from me a bit more I think that will help. I believe I can also spread the frame of the car an inch or so without sacrificing any structural integrity or significantly increasing frontal area. I am not sure how to do that, but I may be able to just take a hydraulic jack and spread it. Heat may be required though to do it. Of course the goal is to make it wider and still keep the car straight. (not bananna like)

So now I have a few more things to put on the list to do.

Just an update!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Why don't you find an open wheel class where you can run that car on a road track? It seems a little overkill for autocross.

There is ample opportunity to run it on track. I like autocross because it is much less money to run in and zero danger physically. The competition is enough of a rush for me.

FF is probably the most popular racing class in the world.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tom, wouldn't it be easier (and less heretical) to just get your shoulders narrowed? No need to desecrate such a fine machine.

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

Sweet! Tom just get a saw and remove a bit off your shoulders, no need to modify the car!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

You guys are a lot of help!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Today myself and Jimmy my codriver installed the new autocross gears and spread the seat about a half inch. We also started the job of putting on new brake pads. Our first event is sunday so we are hoping to get it ready to run on saturday.

A friend has a lovely subdivision which has nice paved streets but no houses yet. He said we could run it around out there to shake it down. We are getting pretty excited!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tom, what is the budget for this car? Do you plan to sell it after it's completion?

Why you interested in sponsoring it?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Specialty car projects intrigue me. Just wondering if there was an upside to the expense? There is sometimes an end goal in mind - sometimes not.

About the subdivision; curbs can cause a car to flip into a rollover situation, fire danger may ensue killing a trapped driver. A stuck throttle can quickly cause a situation as above, and of course there are fire plugs and light poles. Automotive racing is never guaranteed as zero risk. Hold 'er down out there, have a fire extinguisher and help close by.

Upside to amature racing expense?

From the wit & wisdom of Peter Egan:

“Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vauge longing for something salty