Formula Ford - Page 22 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #**316** 08-04-2020, 04:47 PM

So it did rain in the morning. By the time my group ran it was a dry track. I got clobbered by the other CM car but beat a lot of guys on raw time that I usually do not, including at least two National champions. Turns out I was 15th fastest on raw time out of 134 contestants...the other CM guy had fast time of the day beating the nearest competitor by nearly 2 seconds.

t walgamuth · #**317** 08-05-2020, 08:31 AM

On my last run I had a dnf meaning I went outside the gate leading to the slalom. It actually made my run slower by a few tenths. So if I had not done that the run would have been about 45.5 and I would have been in the top ten raw times.

I do this after each event, looking for positives to buoy my spirits.

t walgamuth · #**318** 08-12-2020, 10:11 PM

At the event there was one other CM car there. It is older than mine and the driver outweighs me by 75#. I did not expect he would beat me....wrong! He crushed me. His best time was a 41.6, and fast time of the day. mine was a 46.5. When I left I felt pretty low from such a massive defeat. So today I got the times for everybody.

I found I was 15th in a big field of 134 cars. I found that a good many guys who have beaten me in the past were slower than I including at least two national champions.

So now I feel better and i have some ideas for tweaking the car to make it faster.

t walgamuth · #**319** 08-12-2020, 10:12 PM

So the FTD FF guy posted a video of his fast run on utube. I noticed he was shifting numerous times where I had not. Finally it dawned on me that he is running a lower gear.

So I dug around and verified that while I am running a road race final drive of 3.1 his car is running a 3.44. While I was bogging off the start line and never hitting the rev limiter on the fast sections he was getting off the line better and needing to shift up in the fast sections.

Now I am looking for the parts necessary to make the conversion....it will be expensive but in the past I have had pretty good luck selling off the parts left over.

t walgamuth · #**320** 08-12-2020, 10:18 PM

The last few days i have been searching for a used ring and pinion to give me the lower gear ratio for the diff. I am getting ready to go to a test and tune Friday and Sunday. Today I fiddled with the alignment. A little more toe out on the left front and a tiny bit of toe out on the rear. I'm hoping it will turn better at the limit with these changes. I also added brake fluid again on the clutch. Tomorrow I will add fuel and possibly wash it.

t walgamuth · #**321** 08-16-2020, 07:10 PM

Just got back from South Bend.....Fast time of the day....59 competitors....There was a well driven Lotus seven replica which finished with two drivers second and third. I won from the next guy by .05 seconds.

His co driver was .3 seconds behind him. We got six runs. I hit cones on three of them....never the same cone

. They had the course a bit pinched in a couple places and I hit two of them on the outside of the approach to the 180 degree turn onto the skid pad. The other I clipped in the Slalom.

I slipped a disc or something yesterday and was very worried about my back acting up. I almost stayed home...I am very glad I did not. I took an Alieve and was ok though my hands trembled a bit when hooking up my belts.

It was about 83 F today. I had to get out of the car between runs to take air pressures and look at temps of tires. The front tires were significantly warmer on the inside of the tread face so I am going to pull in the toe out a bit before the next event. Oh yes, I ran with both sway bars unhooked. I think I was pushing the front a little so I will have to think what to adjust to get less of that.

Did I say Wooo Hoooo?

vwnate1 · #**322** 08-17-2020, 12:26 PM

Sounds more like ' WHEEEE !! to me

.

t walgamuth · #**323** 08-17-2020, 01:31 PM

That too.

t walgamuth · #**324** 08-21-2020, 06:34 AM

This week looking at gear ratios to infuse a bit more acceleration capability.

vwnate1 · #**325** 08-21-2020, 03:40 PM

? any possibility of smaller out side diameter tires, lighter wheels ? .

That'll be easier and have the same effect .

I do the same thing to the opposite effect = I'm usually looking for better highway speed at lower engine RPM's .

t walgamuth · #**326** 08-21-2020, 04:10 PM

That would work but we have spec tires....brand, size and compound.

vwnate1 · #**327** 08-21-2020, 04:21 PM

O.K., got it .

t walgamuth · #**328** 08-22-2020, 04:08 PM

Today I adjusted the toe in front, filled the tank with gas, and fiddled around doing measurements and so forth.

Test and tune tomorrow from 9 am until whenever I decide I have had enough. I imagine most folks will head out by one so they can go home and watch the 500.

t walgamuth · #**329** 08-23-2020, 06:15 AM

The forecast is lovely! 70 something, sunny no wind.

t walgamuth · #**330** 09-07-2020, 07:02 AM

I went to Grissom yesterday and got in 5 runs. My best was a 54.4. I got beat by at least two other cars, one was an M2 Bmw, which had a 51 something the other was an amazing Lotus Elise running loads of downforce and a 500 ho Accura K2 motor with an Indy car Turbo on it. He ran a 52 something.

It rained a little in my group. The Lotus was in the second group and got only one dry run.

The lotus was amazing! It snarled, popped and Wanged its way around the course rarely ever getting to keep it floored more than an instant. It was a lovely Orange car with a bit black air dam in front and a big wing on the back. Big black tire flares in front....impressive!