2015 Spec Racer FORD Gen3

Check out the latest version of the Spec Racer! LBoth ligher weight and more powerful!!! Available soon, racing in 2015!
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Former Specracer National Champion
Former Specracer National Champion
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:42 pm
Location: Denver, Co.
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247-1
PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:53 pm
It was a pretty long road to the first test with production like conversion parts. I was really pleased how it turned out, the car sounds better, balance is a little better. We ran a liitle more than 1 second under the record, on a really cold windy day.
On most tracks Gen 3 will likely be 4 to 6 mph faster on medium length straights. That is about .15 / .3 time savings per straight. Not overwhelming but a nice boost in performance.

My car weighed 1378 with full tank of fuel, Weld wheels, half worn tires, late model frame with the steel panel under the fuel cell, fiberglass seat, steel foot pan, newish nose, center and 40 lb. tail, CDS dash / 24 channel system, Heavy U1 Battery and the "in tank fuel pump". I removed 6 plates or 30 lb. of ballast. My car dropped 144 LBS. But no good deed goes unpunished, the car was 13 or 14 LBS heavy left side, bummer we can work on that. The engine itself is about 55 LBS less weight.
Some of the production parts will weigh a little more I'm sure. Plus I have a couple more weight saving parts that are not pure performance related, but intended for easier service / set up work. They should be on my car @ COTA.
It's very likely my car will be down 155 LBS. That in itself will be a nice performance increase and surely help with our upright / wheel bearing reliability issues.
That brings us to the new Minimum Weight issue...Erik and I have talked, it's been talked about a bunch on our monthly CSR calls. Which by the way is how we make most of the decisions, so if you have issues or concerns tell your CSR or e-mail me in a professional manor please. I believe we should target 230 lb. to meet minimum class weight with a fresh car.
Much heavier than that and I believe we pose a serious safety issue with drivers of 150 lb. and less. I know we don't have a lot of small build men or women in the class but 130 / 150 lb. drivers would have to carry 80 / 100 lbs of ballast. I really don't want to test the Safety margin. We talked briefly of ways to carrying ballast in that range safer.
As the pre production kits are installed, we can look at the weight savings of the test cars and make a better judgement on the new minimum weight.

One more thing I'm doing best on...ease of engine R&R. Yesterday I pulled the engine for the first time from a full running install. It took about 50 min at steady not hurried pace. I believe overall it's a little less complicated. You still need to turn the engine at an angle to get it out of the frame. But it's lighter and a little easier to manage. I'm thinking of adding a block drain to help control the mess of draining the cooling system. Something like a -6 male fitting and AN cap? Simple and effective, would that be worth a phew bucks to you guys?

I hope to get another test or 2 in before COTA...more to come !
Mike Davies
SCCA Enterprises
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098
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:59 pm
230 lb driver - yes.
Block coolant drain - hellz to the yeah.

Great stuff, Mikey.
____________
Bay 12, please.

Ready to Write a Book
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Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:57 pm
PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:15 pm
I cannot wait!!! 230lb driver....perfect!!!!! Wish this car was coming sooner!!!! Great job Mike D and crew!!!! How many converts from other classes do you think this will generate??? I say a lot!!!! Very exciting!!!!!

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PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:06 pm
So to be clear, will the car have to gain any weight? or is it still to be decided?
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Location: Off the apex...
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#204
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:53 pm
Erik Skirmants wrote:The Gen3 kit requires NO WELDING to install, it just bolts in.

Very nice! Thank you. :D

As far as weight is concerned I am not sure which button to select in the poll. My preference would be to accommodate a complete spec racer, factoring in all add ons/safety equiptment (such as steel plate under feet and fuel cell) plus a 230 driver.
Jerry Aplass SRF #204
San Francisco Region
"Straights are for fast cars. Turns are for fast drivers." - Colin McRae
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:02 am
Mike D wrote: I know we don't have a lot of small build men or women in the class but 130 / 150 lb. drivers would have to carry 80 / 100 lbs of ballast.

Hand up...

I like ice cream also but, there is none left when I get there.
Please share. :D
Dave Gills
#80 Red/Silver (chassis 504)
Pittsburgh, Pa.
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:31 pm
I have been working on a new section of the site, but Enterprises has been distracting me with momentous announcements. :)

Some interesting pictures and fun video clips have shown up in my Inbox, so I made a page to share them (and any other information that happens to show up)...

http://www.specracer.com/SRFInfo/Gen3/

I haven't finished with the pages, but need to get to the shop to start weighing things. :) So keep checking back for updates!

Dave
Dave Harriman
"It looks crazy, I understand. But, we only live once and I am going to give it a good try." - Alex Zanardi
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:50 pm
Nice lil burnout. Love the exhaust noise, can't wait to hear 30 or 40 so Gen3's drop the hammer when the green flag drops :D
Jerry Aplass SRF #204
San Francisco Region
"Straights are for fast cars. Turns are for fast drivers." - Colin McRae
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:58 pm
Jerry A. wrote:Nice lil burnout. Love the exhaust noise, can't wait to hear 30 or 40 so Gen3's drop the hammer when the green flag drops :D

Cut it out, I need to get some work done.
Dave Harriman
"It looks crazy, I understand. But, we only live once and I am going to give it a good try." - Alex Zanardi
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298
PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:45 pm
Jerry A. wrote:Nice lil burnout. Love the exhaust noise, can't wait to hear 30 or 40 so Gen3's drop the hammer when the green flag drops :D


Based on that alone, we should consider standing starts!
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