Since the car has not sold, I have decided to switch gears with the car and convert it to a Time Trial car. I've been absent from the track for almost 10 years, so at least through the middle of next year it will be a bit of getting myself back into that mindset. I have had a good run in Solo the past years with lots of national wins, but I am starting to get bored. Still plan to run some events, including Nationals, in a co-drive capacity this time around. I really have no interest in building another car for SCCA Solo. The rules and classing are always in a flux. I am no fan of spec racing, so I plan to run the nearly open rule set of TT/ST3. Coincidentally Chris Mayfield won BSP in Solo this year and is the current TT3 National Champion (at least in a unified sense).

Some of the build will depend on which existing sponsors decide to stay on board and those that come along as the build progresses. To say I have OCD towards just about anything racing would be a hell of an understatement, but I do plan to keep this somewhat under control. Luckily, or unluckily, I have already spent a single family home worth of money in on the car, so I have some of the expensive bits that can be carried over.

I plan to run the car at Summit Point in a few weeks in slightly modified from solo form to see how it does, but I suspect it will be a handful with combination of cold weather, no hoosiers and stiff set-up. The car, even on its softest current set-up, is really meant for 315 hooisers, warmer weather, and speeds not going over 70mph.

Consider this a place holder, but some overview of what I hope to have done over the next 6-8 months:

Motor:
Whatever it takes to run consistently at 325whp. FWIW, the car already runs at 309whp on a stock DE, but on ethanol. I would prefer, even though the E85 runs cooler, to run the car on pump gas for availability reasons.

Suspension:
Shocks will stay the same (Penske's)
Springs will be whatever it takes to keep the car from bottoming out with the aero more or less
I plan to make all the rear suspension pieces myself and probably convert to a true rear coil-over. Running adjustable swedged tubing and sphericals was not legal in my class for Solo. The front will likely stay roughly as is, with the exception of upper control arms, which will be replaced.

Drivetrain:
Plan to stick with the OS Clutch and Cusco diff.
As it stands, I do plan to switch the car over to a sequential transmission, but that will be a stretch on the budget. The transmission is currently in a friends car and a price has been agreed upon in principle.

Wheels/Tires:
Not sure on tires, will likely depend on contingency, but I will limit the car to 275's for the power to weight break it offers.
Wheels....probably 17's, but before I get 1908301923812 PM's...the CCW's I have in 18's ARE NOT for sale at this time. There is about 300 people on the list to buy them..

Brakes:
At least for now, will retain Stoptech 332 fronts and Brembo's in back. Pads to be determined.

Cooling:
TBD based upon need and further running the car.

Aero:
I plan to be very aggressive with the aero, but that gets uber spendy to do it right. At least for 2015, it will be relatively basic, but hopefully effective.

Further Goals: I do hope to be able to run the One Lap of America, but that is unlikely, at least for this car in 2015. For one thing, the car has not had tags for years and I don't know what hurdles the People's Republic of Maryland will make me jump to get it registered again.

End Goal in TT3 trim:
1:57-1:58 at VIR
1:16's at Summit Point

 

Good luck sir!

 

Glad to see you keeping the car! Keep us posted on your progress!

 

This is awesome Mike! Can't wait to follow your progress, both figuratively and literally, as I try and build a competitive STU/Time Trial car myself. Let's do lunch (at a track somewhere)!

 

Couldn't be happier...

 

Very interested to see where this will go as Mayfield is in my region and no one can touch him at any of our tracks or anywhere else he has been. Should be interesting to see how nationals go next week and see if he can defend his title.

You have the hard part done getting the suspension and power done to get to the limit of the class now all that is left is the big aero to make sure you get the most out of the tires.

 

Subscribed!

I will definitely be keeping an eye on this, as I am looking to do the same thing. Although I plan to continue with AutoXing SSM and work into HPD.

Good luck sir!

 

Awesome
TT3 seems to be attracting a pretty good number of cars in Mid-A region.

 

Good to see this.

 

I'm sure it will be a beast

 

 

Good thing we went over the car today...

Driveshaft lost a bolt and the others had worked loose:


Whiteline compression rod bushing completely failed in 75 miles of hoosier tire abuse. It was fine 2 events prior...must have happened last weekend (both sides the same):

 

Side note:

Went ahead and changed all the fluids, put in pads (ST43 front/ST42's in back), raised the car about ~.5" and put in some energy suspension front compression rod bushings (all that was available in the shop). The car is probably way out of balance (didn't bother with the scales), but whatever. Just have to get the sliders and pass seat in, get the car aligned and she'll be ready for a shake down run at Summit next weekend.

 

Cool, awesome you kept the car, probably better in your hands anyway.

Where are you going to start with spring rates?

 

I put a pretty soft set-up on the car for Summit this week since the car will only be on NT01's. 1000/850.

 

Glad to hear you're moving to TT3! I remember you mentioning this on FB. We will probably cross paths sometime next season then. Are you going to try to run Nats at VIR? I should be running a lot more events next season compared to this year. You ever consider making it to Mid Ohio? It's probably a 6 hour trip for you I'd guess. Our region (Great Lakes) already released next years schedule and they have Mid Ohio on there three times. They also have the new Corvette Museum track on there for July. Really excited for that one.

I just took the plunge and started my TT3 build, too. PPE long tubes were first big purchase.

 

Depend on whether I do Solo Nationals or not....not sure.

 

Did a shakedown/re-acclimation run at Summit Point this weekend. ~3200lbs and 300whp on nearly corded NT01's. Since I had not run in 10 years, I was in DE2, which meant only a few open laps over the course of the whole weekend. Still...was able to knock off a 1:24.8. Only other car within ~3-4s was a Viper Cup car. We were gridded in the front for the last session and had a nice scrap (NOT ON THE STRAIGHTS....JESUS H THAT THING PULLS) for a couple of laps, then ABS freaked out and lit the dash up like a Christmas tree. Didn't take any video (sorry chaps), but the data says there was an optimal of 1:23.8 given my best sectors. Fun to get back in the saddle, though.

Poor, dead 275 NT01's ...

 

look forward to reading more.

 

Square wheel and tire combo? ABS does not like it on some cars.