 Scratcher (Costas' Camaro), now all in one thread.... |
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 Jul 15 2012, 02:11 PM
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#1
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Experienced Member  Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62  |
Track day sponsored by a local ford dealer. I'm in one of the few GM cars (two camaros, one corvette) that showed up.
https://vimeo.com/45772822 17 sec clip.... Full vid soon. Costas cars and such... (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/host103.jpg) EDITED: Instead of making new threads, I'll just keep adding on to this one :-) This post has been edited by Shortcutsleeping: Sep 6 2012, 01:37 AM |
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Jul 15 2012, 07:25 PM
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#2
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62 |
Full vid.
https://vimeo.com/45770575 Loved the new setup/balance...sadly the car was designed and built when the old bias ply tires were the norm. I've always ran radials and then switched to the 'jumbos' which are worth even more time (due to more grip). The lateral grip/braking forces ended up cracking an upper control arm mount. EEEK. Engineer has designed a 'bomb-proof' fix that only adds about 2lbs....should be back up and running soon. Costas cars and such... |
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Jul 17 2012, 01:13 PM
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#3
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Veteran Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 3,323 Joined: 30-March 06 From: Detroit Suburbs Member No.: 1,144 |
(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif) I love watching scratcher vids!
What's new about the set-up? It didn't seem like you had much trouble getting a 1:51, how much time is still on the table? I wish my Jerico squealed like yours does, it must be my poly engine mounts that damp out some of it. |
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Jul 18 2012, 12:28 AM
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#4
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62 |
Stan,
Thanks, glad you liked it! Driving that car is just stupidfun... The setup changes revolved around the premiss I floated in the tire temp chapter (http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch192.htm) on wdms. That is, I can get the correct camber in a corner by utilizing a lot of castor and little static camber or I can take some castor out and run a bit more static. Running high castor really gives an incredible amount of weight jacking in corners and can contribute to poor low speed (sub 50) handling characteristics (push) and that just chaps me. So this setup was a lower ride height than my typical and with a good deal less castor and then, of course, rebalancing the cross weights to 0. I'm rear heavy also, but not as much as I'd like. I will say this setup is by far the fastest on the car so far. Wahoo! As for time on the table...I'm not really sure. My guess is another two seconds maybe? A 1:49. I should be back there later in the year (cooler) with hopefully more rubber laid down (it had been raining) and we'll see. If I regeared for the track (from a 4.11 to a 4.56), I'd feel comfy with a 1:49 fairly easy....meh, we'll see. I also love the gear whine :-) Costas cars and such... |
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Sep 6 2012, 01:47 AM
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#5
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62 |
Hi,
I changed the thread title so I can just keep adding stuff here instead of making new threads. Figure this way would be easier :-) Old writeup on TX2K12 finally published: http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch193.htm (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch193pic40.jpg) ZOMG I SPUN SCRATCHER!!! https://vimeo.com/44211628 (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch193pic01.jpg) Taking my wife for some laps: https://vimeo.com/48857808 (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch193pic08.jpg) (She pulls out her iphone and takes some pics and vids...lol) At the recent ECR event I cracked an upper control arm mount and that has since been removed (both sides) and replaced with bigger/stronger parts with some mods....Story/pics coming soon as well as a chapter on the ECR event. Next event: NARRA (www.narraonline.com) at TWS in a few weeks. Costas cars and such... |
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Sep 6 2012, 02:44 AM
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#6
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North of the border Group: Admin Posts: 2,307 Joined: 4-February 04 From: Montreal, CANADA Member No.: 177 |
your dog engagement tranny... is that w/ straight teeth or helical ?
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Sep 6 2012, 03:10 AM
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#7
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62 |
It's a jerico 4 speed and it has straight cut teeth.
Costas cars and such... |
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Sep 6 2012, 03:14 AM
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#8
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62 |
Swapping out gears (while watching Star Wars....heh)
(IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch163pic08.jpg) (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch163pic09.jpg) Full writeup and moar pics here: http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch163.htm Costas cars and such... |
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Sep 6 2012, 09:35 AM
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#9
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Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 118 Joined: 30-October 11 Member No.: 120,269 |
That car is awesome to look at in detail. Just wondering, what is the reasoning with the tank-like front hubs on that car? Did all the camaro GT cars get built with those?
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Sep 6 2012, 04:27 PM
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#10
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Veteran Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 3,323 Joined: 30-March 06 From: Detroit Suburbs Member No.: 1,144 |
QUOTE (Shortcutsleeping @ Sep 5 2012, 11:14 PM)  Swapping out gears (while watching Star Wars....heh) (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch163pic08.jpg) "May the force be with you" <whack with the hammer> |
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Sep 6 2012, 04:31 PM
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#11
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Veteran Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 3,323 Joined: 30-March 06 From: Detroit Suburbs Member No.: 1,144 |
QUOTE (The Batman @ Sep 6 2012, 05:35 AM) That car is awesome to look at in detail. Just wondering, what is the reasoning with the tank-like front hubs on that car? Did all the camaro GT cars get built with those? Wide 5 hubs. I don't know much about the history with them etc, but the bearings and snouts are massive, and they move the lugs out to a very large bolt circle diameter. I'm sure Costas can tell you more. |
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Sep 6 2012, 08:00 PM
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#12
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62 |
Stan is right, they are wide-5 hubs.
http://www.colemanracing.com/Hub-Wide-5-Fr...e-55-P3626.aspx No, most GT1 and Trans-Am cars run a standard 'grand national' style hub with 5x5 bolt circle and the top guys run center-lock hubs with only 1 big central lugnut. My car was designed and built to go as fast as possible as inexpensively as possible while still being durable. It is nearly all from the coleman racing catalog which is plain jane circle-track parts. When you knock a corner off a top flight tube-car you've just spend thousands of dollars on control arms and uprights. With my car, you may spend a few hundred. I pay for cost savings in a bit of weight, but it's fine with me. The Wide-5 hub is indeed big but it is hollow aluminum and very light for what it is. The benefits include very light wheels (no center mass), HUGE bearings that last and last (they are similar to a 3/4 ton truck in size), and they are extremely durable. Big brakes can work, zero-scrub offsets can work, and even I can't crossthread a lugnut on a 1" stud (at least I've not done it yet!!). The chassis designation from the guy who made the run of frames (some he sold bare, others he made rollers and hung bodies, about 44 chassis in all however the buyer wanted them) was 'SBE' and it was for Simple But Effective. I've got a H#LL of a lot less money in my car than anyone that turns lap times even remotely close to me. Costas cars and such... |
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Sep 7 2012, 09:16 AM
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#13
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Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 118 Joined: 30-October 11 Member No.: 120,269 |
Interesting, thanks for the info and the new website to explore!
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Sep 7 2012, 03:21 PM
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#14
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62 |
And, once you are done with Coleman...
http://daymotorsports.com/ http://stockcarproducts.com/ http://aa-mfg.com/pdshop/shop/ http://smileysracing.com/ https://www.circletracksupply.com/ http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Oval-Track-Racing-Parts.html Not exactly circle-track, more formula car, but they still have good stuff: https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/?iorb=476...m_campaign=BROI Costas cars and such... |
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Sep 11 2012, 05:11 AM
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#15
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62 |
Breaking Scratcher: http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch201.htm
Note crack where rear of upper control arm mounting tab meets the rear front suspension upright. OOPS. (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch201pic14.jpg) (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch201pic15.jpg) Fixing Scratcher: http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch203.htm (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch203pic12.jpg) (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch203pic18.jpg) This picture has nothing to do with the repair, I just really like it. (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch203pic16.jpg) Put it all back together tonight and setup the front end, event next weekend. Still have some things to do, but it's getting there. Costas cars and such... |
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Sep 11 2012, 11:27 AM
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#16
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Nothing says 'I love you.' like a box of Hydroshoks Group: Moderators Posts: 5,284 Joined: 23-December 03 From: Granbury, TX Member No.: 4 |
Excellent the way you document your experience and thoughts ... excellent.
It's a great tool for you (and others) to use and learn from. Oh and Louis is such a hack ... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) |
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Sep 13 2012, 04:01 PM
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#17
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Veteran Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 3,840 Joined: 3-July 04 From: Pearland, Texas Member No.: 385 |
Another advantage to wide-5 wheels was that you could own a trailerfull of wheels with different offsests, widths and even diameters and not have to post an armed guard by the trailer 7X24X365, as opposed to regular wheels. I guess it's because you're paying for mostly just barrels. That differentiation has pretty much disappeared. It's certainly not the cheap solution it used to be.
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Sep 19 2012, 04:24 PM
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#18
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62 |
Thanks Mitch, and you are right. After so many events things get forgotten or out of order...and writing it down helps so much. We do this with most of the projects, the crapcan racing, etc.
Gene, I *kindof* agree with you. Wide 5's are still super cheap in 15s, but the 16s gain a bit, but are STILL priced a lot lower and are a helluva lot lighter than comparable wheels. My 16x13s were under 230 per wheel. Everything has gotten more expensive...it's not that wide 5s have gained in price and normal wheel price stayed stagnant. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) NARRA event at TWS this weekend and I got a mention and a picture in the press release today. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif) LINK: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/re...juLoryu-w%3D%3D "This weekend will see the long anticipated showdown between the two TT-Unlimited class points leaders, Texan Kevin Ferguson (Craftlogic Software Viper ACR) and Arizona native Jeff Bawden (Good Neighbors Support Services Viper SRT-10). Don't count out Michael Greenberg or local Paul Costas either. Costas (BikiniRacer.com Chevrolet Camaro) dominated the Texas event last year, while Greenberg (Greenberg Cheese Viper Comp Coupe) just took second in the TT-U class at Monticello." They included a pic of our family with Scratcher and the trophy too. I did put 'Witchdoctor Motorsports' as the primary sponsor....but I guess bikiniracer gets more wow factor (duh!). (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif) From last year: (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch185pic05a.jpg) Costas cars and such... |
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Sep 19 2012, 04:59 PM
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#19
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Veteran Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 3,323 Joined: 30-March 06 From: Detroit Suburbs Member No.: 1,144 |
Is that a real license plate? Where’s the registration sticker? LMAO!
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Sep 19 2012, 06:08 PM
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#20
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,038 Joined: 29-December 03 From: Texas, USA Member No.: 62 |
Stan,
It is a fake plate. My graphics lady does them and they look awesome. She 'dirties' them up and shades them to look like a real plate, but it is just vinyl on white aluminum panel. (IMG:http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/indexpic01.jpg) (photo by CornerConcepts) Costas cars and such... |
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