My TTD build thread
- Thread starter sm76
- Start date
I'm going to make bolt in Lexan rear windows that will stay in. The front windows will also be lexan, but will be bolted in with wingnuts for easy removal. NASA requires all cars to have their driver's and front passenger windows open, the rear window have to be either fully open or closed (nothing in between).
silver slotege
Member
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- 2002 Mazda Protege5
You could shave more weight by hacking up the inner door panels and hood and truck braces. I've seen it done before. It isnt good if this thing is ever going to be anything other than a race car, but then again, you did weld in a full cage...
Only problem I see with it is the Ohio plate.
haha, j/k. I say that only because I am going to be up there in 2 weeks on business and I am not a big fan of Ohio. I need a coastline to be happy.
Only problem I see with it is the Ohio plate.
haha, j/k. I say that only because I am going to be up there in 2 weeks on business and I am not a big fan of Ohio. I need a coastline to be happy.
I was a little worried about the weight when I was beefing up the cage, but it looks like I took out enough other stuff.
The car just feels really light now. I love it. I am out of town for two weeks, but then I'm going to hit the local drag strip to see if it really is faster or if its just in my mind from driving an Intrepid al winter.
The car just feels really light now. I love it. I am out of town for two weeks, but then I'm going to hit the local drag strip to see if it really is faster or if its just in my mind from driving an Intrepid al winter.
I haven't updated the site in a while, but I did make it to my first event of the season. I wound up third in a very tough TTD field. The top 4 cars all broke the previous TTD track record!!!!
I wish I would have had the camera in for some other sessions to get some of the spins that happened in front of me and some footage of catching very fast expensive cars, but I only got the camera in for the last one.
Here's a lap that could have been very good, but I totally blew Turn 7 (tight right hander just past halfway): http://www.breesmotorsports.com/files/2008_Putnam_1_23.wmv
In the last session on Sunday, I had my first spin ever on track. I don't know if I was just tired or just trying too hard to stay with the Corvette but somehow I locked up the rear brakes and went around. No problem though. The full lap I linked here is from two laps later.
http://www.breesmotorsports.com/files/2008_Putnam_Spin.wmv
I wish I would have had the camera in for some other sessions to get some of the spins that happened in front of me and some footage of catching very fast expensive cars, but I only got the camera in for the last one.
Here's a lap that could have been very good, but I totally blew Turn 7 (tight right hander just past halfway): http://www.breesmotorsports.com/files/2008_Putnam_1_23.wmv
In the last session on Sunday, I had my first spin ever on track. I don't know if I was just tired or just trying too hard to stay with the Corvette but somehow I locked up the rear brakes and went around. No problem though. The full lap I linked here is from two laps later.
http://www.breesmotorsports.com/files/2008_Putnam_Spin.wmv
Spins will wake you up quick, that's for sure. I wonder if maybe you were a little out of position though in the braking zone and maybe on the dirty part of the track. I would have thought that if you were at least 1/2 to 3/4 of a car width to the right, you would have been in better position for that corner. Hard to say if that would have prevented the spin though.
Another quick video. A Mustang that spun in front of me in Turn 1. Luckily he was far enough ahead that I had plenty of time to brake and go around him.
http://www.breesmotorsports.com/files/2008_Putnam_MustangSpin.wmv
http://www.breesmotorsports.com/files/2008_Putnam_MustangSpin.wmv
Yeah, for most of my laps I had the car so the line in the pavement was somewhere from the middle of the car to the left tire. So I was a little left.
I don't have a data logger, but glancing down on the straight I was somewhere just under 120 mph.
lookin good out there man. How are you liking the weight reduction? And nice job on keeping your nose clean and waiting for traffic to clear. I've seen Pro's forget that little rule and make significant messes and repair bills. Looping the car happens (though your line was a little... off lol), but no harm no foul right? 
lookin good out there man. How are you liking the weight reduction? And nice job on keeping your nose clean and waiting for traffic to clear. I've seen Pro's forget that little rule and make significant messes and repair bills. Looping the car happens (though your line was a little... off lol), but no harm no foul right?
The car felt really good despite the fact that I haven't cornerweighted it yet. This is the first weekend in a while that I feel like I didn't get everything out of the car. Not sure if its the track or the break over the winter. I think the car could have run in the 1:21s (I had a 1:22.9 best). I have Grattan in two weeks and that should tell me a lot.
Today I installed a new shifter from Empire Tuning. This shifter moves the shift knob higher from the stock Mazdaspeed location which I always thought was too low, and at the same time shortens the throw of the shifter. This is done by lengthening the lower portion of the shifter a greater percentage than the top. The quality seems good, with a bronze ball in a steel housing (sandwiched between plastic rings vertically). It also has a nice chrome look. I'll give feedback on the feel after the race at Grattan this weekend.
Well, you were right; I love the new shifter. I didn't realize just how long the throw is on the stock shifter. I was just used to it I guess. With the shorter throw there is a slight increase in shifting effort, definitely nothing objectionable, and more importantly a reduction in shift time. The precision (reduction in play) and feel are MUCH better, which allow shifts to be quickly made with confidence. After two days of driving with it at Grattan I definitely wouldn't want to go back to the stock one! (thumb)
Report of the weekend and videos coming tonight.
Recap and videos here: http://www.breesmotorsports.com/08Season.html
