Back from the $2k5 challenge
turbo time - 5/4/05 at 11:43 PM
Well, got back from the GRM challenge, just thought I'd mention how it went.
I had a blast, much better than last year, I wasn't under the hood the entire time, so I got a chance to look at just about every car there this
time, and there was some very impressive stuff! If you want, pop on over to their website to see the results ( www.grassrootsmotorsports.com ).
There were actually THREE locosts there, all built for under $2005 this year (including mine)!! Much better than the ZERO in all the previous years.
The winning car was a stunningly beautiful all-aluminum bodied one, with an old BMW donor car. I ended up second. and the 3rd placed car (which was a
miata donored car) wasn't done, and was probably still a week away from running, but they showed with it anyways, which was nice.
Anyhow, my car wasn't really done either. The bodywork was a good week away from being done, but it did run and drive.
The problems I had were that the quote I got from cablecraft (thanks for the info kurt) put custom made shifter cables out of the budgets reach,
(although I intend to have them done up now that I have already run in the challenge). So I wound up making some extensions, and they worked
marginally well, but the sleeves were larger than ideal, which led to much slopiness. Anyhow, on the test drive before leaving for the challenge, the
sleeve of one was melted away on the turbo manifold. So, I just grabbed the shift levers (on the trans) and put it in 2nd gear before the auto-x. For
the drag race portion, I stuck it in 3rd before the run, and had to really slip the clutch. The other issue I had was boosting problems on tip-in.
this meant that it felt the need to spit and hesitiate for a good 3-4 seconds before building boost, so it just crawled around several parts of the
auto-x course (was dead last of the cars that completed a run), and was hesitating down the drag run (14.3). All in all I was pretty satisfied that it
got through everything, and really didn't break anything. A good fun weekend with some expected teething problems.
I look forward to tinkering some more. I figure if the car will run a 14.3 in one gear with ignition issues, I ought to be excited.
Just gotta finish up riveting on that plastic bodywork and work on all the details to get the car sorted.
Anyhow, here's a couple pics. Check out the GRM board, tons of people have albums already up w/ hundreds of pics, here is one album that's
already up:
http://evilallianceracing.com/ipw-web/gallery/album184
Oh, and don't mind the bodywork too much, I know it looks awful, it's just a matter or cost, durability and lightweight. I've got some
time now so I can work the details and make it decent looking, but it'll never be pretty. 
[Edited on 9/4/05 by turbo time]
andkilde - 6/4/05 at 01:44 PM
That's fantastic TT -- I kind of like the bodywork, sort of a Lancia 037 meets Mad Max theme
If I ever get my project roster squared away I'm hoping to build a single seater somewhat similar to the 750MC racers featured in Staniforths
race and rally sourcebook -- a small fiberglass nose cone and a minimalist flat sheet body behind -- look a bit like scaled down Can-Am cars.
The competition looks like it was a blast.
Cheers, Ted
kb58 - 6/4/05 at 03:17 PM
Remind us (me) what your drivetrain is.
kreb - 6/4/05 at 05:29 PM
I dunno. Kinda put off by the excesive overhang past the wheels
Seriously, It's pretty scarry that you could manage that sort of 1/4 mile time on one gear. Glad you made it!
andkilde - 6/4/05 at 07:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by kb58
Remind us (me) what your drivetrain is.
He's running a turbocharged 4g63 Mitsu.
sgraber - 7/4/05 at 02:36 AM
I'm really glad to know that you made it there. Although I am sad that you had technical difficulties. Still, it sounds like the event was an
absolute blast and I am VERY envious that you got to go! 
If only it weren't in Florida - across the country... Maybe they will hold 2 events
sometime. East Coast and West Coast. My car is well under the $2005 limit (without the bodywork).
Steve Graber
turbo time - 15/4/05 at 05:14 PM
Hey Everyone, I finally got a website up:
http://www.freewebs.com/locost
quote:
If I ever get my project roster squared away I'm hoping to build a single seater somewhat similar to the 750MC racers featured in Staniforths
race and rally sourcebook -- a small fiberglass nose cone and a minimalist flat sheet body behind -- look a bit like scaled down Can-Am cars.
Hey, I really like this concept, it's the direction I would've liked to have gone in was it not for the car needing to at least resemble a
traditional "locost". After I read this, I was looking for info on the 750 MC cars, but didn't have any luck with google. Do you have
any info? I am still considering putting a closed-wheel sports car type body on the car, but amlooking for something simple like you speak of.
quote:
I dunno. Kinda put off by the excesive overhang past the wheels
Yeah, me too, but I need all that overhang so that I have more safety crumple zones .
Steve, C'mon, just take the long drive, the challenge is worth it! And just think, you could win the longest drive award just for showing up
(although it has to be in your challenge car). The winner this year drove his challenge car from Canada, in past years it has been guys from
colorado.
[Edited on 15/4/05 by turbo time]
[Edited on 15/4/05 by turbo time]
andkilde - 16/4/05 at 01:53 PM
quote:
Hey, I really like this concept, it's the direction I would've liked to have gone in was it not for the car needing to at least resemble a
traditional "locost". After I read this, I was looking for info on the 750 MC cars, but didn't have any luck with google. Do you have
any info? I am still considering putting a closed-wheel sports car type body on the car, but amlooking for something simple like you speak of.
Just what I've seen in the Staniforth books, nothing else, If you don't have a copy of "Race and Rally Car Sourcebook" go to
Amazon and buy it now. In addition to all the cool technical stuff it's just a great read, not at all dry and technical.
The 750 MC racers used to run with Austin 7 mechanicals, then Reliant Robin 850cc stuff after the old Austin sidevalves got too rare.
There is a big internet community for SCCA D-Sport racers, worth a search on Google, sort of similar cars.
Also a ton of old 60's sports racers that had fairly simple bodywork.
I am truly awed by the work that Allan and Steve have put in to their bodies but I know I haven't got their level of dedication.
A nose cone can be blocked out of insulating foam pretty easily and the moulds wouldn't take up much space.
The circle track boys sell pre-painted aluminum sheets for patching up late model stock cars cheaply. It's light, looks good and simple curves
and bends can be formed with the same tools that roofers use for soffit and eavestrough fabrication.
A little curl of lexan for a wind deflector style windscreen, and some "truck" style lights for turns and tails -- they're available in
a ton of different shapes and sizes and just pop into holes in sheetmetal with a rubber retaining/trim ring.
I've been helping out the local university kids with their FSAE car, convinced my employer to donate a few bits and pieces -- you can learn a lot
from the kids.
Cheers, Ted
p.s. I absolutely love those Conquest wheels -- they look fantastic.
[Edited on 16/4/05 by andkilde]