If it is relevant to the thread, I think it would be great to post the conversation here.

 

The conversation regarding what I asked? lol Ask me questions, and i'll be happy to answer them as best I can

 

Ben? Im pretty busy so talking over the phone about all this will be very difficult. Shoot me an email, its posted on my website:

- Sponsor/Contact me

Youre also welcome to meet me at RRE one of these days, or something like that. Shoot me an email and we will figure something out.

 

Yep! haha this is Ben Okay, i'll shoot you an email sometime this week thank you sir

 

Prepare thyself, oh and don't mention making HP or you'll run out of minutes

All outta love brotha

 

I'm actually running a lot less than what my signature says I'm just proud of the power she did make, so I keep there

 

Nate makes a great point here. I'll disclaimer that I am a complete newb and will be doing my first TT event with NASA in Nov. But I have been absorbing everything I can as I moved through the DE ranks watching and learning.

Along the lines of what Nate's thinking, here in NASA-SE we have Road Atlanta. RA is a HP track. On that long back straight I can exit T7 with a well driven C5Z Vette and hang with them till the speedo gets in the 120 range. Then the Superior Aero/hp combination starts stretching on me and a gap opens.

Then you go to a track like CMP where a lightweight setup with decent HP will rule. There is just nowhere on CMP that HP trumps handling and corner exit acceleration/ braking.

But i appreciate the input in this thread from the old hands. Great to hear so many of the thoughts and ideas discussed.

 

I was just referencing the fact that there are many in the same boat as you (myself included) who are trying to absorb as much NASA setup knowledge as possible. If it isn't too far "off topic" from this thread topic then I'd love to read the questions and answers you'll be receiving.

 

Keep the questions coming, if non of us "old hands " can answer it, we'll find an "older" hand that may know the answer and post.

 

Pretty much. Dunno if you've ever been to Barber but it's in the same boat, doesn't reward HP very well.

I think the Evo is one of the best platforms for ST2 for this very reason. You can be as versatile as your budget/shop allows. So like our friendly neighborhood west coast old hand said, build it for the lightest weight calculation because adding weight and changing tunes/tires before a track weekend or even at the track is fairly easy and can be built up to slowly.

For the n00b's however, i'd still recommend focusing on getting your License and just worry about current weight and make whatever HP is necessary. Run a DOT tire like R6's and go break some things. THEN decided which direction to go as experience and budget are realized.

Also another good resource is the official nasaforums.com

 

Haven't made Barber yet. Been mostly running a NASA-Centric schedule and they haven't had an event at Barber for a while. The new NASA Mid-South region is trying to get one there.

Exactly what I am doing. I've got a few good friends that run NASA TT and instruct and they tell me they think I'm ready to give it a whirl and have been gently nudging me to take the leap. I don't plan on being competitive for a while. Just want to get my feet wet and get used to running the TT format as well as running with some faster people.

 

Im an old hand now? Yeah, definitely start off simple and try to keep it simple for a while. Whether youre a noob to HPDE, TT, or racing, start off simple and get your feet wet. If you go overboard with mods early on you might regret it later. For one, you may realize most of what youve done was useless. And its going to suck trying to undo a whole bunch of stuff. I cant be happier with how ive approached all this. Other than my suspension and minor power mods like exhaust, ive kept my car practically OEM all the way from TTA (2007-2008) through racing in ST2 (2009-present). When i started racing was when i did the bulk of my prep work...like adding a cage and the proper safety gear. In the meantime RRE hooked me up with some cams and i was ready to go.

 

Well after reading all of this I guy guess I'll add my $0.02....

First off I'm not trying to sound like an *** or cocky... Just sharing my set up and going of lap times. Also there are a few mods not done to my car that I will change for next year to pick up even more time.

So based on lap times at 2011 nationals I had the fastest ST-2 EVO. My car is 3051 but when i go out the car weighs 3150 so that after a 40 min race I weigh in at 3075 and i have a safe margin for error. Now onto power, it makes 324hp/378tq. These numbers are made on the ams mustang dyno. I also run a ams tune utilizing a grimspeed bc on 110, Fp white, and kelford 264/260 cams.

The EVO was very well balanced and was consistent. Now as Justin noted his sti makes more power but I could out motor him down the straights. This is mainly because the high tq and awesome exit speed. Plus we all know HP is a number that means nothing if the power delivery is not great. My car made 378 by low 3k rpm and by 4300 rpm I made my max power and it was a straight line till redline.

Now for next season there are a few mods left to do that i know for a fact will drop a great amount of time. For 2012 I am applying all that i learned and am going for ST-2 champ in regional points as well as take the national championship! So the first mod planned is, a shep rebuilt rear diff. My drive train is oem, I have spoke with Nathan about this diff and from what he says and bassed on how much time he dropped with it I know the car will drop lap times. Next is tires, I ran the Goodyear RS rc tires all year, they were fast and great. For 2012 i will race their

 

Well after reading all of this I guy guess I'll add my $0.02....

First off I'm not trying to sound like an *** or cocky... Just sharing my set up and going of lap times. Also there are a few mods not done to my car that I will change for next year to pick up even more time.

So based on lap times at 2011 nationals I had the fastest ST-2 EVO. My car is 3051 but when i go out the car weighs 3150 so that after a 40 min race I weigh in at 3075 and i have a safe margin for error. Now onto power, it makes 324hp/378tq. These numbers are made on the ams mustang dyno. I also run a ams tune utilizing a grimspeed bc on 110, Fp white, and kelford 264/260 cams.

The EVO was very well balanced and was consistent. Now as Justin noted his sti makes more power but I could out motor him down the straights. This is mainly because the high tq and awesome exit speed. Plus we all know HP is a number that means nothing if the power delivery is not great. My car made 378 by low 3k rpm and by 4300 rpm I made my max power and it was a straight line till redline.

Now for next season there are a few mods left to do that i know for a fact will drop a great amount of time. For 2012 I am applying all that i learned and am going for ST-2 champ in regional points as well as take the national championship! So the first mod planned is, a shep rebuilt rear diff. My drive train is oem, I have spoke with Nathan about this diff and from what he says and bassed on how much time he dropped with it I know the car will drop lap times. Next is tires, I ran the Goodyear RS rc tires all year, they were fast and great. For 2012 i will race their AC compound. Now the rc compound is similar to the r6 and the AC to the a6. No one runs the r6 as they are obviously slower, so i am excited to further yeat the AC and work with my suspension to drop more time. Lastly I have never ran with any for of data. I am purchasing the aim evo4 and will have true data to look at and make effective changes.

Now I know I went off power a bit, but after these few small mods I think I will have one Hell of a ST-2 car. I feel I have one of, of not the fastest ST-2 EVO's but for next year I want the fastest ST-2 car period.

 

I'd be interested to see what times that setup would run at a HP track like Road America.