Carpokes

Long time since update...again. Work has progressed slowly at times but progressed nonetheless.

After so much time getting the body prepared and cleaned as a result of all the fire extinguisher foam that infiltrated virtually everywhere, the motor is back in the car. The retardant seemed to get into everything. Sensors and injectors need replacing. Fire damage to wiring has necessitated repairs or replacing of expensive looms. The whole exercise has sapped a lot of budget before the engine has even turned over.

Yet it was still my intention of making the event this year. However the manufacturing of the new aero has stalled (sorry, bad joke) so we thought we could rely on at least being able to borrow the old aero kit as it now belongs to another customer in the same shop as my car. The owner of that car even 'borrowed' my front bumper to make a copy from without asking for my permission or notifying me that he had done so. This involved transporting it to another State (ie 1000km's away). Having said that, I was ok to him once I had found out, knowing that I didn't actually need it at the time. Still, he should have asked. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I contacted him asking if we could use the old aero for this year's event. Realistically this meant using it for less than a week ( maybe 2 days testing and the 3 day event). I specifically said that in the unlikely chance that it were damaged I would pay for it to be repaired or replaced. He then ummed and ahhed and then said that he'd like to borrow my bumper again as his original copy didn't work out as well as expected. I said yes that would be fine or even could I organise a copy through the guy that was going to do my new aero. His reply was that he'd think about it. Eventually he has come back, initially through my shop not me, to say that he wasn't going to lend us those parts as it went against his principles to lend race parts. I believe that he is thinking about it in a door to door race environment where panels do get damaged. In Time Attack it's just like qualifying. Cars never come together. He was unmoved by that and hasn't replied to me since. Disappointing but that's life. So we won't be at this year's event. Very fortunately the organisers have allowed me to use the entry fee and roll it over for next year. Another issue is that I had to pre pay for the tyres that they order specifically for this event. 8x 295/35 x 18" cost me almost $6000. I was hopeful that the importer would allow the $ to be transferred to next year's event also. Very fortunately they actually refunded the money which is helpful.

So that's about where things are at currently. What I have found in the latest rebuild is how much prices have risen in terms of product and labour. What used to be a $4-5k week if the shop worked on the car M-F is now virtually double that. Also the ECU and other components have increased in price considerably. Initially the underlying reason for rebuilding the car was to get it to circulate, do the event and then try and sell it. There was of course the emotional component of unfulfilled promise which was to tug on my head/heart. But the more this whole project continues, the more it is becoming a futile exercise. The question is though, how much can you sell an unfinished project for in this market? So a combination of thoughts drive me onwards. As of this week I have put the project back into 'hold' mode. My intention is to get it to a point where we can go back to the dyno and at least have it running. But to even do that I'm looking at approximately another $15k.

Now where's that winning Lottery ticket I misplaced?

That's a tough story but at least you have had some of the expenditures reversed or carried forward. Anything of that nature is a positive.

I experienced an on-track fire many years ago and you are so correct about the mess. The fire got put out relatively quickly (fortunately the fire crew was only about 100 yards away and witnessed me burning as I headed down the front straight), but the on-board suppressant along with the fire truck extinguishing materials got everywhere. And then there was the actual fire/heat/melt damage to deal with.

Having said that, your car looks great based on the two photos you attached, so there's that!

Regarding your question, test the market for it unfinished. If too big a hit, then maybe consider getting it completed as I feel it would have a much wider appeal if finished and running/looking good.

Thanks Tim.

Yes, it was nice to get rollover or refund at least.

Couldn't agree with you more re the retardant. It's not really discussed much when people have a fire. I suppose we're thankful if the car doesn't burn to the ground! When I consider the cost and ramification$ from that engine...I'd estimate it's somewhere in the 6 figure region!!

In regards to selling it now or completed, it's pretty much a lose lose. The only thing would be the satisfaction of finishing it and seeing it run in anger again. That's if nothing else calamitous goes wrong again. Sheesh these things become life sapping...

333pg333 wrote: Thu Jul 04, 2024 10:36 pm Thanks Tim.

Yes, it was nice to get rollover or refund at least.

Couldn't agree with you more re the retardant. It's not really discussed much when people have a fire. I suppose we're thankful if the car doesn't burn to the ground! When I consider the cost and ramification$ from that engine...I'd estimate it's somewhere in the 6 figure region!!

In regards to selling it now or completed, it's pretty much a lose lose. The only thing would be the satisfaction of finishing it and seeing it run in anger again. That's if nothing else calamitous goes wrong again. Sheesh these things become life sapping...

They definitely are sapping Patrick. However, your comment about "seeing it run in anger again" is a strong testament countering that.

I don't want to sound like a Pollyanna but maybe it works out fine. No more calamities either!

333pg333 wrote: Thu Jul 04, 2024 10:36 pmThe only thing would be the satisfaction of finishing it and seeing it run in anger again.

Hear! Hear! You are getting close!

Hello Patrick,
Your quandary is certainly understood. As a former racer who managed my pastime with a limited budget, I totally get it. I've a couple of suggestions that may take the pressure off:
- How about a partner? If there's someone who can share your glory and your expenses, it could be a win/win. Surely there are folks that would like to be involved in WTAC, but have no interest in starting at the beginning. These folks may appreciate getting involved in a project as far along as yours.
- Take your car to SMP for the WTAC event this year. Park it adjacent to the garages with signage indicating the desire for a partner or a buyer. I've got to imagine the right people will be there. If there's difficulty getting your car into the event, perhaps convince a fellow Aussie to list your car as their spare (or some other BS).

By the way, I'm very interested in details about your current engine. Is there a build link on it? I hope I didn't miss it. Clearly you've done some initial dyno testing. What's left to do with it? Tell me more!

Thanks for the positivity guys. Much appreciated.

Micheal. Interesting idea. It never crossed my mind (an incredibly short journey). The Time Attack world is a bit of an odd one. Especially down here. Still very JDM centric. While my car had a certain amount of gravitas and following a few years ago, it would be a very niche market to get someone else involved in it now. Clearly a project of passion which of course to the right person could make complete sense. Without any aero at the moment it would look a bit odd. However, definitely worth some thought.

As for the motor. Well it's more or less the same as the failed one from 2017. Specs in .pdf below marked 3.2 16v. Having said that, instead of a Nikasil coated block it has the MiD sleeves which will offer very little difference as far as performance improvement goes. According to the most recent machinist / builder the valves on the head that we sent weren't seating well at all (which I had repaired) and he 'dimpled' the intake ports which he deemed too smooth. So perhaps with the improvement in those areas we might see a little improvement over what we had. We were going to use the same dyno / operator and at least we could plug in the same tune as last time as a good base. It saw 618whp @ 16psi on a Dyno Dynamics machine. We were going to test it up to as far as 22psi (well short of Gustaf and Rod's 28-30psi on their similarly MiD fitted motors). In all likelihood it may not be until next year until we get back onto the dyno. Frustrating to get so close but having waited so many times in the past for motors to be built and delivered, I'm kind of used to it.

The difficulty in manufacturing all the aero parts leads to a few different possible processes. As you can see to some degree, there's not many straight/flat surfaces. So we looked at printing some of them out and making molds once all the smoothing has been done. Examples of the front 'Angel wings' and rear 'Ducktail'.

Under CFD analysis the best case scenario (ride height and rake) was virtually 50/50 front to rear downforce balance and a total downforce number of over 3200lbs at 150mph. By contrast I found that the latest Porsche GT3 RS develops 1900lbs of total downforce at 177mph.

I think you should store a few parts off the car of that asshole who stole your bumper. That may motivate him to give it back to you.

There's a bit more to it Thom. It would put the owner of the shop, Paul, in a very bad position among other things. I'm past it for now. I'll just move forwards and hopefully get it done correctly sometime next year. I'll see you before then.