| Brees Motorsports |
| 2008 Race Reports |
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March 24 Update:
To make the car a more noticeable and have a chance for more media coverage, I decided to paint the top of it a bright blue.
I started by sanding the original paint and masking off the rest of the car. I sprayed it Rustoleum Harbor Blue which turned out great.
To make the car a more noticeable and have a chance for more media coverage, I decided to paint the top of it a bright blue.
I started by sanding the original paint and masking off the rest of the car. I sprayed it Rustoleum Harbor Blue which turned out great.
To reduce the weight of the car and get it ready for the roll cage, I stripped the interior and removed the windshield. I have removed over
300 lbs from the car and should put about 120 back in with the roll cage. This weight reduction is the reason I am moving to TTD.
300 lbs from the car and should put about 120 back in with the roll cage. This weight reduction is the reason I am moving to TTD.
March 25 Update:
This is a mock-up of the support structure I plan to use for the base of the main hoop of the roll cage. There will also be a vertical piece in
the open section on the left and of course the main horizontal base plate on top. The tubing will sit roughly in line with the center support
and towards the outside.
This is a mock-up of the support structure I plan to use for the base of the main hoop of the roll cage. There will also be a vertical piece in
the open section on the left and of course the main horizontal base plate on top. The tubing will sit roughly in line with the center support
and towards the outside.
I also cut out the inner door skin to make room for the door bars of the roll cage.
March 27 Update:
I modelled the basic roll cage that I plan to build for the Protege to figure out exactly what I want.
I modelled the basic roll cage that I plan to build for the Protege to figure out exactly what I want.
Front View
Left Side View
| Top View |
| Left Front Isometric View |
| Left Rear Isometric View |
March 31 Update:
I started the bases for the roll bar tonight. The next three pictures show how they go together. The picture on the let is a start of the box with
the backing plates that rest against the floor pan. The middle picture shows the plates which will support the base plate for the roll hoop.
The picture on the right shows the position of the final plates which will be installed. These plates will close the box once the roll hoop and
base plate are in place.
I started the bases for the roll bar tonight. The next three pictures show how they go together. The picture on the let is a start of the box with
the backing plates that rest against the floor pan. The middle picture shows the plates which will support the base plate for the roll hoop.
The picture on the right shows the position of the final plates which will be installed. These plates will close the box once the roll hoop and
base plate are in place.
April 1 Update:
I did some more weight reduction today. I removed the inner skin of the rear door along with the quarter windows. I also removed the
center roof support since I will have the cross bracing of the roll cage going through that part of the roof. Other than that, I just spent some
time cleaning up the remnants of the tar insulation on the floor. Everywhere with the lighter grey color was previously covered.
I did some more weight reduction today. I removed the inner skin of the rear door along with the quarter windows. I also removed the
center roof support since I will have the cross bracing of the roll cage going through that part of the roof. Other than that, I just spent some
time cleaning up the remnants of the tar insulation on the floor. Everywhere with the lighter grey color was previously covered.
April 3 Update:
I finished the main roll hoop. I am very happy with how it turned out. The radii at the top are touching the outside roof supports on both
sides. I will need to pull the driver's side out a little when I weld it to the support and then both of the sides will be in line with the inside of
the B-pillars.
I finished the main roll hoop. I am very happy with how it turned out. The radii at the top are touching the outside roof supports on both
sides. I will need to pull the driver's side out a little when I weld it to the support and then both of the sides will be in line with the inside of
the B-pillars.
April 4 Update:
Both front down bars are now bent and cut and I have the passenger side mounting plate in place. The location on the ledge at the base of
the A-pillar not only allows me to run the bar along the sheet metal of the A-pillar but also keeps the bar as far away from my legs as
possible. I didn't clean the base up so it is still covered in soot from welding, but you should get an idea what they look like.
Both front down bars are now bent and cut and I have the passenger side mounting plate in place. The location on the ledge at the base of
the A-pillar not only allows me to run the bar along the sheet metal of the A-pillar but also keeps the bar as far away from my legs as
possible. I didn't clean the base up so it is still covered in soot from welding, but you should get an idea what they look like.
April 5 Update:
Front down bars and roof support structure are installed.
You will notice that in some of the pictures, the roll cage is lowered so that I can weld the top of the bars.
Front down bars and roof support structure are installed.
You will notice that in some of the pictures, the roll cage is lowered so that I can weld the top of the bars.
April 6 Update:
It's starting to look really nice with the top painted and the roll cage put back in place. I also installed the dash bar and the rear lower tie bar.
It's starting to look really nice with the top painted and the roll cage put back in place. I also installed the dash bar and the rear lower tie bar.
April 7 Update:
dash bar to the windshield sill. I also added some welds to connect the front bars to the top of the A-pillars and the roll hoop to the roof
structure.
dash bar to the windshield sill. I also added some welds to connect the front bars to the top of the A-pillars and the roll hoop to the roof
structure.
April 8 Update:
I cut the factory crash bars out of the front doors to make room for the Nascar door bars. I also installed a straight bar from the base of the
hoop to the front base of the driver's side A-pillar. There will be bars from this straight bar to the door bars to give lateral support to the door
bars. I also installed the mounting plates for both rear down tubes along with the driver's side down tube.
I cut the factory crash bars out of the front doors to make room for the Nascar door bars. I also installed a straight bar from the base of the
hoop to the front base of the driver's side A-pillar. There will be bars from this straight bar to the door bars to give lateral support to the door
bars. I also installed the mounting plates for both rear down tubes along with the driver's side down tube.
April 9 Update:
Today I installed the passenger side rear down tube and the rear cross bar from the driver's side on the main hoop to the rear down tube
attachment point on the passenger side. I also bent the door bars for both sides.
Today I installed the passenger side rear down tube and the rear cross bar from the driver's side on the main hoop to the rear down tube
attachment point on the passenger side. I also bent the door bars for both sides.
April 10 Update:
I was able to get the door bars on both sides installed today. It took 7 hours to cut all the bars to the correct lengths and get them welded in,
but it was definitely worth it. I think they turned out great!
I was able to get the door bars on both sides installed today. It took 7 hours to cut all the bars to the correct lengths and get them welded in,
but it was definitely worth it. I think they turned out great!
April 11 Update:
welded the steering wheel disconnect shaft to the steering shaft.
welded the steering wheel disconnect shaft to the steering shaft.
April 13 Update:
It's alive! I connected the wiring, cut and installed the dash, cut and installed the Lexan windshield including the center support, and then
re-installed the rest of the parts I had removed including the seat, harnesses and hood.
It's alive! I connected the wiring, cut and installed the dash, cut and installed the Lexan windshield including the center support, and then
re-installed the rest of the parts I had removed including the seat, harnesses and hood.
Click on any picture for a larger version
I drove the car to work today and decided to take some pictures in the sunlight.
have been a decent lap, but I totally
blew Turn 7 (tight right hander just
past halfway)
blew Turn 7 (tight right hander just
past halfway)
Spin at Putnam: 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.
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.
Mustang Spin: This is a quick video
of a Mustang that spun in front of
me. Luckily he was far enough
ahead that I had plenty of time to
brake and go around him.
of a Mustang that spun in front of
me. Luckily he was far enough
ahead that I had plenty of time to
brake and go around him.
This was the first event with my car in TTD.
June 5:
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.
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.
Grattan Raceway with NASA: This weekend was great! considering
The weekend started out on a questionable note. As I was loading the car onto the trailer I
saw what is shown in the picture on the right. That is oil from my right rear shock all over the
threads of the coilover body, spring and wheel well. Not knowing how driveable the car would
be I decided to go to Grattan anyway since it is such a fun track.
The first session Saturday morning was practice and I had no idea how the car would handle
so I started in the back of the grid. To my surprise the car handled reasonably well. The braking
was not as effective as usual and corners had a strange feel - it would push at corner entry and
then snap to oversteer mid corner. I was able to turn respectable times and worked my way up
through traffic and got a couple of mostly clean laps. For the second session, I started from the
handling of the car. In this session, I managed a 1:33.4 which was within 0.3 seconds of my time
from last year with a fully functioning car. That improved my confidence quite a bit, but I still felt
like there was something else wrong with the car. I tried bleeding the brakes in hopes that a
brake issue might be compounding the longer braking distances I was dealing with due to the
blown strut. There was no change in the braking and I was only able to get a 1:33.7 in the 3rd
suspension. I found out that the bolts connecting my rear swaybar to the strut was loose and allowing about 3/4 inch of travel before using the
swaybar to resist bodyroll. This fit perfectly with the understeer to oversteer transition I was feeling in the corners. With the rear swaybar
reconnected, I was ready to improve my lap times in the final session of the day. We went out for the first few laps mired in traffic and then an
EVO lost the brake booster at the end of the main straight and went off the track and up the embankment into some trees. Fortunately he was
not injured and his car is repairable, but unfortunately for me the session was stopped since the safety vehicles were in the most dangerous
session. After this session (and several reports of right rear lock-up at most corners on the track) I decided to inspect the rest of the rear spot
on the track. For Saturday I wound up in 3rd place with my 1:33.4, to the second place Mike Ruth (BMW M3) with a 1:33.2 and First place
Kyle Burkhardt (BMW M3) with a 1:32.0
Sunday started off with a timed session because storms were supposed to be on the way. I was confident with my rear swaybar reconnected
that I could make up the time I needed to compete for the lead. I was able to set a fast lap of 1:32.6 in the morning session which placed me
6th on the grid and 2nd in class. The second session started out feeling very good, but I spun entering turn three (video) and had my times
disqualified for the second session of the day. Going into the third session I had to make a fast time although the track was significantly
warmer than earlier in the day. I was able to stay on the gas later in a few parts of the track during this session and gained some confidence
in my brakes since they seemed to be more consistent if I pumped them once before each application. Obviously this is not ideal and caused
my to get off the gas earlier than I'd like in other parts of the track. (Luckily my braking issues should be taken care of soon thanks to Empire
Tuning!) With the changes in my driving for this session I was able to get down to a 1:32.1 lap (video) placing me solidly in 2nd place with
one session to go. Now, remember those storms I mentioned, well they showed up as we headed back onto the access road from the grid to
the track. With our last session rained out, I remained in second place with Kyle Burkhardt in first and Bradley Smith (Honda Prelude) in 3rd
place.
Lessons learned this weekend: 1) Just because you have one problem you know about doesn't mean there isn't one you don't know about!
2) My car is WAY too stiff for Grattan. What works well for MidOhio doesn't work everywhere.
The weekend started out on a questionable note. As I was loading the car onto the trailer I
saw what is shown in the picture on the right. That is oil from my right rear shock all over the
threads of the coilover body, spring and wheel well. Not knowing how driveable the car would
be I decided to go to Grattan anyway since it is such a fun track.
The first session Saturday morning was practice and I had no idea how the car would handle
so I started in the back of the grid. To my surprise the car handled reasonably well. The braking
was not as effective as usual and corners had a strange feel - it would push at corner entry and
then snap to oversteer mid corner. I was able to turn respectable times and worked my way up
through traffic and got a couple of mostly clean laps. For the second session, I started from the
handling of the car. In this session, I managed a 1:33.4 which was within 0.3 seconds of my time
from last year with a fully functioning car. That improved my confidence quite a bit, but I still felt
like there was something else wrong with the car. I tried bleeding the brakes in hopes that a
brake issue might be compounding the longer braking distances I was dealing with due to the
blown strut. There was no change in the braking and I was only able to get a 1:33.7 in the 3rd
suspension. I found out that the bolts connecting my rear swaybar to the strut was loose and allowing about 3/4 inch of travel before using the
swaybar to resist bodyroll. This fit perfectly with the understeer to oversteer transition I was feeling in the corners. With the rear swaybar
reconnected, I was ready to improve my lap times in the final session of the day. We went out for the first few laps mired in traffic and then an
EVO lost the brake booster at the end of the main straight and went off the track and up the embankment into some trees. Fortunately he was
not injured and his car is repairable, but unfortunately for me the session was stopped since the safety vehicles were in the most dangerous
session. After this session (and several reports of right rear lock-up at most corners on the track) I decided to inspect the rest of the rear spot
on the track. For Saturday I wound up in 3rd place with my 1:33.4, to the second place Mike Ruth (BMW M3) with a 1:33.2 and First place
Kyle Burkhardt (BMW M3) with a 1:32.0
Sunday started off with a timed session because storms were supposed to be on the way. I was confident with my rear swaybar reconnected
that I could make up the time I needed to compete for the lead. I was able to set a fast lap of 1:32.6 in the morning session which placed me
6th on the grid and 2nd in class. The second session started out feeling very good, but I spun entering turn three (video) and had my times
disqualified for the second session of the day. Going into the third session I had to make a fast time although the track was significantly
warmer than earlier in the day. I was able to stay on the gas later in a few parts of the track during this session and gained some confidence
in my brakes since they seemed to be more consistent if I pumped them once before each application. Obviously this is not ideal and caused
my to get off the gas earlier than I'd like in other parts of the track. (Luckily my braking issues should be taken care of soon thanks to Empire
Tuning!) With the changes in my driving for this session I was able to get down to a 1:32.1 lap (video) placing me solidly in 2nd place with
one session to go. Now, remember those storms I mentioned, well they showed up as we headed back onto the access road from the grid to
the track. With our last session rained out, I remained in second place with Kyle Burkhardt in first and Bradley Smith (Honda Prelude) in 3rd
place.
Lessons learned this weekend: 1) Just because you have one problem you know about doesn't mean there isn't one you don't know about!
2) My car is WAY too stiff for Grattan. What works well for MidOhio doesn't work everywhere.
This was my fastest lap: 1:32.1
| The right rear brake had been locking up all weekend so I was used to that. I think what happened here was my let tires must have been wet from the puddle at the track-out point of turn 2 so I locked up both rear tires and went around. The drop-off in that corner made it impossible to catch once I started going around. Spin |
