Registration for VIR Full in May

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:31 pm

Kevin Harvey wrote:

Stacy King wrote:

Kevin can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's a case of trying to force too much air through the motor :shock:

Can someone move my post to just above Kevin's... please? :roll:

I agree, Stacy. 600+ hp out of 281 cubic inches does not live well on a road course. I wish like hell that Ford would have stayed with a larger displacement pushrod motor.

LS1 anyone? :lol:

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Kevin Harvey wrote:

I have seen many factory supercharged 03/04 Cobra and 07 GT500 cars live for many miles on the road couse at WOT.

The factory supercharged 03/04 Cobra motors have iron blocks (instead of aluminum) and different aluminum heads than the 99/01 Cobra. Perhaps they fixed the cooling issue in the heads, or maybe the iron block is more rigid and provides a better heat sink.

For what it's worth, the old iron block 302s had problems with head gasket failures on #7 and #8.

Good luck with the new motor.

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:03 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

Kevin Harvey wrote:

I have seen many factory supercharged 03/04 Cobra and 07 GT500 cars live for many miles on the road couse at WOT.

The factory supercharged 03/04 Cobra motors have iron blocks (instead of aluminum) and different aluminum heads than the 99/01 Cobra. Perhaps they fixed the cooling issue in the heads, or maybe the iron block is more rigid and provides a better heat sink.

For what it's worth, the old iron block 302s had problems with head gasket failures on #7 and #8.

Good luck with the new motor.

You are correct on the iron blocks, but the basics of the coolant flow in the head is the same. The Machs and Terminators have different chamber and port work to get different flow numbers, but Ford never changed the coolant flow (ie, no path out of the rear of the driver's side head). The driver's side cooling issue has arisen with higher boost numbers (aka high hp) and sustained heavy acceleration on any of the DOHC engines, all the way back to the DOHC SN95s. I have seen this happen to more 03/04s than any of the other Cobras due to the ease of adding more power via a pulley, exhaust and tune to those cars. When left alone to the factory boost levels, they live quite nicely.

Either way, I am done with forced induction for now. My 01 has rarely left me wanting more power on a straight. And I am not a good enough driver (one of these days, still have lots to learn) to need more power in the corners.

I did not know that about the 302s. My 91 GT lasted well over 200k miles and was still kicking when I sold it, but it still had stock heads and wouldn't turn past 5800 rpm, LOL.

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:04 pm

Double post

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Tue May 20, 2008 6:18 pm

Waited until last minute to sign up due to family issues and was wait listed.
Things are better now we hope and I would love to do
this event. It would be my first track event with the exception
of a NASA circuit-cross event on the Patriot course.
Any "inside" help or knowledge from our V.P.'s would be appreciated.
I would love to get some skid pad also if I can get into the event.
Any thoughts? Who do I bribe? Any help would be appreciated.
I'm just a harmless 50 year old trying to manage a mid-life
crisis...

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Tue May 20, 2008 7:21 pm

Robert Goodwin wrote:

Waited until last minute to sign up due to family issues and was wait listed.
Things are better now we hope and I would love to do
this event. It would be my first track event with the exception
of a NASA circuit-cross event on the Patriot course.
Any "inside" help or knowledge from our V.P.'s would be appreciated.
I would love to get some skid pad also if I can get into the event.
Any thoughts? Who do I bribe? Any help would be appreciated.
I'm just a harmless 50 year old trying to manage a mid-life
crisis...

Here is a tip, don't waste your time posting on the forums. All of the contact information for the VP's are readily available. Pick up the phone

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Tue May 20, 2008 9:32 pm

Jim, thanks. I'll def do that. Thanks for posting all the videos.
I've really enjoyed them. Good luck, keep the podiums coming!!

Stacy King · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 6:56 am

Robert...

No worries, you're in man!

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 12:34 pm

As always, great event!!! From the looks of the paddock yesterday, I'd say a lot of people really love missing work to spend a day at the track.

The track on Wednesday was a little iffy at times (nothing like April though), but the first two sessions yesterday were perfect in my opinion. The track got a little slickery in the third session (or maybe that was just me).

Many thanks to the Track Staff and everyone involved for setting up and putting on another well run event. The feedback from my Mustang buddies from the Midwest were very, very positive.

Kevin

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 3:40 pm

As you may have gathered from my previous post, this was my first track event,(HPDE). I was scared to death!!! Looking at the cars in the paddock,
I was convinced that I had the slowest car there and was going to be a rolling road block on every straight. More than once I questioned my decision to be there. I felt a little better when people found out who my instructor was and said "wow, your lucky!!". Well, lucky I was. Not only can
Mike Whitney instruct, he can drive!! He also is a very patient person as I found out when I didn't brake hard/late enough for turn one and missed the apex for the tenth time. Yes, my car was slow, but I had a blast!!! I had enough grip in the corners to pester and even pass a few faster cars, while seemingly not endangering our lives. The THSCC staff did a great job running the event(Thanks Guys)and VIR full is a blast and a beast to
try to master. I would get overwhelmed by the flood of information and
forget what gear I was in/shift??? . Mike was patient through it all. When I
eventually got a corner or corners right, It was unbelievable. The real learning was when I got to ride with Mike in his M3. The sensation of speed and precision was amazing. To be that consistent at those speeds is
one of the most impressive things I've witnessed. Having played some sports at a reasonably high level, I have never felt so over-matched. Mike
did win his class in the time trial beating some hotshot that everyone was trying to get rides with, who was driving a car 100 lbs lighter with 12 more
ponies. I knew that Mike could practice what he preached!!!!! Bless anyone who has read this far, as I am really stoked about the whole event and had to tell my story. The overriding theme here is: we are lucky to have a club with such great instructors, that run such good events! Get out there and participate!! You won't be sorry!!!

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Shucks Robert, I'm blushing

Thanks for the kind words. It was great fun riding with you for the event, I had a lot of fun working with you -- and you really started to haul butt on Sunday! Looking forward to seeing you out at the track again soon!

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 8:32 am

Yes!!! I get to correct my instructor! It was Thurs, not Sunday. Thats okay we'll get it right next lap. (Oh yeah, thats what you kept telling me!! Ha Ha!)
Mike, you deserve the praise. Thanks for getting me off to such a good start.
I have lapped VIR full in my head at least 100 more times now. Still working
on those braking, shift points!!! The next event is during/on my wedding anniversary, but maybe If I bank enough brownie points now...........

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 9:39 am

Robert,

Several years ago, my wife and I did our first HPDE on our anniversary weekend. It was our present to each other. I drove on Saturday and she drove on Sunday. It was a great way to spend the weekend.

Kevin

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 10:01 am

Kevin, Even though I could learn racing lines and late braking points from
my wife, (she has no formal training, just treats gas and brakes as a switch,full on-full off,) she has no interest. I've also been a neglectful husband in one area, she can't drive a stick. I'm also guessing her lap times
in her Acura TL (v-tec baby) might be faster than my straightaway challenged Subaru. That might not lead to long term matrimonial bliss!!
I'm not as lucky as Kevin Allen and Dustin F. to have a wife with motorsport
interests. Just going to build brownie points......maybe going shopping tonite......

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