8.50 index build

[Todd Geisler]

This weekend was the first official race for the new car. For me, that just means I'm testing in the middle of a race. lol

Made some suspension changes after the first test session a few weeks ago. This entails welding up and installing a short top bar setup for the 4 link. Brackets and top bars from Tin Soldier Racecars who also supplied the chassis and rear 4 link brackets on the car.

[Todd Geisler]

First hit Friday morning the car spun again, a couple feet out. Made shock adjustments front & rear and the next hit it stuck and made a clean A-to-B pass. Slow due to the tuneup running a 5.21 @ 135 with a 1.21 60'

The next few passes I slowly crept up on power at the line and the car responded well. 5.045 @ 138 with a 1.17 60', then a 5.023 @ 139 with a 1.17 60'.

The next pass was at dusk and it felt like the car was in the early stages of trying to spin so I gave is a really quick pedal in which it ran a 5.19 @ 137 with a 1.20 60' Last pass in the evening it flat out spun again.

Reviewing the data from Friday I felt the car was on the ragged edge of traction, partly due to the 55.5% nose weight and not racing on radial prep. Saturday morning I got to the track early and put 80 lbs of ballast in the back of the car. This takes the nose percentage down to 53.5%.

First run was our last qualifier and with the additional weight the car ran a 5.10 @ 136 with a 1.17 60'

The next run was first round. I looked at my reaction times and decided to take .015 out of the delay box and see where I wound up. Dialed a 5.10 and ran out with a 5.09 @ 137 with a .011 light against my opponents .046 light.





Got my radial ghost wrinkles back so I know it's biting now, but still feel as the car isn't hitting the tire hard enough yet.



First couple passes in testing the track was giving me a .400 pro tree messing up the time slip.

I figure it's gonna take some time to sort this thing out. Still have the same converter and gearing out of the Malibu which I think both will need adjusting but plan to gather more data for a while before I'm willing to make a change. For now I just wanna make more laps, get comfortable with the car and work on the chassis to get it better. I'm sure as time goes bye and we refine it, the ET will get to where it should be for the power it makes and it's weight.

Don't really feel bad losing first round like that. Was pleased with the two day progress and getting my first taste of top bulb racing. Does feel odd to have to qualify then get paired up for a bracket class (Top Sportsman),but no big deal. I was slow, but not the slowest there. lol

[Todd Geisler]

Video of one of the runs.

[Ray Gottry]

Hey Todd,
How are things going with the Mustang? You haven’t posted since May.
Hope all is well with you and the car.

Ray Gottry