CSX3170 at SCCA Nationals

Cobra #3170 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-07-2014, 08:13 PM

We were invited to bring the car to the CAM (Classic American Muscle) invitational competition in Lincoln Nebraska last week. We also participated in the CAM S class for sports cars but unfortunately only Scott and I were entered. We ran the challenge on Sunday morning and qualified first but did not run at noon because it rained hard and there were big puddles that would have dumped water in my intake filter from the hood scoop.
The car was working well until we "adjusted it" on the practice course Monday and it was awful the first day of competition Tuesday. I was 5 seconds behind Scott and he was slow too. Tuesday night we realigned it, reset ride heights and shock adjustments back to our standard set up and the car was great on Wednesday. I got within .5 seconds of my co-driver which is a personal best for me, he usually gets me by 2-5 seconds but when the car is "right" it is easy to drive fast. This is a video of Scott testing the car on the practice course. It shows a new device I built that shows acceleration/deceleration "g" loading on the left 8 lights = 1.6 G's and throttle opening on the right, 8 lights = full throttle. We had great traction at the start but as soon as the engine gets anywhere near 3500 the throttle
has to be reduced. We found acceleration good for 1-3 lights, over that and the car spins the tires so hard that it noses over. We review it on video afterwards to see how well we are modulating the throttle.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7PDHbbOSgg[/ame]

My best run ever!

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq4QnntDzkE[/ame]

RICK LAKE · #2 (**permalink**) 09-08-2014, 03:29 AM

Cobra 3170 Bruce cool runs. Are the tires still cold? I see that same problem I have with man handling and too much steering wheel input. Your car has about 200 hp and the same with torque. Nerves at the starting line are also in high gear. I have no cure for this either. Car sounds and is running great. Rick L.

Cobra #3170 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-08-2014, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

Cobra 3170 Bruce cool runs. Are the tires still cold? I see that same problem I have with man handling and too much steering wheel input. Your car has about 200 hp and the same with torque. Nerves at the starting line are also in high gear. I have no cure for this either. Car sounds and is running great. Rick L.

We have been using Falken tires and are probably going to change brands. They get greasy if you spin them at all and do not stick at all when hot. The last set was $1600 so they have no redeeming qualities. I tried to buy Rivals from the Tire Rack but they delayed my order 5 separate times so I cancelled. Tires have to be 200 TW to be legal so we are looking for an alternative. We even put wet towels on them to cool between runs but they still overheat badly. We made sound with the little mufflers 97 dba so everybody was happy, noisy but legal. Engine is great pulls like a train at every speed, best one I have ever had in this car. We went through 30 gallons of fuel averaging 1.4 gallons per run. It is pretty thirsty but fuel is power. It was one of the most fun times I have had with the car in all the time I have had it, people were great and glad we brought it out.

Rick Parker · #4 (**permalink**) 09-08-2014, 08:52 AM

No real straights (: Like Pleasanton on steroids?

Jamo · #5 (**permalink**) 09-11-2014, 06:39 AM

Looks like you had fun, Bruce...cool videos.

Cobra #3170 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-11-2014, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamo

Looks like you had fun, Bruce...cool videos.

Thanks Jamo you are right, had a blast

Not the SCCA Nationals I remember, everybody was so nice to us, parties every night, practice course to tune up the car beforehand and huge space to paddock in. I may have to go to some AA meetings before going back but will be there next year if health (knee) permits. The states along the way except for California had 70-80 mph speed limits for towing so it wasn't a tedious trip like going to LA with 55 mph trailer limit.

REAL 1 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-11-2014, 10:54 AM

Cool vid Bruce! Kudos on your run!

JHS · #8 (**permalink**) 09-11-2014, 02:55 PM

Cobra #3170 -
I was wondering what 3170's best or typical lap time might be at Laguna Seca... whether in qualifying or some race.
JHS

Cobra #3170 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-11-2014, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHS

Cobra #3170 -
I was wondering what 3170's best or typical lap time might be at Laguna Seca... whether in qualifying or some race.
JHS

With stock GoodYear vintage tires and stock suspension with a spring and bar combination that overwhelmed the tires 1:46. The current set up with the 200 TW tires, I would estimate 1:36-1:39 with race tires about 1:34 -1:35. It has no aero down load so that hurts it a lot but it is very quick on the straits. I had every Cobra at the reunion in 2012 by 10-12 MPH on the turn 4 -5 shot under the bridge. The car could spin those Vintage tires from turn 11 to the top of the hill where I chicken lifted because it would snap spin under braking. The engine is much stronger now than it was in 2012 and handling is an order of magnitude better with all new shocks, springs, bars and alignment settings so I am fairly comfortable with these estimates.

Ron61 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-12-2014, 03:18 AM

Great videos and a great car. Thanks for posting them.

Ron

JHS · #11 (**permalink**) 09-13-2014, 01:13 PM

Thanks 3170 for Laguna info! I've driven Laguna several times...but not yet with my Kirkham. How many times per lap do you say to yourself..'I wish I had a roll cage'... For me it will be 11 times plus one more for lifting on top of straight...

fordracing65 · #12 (**permalink**) 07-16-2015, 12:50 AM

What is the tape for on the steering wheel...

Jamo · #13 (**permalink**) 07-16-2015, 01:47 AM

Wheels straight...common in race venues where **** gets crossed up. Asspecially helpful on dry silty lakebeds in Baja after a few Tecates.

fordracing65 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-16-2015, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamo

Wheels straight...common in race venues where **** gets crossed up. Asspecially helpful on dry silty lakebeds in Baja after a few Tecates.

I just went out to the garage and put on some tape, I think it looks cool, even though I drive on the street...

Cobra #3170 · #15 (**permalink**) 07-16-2015, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordracing65

What is the tape for on the steering wheel...

Jamo is correct where is straight ahead ???? We also use it so we can see steering input on video. I tend to steer way more than necessary and it shows really well with that tape strip jumping back and forth scrubbing speed off. Trying to calm down my inputs, but it is hard to teach a really old dog anything.