The 10% Club

[a427sc]

Since Cranky has started the "10% Club" of people who have done open track time, we need to set up some parameters for various divisions within this group.

As a starting place, how about some of these delineations?

1%: Full all out hard core track only, NEVER runs on street, unregistered (never was), race only max motor, open headers (except for track rule required systems), slicks only,Carbon/kevlar body, Lexan windscreen, nothing on car that doesnt make it faster(cut out inner panels, doors screwed shut, single race seat with 6 point harness etc). Has major chassis/suspension mods/upgrades including race only brakes, Penske type fully adj shocks, modified suspension mounting points to get better geometries,roll cage integrated for chassis stiffness as well as safety. Has crashed multiple times, has paint to match racer tape color and several bodyparts held together by same. Usually seriously ratty, but fast. Has won FTD's, Class championships, is THE car to beat at any event.

3%: Similiar to above except: Former street car still registered by law but would never come close to passing an inspection today, taken out rarely (less than 75 miles a year) on street for "testing" and give the kids a ride. open headers/mufflers per track rules, can have DOT race tires (DOT radials/Hoosier TD) for class rules ok. Still has some inner panels, door latches, some trim, windshield (usually lexan replaced glass) or windscreen, 2 seats (drivers race, pass. original but stripped out) 5 point belts. some carpeting to meet rules (or not). Some chassis mods as above but can have single hoop integrated to lower cage for appearance,endurance level race only motor. Probably has crashed several times (at least one body bender and several cosmetic scuffles minimum) some tape/rivits holding stuff together. Has won FTD's, class championships, is one of 5 cars to beat.

5%: As above except: Legal for street (mayby noisy)Used on weekends (limited to shorter cruises and ocasional cruise nites but would not win anything, not even close). Has race DOT tires on seperate rims for track time but runs street tires on "good" wheels normally. Has full interior (poss interchangeable race seat) 4 point belts, carpet, trim, glass windshield etc. Minor chassis mods limited to upgraded springs/limited adjustable shocks, brake upgrades, factory swaybars. Has hotter street motor (will idle 1000 or less but lumpy) can run in traffic without puking. Has had off track excursions, minor cosmetic scuffles (were mostly rubbed out), paint is chipped and owner doesn't care. A dual purpose car, runs mid pack at events, could win a third place.


7%: 2-5 year old street car with the blush worn off. Full street gear, street tires, maybe brake pad upgrades for the track. No chassis mods, safety gear limited to 4 point belts and poss fire system. Has spun out once, but never hit anything but a cone. Will run 1 or 2 events a year for fun, no chance of winning anything but has a great time hanging out and running as hard as he can, safely.

10% Street car with show pretensions. Runs only at SAAC conventions, nothing competitive (except popular vote car shows) A beautiful, clean car with an owner who would get very upset with running over a cone, but is still out there, running at 60% in turns, floors it on the straights (up to 120+/-). Gets a kick from the speed. Will degenerate in 2-4 years to the next level as the paint gets scratched and he/she gets tired of the car show bull. At least is willing to try it.

90% everybody else who would never want to go on track, but would brag about an exit ramp or a hole shot or a quick blast to 100+ on the highway. Some are WAXERS who live for shows and ego boosts, others drivers who just are happy to be in the car, on the street as much as they can. Nothing wrong with either.



So?

Don (a 3%er)

[Hank Dondero]

Don,

Great idea. Let's see who posts what.

5% and moving down in numerical value as time goes on.

Hank
FFR 1776

[Cobranut]

Don,

The Cobra is a 10%er. I'll have some fun with it, but I still try to keep it show worthy.

After running my first track event, though, I really wanted to go racing, so I bought a Legends car setup for roadracing.
This thing is a blest. Wicked acceleration and 130 MPH topend to boot. We bump and rub fenders and have a good ol' time. It's easy and fairly cheap to fix when it gets crunched too. Matches the red and white racers tape real well.

My best finish to date is a fourth overall, and I've finished second in class several times.
I'm running at Road Atlanta on Labor day weekend. Any of you in the area come check it out. Hope to see some of you there.

My car's a red/white '37 Ford sedan. # 427 of course.

Later,

[Greg Kulp]

Don,

I'm at 7% with my Mustang Cobra, my FIA isn't on the road (or track) yet. I expect to be at 3% pretty quick when the FIA is finished.

Greg

[RACER X #99]

Don, excellent post an probably just what is needed to determine just where we all fit in.
I will have to rate myself as a 5% but I have some changes in my car that are in the 1% and 3% groups. But my driving skill or lack of leaves me in the 5% group
Perhaps when I put in the Yates headed SVO 351 I can move up to 4%
If Cobra in mirror is getting smaller, it must be powered by a side oiler.
Cranky
BTW that new racing windscreen really does a job on your hair.

[mr bruce]

Until I get this thing up and running, 0%er.

[MistressMotorsports]

I'm somewhere between 3 and 5 percent, closer to 3 as time goes on. The real roll br goes in sometime in the next month, which will complete the transition to a 3 percenter. And, the car does get raced wheel to wheel. Although I have had 1% cars, the plan for the Cobra is to keep it mild enough that I can take my friends out on the street and scare the crap out of them.

Mike Eckhaus
SPF#352

[mrmustang]

Have to be in the 6/7% class for this year. Plenty of mixed "track" time this year (mostly auto X and 1/4 mile, with one soggy trip to Pocono so far). Fire system, yup, you bet, why take chances, upgraded motor, exhaust, four point harness (soon to be upgraded) etc (and certainly not for show). Paint scuffs, scratches, chips, dirty carpets, etc....No polished parts to speak of (ok, chrome Sunbeam Tiger air filter), most certainly not a trailer queen. Driven as much as possible (all year round).....Road course track time will increase next year if I can figure out a better way to budget my time and expenses.....Only time will tell % wise where I'll rate next year............




Yours in Fords,

Bill S.

PS: Cranky's car has nicer paint on it than mine

[John McMahon]

Let's see..........

The Mustang probably falls in the 3% to 5% category.

The driver probably falls in at 5% to 7%.

The Cobra? ...don't ask.

JM

[mr bruce]

Hey McMustangFIACheetahJohn, Just like Brill-Cream, they all come back!

[Hank Dondero]

What Cobra?

Hank
FFR 1776

[Alan Vanhollebeke]

Hmmmm, I suppose my cobra puts me in the 7%club,,,,,,,,
but
I do have a 1% car too,,,,,,, strange thing is- that I use the cobra as a daily driver, and my "1%" race only car is a four door- four cylinder sedan.


Maybe you need to have a .5% club for total nuts who will race anything with wheels!

[petek]

0%'er and working hard to get to the 5% club!

petek
(ok, nothing is leaking or smoking ... making progress!)

[Trans-Am Jim]

7% with 2-year plan (limited only by financial resources) to go to 5%.

Already did the1% deal in my youth (5 seasons FP MG Midget, not enuf talent to make the run-offs ;-)

Get most of my racing fix by tryin' to catch the cheaters -

By the way, if any of you dudes are heading to the Mid-Ohio ALMS/Trans-Am/SCCA Nationals event this weekend, drop me a line. Maybe we can meet somewhere at the track.

[BT SNAKE]

I fit the 5% group pretty well with combo of
drag racing, autocross and roadracing.
I have more chips than a bag of chips ahoy. but I
don't care!. She runs real fine and handles like a
vette. Maybe it's because it's vette suspension
underneath.

Hershal

[excelguru]

Good topic. I don't usually visit this room, but Racer X99 tipped me off over in the ACT room.

Well, whenever I DO get a Cobra... I'll probably be in the 90% group. Mainly due to budgetary constraints. It costs a lotta money to move up (down?) in the ranks! Especially if you really wanna be compteitive.

Heck, I'll just be happy to have one to drive to Autozone and back once in a while. And luckily for me, we don't have much traffic around these parts, so that means LOTS of open interstate between home and work each day!

Not that I would speed or anything.

Keith

[cobrashoch]

NONE OF THE ABOVE>>>>>>
Drag racer that plans on building a 8 second street car complete with a trick paint job. Don't care about ANY of the horseradish I am seeing above. I used to race Panteras many a moon ago in REAL races on the group 7 tour. Gitting too damned old for this stuff!
cobrashoch

[RACER X #99]

Ron,
I never thought about drag racing when you get too old to drive, I just figured the show guys were the oldsters.
Cranky

[mustang man]

I am in the same boat that Ron is. Old enough to realize that I no longer have the quick reactions that I used to have and that whatever driving skills I once had are now diminishing. I still enjoy competing but can't cut a light with the consistency that I used to.

Now I am evolving into the role of team/car owner and helping develop a team and driver at a level far beyond what I could do on my own. It is an entirely different experience and so far I am loving it. If it's good enough for Prudhomme, Amato, and Kalitta, then all of us "mature" drivers should consider it.

I am even trying to learn something about road racing at my ripe age and loving that as well.

Stay involved!!

[a427sc]

And doing well at it, Tim.

Don