Here are some pics of our custom warm air intake for the ice race car. We have had an issue with contaminating the MAF with snow and ice dust. When that happens, the car isn't happy and tells you about it for about 2 laps (suck). By pulling air from the cabin, we should eliminate the problem. The other big mod is we welded the center and rear diffs. The car now makes the donuts quite effectively.
then my wife would make a great co driver, feed her some cheese pizza and a tall glass of milk and it should negate the added weight of the 100 lbs of co-driver....
I need to get the Sentra into the garage so I can yank the drivetrain. The transaxle has to be completely torn down to get to the diff so I can weld it.
AEM WAI?? ha ha ha hope it isn't as bad for your car as the AEM CAI!!! great idea... next if you wanna warm your toes you could run a cut-out from the exhaust onto your feet
Its as I had pictured it. Though its an NA and your racing on ice, would it be worth while to get a smooth pipe as oppose to the accordian one you currently have? Can you give me some pointers of how you race on the ice plz?
Smooth pipe would certainly improve flow. We used smooth pipe through the airbox so when we decide to make the change, all we will need to do is under the hood. Version 1.0 was constructed with Menards material. Unfortunately, they do not carry 3 inch diameter 180 degree mandrel bent thin wall aluminum pipe. I was shocked and disappointed. As to ice racing pointers, there are a ton of variables. First off, what kind of car and tires? What is the condition and age of the tires? What is the ice surface like? Is it ripped up by studded cars or freshly polished? If you are running anything less than menard ice racing tires or homebuilt studded tires, you will most likely go faster by slowing down. With street studded tires or just rubber to ice, speed comes when you never break traction. Going as fast as the tires will allow, but not too fast, is a VERY difficult feel to acquire. If you are running menards or homebuilt, the best technique is to try to emulate the best rally drivers on gravel. Slide the car just enough to try to keep all four tires aimed in the same direction. Excessive under or oversteer costs time. You know you've done it right when after you set the car, you use less than 20 degrees of steering input to make slight adjustments to your track and at the exit, the car just straightens out on it's own and you are down the course to the next corner. When you do it right, to steal a concept from the movie Tin Cup, your internal tuning fork will chime and you'll be hooked fo sho. Here endeth ice driving lesson one. Mark Utecht Not an expert, just experienced.
Next time I'm at Menards I'll be sure to ask the GM to star ordering some menderal bend U pipes with you in mind. Did I miss something here, what's at the end of the intake inside the compartment? Lesson 1 noted. Interested in how you would manage a situation where you have taken a corner too fast and the car is really understeering on the ice. From your many years of experience can you describe how you are sensing traction on a icey surface? As setup is a factor, and ice doesn't give as much feed back like on gravel or tarmac. What are you sensing for and how do you develope these sensories. Yes, its true, I'm very BIG into sensory. As a good doctor once told me I'm an Exter-inverted person. That would explain why I suck soo bad in those arcade racing games.
There is nothing on the end inside. Just like there is nothing inside the fender on the OEM plumbing. In the understeer condition you describe, you need to come off the brakes some and/or reduce the steering input to get the front hooked up again. For most drivers, easing up on the brake will get things hooked up again. An advanced tactic of a little throttle while keeping the same steering and brake levels can sometimes help also. This requires SERIOUS left foot braking ability. If you know you are going off, (track, road, whatever) you would be best off to straighten the car out and go straight off. There are many upsides to this. If you hit something, the front crush structure will protect you. If you don't hit anything, you may be able to back up onto the road. If your stuck in a snowbank, it is MUCH easier to pull out a car that went straight in. If you hit the curb or snowbank sideways, you could end up on your lid, bad deal. As a final warning on this idea, never pull the parking brake while trying to regain control of a car. The hand brake can help you give control away but it will never help get it back To be honest, the "sensing" of what the car is doing on ice is mostly a gut reaction. Each person can develop it with practice, practice, practice. After a LOT of seat time, you will be able to "feel" the loss of grip beginning, even on ice. Even after all my experience, I still find myself questioning if I was really loosing grip or just imagining it. I got some practice the last two days running around to all the extended family activities for Christmas. As to what you are feeling for, any slight difference in attitude of the car based on the inputs you are making. I mean a little less braking for the given pedal pressure, a little less weight in the steering wheel, etc... I'm with you on video games. If the seat doesn't move, I suck at it. That being said, Flying ACES at MOA is addictive and very cool. Lots of sensory input. One of the owners used to be a fairly serious autocross competitor. He understands "feel" in your seat. In case you're interested, http://www.flyaces.com/index.html
I hate to be interviewing you on the forums, but I'd really like to know what's been the biggest or toughest challenge for you in your years of motorsports in getting you to where you are now? Feel free to pm as needed. I really appreciate your insight on my questions and look forward to another great year with your club and alike. And hope you have room for a little guy like me in your car. Maybe we could start a 20 questions thread! Motorsports related of course. We'll call it "Picking Utecht's brain!" -Cheech
You know I had to respond to this hehe. I can tell you that I have driven a Million Dollar driving simulator, and I have spent a ton of time at Aces and I can tell you that I have yet to find a true to life driving sim. On the other hand the flight simulators motion is easier due to the fact you have far less variability in the air, ruts, potholes, curbes etc... If you spend the time to learn to drive a simulator you will become a better driver. If nothing else it will improve hand eye coordination. The bigest mistake people make in any performance driving situation is "Overdriving". The sim is no different, all noobys do the same thing, I yell brake and they keep going thinking I'm insane, then they miss the apex and its all over. We currently have 3 full simulators in our basement and I would invite both of you to come over and spend some quality time honing your skills. We do everything online which is nice because you can follow others around to track to begin with. I was actually thinking of making this a weekly event where we could take up to 6 people once a week provinding up to 1 hour of track time to each person. What do you guys think? Fo more information check out www.rfactorcentral.com and of course, www.wagnerraceproducts.com. Mike
My biggest challenge is always resources. Whether that is money, time, help, parts, the car itself. All the friends that have helped me build and repair the cars are invaluable. More than that, an understanding wife with a good job and desire for travel to non-traditional vacation locations is the main reason I am so lucky. If you meant what was my biggest driving challenge, it has to be learning how to drive a 430 Hp rear drive car on gravel, mud, and busted up pavement. Every other race car I've had has been mostly a put your foot in it and steer type of car. My current rally car is NOT that type of car. As to the 20 questions thread, I'd be happy to do it as long as everyone understand that if my time resource gets stretched, replies to the thread may get slow. It is ice race season after all. When you rally, rallycross and ice race, there is no off season. Mark
You make it sound like driving a race car requires more skill than flying! I knew I liked you. In all seriousness, Mike's sim system is awesome and I suck at it. My biggest problem is depth perception looking at a 2D screen. I was not raised with computers (yea, I'm an old guy) and it is something I just haven't been able to aquire. Just like driving, seat time is everything. Screen time is everything with all sims. Just like driving, everytime you are in a car, it can be practice for racing, every time you are using a driving sim, you pick up more skills intepreting the input from the system. I would be happy to come over and crash cyber cars for a while. Let me know when and I will try to make it.
I am also a General Aviation pilot - fun only We can adjust the Field of Vision to help you out there, we also heve several different views. We can also turn up the force feedback to give you a better sense of the car as well. The day we were a Brainerd I just didn't get a chance to work with each driver much. Mike
Alright Mayham83 when is your off season? I am sure others like me have lots of very good questions to ask you about racing as I believe you exceed most of us with your years of expertise. And I would have to agree, I have also been blessed with a very supported wife and friends along the way. And Mike Wagner aka Sim's master-the game just got more interesting. I had no idea your Sim's was that diverse and the fact that you're willing to accommodate and help entertain some of us old schools to fit in is cool. I hope your not just trying to louwer us into a few good laugh, but in any case it will be a worth while experience and time well spent. On my off season I am often reading a few books, doing a few laps at Prokart Indoors with Fuji and friends or working with BMW. Just let us know what your schedule is like and I would be more than happy to come hang out and learn and experience what the Sims can offer. I’ll bring some drinks! So does your Sims take quarters or bills?
Lets go crowd the Ferrari F355 3-screen game at MOA!! lolz Heel-toe-revmatch-downshift skills learn there!!! Yes, I would LOVE to learn more and add it to what I can already do. I've done LOTS of reading in the past and have had the chance to get some seat time at St Cloud and also DCTC. I've had my good fun out there on the gravel and snow as well. Running with stock suspension and all season tires really paid off in getting to know the feel of what the car does with driver inputs.
As he said before, he has no off season... But if you want to pick his brains about driving and then try things out, you really should come rallycross with us. We're meeting on the 5th of Jan to plan the season, and everyone is invited to come join us (at the meeting, and at the events). Rallycross can be done with pretty much any car that meets basic safety requirements, so you don't have to invest in a separate car and spend a ton on a cage, etc. And you will learn to control the car better in low grip situations.
LOL.......Vector-I'll be there on the 5th, plz come introduce yourself. RallyCross is on my agenda for 08!
Are you staying for the banquet? I found out you don't need to be a member, just pay the 20.00 banquet registration. As to the 20 questions thread, fire away. I'll do my best. Mark
I plan to come to the meeting and banquet, I'm sure I'll be hungary by than. Are you serving another term for Snowy State? I know people from both, but I'm thinking I'll join the Snowy stated and do some more events with you guys at BIR and local rally events. I'll start another thread for the 20 questions and try to come up with some really good question, everyone is welcome to join the fun. This is great!
I will continue to serve as Snow States president and LoL comp board chair. Realize that if you plan to compete in ANY rallycross events next year, you will need to be an SCCA member, not a Snow States member. Regarding the banquet, I need you to send in your RSVP so we can get you in the count. let me know if you have anyone coming with you. Mark
Alright I'm confused now; RallyCross aka Cannon Falls? I'll join which ever club I'll need to do some simple rally and BIR events with you guys. I'll send in my RSVP tomorrow as I'm stuck at work, its just me that will be coming, but I've been know to eat for two. Utecht's Blog: go here http://www.mnsubaru.com/forums/showthread.php?p=387499#post387499
SCCA changed the rules regarding membership and RallyCross for 2008. In 2008 anyone competing in RallyCross will need to be a member of SCCA. However, in addition to the normal membership there is the option of a weekend membership at a reduced cost ($15 if I recall correctly), which can be credited against a full membership. Also, when I signed up for a full membership (since I'll be running the whole series and probably being a rallymaster for at least one), the form asked if I had been referred by someone. Figuring it would give credit to a friend, I looked up his member # (being the registrar for the 2007 series I had it in a database) and put it in. I don't know if he got anything out of it, but it gave me $15 off the $80 membership. So if anyone is going to get a full membership and wants a discount, you can contact me for a "reference." Typically we have charged non-members $10 more than members. Given the new rules, this will probably have to change, but costs have not been decided for next year (we will likely discuss that at the meeting).
Than perhaps I'll send in my RSVP for the banquet and deal with the club membership after the meeting?
