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Car,not guitar related

DocNrock

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Many of you here know me and I've built a number of Warmoth guitars.  In 2009 I got a Nissan GT-R.  After the break-in period, I realized there was no way to safely, sanely, or legally, stretch the car's legs on a public street or highway.  I learned about open track days and just intended to to do one.  It was so much fun, I was instantly addicted.  So much so, I haven't even picked up a guitar over the past two years.  Instead, I have focused my free time on modifying my GT-R for more power and overall performance.  Stock, the car makes 480 crank hp.  Currently, the car makes 540 awhp and 517 awtq on 91 octane (track map).  Modifications include Akuma big MAF intakes, AAM decatted downpipes, Cobb race catted midpipe, HKS Legamax catback exhaust, Injector Dynamics 1000 cc injectors, twin Walbro fuel pumps, AMS intercooler, Harmon Motive intercooler piping, and a Cobb Accessport custom dyno tune on 91 octane that reads 540 awhp and 517 awtq on a "heartbreaker" Mustang dyno.  Even though the stock car is rated at 480 crank hp, on this particular dyno, a stock car reads about 380 awhp, for a point of reference.  The car also has AP Racing J-hook brake rotors, Carbone Lorraines RC6E pads, Stillen stainless steel brake lines.  I also am running 285 tires on all four corners, as opposed to 255 front and 285 rear (OEM), and Stillen sway bars front and rear set at medium stiffness front and ful soft rear (which is still 67% stiffer than OEM).  I also have a KW coilover sleeve kit with the car dropped about an inch and corner balanced with a custom race alignment.  I'm still running on the stock tires, which are 200 treadwear runflats, LOL.  But they're pretty grippy for a street tire; I can usually hold 1.2 g sustained while cornering, with peaks to 1.5.

Basically, the car is a beast.  I have all but lost interest in guitar playing and have focused on track driving.  I've done about 20 track days over the past 2 years and went through the beginner, low intermediate, high intermediate, to advanced run groups during that time.  I've been running in advanced during the past 8 or 9 track days.

Recently, I have had the opportunity to run at Spring Mountain in Pahrump, NV.  I was there over the weekend and ran 3 of the 5 sessions each day.  This was my first time ever at this track.  For giggles, my best lap during the first session of the first day was 3:11; it is a 3.1 mile course.  By the end of the third session on the second day, I got down to a 2:41 lap.  After watching my video, I would change my line in a couple of places, brake later in a couple of places, and some areas where I was doing maintenance throttle I should be wide open throttle.  I think with these changes to my approach, I could probably drop another 10 seconds.

Here is my best lap of the weekend.  Like I said, this was my first time there, and there is plenty of room for improvement,  My next time there, I think I can do a 2:32, at least!  If you have track experience and have feedback to help, please feel free to post helpful hints.   Otherwise, enjoy!  And DBU, I want to see some track videos from you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOXk_dkX4co  
 
I've watched all your vids DocNrock and it makes me want to go driving.
Closest I can get is a racing sim called Live For Speed.

The only thing I don't like about your vids is that we never get to see the outside of your GT-R!
(this is where you reply with pics  :toothy11: )
 
^^^Thanks, AutoBat!  Here is a link to SP Engineering's "customer rides" blog that has a few shots of my car and the dyno plot.  Enjoy!  http://www.sp-power.com/2011/01/brents-r35-gtr-spe-tuned/

The dyno plot shows hp and tq curves for the two different tunes that I have available on the car.  One is a street tune, the other for track use.
 
Awesome ride you have there Doc.
I dabble in the Subarus, but anyone with petrol in their bloodstream knows all to well the GT-R.
I fantastic machine indeed.

1,000 cc injectors:  Man, you aren't playing around.  I imagine you still have IDC to spare.
Is the turbo next?
 
Watershed said:
Awesome ride you have there Doc.
I dabble in the Subarus, but anyone with petrol in their bloodstream knows all to well the GT-R.
I fantastic machine indeed.

1,000 cc injectors:  Man, you aren't playing around.  I imagine you still have IDC to spare.
Is the turbo next?

Thanks!  I previously had Deatschwerks 800cc injectors, but one went bad.  About that time, Injector Dynamics came out with their 1000cc injectors for the GT-R.  Plenty of IDC headroom, which I can tell you know is very important for a turbocharged car pushing the stock turbos to the limit, especially with large MAF intakes.  Lean = Boom.

Regarding the turbos, honestly, the car makes plenty of power for me.  There are some guys with upgraded turbos pushing almost 1000 awhp.  While great for drag racing, that much power would be very hard to harness on a road course, at least for me.  
 
Looks like you are having fun with Godzilla there!  I've been in the opposite position you are in Doc.  I've been playing with my guitar stuff too much recently to get my car ready for racing this year.  I'm adding a second Ford GT fuel pump and new fuel lines.

Sounds like you will be needing some dedicated track tires.  That was the best improvement I've done so far.  I'm running Nitto NT-01's.  Good reviews on them, DOT approved, and they last a long time.
 
I just spent the last two hours looking at used Lotus Elise & Exiges.  I'd love to do a track day somewhere.
 
AutoBat said:
I just spent the last two hours looking at used Lotus Elise & Exiges.  I'd love to do a track day somewhere.

Be careful....it is very addicting!  :icon_thumright:

crash said:
Looks like you are having fun with Godzilla there!  I've been in the opposite position you are in Doc.  I've been playing with my guitar stuff too much recently to get my car ready for racing this year.  I'm adding a second Ford GT fuel pump and new fuel lines.

Sounds like you will be needing some dedicated track tires.  That was the best improvement I've done so far.  I'm running Nitto NT-01's.  Good reviews on them, DOT approved, and they last a long time.

What kind of car do you race, Crash?  Regarding the track tires, that will be a way off.  NT01's are great tires, but they don't come in GT-R fitment.  I love just being able to arrive and drive.  If I do make the plunge, I've already decided on CCW 10.5x18's with Toyo RA1 305/35/18's on all 4 corners, shaved of course.
 
Those tires would be much more hardcore than the Nitto's.

I race a Lincoln Mark VIII.  I took a car that was not designed for drag racing or road racing and have slowly built it for both.  I've added a supercharger, Koni/Eibach suspension, subframe connectors, big ass brakes, etc.  There are no aftermarket parts for it so I have to engineer every upgrade, which is both fun and frustrating at the same time.

I still have a lot to do on it yet (will it ever be done?).  It's nice to go to an event then go to the board where all the times are posted and hear somebody with their new BMW M6 say "I got beat by a Lincoln?!"  That happened last summer.  The announcer at Brainerd International Raceway always makes Grey Poupon comments.  Good times, but recently I've been spending most of my disposable income on guitar stuff.
 
crash said:
Those tires would be much more hardcore than the Nitto's.

I race a Lincoln Mark VIII.  I took a car that was not designed for drag racing or road racing and have slowly built it for both.  I've added a supercharger, Koni/Eibach suspension, subframe connectors, big ass brakes, etc.  There are no aftermarket parts for it so I have to engineer every upgrade, which is both fun and frustrating at the same time.

I still have a lot to do on it yet (will it ever be done?).  It's nice to go to an event then go to the board where all the times are posted and hear somebody with their new BMW M6 say "I got beat by a Lincoln?!"  That happened last summer.  The announcer at Brainerd International Raceway always makes Grey Poupon comments.  Good times, but recently I've been spending most of my disposable income on guitar stuff.
I had a 96 Thunderbird (same chassis, similar body) to the Lincoln several years back.  I considered prepping it to get into SCCA races until I discovered that it would be in the same class as Mustang & Camaros, even though it had the 3.8 and, honestly, a terrible automatic gearbox.

I love that you can beat 'race bred' cars with your Lincoln.
What do you think drivers on the Nurburgring thought when Sabine Schmitz passed them in a Ford Transit diesel?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KiC03_wVjc
skip to 2:55 if you want the best lap, or watch it all plus part 1 for a good show.
 
AutoBat said:
crash said:
Those tires would be much more hardcore than the Nitto's.

I race a Lincoln Mark VIII.  I took a car that was not designed for drag racing or road racing and have slowly built it for both.  I've added a supercharger, Koni/Eibach suspension, subframe connectors, big ass brakes, etc.  There are no aftermarket parts for it so I have to engineer every upgrade, which is both fun and frustrating at the same time.

I still have a lot to do on it yet (will it ever be done?).  It's nice to go to an event then go to the board where all the times are posted and hear somebody with their new BMW M6 say "I got beat by a Lincoln?!"  That happened last summer.  The announcer at Brainerd International Raceway always makes Grey Poupon comments.  Good times, but recently I've been spending most of my disposable income on guitar stuff.
I had a 96 Thunderbird (same chassis, similar body) to the Lincoln several years back.  I considered prepping it to get into SCCA races until I discovered that it would be in the same class as Mustang & Camaros, even though it had the 3.8 and, honestly, a terrible automatic gearbox.

I love that you can beat 'race bred' cars with your Lincoln.
What do you think drivers on the Nurburgring thought when Sabine Schmitz passed them in a Ford Transit diesel?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KiC03_wVjc
skip to 2:55 if you want the best lap, or watch it all plus part 1 for a good show.
Besides being Hawt, she's a kick ass driver... :icon_thumright:

I've watched that episode numerous times...
 
Death by Uberschall said:
Watershed said:
1,000 cc injectors:  Man, you aren't playing around.  

My injectors are BIGGER!!!!  :toothy10:

But you've got a 4-banger!   :laughing7:  IIRC, your whp is similar to mine.  Are you running E85?  I don't remember.

crash said:
I race a Lincoln Mark VIII.  I took a car that was not designed for drag racing or road racing and have slowly built it for both.  I've added a supercharger, Koni/Eibach suspension, subframe connectors, big ass brakes, etc.  There are no aftermarket parts for it so I have to engineer every upgrade, which is both fun and frustrating at the same time.

I still have a lot to do on it yet (will it ever be done?).  It's nice to go to an event then go to the board where all the times are posted and hear somebody with their new BMW M6 say "I got beat by a Lincoln?!"  That happened last summer.  The announcer at Brainerd International Raceway always makes Grey Poupon comments.  Good times, but recently I've been spending most of my disposable income on guitar stuff.

Not the easiest platform to modify/race, that is for sure.  I can just imagine the smile you get when you hear a comment like that said by the M6 driver.   :occasion14:

And I echo Doug's comment on Sabine.
 
DocNrock said:
Death by Uberschall said:
Watershed said:
1,000 cc injectors:  Man, you aren't playing around.  

My injectors are BIGGER!!!!  :toothy10:

But you've got a 4-banger!   :laughing7:  IIRC, your whp is similar to mine.  Are you running E85?  I don't remember.

No E85 down here in Louisiana which really sucks. I'm currently running 1280cc injectors which are putting me at 70-80% duty cycle under 30psi boost. I might have to go bigger when I crank it up to 35-38psi on C16.
 
Death by Uberschall said:
I might have to go bigger when I crank it up to 35-38psi on C16.

Got a fresh head gasket lying around?   :laughing7:

j/k...I'm only running 17 psi midrange with a taper to 14 at redline.
 
DocNrock said:
Death by Uberschall said:
I might have to go bigger when I crank it up to 35-38psi on C16.

Got a fresh head gasket lying around?   :laughing7:

j/k...I'm only running 17 psi midrange with a taper to 14 at redline.

Running a Cometic with the built in fire-ring and A1 H11 studs that have been proven up to 60psi.  :icon_thumright:

Same head studs as this guy. And yes, this is a no nitrous 2.0L 4 banger.  :laughing7:
[youtube=425,350]NFyWYDEL9CY[/youtube]
 
Death by Uberschall said:
DocNrock said:
Death by Uberschall said:
I might have to go bigger when I crank it up to 35-38psi on C16.

Got a fresh head gasket lying around?   :laughing7:

j/k...I'm only running 17 psi midrange with a taper to 14 at redline.

Running a Cometic with the built in fire-ring and A1 H11 studs that have been proven up to 60psi.  :icon_thumright:

Wow!  6.97!  I think you're safe turning up the wick a bit.  :icon_thumright:

That must've been at least a 2+ g launch.  He had to work a bit to keep it out of the wall, too!
 
Death by Uberschall said:
DocNrock said:
Death by Uberschall said:
I might have to go bigger when I crank it up to 35-38psi on C16.

Got a fresh head gasket lying around?   :laughing7:

j/k...I'm only running 17 psi midrange with a taper to 14 at redline.

Running a Cometic with the built in fire-ring and A1 H11 studs that have been proven up to 60psi.  :icon_thumright:

Same head studs as this guy. And yes, this is a no nitrous 2.0L 4 banger.  :laughing7:
[youtube=425,350]NFyWYDEL9CY[/youtube]

Saw him at Muscle Car Shootout up in Brainerd in 2009.  Don't remember seeing him there last year though.  Impressive build.
 
for those that park on the street: someone would like your wheels more than you
http://thethrottle.thechive.com/2011/06/16/some-days-start-off-worse-than-others-28-pictures/
(come for the Bentley & GT-R's, stay for the police cars)
 
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