Grassroots Motorsports
Issue link: http://grassrootsmotorsports.epubxp.com/i/501675
Grassroots Motorsports 108 Don't have all of the needed skills for a project–and not enough time to learn them? Don't be afraid to farm out those jobs. Juliann Pokor inding Road Racing handled the cage work. FEATURE: BUILDING A WINNER Step 3: The 80/20 Rule Here's another adage regarding success- ful project cars: The fnal 20 percent of the job takes 80 percent of the project's total effort. Incomplete knowledge of the problem, a tendency to overanalyze, and the desire to put the "absolute best" solu- tion on any part of the car all make the tail end of a project take longer than expected. Let's look at our Miata. Initially we're going to use the wheels and tires from the CRX because they bolt right into place. Ultimately, however, we'll want to experi- ment with larger wheels and tires, since the Miata opens us to options that were not available for the CRX. Similarly, our plan is to build up a rear end with an OS Giken limited-slip. Get- ting it right is going to require testing and sorting–and that takes time and effort. We'll just bolt in an OE Torsen to get us going. Step 4: Drive the Car in as Many Circumstances as Possible The best way to net a running car as early as possible? Get out there and use it. Drive it on the street, run it on a variety of tracks, autocross it, drag race and so on. Each of these venues serves as a data point and will reveal valuable and unique information to further refne your devel- opment plan. It might also expose weak points or parts failures. If all you ever do is run at the same track–or the same autocross lot–your setup will be less versatile. Knowing how to adjust to conditions is just as important as knowing how to make it fast in the frst place. Step 5: Get On the Right Tires Right Now The single biggest contributor to vehicle performance, outside of the driver, is the tire choice. The sooner you get on some- thing that's in the ballpark of the fnal answer, the more relevant your data will be and the less back-tracking your develop- ment effort will entail. And if you are running tires with limited life remaining, use fresh tires for setup testing. Old tires are great for having fun, but are a complete waste of time for development. Step 6: Work With the Top Drivers and Use Their Experience Do you know everything about every- thing? Of course you don't. But there are lots of folks out there that know everything about something–or at least a lot more about it than you do. Many of them are happy to share that knowledge via forums, email, phone calls or good old-fashioned, face-to-face discussion. If your project is unique, they may take a special interest in helping you out. That's why getting out on track early is important. This is also why it's important to make connections at events like the year-end championships as well as the MSX, PRI and SEMA trade shows. In just a single day, you can vet ideas that would take months of phone calls and email exchanges to discuss. Sure, it's very fulflling to build every- thing yourself, and if that's your style, go for it. But if actually driving and competing is the goal, farm out what you can afford. We love rebuilding engines and transmis- sions, but it takes time. And if you need to rely on a component for an endurance event, pro-built parts can make or break you. andy hollis photos