A Little Update on GTWC Chassis #3

May get some mixed reviews - some who prefer vintage liveries - others who appreciate personalization . . .
Glen and I have spent some time tearing down and re-fitting GTWC Chassis #3. It is a work in progress . . . but thought we might share a look.

From an operations perspective, Glen and I both particpate frequently with Chin Motorsports. We had an opportunity to get the car out at Sebring back in December for a post purchase "shake down" and found the car to be in great shape and seemed to handle neutral. At that outing it still had the vintage "Panoz Racing Series" livery.

http://home.cfl.rr.com/g8rbob/VintageLook.jpg

Since then we brought the car into the shop and spent a couple of months on the body and the body-off chassis.

That was a pretty good eye-opener into why the car seemed to drive so much smaller than it appeared. Inside these bodies is a V-8 GO CART. There is a significant offset between the body and chassis in all directions.

We did a lot of fiberglass repair, combed over chassis, inspected welds, paid a lot of attention to the items identified by the Panoz Team as points to inspect/repair, deep cleaned the interior, added an Analog Tach and provisions for a cluster of additional higher visibility gauges, and generally got as familiar with all aspects of the car as we could. We also added some color prior to doing a complete aligned refit of the body panels.

http://home.cfl.rr.com/g8rbob/InProcessS.jpghttp://home.cfl.rr.com/g8rbob/InProcessR.jpg

http://home.cfl.rr.com/g8rbob/InProcessD.jpghttp://home.cfl.rr.com/g8rbob/InProcessF.jpg

The car cleaned up real well and the body panels aligned nicely with some extra care and fitting. There is still some graphic work to be designed and done. It's hard for a couple of rocket farmers to get out of the engineering half and into the artistic side of the brain.

We did get a chance to really flog the car at Roebling Road early this month and even though I think we both turned our best laps to date on the circuit, there are still several seconds left. Unofficially, between three drivers we saw lap times from 1:20 to 1:30. I am the slow man but I'm still grinnin. I have only driven street prepared cars before, but it may be a while before Glen's Lotus 350 Sport (TT V-8 Esprit) and my 996TT get to see more lap time.

We'll be at Sebring for two days mid April and give you some feedback from there.

bob

More to follow

Bob,

Nice to have ya at the panoz gt forum, car looks good. looks like we are getting all verions of the Gt cars on the site. GTRA, GTWC, GTS.

IT'S ALL GOOD, Nice paint. I have a white GTRA, and I am contemplating a chrome organge ( lotus color, 997 gt3 rs) sytle paint with flat black panels in high wear spot and maybe the hood. I've gone thru the car as you guys have, corner balanced it, dialed it in as much as I can used a local race shop for the rest. Did not due a body off, my car had old 240 hours and was very clean to start. Anyway, the 4.6 with 315hp should run nice when in tune. I picked mine up as a dedicated track car, and retired my Lotus.

Lots of good tech. info coming to the board, we welcome your input.

Bob,

Nice to meet you two at Roebling two weeks ago. Jim aka Gator AC will be at Sebring with Chin in April as well. I Signed up for that event in May. Are you going to that event?

I just got back from Roebling with Seat-Time. I changed front springs to 450 and the rear to 350. I still have a lot of understeer. I will make another spring change before next month Barber event.

David

Bob,

Nice to meet you two at Roebling two weeks ago. Jim aka Gator AC will be at Sebring with Chin in April as well. I Signed up for that event in May. Are you going to that event?

I just got back from Roebling with Seat-Time. I changed front springs to 450 and the rear to 350. I still have a lot of understeer. I will make another spring change before next month Barber event.

David

I drove my RA car today with slicks (Kuhmo V710's) for the first time. I had previously changed out the springs to 550 lb front, and 350 Lb rear. This set up was great. It stuck like nothing else. Was nice and neutral in all corners. I knocked 5 seconds off my previous time at Sandia MS. Today I ran several 1:31's, and 3 weeks ago all I could get was 1:36 on Pirelli rocks. The car corners flat, and turned in very well. I had great grip on the rear too. The lack of power (verses the Vette) makes it much easier to open up the throttle at apex.
My sway bar is still on the soft setting. I may try the hard setting, just to see the difference.
First race is second week in April. I've got Hoosiers Cups for that event. I'm wishing it could be tomorrow.
More later...

Wow.... looks great!