The Eagle has landed

I just picked up my GT-RA car this weekend from Greenville, SC. Chassis #25, car #1. Australian motor with some of the frame mods done. Based on a few laps around the neighborhood, the car seems pretty solid except for squeeling idler pulley. I'm going through the car this week and trying to get to Gainesville, FL to shake it down a bit. I'm sure I'll be getting into the motor before too long...

Here are a few pictures in case you guys don't know what these cars look like:

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg86/jmimac351/IMG_1605.jpg?t=1208747598

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg86/jmimac351/IMG_1590.jpg?t=1208747370

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg86/jmimac351/IMG_1594.jpg?t=1208747497

Welcome to the club. Looks like you got a good car. How many hours on the chassis, and motor?
There are many great posts on this site on what to inspect and check out. For my car the alignment and ride height are two biggies. Get that set up correctly and the car should handle pretty well from the get go. A good general nut-n-bolt tightening was also a good thing to do. I think I took about 60 hours to go thru the car before it's maiden track day. But I had more time since I picked up my car in December, and track days weren't happening....
Enjoy the car. You'll have many great times in it!

Hi Jerry. I've been reading through a lot of things already and it's been very helpful. The car has 430 hours on it. Not sure how accurate that is. The motor doesn't smoke, the tranny shifts easy, and the brakes feel solid - so we're off to a good start. The car does look like it's sitting a little crooked so I do need to check the ride height. I built my Factory Five so this thing looks like a piece of cake to work on. And I've owned my '92 mustang since new so I'm trying to remember all of the tricks I used to know. It needs some TLC for it to be as nice as I'd like it to be. Right now I'm debating about which way I want to go with the motor as I know for sure I want more power.

Based on a few laps around the neighborhood, the car seems pretty solid... I'm betting that your garage is the new "kid magnet" of the neighborhood. :lol:

Welcome to the forum. Looks like a nice car, you've got some really fun days ahead of you.

Nice Car, welcome to the Panoz ranks, you'll have alot of fun going over the car. Lots of garage time and a beer or two. The explorer motor should be strong, looking fwd to some more info. from builds, and upgrades. Taking mine to Homestead this weekend PCA/Pboc. Fourth day at the track, get some better tires on it, BBS will sell u new wheels for 500 a set, reset the camber, caster, check the rake and ride height, spindles, rotor hats, suspension bolts.etc. Good luck.

I'm betting that your garage is the new "kid magnet" of the neighborhood. :lol:

Welcome to the forum. Looks like a nice car, you've got some really fun days ahead of you.

Given how many cars I have in and out of my garage I'm fairly certain my neighbors think I have a mental illness - and they'd be right.

By the way, I am in the Orlando area. I plan on heading down to Sebring often and I'd like to get down to Homestead and even Moroso. I've had my cobra roadster on Sebring and expect this will be a lot more fun.

I guess you think your #1 now. Good looking car. Call me if you need any help.

See you at the track

David

I guess you think your #1 now. Yeah, I wonder about someone who shows up at the track with #1 on his car. Personally, I couldn't take the pressure... :wink:

I guess you think your #1 now. Good looking car. Call me if you need any help.

See you at the track

David

The #1 on his car means he'll be the first car behind me...:lol: :icon16: :smooch:

It's either a number or a finger, depending on the circumstances.

I guess you think your #1 now. Good looking car. Call me if you need any help.

See you at the track

David

Thanks David. You'll see me around for sure. Not sure if you know Bob Gassie but he is picking up a car on Thursday in Greenville. (Bob was at Roebling in March) Another cobra guy, David Wiedman, came over this past weekend and is "thinking" about one. My parents live in Statham, GA and I'd like to get up there to Road Atlanta sometime.

Jim

Road Atlanta with Chin in November. That's the plan. Barber in September. Sebring May 3-4. Don't be a pussy now. Get that car on the track.:grinyes:

Any surprises, now that you've had it a few days?

Road Atlanta with Chin in November. That's the plan. Barber in September. Sebring May 3-4. Don't be a pussy now. Get that car on the track.:grinyes:

Any surprises, now that you've had it a few days?

I haven't found much of anything yet and it's making me nervous. Besides the fuel can being rusty and part of the harness running underneath the bellhousing so it will get caught on something... The radiator shows it being manufactured a year ago (Griffin) and installed in August (log book) along with seals in the axle and a new power steering pump. And I've only driven it around the neighborhood but already wish it had more power.

Jim,
It's not a show car nut and bolt the thing ,fix any issues that would sideline you at the track. Sign up for Chins Road Atlanta deal ( 13 solo spots left) and drive it. You don't need more HP you need to drive the thing. Think of it as a realy big Miata. No HP will make you a better driver.

Have A Great Day

David

Jim,
It's not a show car nut and bolt the thing ,fix any issues that would sideline you at the track. Sign up for Chins Road Atlanta deal ( 13 solo spots left) and drive it. You don't need more HP you need to drive the thing. Think of it as a realy big Miata. No HP will make you a better driver.

Have A Great Day

David

David, I was kidding about the Cessna and your sage advice is well taken. But since I'm not a communist, I'm going to add a little hp before it's too late... :icon16:

David, are you going to RA on Monday, June 2? I'll be at Sebring the weekend before. I think I'll go to the November event since I can get two days out of it and see family on the holiday. It's a two-fer.

That man is correct drive the car, learn the car,being fast without the hp is the skill. Then when you get the ponies the car is just that much better. I learned in a lotus elise, I would carry more speed thru turns then most and get beat on the straights by poor drivers in high hp cars. I plan on changing that with the Panzer.

Panoz302, I will be to adding a little more power sooner rather than later as this isn't my first rodeo and I'm not sure any of us will ever lack room for improvement. I'm just talking about carrying a little speed down the straights to have fun and there's sure as hell nothing wrong with that. My first priority is having fun in my car as it allows for some things that my other cars (not listed below) have not. I think maybe there are inferences going on here that I didn't mean to imply. Like everyone else, I'll be working on how to carry more speed through turn 17 at Sebring. I'm not as good as many, but I'm better than some. :icon16:

I take it you are no longer selling your car?

Jim, I am regestered for the June 2nd, and plan to be there in November.

David

Jim,

Everything is for sale, I just rotate cars often, usually have two or three sports cars. The Panoz was a spur of the moment purchase from Hayes as it was a good deal. I am not a mechanic, but a CPA, I like to tinker. And the Panoz sometime requires more than that. Mine is in good shape now so I will drive it for a while and see what happens. It has alot of pros and some cons, ( negitive- steering light, brakes hard) but these are my opinions , and some of it is getting more seat time. I am doing two days this weekend at HMS so I will get another taste. I only hope I do not have this aging fuel cell problem. My friend Manny has a same generation car as mine as his cell is starting to give him problems. See you guys at one of the tracks.

Mitch

Jim, I am regestered for the June 2nd, and plan to be there in November.

DavidI did too, but for some reason they put me in the Intermediate Solo group. I emailed Mark and requested he change me to Advanced, but haven't heard anything yet. But regardless of where they put me, I'll be there and I'll look you guys up.

Squerly, It may be that you have not been to a Chin event before or if you have maybe you have not soloed with them before. I am just assuming. In any case you can ask to get bumped. The worst he can say is no.

David

Squerly, It may be that you have not been to a Chin event before or if you have maybe you have not soloed with them before. I am just assuming. In any case you can ask to get bumped. The worst he can say is no.

DavidYes, I heard from Mark and he acknowledged that it was because I hadn't soloed with them at RA. I drive advanced with Chin at Barber and Roebling but he says that they are conservative and want to put an instructor with me to be sure. And that's fine. I'm happy just to be going to be honest. I didn't even sign up until last night so I was thrilled to find that there was any room at all.

Jim,

Everything is for sale, I just rotate cars often, usually have two or three sports cars. The Panoz was a spur of the moment purchase from Hayes as it was a good deal. I am not a mechanic, but a CPA, I like to tinker. And the Panoz sometime requires more than that. Mine is in good shape now so I will drive it for a while and see what happens. It has alot of pros and some cons, ( negitive- steering light, brakes hard) but these are my opinions , and some of it is getting more seat time. I am doing two days this weekend at HMS so I will get another taste. I only hope I do not have this aging fuel cell problem. My friend Manny has a same generation car as mine as his cell is starting to give him problems. See you guys at one of the tracks.

Mitch

That's good. That guy you spoke to is picking up a car today in Greenville. He and I both have Factory Five cobras and we both bought AGR power steering rack setups for those cars (to convert from manual). The AGR racked was spec'd out by AGR for the Factory Five (to have less assist). He installed his and said he expected a little more assist but that it was good for racing. I think Bob's FFR is at 2,500 pounds. I haven't installed mine but am wondering how it might work in the Panoz. I've since gone to a different tire / wheel setup in the FFR and the manual steering is much more friendly than it was. I think I am going to keep that rack on the side possibly for future reference. The limited driving I've done in the car does feel a little light. Bob drove it and mentioned the same. I don't mind tinkering either - that's part of the fun.

If you decide to change the rack you might check into that AGR setup.

Jim

Oh, and I noticed the same about the brake pedal feel and wondered how it would be at speed. We'll see! I think Eastman mentioned they worked fine for him. Dave is good though...

Squerly, I will be instructing at RA. Ask Mark if I can ride with you.


David

Squerly, I will be instructing at RA. Ask Mark if I can ride with you.


DavidThanks David, I appreciate that. I may just stay in the slower group and sort my car out. This will be the first event since having a major amount of work done on the car and it might not be a bad idea to get a feel for my NEW car. I'll be driving at the Peach State DE (at Road Atlanta) the following Sat/Sun (group 4) and Chin will be a good warm up.

BTW, here is my car as of a week ago!

http://www.squerly.com/panoz_small.JPG

Squerly, did you file a police report?

I'm happy to report that all the safety equipment worked as advertised... :grinyes:

I'm happy to report that all the safety equipment worked as advertised... :grinyes:

Oh so that's what happened. I thought maybe you parked it in the wrong part of town. Glad you are ok. :cwm27:

Did you have one of those new crushable front ends?

David

Did you have one of those new crushable front ends?

DavidI doubt it was by design, but it sure worked out that way. But it's all good. I bought this car because I was starting to race instead of just DE, and I didn't want to damage my 996TT. I did pretty well my first 3 races but while at practice (a day before race #4) I got loose on a wet track and was rudely introduced to the wall.



Squerly, I will be instructing at RA. Ask Mark if I can ride with you.


DavidDon't worry Dave, I won't hold you to that offer... :lol:

Dang... been absent for a bit... first a dead motor, then an off! Pay to play brother!

man do I agree with David about the HP...learn the car first...get smooth...this is a purpose built car and will be VERY different to the Mustang or Cobra...I've found that this thing will really take what you dish out...but if you go to high limits right away, you'll never get to know what this thing can do with a momentum driver...they're a hoot, but an acquired taste and a real challenge to drive fast...congrats on the purchase and go have fun!! And watch for fuel cell foam breakdown...guess that's my mantra after having four cars do the same thing...david

Funny You mentioned momentom car. This past weekend at Sebring I got sent out in front of a Spec racer ford ( a momentom car). I pointed him by going into two. We stayed nose to tail for 5 or 6 laps. It seemed that the two cars were very even power to weight ratio. When you look at and here a GTRA the last thing that comes to mind is a momentom car.

David

I'd say you did very well staying with the SRF...if you are still on the Pirellis, either you've got some skill, or the SRF wasn't using much Momentum :tongue: The car really does reward smooth entry and early gas...its fun to get the aircraft carrier rollin'.....on the other hand, as a wise old racer once said,
"A couple hundred more horses and you'd have a lot more momentum!" :lol2:

David

Sorry, I think I used the wrong icon...old fart learing about forums...not sure what the purple face actually means...! david

Dang... been absent for a bit... first a dead motor, then an off! Pay to play brother!Yes, the learning curve has been a little excessive, that's for sure. :biggrin: