Can a Prelude race competitively on a national level? You judge...

[mdeyer]

Next week, we'll all find out. The 'Lude is going to the SCCA Solo 2 National Championship in Topeka, Kansas!

I've been racing it at the local level for about 1 1/2 years now, and I decided that it's time to see what it can do against the best and newest in the same class. For those of you unfamiliar with SCCA and its class structure, you can go here to see what is in the same class:
http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/List...stockc.html#DS

As you see, there is some serious competition. For some background, my car is a 1995 VTEC, and the only changes I've made are a Thermal R&D cat-back system, a K&N filter, and a set of Bosch Platinum +4 plugs. Oh, I also race on Kumho Ecsta V700 R-compound tires. Aside from those, no changes have been made (in keeping with the SCCA Stock Category rules).

I attended one National-level race (some of the best drivers from around the country) earlier this year. My competition there consisted of two ITR's, two different drivers in the same BMW 330CI, and two drivers in an S4. All the drivers have been racing at this level for years, so my expectations weren't high. As it turns out, I beat both of the S4 drivers (and they were using stickier tires!). Results for that race are here:
http://www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/pr...r/results.html (scroll down to D Stock)

That was my second ever race on the R-compound race tires. Considering everything, I decided to try my hand against the big boys. One of the nationally competitive drivers (in another class) produces a forecast based on results from the current year's races. Remember, my ranking is based on one race, that being my second time on race tires. You can see the forecast here:
http://PonyCar.Net/Solo_2_DS.htm

For anyone who might be interested (if you've read this far!), you will be able to see the results on this page:
http://www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/nationals/index.html

About next Friday (9-13) or so, results should be posted. I'm supposed to land in 22nd place, but I hope to do better than that. Contingency money is paid thru 3rd, and trophies go to 10th place...I'll do what I can to get into the trophies, at least!

If there's anyone who wants to see what their Prelude can do, I highly encourage it. Go to this page:
http://www.scca.org/interactive/regions.html
Find the region closest to you, and go out and race! You don't have to be a member, you don't have to worry about your car, and it's not any more expensive than drag racing at the strip. In fact, if you want the best of both worlds, take a look here:
http://www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/prosolo/index.html

It's as big a blast as you can have! (Just for kicks, I put down a .507 and a .509 reaction time on consecutive runs...that feels *good*!!!) Hope to see some of you out there at some races later this year and next year!
-Mike Deyer
DS 4 1995 Prelude VTEC

[b16a3sol]

good luck.

[cybercrx00]

About the only thing I would say is throw away thosh bosch plugs and get some NGK or Denso ones

[Phily]

wow good luck bro
you are basically doing what all us LUDE dudes want to do
heheh

but i have to recommend to you
to use NGK-r spark plugs over the bosch

its just a niddy griddy thing of mine
i figure if you have a japanese car you shoudl go with the ngk's

[mdeyer]

hehe...I'll think about the NGKs. The +4's seem to do a great job so far, and I can have them replaced for the next 100k miles, so it'll be a stretch for me to actually *purchase* a new set! Thanks for the luck...I have a feeling I'm gonna need it! :smoker2:

[Jay!]

Yeah, best of luck. Get pics for us!!!

[mdeyer]

Pics, pics, and more pics (if I can convince my wife to carry the cameras)! I know for a fact that I'll have in-car videos for each of the 6 runs, unless I forget to charge the battery... The main problem will be dragging me away from them for long enough to burn them to CD; I still have about 60 runs sitting on tape from the last year! Soon, perhaps...
-Mike