Cobra Chassis Race Challenge

[Richard Hudgins]

Bruce R,

The Tremec gearboxes are used in most of the cars built today. Therefore, I feel that this is a proper requirement as it fits the majority of the vehicles as built.

Also, I spec'd a 3.73 rear gear. Now, with a 3.73 you are going to need 5th gear at Willow. Chuck Miller's car (351 crate engine) has a 3.55 rear ratio and I am against the rev limiter (6500rpm) in 4th just past the pit entrance. (By the way, the rear tires on his are 315/35/17 not go kart tires) Some how it does not seem intelligent to drive 50% of the pit straight with the engine banging against the limiter. I would rather shift to the next gear.

(Also, the TA cars ran a few more revs than 6500. Therefore gearing would be different. If you noticed, I spec'd a 351 Ford crate engine. They are safe at 6500, any more and I would worry.)

As to the amount of laps. I am assuming that folks will have NEW Hoosiers on the cars.

Therefore, five laps to scrub them in and for the driver to get used to the behavior of the car.

Ten laps to allow for mistakes, still learning the car, etc. etc. I feel that ten laps would be correct and all of the cars would get a fair chance at their best time. Ten laps will only take 17>18 minutes worst case.

Hey, if you do not think that the Long course at Willow shows anything about handling, use the short course. but driving a car through cones leaves me a bit non plussed.

(Shades of Motor Trend testing, they drove a JBL through their cone things at Pomona a number of years ago at 76 mph. Or so they said, seemed pretty bogus to me. I did not see any timing stuff and the speed seems too high compared to the other cars they were testing.)