Prepping for SAAC 41 Track Event

[gt40gordy]

Attending SAAC 41 Convention at Mid Ohio next month and taking the Cobra for the track events.

Beyond harness's, extinguisher, roll bar requirements what other items would you consider for prepping the car. Main concern is oil pan/oil pressure issues during cornering and a better tire for track use.

My regular race cars are all dry sumped, so I'm not sure if a larger T-style pan is needed or if I can get by with standard issue.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

[Clois Harlan]

I believe your oil pan will be fine but the problem may come in when you are in the corners and all the oil is moving away from your pick up in your stock pan. I spun a Main bearing at Texas on the high banks using a stock pan. Never again. $500 for a race pan and about $8000 for a rebuild.


One of the first things they will check is your wheel bearings and ball joints. Make sure you don't have to much play in your wheels with them off the ground. Grab your tire at 3 and 9 oclock and see if you can detect any play between the wheel bearing and the hub.

[SwiftDB4]

If you go with sticky tires I wouldn't risk the stock pan. I run a Canton baffled pan with an Accusump on my GT40 at west coast tracks.. As I recall the Keyhole and the Carrousel at Mid Ohio are long high G force corners. There's a reason your race cars are dry sumped.

[gt40gordy]

Yeah, the corners I'm thinking that will have the most G load are Turn 1, definitely Keyhole and Paddock a bit.

I've raced at MO for many years, but always in F Atlantics and F Fords. I don't think I'll pull the G force of those, but thinking a much bigger pan would be good insurance, just getting too old and lazy to crawl under the car to change it out

Any recommendations for tires ? Don't want full on race rubber, maybe some comprimise like Avon or Blue Streaks. Running 15" wheels, so anyone with experience with any of those or another good brand please throw in your opinions. Thanks!

[gt40gordy]

So I made it out to SAAC 41 and got in several track sessions.

First upgrades to the car were :

Canton 7 quart race pan
Wilwood race pads for front
Hoosiers TD race tires
Better seat belts
Larger aluminum radiator
Comp seat from Kirkey

Had a blast but many glaringly obvious upgrades were needed. Car needed a bunch of camber that I couldn't get without major mods. Also, lots of body roll. So, the next round of changes were made.

Custom made rear roll bar
Modified upper a-arms for more camber adjustability
Splash shield for gas cap
Lowered ride height


Waterford Hills Vintage races allowed me to enter the car last weekend, and got to test the next ground of upgrades. Tons more planned but I'm getting closer. Still lots of body roll and will definitely need better shocks and heavier springs.

Plans for this fall.

Strip off anything that doesn't make the car faster (except paint !)
Bigger brakes
Shocks/springs
More horsepower
5 speed trans

Here's a couple of pics from Waterford