nissannx
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| 07-07-2009 07:55 AM |
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Just an update for those of you who are interested in following our family racing venture. I managed to maintain my lead over my daughter, Katie, but just barely. At Mosport Grand Prix track on the weekend she completed the 2.49 mile 10 corner track in 112.524 seconds to my 111.041 seconds. In our class I was third behind a Miata (109.657) and a Mustang GT (109.942), then Katie, then a GTI (115.559) and another Miata (116.413). More telling, last year my best time was 112.191 seconds and it has taken me a few years to get to that point. Katie is unofficially second in the novice standings of the CASC-OR SoloSprint competition and, these standings are based upon a mathematical calculation of time, car class, etc., rather than fastest times, is in 11th overall compared to my 7th overall. For comparison purposes, the fastest time of the day was a Z06 Corvette that ran 92.185 so our GA16DE powered Nissan was only 20 seconds off of the pace! Not bad for a cute car!  The article is in the feature's section of motoIQ.com and for more details of Mosport International Raceway's Grand Prix track, please go to www.mosport.com or www.frankewald.com |
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Wes
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Posts:138
Wisconsin
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| 07-07-2009 04:52 PM |
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Nice work Franke. Congrats to you and your daughter! My girls are 2 and 5 days old so it will be years before we are racing together but I am counting the days for sure. As it stands Parker already likes to "drive the wheel" and loves handing me tools to help work on Project 200sx. The best part about your story is the time shared with family doing something you both love to do, the fact that it is in an underdog NX1600 makes it that much more fun! Keep the updates coming for sure! |
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nissannx
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| 07-07-2009 05:35 PM |
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Thanks, Wes. It's been great to see what you and others have done with the GA16 and, in our own way, for Katie and myself to open things up a little bit more. The family time is truly something to be treasured - and like most fathers and daughters we haven't always seen eye to eye. In fact, while we spent the morning at Mosport not going more than 65% while focusing on the line we shared some thoughts about my skill as a coach! LOL. Spend time with your two little ones, read to them daily, watch cars once in a while, and continue to involve them in your project 200SX. And maybe sometime we'll spend some time on the track together with our two GA powered vehicles. While on the track my car always has on a sticker reading "More than the sum of my parts!" - and that really sums up my thoughts about my car.
Regards,
Frank |
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nissannx
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| 08-04-2009 11:36 AM |
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Katie had the opportunity to add up a lot of track kilometres yesterday. We hosted a lapping day in which we had 20 participants and 10 driving coaches/pit out crew. 6 of the 20 participants were ladies and it was great to watch them enhance their driving skills on the track. As this is the 'summer lull' in our CASC-OR SoloSprint Series this lapping event gave Katie the chance to work on her technical skills at Mosport's Driver Developent Centre. This track has multiple configurations and can be run both clock-wise and counter clock-wise. We did both directions and included a couple of in-field variations, giving the 1.5 mile track approximately 14 corners. The car is running strong and Katie showed excellent track awareness and control skill. She also had the opportunity to experience RWD cars, as she put in a few laps behind the wheel of a 240sx and also a S2000. Katie had a couple of different coaches in car with her and they all had positive comments about her driving. This comment, from one coach to me, sums it up nicely, "Katie will be kicking your butt soon!".
On August 22 we will be at a test'n tune day at Mosport Grand Prix track preparing for competition on the 23rd. Thank you for your interest in our season. A special thank you to David, who was an amazing corner marshal and threw the flags at exactly the right times. |
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nissannx
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| 08-24-2009 08:32 AM |
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I've got a Mosport 1:47 car - I knew that the GA16 could break into the 40's. The thing is, I wasn't driving. My daughter, Katie, was!
Here's the press release.
Wow! What an amazing weekend. Katie (car #258) did the 3.957 kilometre track at Mosport almost two seconds faster than her dad, Frank, (#259) and five seconds faster than her first competition time at Mosport in early July. It was an absolutely thrilling weekend with many track observers and participants noticing that this young lady was not just a competent driver, but that she was absolutely in contention. Her time of 1 minute 47.6 seconds is stellar. This does not mean that the competition between dad and daughter is over, but Katie has thrown down the gauntlet and shown that dad has got to really improve his race day performance because she has now set the standard at the most respected race track in Ontario.
The weekend was not without a few wrinkles. The weather was a large and sometimes very black cloud that hung overhead all weekend. It did rain overnight, but during the events the track was dry so we did not need to use the rain tires apart from scrubbing them in during a warm-up session. The intense lateral pressures during cornering caused strut bolts to loosen off which created an unusual vibration, but that was quickly fixed. A wheel bearing is showing more play than it should, but a visit to Paul Coffey Nissan will get that corrected before our next race. Otherwise, our 1992 Nissan NX1600 with it's 1.6 litre engine performed flawlessly.
Katie is in second place in the Novice competition and has moved up several spots into eighth place in the overall competition. Frank maintained seventh spot overall, but that could be the next thing to fall to Katie's driving skills. In our Touring 1 class, Katie finished in third spot behind a Ford Mustang GT and a Mazda MX-6. Frank finished in fifth spot, with a Mazda MX-5 between them. Our next event will be on September 12 at Shannonville Motorsports Park, just outside of Belleville. We will focus on preparing the car and Katie will be mentally preparing for the next race as well as beginning her third year of University studies.
CASC-OR did a great job of organizing this lapping event. It is a wonderful organization that supports and encourages amateur racing. More information about CASC-OR soloontario can be found at http://soloontario.com/index-s1.html Whether your car is an everyday street car or a purpose built car, CASC-OR has a place for you on the track.
Our sponsors are a tremendous help. Rob Stone at Rescon Racing and Scott Murfin at Can-Alignment have both been invaluable for their technical support and in-car coaching for both Katie and myself. Paul Coffey Nissan's mechanical and moral support is greatly appreciated in keeping us running smoothly. We want to especially thank Elmer at Diesel Platinum Service for his assistance in ensuring that we had the best tow bar possible, enabling us to haul our tires and tow the car. It was quite interesting to have our NX1600 mixing with the big trucks in his shop.
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nissannx
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| 09-17-2009 03:38 PM |
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Our competition continued this past weekend at Shannonville Motorports Park. We first ran the Fabi configuration and then the long track. I placed third and second; Katie got fourth and third. We have had a great season and our NX1600 has performed wonderfully. Thanks for those of you who've been following our adventures. Next year we'll be even more consistent - after that - it might finally be time for me to consider turbo options! |
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nissannx
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| 03-15-2010 03:02 AM |
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Time for a winter update. First off, the snow in my part of Canada has melted. While it might be back, we know it won't last long. Our first track outing will be a CASC-OR coaching course that both of us have been invited to attend. The car was tired at the end of last season, so here's what's happened.
The engine felt strong all season, but handling was an issue as I was getting more dive and roll than I wanted. I figured new springs might work - as I'm on a very limited budget. Pulled the suspension apart and found that it was more than springs, as one of the AGXs didn't move when compressed. I searched for a good used, double adjustable suspension but missed out. I've put new AGXs back on, reinstalled my 7 year old Ground Control Coilovers and upped the spring rates by 100 at both ends - now running 400 F and 300 R. Pretty much the max for my shocks from everything I've read. I also trimmed the perches, just because the shocks were off and I could.
Rebuilt the two sets of AD22VF calipers that I have and have a new set of Carbotech XP10 brake pads ready to go. Lots of life left in the rear XP8s. Cut off the AC bracket to reduce that unnecessary weight, installed an SR20 throttle body, replaced all fluids, built a rad shroud, relocated the battery to behind the passenger seat, corner balanced and aligned the car. Tire choice is still in process, but likely going to choose Hankook Z214 C51 compound. So that's the winter progress. |
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urbanjacup
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Posts:164
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| 03-15-2010 03:38 AM |
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Just curious...did you relocate the battery behind the passenger to help with corner balancing the car vs relocation to the trunk?
Good luck this season! |
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nissannx
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| 03-15-2010 10:56 AM |
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Hi Urban,
Mike says it best, "A car with its mass located closer to its center will respond to steering input faster. So if you want to reduce your polar moment of inertia more than improving your overall weight distribution, you will want to place the battery within the car's wheelbase."
http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/1426/pageid/1742/the-hows-and-whys-of-battery-relocation.aspx
Thus the decision was made about battery location.
And thanks. Unless we drop a class due to choosing a lesser tire, the comptetition in our existing class will be fierce and we will be the horsepower underdogs.
Frank |
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urbanjacup
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| 03-15-2010 12:07 PM |
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Yeh I read that...need to take better notes, I need to apply this theory to my car...Thanks! |
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Big J
MotoIQ Engineer
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| 03-16-2010 09:12 AM |
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our ballast will probably consist of a concrete, lead weight, and threaded rod device poured into the rear floor boards......... just for that reason....... low and near the middle.....
sorry for disrupting the thread..... |
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mikemiessler
MotoIQ Newb
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Posts:3
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| 03-22-2010 04:16 PM |
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what are the mod restrictions for your class? |
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nissannx
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| 03-27-2010 03:07 AM |
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Posted By mikemiessler on 03-22-2010 06:16 PM
what are the mod restrictions for your class?
Hi Mike,
I have learned that reading the rulebook over and over is very beneficial. CASC-OR's (Canadian Automobile Sports Club - Ontario Region) has 14 classes starting at Touring 3 to modified. Brake modifications, catback and a few other items are free - everything else done to the car is charged as a modification (pip). My car is classed not classed based upon it's modifications as that would put me in GT3 where I'd be running against some high horsepower cars. Working with the ruleset that we have, my car is classed Touring 1 based on dyno charts and race weight. The dyno allows me a reduction in engine pips and race weight a reduction in body/interior pips.
At this I've got some great competition because tire selection also allows for changing class. Last season I ran in Touring 1 on 'uber' R compounds (i.e., Hankook Z214, Hoosier R6). We were consistently bested by a Miata and a Mustang GT, both of which were running legal, sticky streets that dropped them down two classes. Likewise, I could drop down into Touring 2 by changing to Hankook Z211s, Toyo RA1s, or into Touring 3 by running Hankook RS3 or Toyo RIR.
Hope this helps.
BTW, Katie's been invited to participate in a CASC-OR instructor training session. She showed a lot of skill last year. Also means that now I will not even get the car to myself one day a year at a coach session, or during coach only time.
Frank |
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nissannx
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| 03-27-2010 04:56 AM |
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A few pics from last season.
And here's a pic of some home garage fabricating. I've reduced the flow through the front, and build a shroud around the rad.
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smartbomb
MotoIQ Super Genius
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Posts:1882
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| 03-28-2010 09:25 PM |
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What new stuff for this season? |
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nissannx
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| 03-28-2010 11:13 PM |
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Posted By Mike Kojima on 03-28-2010 11:25 PM
What new stuff for this season?
The budget winter project summary:
DefNder Neck Restraint system, two Bell BR1 helmets - necessary safety items. Couldn't afford the suspension I wanted so I've gone with the tried and true, new KYB AGXs on all four corners, spring rates up by 100 lbs to 400F/300R (original AGXs lasted 7 years), rebuilt my AD22VF calipers (my winter learning project), front/rear wheel bearings (got 17 years out of the first set of bearings!), fresh Carbotech XP10 brake pads, installed an SR20 throttle body (thanks RallyBob!), got an OE spacer for the TB to complement the OE spacers I have on the GA intake, replaced all fluids - Redline MT90, Motul RB600, Mobil 1 5-30, built a rad shroud, panels to limit air flow into engine bay, cut off the AC bracket, relocated the battery to behind the passenger seat, corner balanced and aligned the car. Working on a hood to vent it thus allow air escape - that's just starting. Tires should be confirmed this week.
Edit: And I've taken a spare hood and I'm putting a couple of louvers in it to vent high pressure/heat under the hood.
Someday I'll do a radical build, but this is the "Thomas the Train" version of a track car. Unassuming and dependable. Better yet, as it is a momentum car it's forcing both of us to learn how to drive fast to be competitive.
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nissannx
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| 07-13-2010 03:56 AM |
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Mid-season update:
So far this season I've picked up a fourth, third, first, and then two seconds. At Toronto Motorsports Park I set the track record for CASC-OR SoloSprint Touring Two.
Katie's had a fifth, fourth, and then three firsts. Katie set the track record for CASC-OR SoloSprint Touring 3 at Toronto Motorsports Park and at Mosport's Driver Development Centre (running clockwise with one kink).
After using up old tires during events 1 and 2, there was a strategy change and I selected Toyo R1R street tires which dropped the car from Touring 1 to Touring 3. Katie is running in 3 and, as long as reliability hold up, she's got a great chance for a championship run. I've bumped myself up into Touring 2. The car is not optimized for this class so I'll have a great challenge throughout the season - but my plan for this was to stay out of my daughter's way in her run. So far, that wasn't necessary as since event two I haven't had a chance. Her times have bested mine in the last three outings! |
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nissannx
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| 09-14-2010 01:40 AM |
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Our season is over and we will soon have some new hardware. What a season. A couple of posts are missing since the server went down so here's a brief update. Katie continued from mid season with successful runs but we have had significant mechanical challenges. Lost alternator at the first of a weekend and had to run on boosted batteries. Blew our rad which sidelined us - Katie got her run in the car and I finished in a borrowed car. Overheating continued - August 3rd the cause was evident. Head gasket. Back to Mosport International Raceway and, inspite of rain that hampered everyone most of the day, Katie set a track class record by over a second when it briefly got a dry line. Which takes us to the final weekend at Shannonville.
KATIE WINS!
She is the Canadian Automobile Sports Club - Ontario Region SoloSprint Touring Three Champion. She won her last six races. She set new class track records at FIVE tracks! She finished sixth in the overall standings. She is the first woman to win a class championship and I believe the first to be in the top ten. Most of all, there is no question after this season and I proudly admit, Katie is absolutely the winner of our Father and Daughter competition. Congratulations.
I was not just waiting on the sidelines and conceding victory to Katie. I finished the season as the Touring Two champion and appear to have set two track records. Katie did, however, consistenly beat my times. I was fourteenth overall.
Katie is now back to an even faster pace as she enters her fourth year at Wilfrid Laurier University. I'm back at work to pay off the bills! Stay tuned for next season! I think I can beat her if only ... ! |
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nissannx
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| 09-17-2010 04:17 PM |
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http://www.vimeo.com/15011908
http://www.vimeo.com/15041812
I love being gridded with Corvettes!
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nissannx
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| 11-15-2010 04:18 PM |
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Just picked up the hardware. Katie - a) CASC-OR SoloSprint Touring 3 Champion b) CASC-OR SoloSprint Sixth Overall (first woman in the top ten) c) Toyo Tire Contingency - 2nd Overall Frank a) CASC-OR SoloSprint Touring 2 Champion b) Toyo Tire Contingency - 3rd Overall The sixth trophy is Jon's third overall trophy. Next up - time for an engine swap.  |
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