Gingerman
 

So, who's going? Sounds like there will be a caravan leaving from the south.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Re: Gingerman
 

I found out today that I WILL NOT be able to go! THAT REALLY SUCKS! :( :(:( :( :( :( :(

I'd really like to go, and there really isn't a reason why i shouldn't. I wouldn't be able to drive my car, it's only got springs for suspension, and no roll bar or cage yet. See what i'm getting at? I live within 120 miles of gingerman, and i'll be around during that time frame. I just don't know if i should go or not.

Big Daddy, that sucks!

Josh, Dean can answer this better, but I would assume there will be a group you can participate in that does not require a roll bar. I don't know though.

Plus, you can come out for rides at least.

Does this mean you're going John???:doubt:

Well, if i have about $1000, and get to america on the 1st of may........ i guess i could go ahead and get a custom 6 pt cage during the month of may..... Just in time for the event, and also in case my car decides to get an 11 sec ET. :D I'd like to go and meet everyone. I really should, cuz i'll have the time off of work, and it's just so close to my house.

Josh,

You do not need a rollbar to participate and this would be a great opportunity to get your feet wet. ;) There will be a lot of SCMC members there so why miss out?

Only if you go Todd.:bounce: I think I'll mail my registration in by the end of the week.:thumbsup:

doesn't look like i'll make it. it seems my big summer trip will be the somewhere warm. we going to visit my wife's home state. i've never been before and it's been a few years since she's been back. got free tickets with my flyer miles so that was nice. long flight though. about 8 hrs. we got any members in hawaii i can visit?

Hawaii or Gingerman? Where are your priorities Todd? I think your sceered. :rotf:

That's a tough one............. Hawaii isn't all that it's cracked up to be.:D I figured it'd be nothing but beauitful beaches/women etc. etc. It's not. It's starting to fill up with people pretty quick. Lots of tourists. But, still a great time, just not what i expected it to be. Either way, (Gingerman or Hawaii) you'll have fun.

Okay okay okay. Count me in!!:D :D I'll just go to vist though. I'll bring my car, but i don't have the $$$ to participate in the driving part. But, i'd love to meet everyone.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

As far as I know, passengers are allowed (right Dean), so you'll still have fun!!!

:thumbsup: Yep, the more the merrier. Josh you have mail. :D

am I the only one, or is anyone else coming from the northeast? if anyone wants to meet up and travel together, email me: dragonsmail@yahoo.com

I'll be there to instruct new drivers to open tracking or to show drivers new to Gingerman the way around the track. With the exception of a couple of spots there is plenty of runoff room to allow those who over do it an "out" without fear of bending anything except their pride. The weather should also be warmer then last year when we had to scrape snow off of our cars in the morning. In any other year early Oct. in Michigan has nice weather with highs in the 60's, but not last year.

Yeah, if it snows again this year, we have more to worry about than runoff room!!! :eek:

I am so looking forward to running that track in better weather. It was a lot of fun when wet and must be great when dry.

You've got mail (again):D . Just to fill you in on my situation. My car is coming along nicely. Butt, i'm waiting on my Header gaskets. So, i may not have my car done by the time i get home (May 4th or so). But, they say it'll be done in the next few weeks. It will definately be done by Gingerman. If i can rack up some dough, i may be able to get a roll bar in there, and pay to participate in the action. I'm gonna go. I need something like this.

Todd, don't let anyone tell you Hawaii's not gorgeous.

We spent two weeks there a couple of summers ago. Stayed on Hickham AFB on Oahu (wife's cousin is married to a Lt. Colonel stationed there). Having local residents help plan your vacation events really helps. Told us where the great beaches were (less crowds, great surf, sandy).

Also made overnight trips to Maui and Hawaii. So much to see, so little time.

Can you take your Waikiki blue convertible?......what a way to see the islands.

Play golf there if you can. Get out of the fairway every once in a while to see the scenery.

:thumbsup:

thanks dave. we too are staying at one of the military hotels. cat's aunt still lives there and works for the hotels. i don't know if i want to drag my clubs there but we may rent some one day and play.

Although I'm not a Cobra owner, I would like to meet up with the club at Gingerman. I'm attempting to piece together a 1996 T-bird that I plan to do autocross and some road race events when possible. Will you offer ride alongs to non-Cobra owners?

Hi Todd,
Glad you made it over to our board. Sure, come on out and I'm sure you can pick up some rides. I love to give rides so you can ride with me one of the sessions. There will be more rides given on Sunday than Saturday though. No problem on either day but I thought I'd let you know.

Good luck with your T-bird. :thumbsup:

Do I need an approved helmet? If so I'll be sure to pick one up. Any recommendations for an online purchase?

Thanks!

Yes, you will need an approved helmet. There will not be any to rent.

If you are truely serious about doing track events in the future, buy a SA2000 rated helmet. SA helmets are made for car applications which are made to take multiple blows. They do cost a little more than motorcycle hemets but I believe your noggin is well worth the extra cost. Also you will find that quite a few events will not allow anything but SA helmets. There are SA95 helmets still available but they will soon be out dated so the latest and greatest is the SA2000.

If the price is a little out of your range and you can borrow one, we are accepting any Snell rated helmet that is rated at least M90 or SA90.

One of our instuctors is selling Simpson helmets with the best prices that I have heard of. If you would buy one from him, he could bring it to the track and you could pick it up. He can be reached at www.dariusrudis.com. Just tell him that Dean from the SCMC sent you over there.

One disadvantage of buying online though, is helmet size. You might want to try someone else's helmet to get an idea what size you need. Just remember that you want a very snug fitting helmet. You do not want any slop at all.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted you to get the right helmet the first time around. :thumbsup:

Thanks for the reply.

The frequency and seriousness of the racing will depend on how the car comes along. If I am not satisfied with the car at the track events then I will pick up something else I can tool around with. The one draw back to using a 96 T-bird is parts. This car was not intended for racing of any kind so a lot of provisions have to be made. Parts are hard to come by and are often custom fabricated. Again, thanks for the info it really helps!

I'm curious why there will be more rides on Sunday? :confused:

Because almost everyone will have been signed off by their instructor by then. :D

Oh yeah. Sorry, I was thinking in Panoz mode. :)

I think one of the biggest drawbacks to using this car is the stock brakes. With the weight of the T-bird, I would look into getting a bigger set of binders.

After that I would look into suspension. Your car has a IRS in the rear, correct? If so, I would talk to Kenny Brown and see what he says about doing some suspension tuning.

I'm sure the ride is more to the soft side so I'm sure you will want to get rid of some of the rubber bushings in the front geometry and tighten everything up a little.

Could be a really interesting project. :thumbsup:

I've got someone making the same kind of braces that KB sells. The car will have: strut tower brace, lower engine cradle brace, front susp. support brace, custom subframes, a rear torsional load brace and shock tower brace. All of these pieces were made out of 1x1. I've got Bilstin's(not revalved) and H&R's. I'll be running 255-45-17 on 17x8 cobra wheels for a while and I will be upgrading to the 13" PBR kit. KVR braking supplies us T-bird guys with a rear 12.4 kit, but it uses stock calipers and pads so it's more of a look advantage if you ask me. I plan to get some type of roll cage in the car along with Corbeau seats by next summer. I think I'll use 3.55's in back and I doubt I'll have the big bucks to have KB touch the car. If the car runs well and they think it can be improved upon....then yes. All my front bushings were replaced with stock rubber. I can use poly sway bar bushings since I can get a set for free. The rear will have a poly IRS bushing and I plan to upgrade exhaust to true dual 2.5 with an X. The driveshaft will be a metal matrix shaft. Big Plans...Not enought time. Oh, and the rear has an Airlift kit for drag and street duty.

My car will look just like this KB bird, but I have a lighter red and the wheels are diff. I tried to locate these rims, but had no luck even when asking KB.

Sounds like you've already put a lot of thought into it. :thumbsup:

I haven't heard of a "metal matrix" driveshaft. What exactly is that?

Good question....A lot of the MN12 T-bird/Cougar/MK8 guys have driveline vibrations. This shaft allows for the rev and speed to go much higher without this vibration. Dennis Reinhart is selling them now. He has an 11 sec. MK8. Previously the only option was a 93 one piece MK8 driveshaft or a custom made shaft. I am no expert on this so keep that in mind!

Here's a link to his site.

http://www.reinhartautomotive.com/

Just found out the in-laws scheduled to have their graduation party for my nephew on the Saturday of the Gingerman event. grrrrr. So it looks like I won't be there on Saturday.

Unless another relative messes with my schedule more we will be there on Sunday for sure.

Another brother in-law is having a 50 birthday party for himself next weekend on the same day as a car show here in town also.

DON'T THEY KNOW THEY SHOULD CHECK WITH ME FIRST! :(

Dean, graduation may mess with your attendance a little?

Nope, not a chance. I have my priorities straight. ;) :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

Hello there everyone. Well, the way it's looking...... i won't be able to participate in Gingerman with my car. I'm trying to plan some stuff out financially... and i just don't think i'll be able to swing the $$ for it. But that's not the only reason either. I can't get off of work til 5pm on the 7th. So i'm gonna have to drive about 900 miles home. I'll probably sleep the majority of the day on the 8th. So, it's gonna be the 9th by the time i can get there.

i'm getting excited!!! is it track fever?????:eek: :eek: or is that only if i use sick days to go, like i did for atlanta?:confused: :rotf: :rotf:

Bummer!!:(

You know, you can still make it for Sunday. :D

At least come and meet everyone. Make sure you bring your helmet and take a few rides. :thumbsup:

Going to try to get up there on Sunday. Got some employee changes going on now, hope to have everything straightened out in time.

Sounds great! Hope to see you there.:thumbsup: