descartesfool

I was at Mosport and saw Heinricy's old Vette beat both of the Realtime Acuras and win both races in the GTS class. Car looked very ordinary and old, and very little modified from stock in the paddock and I was wondering what made the car tick. Small enclosed trailer, small budget, but very good speed.

One of the components is a Torvec Iso-Torque differential. Looks like a Torsen, but better they say: http://www.torvec.com/products_isotorque.html

"Torvec's IsoTorque® differential represents a major improvement to a worldwide industry leader, the Torsen® differential. In 1958, the differential was invented and patented by Vernon Gleasman. The functionality and mechanical essence of the Torsen® has remained virtually the same since it’s inception. In fact, Torvec used two Torsen® differentials in the FTV™, and testing revealed the need for design improvements. Torvec has taken this technology to the “next level” with its IsoTorque® differential.

The IsoTorque® is stronger and more efficient due to its patented gear tooth design. It is less expensive to manufacture due to the elimination of many parts, its unique assembly and its improved gear geometry. This makes the IsoTorque® stronger, lighter, and easier to manufacture. Torvec believes that this breakthrough design will become the least expensive high traction differential on the market."

and for the Vette: http://www.marketwire.com/press-rele...ix-1266486.htm

"ROCHESTER, NY--(Marketwire - May 26, 2010) - Torvec, Inc., (OTCBB: TOVC), a leader in advanced driveline products, announced today that it will introduce its revolutionary IsoTorque® Differential to the C5 and C6 Corvette and the 2010 Camaro aftermarket this coming fall. In order to promote and build interest in its aftermarket program, Torvec has partnered with race shop Phoenix Performance, Inc., to sponsor a car in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) racing series that features Torvec's IsoTorque Differential.

Over the weekend, legendary driver John Heinricy became a seven-time winner in the SCCA World Challenge racing series as he guided the Torvec-Phoenix Chevrolet Corvette C5 to back-to-back wins in the World Challenge series races on Canada's famed Mosport International Raceway circuit. The car was prepared by Phoenix Performance, Inc., of Phoenixville, Pa.

Heinricy attributed his winning weekend to Torvec's IsoTorque Differential keeping the tires underneath the car throughout the race. The IsoTorque is an evolution in differential design that allows for maximum traction without interfering with differentiation, resulting in improved performance, handling, and safety.

In 2009, the IsoTorque-equipped #35 Solstice won the SCCA National Championship. Torvec intends to do it again this year with the help of Phoenix Performance, which built the Corvette C5 with the advanced differential technology. Torvec will also draw on the expertise of Heinricy, who is a seven-time race winner in the SCCA World Challenge racing series, eleven time SCCA National Champion and known in the field as "The Heinrocket™."

"John Heinricy's name has always been synonymous with quality and performance," said Keith Gleasman, president, Torvec. "The winning combination of Heinricy, Torvec, and Phoenix makes this year's Corvette C5 a force to be reckoned with on the track, and will serve as an example of how high-performance vehicles can benefit from added stability and control that the IsoTorque Differential provides."

The Torvec-Phoenix Chevrolet Corvette C5, which was prepared for SCCA T-1 class racing, is part of The Torvec Racing Team. It will also compete in the new GTS category of the series, which Heinricy raced in 49 times between 1990 and 1995, winning five events adding two more victories this past weekend at Mosport Raceway.

"We've prepared the Corvette C5 with an IsoTorque Differential to optimize the degree of power reaching the wheels and reduce the amount of understeer and wheelspin," said Joe Aquilante, owner of Phoenix Performance. "The car will handle turns more smoothly than the rest of the pack with maximum control and speed."

Evaluations by four separate racing teams have all shown a reduction in lap times by one second with just installing the IsoTorque Differential. This is attributed to its fully patented gear design that, unlike competitive products, does not use complex and costly electronics. The IsoTorque Differential, which is good for the life of the vehicle, is currently being evaluated by several major OEM's, including General Motors, Ford, and Hyundai."

No Honda applications yet, but good to know what the competition is running.

Stinkycheezmonky

That'll be cool if/when they release a Honda application

RR98ITR

It's good to know that a single component can still provide a margin of victory. I always knew there really was a magic diff out there somewhere. Finally, a product that really lives up to the marketing hype.

Scott, who doesn't want a larger slice of pizza...I want a larger slice of a larger pizza...

Johnny Mac

I was at Mosport and saw Heinricy's domination over P.D., Esayian, and Tyler McQuarrie's Exige - which by the way is also a small team with a small budget. We were staying at the same hotel as Heinricy and I had a nice continental breakfast conversation with him about his Corvette. He said the vette was ideal due to the high speed Mosport circuit and despite the heavier weight than the other cars in his class, the vette's power more than made up for the weight penalty. We didn't get into the minutiae details of any componentry such as differentials, but it was a fascinating conversation. However, Heinricy is obviously an excellent driver and just talking with him I'm disarmed by his modesty and soft tone.

RR98ITR

Thru some kind of osmosis I too have gotten the impression that Heinricy has it all - fast racer, outstanding development driver, formidable engineer. And on top of all that you tell us he's a great guy too? That's great.

Scott, who has been wondering what Johnny Mac has been up to...Pictures????

sander

DF, do you think in your opinion that his margin of victory really could have been because of such a differential?

A while back, I had worked with some guys in SSC (when Heinricy and Lipperini (spelling?)) were racing a Cobalt and Civic Si respectively. Most of the competitors that I spoke to all just stated that they just got flat out "out-driven" by Heinricy at National events. Everyone seemed to recognize what a driver he was.

Just curious on your opinion, having seen the race.

Stinkycheezmonky

S, you're talking about Runoffs, right?

sander

Correct sir.

slammed_93_hatch

Maybe j-mac is saying it in a really round about way... maybe not..

but I am not impressed that a corvette beat a RTR acura at Mosport... Or any where really.


Not a dig on heinricy, as I'd put $$ on him beat PC any day of the week in the exact same machine.

edit- Phoenix isn't a small team, nor a low budget team. Appearances are deceiving. They have ran factory supported efforts for GM/Subaru.

RR98ITR

"Yeah...but if RTR had the Torvec diff the tables might have been turned and the shoe on the other foot and the sauce for the gander and the Acura FTW"

Scott, who likewise would probably prefer to take a Corvette to a knife fight...

6spdKEG

looks like a promising pc of Engineering for all. Appears that OEMs might have a real deal pc of equipment to add to their machines to improve safety an performance.
I'd like to buy one just by reading about it today. Mann.. . if only this would have been on my 95 MR2 turbo when I had it. I prolly wouldn't have wrecked it lol!

azian21485

Can you post the link that explains how this differential is different from a regular torsen type? I must be an idiot because I tried googling and looking through Torvec's website and can't find crap

6spdKEG

I didn't find one that states exactly how it is different. I'm actually assuming this design is better based upon what I saw in the videos on their website, racer testimonies and what rear race car footage I've seen of a 350Z.

In my searching today I didn't even find out how to buy. Something tells me that they are in process of making a big deal and haven't wanted to truly introduce the product to market in a small way. Just a hunch though.

descartesfool

I have no idea how much the differential helped to beat the Acuras, but there wasn't much else trick you could see on the car. I think at this point the differential and its tunings experimental, so not much info.

As for it being a small team, judge for yourself from the pictures. Most trick part I could see on this old Z06 Vette was some JRZ triple adjustable dampers with the huge piston rods. It's what under the hood that counts. (Maybe he read that book on dampers). Looked like stock brakes and suspension parts, and just some sway bars added with a couple of drop links. My knowledge of Corvettes is rather limited, so perhaps someone else can pick up what it took to make that old Vette so much faster than the Realtime cars, aside from the extra 4 cylinders.

Not even drilled or slotted rotors, no Brembo or AP BBK yo! Although he was using AP Racing Super 600 brake fluid. And check where the air is ducted to cool the brakes: right on the back side of the disc. And spare discs come in little white cardboard boxes.

descartesfool

A few more pics showing interior and rear suspension, the man himself, and how they ran, with the Acuras picking up the rear.

Notice the total lack of any aero add-ons. Not even a wing!

RR98ITR

I wouldn't have believed it if you hadn't posted pics (not that I have to believe it even if you did post pics )..."NOT EVEN DRILLED"..."Can you believe That!"

Scott, who says these are not the pics I'm looking for...Nor are pics of Acuras with planted inside rears...

exgr

Okay I'm confused. Haven't followed much of WC this year but I do recall the GTS class was introduced as the TC and GT class car count was way down and GTS is a cheaper class to raise the car count. So I get the Vette and Exite being allowed in with "limited" mods. (the Vette looks like any vette from a club race weekend...) But what I don't get are the RTR TSX in GTS. Are these TSX not TC specs? Are the current TC cars much slower and cheaper than TC car of just a year or two ago, and then the old TC cars now run in GTS?

6spdKEG

maybe he has some special settings on those shocks. The suspension of a C5 Z06 is really nice actually. A real good set of dampers really transforms the car from what I've heard.

Not much to a C6 frame. I'm sure the C5 is pretty light. Maybe the stock brakes would be overheated with use of downforce adders. I've really never seen good from air dam designs for the front of a C5 vette without doing MAJOR work.

http://www.zorly.com/images_corvette...%20z06zone.jpg
http://www.corvette.zorly.com/2008/0...odernized.html

slick1851

Seems like he's using the spoon aproach to racing

EdoMoto

We have had a 02 Z06 and its not a joke in power production. It would push your eyeballs back into your skull under acceleration. It just beat the acuras with HP.

Edo

6spdKEG

True. Some serious ponnies come from those cars. That website I linked to said some the C5 Z06s were putting out well above the Factory stated HP and were in the range of 420 to the crank. So like 3300 caged maybe and 420whp after some mods at min!! 7.85:1 HP:weight. Umm yeah, RTR is prolly like 2600lbs:260whp

I'm not suprised the Z06 whooped up on the field.

I've seen 20whp gain on a LS1/6 from upgrading just the valve springs and rocker arms which gives the valves more lift. Saw it on TV and read in magazines. 1.8 cranes are the way to go. I'm not sure if class rules allow you to go there but they are a pretty common modification b/c they do increase reliability as well.
http://vincihighperformance.com/ROCK...ON%20PAGE.HTML

The LS3 head and the big dog LS7 head all flow much better than the LS1/2/6 heads. I think the LS7 head can be swapped for the LS6 head. I've seen reports of Ls2 owners getting like 30hp from swapping the stock LS3 head over. Add another 25 with just $600 roller rocker and stud kit. http://vincihighperformance.com/LS1%...%20PARENT.HTML

http://www.corvettefever.com/techart...info/size.html

descartesfool

WC Appendix A for GTS class

So who would think you should run a Civic against a Ferrari 430? How about a Civic vs a GT3?

15 inch tires too! Turboooooooo!

6spdKEG

haha well this thread might go a bit off topic but yeah, that classing looks way weird on paper!! SCCA shows no love for Honda once again!

I mean they even limit the civic/TSX in tires size to a 225/235 on R888s?? come on!

obviously they don't want the Honda Challenge H1 stars to compete! BOOOO! Would be funny to see someone out there in a 2,500lb race weight, 9,000 rpm 290whp K24 with 255s front and rear whoopin on a F430 challenge. Previous statement was made as an unexperienced and unresearched stab at SCCA classing.. .

EDIT: I'm really wondering now what the limitations are on those high HP cars.

sander

I would giggle like a little school girl if there were such a Civic in WC. That would be way way awesome!

6spdKEG

Interesting
look at the rules. Article 2.11: GTS specific technical regulations

2.11.1.1.1: exhaust system is free, with the following exceptions
2.11.1.1.1.1: Stock exhaust manifold must be used. ((umm bad news for Hondas))

and a big WTF to this as to me it appears that 2.9.4.2.1 limits engine building to OEM pistons and rods but it could be interpreted differently. Quote: "...text .. One piston and rod assembly must remain unaltered...text... " un quote.

unaltered from what? Here are my un-altered MAHL or CP pistons.. .
The way rules are written sometimes really bothers me.


GTS class makes no sense to me now. I feel like an idiot for even reading into it now.