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I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote...

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Old Oct 17, 2005 | 08:59 PM
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From: Snowwhitepillowformybigfathead
Default I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote...

...but that's long ago now and many scars and aches remain to mark the lessons life has provided me the opportunity to learn...

Doesn't that sound nice?

But one of the nice things about scars is the numbness. The cold hard (or searing hot) facts of life seem somehow more bearable as time teaches me in this long term remedial program of the basics.

Todays lesson? "Just leave the damn thing along and Drive it".

A couple of years ago I remember thinking very much like I do today - I like to approach speed thru paths other than the output of the motor. Other than a few external bolt-on's and a Mugen diff my only other deviation was to try to make the most of what I had thru gearing. I came up with some ratios and ordered a close 4th and 5th from Jamie Houseman.

I never got the benefit from them that I expected. I attributed that somewhat to other aspects of the cars setup that I've botched over the same period. Over the course of a years operation I started thinking about changing the ratios slightly, but was stumbling over exactly what the cost to benefit was.

When I upgraded my Mitchell package I was able to model my home track and apply my powerband and gear ratios to the analysis. It was a bit of a kick in the *** to see that the benefit of the original ratio changes was on the order of a tenth or two.

It was then a bit of a kick in the nuts to tear down the box and find this:







You can't see it in the pics, but the welds on 5th are starting to crack too.

What can I "take away" from this experience?

A renewed appreciation for the reliability and durability of OEM parts? Sure, why not.

A heightened temperance in my enthusiasm for my next big idea? Okay, I can be more selective and methodical.

I'm stretched too thin to come up with more. I'm strangely unhappy about this but yet unemotional. It's just resignation to unhappy facts that I'm responsible for.

Maybe too I'm feeling punch drunk. I've made one spendy mistake after another. And it doesn't take too many to burn me out. The customary increment is measured in racing seasons. I'm tired of paying that price. I've identified racing as a major impediment to my enjoyment of driving.

What a funk this is.

I did enjoy the absurdity of constructing this silly thing:



Fuggin Race Kaa's!!!!!!

Scott, who doesn't understand - burning up money never used to bother me this much...

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Old Oct 17, 2005 | 09:23 PM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (RR98ITR)

At least you've kept the OEM lower radiator hose clamps on it. I replaced mine with some racy looking stainless steel constant torque clamps...and two months later cracked the lower rad. hose neck .
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Old Oct 17, 2005 | 09:36 PM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (Track rat)

Does everyone remember when they first thought of getting into racing....the thoughts that went through your head while everybody already in the sport told you how much money and time it would consume? Do you remember telling said individuals.."I'm gonna take it slow, and gradually build the car and my skills....it won't cost that much..I'll work on it in my spare time" As the years go by, gradually building the car becomes staying up till 4 in the morning all week long, getting the car all ready for the weekend....during which you'll attend a race or HPDE, which you've done for the past 3 consecutive weekends, because gradually building your skills wasn't fast enough. You start skipping dinner because you don't have time to eat....and grab something at the gas station on the way to work in the morning instead. What does all this mean???? does it mean that we're more focused in our goal as racers....or have we simply turned insane?

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Old Oct 17, 2005 | 09:47 PM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (RR98ITR)

Scott

Seeing as I'm still young and optimistic I'm beggining to see where your coming from maybe i just need to do exactly as you say and "Leave the damn thing along and drive it"

Or maybe i should just tinker with every damn thing on the car and educate myself alot more in the process...... sounds good to me

Casey - who was wishing his fabbie wasnt so busy, but in the meantime feel's something lightweight coming......... is that inconel i smell?!?!?!?!
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Old Oct 17, 2005 | 10:00 PM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (Casey@Burns)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Casey@Burns &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott

Casey - who was wishing his fabbie wasnt so busy, but in the meantime feel's something lightweight coming......... is that inconel i smell?!?!?!?!</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think a great project, would be to see how much power your pimpy stuff could get out of a damn H4 d16z6, sounds good? ok, ill be the test mule... lol
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 03:33 AM
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Default i know this feeling!

And it did not require absorbing any substances!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've identified racing as a major impediment to my enjoyment of driving.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My hobby is driving, not tinkering or researching aftermarket parts or Honda
parts. The tinkering (enjoyable sometimes) is a means to enjoy my driving. When
the tinkering to driving ratio is bad, I start thinking about walking away from all of
this BS.

Ever think of building a Factory5 car? They got the new "supercar" body.
Specs look pretty incredible.

---

Tighter 4th/5th, just use the YS1 gears. Better than S80 gears. You got a final drive too?
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 05:50 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (RR98ITR)

bah, ats 3/4/5 &gt; j00!
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 06:06 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (Black R)

I've identified racing as a major impediment to my enjoyment of driving.

No, you've identified ******* with the car as a major impediment to your enjoyment of driving. You don't actually manage to race enough for that to get in the way of anything.

IM Karl and have a little therapy session. Two years ago he felt the same. He wasn't having fun anymore and was wondering why he was spending too much time and money to not have fun. Then he just started showing up with his personal safety gear and writing a check... Now he's smiling all over the damned place and having a good time. Even when he crashed the car he still had a good time (his checkbook didn't, but he did). This was largely because HE didn't have to fix it.

Racing is complicated, but its only overcomplicated if you make it that way.

Scott, who typically just changes the oil, does a general nut & bolt and washes the race car between outings (and thats just the way I like it) .
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 06:52 AM
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Default Re: i know this feeling! (WWDTrackRacer)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WWDTrackRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ever think of building a Factory5 car? They got the new "supercar" body.
Specs look pretty incredible. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Just looked it up and HOLY CRAP that thing is sweet. Weight of a civic power of a corvette for probably less 35K total.
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 06:57 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (Catch 22)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
No, you've identified ******* with the car as a major impediment to your enjoyment of driving. You don't actually manage to race enough for that to get in the way of anything.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ah yes, but why do we f**k with the car? Because we want it to go faster. And why? Because we're "racing".

Joo must consider the disease and not just the symptoms.

*Yes, I am aware that these symptoms are not exclusive to racing.

Scott, who has been tempted to rent either an SRF or an SM for the last race of the year...
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 07:06 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (RR98ITR)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, who has been tempted to rent either an SRF or an SM for the last race of the year...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Do it. You'll be glad you did.

Show up, race, win, write a check, go home.

That's where it's at.
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 07:12 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (RR98ITR)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ah yes, but why do we f**k with the car? Because we want it to go faster. And why? Because we're "racing".
</TD></TR></TABLE>

There are cures for this disease.

Scott, who can't do anything else to his car because he's already used up the rulebook .
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 08:01 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (Catch 22)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

There are cures for this disease.

Scott, who can't do anything else to his car because he's already used up the rulebook .</TD></TR></TABLE>

just because you've used every allowance doesn't mean the car is as fast as it could be. some 2812's from koni might knock a little bit of time off, some stiffer springs, a different rear swaybar, a different header, some data logging, a different alignment, a better LSD, or some combination of all of those things. you can't do anything else to your car because you are content with how fast it is and how fast you can drive it. you don't WANT to do anything else to your car. is that a good thing? for you, it sure seems like it. for someone else? maybe not.

nate - thinks scott's ITC car is competitive and the class is inexpensive only because no one in their right mind would spend $30k to build a sub-100hp econo-box
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 08:06 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (slammed_93_hatch)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I think a great project, would be to see how much power your pimpy stuff could get out of a damn H4 d16z6, sounds good? ok, ill be the test mule... lol
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I say H5. 1.5L, 30 miles per gallon, super abundant, mostly free motors that are available everywhere!
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 08:20 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (HapaHaole)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HapaHaole &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I say H5. 1.5L, 30 miles per gallon, super abundant, mostly free motors that are available everywhere!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, yes, of course....it sounds so simple...anyone with a brain would do it that way if they knew what they were doing and starting fresh...

But few of us meet all of those criteria.

Scott, who mistakenly thought that thinking outside the box meant thinking stoopid-krazy thoughts..."Now you tell me!"...now I'm trapped in an alternate reality where sense doesn't necessarily make sense - sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't in no consistent pattern...
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 08:55 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (solo-x)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by solo-x &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

nate - thinks scott's ITC car is competitive and the class is inexpensive only because no one in their right mind would spend $30k to build a sub-100hp econo-box </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, yeah Nate. Exactly.

If I had the time, desire, money and skill I'd be out there running something like W.C.
But I have none of that stuff, so I don't race at those levels.

Some people have none of that stuff, but they try to race at those levels anyway. It almost never works out.

See... Scott (the other one) pointed out (and has mentioned multiple times) what a mess he has made in his shop and how it has grown to make him unhappy. I simply pointed out that it doesn't HAVE to be that way. ITB, ITC, H5, Showroom Stock, Formula Vee... You don't NEED to make a financial disaster that you have grown to hate in order to have fun racing. If you CHOOSE to do so... Well, wallow in it and quit yer bitchin'.

Scott, who has a $2000 Autocross CRX under construction that promises to be a walloping good amount of ***** and giggles.


Modified by Catch 22 at 1:10 PM 10/18/2005
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 09:05 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (Catch 22)

Or you can hand over the whole shebang to a shop and marvel at how much better it works when someone with a clue works on it and makes "little improvements."
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 09:10 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (HapaHaole)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HapaHaole &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I say H5. 1.5L, 30 miles per gallon, super abundant, mostly free motors that are available everywhere!</TD></TR></TABLE>

&lt;---- Thankyouverymuch..
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 09:14 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (Catch 22)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Well, yeah Nate. Exactly.

If I had the time, desire, money and skill I'd be out there running something like W.C.
But I have none of that stuff, so I don't race at those levels.

Some people have none of that stuff, but they try to race at those levels anyway. It almost never works out.

See... Scott (the other one) pointed out (and has mentioned multiple times) what a mess he has made in his shop and how it has grown to make him ungappy. I simply pointed out that it doesn't HAVE to be that way. ITB, ITC, H5, Showroom Stock, Formula Vee... You don't NEED to make a financial disaster that you have grown to hate in order to have fun racing. If you CHOOSE to do so... Well, wallow in it and quit yer bitchin'.

Scott, who has a $2000 Autocross CRX under construction that promises to be a walloping good amount of ***** and giggles.</TD></TR></TABLE>


1) Not a financial disaster...just some financial unpleasantries - I don't like to waste money.

2) I don't hate it...I just want to be Happy-Er...and I could have if I'd been Smart-Er.

3) Quit Bitching? Who are you kidding? Bitching and Sniping are core to racing. And anyway I'm not sure I'm really doing either.


Scott, who's just sharing information...you know alot of people don't realize how much trouble race kaa's can be...they think it's all victory laps and trophy girls.
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 09:21 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (RR98ITR)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Scott, who's just sharing information...you know alot of people don't realize how much trouble race kaa's can be...they think it's all victory laps and trophy girls.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Its not?
But...
Really?
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 09:25 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (Catch 22)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Its not?
But...
Really?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It is, but only if you're winning. Which almost never happens when you car never comes off the jackstands.

-Floyd, who now has 2 CRX's, both on jackstands, and hasn't raced in a really long time.
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 09:59 AM
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From: Snowwhitepillowformybigfathead
Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (Catch 22)

"You wanna know what your problem is Giles....and it's Not your only problem...It's that nobody is there racing with you spending more money and kicking your ***...and don't pretend that somebody couldn't spend more money on ITC because they could - Easily - and they Would go even faster....and don't pretend that if they had more money they'd properly be racing in a more expensive class - that's just inside-the-crack-pipe-logic"

Scott, who is picturing TWO cars on jackstands..."If a mans worth be measured by how many jackstands he possesses then you Floyd are indeed a wealthy man"...
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 10:20 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (RR98ITR)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Scott, who's just sharing information...you know alot of people don't realize how much trouble race kaa's can be...they think it's all victory laps and trophy girls.
</TD></TR></TABLE>


I hate trophie girls, they fck with your mind and later turn into strippers when you least expect it. Then they make you think "why did I waste my time with you for so damn long when I could have been dating the right one instead of this one?"
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 10:24 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (RR98ITR)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, who is picturing TWO cars on jackstands..."If a mans worth be measured by how many jackstands he possesses then you Floyd are indeed a wealthy man"...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, I have 4 more that aren't currently being used.....

But no, wealth is truly based on the size of your pile of stripped out interior bits, a/c condensors, and miscellaneous OEM and unused parts, and doubt you not sir, I am truly wealthy.
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Old Oct 18, 2005 | 10:34 AM
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Default Re: I remember back when I was a young and optimistic Coyote... (HapaHaole)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HapaHaole &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


I hate trophie girls, they fck with your mind and later turn into strippers when you least expect it. Then they make you think "why did I waste my time with you for so damn long when I could have been dating the right one instead of this one?"</TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't confuse trophy girls with trophy wives...
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