Opel GT's at PIR

[Gary]

Just got this note from Ralph Coates:

Just a note to let you know that the Opel GT is still racing. Bob Dennard and Stan Czacki were at Phoenix International raceway for the SCCA races on January 14-15. Unfortunately Bob broke a rod in qualifying ending his weekend. Stan, with Roger Wilson as crew, fixed a broken rocker arm and finished 2nd on Friday, 3rd on Saturday in the GT-L class. I only got to see the race on Saturday but that was enough to give me the racing fever. I attached two pictures of Stan's car.

The photos are in the Racing Opels photo gallery.

[cherokee]

It actually looks warm there. I need to move south or something. It is going to be like 7 here this weekend. I am even thinking twice about the first event here in the midwest....it snowed on us two years ago. Thats just too cold for this skinny guy.

[BQS4]

Cherokee;
Come on down south. It's still warm here.

[garrymc]

Originally Posted by cherokee It actually looks warm there. I need to move south or something. It is going to be like 7 here this weekend. I am even thinking twice about the first event here in the midwest....it snowed on us two years ago. Thats just too cold for this skinny guy.

81 yesterday...

[Rionart]

Please...no more taunting.....it isn't forecast to get above freezing here for the next 7 days(that's as far as the forecast goes...) and it's like -20's with the wind chill ...all the smart animals either buggered off South or are asleep until April....

[baz]

Originally Posted by Rionart ...all the smart animals either buggered off South or are asleep until April....

its ok for you folks down south i live about level with edmonton
all i can say is thank the deity of your choice for the atlantic conveyor and the gulf stream its a toasty 43 f today

[cherokee]

I am still trying to find out why Gateway was upset with me for wanting to run studded snow tires druing my last race there

[cherokee]

I know that Bob and Stan are on here from time to time, I would like to know what they think of the new GT Lite class and what they think the Opels chances are. These guys also have more Opel experence in their little finger then I do so another question. I am wanting to do LP with my ITB GT next year, I took a quick look at the GCR last night and did not see it classed for limited prep, did I mis something? also Do you think it would have a chance?

Thanks
gregory

[madhatterpdc]

As best that I am aware, the new GT lite requires 32mm restrictors per individual runner. After some undetermined time, a regulated airbox over the carbs will be required instead of the 32mm restrictors. I doubt the GT would have enough room for an SCCA mandated airbox.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by madhatterpdc As best that I am aware, the new GT lite requires 32mm restrictors per individual runner. After some undetermined time, a regulated airbox over the carbs will be required instead of the 32mm restrictors. I doubt the GT would have enough room for an SCCA mandated airbox.

On a tube chassis (such as Stan's new GT and Tom Drake's GT), there is usually tons of room for an airbox. And since a plenum will 'store' an incoming air charge there are benefits to be had running the single restrictor/airbox setup. I think all the power 'lost' to the rules will be regained with this setup. Of course it may be the straw that breaks the camel's back too, and the GT may have weight added to it as a result.

Bob

[azopelnut]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. I was in Phoenix and did not know they would be there. Next time...
It is a real kick to watch Stan race the GT.

[TGSI Racing]

THE NEW GT-LITE RULES SUCK!!!! So much so, that I abandoned my GT-4 project.

For the 2005 season, the 32mm restrictors kill the Opel. Keep in mind that "former GT5" cars have no such restriction. "Former GT5" cars are also given a 5% weight reduction in addition to the 2.5% weight reduction they were given last year. So, we went from 45mm side-draft FI throttle bodies to 32 mm restrictors, and they lost 7.5 % of their weight. (By the way, the F-Production Opel is required 32mm chokes in the side-draft carbs, but is allowed to weigh 100 pounds less than the GT-Lite Opel.)

SCCA said that they will make competition adjustments to GT-Lite as necessary throughout the 2005 season. Yea... right! What that means is that those who "sand-bag"... or curry favor within SCCA will be given allowances.

One thing for sure... SCCA did not take into account the relative impact of the restrictor on various power plants... they just said "everything with 2 valves per cylinder gets a 32mm restrictor. Do not expect any "adjustments" for the Opel to correct this "blanket blunder". Despite numerous requests, SCCA has provided no adjustments to the GT-4 Opel for over 10 years... there's no reason to expect fair treatment now.

For the future, all GT-Lite (all GT cars for that matter) will be required to have a single "airbox" with a restrictor plate for the inlet. What Rally-Bob says is true... an air box will be better than the 32mm restrictors... except that it is likely that the restrictor for the "airbox" will be far too small for the Opel. In any event, the "air-box" won't fit in between the side-drafts and the fender well.

The inlet air-box requirement forces any one considering going to GT-Lite to have at least a full-tube-frame front end. This means that there will be no realistic way to "migrate" from other classes. (Almost all "tub" cars will have the same problem... not just the Opel.) So, in the end there will be fewer cars going into GT... and I am predicting that GT-Lite will loose "national eligability" due to low participation. (SCCA requires minimum participation numbers or a class is downgraded from "National" to "regional" status.) So I'm going to call this air box the "SCCA Blunder Box"

To me, it's clear that the SCCA has the pooch "firmly by the hind quarters".

Do I sound bitter? Your damned right. I spent 2 years doing engine/ induction development... and last fall I spent over $20K buying new stuff for a GT-4. Only to discover that dispite what the membership wanted... (I know of no GT-4 or GT-5 driver I have competed with in the So-Pac division or surrounding divisions who wanted this change)... dispite no clear way to equate GT-4 & GT-5 cars... dispite sound recommendations to improve GT-4 & GT-5 class participation... despite anything contrary to this bad idea... someone at SCCA made this bad idea happen.

[jeff denton]

This sounds like very complicated, highly rules-heavy racing. I wonder if that is what happens when you stray from "stock". I do like the 12 to 1 compression, though.
Does this kind of racing ever get TV time, and where? I'd like to see it. Especially with a red Opel GT up near the front!
Where can I see and learn more about Stan's car?
Tube frame, huh?

[Travis]

Jeff,

There's a few more pics of Stans car here

http://www.opelgtmotorsport.com/racinggt4.html

-Travis

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by TGSI Racing THE NEW GT-LITE RULES SUCK!!!! So much so, that I abandoned my GT-4 project.

Bob Dennard, is that you? We haven't heard from you in months. Have you responded to the members that have expressed their concern with parts being purchased and not delivered? I DON'T want to get involved, but I thought that you should know...

[jeff denton]

Thanks Travis, I went there and sped-read a few pages, sucked in some photos and sent it to Favorites for study when my eyes don't take such long blinks...
Was surprised to see the cars are more original/intact body-wise than I expected. And the doors DO open? Does the rollcage go farther forward than the dash?
Is this the kind of race car that "Pete" had for sale in Missoula, MT (100 miles from me)? Remember that one last year?
I need to go look at it.
Are you still out there, Pete?

[TGSI Racing]

Yea... It's me. I've been "gone" 'cause working 12-16 hours / day doesn't allow me time to participate... but I'm speaking out any where this SCCA "blunder" is mentioned.

As far as parts purchased and not delivered... I don't believe that there are any. I did have one case of an oil cooler kit that was shipped (after about 6 months of waiting for parts to complete it) and after it was shipped, the customer never got it. Ultimately I refunded the customer, and I'm still trying to get UPS to "pay up".

If there is anyone who thinks I still owe them stuff, PM me here.

Bob Dennard

[davegt27]

Bob ever check this out.

http://www.gt-racecar.com/default.asp


they had a poll on combining classes and i got the impression every one wanted it to happen

i voted no since they don't seem to know what they are doing and the GT has the biggest motor in class

Just tell me where to write.

The GT did not do to well in the solo II rules either

Of course if you have a spec Miata I guess your happy


Davegt27

[Travis]

Originally Posted by davegt27 The GT did not do to well in the solo II rules either

Why do you say that Dave?

I'm excited not only about the new prepared rules, but also the switch to DP with the lower PAX. As I see it, the prepared class, including the GT has a bright future ahead

-Travis

[N61WP]

Hey Guys, are you saying that we (GT) have been moved down from EP to DP?
(I haven't bought a rule book this year)

Wow, that's the same as I used to run with my Spitfire.
Full circle!
James

[Travis]

Originally Posted by N61WP Hey Guys, are you saying that we (GT) have been moved down from EP to DP?

Yes, there's been a substantial re-organization of the prepared class, with much controversy. The rules in the 2005 rule book aren't even official. We're supposed to find out sometime this spring via FastTrack exactly where things will fall....

-Travis

[davegt27]

Wow let me back up a little

I have a friend that is constantly saying how the GT/Opels can never win.

I am getting pretty sick of it, so I say its our intention to win no matter what the rules. (I don't mean cheating.)

So do I believe that the Opel can win the answer is yes.

As far as the rules makers are concerned.


"Minimum weights are determined by engine displacement."

(got that out of the rule book http://www.scca.com/_filelibrary/File/2005SoloRules.pdf)

(I couldn't find the fast track that had the wt formula for DP.)

Anyway--when you see a statement like that look out, that means the rules makers are to lazy to even pick up a book

wt verse displacement is 60's/70's speak

the 1.8 liter Miata is in DP so is the MR2 MKI

oh and the 2.2 liter MR2 (91-95) pretty sure all those cars have 4 valves per cylinder


Davegt27

[Travis]

Originally Posted by davegt27 "Minimum weights are determined by engine displacement." (I couldn't find the fast track that had the wt formula for DP.) Anyway--when you see a statement like that look out, that means the rules makers are to lazy to even pick up a book

The same statements have been there all along. Yes there is a multipyer to determine the min weight, but then there is also an upper and lower limit. While it may not be perfect as different motors have different potentials per liter, it's a very reasonable way to do things, and the way prepared was doing it last year and the year before and so on. Besides, there's much more to solo II than power...

The weight multiplier for DP hasn't been determined yet, but the numbers that have been thown around have been very reasonable to achieve with the GT.

-Travis

[cherokee]

Sorry to raise your BP Bob. I had been thinking about wanting to run a National class, but to do a FP car up right I would have to sell my son...and he would not bring that much. I was thinking about trying LP but in my very limited testing of the waters getting the car classed seems like it might be more trouble then it is worth...if they would do it. Maybe I will just hang out in IT. Now that they are moving the big show to Kansas I can go watch every day.

[gtracer]

Nice to see somebody is following my Opel racing adventure. To answer the questions that have come up in this thread- no, the Opel has no limited prep classification in SCCA currently, but when they get the restrictor specified the effect on engine longevity in GTLites may be the same. At present, being forced to go to 32mm individual chokes for the Webers has killed my top end, but I still managed a 2nd at PIR and was poised to win over a CRX with ailing transmission when my #3 intake rocker arm (old Probe style triple roller rocker) broke into 3 pieces! I guess those CRX's just have too strong a draft. We're working on a shaft rocker set-up and if it works for our severe racing application, I'll offer it for sale.
Anyone wishing to run the 1900 Opels in limited prep production racing should petition SCCA to classify the cars in GP as they are already in FP in full prep trim and Bob Dennard and I have won a ton of races in that class so we know they are competitive. The car is also classified with the 1100 engine in full prep trim in HP.
As for my tube frame car, the pictures you see on this forum are not that car-it is far from completed and if I could sell the current car, I would be able to progress more rapidly on the tube project.
The response to my previous post has been underwhelming, so I'll drop the price and throw in more goodies. I can configure the car many ways and for many classes, but the basic successful tuned chassis and body are the main ingredient regardless of what engine and tranny you use. For $5750 obo, I would provide the complete rolling chassis with alum wheels and slicks, all gages (including EGT), alum radiator, lexan windows, all markings/signage (including 5 Runoffs tech stickers and National winner decals back to 1999!),
your chice of rear gear ratio (3:44, 3:67, 3:89, 4:22 locked diffs avail.), a Getrag 5speed for GTLites (or FP with one gear removed or an Opel 4speed for ITB. The chassis has no rubber or urethane bushings- everything is heim joints or custom made solid bushings with the front ball joints and rear Panhard bar infinitely adjustable. It has Koni adjustable shocks and a Legere front fiberglass spring and sits 2.5" off the ground. The exhaust that comes with it is a $1000+ custom built header that took making a special right side motor mount (included) to fit its total 1 and 5/8" dia. 4 into 1 tubes in place. But now everything is easy to remove with the motor mount modified. The rest of the exhaust incudes a reversion and sound cone in the header and a tunable Supertrap tip at the end of the 2.5" dia. run. The chassis also includes an alum radiator from Ron Davis that cost over $500.
A spares package and engine components/cores are negotiable- I have over 10 years of Opel stuff accumulated and only want to keep what I need to feed the tubeframe project.

Stan Czacki 915-204-3520 or sczacki@utep.edu