1st time racing a Spec Focus

[sundialracing]

I just got back from Mid-Ohio and my first (hopefully of many) Spec Focus races. All I can say is that I had a BLAST!!! I got into Leo's #68 car and felt right at home. I'll let the others that were there give you the details of the races, I'll tell you guys about the car.

Keep in mind that my benchmark is a VERY well prepared Mazda3 SSC car with fat 225 Hoosiers. After I got used to not having to shift as much as I'm used to I got the #68 right up to speed. The car has a ton of midrange torque, no need for second gear anywhere at MO.

The car is a rocketship, it has tons of power. It's hard to believe that all that was done was bolt ons. I was running 125 mph down the back straight. That's the same speed T.C. Kline ran in a 350Z at the 04 Runoffs!!

The suspension kit works perfectly, don't let the stance fool you. You can chuck it in the corners with no suprises, it is very predictable. It gives plenty of warning before you need to apply countersteer. The suspension also rewards left foot braking. The entrance to "Thunder Valley" is an off camber right hander at a crest of a hill. If you screw this turn up you get freight trained by the cars behind you. In the Spec Focus all you have to do is go to half throttle, brake with the left and turn the wheel. The car sets perfect in the turn, let off the brake and mash the gas. Last year at the Runoffs I struggled all week in this turn, this weekend it was no problem! I would have to guess that someone spent many hours and $$ developing the suspension.

My biggest concern going into the weekend was the Toyo tires. I have no experience with them. One again like the suspension they are very predictable. I have also heard this from some of my friends that run Spec Miata. The other nice thing is that they wear like iron. I would have dusted between 1-2 sets R6's with that amount of laps that I ran this weekend. There are still some races left in the on the set that I ran on Sat and Sun.

Lastly I have to thank Leo, Sandie and Chris Calpaldi for thier hospitality. And also thank Andy Slankard for for making me feel right at home.
If Leo has a car for me in August and September I'll be racing Spec Focus!!

Thanks,
Brett Mars
bmars@alleghenytrucks.com

BTW Feel free to ask any questions, I'll be happy to answer. (Except for the dyno #'s!!!)

[BadIdea]

Thanks for the update. 3rd gear for keyhole is impressive. Are they shorter gears? (maybe I'm just used to my svt which I think has a taller 2nd gear.)

[Knestis]

Sounds like a great endorsement for the spec package. They should be predictable and race-able, and it sounds like they are pretty close...

K

[Ted7rns]

Glad you had fun in the Spec Car Brett. This past weekend people were very surprise out here in SoCal how fast we were going with just bolt on items and with a car that is relatively inexpensive to build.

[sundialracing]

Ted,
The Spec Neon guys were suprised also! We ran faster laps than all but one of them. I started 41st on the grid and got as high as 20th! I passed a whole lot of Spec Neons and Miatas. Check out:
http://www.mylaps.com/results/newLapchart.jsp?id=357072

[Ted7rns]

That's great. Nothing beats passing Miatas...unless they hit you on your way pass them

One thing I thought that stands out was your Qualifying Session. You and Andy was just .114 apart. Now that is what Spec Racing is about.

http://www.mylaps.com/results/newRes...ShowPerClass=0

Also the guy that ran my car all weekend ran his fastest time in the 2nd session on Saturday, and He said the samething you said, "it was very predictable, and it's easy to correct oversteer, as a matter of fact using that oversteer you your advantage.

[BadIdea]

1:49 is stinking fast! Has the track gotten faster with the alms and grand am races?

[Ted7rns]

Originally Posted by BadIdea

1:49 is stinking fast! Has the track gotten faster with the alms and grand am races?

Leo says there was more gip this event then before. It must have been too green the first event.

[sundialracing]

.114 is what spec racin' is all about. Andy and I have different driving styles, he is a perfect apex consistant racer and I'm a chuck it in sideways racer. It is interesting that either way you drive the car the results are the same(except for my way uses a lot more tire !!) According to Leo's stopwatch Andy got under 49, it does not show on MyLaps because his transponder was recharging. As far as the track goes it was faster, but offline had TONS of marbles!! It made passing out there pretty exciting!!

[sundialracing]

Check out Andy and I in action at:
http://www.impactactionphotos.com/mp...t/pictures.asp

We are in group A.

[Foci-Racer]

Originally Posted by Ted7rns

Also the guy that ran my car all weekend ran his fastest time in the 2nd session on Saturday, and He said the samething you said, "it was very predictable, and it's easy to correct oversteer, as a matter of fact using that oversteer you your advantage.

Great info Brett!
Hi all, im the "other guy" that Ted is talking about in his post.

This was my first experience in a Spec focus and frankly, im impressed with the car! I currently drive a TTE VW Scirocco which has already seen its 3rd motor this season, which is how ive found myself in Teds car for the weekend. I didnt expect much really, its the same setup as what im currently accustomed to driving, FWD, low power momentum car ect. Also my first time on (worn) Toyo's as well.

The car runs great! Easy to drive, much like Brett described with the only difference is Ted has the big brakes on the car, something im not used to and BOY do they work! Too well at some points that I got used to pretty quick.

I didnt go faster on sunday because my, (cough) co-driver corded the tires in his race! LOL!!

Im really looking forward to Nationals! Thanks Ted for letting me play with your toy!