Who Said Kia Can't Road Race?

[sleeperlove]

Originally Posted by brads03zx3

Just because the compass360 cars have $10k in their engine doesn't mean everybody else does. .

Twas merely a guess assuming that much customness would be needed for such a vehicle. Also the c360 engine bill ended up at $16,200 I think the stupid cost of their engines if I recall the explanation correctly is
1. buy Type R engine
2. Send to Mugen for balancing etc
3. ship back to canadia from Japan for install.

[bigdaddyzx3]

Quit dragging facts into the thread Bradley.

[wilko]

Originally Posted by sleeperlove

With that kind of money you would be figuring out how to make one competitive in F1

Now you're talking.

[BRZX3R]

I am happy to see Kia join the battle in the Koni Challenge. Some of my favorite racing to watch is that series, mostly because it so dependant on street cars. I am mostly cheering on the Regan Racing Mustangs.

As many car makers run from motorsports, I am happy to see one join. Racing is important to a lot of us, and seeing Kia out there is going to be good for the brand. I would not consider buying a car that is not being used in competition. In saying that, I am talking about actual production cars that rolled down the assembly line and not tube frames.

[brads03zx3]

Originally Posted by sleeperlove

Twas merely a guess assuming that much customness would be needed for such a vehicle. Also the c360 engine bill ended up at $16,200 I think the stupid cost of their engines if I recall the explanation correctly is
1. buy Type R engine
2. Send to Mugen for balancing etc
3. ship back to canadia from Japan for install.

And it wasn't a terrible guess. The series is aimed at 'stock' vehicles, with some adjustments to equal the playing field. Depending on what platform a team starts with, money can be spent on a bit of horsepower and reliability.

BTW I heard the Turner Motorsports BMW was disqualified at Miller because their balance shafts were removed...

[frdfocszx3]

I always thought that the Forte was looking kind of sweet.

[svtf02red]

The Grand-AM refs have had a hell of a time keeping both the Turner BMW and the Compass 360 Civics even with the competition - less fuel, added weight, etc. etc. The boys at APR were bouncing all over the place to get their GTI's to behave and did a very good job.

I'm really looking forward to the 2010 season - APR is adding a couple of the new Audi S4's into the GS class, and the addition of Kia in the ST class will kick ass. Unfortunately, there is no scheduled stop at Laguna Seca this year, but who knows, I might be able to make out to Miller next September if there's no stop at Laguna or Sears Point.

[slidemaster]

Originally Posted by Focusfre4k

Why did I just get an idea to buy a brand new Kia...

Kia - 9k
coilovers - 1k
built motor - 4k
wheels/tires/brakes - 1k
look on others faces as it blows by them on the track - priceless

Hope you dont mind if I revise the numbers
Kia 9k
Coilovers- 7,500
Built Motor- really cant build them up much for the class- but to be taken apart part matched and rebuilt- 12k
Wheels Tires brakes- 2k+(800 x 4)+ 3,500= 8k
Seam welding, chrome cage, fire suppresion, GPS data aquisition other stuff, 8k
Looks of others- priceless
Improvement of production parts in a few years, less warranty=millions

BTW to the Ford nay sayers- Ford is again a champ in Koni Challenge for the 3rd time in the FRPP, and other built Mustangs , and the parts improvements are being shown to some degree in the 2010 product

[slidemaster]

Originally Posted by BRZX3R

I am happy to see Kia join the battle in the Koni Challenge. Some of my favorite racing to watch is that series, mostly because it so dependant on street cars. I am mostly cheering on the Regan Racing Mustangs.

By the way Dean Martin, who is knee deep in the program, developing the cars and driving was the lead chassis engineer of the SVT Focus during its development. We was cool enough (with a SVT check) to join us at Willow Springs for a Focus Challenge like 5 years ago. Cool dude, he had a bad crash on the last lap at the NASA nationals, only to come back the next weekend to race the Koni series at the same track (miller)

[MEXTEP]

So if the Koreans start racing cars..who is going to make my donuts?

[2focusd]

Wow, I didn't expect to fool so many people with my clearly-sarcastic post Yep, as most of you should already know by now, I'm a huge fan of what the Koreans are doing in the automotive industry. They're showing the same growth, intelligence, and maturity that the Japanese used back in the late '70s through mid '80s and I'm sure that within 5 years the American companies (if anyone's even left besides Ford ) will be getting spanked by the Koreans as well as the Japanese unless they finally get with the program.

As for the Forte, it's an awesome little car and I can't wait to test drive a 2.4L 5-speed

-Brian

[Ted7rns]

It looks like Team Sahlen is going to have a MazdaSpeed3 in Koni as well.

http://www.teamsahlen.com/index.cfm?...s&news_id=4104

[wilko]

Originally Posted by MEXTEP

So if the Koreans start racing cars..who is going to make my donuts?

It all depends, how much are you willing to pay for cheap American labor? $70/hr union pay plus benefits will only get you an American Donut #224 Journyman. If you want a full fledged Donut maker from the US you are going to have to PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY dearly.