WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp - The Ford Focus Forum

**Ataru** · 06-05-2008, 09:53 AM

The Competitors

The Winner:

lapp

Quote:

This car started as my daily driver more than 2 years ago. I had put an exhuast on it, some black rota slips, a sound system, blue LEDs everywhere, oh man was it PIMPED OUT lol I tried but what a noob I was at that time

. good thing some crazy lady ran into me and the insurance company totalled the car. I opted to keep it and have them pay the difference. The damage was not so bad, we had the frame straightened and sourced some new fenders, a hood, bumper, lights, grill.. I was going to turn it into a racing car, not a spec focus but a project car of some sort, maybe even a drag racer. Well it sat on our side yard and it progressed very slowly over the next few months. Me and my dad were talking one day about it and other things, he was considering getting his own project car, maybe a mustang or something. Thats when we decided to turn it into a Spec Focus and race it for real. The rest is history. We got the cage done pretty much right away. We ordered so many parts that month it was like christmas every couple days when the UPS truck came to our house.

I attended my first HPDE in august of '06 and spent the '07 season working my way up the ranks. By the end of last season I was HPDE 4 certified and all I needed now was to take Driving Concepts this February which I did and my first real race was the season opener this year at Cali Speedway. That track is so much fun, I had a blast duking it out with my HPDE 3 instructor in his 944 and getting to know what its like getting bump drafted by Spec Miatas

. I went on to finish 1st in SF (out of 1

) in my next 6 races and placing 4th in my first enduro.

This weekend at the 6 hours of Buttonwillow, everything was going, welll, not fine. We were having some electrical issues that we patched up but some components were still not working, like the cool suit. Next the serpentine belt snapped. We were down about 45 minutes before we could get that repaired. Next, the front right wheel bearing overheated. It was toast, when we got the hub off ball bearings and scrap metal just fell out onto the ground. The bolts that hold on the back right hub had also come loose. After these were fixed the car felt so much better. We made another driver change, added fuel and everything was looking good. John mathew even ran a 2:10.1 beating my track record by over 2.5 seconds! doesnt count though as it wasnt in a SF race

. It was nice to know that the car was capable of that though, I still have much to learn.

With 45 minutes to go we needed to stop for fuel again and switch drivers. I wasnt feeling too good so Ted went out. The pit stop went great as usual. With our Pro Fuel dumper Todd

at the tanks not a drop of fuel was spilled. About 15 minutes into Teds stint though we hear from Ian that Ted crashed. "what where?" "he rolled it". oh **** is he ok? We were almost as dazed as he was, it was very sureal. It seems like something like this is sure to happen at almost every event but nobody ever thinks it can happen to them. Im just glad that Ted is ok and that the safety equipment did its job.

Well Ill let the pictures speak for themselves. I threw in some pictures of the different stages the car went through. It had a great life, its not the first time its been wrecked but its certainly the last.

CAR INFORMATION Car #: 44
Year: 2001
Make: Ford
Model: Focus ZX3
Color: Sonic Blue
Weight: 2610 lbs. with driver
Engine displacement: 2.0L Zetec (Tuned by Wild Pony Motorsports and FocusSport)
Valve train: DOHC (with Stage 3 cams)
~10:1 compression
160WHP

COMPONENTS:
Brakes: FRPP SVT conversion, StopTech slotted rotors, Hawk Blue pads
Shocks/Struts: Multimatic Dampers
Springs: FRPP Spec Focus Springs
Sway bars: Eibach 25mm rear, stock front
Wheels: FRPP Black Rally Wheels 17x7 Tires: Toyo R888 215/45/17 full tread
Seats: Cobra, Corbeau
Muffler: FRPP 2.5" SS Borla
Steering wheel: Grant
Spark plugs: Motorcraft copper core
Headlights: Ford SVT HIDs
Driving suit: Sparco
Air cleaners: AEM CAI
Oil/Lubricants: Royal Purple Racing Oil, Redline
Oil Filter: WIX

Torsen Differential
4.06 gears
FRPP rear subframe
Prothane bushings
KMAC Camber plates
Autometer gauges
FRPP CNC head and cams
AEM adjustable cam gears
Crow 5 point harness
Mercury Mistique metal shifter base
FocusSport strut tower brace/handlebar
FocusSport header and flex pipe
Centerforce Clutch
S2 Spoiler
F2 body kit
Odyssey dry cell battery
Sampson Racing Communications' radio
theres more Im sure

More pics and info to come soon...

**brads03zx3** · 06-05-2008, 10:16 AM

Good job Ryan. You deserve it. Good luck this weekend

**hEaT** · 06-05-2008, 10:26 AM

Congrats!

**68 Touring Car** · 06-05-2008, 01:22 PM

Great and Congrats!

**Ted7rns** · 06-05-2008, 01:47 PM

Congrats Ryan!!!!

Cool and I get to race this car this weekend Wooooohooooooo. We'll see how pretty it is after 6-hours of racing.

But, that's pretty cool news.

**slverfocus13** · 06-06-2008, 10:59 AM

congrats

**tallguy2.3** · 06-06-2008, 11:45 AM

Congrats

**MattZTS** · 06-06-2008, 11:47 AM

congrats.

for once someone i voted for won

**sleeperlove** · 06-06-2008, 11:53 AM

Congrats! Can't wait to see how it does in the enduro this weekend

**brads03zx3** · 06-06-2008, 12:05 PM

I have this strange feeling he'll be the fastest spec focus at the enduro

**Phacade** · 06-08-2008, 02:01 PM

Good job, love the ride!

**sleeperlove** · 06-09-2008, 12:14 AM

Enduro came to a bad end

Car was rolled and totaled. Driver is ok though. Check the Spec Focus forum for more info.

**lapp** · 06-09-2008, 09:30 PM

**thefrush** · 06-09-2008, 09:41 PM

Sad end for a beautiful car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapp

Oooohhhhh, we're gonna have some fun with this one...

**lapp4sm** · 06-09-2008, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefrush

Sad end for a beautiful car.

Oooohhhhh, we're gonna have some fun with this one...

Todd, I had nothing to do with this post. I was just going to see how much you were willing to pay me to not post this picture, now Ryan ruined that.

Ryan, I think that you're going to pay for this. Maybe next time Todd fills up the Focus, he will use water by mistake?

**BUR_ZX3** · 06-10-2008, 07:43 PM

Allright Ryan. Your ass is grass.

**JCMRacing #37** · 06-10-2008, 09:51 PM

It's great to see you guys making light of this whole situation!

Classic pic Todd! From the review you wrote from that day...seems like a little bit of shut eye is more than warranted!

**Z63R** · 06-11-2008, 01:17 PM

Here's extending a belated, bittersweet and heartfelt congratulations, fellas.

At least you have another Focus in the works!

**svtf02red** · 06-13-2008, 10:25 PM

I hate sad endings, but you did some nice work along the way with that - time to find a donor chasis!

**Ray** · 06-14-2008, 07:09 PM

ah man, i'm really sorry that happened, but glad no one got hurt.

**FORDSVTPARTS** · 06-20-2008, 08:26 PM

Ouch!! Belated congratulations on the win but I'm really sorry to see what happened to the car.

It's great that no one was hurt though, really a shame about the car.

**furiouslyfaster07** · 06-25-2008, 05:24 PM

Thats Kinda Really Sad

**Focus Joey** · 06-27-2008, 01:48 AM

congratulations looks really good

**02_SVT_Focus** · 07-04-2008, 05:11 PM

Congrats on everything. Need a co Driver on the East coast when it gets rebuilt?

06-05-2008, 10:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
brads03zx3 [FJ] Addict Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 11,661	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Good job Ryan. You deserve it. Good luck this weekend __________________ Mountain Tested----'03 zetec ZX3 vs MNTN - 15-1 & ZX3 vs TRACK - 23/1 *JCM Racing #88* Back to Dual Purpose Focusing Vacuum Vulture Racing - We add stiffness

06-05-2008, 10:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
hEaT I <3 UC^3 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: CT Posts: 7,447	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Congrats! __________________ 2001 Twilight Blue ZX3 - Volant Intake, FC 65mm TB, SVT Header, RT High Flow Cat, SVTF Borla Exhaust, Koni's 1985 Nimbus Grey Merkur XR4Ti - Work In Progress Tuned By: Bristol Dyno

06-05-2008, 01:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
68 Touring Car Premier Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Motor City Posts: 1,335	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Great and Congrats! __________________ Leo NASA Spec Focus Series Director www.capaldiracing.com "Quitters Never Win"

06-05-2008, 01:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ted7rns Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Thousand Oaks, California Posts: 4,646	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Congrats Ryan!!!! Cool and I get to race this car this weekend Wooooohooooooo. We'll see how pretty it is after 6-hours of racing. But, that's pretty cool news. __________________ 2002 Ford Focus ZX3 Malibu Blue

06-06-2008, 10:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
slverfocus13 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Palm Coast, FL Posts: 2,162	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp congrats __________________ 2002 CD Silver ZX3(soon to be its a secret but its got BOOST) Emissions...whats that?

06-06-2008, 11:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
tallguy2.3 [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 6,791	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Congrats __________________ ST -Cosworth-FSWerks-Quaife-Exedy-KW-Momo Sounds faster than it is.

06-06-2008, 11:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
MattZTS [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Clifton, NJ Posts: 5,312	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp congrats. for once someone i voted for won __________________ 2005 satin silver mustang v6

06-06-2008, 11:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
sleeperlove You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Apex hunting Posts: 9,824	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Congrats! Can't wait to see how it does in the enduro this weekend __________________ “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” - Bruce Lee

06-06-2008, 12:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
brads03zx3 [FJ] Addict Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 11,661	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp I have this strange feeling he'll be the fastest spec focus at the enduro __________________ Mountain Tested----'03 zetec ZX3 vs MNTN - 15-1 & ZX3 vs TRACK - 23/1 *JCM Racing #88* Back to Dual Purpose Focusing Vacuum Vulture Racing - We add stiffness

06-08-2008, 02:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
Phacade Team Sonic Racing Pit Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 2,217	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Good job, love the ride! __________________ 2003 EAP SVT "Attila" - ST170 Headlights ■ Hofele grill ■ SAP rear defuser ■ Clear corners ■ Taylor 8.2mm plug wires ■ Saleen/Eibach suspension kit ■ Focus Central short shift ■ Steel Grey Rota Grids ■ Massive front strut bar ■ Euro rear wiper ■ Shorty antenna ■ SVT-logo Redline carpet kit ■ Powdercoated valve cover ■ Billet aluminum fuel door ■ K&N drop-in filter ■ Debadged ■ Euro HVAC ■ ...and then of course me (being a narcissist, I consider this to be the most important mod). ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

06-09-2008, 12:14 AM	#12 (permalink)
sleeperlove You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Apex hunting Posts: 9,824	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Enduro came to a bad end Car was rolled and totaled. Driver is ok though. Check the Spec Focus forum for more info. __________________ “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” - Bruce Lee

06-09-2008, 09:30 PM	#13 (permalink)
lapp TEAM Sponsor Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ventura County California Posts: 1,133	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp __________________ NASA Spec Focus Series

06-10-2008, 07:43 PM	#16 (permalink)
BUR_ZX3 [FJ] Addict Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Little Saint Clara, Isle of Queen Califia Posts: 36,454	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Allright Ryan. Your ass is grass. __________________ Focus Challenge Director \| Redline Time Attack Host and Emcee \| Spec Focus Racer

06-10-2008, 09:51 PM	#17 (permalink)
JCMRacing #37 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,312	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp It's great to see you guys making light of this whole situation! Classic pic Todd! From the review you wrote from that day...seems like a little bit of shut eye is more than warranted! __________________ JCM Racing - "Corner Workers Needed" "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke

06-11-2008, 01:17 PM	#18 (permalink)
Z63R Official [FJ] Distinguished Advisor Join Date: May 2004 Location: El Lay Ca Posts: 22,829	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Here's extending a belated, bittersweet and heartfelt congratulations, fellas. At least you have another Focus in the works! __________________ . "I replaced the battery cables to the starter. I've been dreading it since the PowerWorks severely restricts access to the starter... A good job for a 6'2" 150lb pianist, but not so hot for a 5'10" 220lb wookie. - OmniFocus 2.3 Duratec ZX3 + some bits

06-25-2008, 05:24 PM	#22 (permalink)
furiouslyfaster07 Rookie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sardinia, Ohio Posts: 11	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Thats Kinda Really Sad __________________ Bad Motha Fucuses *1.) Liquid gray s2 focus (the *) MBRP Catback, AEM CAI, Enkei 17" Rims* *2.) Silver zx3 (FoFo) Focus Central header, and cam gears, magnaflow exhaust, tein coilovers, and 17" svt rims.*

07-04-2008, 05:11 PM	#24 (permalink)
02_SVT_Focus Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chalfont, PA Posts: 1,572	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Congrats on everything. Need a co Driver on the East coast when it gets rebuilt? __________________ '02 Sonic Blue SVT. #246 CarDomain Profile Performance: JRSC BBK - FC 65mm TB - Focussport Coolflow - Random Tech ORP - Borla Catback" First Drag Night: 60ft (2.389) 1/4mi. (14.400) MPH (99.78) First Place 2007 Season Points SJR-SCCA Solo #20 SM Visit me on Myspace

06-13-2008, 10:25 PM	#19 (permalink)
svtf02red Wilted Cucumber Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Roseville, California Posts: 1,318	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp I hate sad endings, but you did some nice work along the way with that - time to find a donor chasis! __________________ Good thing the GTI runs good - the SVT has valve stems laying in cylinder #3...

06-14-2008, 07:09 PM	#20 (permalink)
Ray Driver > Car Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: CT Posts: 28,121	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp ah man, i'm really sorry that happened, but glad no one got hurt. __________________ Vacuum Vulture Racing - I can fix your car with a hammer. Intelligence is largely at the mercy of self-control *Roadtrippin.org* \| CART

06-20-2008, 08:26 PM	#21 (permalink)
FORDSVTPARTS Premier Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 8,240	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp Ouch!! Belated congratulations on the win but I'm really sorry to see what happened to the car. It's great that no one was hurt though, really a shame about the car. __________________ To order from me just call 1-800-328-9552 and ask for Steve or use one of the methods below. Now accepting online orders here http://www.tousleyfordparts.com You can also find us here http://forums.focaljet.com/tousley-ford/ 2002 Silver SVT #2952 , custom CAI , Stage 2 throttle body, VF rear mount, FRPP 9mm wires, EAP/MACH HID's, Borla exhaust, K-W springs, FRPP UDP, Screamin Demon coil, Tuned by Mike at Unique Tuning in S.C.

06-27-2008, 01:48 AM	#23 (permalink)
Focus Joey Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4	Re: WINNER of June FOTM: I'm SPECial! - lapp congratulations looks really good __________________ Stay Focused TRP\|Sparco

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