Fairmont at Nelson Ledges

[snailmont5oh]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuL0U_mCpaA"]YouTube - ‪Fairmont at Nelson Ledges‬‏[/ame]

[yeahloh95]

looks like fun

[OCRnotch]

troy.. is that mikes fairmont?

[Killercanary]

Car looks good at speed Mike. What was your best lap time?

[Mark Aubele]

He was in the 1.26s. We put my laptimer/datalogger in his car later in the day. I rode along for a few laps, he was really hustling out there, even on tires and brakes apparently stolen from a Geo Metro. He was one of the faster cars out there in that group. Basically three cars were picking Group C apart all day, Mike, a guy in a silver E36 M3, and my wife in her Fusion Sport was torturing people all day (it was hilarious, people were coming up to me laughing about it, asked me how my wife's car felt, and I just pointed to her and said, not me, she's driving. Made her feel pretty good). All three probably should've been in group B.

[yeahloh95]

troy.. is that mikes fairmont?

Yes that's mike

[snailmont5oh]

Looks like Mark pretty much covered everything. The STI that was behind me in that video was a recent addition. In the last two sessions, the only time he was back there was when I got behind traffic, then I'd check out on him when I got clear track in front of me. After the third session, I asked him where he came from, and he was like, "I've been here all day." I said, "Not quite, I was walking you earlier. What changed?" He said, "Oh. I started following your line, and another STI guy told me that I should try to shift differently." I think that if I had more effective brakes, I could have probably still left him, but since I was mostly letting off really early to make it into corners, he was able to catch up by braking later.

The dude in the silver BMW was fast. I don't know if his car was stock or not. He was on Direzza Star Specs. I *was* off the throttle when he blew by me like that at 3:16, just like he was when I did the same to him at about 6:12.

Overall, it was an awesome day, and I am trying to figure out how to do this every other day for the rest of my life.

Thanks, Paul.

[Mark Aubele]

Looks like Mark pretty much covered everything. The STI that was behind me in that video was a recent addition. In the last two sessions, the only time he was back there was when I got behind traffic, then I'd check out on him when I got clear track in front of me. After the third session, I asked him where he came from, and he was like, "I've been here all day." I said, "Not quite, I was walking you earlier. What changed?" He said, "Oh. I started following your line, and another STI guy told me that I should try to shift differently." I think that if I had more effective brakes, I could have probably still left him, but since I was mostly letting off really early to make it into corners, he was able to catch up by braking later.

The dude in the silver BMW was fast. I don't know if his car was stock or not. He was on Direzza Star Specs. I *was* off the throttle when he blew by me like that at 3:16, just like he was when I did the same to him at about 6:12.

Overall, it was an awesome day, and I am trying to figure out how to do this every other day for the rest of my life.



Thanks, Paul.

Yeah, the guy in the BMW should've been in Group B. He was faster than half of Group A. I liked most of your lines Mike, a lot of what I saw you doing "wrong" was because of your brake situation, and I could tell that was why you were doing it, so I didn't say anything. You gotta do something about the brakes, stock SN GT stuff is practically free, and would be fine on your 2700 lb car. You will die in that car at Beaverun. Nelson's is pretty easy on brakes, and you still couldn't stop. Those Subaru's are brutal track cars from the factory, they should've been passing you all day, so it is expected they would catch you by the end of the day.

And thanks again for getting my car home, I owe you one. Will be done this weekend, waiting for a coupe more parts to come in.

[snailmont5oh]

You will die in that car at Beaverun.

I think I'll look into Summit Point. It's only two hours fifteen minutes from my house.

Yes, I'll get brakes first.

[PaxtonShelby]

How about some more...make that a LOT more...info on your Fairmont!! Looks like you were having a great time out there!

[snailmont5oh]

How about some more...make that a LOT more...info on your Fairmont!! Looks like you were having a great time out there!

You asked for it:

Engine:
-93 Mustang 5.0 HO: blueprinted, deck milled .005" (just enough to make it flat and even on both sides).
-Pre '82 crank, balanced, with 93 pistons and rods.
-GT-40P heads, 1.95" intake valve, also big exhaust valve, but don't know exactly how big.
-Comp XE270-HR cam.
-Scorpion 1.7:1 roller rockers
-Windage tray.
-Edelbrock Performer RPM air gap intake, 575 Speed Demon carb.
-Crane HI-6 ignition with Crane electronic distributor.
-2 row aluminum radiator, electric fan.

Transmission:
-93 Cobra T-5 5-speed (sometimes, other times, it's a 90 Mustang T-5)

Chassis:
-8.8" ring and pinion with TORSEN T2-R differential.
-Global West rear lower control arms. Evolution Motorsports tri-link. Watts link.
-Motorsport "sports" springs, front/ Maximum Motorsports torque arm springs rear.
-Mustang 15:1 steering.
-Global West solid delrin rack bushings.
-Mustang 10-hole 15x7" wheels, P225/45-15 tires for autocross. Mustang 5-spoke "Pony" 16x7" wheels, 225/45-16 tires for street.
-'90 Mustang GT K-member, fully seam welded.
-Stock front lower control arms with Global West Del-A-Lum bushings.
-’91 Mustang GT front swaybar
-’86 Mustang GT rear swaybar.

Exhaust:
-FRPP "P" shorty headers
-Flow-Tech off-road H-pipe, 2.5".
-Custom merge behind H-pipe. Two 2-1/2" pipes into one 3" pipe.
-Flowmaster Series 50 Delta Flow; 3"
-Custom tailpipe; 3". Tailpipe exits under bumper, left side.

[PaxtonShelby]

Sounds like a really fun car. What's up with the 2-into-1 exhaust...weight savings or not enough room under her to run the duals or ???

What gears are you running?

[snailmont5oh]

The fuel tank is offset to the right on a Fairmont, so that makes the routing of the right-side pipe a little more challenging. Also, the weight savings was a big part of the decision, and I wanted something that sounded and looked different then every other car out there. I am currently planning my next exhaust system, which will have long-tube headers, a Flowmaster merge collector (I have a pinch point at the cobbled together Y), and possibly a larger tailpipe. If the tailpipe doesn't get larger, it will at least be made of mandrel bends welded together, not crush bent like it is now.

I'm using 3.55:1 gears for the time being. I'm thinking about 3.27s for the future.

[Mark Aubele]

Everyone realize that Mike's car has tires that are about 6" tall, so the 3.55s are a lot lower gear than they would be on a car that didn't pilfer it's tires from a Geo.

[Mitternacht]

What kind of Watts link are you using?

[snailmont5oh]

Fays2