'96 VD Ride Height for Sebring

[Tom Sprecher]

Anybody have any input on how much ride height is needed at Sebring? I have heard it's a rough track and would hate to trash out a new diffuser because the car was too low.

Thanks,

[RussMcB]

Depends a lot on what springs you're running, and wing angles.

Did you get a new car? Welcome to FC!

[Tom Sprecher]

Oh yeah, I gotta sweet ride now.

I don't know what the rates are and I know that is a key component. I was hoping someone might have some useful information but I quess I was expecting too much.

Have fun at work the next couple of days ya bloody wanka.

[rickjohnson356]

Probably most folks don't know Tom is crewing for Sean.

So they need to know the setup for Sean's car that was a 96VD, but is now an 07FS

[Joe911]

Would a better question be "Does everyone/anyone raise their cars for Sebring compared to their usual baseline set-up?" This makes it a relative question.'

I guess the only other queston would be do you adjust your ride heights at all?!!!

[Mark H]

The trashing of the car @ sebring the last few years has normaly come from other cars/walls! Remember there will be 30 some Yankies with cabin feaver and a bunch of $$$ trying to put 20 some rednecks (us) in their place?

SO be careful!

And from what Ive been told adjust compression on all 3 shocks and tape some foam on Seans butt?
But who is staying in whitch hotel room?

[Purple Frog]

Front = 3.625 inches measured at the rub bar.
Rear = 3.85 inches measured at bottom of bellhousing.
Low compression all around. No ARBs. Lots of rebound (especially under the hoop).
Loosen compression washers in the mono shuttle until they 'rattle'.
Set mirrors to see wide on each side so we can go buy cleanly.

Point purple cars buy on the inside.

[rickjohnson356]

Froggy:

Are you sure about 3+ INCHES? or did you mean CM?

(no teeth left after all of the bouncing/shaking!)

[RussMcB]

Don't listen to those guys. You need to approach it methodically. When you arrive at the track, take as many "depth" (and height) measurments of the track surface as possible. Do this all around the track, making sure you accurately record the high and low points. Once armed with that data, it will be a simple matter of determining the force acting against your chassis (in the vertical direction), and adding the required clearance for the underside of the chassis. Don't forget to account for the boundary layer of air under the car. You do not want to upset the aero balance.

HTH.

[carnut169]

Don't worry Tom, I've got it dialed in with what must be the perfect setup... Frog always wants to run real low (too low) so here's what I've done:

5.7" front height
6.8" rear height
removed beville washers completely
I've also increased tire pressures to max bead-setting pressures or about 45lbs each.








Ok, so I did raise the car a little (1/2") and will be carrying your nifty spare gyro diffuser... 1st secession will let us know if the car need to go higher & I'm bringing the pad.

[GR]

Hey Sean.......

Are you doing a test day? That would help.

We will be arriving sometime late tomorrow afternoon, and will be testing on Friday. We are looking to paddock on the concrete on the "pro paddock" side of the fence behind tower.

Frog, left you a message on your home phone to see when you were getting in too.

Be sure to look for the 10/TENTHS rig and a white Renegade.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

[RussMcB]

I just went to Central FL and DLB Racing web sites, looking for entry lists. All I found was entry lists for the IT classes .

Is there any way for a non-competitor (me) to see who's registered?

[Tom Sprecher]

It's what keeps bringing me back to this site. You guys are the greatest.

BTW, I got yer method and yer ride height right here.

To be honest I'm just looking out for my own lazy butt and wanted to avoid repairing a diffuser after the first session. We'll look for you guys and since neither of us has been there if ya save us a good spot that'd be great. On the other hand, knowing us, I can understand if you can't.

Do they have showers at the track?

[carnut169]

Because the event is both regional & national there are two versions on dlb.

Try this:
http://www.dlbracing.com/clubs/drive...x?EventID=2415

Our group has 61 cars (!) including 16 Atlantics (none of them are FSCCA) and 16 FCs! There will be more formula cars in attendance than any other type... (77 total).

Biggest single class is SRF with 74 (!!) entries.


Rolling out today at 3:00 and will do at least 1/2 of the test day Friday to try & learn the track. Will be running through Tallahassee to pick up my bud Fred then on to Sebring!

[Alan R Guibord]

Hey GR. That's my restrictor you have. It is really fast. I sprayed it with some red mist for you before I shipped it. Good luck and have fun

[Tom Sprecher]

Shotgun!

And he better not just sit in the back and bitch about yer drivin'

[carnut169]

I've got a lawn chair in the trailer.

[Purple Frog]

I just looked at the entry list.

Who's that Purple Frog guy? and why would he enter a '89 Reynard in one of the biggest nationals of the year? Insanity.

Months ago (around about HOLYTOPEKA) I was worried about FC car counts in 2007... thanks to Mr. Clayton. So I decided to enter nationals to help the numbers.

What second thoughts?

I watched my first ever road race at Sebring in 1962. Always have dreamed of driving the track. Never have. Seems like it's time.

Disappointed by Jordan's absence. Now I'll probably be the oldest driver.

But with Cole to show me the way, and Mark showing me how not to, I should be able to drive the "track sweeper".

OBTW, I know how to stay in good graces. I had a stretch limo pick up Fred and his wife and take them to the hotel at the hairpin.

[Tom Sprecher]

First Fred, now PF. The only second thoughts I have are about not going.

Sean, if you don't hear from me by 2:45 go on without me. Otherwise, we'll run that Reynard on Tequila.

BTW: I spoke to who I assume is the Race Chair's wife and there are showers there. Either that or I just got hosed.

[Dave Welsh]

Showers (other than the type that may come from the sky) are located in the back of the CFR registration building.

[EYERACE]

Mr. Purple may or may not have coined the phrase "shiny new driver's suit" roughly twelve plus months ago..........but the phrase is very very helpful in describing what happened at sebring last year.


idiots with bucks, little experience, very fast cars when the green falls, too soon braking and not knowing how to give and take racing room at the proper moment is a great paraphrase.

eye had Mr. Frog's phrase very much in mind when Turkey Trot field assembled this just past november........i played the first race start some would say too cautiously - but the car that would have been right in front of me looped it in 3 on the first lap.....he looped it more during the race too, almost collecting me later - he looped it in the last race too causing a premature checker - and i was told he looped it in every corner weekend the prior weekend at moroso as that event went on. i finished the weekend in one piece because i had Mr. Frog's phrase in my mind. Thank you Mike.

Those of you who have not read Mr. Purple's pleasant passage from roughly a year ago here should read it......go to the search feature here and type in > shiny new driver suit <