'83 Ralt RT-4 / Hayabusa

[RussMcB]

*** SOLD ***

*** Car and trailer have been sold ***

1983 Ralt RT-4 / Hayabusa
SCCA Logbook # 33-1793


$20,000 (includes spares package)


Engine: 2012 Suzuki Hayabusa (Gen 2), stock internals. SDS dry sump system. Voodoo sidewinder header, recent injector cleaning.
Differential: Quaife/Powertec QBA3R (same as Radical SR3). Quick change gears and Reverse gear
Shifter: Translogic ProShift
Weight: ~1040 lb.


Data/Dash: Aim EVO4S, GPS, Smartycam GP, Formula Wheel (V3), with shifter paddles. The logger is connected to the Suzuki ECU and engine parameters (coolant temp, throttle position, etc,) are monitored. Configurable screens and alarms, gear indicator. Dash has LED warning and indicator lights.


High quality conversion to motorcycle power, easy reversal back to original Cosworth/Hewland configuration. Some original parts were retained, are in boxes and will be included.


The Quaife/Powertec gearbox is Direct Drive (does not use a chain) and has an gear oil pump and Setrab cooler. It has quick change gears. Current gears are good for long tracks like Road Atlanta. Shorter gears are available for short tracks or autocross/hill climbs. It has a reverse gear (but currently blocked off. To be used it would need linkage added).


Original Brake system, recently rebuilt calipers. Original brake and clutch master cylinder configuration. Uses Suzuki clutch slave cylinder.


Craig Davies Electric Water Pump with controller. Self bleeding system.


Fox Shocks – 2 way adjustable, remote reservoirs.


Sabelts camlock harness, good to 2022.


Safecraft fire system with electrical controller, fire buttons for driver and safety workers. Spare Safecraft bottle available.


AMB hard-wired transponder.


Body work is in fair, solid condition. Tunnels have reliefs cut to make room for the wider engine, and need to be fiberglass-blended in. Easily removable skirts. Spare noses, engine covers and cockpit surround included (not great condition).


Many spares, including several wheel sets, mounted rain tires, front wings, nose box, rear wing (missing only the secondary element).


Car is located in Palm Coast, F, 32137. Has been raced in SCCA SARRC series in recent years in the “FS” Formula Super (i.e., Formula Libre, catch-all) class. SCCA logbooks in hand, going back to SCCA Pacific Northwest Formula Atlantic races. Can be delivered to southeast or met halfway somewhere.


I will be at the June 26 SCCA races at Roebling Road.


Reason for selling – Recently moved into a rental house, lost workspace, driver getting old, can’t drive this car to its limits, too hot in Florida.


18’ Enclosed Trailer available - Dual axle, four new tires (6/2021) plus spares. Winch, 110v shore power with multiple outlets, right side door, E-track, fold down bed. $4,000. Portable A/C unit available.


Note: In some pictures there are “FX” class letters. That is because the recent hillclimb did not offer the “FS” racing class. The car does not fit in SCCA’s new FX class.


More details and pictures to come.

[Purple Frog]

Sorry you had to move to Florida.

[Kazis31]

very cool car.
Something you don't see every day .
who did engine conversion?

[Kazis31]

Frog is kidding ,right?
FL is the place theses days....

[Kazis31]

would be interesting see rear without cover
especially engine gearbox area,no chain huh?
very cool.

[RussMcB]

very cool car.
Something you don't see every day .
who did engine conversion?

It was started (~80%) by Neil Drake in California. Apexspeeders may remember he's done impressive conversions in the past. His interest changed to sand racers (also powered by Hayabusa conversions), so he sold me this car/project and I finished it.

His conversion used a similar Quaife gearbox, a QBA2R, which used a chain. I messed up that gearbox when the Reverse gear partially engaged while I was on track. When investigating the repair of that gearbox I learned about the similar, Powertec GDU (aka QBA3R) which is used in the Radical SR3. It has a coupler where the engine's sprocket normally exists, so there is no chain, and a gear pair that can be changed so the final drive can be changed. It's pretty cool.

Frog is kidding ,right?
FL is the place theses days....

Hard to tell with Frog. I assume he likes FL since he's lived there forever. I've been here two months and still acclimating. It's a big life change for us. We retired from working last year.

would be interesting see rear without cover
especially engine gearbox area,no chain huh?
very cool.

Looking for pictures of that. Will post soon.

[RussMcB]

Recent pictures...

In the second picture, notice the extra room ahead of the engine. I needed to move the engine rearwards 5" to use the Radical gearbox. That means there is plenty of room for a turbo(!). And, to make that upgrade even easier, a Mr. Turbo exhaust manifold is included in the spares package (see below).

[RussMcB]

Neil and I used this exhaust manifold initially. It was nice and tidy, but probably hurt HP. Later I changed to a Voodoo Sidewinder header and realized I could run without a muffler if I dumped the exhaust into the right tunnel (a poor man's Blown Diffuser :-). The engine sounds great on track yet not over sound limits. I got that idea after seeing the JDR F1000 cars running without mufflers.

[RussMcB]

[Kazis31]

this very col car.
definitely worth 20k

[lowside67]

What’s the weight with the Busa power train?

-Mark

[RussMcB]

What’s the weight with the Busa power train?

-Mark

Around 1040 lb. without driver.

Thanks for asking. I should have included that in the original post.

Russ

[RussMcB]

Picture of the tunnels with clearance cut-outs for the wider bike engine. The holes should be covered, blended in. I'll leave that for the new owner to do.

[Kazis31]

at 1040lbs
220 hp busa power .
this has some mad potential......

[RussMcB]

at 1040lbs
220 hp busa power .
this has some mad potential......

My hunch is this engine, with stock internals, is probably around 200HP. I've taken it to the chassis dyno a few times, but can't find the sheet. I'll keep looking.

This car seems like not quite as fast as my Toyota Swift DB-4 was, but that might have been the torque difference of the automotive engine.

Yes, it's pretty exciting, and, of course, sounds awesome as it passes 10,000 RPM.

It's fun to think about turbocharging it, too. It would be a good candidate. There are plenty of Hayabusa turbo kits available.

[Kazis31]

Some Koda might step up to it.....lol

[Kazis31]

Rear Brake rotor cooler ducts look epic!!!!!!

[RussMcB]

Rear Brake rotor cooler ducts look epic!!!!!!

I was told by knowledgeable people "back in the day", that those were really for hub cooling rather than brakes. And that makes sense when you see how they're routed (towards the wheel bearings more so than the brakes). I've always liked they way they looked, too. This car didn't come with them and I had to have them so I bought a pair from Motorsports Composites (nice folks). I also bought an RT-5 intake scoop from them, wanted to use it on this car, but never got around to that little project. You can see it in this batch of bodywork spares that come with the car.

[Kazis31]

With nifty new paint job upgrade that car would look mighty
sweet at So Cal race track.
just in time for new Button willow FIA track.

[BeerBudgetRacing]

With nifty new paint job upgrade that car would look mighty
sweet at So Cal race track.
just in time for new Button willow FIA track.

Sounds like you've found your next project Maris!

[Kazis31]

not me.
But I'll expedite and supervise.

Mi Lola Is near perfect.

[RussMcB]

This car has looked the same since the early 1990's. Maybe even before.



I've wanted to paint it for a while, but that project never bubbled up to the top of the list, and the blue/white kinda grew on me after a while.

[Kazis31]

original paint scheme looks Gooood!!

[RussMcB]

These are from last Fall. The loose hanging wiring and hoses were cleaned up before the bodywork was mounted.

[Kazis31]

Straight up Gangsta....

[10rmotor]

No garage??? Just kill me now!

Sorry to see you go Russ, good luck with the sale, and retirement!

[Rick Iverson]

Gents;

BIR long track. Russ passed me on the inside of T2, and nearly sucked the paint off my car.

In the paddock, I commented to him, “you passed me like I was standing still”. He replied, “you were”.

This car is fast, real fast. You don’t buy monocoques this fast, this cheap.

[RussMcB]

No garage??? Just kill me now!

Sorry to see you go Russ, good luck with the sale, and retirement!

That WAS my garage in GA. I miss it, but I'm liking my downsized, retired life, learning how to be a Florida Man.

[DanW]

That WAS my garage in GA. I miss it, but I'm liking my downsized, retired life, learning how to be a Florida Man.

Eyerace and His Purpleness can teach you to be a Florida Man

[RussMcB]

Eyerace and His Purpleness can teach you to be a Florida Man

Oh, I don't think I could possibly match the ApexSpeed "uniqueness" of either of those of giants of our community.

Here's another picture to get this thread back on track. I had an absolute blast at the Pine Mountain Hillclimb in May, my first ever time trying that. That particular inaugural event did not offer the "FS" class (for some reason, not sure why), but this Ralt/Hayabusa should make a great FS or B-Mod race car, I'd think, in hill climbs, time trials or autocross.



Part of the fun was driving 2 miles on public roads from the hill climb paddock into town for a huge race car show (with live music, food, lots of families, kids, ...).



I was told there was a kid in the cockpit (not Heyward Wagner taking a wee in my race car). :-)

[RussMcB]

*** Trailer and race car have been sold ***

I'm hoping to sell this trailer with the race car, or afterwards, but not before.

2006 United Trailer, 18', New tires, winch, white board, fold down bed, storage box on tongue, lots of E-track (and four D rings), load distributing hitch.

The 10'x20' EZ-Up can be included, negotiable.

I usually carry one of those portable AC units (that's the 4" duct in the floor). I can include it, too.

There is a good chance I'll be at Road Atlanta at the end of July (in case that saves someone a few hours drive).

[Kazis31]

Sweet trailer.
Also would look good parked next to new button willow track.
come on Koda.....

[RussMcB]

Car is still for sale. It is sitting in storage. Price is negotiable.

Thanks.

[Charles Warner]

Russ,

What Cossie parts do you have to convert back to atlantic specs? FT200 and adapter?

[RussMcB]

11/10/22 Update: Car has been sold. Thank you.