Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future..

[DougXKindCoffee]

Right now, my main order of business is making room for a passenger seat as there is a lead acid battery in a marine case on the passenger floor. I need to have a Race seat for the instructor at a driving school unless I do not want instruction in my own vehicle. To that end I have purchased a Braille 9 pound battery..needs no case or venting, can be mounted siedeways, and its tiny. I am moving the current Kirkey driver's seat over to the passenger side and then putting one that fits me in its place (Scott was wider than me apparently).

Then I have to get knowledgeable in Race maintenance intervals as I am clueless as to how much is enough. Fluids swapped every race? Autocrossing equals how much true racing? Overdoing it is the best bet I guess.

Then.. it is on to some driver's schools..I have a post on Racing asking for recommendations in the North East. Probably end up at Watkins Glen as it is closest to Syracuse and there are quite a few track day organizations that I could join. Any advice in this area is welcomed.

Currently I have de-stickered the car and deciding on a number. It is my 23rd car so that is an option. Not sure about stickering it up without a sponsor paying me to do it. I like the old white circle method for numbering. A stripe wouldnt be out of the question nor would" Kind Coffee" sponsorship lettering be so bad. I like the classic vintage look rather than the NASCAR Loud graphics.

I still consider selling the entire drivetrain as is and putting in a Rover K though that kills it for many race events... nice for a track day though.
Very conflicted on this issue as Vintage Racing would I think only require my removing the Spridgetech bodywork.
I had bought my '66 Midget to put the 160 Hp plus and 180 pound less weight RoverK in to finalIy get to own something seriously powered and am not sure I can afford racing rather than Time Trials, Hillclimbs,Autocrosses and Trackdays..anything where I am not encountering people in my way.
SO if it is only me on the course then I might as well drive something irregardless of classification.

Thoughts... Advice??? all welcome

 

[tony barnhill]

You might want to post your questions on the Race Forum where those guys hang out.

 

[DougXKindCoffee]

Apparently they hang out here as well and duplicating the post is probably frowned upon.
I did ask about the schools there though but it seemed more people who knew the car might be in this forum. Whatever is best I can do... I am definitely appreciating the wealth of experience on this site.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

When you get ready to build a race engine for this car, keep me in mind, I've a couple of bad-arse 1500s before.

 

[DougXKindCoffee]

I am not sure who built Scott's engine. The description is...
1493 Triumph Engine 20 Over AE pistons, ARP Head, and Main Studs. ARP Rod Bolts, Blanace Rotating Assy, Polished Crank, 20 under on Mains and Rods, Crank scraper, New Oil Pump, Remote Oil Cooler located in Front Valance, Head Shaved 1.25 thou. Approx 10.5:1 Compression, New Billet APT cam TH54 spec, HD Double Valve Springs, 3 angle valve job, New Rocker Shaft. Aluminum Valve Cover, Remote oil feed line to Cyl head. Fidanza Aluminum Flywheel. Top Notch engine bearings, proprly maintained Thrust washers. Custom Vacum PCV Setup. No engine oil leaks what so ever. Only run Valvoline VR-1 20w50 with Zinc

 

[DougXKindCoffee]

I would like to Dyno it as I am curious as to the HP/Torque curve particulars.

 

[tony barnhill]

Hap is the go to guy for racing help.

 

[DougXKindCoffee]

Re: Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future.

Isnt every valve job a 3 angle or more? So why is 3 more performance or desired than another number?
I have been on Haps Acme Racing site many a time drooling and lusting over the fine machinery that is pictured there? Nice work.
I like attention to detail.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Re: Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future.

Best I can remember Scott built it himself, the first attempt resulted in a turned crank bearing, and Scott was always on path for something he could drive on the street and the track, so by track standards it probably falls well short of a race only engine. I think you should get out there with the engine you have, and keep a low rpm approach, then as you progress, look at going with a more race specific engine approach, a race engine approaches many things very differently than a street engine more clearence, much better parts, way more compression, serious head porting, aftermarket connecting rods are alway good insurance, especailly with a 1500 turing 6500-7000. Different folks have different requirements to have fun, but if you grow more competitive, so will your engine requirements. For now, I say, learn how to drive, keep the rpms in check, and have fun.

 

[Guest]

Re: Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future.

Best I can remember Scott built it himself, the first attempt resulted in a turned crank bearing, and Scott was always on path for something he could drive on the street and the track, so by track standards it probably falls well short of a race only engine. I think you should get out there with the engine you have, and keep a low rpm approach, then as you progress, look at going with a more race specific engine approach, a race engine approaches many things very differently than a street engine more clearence, much better parts, way more compression, serious head porting, aftermarket connecting rods are alway good insurance, especailly with a 1500 turing 6500-7000. Different folks have different requirements to have fun, but if you grow more competitive, so will your engine requirements. For now, I say, learn how to drive, keep the rpms in check, and have fun.

Good advice. All the power in the world won't do you any good unless you can get it around the track smoothly and know when and how to use it.

Seems like the more power I have, the quicker and more often I get into trouble.

If the power you currently have isn't keeping your heart pumping, put narrower tires on it and throw it around.

Nothing tightens the cheeks more than sliding out of a turn out of control towards a nice solid concrete barrier.

 

[DougXKindCoffee]

Re: Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future.

I have not been planning on doing a thing to the engine in the car.. its all sorted and handles like a dream so changing anything would be unnecessary. Eventualy, yes I would enjoy the addition of 60 more horsepower and 180 pounds less weight, who wouldnt, but as far as it being needed..naaah
Thats why I am looking into driving schools...the driver has to get as good as the cat at the moment.

 

[aeronca65t]

Re: Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future.

Doug:

I've been racing an essentially stock 1500 engine for 7+ years.

All I do is keep RPMs under 5800 and change the rod bearing and thrust washers about once a year (that's about 25 to 30 track hours).

My car is a hoot to drive and surprisingly reliable.

~This Video~ was done about a month ago and it gives you a pretty good idea of what it's like to race a 1500 Midget.

I have a lot of other photos and in-car videos ~HERE~.

 

[Guest]

Re: Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future.

Doug:

I've been racing an essentially stock 1500 engine for 7+ years.

All I do is keep RPMs under 5800 and change the rod bearing and thrust washers about once a year (that's about 25 to 30 track hours).

My car is a hoot to drive and surprisingly reliable.

~This Video~ was done about a month ago and it gives you a pretty good idea of what it's like to race a 1500 Midget.

I have a lot of other photos and in-car videos ~HERE~.

I thought you had a 1275 in it.

One thing I'd like to know. Of all ther things you could have bought and all of your years of experiance, why did you choose a Midget as a racecar?

 

[aeronca65t]

Re: Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future.

'Cause it was $200.

<span style="font-style: italic">....but I've done a few things to it since I bought it....</span>

Also, I've had Spridgets since the 60s. I don't have an addictive personality, but these cars are my one <span style="font-style: italic">drug</span>, I suppose.

You can see some of my early Spridgets ~On This Page~

My "new" vintage racer will have a 1275.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Re: Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future.

Spridgets make great little race cars, and have a ton of race ready available parts for them. A really good SCCA Spridget on slicks can flirt with 2Gs in a corner, with a full body car, you need to spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to match that. A few years ago, Classic Motorsport magazine, did a article with a Spridget, coomparing a vintage Spridget to a Porsche 917, the Spridget actually pulled higher Gs in the slower corners. What makes road racing fun is corner speeds, and Spridget delivers on that, big time.

 

[Guest]

Re: Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future.

For those who haven't seen Nial's link mentioned above, it's a must see.

You really need to read all the way through. What cool stuff !!!

Thanks for send me that link before. I PM'd you after I read it while you were gone this last weekend.

I really dig the part about the chair headers !!!!

Sounds like something I would do.

$200, hehehehe. My would-be racecar is a '74 that I bought for $100.

Like I said in the PM, I think we'd get along just fine.

 

[Guest]

Re: Car #54 BlkCorvair's Sold Midget..It's future.

DougX,

Race dirt track and if anyone gets in your way, the problem is easily solved. ( with a completely different car of course).

I'd really like to see you do the K swap though.....but hey, it's not my car.