JDG Build Thread (S280 Turbo, Full E85, Custom Parts & Rallycross Discussion)

[JDG]

Mine looks like that after every NEFR.

How did it go?
Was the Celica there?

He wasn’t, so I was able to snag first in MF haha

But it was good, the heat took a lot out of me but the car ran great. Hit a few more cones then I would have liked but overall was a solid day.


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[M-Sport fan]

COOL!

But with the improvements you've made, and the gained experience driving these things, you would've given him a run for his money, and maybe even beat him, even if he were there.

 

[JDG]

COOL!

But with the improvements you've made, and the gained experience driving these things, you would've given him a run for his money, and maybe even beat him, even if he were there.

I think I have a few more years of practice before I get to that level. He is a national level driver after all. The power to weight of my car is a bit better now though so I have that going for me although my car is a boat compared to his in terms of weight.

Our region is talking about rally sprints at Rausch Creek Offroad Park in the coming fall months and then for the next 5 years, so a roll bar and bolt in seat/harness may be in my car's future. The initial events will be level 1 requiring a full cage, but if things go well, there are talks to run level 2 events with lower speeds (under 70mph) where SCCA hill climb rules will apply, which will be awesome.

 

[M-Sport fan]

See, this is what I just don't get about the SCCA (and why I stopped being a member after almost 25 years of membership).

They fully drop Pro Rallying in 2004 like a white hot rivet, claiming out of control liability insurance costs, and outright safety reasons as the rationale.

They then allow Rally Sprints currently (which used to be just short one day, one venue, super short stage, stage rallies, as defined by themselves, but required FULL Pro Rally rules safety equipment regardless, way back when), with higher speeds, and much safety equipment required.

Granted, this Rally Sprint setup you describe above sounds much more easy to control/contain, and they can limit/control the spectators and speeds more readily, but it sounds to me like they dumped Pro Rally solely because they were not making as much coin off of it as they were from all of the other road racing, and autocross stuff.

BTW; I never asked, Blue Mountain Region, or Philly Region SCCA??

 

[JDG]

See, this is what I just don't get about the SCCA (and why I stopped being a member after almost 25 years of membership).

They fully drop Pro Rallying in 2004 like a white hot rivet, claiming out of control liability insurance costs, and outright safety reasons as the rationale.

They then allow Rally Sprints currently (which used to be just short one day, one venue, super short stage, stage rallies, as defined by themselves, but required FULL Pro Rally rules safety equipment regardless, way back when), with higher speeds, and much safety equipment required.

Granted, this Rally Sprint setup you describe above sounds much more easy to control/contain, and they can limit/control the spectators and speeds more readily, but it sounds to me like they dumped Pro Rally solely because they were not making as much coin off of it as they were from all of the other road racing, and autocross stuff.

BTW; I never asked, Blue Mountain Region, or Philly Region SCCA??

Susquehanna SCCA. BMR doesn't have the manpower for a full rallycross/sprint program (and their focus is on hill climbs) and Philly doesn't have a rallyx program at all.

Like everywhere else, organizations change their culture/viewpoint all the time. I think SCCA realizes there is a demand for these longer format rallycrosses (just as their is demand for rallycross for UTV's which they are now allowing local regions to begin running). I wouldn't take it so personally

 

[Philld_with_donuts]

I would definitely make the drive out to your region if you guys start running rally sprints. You're only about 5 hours from me!

Glad to hear things went well! Kudos for snagging 1st!
Are you running the wavetrac yet? I'm in the process of installing a Quaife right now and was curious if you felt a big change in dynamics (increase or decrease in lift off oversteer or understeer). We have our next event in Detroit Region on Aug 29th and I can't wait to try it out!

 

[JDG]

I would definitely make the drive out to your region if you guys start running rally sprints. You're only about 5 hours from me!

Glad to hear things went well! Kudos for snagging 1st!
Are you running the wavetrac yet? I'm in the process of installing a Quaife right now and was curious if you felt a big change in dynamics (increase or decrease in lift off oversteer or understeer). We have our next event in Detroit Region on Aug 29th and I can't wait to try it out!

I haven't, looks like it is going to be a Winter 2021 project at the rate I am going lol. It did take me over a year to fix my AC after all LOL. So I can't comment just yet. A lot of local guys installed LSD's on their NA FWD cars this year and have been raving nonstop about them, so it will definitely be an improvement.

And yeah, I am hoping running rally sprints will bring more folks out to our relatively small region. 5 hours isn't too bad but unfortunately outside of AAA range Not sure if you have a tow vehicle.. That's what keeps me from traveling too far right now, it's the risk of having to foot a tow bill most of the way home if I break something I can't fix.

 

[Philld_with_donuts]

I haven't, looks like it is going to be a Winter 2021 project at the rate I am going lol. It did take me over a year to fix my AC after all LOL. So I can't comment just yet. A lot of local guys installed LSD's on their NA FWD cars this year and have been raving nonstop about them, so it will definitely be an improvement.

And yeah, I am hoping running rally sprints will bring more folks out to our relatively small region. 5 hours isn't too bad but unfortunately outside of AAA range Not sure if you have a tow vehicle.. That's what keeps me from traveling too far right now, it's the risk of having to foot a tow bill most of the way home if I break something I can't fix.

Thankfully I do have a tow vehicle and new tires on the trailer! I follow you guys on FB, but you'll have to drop a note whenever you see rally sprint starting up!
And I'll be able to give you some feedback on an LSD in our cars shortly (If all goes well!) The course we'll be running is relatively short compared to others, but should still give a good before/after!

 

[M-Sport fan]

I would definitely make the drive out to your region if you guys start running rally sprints. You're only about 5 hours from me!

The area of those proposed Rally Sprints is at least 8.5 hours from you, with no stops.

It might still be fully worth it, but it is more than 5 hours.

 

[Philld_with_donuts]

The area of those proposed Rally Sprints is at least 8.5 hours from you, with no stops.

It might still be fully worth it, but it is more than 5 hours.

OOF Likely still worth it, but definitely going to require an extra travel day.

 

[JDG]

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Moar photos from last weekend..

 

[iGilgamesh]

Hot! looks like something id see on a Dakar race!

 

[Business6]

Man you rally guys have some balls. Love the photos!

 

[JDG]

Hit a big milestone today:

75k miles tuned
33k miles with a big turbo of some sort
10k miles with the s280

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[JDG]

9/26/2020: Plenty of mistakes were made but still a blast.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Where was this one?

 

[JDG]

Where was this one?

Farm show complex in Harrisburg, PA. There will be an event there this coming Saturday as well. Last event of the season.

 

[Philld_with_donuts]

Farm show complex in Harrisburg, PA. There will be an event there this coming Saturday as well. Last event of the season.

Awesome! Looks like super loose soil. Makes for the coolest photos Car looks great too.

Detroit Region is heading over to Oakshade raceway, west of Toledo, on the 7th and 8th if you feel like making a road trip!
We'll have one more mixed surface event at Milan raceway 12/5 too, just saying.... in case you didn't get your fix for the year lol

 

[shouldbeasy]

I'm so happy that you're out there putting this car through it's paces - makes me feel a lot better about beating up my car on gravel!!

What sort of speed can you get to in these Rally Cross events?

 

[JDG]

I'm so happy that you're out there putting this car through it's paces - makes me feel a lot better about beating up my car on gravel!!

What sort of speed can you get to in these Rally Cross events?

This one I think I hit 50-55MPH (allegedly) going up a pretty straight hill. Sometimes a bit faster than the rules say you should hehe. There are guidelines for rallycross speeds due to no roll cage, safety equipment for insurance reasons. Above a certain speed (I want to say 45MPH?) it must be classified differently (i.e. RallySprint, where a roll bar and harnesses would be required).

Fastest I think have seen at an event is 65MPH which gets a bit hairy on loose dirt (we have few truly gravel events). I have done 80MPH max on gravel roads in this car with winter tires and the car handles pretty amazing with super predictable/controllable rotation and good grip.

And yeah, I beat the piss out of this thing and *knock on wood* I haven't broken anything yet. It definitely took it's toll on the motor mounts and the other fiesta RX guys I follow have certainly lost motor mounts in the past but I have since upgraded those. The other thing I worry about are my axles. I have been meaning to purchase spares to keep with me as I have seen many FWD folks break an axle.

I still need to figure out some UHMW underbody protection. I will hopefully start that project this winter. My plastic undertray panels are now officially gone (they have slowly self destructed in big chunks that I end up donating to the venue every event). So now my painted undercarriage is pretty exposed which is fine on dirt but any sort of gravel event will quickly destroy the undercarriage and make way for rust.