Since nobody is running FSP with me anymore locally, I decided to bump myself to E-Prepared for the weekend for some extra competition, while keeping my car with a full interior. Bumpers aren't required in EP, so I temporarily removed them. It feels like they're atleast 40 lbs. each when you include all accompanying hardware.

For even more fun, many of my friends jumped to EP as well with their daily drivers, and they all removed their bumpers too. We had a total of 9 drivers in EP. Some were legal, some probably weren't, but who cares?

In short, the 2002 was faster, smoother, and more fun than its ever been. The car was incredibly smooth and easy to control in the corners. Along with fixing some throttle linkage issues, it was awesome to run full WOT from the DCOEs thru corners a lot more than I ever expected I could.
I got plenty of compliments from course workers.
Unfortunately I didn't win the class, but I was going up against fully gutted racecars with a full-interior daily driver that isn't even that well prepared for F-Street Prepared class.
There's still plenty of time left in the car, and I need to work on my driving skills to pick up that time.

Here are some pics of all the EP cars, along with a short description:

1. 41.078 seconds

A gutted, well prepped CRX. No chance I'd ever catch him Sunday, but I sure made every attempt to get near there.

2. 41.732 seconds

Don't know much about this Neon, but it appears gutted. I probably could've easily beaten it if I ran conservative my last couple of runs, but I went all out trying to shave off enough time to beat the CRX, and massacred most of the course in the process.

3. 41.774 seconds


My ugliness! Got a trophy atleast.

4. 42.568 seconds

A gutted DSM, which actually placed 1st in EP-Ladies, with a guy driving it. They let him do that so he could run an earlier heat since he had to leave... but I adjusted rankings myself to include him.

5. 42.998 seconds

Well-prepped GTI that won the EP class championship last year.

6. 43.488 seconds

Marty in the MkI Jetta. He always runs without bumpers... even on the streets... he's just crazy like that. He's also got some bigger motor from a different VW in it, so its probably not legal, but he had street tires on it.

7. 43.658 seconds

The 52hp/50mpg diesel pickup, daily driver, with old 13x9 hoosiers, 600lb. springs, Koni double-adjustable on the front, all borrowed from his normal VW that he usually races. This guy can drive anything stupidly fast, so he'll probably be co-driving the 02 next time.

8. 43.962 seconds

Dick retired his turbo monster E30, and instead ran his daily driver 91 318is on street tires (sans bumpers of course).

9. 44.141 seconds
(co-driver of GTI that got 5th)


Also of particular interest from other classes:

-48.079 seconds

Chevy Aveo with body kit, heheh.

-can't find time, but not that fast

OSU's hybrid project Equinox, with turbo diesel engine powering front wheels, and electric Ford engine powering rear wheels (taken from electric Ranger). I don't know the details on this thing, but a US Senator had signed the valve cover, and I saw pictures of it on billboards when I drove home.

Now really, here's the good stuff:
-40.841 seconds



The sound... was amazing. I've heard Lambos and Ferraris and American V8s of all sorts, but they sound nothing like that.

There's plenty more pics of everything here:
http://richard.safier.com/OVR/5%204%2008%20PTs%202/index.html

and full event results here:
http://www.ovr-scca.org/_autocross/results2008/class.asp?season=2008&rid=7
(keep in mind I counted the EP-'lady' as a dude, since it was)

On top of the meet-up for Dieter's b-day in Kettering, a fun weekend altogether!

edit:aw crap, its a fake GT40. liar....
http://www.putschracing.com/cars.php
_________________
1974 2002, 4224479, #74 EP/FSP, daily driver, track toy
1983 Yamaha RX50: 7hp/70+ MPG, in town run-about
1992 Miata: #43 CSP, winter beater