Dirt's ALS Series One

[DirtDriver]

Well, I am just in the build phase on this one. And there isn't much you can do.

Engine and Power:

Race Exhaust
Sport Ingition
Race Fuel
Race Cams
Race Engine Block

Note: that put her at 400 even.

Platform and Handling:

All Race Upgrades, No weight Reduction

Tires and Rims:

BFG Sport Compound

Note: That's all she'll take, no slicks. I thought I could go Y rated and drop weight. No, Y is stock and you can't stay in A Class with a weight reduction.
Note: No width upgrade path available

Body and Aero:

None

Note: PI is at 849. With full rim size increase you can add the rear aero bumper. This Bumps the handling up to 5.3. You can also drop to the Pirelli tires and do the same without the rim size increase.

Will update soon.

DD

[DirtDriver]

Working up the Grip aspect right now. I haven't changed anything else.

Tried the Pirelli/rear bumper combo and ran 1:56.3 in what felt like a real edgy car through the corners. I was running 32 psi and that may have been a detriment. But she was quick to get skittish mid-corner and in the braking zone.

Moved on to the BFG/Big Rim/Rear Bumper combo and ran 1:55.3 in a very surefooted car. Running 30 psi because I lost just a little on the cold pressure grip when I benched 32.

Well, I got my tires and rims figured out.

Above was with -.6 camber and no other alignment changes. The steering was not only more confident with the BFG setup, it was also a tad quicker. Diffs were set at 50/50 to eliminate their influence on the test.

Now I have to go see if I can find real world numbers for the drivetrain.

DD

[Blooze]

I have a question concerning the 400 Hp.  Is it the spirit of ALS to get the thing as close to 400 as possible or can we operate within the scope of the Hp restriction in the Multiplayer filter; 300-400?

$

[DirtDriver]

No Tranny specs available as far as I can tell...did find out it is some unusual rear transaxle design with 6 gears.

But I did learn:

1. She has an Olds V8
2. She is 10 inches shorter than a vette and 4 inches shorter than a Boxter
3. They gave one to a Playboy Playmate of the Year
4. Only 280 were built so you better get yours fast!

Guess the tranny will be home brewed.

DD

[DirtDriver]

I have a question concerning the 400 Hp.  Is it the spirit of ALS to get the thing as close to 400 as possible or can we operate within the scope of the Hp restriction in the Multiplayer filter; 300-400?

$

400 hp is maximum and you need to test it against the filter if you want to run it online because there seems to be some hidden decimal point on some of the cars that makes the game read them as 400.1 hp or something.

But you don't have to run the maximum. You just have to run fast.


DD

[Blooze]

You seem to have missed my point, or I expressed it badly which probably is more the case.  In your build you appear to have gone to a great deal of trouble to get to 400 Hp at the expense of handling.  Is it alright for one to shine the Hp increases on in favor of improved handling - or does that violate the spirit of ALS?  Is one to strive for 400 Hp first, above all else?  Or are we merely required to meet the restraints of the filter, which would seem to be 300.1 to 400.0?

[DirtDriver]

In this case, there was nothing I could do to handling...tires and weight reduction are limited due to the high starting PI. (And you know me, I am a horsepower guy.)

But there is nothing that suggests ALS is about HP first then, handling....You have a range of options and you get to build what you think is best. So, no.

DD

[DirtDriver]

OK, I see. If I drop the engine parts I can get slicks and then bolt a few pieces back on...Is that what you are asking?

DD

[DirtDriver]

Well, Blooze hasn't said if he was gently nudging me in the direction of the Slicks Build but that's what I did.

Here is build #2:

Engine and Power:

Race Ignition
Race Fuel
Race Engine Block

Note: which gives me a measly 343 HP, 311 TQ, 6.2 Speed and 5.1 Acceleration. I almost feel neked.

Platform and Handling:

No change from Build #1

Tires and Rims:

Race Tire Compound, Michelin
Stock Rims
21 inch rim size

Note: gives me 5.7 Braking and Handling

Body and Aero:

Race Rear Bumper

Tuning Notes:

1. She broke 1:54 with no tune in this build, just barely.

2. Telemetry indicated positive camber in most turns so I bumped it up to -.9 F/R. She is still showing quite abit of camber movement at this point but is faster.

3. Tires are more forgiving in grip loss with 30 psi cold

4. Telemetry also showed some understeer, mostly under braking but also in high speed cornering. Balanced ARB by decreasing F and increasing R by 3 clicks each.

5. A also set the brake bias to 45% F.

6. I was still feeling like I couldn't push her hard because I didn't know where weight transfer was going to carry me on the track. I increased springs 1%.

Right now she is sitting at a 1:53.007, mostly due to the brake bias change and spring rate increase, I feel.

DD

[Blooze]

Sorry Pard, got all a tangle with family doin's and chores and such today.  All of which required a rather significant bit of nappage in order to recover...

So, it seems to work better... huh?

I don't know that I was trying to nudge you that direction so much as actually ascertain if not striving after 400 Hp chipped at the spirit of the class.

I have a Cobra R built that way, no choice really - and it has laid down some A times that only Che was able to knock off the boards.  I sure couldn't touch 'em with anything else, even my AWD Integra.  One track was MoJello Short.  I think I got that time drafting you, so that may had something to with it...

$

[DirtDriver]

I built a super charged version of the DOT build. I was fast enough to beat the enduro on medium AI. But, when I went to chase the ghost and set a time with it the difference between cars was dramatic. I just couldn't hang through the twisties even though I was faster in the open. I tried aero but that didn't make it faster, Just made it harder to turn.

Looks like I have the fastest build in the grippy car.

Next up? Power tuning.

DD

[Hekalite]

Looks like I may have to break out the wrenches and work on my Series 1 if I want to compete with DD's time.  I'm fairly sure I can knock off a few tenths here or there with what I've got, but a 1:53?  I'm don't think I can get that low with my build.  Don't remember what I've got for upgrades at the moment, but I know it has 399hp.  I built this car for the first ALS challenge.

[DirtDriver]

Well, this has turned into a grip vs. power competition for the Series 1. Build #1 with DOTs vs. Build #2 with slicks. I am losing time against my ghost in the power version on turn 1, turns 10-12 complex, and and again in turn 15. Everything else seems to give the edge to the power build where I have to slow down a little more for the turn but more than make up time in acceration and speed. If I could get ahead in the T10-12 complex I think I could break 1:53.

I took the rear aero off of build #1, opened the differentials to about half what they are in default, and swapped rims to get a lighter and more powerful car.

Aero did not seem to help with the loss of grip. I just run out of grip, pure and simple and more downforce is not going to increase the grip threshold.

I think my suspension may be suspect.

DD

[DirtDriver]

I noted this in the ALS thread. The 400hp/DOT build did have a suspension that was too stiff. I reset the springs to default values, added 1 click toe out on front and 2 clicks toe in on rear and moved caster to 5.1. She was much more supple in the corners. She just wasn't much faster.

I went back to the Grip build and dropped the rear bumper for Avon slicks. That one I ran with the stiffer suspension and broke 1:53, finally. I went back and made the same alignment adjustments, bumped FD up to 3.35, and dropped the Diff to 35/45. She was much more relaxed through the turns. I was in front of my ghost for 75% of the lap but fell behind in the last quarter. This one will run low 1:53s all day and is a good race car setup.

I learned a couple of things.

1. stiffer springs go with grippier tires.
2. aero doesn't seem to help everytime (my fastest time was no aero)

Also, 50/50 weight distribution is a gooooood thing.

DD

[DirtDriver]

reset to default on the slick build...I was wrong about the stiffer springs/grippy tires thing. I built it all back up but left the springs alone and dropped front ARB 10 clicks. Much easier to drive. Gained time, as well.

DD