The Search for a Signature A-Classer

[fndrbndr]

It's been a slow time for Fndr and company.  A couple of moves have Tiny Terror Racing setting up shop in Tallahassee.  This means talking to Doc via cell and needing some buddies to drink beer with.  I mean...um...work on cars.  Yeah.  It's here, in the new Tiny Terror garage, that we have a problem.  Fndr is having a beer with a buddy from school.

Mike:  Ya know, you've got some pretty fast cars.  Did you ever start running spec miata?

Fndr:  I have one.  I like it, actually.  It's not competitive in Forza open specs, though.  We'll try to run the club racing circuit with it.

Mike:  Sounds good.  I'm looking through, and you're OK in most of the open specs.  For power tracks, you've got the muscle, inc. spec cars to rely on, and they're fine, as long as you don't run into too many missiles.  For grip, you're set in D with the Miata.  C class, well, you have your own spec there.  In B class, the 2000GT is a strong flowing car.  In A, though, you're looking a little bare.  I think I remember someone saying you need a good A-class car to run around here thesedays.  Any ideas?

Fndr:  Yeah, a few.  I tried a Benz as an A-classer, but it didn't really work out.  I'm going to worry about grip cars; The TVR is a decent power car, and I have a power-built mustang around here somewhere that's pretty strong. 

Mike:  Nothing for certain, though?

Fndr:  Well, maybe we should just do this the old-fashioned way, build 'em and see what happens. 

Mike:  My cousin has a Supra with the back end wrecked.  I can probably get the engine from that if you want to try the 2000GT in A class.

Fndr:  That's a thought.  I also want to try a grip mustang, though, and maybe some of the old classics that didn't make the Tiny Terror spec.

Mike:  OK.  Let's get a list together, and we'll go from there.

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So the search is on.  Bimmer said that you need a good A-class car to hang around here thesedays, and this is an area where I'm decidedly behind the curve, so I'm going to see what I can put together.  I'm going to start building grippy A-class cars, QR'ing them, and seeing what happens.  I'll probably post a "leaderboard" eventually, just so everyone can see the results.  For now, though, here's my to-do list, limited to just my A-classers, which were part of a previous to-do list.

1.  2000GT (supra engine)
2.  Grip Mustang (inspired by the FR500CS)
3.  1973 Porsche Carrera

[fndrbndr]

I haven't QR'd the cars yet, but a couple of them are at least built out.  The Supra-engine 2000GT seems like the swap is mainly there for missiles.  I don't usually get along well with forced-induction builds, so I may try to put enough goodies on the middle swap (the one from my B-classer) to turn it into a naturally aspirated A-class car.  I'm getting some wheelspin that may be turbo-related.  I just drive naturally aspirated cars better.  Of course, Cams and Valves may be the way to go anyway on this car, since it's got almost no drag coefficient.

The Mustang is twitchy in stock form, but basically good.  I stripped down a mustang I built for a kid who wanted a dragster.  It's a nice car, and with tuning, could be very good.  It's lighter than an LMMS car, and as such much lower-powered, basically a stripped down Mustang GT, full weight and full width slicks, similar to the Mustang Challenge cars.  I know I've said it before, but I really, really like spec racing in all its various forms.  Back on topic, I'll be putting a tune on this later, but for now, I'm encouraged by the preliminary results.

The Porsche may be the real monster of my first three attempts.  It's earned a Tiny Terror paintjob after beating my Series 1 on the A-class enduro (Silverstone) despite some dinged aero on the second lap.  Maintenance throttle is your friend with this one, but it's been a lot of fun to drive thus far, and may actually be my best bet, if I can figure out how to tune a RR vehicle, which is new to me.  Time will tell.

And by the way, suggestions for other cars are welcomed, though this really is just an attempt to be transparent in my efforts and get ready for my triumphant return to online racing.   

[Ske]

That old Ferrari certainly feels right at home in A-class, might wanna check that one out

Now I'm not quite sure if you're gonna sick to old school cars on this project, but if you wanna put that Supra engine to good use, I'd suggest looking at a Lexus IS350 or even an SC430 to host it.. Those make a pretty formidable combination, might even be the best A-class FR out there.

[fndrbndr]

Would that be the Dino or the other one?

And no, I'm not sticking to old cars.  That's the current generation mustang that I'm looking at.  I just have lots of certain cars laying around, and figure I should put them to some use.

[Ske]

Would that be the Dino or the other one?

And no, I'm not sticking to old cars.  That's the current generation mustang that I'm looking at.  I just have lots of certain cars laying around, and figure I should put them to some use.

I'm talking about the 250 GTO. It surprised me as being quite capable as a grip car. If you're including newer cars I'd definitely look at that IS350/Supra combination, it's most excellent

If you want a "daily racer" and it has to be an FR, I'd definitely go for something with independent rear suspension and the option of wider rubber in the back.. preferrably 265+. Those options can really make the difference between a walk in the park and an unmanageable beast.

[Snyder005]

Those '73 Carrera's are beasts inthe right hands.  I've seen one pull 1:24's around Mazda Laguna Seca. 

[fndrbndr]

Those '73 Carrera's are beasts inthe right hands.  I've seen one pull 1:24's around Mazda Laguna Seca. 

And a goal is born....

Nah, if I get anywhere near that, I'll be happy.  I think I'm in the low 1:27's with my Series 1.

And thanks for the tip, ske.  It doesn't have to FR, and I'm actually looking forward to having the RR Porsche in the arsenal.  RR was part of the reason I picked it for the attempt, actually.  And yeah, wider rubber sounds like a good thing in this case.

[Spiny Anteater]

The 73 Carrera RS isn't a bad car in A Class, but when we ran it at Silverstone last year for a challenge it couldn't keep up with the Dino or the GS 'Vette.

If you're after grip, I'd add 2 more suggestions to the mix. The first is my old favourite the Spirra. Add all the weight and handling upgrades and it sits nicely at the top of A with lots of grip, although not a lot of power.

My other suggestion is one you already have - the Mustang Cobra. Mine's in B Class, which means it can't fit much in the way of tyres on it and it's still quite porky, but when we were racing at the weekend, it was very, very close to sk15kev's MINI, both through the corners and down the staights.

Of course, if I had the choice, I'd just force the race to Shelby Cobras

[Ske]

It doesn't have to FR, and I'm actually looking forward to having the RR Porsche in the arsenal.  RR was part of the reason I picked it for the attempt, actually.  And yeah, wider rubber sounds like a good thing in this case.

Most of the Audis are also all very very good short/medium track performers if you, like me, prefer AWD stability. The '07 TT is my favorite of the bunch - In full grip build I believe it's at 5.4 speed and a massive 6.4 accel - I've yet to see a grip car that can keep up with this thing out of corners. It's not gonna set any lap records, but for online racing it's pretty hot indeed.

Two of my favorite cars in RL, the 05 NSX and R34 Skyline are still slight outsiders, but they're starting to follow the old Skyline into the "leaderboard car" category... which may put you off a bit. The NSX is a good car for the more flowing tracks, and the Skyline does pretty well around the short tracks.

[fndrbndr]

NSX is an option, definitely.

[Detrick]

Shelby Series 1, Porsche 997 RS, or Ferrari 355 Challenge are my current fav. A-classers.

[Snyder005]

It doesn't have to FR, and I'm actually looking forward to having the RR Porsche in the arsenal.  RR was part of the reason I picked it for the attempt, actually.  And yeah, wider rubber sounds like a good thing in this case.

Most of the Audis are also all very very good short/medium track performers if you, like me, prefer AWD stability. The '07 TT is my favorite of the bunch - In full grip build I believe it's at 5.4 speed and a massive 6.4 accel - I've yet to see a grip car that can keep up with this thing out of corners. It's not gonna set any lap records, but for online racing it's pretty hot indeed.

Two of my favorite cars in RL, the 05 NSX and R34 Skyline are still slight outsiders, but they're starting to follow the old Skyline into the "leaderboard car" category... which may put you off a bit. The NSX is a good car for the more flowing tracks, and the Skyline does pretty well around the short tracks.

how did you get that accelleration stat, as i've built one out that only has a 5.6 - 5.8 accelleration rank.  With 6.0 braking and 5.8 handling. 

[Ske]

Engine swap, and stock rear bumper. I also use some relatively low grip slicks - forgot which but might have been Firestones.

[fndrbndr]

I have a series 1, and really like it.  I built it way back in the day, just after my miata.  It might be a good choice, too.  I'll probably re-examine it when I go back over my TVR.

[fndrbndr]

OK, a few notes:

1.  I've been tuning by hand.  It's taking a little time, but I'm getting the cars where I want them, and I'm learning a lot along the way.

2.  The Nissan Z (current gen) is a hoot in A class.  It beat the Mustang by over a second on Silverstone, but I'm not sure it's as consistent.  The Mustang was running within a tenth or two of the best lap for an entire enduro, and that's pretty impressive IMO.  They're very similar (there's a reason they're in the same class in grand am), but the stang is a little faster in the straights and the Z is a little better in the corners the way I've got them now.  However, I already had the Z totally built in B from a project I took up with another M-Inc member, so it's getting a pretty solid head start.  I really think they're about equal, and the stang just has to get on the Z's level as far as the tune.  I'm also running max DF on the stang.

3.  The 2000GT wasn't much better with the middle engine than with the supra engine.  I'll give it a shot, but it's really only going to be a flowing car, and max downforce makes it very understeery.

4.  It's time to start running some QR's.  I'll try to have some times for this project tonight or tomorrow.