The Missing Muscle, Inc. Much Maligned Mopar Motegi Match--CLOSED

[DirtDriver]

True story: I was headed off to the next town over big enough to have a McDonalds when I noticed a bright yellow Challenger in the opposite lane. And it was running like crap! Couldn't tell if it needed a tune up or an overhaul but the guy behind the wheel was glancing at the road and STARING at the gauges. (I remember doing the same thing in my youth when I inherited a neglected Camaro SS with a 327 that sometimes ran as a six cylinder--before V8s were meant to do that sort of thing!)

Anyway, I thought, "Damn, those poor Mopars just can't get a break!" Running through my mind was the sight of a rusted vintage Barracuda on a trailer I saw the night before at my favorite watering hole. Two Mopars, not much Mopar Love.

Well, by gawd, that is going to change!

This month's Muscle, Inc. Classic is all about Major Mopar Love (except the Charger, which I hate with cause).

The Tracks: Motegi East and Motegi Ring

The Cars: Challenger and Barracuda

The Specs: B700, DOT tires, as always.

The Goal: Have fun.

Now, here are some things to consider:

1. I don't care of you build a different car, run a different tune, run multiple cars or whatever. Do what you need to do, within specs, to get your best tune and time.

2. If you just have to run the Charger for the sake of curiosity then knock yourself out. Go for it.

3. This is registration week at the college and in fine professional form they still have not given me course materials for the two classes I teach this week...dumb-asses! So, I am not going to be around much.

4. Therefore, I need a volunteer for Race Captain, someone to support the thread and maybe host some online races...anyone available? Blooze, you up to the...uh...challenge?

This challenge starts Monday. It will wrap up one week from today, Sunday.

DD

Leaderboard:

Driver	Car	M East	M Oval	Total
bazdc2	Challenger	88.776	39.220	127.996
larryCR	Challenger	88.973	39.126	128.099
Spiny Anteater	Barracuda	89.183	39.241	128.424
Hoplee	Barracuda	89.855	39.458	129.313
BBQPete	Challenger	90.100	39.366	129.466
larryCR	Barracuda	89.969	39.543	129.512
TheJohnNewton	Challenger	90.374	39.161	129.535
Hoplee	Challenger	90.256	39.654	129.910
fndrbndr	Challenger	89.602	40.346	129.948
BBQPete	Barracuda	90.291	39.731	130.022
BucksToon	Challenger	89.923	40.767	130.690
TheJohnNewton	Barracuda	91.558	39.731	131.289
BucksToon	Barracuda	90.279	41.107	131.386
fndrbndr	Barracuda	90.961	40.743	131.704
JuanOfMany	Challenger	92.305	00.000	000.000
JuanOfMany	Barracuda	00.000	40.950	000.000

[JuanOfMany]

wow! that's one heck of a name!

[DirtDriver]

Yeah, and I was sober when I wrote that!

DD

[Blooze]

I should be able to take care of the leaderboard and stuff.  Online races will have to be someone else's bayliwik...

$

[DirtDriver]

Great, Blooze...Can we do:

Driver, Car, Track1, Track2, Total?

Or did I compicate it too much again...I do that, you know.

DD

[Blooze]

I can do that...

$

[DirtDriver]

Thanks, buddy. Drift and Larry have jumped in to help with the leaderboard stuff so you won't be alone.

DD

[JuanOfMany]

I know it's early yet to be posting times, but I just beat my personal best on Motegi East in the '70 Challenger. 92.305, and Motegi SuperSpeedway in the 'Cuda was good for 40.950.

still, of course, room to improve. the Cuda has way too much D/F for the oval, but I can tell it's going to be way faster than the Challenger on the oval. the Challenger handles better for me on Motegi East, at least right now.

[DirtDriver]

Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Mopars of War!!!! (that means the challenge is now open)

DD

[Detrick]

You guys will appreciate this considering this challenge.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pww4yIOpwQw

[DirtDriver]

Oh...Detrick...how could you?

Actually, how did he get around you? You had Mopar Muscle all the way!

Thanks for the video.

DD

[TheTechnobear]

ah, so the ring , is the speedway...
i ended up running all configs of the track yesterday as wasnt sure it - i thought it might have been the road course

[DirtDriver]

Sorry, about that, T-bear. I never even thought about what I called it.

DD

[JuanOfMany]

yeah, actually Motegi West is pretty darn ring-like...

[BarbecuePete]

Great racing there Detrick.. I was sure you'd hold onto it though..

I've had a quick run out in both cars, decided to go for lightweight builds with a full WR. These are 2 cars that i've never really had much luck with, a previous Challanger I built I just sold because I thought it was so bad.. and the Barracuda has seen many incarnations as Missile, M-inc and lately ALS 500 Specs, none of which have been very good, so this is another attempt to get a good M-inc spec build.

Cuda 337 bhp / 425lb-ft / 2501 lbs

Sp 4.2 / Ac 5.0 / Br 5.6 / Hn 5.1

BF Goodrich tyres 225/45 R17 front and rear
Work 03 wheels (lightest)
Full race platform and WR
Forza Front and Rear bumpers and Spoiler
Stock Engine

Tune (adapted from existing tune, I may retune from defaults to compare)

Tires 28/29
FD 5.00 1st 2.11 / 1.28 / 0.83 / 0.58 4th
Camber -0.8 / -0.8
Toe 0.2 / -0.1
Caster 6.2
ARB 15.43/18.34
Springs 477.7 / 341.5
Ride 5.7 / 5.7
Rebound 11.6 / 9.2
Bump 4.1 / 3.0
Aero - std - 85/100
Brakes 55% fr / 110% pr
Diff 40 / 60

Very smooth on the Speedway and can take the tighter of the 2 bends with  just a slight lift but its lacking in power down the straight. Not much can be changed with full WR though to be able to add power, aside from going to smaller width tires and even then you can't add much so its probably not worth it for the loss of grip in the turns. on the road course it really goes well too and can brake really late and get on the power early which really helps with its time..

Times

Motegi Speedway - 40.961
Motegi East         - 90.293


Challanger 452 bhp / 521lb-ft / 2758 lbs

Sp 4.5 / Ac 5.1 / Br 5.3 / Hn 4.8

BF Goodrich tyres 235/50 R17 front and rear
Konig Theory Wheels
Full race platform and WR
Forza Spoiler
Race Fuel and Ignition

Tune

Tires 28/29
FD 2.60 1st 3.37 / 2.09 / 1.43 / 1.10 4th
Camber -1.0 / -0.5
Toe 0.0 / -0.0
Caster 4.5
ARB 13.29/16.45
Springs 597.9 / 487.5
Ride 6.0 / 6.0
Rebound 9.8 / 8.2
Bump 3.5 / 2.8
Aero - std - na/100
Brakes 50% fr / 100% pr
Diff 50 / 62

This car feels very stable and turns really well although it does understeer more in the tighter turn at the speedway than the Cuda. Also really good on the road course, turns and brakes nicely but im going to try a bit of rear toe to really plant the back end so I can lean on it a bit more in the turns..

Times

Motegi Speedway - 40.448
Motegi East         - 90.100

Im also tempted to try these cars with a street WR 'Super Street' build and see how having the engines built up for more power compares against the standard engines in a lightweight car, plus it means I'll be able to add a race exhaust which will make the engines sound even louder in the tunnels.. LOL