xcarguy

A bit more info on installing insulating rivet nuts. And they are known by many different names. https://www.mcmaster.com/#93495a321/=1cfdsfa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H18KTamGLLg&app=desktop

I would use the existing rivnut if usable. The insulating rivet nuts slide in the hole once drilled and can be easily replace if needed. But, if you can use your existing hardware, don’t reinvent the wheel.

Chris, Ditto on the nylon bolts. Aloong with the nylon bolts, I use insulating rivet nuts to secure both my rear wings (fenders) and the front wing (actual aero wing on front for downforce) to the car. Last month while running at VIR, a cone sacrificed itself when it deliberately jumped in front of my car. The front wing was pretty much destroyed by the cone, but the nylon bolts sheared, thus preventing the wing mounting assembly from incurring any real damage. In 2015, I had an accident at TeXas World Speedway where I went airborne for a bit. During the impact with the ground, several the nylon bolts on both rear wings sheared. This save a lot of fab work and replacement of parts when I rebuilt the car. A cone was also sacrificed during this adventure. :jester: Useing a 1/4” nylon bolt, along with the appropriate sized insulating rivet nut, will require your drilling a 1/2” hole for mounting. However, it works great. Links us for both: https://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-rivet-nuts/=1cf92he https://www.mcmaster.com/#nylon-bolts/=1cf98nz also, I’d go this route, you may have shorten a bolt here and there to keep it from bottoming out on a fraMe rail, etc. A rZor knife works well here.

Croc, My son is 14 yrs old and 5’11”. I was 5’8” prior to Feb, 2014. Now I’m 5’7”. LOL, being an inch shorter gives me a lower center of gravity which means, in theory, I’m faster. However, my son is already faster than me. Remember, he started much earlier than me.

Videos from Barber and VIR. Mario leading the way during one of the Barber “shake and bake” sessions: Barber MSP 1, 4/8/18 Chin. At 19:00 into the video, I end up behind a string of cars while I await a Cayman to give me a point-by. At around 21:30, I express my frustration. Come to find out, the Cayman driver had been awaiting a point-by from the car ahead of him. Following the session, there was remedial training for certain divers regarding the proper use of mirrors...and point-bys. Barber MSP 2, 4/8/18 Chin.Mario and I running the 'Shake and Bake'. The last video before the Replay died. VIR North 1, 3/3/18 Chin. Around 12:50, I show you how not to pass off line. :jester: VIR North 2, 3/3/18 Chin. VIR Full, 3/4/18 Chin. More point-bys than passing on this video. I was plagued with a faulty voltmeter (dies at 6:31) and a low voltage alternator light that flickered for the entire session.

Shake and Bake with Mario. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14028&stc=1 Last session over. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14029&stc=1 Track rats. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14032&stc=1 Then and now. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14031&stc=1

On track. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14024&stc=1 Yep, that's a giant spider sculpture in the background. It's a female; note the baby spiders on the ground. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14025&stc=1 http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14026&stc=1 http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14027&stc=1

Another Panoz and a Lotus. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14021&stc=1 http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14020&stc=1 Headed out for a session. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14022&stc=1 http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14023&stc=1

Porsche driving school cars. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14016&stc=1 Mario admiring the neighbor's ride. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14017&stc=1 Ferrari and Panoz. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14018&stc=1 http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14019&stc=1

Track layout with elevation changes. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14010&stc=1 Paddock. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14011&stc=1 Drivers' meeting. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14012&stc=1 Ready for a run. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14013&stc=1

Last weekend, the family and I joined up with Mario and his wife at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham Alabama to run the 2.3 mile course. We were joined by my parents and local friends for a fun-filled, and sometimes challenging, weekend. My son and I worked in heavy rain Friday evening and into the night to have the car ready for the next day’s events. Saturday AM track conditions were cold and damp, so we used this time to continue readying the car. When the day ended, I had managed to run only two sessions (one in the wet) due to a couple of electrical gremlins, a broken shift lever and rain. Sunday was a different story. The morning started off sunny and cold (low-mid 30’s) with temps hitting high 60’s by mid-day. With the car properly sorted minus a working voltmeter, I managed to drive four sessions. During the last two sessions, Mario and I playing ‘follow the leader’; something he referred to as “shake and bake”. The last session of the day was the best. It had become obvious to our run group that the ‘two Stalkers’ were running together and point-bys always came in sets of two as we weaved our way around the track. Barber is one of the best tracks I’ve ever run on and I will definitely return given the opportunity. For those who have never run there (my first time) Barber a mostly fluid track with lots of elevation changes (great for cars such as 7’s) and several straights that are long enough for safe and confident passing, yet short enough to provide an opportunity to practice driving off-line for an upcoming turn following a pass. Turns 4 and 14 remind me of turns 1 and 5 at NJMP’s Lightning course; uphill, blind, confidence inspiring and just lots of fun. These are two corners you want to ensure there’s no waving yellow prior to entry. As for the Barber grounds, it’s one of the most beautiful tracks in the U.S. featuring immaculate landscaping, flowers, sculptures and arguably the best motorcycle museum on the planet that also includes a section dedicated to Lotus. The paddock is tiered and looks pretty cool when viewed from the buildings located on the lower paddock. In the lower level of the museum, there are a few formula cars and a vintage Lotus collection. As a side note, the museum is currently considering buying Mario’s authentic 1962 Lotus S7 RHD Race car for the Barber collection. Below are a few photos followed by links to videos for the Barber weekend as well as video links to VIR from March (my first track day since my Feb 2015 TWS accident). I apologize for the lack of sound in the VIR vids, but my two Replay cameras were apparently damaged at TWS (something to do with hitting the ground too hard). In fact, my last working camera gave up the ghost at Barber on Sunday prior to the last session of the day. Arriving Barber with family. Our first track day together in five years! http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14004&stc=1 Waiting to enter the paddock. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14005&stc=1 Setup. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14006&stc=1 http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=14007&stc=1

Mail-order bride. What you order . . . http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=13993&stc=1 What you get . . . http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=13994&stc=1

Descent article sanding and polishing aluminum: http://www.dcsupershine.com/how-to-polish-aluminum-the-right-way-dc-super-shine/

As difficult as it was, my mother loved me dearly in childhood. She still loves me today...but it certainly hasn’t gotten any easier for her. :jester:

I found a cure for polishing; primer and paint. :jester:

Summit Racing https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g1620

. . . Really :toetap05:

Man, I got a nose bleed just looking at the elevation changes in the photos. Great write up, Mike.:hurray:

You nailed it it with option two. DO NOT REMOVE THE SUB BELTS!

John, Chris’s car has a six-point setup. The sub belt mounting points (located directly behind the seat tracks) are the issue.

Ditto on this. Belt position/routing is paramount for safety. i want to clarify. I’m discussing/suggesting moving the mounting points of the sub belts only, not the lap belt. Moving the sub belt mounting points inward from behind the frame rails will ‘hopefully’ allow adequate rearward seat travel. Moving the sub belt mounting points inward will still allow for the sub belt to thread up through the front of the seat (as they now do) and will still serve the purpose of keeping the lap belt on and around the pelvic area.

Regardless of five point or six point (all terms aside), can you move the mounting points for the belts and allow the seat more travel?

Congrats. The car has COOL written all over it. Can we see the turbo...please?

It looks angry. Somebody spent way too much time watching Futurama. The resemblance is spot on.

Do you,have dual sub belts? If so, can you move those mounts onboard?