Sprint to Pikes Peak Ep. 29

In this episode we take on the Weatherly Hillclimb in hopes of getting our third and final checkmark for our license!
#hillclimbracing #pikespeakhillclimb #sprintcars #sprintcarracing #sprintcar #ls #willwoodbrakes #performanceracingindustry #knperformance #wintersperformance #rpmchassis #pikespeak #timeattack
#automobile #fabrication #racecar #chevyls #holleyefi #holleyperformance #racetech #pahillclimbs

[@theophilhist6455]

Speed...twists and turns...rocks..trees...drop-offs = guts. You're getting there. Good luck

[@johnfiore91]

Thanks man!!! It’s definitely something you have to ease into lol

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

Have you cycled the rear suspension through it’s full travel? Short driveshafts start to bind up pretty quickly. You likely have way too much suspension travel for the pavement. Also more steering lock than you need. The steering ratio may be too fast making the car difficult to drive smoothly and accurately. Ditch the torsion bars. Coil overs will be much easier and cheaper to dial in. You could use one of the torsion tubes to house anti sway bars. A sequential transaxle with paddle shifters would eliminate the shifting issues and really help the performance by giving you 5 speeds. The required IRS rear suspension would of course be a complication but no worse than your current setup that likely has a lot of bind and who knows what sort of instant center, roll center, etc issues that are present. One last thought, you may be killing the clutch with all the slipping driving the car around the pits.

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

$$$$$$ needless to say.

[@johnfiore91]

I really appreciate the concerns, advice, and ideas. Most of those subjects and issues have been addressed in past episodes, however with the flood of new viewers and supporters, in my next 3-4 episodes I’ll be starting a detailed build breakdown where I will discuss the current setup, goals, and how I got to the current setup through over more than 7 years of engineering, research, building, and development. As for going to spectate at Pikes, my wife and I have been twice, went to practice days, and even got to spend race day with David Donner, whom you can imagine was a wealth of knowledge. Also, you might want to stay tuned to see about the plans for ‘25, you’re on the right track there. Thanks again for the comments!

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

@@johnfiore91 Carroll Smith wrote several books back in the 70s and 80s that were recommended to all beginning SCCA racers. "Prepare to Win" and "Tune to win" were his originals. One of the best ideas was what he called "paper dolls". You measure all of the suspension components and pick up points and then cut out posterboard facsimiles and draw your suspension pickup points on an adequately sized flat surface and then you put the posterboard trailing arms, etc on the flat surface and work the parts through their travel. Nowadays you would use CAD programs to do the same thing.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Agreed with tailshaft. My old Supermodified [1968 forerunner to a Sprintcar] has this issue and is possibly longer @ 92". You need the suspension to go up and down, through a very small arc. I have clearanced both front and rear yokes to gain angle. You will only require max 6" of travel, 5" will do ok. 3.5 down and 1.5" up from ride height. And yes I once hillclimbed it,,,, rear brakes only, chassis set remotely square and even dia tyres. I just needed 3 hands!,, one to steer, one to change gear and one for the brake. It now has a hand clutch which will make it harder. Coilovers would be simpler and easier to 'tune' and using one torsion bar per end could make a good sway bar. I doubt you would need one front but a softer front bar in the rear would be ok rear,, make it adjustable. That is the way I set up my road race tintops for hillclimbs

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

IMO you need to think about you first foray at Pikes Peak in 2026. You need to spend 2025 making your car 100% reliable and nearly maintenance free. You should still go to PP next year but as a spectator. Spend a lot of time in the pits talking to old hands. See what they are doing. Solutions they are implementing. The old saying is “learn from the mistakes of others “ but the more important motto should be “learn from the successes of others “. Preferably really smart “others”.

[@davidaarons2488]

Glad ya got your check mark. Did it slip this time? Gearing will change how it goes, more of a street gear or like a road race gear, plus new trans, sounds great.

[@johnfiore91]

Thanks man! It did slip so that’s why called it after only one run. I’m new to trans gearing and it’s proving to be an expensive education lol

[@SlickWilly79]

But the first right turn you come to, you’ll drive right off the mountain 🤔

[@johnfiore91]

Why?

[@HJR17]

whats the chassis??? brand?

[@johnfiore91]

@@HJR17 it’s an RPM 88/41.5 1/2” RR originally specced out for Kasey Kane Racing, it was Daryn Pittman’s car for the World of Outlaws in 2017. We’ve made a bunch of subtle modifications for it to work with this setup. I appreciate the interest!