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Mike Kelly's Zcar Project


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Thanks to a kick in the arse from Matt Isbell, I joined NASA today and may well have my Z at VIR in October... Time is ticking tick tock tick tock....

I like the sound of that..........

 

Really looking forward to your coaching. Do you have any good data we could overlay? Do you have any prior setup notes we could look at? I need your address to send you your team crew shirt, call me. Whats a good video to study that would be a similar line, speed and time. 

 

My student was surprised at Road Atlanta this last Chin event with the student line I was showing him in his PORSCHE, he said he had been studying a certain video for a month and that wasnt the line they were taking. I asked him who's video it was he was watching and he said it was from Petite Le Mans of the AUDI R18. I just put my head down and said he should go practice more Forza before our next session.

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Latest update on the  LS3 build...

 

403 Stroker with Callies Compstar Rods/Crank and SRP pistons.  The heads are LS3s that are hand ported, along with a bullet CAM and other bits.

 

Here's some aerocandy while I am at it...FB_IMG_13793650136358349_zps98474f5c.jpgFB_IMG_13793650303939690_zpsbc5abb64.jpgFB_IMG_13793651499522033_zps228c29f8-1-1

Edited by Mikelly
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So as of now the 403 stroker will have a 102 FAST intake and Tbody, 50# injectors, and rails. I plan to run the long tube headers I bought from Keith. and I will be running the ARE drysump oil pan along with the rest of the ARE bits needed to install this setup.

 

I hope to have the motor in an mounted up by December 1st. Tuned and running by the end of January would be an excellent start to a new season in TT with NASA.

 

I could only be so lucky.

 

Mike

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So as of now the 403 stroker will have a 102 FAST intake and Tbody, 50# injectors, and rails. I plan to run the long tube headers I bought from Keith. and I will be running the ARE drysump oil pan along with the rest of the ARE bits needed to install this setup.

 

I hope to have the motor in an mounted up by December 1st. Tuned and running by the end of January would be an excellent start to a new season in TT with NASA.

 

I could only be so lucky.

 

Mike

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Back from vacation. I plan to get into the shop today and get prepared for a new round of work on the Zcar. I hope to get the drivers side and the spats in front of the rear tires that will close out the rocker.

 

And of course, I still have a mess from post chumpcar race at VIR that needs to be put away. Parts still laying around...

 

Mike

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  • 2 weeks later...

Yesterday I left my home at 0450 and drove to VIR.  I arrived at about 0810 and was at Garage #8 by 0815.  I met Matt Isbell for the first time face to face and I was in the car and on the hot pits well before 0900.  Matt is a hell of a racecar driver and he knows his car well.  He has a support crew and a teammate, and they number 2 mechanics, a crew chief and a fellow racer in his red camaro.  After introductions it is obvious immediately that they have a LOT of fun at Matt's expense.  I can't mentio all of it here because the thread would get locked, for sure!

 

Matt has been to VIR twice before, and has managed some very respectable times.  His best was a 2:04 lap on full course.  That is not a slow lap by any stretch but after viewing his video and making lots of notes, I could possibly help him dip into the 1:5xs.  Our session was his first in a year, so we'd be knocking off the cobb webs.  But I was also facing poor weather conditions and rain would surely be here by some point mid day.  So, knowing Matt is not a shrinking violet and knowing that I am not, can two "A" type personalities live in the cockpit of a racecar for 30 minutes without getting them killed and meeting all objectives?  Hell YES!!!  On the out lap Matt and I are talking and getting our strategy for the session.  I'm pointing out my concern spots, the aim points on entry and exit, the mistakes others will surely make, and then we start working up to speed.  It takes 3 laps to get his tires up to operating temps and in that three laps we are going pretty fast.  The car is twitching up front under heavy braking, but otherwise doesn't feel bad.  There is some minimal popousing of the suspension, but they will eventually dial all of that out. 

 

Our session consists of me yelling in his ear not to lift, where to "get on it" and when to brake.  VIR is spooky and if you don't know the secret sauce to getting around it, you will leave tons of time on the table.  In Matt's 30 minutes with me he has already dropped 2 seconds.  He's still unsure of going flat out thru the esses, or braking at 2 on the back straight, but it'll click.  He's starting to get T10, T11/12, and he understands where I want him to trail brake in T14/14A.  Next session out he hits 2:00:xx.  That is serious times and well within my goal for him.  However, after experiencing his hand work, foot work, and the potential of the car and the team, I am more than confident we are leaving time on the table.  Then the rains come.

 

So off to lunch we go.  I try to get his team mate and one of their competitors up to speed best I can with video and visual, but both of those guys will have a tough race on both Saturday and Sunday because both are really having a hard time of it.  This is actually a valuable lesson and one I will take into my own racing.  Matt was smart enough to get a local to come coach him.  He was even smarter to put a seat in the passenger side and move DOWN to HPDE3 and away from his competitors so I could get in the car with him and coach from the passenger seat.  They were running in the racers open practice, and couldn't follow the fast line Matt was (quickly) learning.  Most important of all, Matt, An instructor and racer was willing to let a complete stranger instruct him on what works, what doesn't and what can get you into trouble.

 

During his teammates wet session a BMW experienced the undulation of the snake and ended up in the left side tirewall exiting T6.  It was an excellent teaching moment for everyone in our garage and I was able to walk them back thru the notes I had provided Matt weeks before on that very section. 

 

So Matt's last session of the day comes at 1PM and the track is still wet.  It's drying, but boy is it still damp on hoosiers.  So off he goes and off I go to south Paddock with David Allen (lurker here) to watch from south paddock.  Matt is looking good, but there seems to be much more traffic now than before.  Some new arrivals must have shown up.  So after his session I find that he actuall was still running 2:01s even with a moist track and heavy traffic.  Our boy is gonna do well.  We watch open practice for a nother session and I quickly see a lot of competitors largely making the same exact mistakes Matt was making in the beginning.  Lifting or braking into the esses, not trusting the gators (in the dry), racing a bizaar mix of DE and "other" lines that just eat up additional tarmac.  Not Matt.  He's been shown the way, and he's using it, and using it well.  I'll await Matt's post race experience and will hope for the best.

 

I want to thank Matt for the chance to work with him.  He is one hell of a guy and he knows that car well.  His hand/foot work is impressive and he can wheel a car very well.  I sorely needed the distraction from the government shutdown (My company is shut down due to this mess and I'm hemoraging cash) and the current stresses of life.  So a day away from all that was what I truly needed.  Wish I coulda stayed a few more days!

 

I'll post some pics shortly!

 

Mike

Edited by Mikelly
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I have to admit gang, After this weekend working with Matt and his monster, and knowing the directional changes I am making, I am encouraged on what this platform is capable of and just how close the two cars feel, driving one and then being in the passenger seat of the other...

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Yesterday I left my home at 0450 and drove to VIR.  I arrived at about 0810 and was at Garage #8 by 0815.  I met Matt Isbell for the first time face to face and I was in the car and on the hot pits well before 0900.  Matt is a hell of a racecar driver and he knows his car well.  He has a support crew and a teammate, and they number 2 mechanics, a crew chief and a fellow racer in his red camaro.  After introductions it is obvious immediately that they have a LOT of fun at Matt's expense.  I can't mention all of it here because the thread would get locked, for sure!

 

Matt has been to VIR twice before, and has managed some very respectable times.  His best was a 2:04 lap on full course.  That is not a slow lap by any stretch but after viewing his video and making lots of notes, I could possibly help him dip into the 1:5xs.  Our session was his first in a year, so we'd be knocking off the cobb webs.  But I was also facing poor weather conditions and rain would surely be here by some point mid day.  So, knowing Matt is not a shrinking violet and knowing that I am not, can two "A" type personalities live in the cockpit of a racecar for 30 minutes without getting them killed and meeting all objectives?  Hell YES!!!  On the out lap Matt and I are talking and getting our strategy for the session.  I'm pointing out my concern spots, the aim points on entry and exit, the mistakes others will surely make, and then we start working up to speed.  It takes 3 laps to get his tires up to operating temps and in that three laps we are going pretty fast.  The car is twitching up front under heavy braking, but otherwise doesn't feel bad.  There is some minimal popousing of the suspension, but they will eventually dial all of that out. 

 

Our session consists of me yelling in his ear not to lift, where to "get on it" and when to brake.  VIR is spooky and if you don't know the secret sauce to getting around it, you will leave tons of time on the table.  In Matt's 30 minutes with me he has already dropped 2 seconds.  He's still unsure of going flat out thru the esses, or braking at 2 on the back straight, but it'll click.  He's starting to get T10, T11/12, and he understands where I want him to trail brake in T14/14A.  Next session out he hits 2:00:xx.  That is serious times and well within my goal for him.  However, after experiencing his hand work, foot work, and the potential of the car and the team, I am more than confident we are leaving time on the table.  Then the rains come.

 

So off to lunch we go.  I try to get his team mate and one of their competitors up to speed best I can with video and visual, but both of those guys will have a tough race on both Saturday and Sunday because both are really having a hard time of it.  This is actually a valuable lesson and one I will take into my own racing.  Matt was smart enough to get a local to come coach him.  He was even smarter to put a seat in the passenger side and move DOWN to HPDE3 and away from his competitors so I could get in the car with him and coach from the passenger seat.  They were running in the racers open practice, and couldn't follow the fast line Matt was (quickly) learning.  Most important of all, Matt, An instructor and racer was willing to let a complete stranger instruct him on what works, what doesn't and what can get you into trouble.

 

During his teammates wet session a BMW experienced the undulation of the snake and ended up in the left side tirewall exiting T6.  It was an excellent teaching moment for everyone in our garage and I was able to walk them back thru the notes I had provided Matt weeks before on that very section. 

 

So Matt's last session of the day comes at 1PM and the track is still wet.  It's drying, but boy is it still damp on hoosiers.  So off he goes and off I go to south Paddock with David Allen (lurker here) to watch from south paddock.  Matt is looking good, but there seems to be much more traffic now than before.  Some new arrivals must have shown up.  So after his session I find that he actuall was still running 2:01s even with a moist track and heavy traffic.  Our boy is gonna do well.  We watch open practice for a nother session and I quickly see a lot of competitors largely making the same exact mistakes Matt was making in the beginning.  Lifting or braking into the esses, not trusting the gators (in the dry), racing a bizaar mix of DE and "other" lines that just eat up additional tarmac.  Not Matt.  He's been shown the way, and he's using it, and using it well.  I'll await Matt's post race experience and will hope for the best.

 

I want to thank Matt for the chance to work with him.  He is one hell of a guy and he knows that car well.  His hand/foot work is impressive and he can wheel a car very well.  I sorely needed the distraction from the government shutdown (My company is shut down due to this mess and I'm hemoraging cash) and the current stresses of life.  So a day away from all that was what I truly needed.  Wish I coulda stayed a few more days!

 

I'll post some pics shortly!

 

Mike

Mike,

 

I cant thank you enough for making the trip and the results speak for themselves. Your expert coaching and insight is the reason we were successful and in comparison to my competitors. It makes it even more apparent as they have faster cars and were not even close to ever being a factor. With all the recent attention given to the safety and death on track as an instructor I appreciate your getting in the car with someone you've never met personally and trusting me with your life. My car is a little faster than a DE1 student and you were pushing me beyond what I thought the car was capable of. That takes loads of trust and I'm glad I was able to deliver your efforts with some quick times and solid race results. I look forward to your car on track and giving me a run for my money. 

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Matt, I greatly appreciate the kind words. As I advance towards leaving the current career and moving on with the next chapter in my life I hope to make that transition into something related to motorsports. Working with guys like yourself, and assisting in providing such results certainly bolsters my confidence.

 

I am hoping to have my new motor next week. Once it arrives, I will be able to start the process of building out and swapping the 403 stroker into the Z!

 

Mike

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November is shaping up to be really busy for me... I am shipping out the 383 stroker, getting the 403 stroker LS3, Racing at AMP Nov. 2 and 3 with Chumpcar, instructing with DriveLabs for the Helmets off to Heros event for vets and wounded warriors on Veterans day, and then back at Charlotte Motor Speedway November 22-23 with Chumpcar. I hope to get the 403 mocked up by December!!

 

And oh yea, I think I should really start to think about overhauling the chumpcar motor in the escort.

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