2nd is just the best of the losers.

 

Engine build

Stage 4 (stay reasonable on cams)
Stock turbo (porting okay)
Stroker bottom end (this helps with reliability too)
Clutch (make sure it's fresh fresh fresh before the event)
Flash (EMS isn't worth the added cost for 93 octane)
Not too loud!!

Emissions
If you are going to run a real cat for the event, it's time to add a higher priced premium high flo cat to your catalog. Your cat is very restrictive compared to others out there. I replaced my Buschur cat with a Random Tech metallic substrate 3" bullet cat and had to turn down the boost. A SOTP difference.

Also consider offering a high flow cat that is more or less a resonator. Perhaps work out a deal with RRE to offer their resonated test pipe in your catalog.

Perhaps you have a budget cat (current offering), a premium cat (like the Random) and a racing cat (resonated test pipe).

Suspension
Optimized coilover set-up track tested on the tire you are going to use
Race pads and ducting on stock brakes

Tires -- Tire choice is key; Build the suspension around the tire to maximize road course performance.

Wheels -- Don't use ugly wheels. This is a car magazine -- a lot of cars are judged by their wheels unfortunately. Why do you think Lingenfelter always put Fikses on every magazine car.

I'd consider adding a custom wheel to your catalog. Consult with custom wheel builders like Complete Custom Wheel in Florida. They can build a gorgeous set of forged wheels for under $2000. No matter what, add whatever wheel you choose to your catalog before the article goes to press and make sure it's a wheel that you can have a good margin on.

Interior -- Keep it stock. Nothing more than a boost gauge on the column.

Reliability -- This is maybe the #1 reason for a budget engine build. You need to finish. The more powerful the car, the more likely that the C&D guys are going to break it. A built bottom end will help here rather than trusting your reputation to Mitsu's spotty engine build quality. Also, you need to have a fresh clutch that is broken in and nothing more. It will probably be dead by the end of the event.

Drivability -- Go easy on the cams. Get second opinions on drivability from non-car people. Get grandma behind the wheel The stroker bottom end will help a lot here to tame the cams and will also make the car more foregiving on launch technique.

*WEBSITE* -- Spend some money upgrading your website. It's not bad, but you could do a lot better. Find a car guy who does web pages for a living and update it. Add multimedia. Videos from the C&D event would be fantastic. You will get a lot of web traffic after the article goes to press -- guaranteed. Be prepared.

FWIW, I have all of your Stage IV parts. Only non-Buschur parts are the boost controller (I wanted electronic) and the cat.

Hope that helps.

 

If you can build all out and be super reliable as well as drivable than go for it. Worst thing is to build all out and right before the event, problems just like last year with Moser's super car (I think).
It would be awesome to see an Evo that does 11 sec 1/4 and go around the track very fast and still be driven daily by regular people.

Bottom line 5 star drivability, very fast (0-60mph around 3sec.), and still cost less than a stock Viper.

 

Random thoughts on unlimited build:

-If you win, were talking major bragging rights, exposure, lots of new followers.

- If you dont win, people are still going to come to you for getting the most out of their budget setup, because that is what your stages are based on.


If I were in your position, my biggest question would be how much faster really would the all out car be?


Very random thought:
I would like to see a stage 4 car with nitrous run. I know your not really into pushing nitrous but lets face it, a stock engine/turbo evo with suspension and a 100 shot would be hard to beat.

 

Dave, You've got everybody's backing. Go kick the $_it out of the $150k playboy cars. Besides, what's that saying " SECOND PLACE IS THE FIRST LOSER! ". Go for the win. Late.

 

David, as you know I am a road course guy with a lot of your parts and more. Can you give us a better description of the road course portion in terms of length, turns straights etc?

 

I'd rather see you build a car that represents David Buschur's take on what Mitsubishi should have built rather than the ultimate car you are capable of. While I enjoy ANY engineering effort, whether it be for the street or all out race, I definately respect the "iron fist in velvet glove" approach. Frankly, I think it will sell more parts.

 

I think Most of us eithe voted for 1 or 2 and the people that voted for 3 and 4 want to change it back to either 1 or 2 so like everyone else said GO FOR THE WIN even your 50-60$ EVO i still going to be the cheepest car out there!! GO FOR IT!!!

I want people to pick up that MAGAZINE and be Freeking AMAZED with the results man thats what its all about i know i enjoyed reading VISHNU getting second place last year I still have that magazine its INSANE

 

The only problem is that benzs and vipers don't come in four cylinder versions. This year, expect competition to come from Hondas, Mazdas, Mitsus and other 4 bangers. To put things in perspective, the quickets car from the last 4 cylinder shootout was a supercharged S2000 The EVOs should do very well.

-shiv

 

There is no way to be competitive in the road course portion of this competition with the stock wheel and tire set-up....Robi and DB are both well-aware of this. My vote is to go all out within reason, without worrying about over the top weight redution, etc, build the fastest, best suspended and dynamic evo that the budget can allow. I wish you guys all the best.



Percy Howard

 

I say go in and win the event with an all out Evo. Even if it cost 40+ grand it doesnt matter because im sure everyone who reads the shoot out article will know it cost that much to get those hp numbers. To the public reading the article they eventually know they can settle for a cheaper mod if they want. If it was me I would go all out and try to get first place to let people know that the car and parts I build are capable to win the event. Its a shootout so you dont want to have a budget racer and get blown by the competition. Remember getting first place you will be RECOGNIZED and your business will boom. You just have to prove to eveyone your parts kick *** and you could build some freaking fast/reliable cars. just my opinion ...good luck

 

Dave I applaud your ability to bring great parts to market at affordable prices. My personal philosophy is that racing improves the breed and believe that true winners "swing for the fence" every time up. In every sense, you are helping to establish a reputation for the Evo on this continent as well as continuing to build on your own. This project you are entering can not help but enhance your fine reputation and expertise.

 

Lets put this in perspective.... the point of entering a challenge or a competition is to win, no?

GRM 2005 CHALLENGE = (budget build) to win

C&D SUPER TUNER CHALLENGE = (no budget build) to win


=)

 

Everybody already knows how well EVOs respond to mods. What people haven't seen yet, is the supercar killer potential of an unlimited budget.

Vishnu did a great job last year. Imagine if everything had gone right for them.

Reliability - make sure nothing is going to break. Test, test and test. When stuff breaks, it looks bad. You don't want to waste your chance to get all this good exposure.

 

I think everyone wants their favorite car to win an event, however fun as this might sound, I think in the long run it hurts buisiness, because it is out of reach for most people and it shows a little bit off arrogance on the shop builders part.
However a budget build doesnt mean you need to settle for second or third place. A build up is about carefully choosing your parts to get the job done, the old saying, fast, cheap, quality, pick two, still holds true.
And you got time on your side, and yes you need to tell what stuff cost, but on the other hand it is a perfect time to develop new things, the cost of parts doesnt negate the fact that you can spend many many hours, on testing different products and tuning your setup. Which in real life would push such a car way over 50K, but as luck will have it, you do not need to mention this in dollars.
This benefit us just as much as it benefits you.

I dont saying 50K is a too high of a budget, I am saying just spending to spend money isnt a solution.

Not telling your job or anything, but I develop games for a living, and in many aspects, such events is very much like developing game concepts, that actually will see the light of day.

Just my worthless 2 cents...

T