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Sighting

Started by RPM - Robert, February 21, 2021, 11:14:11 PM

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RPM - Robert

Today I spied with my little eye, the world famous "midget" at Thunderhill raceway.

fj1289

What were y'all doing at Thunderhill?

RPM - Robert

Ryan ran the roadster for the first time this weekend. He we be running it for 18 races for this seasons campaign. First two races are in the books as wins for the RPM team. class wins on both days and 5th and 8th overall. The top car overall was a $159,000.00, 1,200lb. Praga R1 prototype that makes 1,900lbs. of downforce. Our car was a used roller we picked up for $1,200 late last year and finished building Friday night before the race.

RPM - Robert

Prototype in the back ground of the last picture here. It hauled the mail. Unfortunately we didn't get any on track photos as we saw a bunch of photographers but there was no photo trailer so we will likely find some online for us to buy later.

FJ1200W

Steve
Columbia, Missouri
USA

Pat Conlon

Quote from: FJ1200W on February 22, 2021, 10:22:27 AM
Hah! Well done!
Yes, indeed...Kudos, off to a good start...
What's the power source for the Praga?
Are you running water jackets on your engine?
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

RPM - Robert

The praga is powered by a 2.0l Formula Renault

https://www.racetechmag.com/2020/11/praga-cars-releases-1st-teaser-images-of-new-praga-r1/

Our class has actually moved away from the FJ lump. They have switched to a Hayabusa that is detuned by running the FJ carburetors. We ran a few races last year with the 1250 vs the Busas. While we qualified on pole and were competitive lap time wise. The shorter gear that the Busas can pull, the extra horsepower, and the horsepower loss of the FJ over a 35 minute race because of heat soaking in the full bodied car, made it impossible to be competitive in race. They could easily pull 10-12 car lengths down the straightaway, we would make up the time through the corners but as soon as the straightaway came again they would gap us.

We made the swap and went 2 seconds faster than every one in the class. Broke the old track record of 1:58.2 with a 1:55.9 in qualifying Sunday on 6 race old tires. With a set of stickers and some more dialing in of the brakes and chassis, because of the changes to engine, brake package, rear end, etc. I believe we can easily pick up another 2 or 2.5 seconds a lap at this track.

Troyskie

Exciting stuff fellas  :good2: (popcorn)
1984 FJ1100 Ms Effie brand new :)
1984 FJ1100 Pearlie, stock as.
1985 FJ1100 Mr Effie 647,000K and still running hard.
1985 FJ1200 'Yummy' takes a licking & keeps on ticking
After all is said and done, more is said than done :)
2013 Trumpy Tiger 800, let's do a lap of Oz

Pat Conlon

Thanks Robert, alas the end of an era....cooling issues aside, I wonder if the 'busa engines will prove to be as durable as the FJ lump?

Cheers
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

Mike Ramos

Quote from: RPM - Robert on February 21, 2021, 11:14:11 PM
Today I spied with my little eye, the world famous "midget" at Thunderhill raceway.

Yep, I was cruising up the Hwy 5 north of Sacramento & heard of the Legend cars having a race scheduled.

Of note, there were four generations of the Raduechel family attending: Mr. Raduechel senior seen behind me with a grand nephew seated next to him.

A true family affair!

Mike Ramos

Gentlemen,

Well, it was somewhat more involved than stated above...

The first race Ryan was involved in a incident with another car and spun off the track, then re-entering the track & resuming the race in last place - he then raced like the preverbal "bat out of hell" and passed EVERYONE on his way to a decisive, run away victory!  Of note, the BMW's which should be, and are more competitive with the others in this class are only back markers to the Raduechel car - proper vehicle set up stacks the RPM prepared cars apart in the hands of other drivers, however refined setup & driver talent places the Raduechel's personal car(s) literally in a class of their own.

The Sunday race, again the Ryan again had some difficulty with the BMW back markers however he still was able to lap others of his class long before the end of the race!

Even the Race Director (a fellow driver himself) made mention of the seemingly invincibility of the Raduechel Performance Motorsports race cars.  However it should be noted that Randy, ever the "Gentleman from Oakdale" handled the comments with his usual aplomb, modesty and quiet reserve.

All in all a very nice experience from this spectator's viewpoint.

Midget

RPM - Robert

Quote from: Pat Conlon on February 22, 2021, 03:13:13 PM
Thanks Robert, alas the end of an era....cooling issues aside, I wonder if the 'busa engines will prove to be as durable as the FJ lump?

Cheers

We will be ringing this ones neck and putting it through it's paces. We did have one competitors car explode the starter and internal clutch and gears in the motor during a spin. Took all the chunks out and push started it the rest of the weekend. While spinning without the clutch in with the Fj would unwind the starter, it was an easy fix. Two bolts, one wire, in and out. This was a new experience for all. Ordered a spare starter and associated gears and clutch today to make sure we have it covered if it happens to us.

fj1289

Some of the high compression and stroke Busas have issues with breaking starter clutches.  I think their answer is usually 24 volt starting systems - obviously no help here.   I'll see if they have developed any heavy duty pieces in the drag race community



The other half of the story is the "new" Busa drivers talking smack about breaking Randy's lap records.  As seen once again, simply building a fast car doesn't make you a better tuner or faster driver!  Congrats guys - well done as always!

RPM - Robert

Technically, they never broke the records we set with the FJ motors until this weekend that is, since going to the new hayabusa motor, they renamed the class and to GTR instead of thunder roadster and started all new lap records even though the cars are virtually the same. They put a hayabusa in it and changed the body and allow the use of bigger brakes now. The biggest hindrance is the body. We were running 1:58s with the FJ and old body style for years as it has a lot less drag.

Even taking the wing off of this body style nets is about 1.5 seconds but we are forced to run it because they like the looks of it.

Sonoma raceway is next on the chopping block in March. When we were there in October they were doing 1:52s which is the GTR track record. But the FJ has the honors of being 4 seconds faster than that. Had a 3 man battle to the bitter end that day. We ran 2nd & 3rd at this one but all three of us broke the old thunder roadster track record that day. We will see what the busa can run with the new body. Hopefully put the RPM GTR sub 1:47. We will have a set of stickers for this event as they were supposed to arrive from Hoosier two weeks ago but they showed up today  :dash2:

I will give it to these boys though. Whatever changes they made in the off season worked for them as their previous track record was 2:00 in the GTR. All but one of them
Broke down sub 2s this weekend even pushing a 20+ mph headwind down the long straights.