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Jim1855
09-13-2021, 10:57 AM
Finally had a chance to drive a finished car, I liked it. Not my first drive but this one was finished.

I bought my Challenge Car prior to any rides in a FFR although I had 65k miles between two Superformance cars. I have since had rides in a few other FFR cars.

My friend Lynn, GFX2043mtu, was running his MK4 at Grattan Raceway in a Porsche Club event. He was kind enough to let me take it out for the parade lap session. 60mph limit, no screeching tires but there are corners where 60 is pushing it, I did. Manual Wilwood 6-piston/4-piston brakes are great, handling was very solid and did what was expected w/o surprises. Manual steering was good but seemingly stiff, but then I’m old, it’s good on the track not so much at slow speeds. Couldn’t go fast enough to learn much about high speed straight line stability.

His configuration is mostly standard, highly modified 5-speed, Mosier solid axle, 315 Toyo Proxes R888R tires, 3.31 gears then it’s a 461 Windsor, 850 DP Holley with north of 600 crank hp and 490 at the wheels on a Mustang dyno. Very drivable and easy to control with the Forte mechanical throttle linkage, highly recommended. Lynn’s build is excellent, great paint, many nice extra details all very well done. Kirkey Vintage buckets are great on the track, I was planted, Lynn was sliding around in the factory issued bucket.

I hope to get another drive where a little more throttle can be explored. This will be educational, his motor has a bit more power than mine and I’ve been concerned that with all the 400hp max posts 600 would be unmanageable, it isn’t.

BTW, this was my first time out in a manual trans car in a year, I’m glad I remembered how it all works.

Thanks Lynn.

Jim

mcleod10
09-13-2021, 04:02 PM
Sounds like a fun outing.

edwardb
09-13-2021, 10:04 PM
Way to go Jim. Sounds like a good time and glad to hear you found the Factory Five acceptable. :o

Jim1855
09-13-2021, 11:46 PM
Thanks Paul,
You'd like his build, it really is well done.
The drive was way more than "acceptable", I really liked it. But I need to be a bit reserved with the glowing reviews, I am after all hoping for more seat time, all educational of course.
Lynn was gracious and brave enough to let me drive, a leap of faith since the only time he's ridden with me was a quick run to the parts store.
Jim

GoDadGo
09-14-2021, 07:17 AM
These cars do something to us all every time we get in them.
They make us smile and give us tinnitus if we don't wear earplugs.

Note: I felt the same way after getting a chance to ride in and driver a donor kit-built MK-3 and a complete kit-built MK-4.

GFX2043mtu
09-14-2021, 04:05 PM
I'm glad you enjoyed it. The car is 95% finished as they are never truly finished. I know after this round of tweaks and track time there is a couple adjustments I want to make to see if I can increase the turn in grip in the front a little. But over all these cars for what they are, are very good when correctly set up. Slides are very controllable with the correct inputs at low and medium speeds (40-80 mph) and the brakes are great when warmed up a little.