Racing pinoy-style, Part 2

[Accord GTR]

Here we go again...year 2 of racing in the Phil Touring Car Championships or PTCC thru the eyes and thoughts of someone relatively new to the scene, your very own AccordGTR.   

The 2007 PTCC race schedule (revision #3!):
April 13  - Launch party at The Promenade, Greenhills
April 22  - 1st leg SIR
May 20  - 2nd leg SIR
June 17  - 3rd leg SIR
Aug 25   - 4th leg SIR
Sep 23   - 5th leg Street Race in Manila!
Oct 14   - Final leg BRC

Nov 24-25 - Motorsports Festival, Touring Car Endurance race
                    SIR

That's 2 races per leg for a total of 12 races.  We will now be racing a Honda Civic SIR in Group 1, competing for overall honors and the Class C (B & C combined , probably) championship trophy. 

Of course, this is all plans and things may change but one thing is for sure:  my new race car will be ready! 

Fyi, Group 1 is the premier racing class in the Philippines.  This is where the AAP Driver-Of-The-Year award gets it's candidate and there's only been one driver who has won the award for the past 7 (or is it 11?  who cares, basta I know nobody has beaten him yet!) times is Jody Coseteng. 

Will Jody continue to race?  The last newspaper report I read, he was going to "take a break from racing" this year.  Much to my disappointment cuz I have always wanted to share the grid with The Man in a car that's "legal" and similar to his.  It is an honor for me as an ordinary car enthusiast to be priviledged to race with The Man.  It's one of those "once in a lifetime" experiences I look forward to before completing this life! 

I remember a year ago, I actually got the chance to tail Jody at BRC when he was practicing in his race car. I was also practicing for Track Attack in my EK9 while he was getting ready for the PTCC.  My EK9 was more powerful, had better brakes and tires compared to his SIR but I was still surprised to be able to catch up to him for a couple of laps.  I was able to beat his best lap time back then but it was really more of the car than my driving.  The point is, I was able to build a car that could beat Jody's lap time and clock the quickest official lap time recorded at BRC.  Now, try doing it within the "rules" in a similar car.  Of course, "similar" is really an over-statement cuz Jody's race car is impeccable (read: major sponsor + big budget!).  That's a really tough challenge and only a couple of drivers have been able to do it.  But these are Super-A rated drivers, not some Class C driver on only his 2nd year and who's never joined a pro go-kart or driven a Formula car in his life! 

But even if Jody does not race this year, there will be plenty of competition.  Chances of me getting in the overall podium will be very slim and if I do even just once, you will see me jumping higher than Schumi!  LOL!

[Accord GTR]

Here's my soon-to-be N1 race car getting stripped.  Can you recognize it?



It was a perfectly stock 99 Honda Civic SIR that was never raced.  Owned by a gentleman who took very  good care of it.  I know cuz I talked to the guy and although he has over 100,000 kms in the car, the chassis had no damage.  And surprise, surprise, when we put it up on the chassis aligment rack at VM, it was all within factory spec! 

Here we have removed the glass and all NVH panels getting ready to seamweld & fabricate the rollcage.  Patience, patience.  All what we learned about building race cars, we will put in this baby so long as it is within the rules.  Stock weight of an SIR is around 2600 lbs.  We have to get this down to only 2050 lbs!

[Leepu Awlia]

congrats and good luck on the new project. New projects are always exciting.
I just got a link today from Millermatic on their new article on how to install a rollcage. Thought it apt to post the link here:

http://www.millerwelds.com/education/articles/article96.html

[Accord GTR]

Excellent article, Nacho.  We will be using 45mm diameter x 2.5mm wall thickness tubing for the main tubes and 38 x 2.5mm for the supports.  This is within FIA rules.  Our car is not as powerful as that Rally car and a circuit course is much safer than a rally course, IMO, so I wouldn't want it that beefy but it will be stiff.  I'm using the same guy who built my cage, Rollyboy, who is the head mechanic of Matthew Marsh's Porsche Cup racing team.

[Victorb]

hi Accord GTR,
saw your blue accord at creative speed

ganda!
nice exaust!
hows the tuning and service of the japanese?

--authentic japanese--

[AUCH]

keep your works posted with pics if possible.  maybe you could post up what you would like to do step by step and see if we could discuss it the thru to completion

[Accord GTR]

hi Accord GTR,
saw your blue accord at creative speed

ganda!
nice exaust!
hows the tuning and service of the japanese?

--authentic japanese--

Actually the 3-inch exhaust system is for a turbo system, which is planned for my built-H22 engine.  But I have to get it tuned and running right 1st in n.a. form.  The original ECU was defective.

I'm learning a lot about engine tuning from Oishi-san...something I need later on when I start racing in Group 1.  I'm using an AEM EMS with the Accord.  Found out that the datalogging is not as easy as a Motec or Hondata system as it does not replay the data, merely presents it in graphs.  With this SIR, I'll be using the Hondata S300 system.  More about it later.

I haven't had too much time though at Creative Speed so its going slowly.

[4agze]

Here's my soon-to-be N1 race car getting stripped.  Can you recognize it?



It was a perfectly stock 99 Honda Civic SIR that was never raced.  Owned by a gentleman who took very  good care of it.  I know cuz I talked to the guy and although he has over 100,000 kms in the car, the chassis had no damage.  And surprise, surprise, when we put it up on the chassis aligment rack at VM, it was all within factory spec! 

Here we have removed the glass and all NVH panels getting ready to seamweld & fabricate the rollcage.  Patience, patience.  All what we learned about building race cars, we will put in this baby so long as it is within the rules.  Stock weight of an SIR is around 2600 lbs.  We have to get this down to only 2050 lbs!

very nice build up man post more pics. what motor are you thinking of putting?

[4agze]

we also did a few track cars back then, but i like the most is oldschool track cars mix in with new technology like my very own Trueno AE86.it was build by me and my friends,we also build my girlfriends S13 silvia.now im about to try a newer kind of motor, im researching on it for now trying diffrent stuff.

its a 1984 Toyota corolla SR5,only few parts left from the original car.

[Accord GTR]

Hey, cool!  All you guys that are racing your cars now in any competition series, pls feel free to post them here...

Let me clarrify that I am racxing in the 2007 PTCC or Phil Touring Car Championships, Group 1.  The rules are quite limited.  Cars allowed are Honda Civic EG or EK with B16A engines locally or JDM.  The JDM engine is rated at 170hp while the local SIR is rated at 160hp.  The difference in power is the piston (higher comp for the JDM) and ECU.  You are allowed to add programable ECU's, intake and exhaust systems but engine must be stock from the TB to the primary exhaust manifold.

4agze:  Your harness connection is not wise nor is it legal in the PTCC.  Check the mounting instructions.  The shoulder belts must not exceed 45-degrees below the horizontal.  The shorter the belt behind the driver, the better as it will not stretch in case of an accident.  The way you mounted it, in a frontal collision, your body will still move forward, then belt will compress your spine.  Not a good idea at all to get spinal injuries!  That's the reason why the harness has to be mounted almost horizontally so all the force is going backwards and not downwards.

The best solution is to have a bar across the B-pillar at the same height as the shoulder belts.

Something like this link
http://www.westcoastcorvette.com/pc-93-29-corvette-97-04-c5-brey-krause-harness-mount-bar.aspx

[~M~]

subscribing...

sino po mga conrtenders nyo sa Grp1?

[Accord GTR]

So far the N1 line-up, afaik...
1.  Jody Coseteng, defending champ
2.  Kookie Ramirez
3.  Louie Ramirez
4.  Don Pastor
5.  Renan Morales
6.  Uly Maninding
7.  Gaby "FHM cover" de la Merced 
8.  Dominic Bon
9.  Dennis Uy
10.  Banny Vargas
11.  (yours truly!) 

Would you believe all the drivers except the last 2 are A-rated drivers!  This is the real deal now.  Top-of-the-heap! 

Not yet sure, Philip Alvendia, Carlos Anton or Jonathan Buxton.  I heard Matteo G. won't join as he got a contract to race international in karting!  Wow, congratulations, Matteo!

And guess what, I heard that Group 3 will have even more cars, as much as 17!!!  Whoa! 

[KookieR]

Just a clarification about the Group 1 rules, it is open to any 1600cc car and engine except the Type R Civic engine. The Civic with the B16A has proven the best option with these regulations, that is why almost all the entries use it. Technically you could use a BMW with thier 1600cc engine but it would be a big mistake since you could not modify it.

[Accord GTR]

Yes, thanks, Kookie for that clarrification.  What's nice about the series is it's relatively affordable and the cars are very quick.  Quicker than anything you can bring on the track though limited cuz of the spec tires and stock internals.  Maximum power is well below160whp but for a 1000kg race car on street tires, that's pretty tricky to control aorund a tight race track with 10 other guys beside you.

Note:  I have revised the PTCC schedule in page 1...I would like to invite everyone to attend the events and check out the cars and talk to the drivers.  Bring the family and enjoy!

[Mikey23]

Exciting!!! See you soon bro!