ACR's ready for the track

[Dan Cragin]

Our ACR customers are getting ready for the club-racing season and we have prepared several for track use. We were really surprised when we tested the first ACR’s in 2008 and they were only 3 seconds off our Competition Coupes. With some minor changes we are going to see how much faster they can really go.

We have been doing the basic track prep and safety changes to the cars. We start with changes to the Aero, ride height and alignment, steering rack bushings are changed to the solid type, sway bar bushings upgraded and the shock compression and rebound adjusted. We install a welded in rollbar, fire extinguisher and safety belts. Driveline upgrades are minor, we change the transmission mount and shifter (short throw) and on some cars we change the motor mounts (If they do not mind the vibration). For shorter tracks we change to a 3.33 ratio and add a Quaife for better traction. The brakes are great, but better brake lines and pads make them world class.

For power adders we have been using the Belanger headers, high flow air filter and Mopar PCM (with 93 fuel), good for 60hp!

We will be out at button Willow next weekend for the NARA Event soon and see how these cars do.

 

[CCBrian]

Dan, my wifes Red ACR looks great. Can't wait to see the dyno numbers on Tuesday. See you next week when its all finished! Let's hope all those race schools she has had keeps the shiny side up and we wasted money on a roll bar...LOL!

 

[Viper X]

Nice pics Dan.

I like the grey / black / red stripped one!

See you at Buttonwillow.

Dan

 

[Fast Viper]

Nice photos!

 

[FrankBarba]

Dan.....So far no one is placing full cages in yet ? How can the ACR's "Club Race" without a full cage. Here on the East Coast we can not Club Race with simply a Welded RollBar

 

[99 R/T 10]

Very nice Dan

 

[BJ MOTORS]

Frank several cars have cages in them now. Are any of these ACR's going to be joining us at Button Willow. It was amazing last year at VIR Ralph Giles was running his ACR about 3 seconds off of the Comp Coupes I was impressed

 

[Boxer12]

Dan.....So far no one is placing full cages in yet ? How can the ACR's "Club Race" without a full cage. Here on the East Coast we can not Club Race with simply a Welded RollBar

With a full cage it would no longer be street legal...kinda defeats the point of an ACR doesn't it? NARA is former Viper Days, so no cage needed, no matter the venue or region.

 

[REDSLED]

Frank's point is that they are not "Club Racing" They are time trialing. Doesn't matter if it is NARA, Viper Days, SCCA or NASA, one cannot do wheel to wheel "Club Racing" unless you have the full cage. Time trialing is a differnt story. I do believe that the graphite ACR will be there.

 

[gb66gth]

Dan, good explanation of the preperation of the cars. They sound like they're gonna be alot of fun, and very competative. Good luck!

 

[CCBrian]

Depending on weather, the red one might be there...its calling for rain so far...would not be fun to run on the stock Pilot Cups.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

NARA is former Viper Days, so no cage needed, no matter the venue or region.

You're talking about the Michelin Challenge and not the wheel to wheel, door to door VRL right?

BTW Great job DC

 

[Lee]

Excuse my silly question but, are these cars that are prepped for customers or prepped for sale?

 

[FrankBarba]

Excuse my silly question but, are these cars that are prepped for customers or prepped for sale?

Are you Looking for an ACR ?

 

[FrankBarba]

With a full cage it would no longer be street legal...kinda defeats the point of an ACR doesn't it? NARA is former Viper Days, so no cage needed, no matter the venue or region.

Sorry Boxter but i'm a racer. Not to Pi$$ on anyones parade, but with a Blanket Statement stating that a welded rollbar is suitable for Club Racing just doesn't cut it. Newbies will be thinking that a Welded Rollbar is suitable for Club Racing it is not. I have not reviewed the NARRA Rules but i would bet the ranch that they will not allow you to Club Race with just a Welded RollBar, Fire Extinguisher, and Safety Belts. If your gonna Race W/W you need to know the rules, If your going to Time Trial then it needs to be presented as such. Time Trials is not Club Racing

Rant Over....

Bernie....My ACR must have been too new when i took delivery, I could not find anyone to put a cage in...

DC Performance: Dan you do great work, i am sure that your customers will be very happy.

 

[Mopar Boy]

Sweet looking rides!

Robert

 

[CCBrian]

Sorry Boxter but i'm a racer. Not to Pi$$ on anyones parade, but with a Blanket Statement stating that a welded rollbar is suitable for Club Racing just doesn't cut it. Newbies will be thinking that a Welded Rollbar is suitable for Club Racing it is not. I have not reviewed the NARRA Rules but i would bet the ranch that they will not allow you to Club Race with just a Welded RollBar, Fire Extinguisher, and Safety Belts. If your gonna Race W/W you need to know the rules, If your going to Time Trial then it needs to be presented as such. Time Trials is not Club Racing

Rant Over....

Bernie....My ACR must have been too new when i took delivery, I could not find anyone to put a cage in...

DC Performance: Dan you do great work, i am sure that your customers will be very happy.

Frank, my car will be used for track days and harassing Corvette owners-most of whom are my friends. If I am going to race-which is all season, I have my WC Comp Coupe. I had Dan put the 4 point bar in as added protection
as this car is 9/10th's of the CC and can get you in trouble if you are not a very good track driver. My wife will be using it so I thought it would better than nothing. A full cage could be done but it would be a hard car to use on the street, where most of the driving will be done. Plus you would be cutting up the dash and loosing the headliner.

 

[REDSLED]

Brian, how about you chase me in the CC to see just how fast the ACR is. With COMPARABLE drivers I doubt they are only 3 seconds apart. Purpose built race car vs. street car? I know you understand as you have both

 

[Fast Viper Dan]

Brian, how about you chase me in the CC to see just how fast the ACR is. With COMPARABLE drivers I doubt they are only 3 seconds apart. Purpose built race car vs. street car? I know you understand as you have both

Sled, you can have the CC. The ACR comes with Brian's wife. I'll take it from here.
We'll wave as we go by!

So Brian, Are thinking of changing your mind? You need to get the car anyway. If it rains we'll just camp out and relax.

We can put some easy miles on the car and when were done, it will be ready for next time. And, if we find anything wrong, we can send it back to DC for some adjustments.

(notice I said"we" just trying to help)

 

[HI-NOS-Viper]

Good work Dan. Sounds like a winning stout setup. Its hard to imagine making a top of the line car any better than it is but if anyone can do it, you guys can. Not like they really need it but that 60hp is going to make everyone else look like they are standing still. I have a feeling the top three performers will be the three ACR's.

I know you said 60hp more but what about the curve? Can you post the before and after dyno graphs. Well keep us posted on how they perform. Good stuff

Our ACR customers are getting ready for the club-racing season and we have prepared several for track use. We were really surprised when we tested the first ACR’s in 2008 and they were only 3 seconds off our Competition Coupes. With some minor changes we are going to see how much faster they can really go.

We have been doing the basic track prep and safety changes to the cars. We start with changes to the Aero, ride height and alignment, steering rack bushings are changed to the solid type, sway bar bushings upgraded and the shock compression and rebound adjusted. We install a welded in rollbar, fire extinguisher and safety belts. Driveline upgrades are minor, we change the transmission mount and shifter (short throw) and on some cars we change the motor mounts (If they do not mind the vibration). For shorter tracks we change to a 3.33 ratio and add a Quaife for better traction. The brakes are great, but better brake lines and pads make them world class.

For power adders we have been using the Belanger headers, high flow air filter and Mopar PCM (with 93 fuel), good for 60hp!

We will be out at button Willow next weekend for the NARA Event soon and see how these cars do.

 

[SoCal Rebell]

Brian, how about you chase me in the CC to see just how fast the ACR is. With COMPARABLE drivers I doubt they are only 3 seconds apart. Purpose built race car vs. street car? I know you understand as you have both

I know a stock ACR was well within 3 seconds of your's and Dearing's GTSR's at Willow Springs

 

[REDSLED]

I know a stock ACR was well within 3 seconds of your's and Dearing's GTSR's at Willow Springs

You mean GTS Ronnie Boy! Was that alleged 3 seconds in the exact same session. I do know that ACR's don't look as **** when they are spun off backwards with rocks all over the hood

 

[CCBrian]

Boys, let me see if my wife will let my take her ACR and go play at Buttonwillow. I'll let everyone know.
Brian

 

[REDSLED]

Brian-Please take care of my future motor home as well.