Bench racing question for Tony Bolton

[tnturbo]

This is directed at you as you are the only local to have driven my car with the full front and rear suspension installed but I would welcome input from Harp, JB, Eric, and the few others who can relate.

Given the same driver, lets say for arguments sake here Robert Carpenter or maybe Jerry Onks (or maybe just for Tony Sam Strano), what would be faster on a Nashville autocross course my Mustang (288rwhp) on brand new V710s or an early 90s MR2 turbo putting down say 220rwhp with a fair amount of suspension work and also on V710s. I'm not talking about PAX or RTP, just looking at RAW times.

In reality, I guess the question is directed to open track type events...can a 300rwhp Mustang with every after market suspension part available and the setup right beat the lap times of a 220rwhp early 90s MR2 turbo at say CMP or VIR. Same driver (again lets assume familiar with track and nationally competitive), same day, same conditions

[TonyBolton]

I would tend to lean towards the Cobra, on both types of events. I think it'd be closer on the Nash. autocross course, but I to harness the abilities of the MR2, you'd need a farily wide tire and i'm not sure how wide you could go.

Not really caring about which one is faster, i'd rather drive the Cobra over the MR2....at anything. I just don't like to race "little" cars....I feel like an adult riding that little race car in front of grocery stores in those things.

[not cbring]

That's hard to say, but if set up rightl, I'd tend to say the MR2 --- at least for autocross, I don't know much about what runs what on the track.

The Mustang might be easier to drive. It might not.

[TonyBolton]

Thanks for you very decisive post. :rofl:

[KnoxMSP]

The Mustang may be faster, or the MR2 may be faster.

:rofl:


Whatever it is you know it's going to be faster than notcbring.

[not cbring]

Tony probably has a pretty good idea how fast Jeff's car can be, but I don't even know if he's ever watched a "modded right" MR2. I've only seen one and it was/is faster than ANY Mustang at autocross. :why:

If you are willing to fit the right tires and upgrade the LSD and run good shocks, the MR2 will be faster. If you run stock wheels and relatively soft springs, it probably wouldn't.

Either car should be good and have lots of potential. :why:

[thrdeye]

So if we're talking both cars, equal drivers, optimized suspension, I would give the nod to the MR2 at autocross since it's smaller and I would lean toward the Cobra for open tracking since it has more juice.

If you can mod the fenders on both cars to fit widest tires possible and start to do power adding, I give the nod to the MR2 in both cases.

Although, now that I think about it, 220 HP is a lot of juice in a lighter car as well. Hmm....

[TonyBolton]

I still think the Cobra would dominate on the open track stuff, and be able "hang" on the autocross portion.

[thrdeye]

yeah, it should definitely hang at the autox. Open tracking could be track dependant on how much of an andvantage the cobra has.

70 Hp is a lot to give up, but the MR2 is going to be able to be on throttle earlier out of the corner, so it might come out in the wash.

I have no idea which car stops better....I would only have to assume that the lighter MR2 has the advantage there.

[tnturbo]

How much problem is heat soak on a mid engine turbo setup going to be after 20-30 minutes at 9-10/10s? I don't know just asking. Isn't that what was hurting some of the Evos and STIs for a while, long times at WOT with boost upped in hot conditions?

[CROWDER]

From what ive heard Tony is one of the best bench racers around besides myself and Bp last

[thrdeye]

How much problem is heat soak on a mid engine turbo setup going to be after 20-30 minutes at 9-10/10s? I don't know just asking. Isn't that what was hurting some of the Evos and STIs for a while, long times at WOT with boost upped in hot conditions?

I don't know either. Tyler H might be able to say.

STi's have a little trouble as the top mount is not the best solution, but as long as the car is moving it's not a big deal. It really sucks if you are sitting in traffic though. I never heard of Evos having issues since they have a front mount. Both cars do have a water spray system for the intercooler though.

[CROWDER]

top mounts are worthless, if i had a serious mid engine race car air to water all the way.

[turbotalon97]

Thats why you drive a Corvette instead of a car ya got out of a crackerjack box.

top mounts are worthless, if i had a serious mid engine race car air to water all the way.