[jpnovak]

I posted this on Pelican but not everyone reads there...

The Friday after Thanksgiving a few locals got together for a morning drive. We hit one of our favorite roads here in town called Lime Creek! It is possibly the most curvy road in the area as it winds along the creeks and ravines to Lake Travis.

This run was the first real run for the ST. All I can say is that I am impressed! I never thought a car that I built would perform this way. For those who don't know here is a quick recap.

-1971 chassis, rust lightened and then repaired.
-stipped of undercoating
-full POR coating of chassis
-All fiberglass body work. fenders, bumpers, doors, decklid and hood.
-butt welded, hand hammered rear flares,
-center fill gas tank
-17" Lindsey Fuchs courtesey of BB1.
-Stripped interior, RS carpet door panels,
-Full euro gauges, that Kph thing will take some getting used to
-Bielstein Seats (GTS Classics)
-5 pt harnesses, stock belts and full OG Racing Cage
-19/28 mm TBs with 19/19mm sways
-Koni reds that are still being dialed
-stock internal 78 3.0 with webers and SSIs
-Al trailing arms
-stock SC brakes
-various other lightweight items
-less than 1900 lbs. wet (not including driver)

There are more details, these are available in the Pelican archives using the search button.

Drving impressions. First let me say that I have a 71 targa that handles really well to me. Very balanced, sharp turn-in, basically your typical dialed early 911. It has served me well on fast runs through the twisties and also on the track.

At first the ST felt wrong. I started off with 22mm front TBs. Its really tight suspension is a bear on city streets. expansion joints almost feel like a curb to this car. There is basically not much weight to activate the suspension. I then did a few calculations based on spring rates for the torsion bars.

If you look at a stock SC and its weight distribution you can do a simple reduction in spring rate compared to the new lightweight chassis. I found that 19.2 mm TBs would be equal to a 22mm given my reduction in mass. So the stock bars went back in the car. This was a night and day difference. It would actually steer now. The 28s on the rear feel right.

This car totally transforms once you get off the neighborhood streets.

At 120kph it feels like it is not even moving. the only thing you notice is the tight suspension and the roars and whines from behind the rear deck. Yes, its loud like a track car should be. Once the car is warmed up it feels ready to run.

The 3.0 is noticably different feel than the 2.2 in my targa. There is so much torque down low that it just goes at any speed in any gear. It has a lurch in 5th that I have never experienced before. I am not sure I like the lack of an "on-cam" feeling that the early engine has and this 3.0 seems to run out of breath by 6K rpm. Not a problem since you are traveling a very high rate of speed by the time you get there.

When the car gets in the twisties it is really different. I thought my targa was precise. This car is so quick on turn in and weight transfer that I found myself having to turn in - turn out , and turn in again on several turns. I am just not used to having a car react so quickly. If I have ever felt razor sharp handling, this has got to be it. btw, the car seems to corner absolutely FLAT! no detectable body roll. I guess I will have to change my camber settings a bit now to ge a bit more contact patch.

On the run, I was met with the bumper of a new Z06. We started the twisties together. I am not sure how fast he was going but I had absolutely no problems keeping up. The car felt absolutely effortless in all aspects of the run. Braking zones, Turn-in, track-out, accelaration - it was just right!

I can't wait to get this car on the track. First event should be in January/early Feb.

here are a few pics that were snapped during the run. yeah, it even looks fast!

[87turbolook911]

Looks great! Congrats on your success.

[Jim Richards]

Great write up, Jamie. What would you attribute your more precise handling to? Perhaps the significant weight reduction? Or suspension mods, or both?

[targa911man]

Your patience and hard work have obviously been rewarded. A no-nonsense beautiful track car.

[targa911man]

Or street car, for that matter.

[jpnovak]

I think its mostly to weight reduction. There is so little weight on the front end which means there is less mass transfer/momentum to make it turn, stop, or accelerate.

If you have seen a 930 under full acceleration the rear squats down. On this car the front lifts up. yes, I am sure I have less than ideal weight distribution but I don't think there will be any problems.

As an example: The other night I took the car for a spin to test my ears on the new sport muffler I made. I went down the local highway a few exits to get some heat in the car. As I can down the ramp for the U-turn, I thought the light would change. Roads were a bit damp but I charged it anyway.

I heel/toe as the light goes yellow. Back on the gas, the car steps out and ever so gracefully slides around the turn. Nothing dramatic, perfect throttle steer, very balanced. I think I will be fine with this setup.

[jpnovak]

That was the idea Dan, capable on the street, potent on the track. Best of both worlds. maybe that's why it took nearly 3 years to complete. Well, maybe the lack of garage contributed to that too.

[Jazzbass]

Looks great, Jamie. My thoughts for a track car have always been to do something very similar to this. One question - with no tail, do you find the rear end gets a little happy at speed?

[Charlie Stylianos]

Jamie, the ST looks sweet. Congrats, nothing like putting in lots of sweat equity and having it pay off.

BTW: Any comments between CIS and webbers on the 3.0?

[Justin Fischer]

Stunning !!!! Your ST has been one of my favorite projects yet.

-Justin