Is an inspection needed before Deals Gap?

kwm · 10-25-2006, 09:33 AM

I have had my car since March. I realize it is a work in progress and it was purchased for a price that would reflect this. I daily drive the car so it is road worthy. I have rebuilt the brakes (stops like a (*&$#@^), put in a new MSD system, short shift, and some other things. I am wondering if it is Deals Gap worthy thought. I want to go on the 11/05 Pelican drive. However, I am a bit concerned about my suspension and it is set for a once over in Jan. I know I need a bump steer kit and I know she is well worn but I am hoping not dangerous or ready for a break that would leave me stranded. Any suggestions on what I can do to evaluate this to determine if I should or should not go on the drive? Thanks guys.

KCinBR · KCinBR's Garage

IF you drive it daily, you should have a pretty good indication if the car is worthy of a road trip. If it has been dependable daily it should be fine. Remember ther will be many others there to help if you have problems.......OH yeah I'll be one of them

I know ther has been lots of talk of how big a deal the Dragon is, but Hey its a public hiway not a race track and we will have to drive it as such. Maybe a little beyond the legal limits

As for me I cant afford to destroy my car nor can I aford a ticket.

But I do plan on having a good time.

kwm · 10-26-2006, 03:48 AM

Good b/c I don't need a ticket or a long tow home either. KCinBR how far will you be driving to get to the Gap?

JohnJL · 10-26-2006, 04:25 AM

Deals Gap is a great run...so are the bike trails down each side all along the way.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

Suggestion: If you are not an experienced driver you may want to hang at the back of the train. Its not hard to get in over your head in some of the corners (see pic below). Keep safety first and the fun will follow.

KCinBR · KCinBR's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by kwm
Good b/c I don't need a ticket or a long tow home either. KCinBR how far will you be driving to get to the Gap?

Not sure of the mileage maybe 150 miles just guessing, I'm located between Greenville and Spartanburg.
I'll take the Long Way up there, first stopping in Hendersonville NC for breakfast then up 64 to 276 up to the Parkway, then down to Cherokee.....and then get out the map

JohnJL · 10-27-2006, 01:52 AM

Something like 300 corners in a 12-mile space too...

kwm · 10-27-2006, 04:16 AM

I need to start to plot a rout. I was up there on my bike before but I have no idea how I got there.

Jims5543 · 04:39 AM

My car is up in Sylva. I rave run the Dragon about 4 times now. I keep the car in second and just drive it.

Yes, you can get over your head really easy there and there is no room to fix an oops. If you screw up bad you will end up on a ride you do not want to be on.

As far as the car goes, you will be revving your engine a lot while on the Tail, so make sure the engine is in good shape, oil change, tune up etc...

Tires should be in decent shape, this is no road course or Autocross, they are much more demanding on your car because you can safely push 100%. On the Dragon I drive at 60-80% there are just too many variables that can come out of no where and suprise you, its not wise to be pushing on the edge of the envelope. Like a bike coming into your lane or an 18 Wheeler coming at you, or a really slow car in your lane heading the same way as you just around a blind corner.

Brakes should be in good shape although I find holding 2nd gear and using the engine to brake more effective.

The bottom line is come out and have fun, this is not a race, its a fun drive on a fun road, if you think you cannot just drive or that you will have to prove to everyone how fast you are then maybe you should not drive the road with a car your unsure of.

When I was out there about 3 weeks ago I have a BMW M6 messing with me on the way in. Once on there it was obvious he was not so quick in the twisties, but, I backed off and pulled over and got away from him. 2 guys racing on that road is how accidents will happen, I was there to have fun, I'll save the racing for Autocrosses and the track.

kwm · 10-27-2006, 04:49 AM

I have decided that I am gonig. Everything with this car has been a learning experience so far so I don't see why this trip would be any different. Plus I need to see how you stuffed a 3.6 into your SC Jim.

Jims5543 · 10-27-2006, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kwm
I have decided that I am gonig. Everything with this car has been a learning experience so far so I don't see why this trip would be any different. Plus I need to see how you stuffed a 3.6 into your SC Jim.

I didn't do it. I bought this car from the Pelican classifieds like this.

I have a engine swapped RX-7 and spent North of 40K making the car right. Using this knowledge I set out to find a 3.6 swapped SC that was done to the standards I would have done it to if it was mine.

I found member, Tholyoak's car for sale in here and bought it. He vantured a guess that he spent north of 40K on a car I bought for 24K.

As far as I am concerned I got a super duper deal. You'll understand when you see the car in person.

Miguel Antonett · 10-28-2006, 08:54 PM

Should we - the guys from away - take tools..., just in case, or can we count on yours "locals" if needed???

Rick V · 10-29-2006, 02:01 AM

KWM,
You should try to get down there on the 4th. I think most of us are heading back out on the 5th. To answer your question If you feel like you need an inspection for the event I would say yes, if not than no.
6 more days!

spooldup · 10-29-2006, 02:52 AM

I abused my 2001 Jetta VR6 up and down it 6 times non stop. I was heading to a meeting in Alabama and needed to blow off some steam. Trust me, you can run what ya brung as they say in racing. Have fun,be safe and dont show off for the camera guy-he wants you to! Oh and dont forget to look at your pics for free online killboy.com

kwm · 10-30-2006, 04:15 AM

Ok guys I gave her my own inspection so to speak this weekend. I jacked the front end up as high as I could. I took the skid plate off and looked around not totally sure what I was looking for. My boots where not cracked and in really good shape seemed well sealed so I did not remove them. I, with the wheels hanging freely, tried to move the tires top to bottom no real worrisome amount of play there. Nothing looked obviously worn badly but then again I have little suspension experience.
I pounded some dents out of my skid plate, cleaned it up, and painted it set to put it back on tonight when I change the oil so if anyone has anything to offer that I should look for please let me know now.
Here are the items that have brought me to worry a bit. Now I have not drive a car w/o power steering in a long time and people have told me the a 911 feels different through the steering wheel than any other car even cars w/o power steering anyway so maybe it is just a first time owner thing. In turns if I hit bumps or pot holes the steering wheel want to violently yank out of my hands. I am not sure if it has been lowered or not if so maybe a bump steer kit would solve this. I also have not driven a car w/o ABS in a long time but when I brake really hard (and it stops faster than another car I have had) it wants to fight me some. As the brakes start to lock up and I work my pedal to keep it on the edge of lock up and full braking I do have to fight the wheel back and forth a bit. I also expected the car to cut better in turns and assumed it was worn components that kept it from doing so. Also as with the other stuff I have been driving Miatas and RX-7 for about 12 years and nothing cuts like my lowered Miata with adj. shocks so once again maybe there is nothing at all wrong with it. Advice?