Track Day Willow Springs

[BrownRangers]

1984 2.8 v6

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Any more info on truck and driver?

 

[Curious Hound]

Is that you?

Would be a great picture for next year's TRS calendar.

 

[BrownRangers]

Yup, thats me.
Engine and trans still stock, trying to kill it so reason to swap the new 2.8 in.
You can follow my Insta @parlorbikes
I dont spend to much time on here but happy to answer questions.
Figured I would share some photos by @caliphotography

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

You dropped it. How? Anything else? Bigger sway bar? Still using stock geometry with the TIB? I don't use Instagram....

 

[BrownRangers]

DJM beams, 1992 4.0 auto a/c ext cab springs, Hellwig sway bar, Rancho 9000 adjustable shock,
Rear is a combo of many things, Belltech drop leaf brackets -2", ranger edge leaf springs +1.75" 2250 load rating, -1" drop leaf shackles, pinion shims + 1/2"?, sway bar from 96 with the longer drop arms

 

[SenorNoob]

I'm surprised by how much I like this. I'm usually not a fan of short trucks. Especially like the way that grill came out. Might have to keep my eye out for a broken one in the junkyard to do that to.

 

[gw33gp]

That appears to be Streets of Willow. I have never run that track but have run the long track many times over 30 years of racing in SCCA.

That looks like a lot of lean for an asphalt track vehicle. I have never run a truck but it looks like you could use a stiffer front sway bar and maybe springs. It would be a lot more stable in the corners if you get it lower. That is especially true of the rear. Your Ranger seems to be higher in the rear and can cause a lot of instability in the rear in "s" type curves.

If you do go to a stiffer front sway bar that will induce more push (less front grip) and you will need to balance that with a stiffer rear sway bar too. I am sure a race truck can be a handful with the light rear end along with a tendency to push. I think that combination would be tough to get a good balance.

No matter what though, I am sure you are having a blast. Do you compete or just like to get on the track for some fun time?

 

[cbxer55]

I used to live in Rosamond CA, before getting out of Dodge in 2002. Willow Springs was five miles from my front door. They used to allow motorcycles on the track when there were bike races there, occasionally. I've ridden on the track many times. but never the Streets track, only the larger one. Back then, I was married, and our daughter used to work at the snack stand there.

 

[BrownRangers]

I'm surprised by how much I like this. I'm usually not a fan of short trucks. Especially like the way that grill came out. Might have to keep my eye out for a broken one in the junkyard to do that to.

The grill is just rusty old expanded metal safety wired on to of the oem grill and a small piece to cover the 2 center grill vents.

 

[BrownRangers]

That appears to be Streets of Willow. I have never run that track but have run the long track many times over 30 years of racing in SCCA.

That looks like a lot of lean for an asphalt track vehicle. I have never run a truck but it looks like you could use a stiffer front sway bar and maybe springs. It would be a lot more stable in the corners if you get it lower. That is especially true of the rear. Your Ranger seems to be higher in the rear and can cause a lot of instability in the rear in "s" type curves.

If you do go to a stiffer front sway bar that will induce more push (less front grip) and you will need to balance that with a stiffer rear sway bar too. I am sure a race truck can be a handful with the light rear end along with a tendency to push. I think that combination would be tough to get a good balance.

No matter what though, I am sure you are having a blast. Do you compete or just like to get on the track for some fun time?

This is big Willow at the top of the horseshoe. I build and prep race cars for a living so I hear everything you said. I like the front rake and have made all the adjustments to balance it each time I do a round of upgrades. This truck is just a good change of pace from cars that can really be tweaked at every point to make them faster. This truck is amazingly balanced as it sits and I can still haul 3 engine blocks and parts if needed, hence the higher rear with HD leaf springs. I only need to use brakes 2 times on this track with the power I have. Turn 1 and thru 5-6 just off throttle and tap the brakes to get the truck to rotate. Pretty much everywhere else the truck will rotate just by off throttle and turn in. The tires are 245/40/15 and 200 tread wear so they “catch” the truck quite well. Here is just a few of what I usually work on.

 

[dvdswan]

Very cool. More pictures of the truck.

 

[gw33gp]

It sounds like you know what you are doing and don't need my advice. That is amazing that you can race your truck and still use it to haul stuff.

That photo titled 'session 3 turn 6' threw me off when I saw that fence on the right. It looked like you were on the Streets of Willow side of it. Now I can see you were at the crest of turn 6 on the long track with The Willow Springs balcony in the background. I drive an HP Austin Healy Sprite which is also a fairly low powered race car, so I have an idea of what you are dealing with. Willow Springs is normally consider a high horse power, high speed track but it is also a very good momentum track. With slicks some decent times can still be made. I brake three times. Fairly hard before turn 1, a quick tap entering 3 and use the incline as a bank then a quick tap just before turn five. The accelerator pedal is flat to the floor otherwise with the exception of a quick let up and turn at the top of turn 4 to get the car to rotate. Turn 9 is right on the edge of control going flat out and in traffic I sometimes breath the accelerator pedal there.

Before I started racing many years ago, I ran my 2800 CS BMW at Willow Springs a few times with the BMW club. I know running with street tires is completely different than with slicks. I had 225 tires all around and pretty much needed new tires after a weekend there.

I stopped racing with SCCA in 2019, but still like to get on the track for fun. Keep that Ranger going.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Thanks for the new phone wallpaper

 

[Saddle Tramp]

This is awesome! It brings back memories of mini truck racing back in the 80's.