Spec Boxster Build

[thstone]

Finally sorting thru all the media from two weeks ago and here is what the Boxster looked like after the big spin into the desert - what a mess! I spent an hour this morning cleaning both inside and outside.

How the heck does gravel get embedded in between the tire bead and the wheel like this yet the tire didn't lose any air? Think about how far that tire had to flex over to let that much gravel to be pressed into that space. I guess those are the things that can happen at 125mph. Incredible.

That is Brad Keegan, driver of an incredibly fast 911, pulling the driver side wheels off to have the tire service guys dismount the tires, clean out all of the gravel, and remount/rebalance.

Track support like this is invaluable. Thanks to Brad from Pro Motorsports in Burbank.

[Chuck W.]

Great postings Tom, thanks. Keep 'em coming.

[thstone]

** Weight Reduction Update **

Keeping the Boxster street legal presents a few challenges when looking for opportunities to reduce weight, so today I decided to pull the SAI pump. Its only really needed every two years to pass smog (just like the cat's), so out it came! The SAI pump is actually fairly light at 4lbs but every pound counts.

Also, after 4 years my original fire suit was looking fairly worn and it was fairly heavy and correspondingly hot. When I bought this suit, I had no intention of going wheel to wheel racing so it was medium priced at $1400 retail which I bought for $900.

My new driving suit is made from a much lighter fabric (yet has the same fire protection rating) saving 1.2lbs over my old suit but more importantly breathes a lot more so it will be quite a bit cooler in warm weather. The new suit was a 2014 model which retailed for $1900 but I was able to find it on closeout for $695.

Since the spec min weight (including car, fluids, and driver) is 2650lbs, I have also been losing weight myself with a total of 10lbs thus far. Its not much fun but it isn't really that hard. I plan to keep going and drop another 10lbs myself over the next 2 months.

Thus, the totals so far are 12.5 + 4 + 1.2 + 10 = 27.7lbs or 69% of the 40lb goal!



I also removed the rear mud guards which got pretty bent up when I went off-roading at the last race. I'll get replacements so they don't act like air brakes under the car.

[thstone]

Its "New Windshield Day" again!

This windshield is exactly one year old but was damaged after the barrage of rocks and gravel that another car threw out in the first race three weeks ago. Its not unheard of for some racers to have to replace their windshield twice in a season - just depends how unlucky you are!

The damage started as impact damage on the outer edge and then the spidery crack started to propagate its way to the 6-8 inches that it is now.

The nice thing is a new windshield is amazingly clear compared to a 15 yr old windshield or one that has seen it fair share of track days.

$380 installed. After the install, I'll drop off the car at House Automotive and they will have the banner graphics and my name replaced this week.

[JayG]

Maybe your auto insurance covers replacement

I got some rocks thrown up on the freeway from a sweeper that put some chips in my windshield and I filed a claim with Caltrans. Sent the claim form in with estimates from 2 Porsche dealers and got a check for $913 from Caltrans a few weeks later!

[thstone]

Originally Posted by JayG

Maybe your auto insurance covers replacement

I got some rocks thrown up on the freeway from a sweeper that put some chips in my windshield and I filed a claim with Caltrans. Sent the claim form in with estimates from 2 Porsche dealers and got a check for $913 from Caltrans a few weeks later!

I might consider filing with insurance if this was my daily driver but getting sprayed with rocks and gravel while racing is definitely one of the risks (and subsequent costs) that have to be "self insured".

[rastta]

I guess because it's spec you can't run a Poly windshield? What about putting on the tear offs? I run a double set on my Boxster and it's still in great shape. This requires a small bit of trimming.

Porsche 911 996 & 997 ProShield Tear-Off - Pro-Tint, Inc

[thstone]

Originally Posted by rastta

I guess because it's spec you can't run a Poly windshield? What about putting on the tear offs? I run a double set on my Boxster and it's still in great shape. This requires a small bit of trimming.

Porsche 911 996 & 997 ProShield Tear-Off - Pro-Tint, Inc

Hmm. Never thought about these. Excellent idea!

[Greg Holmberg]

Originally Posted by rastta

I guess because it's spec you can't run a Poly windshield? What about putting on the tear offs? I run a double set on my Boxster and it's still in great shape. This requires a small bit of trimming.

You can use a Lexan (polycarbonate) windshield in Spec Boxster. For example:

996 Front Windshield Part# 60-996

Weighs 11 lbs. $675.

Probably safer than glass. I'm not sure how much weight that saves. How much does a glass windshield weight?

It's probably also a good idea to install clips to hold any windshield in place.

[rastta]

Considerably cheaper alternative

Porsche Boxster Windshields: Five Star Race Car Bodies

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Greg Holmberg

You can use a Lexan (polycarbonate) windshield in Spec Boxster. For example:

996 Front Windshield Part# 60-996

Weighs 11 lbs. $675.

Probably safer than glass. I'm not sure how much weight that saves. How much does a glass windshield weight?

It's probably also a good idea to install clips to hold any windshield in place.

Originally Posted by rastta

Considerably cheaper alternative

Porsche Boxster Windshields: Five Star Race Car Bodies

Great idea and I love the weight savings - but how well do these hold up with time and wear?

My poly rear window has not worn well at all. I can live with it in the rear but no way that I could put up with that in front.

[rastta]

Originally Posted by thstone

Great idea and I love the weight savings - but how well do these hold up with time and wear?

My poly rear window has not worn well at all. I can live with it in the rear but no way that I could put up with that in front.

I have a poly front with 2 layers of tear offs. You can't really run them without the tear offs. I run two layers right now. It's held up for two years and about 20 track days so far. Mine came on the car and it is installed like the regular windshield.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by rastta

I have a poly front with 2 layers of tear offs. You can't really run them without the tear offs. I run two layers right now. It's held up for two years and about 20 track days so far. Mine came on the car and it is installed like the regular windshield.

Thanks for the info! As soon as this windshield needs replacement (which will probably happen within a year), I think i'll try the poly for the replacement.

[Deadeye]

You can apply 1,2 or 3 layers of clear film to take the abuse and get a "fresh" windscreen when it gets hard to see through

[thstone]

We had new solid numbers put on the car (to replace the outline numbers) when the windshield banner and name graphics were replaced after replacing the cracked windshield.

The PCA corner workers occasionally said that the outline numbers were difficult to read while I was out on the track so this seemed like a good time to take care of that issue once and for all.

Old outline numbers


New solid numbers

[rastta]

Looks good - like the color contrasts.

[thstone]

Its always exciting...

[thstone]

Since I went to the square setup, I've only had set full set of rear 8.5" wheels and another half set. This meant that I couldn't swap between tire sets. I finally got another pair of rear wheels but found that I didn't have any more red plastidip to paint them - but I did find several cans of gold!

I've always wondered what gold wheels would look like so I went ahead and sprayed a set. I plan to run the gold wheels at the PCA Festival of Speed in two weeks. The good news is that I can always swap back to red in about an hour.

[jsceash]

Those look sharp it will be nice to see them on the car.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by thstone

I've always wondered what gold wheels would look like so I went ahead and sprayed a set. I plan to run the gold wheels at the PCA Festival of Speed in two weeks. The good news is that I can always swap back to red in about an hour.

Tom, is this the color called "antique gold"..?

I really like the sublime tone and I was thinking on plastidipping my Carrera Classic wheels, I think they would look great on a white car with tan interior...

But I am not sure about having to remove the tires to do it properly...