NASA to Announce New Partnership & Racing Series @ PRI
12-08-2014, 01:17 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
NASA to Announce New Partnership & Racing Series @ PRI
...announcement to come at PRI this Thursday. Will report back what I find out.
Following is the pre-show release/link, etc...
http://www.performanceracing.com/pre...ke-anything-it
NASA To Announce New Partnership In Unique And Innovative Racing Series Unlike Anything Before It
NASA will be unveiling a brand new innovative series unlike anything currently available in the motorsports community in conjunction with a new partnership at the NASA booth, #3309, on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 3 pm. We will reveal the items under the silk sheets at 3 pm sharp, along with guest speakers to answer questions related to the new secret program a year in the making.
The press conference is scheduled to take only 20 minutes and will explain everything involved in the new series and why you should be so interested in it.
Please stop by and see what all the excitement is about!
Following is the pre-show release/link, etc...
http://www.performanceracing.com/pre...ke-anything-it
NASA To Announce New Partnership In Unique And Innovative Racing Series Unlike Anything Before It
NASA will be unveiling a brand new innovative series unlike anything currently available in the motorsports community in conjunction with a new partnership at the NASA booth, #3309, on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 3 pm. We will reveal the items under the silk sheets at 3 pm sharp, along with guest speakers to answer questions related to the new secret program a year in the making.
The press conference is scheduled to take only 20 minutes and will explain everything involved in the new series and why you should be so interested in it.
Please stop by and see what all the excitement is about!
12-10-2014, 04:30 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Dec 2006
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...announcement to come at PRI this Thursday. Will report back what I find out.
Following is the pre-show release/link, etc...
http://www.performanceracing.com/pre...ke-anything-it
NASA To Announce New Partnership In Unique And Innovative Racing Series Unlike Anything Before It
NASA will be unveiling a brand new innovative series unlike anything currently available in the motorsports community in conjunction with a new partnership at the NASA booth, #3309, on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 3 pm. We will reveal the items under the silk sheets at 3 pm sharp, along with guest speakers to answer questions related to the new secret program a year in the making.
The press conference is scheduled to take only 20 minutes and will explain everything involved in the new series and why you should be so interested in it.
Please stop by and see what all the excitement is about!
Following is the pre-show release/link, etc...
http://www.performanceracing.com/pre...ke-anything-it
NASA To Announce New Partnership In Unique And Innovative Racing Series Unlike Anything Before It
NASA will be unveiling a brand new innovative series unlike anything currently available in the motorsports community in conjunction with a new partnership at the NASA booth, #3309, on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 3 pm. We will reveal the items under the silk sheets at 3 pm sharp, along with guest speakers to answer questions related to the new secret program a year in the making.
The press conference is scheduled to take only 20 minutes and will explain everything involved in the new series and why you should be so interested in it.
Please stop by and see what all the excitement is about!
12-11-2014, 04:42 PM
#6
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It looks like NASA is making cars now:
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/N...id=TtTpLirMSMc
Élan Technologies is making the 1550 lbs. chassis and Mazda is providing sealed 185hp, 2 liter engines. Unfortunately the unassembled kit costs about $60k...probably better spent on a new C7
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/N...id=TtTpLirMSMc
Élan Technologies is making the 1550 lbs. chassis and Mazda is providing sealed 185hp, 2 liter engines. Unfortunately the unassembled kit costs about $60k...probably better spent on a new C7
12-12-2014, 10:09 AM
#9
Melting Slicks
I hate the Pro spec series - IndyCar & Nascar.
And the amateur spec series (in SCCA), Spec Miata and Spec Racer Ford are boring.
But, when you move up to a fast car, it's a bit different.
I worked for the west coast distributor for Formula SCCA open wheel cars building them and was the crew chief at the track, occasionally had a sponsored ride.
The cars are fast enough that you forget about the "spec" part. 10-13 seconds a lap faster than a T1.
The $60k price is very reasonable vs the cost to build a similar car, and (more important) the cost to run a spec car vs a car with open rules.
The FSCCA's 8 years ago when I was building them cost $49k and we charged $5k to build and paint one.
They ran a Mazda 2.3 with a 5 speed sequential, Penske doubles, full data acquisition.
The only upgrade allowed is a radio, you don't have to play "keep up with the Jones" on high dollar race parts.
Costs to run the car were muck lower than a similar open rules car.
Tires - $750 a set - only running qualifying and the race on a new set (practice on used tires) and they would last 3 events vs $850 for sticky Goodyears that would last 1 race.
Brakes - 2 sets of pads for a 10 -12 race series, rotors - 3-4 seasons (that's 30 events min.).
Engines: lower redline kept the maintenance way down. Full rebuild was $4,500.
The gray car was our rental car, 4 years old. The yellow was a new one I built, the new car would not pull away from the older one on the straights just because the motor was new.
And the amateur spec series (in SCCA), Spec Miata and Spec Racer Ford are boring.
But, when you move up to a fast car, it's a bit different.
I worked for the west coast distributor for Formula SCCA open wheel cars building them and was the crew chief at the track, occasionally had a sponsored ride.
The cars are fast enough that you forget about the "spec" part. 10-13 seconds a lap faster than a T1.
The $60k price is very reasonable vs the cost to build a similar car, and (more important) the cost to run a spec car vs a car with open rules.
The FSCCA's 8 years ago when I was building them cost $49k and we charged $5k to build and paint one.
They ran a Mazda 2.3 with a 5 speed sequential, Penske doubles, full data acquisition.
The only upgrade allowed is a radio, you don't have to play "keep up with the Jones" on high dollar race parts.
Costs to run the car were muck lower than a similar open rules car.
Tires - $750 a set - only running qualifying and the race on a new set (practice on used tires) and they would last 3 events vs $850 for sticky Goodyears that would last 1 race.
Brakes - 2 sets of pads for a 10 -12 race series, rotors - 3-4 seasons (that's 30 events min.).
Engines: lower redline kept the maintenance way down. Full rebuild was $4,500.
The gray car was our rental car, 4 years old. The yellow was a new one I built, the new car would not pull away from the older one on the straights just because the motor was new.
12-12-2014, 03:04 PM
#10
Drifting
Not sure how a $60k car plus spares, etc. is supposed to be affordable, but it looks pretty neat. You still need to be a 0.1%'er to race it.
Around 10 lbs/hp at the wheels with driver makes it way better than a lot of the slower spec series stuff like spec miata.
Around 10 lbs/hp at the wheels with driver makes it way better than a lot of the slower spec series stuff like spec miata.
12-17-2014, 10:37 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Dec 2006
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stock cars too!
Be really kewel to build 400 hp tube framed matching stock cars, easily build them for $40,000 and sell for $60k put $20,000 dollars profit per car towards running the series and some Prize money! 
Yeah babay! 
Yeah babay!
12-18-2014, 11:22 AM
#15
Racer
Ah! Cool! Unassembled kits ARE available. It's not clear what the $60k gets you. Maybe the unassembled kits are less expensive...
The NP series is a collaborative effort between NASA and Élan Technologies that will feature an all-new affordable prototype racing car called the NP01. The goal of the NP series is to give rise to the most affordable prototype class ever created.
NASA partnered with Élan Technologies to design and construct the NP01. Élan will build each NP01 to order and ship them either as an easily assembled kit or completed vehicle per the customer's request. The NP01 will be unlike anything currently available in motor racing. With an introductory complete kit price of just $59,995, the affordable new prototype will feature a closed cockpit design for increased driver protection. The NP01 weighs just 1550 lbs. and boasts an estimated top speed of 155 mph. The NP01 will be powered by a sealed 185-horsepower, 2-liter Mazda power plant mated to a 6-speed sequential transmission.
The NP series is a collaborative effort between NASA and Élan Technologies that will feature an all-new affordable prototype racing car called the NP01. The goal of the NP series is to give rise to the most affordable prototype class ever created.
NASA partnered with Élan Technologies to design and construct the NP01. Élan will build each NP01 to order and ship them either as an easily assembled kit or completed vehicle per the customer's request. The NP01 will be unlike anything currently available in motor racing. With an introductory complete kit price of just $59,995, the affordable new prototype will feature a closed cockpit design for increased driver protection. The NP01 weighs just 1550 lbs. and boasts an estimated top speed of 155 mph. The NP01 will be powered by a sealed 185-horsepower, 2-liter Mazda power plant mated to a 6-speed sequential transmission.
12-18-2014, 11:40 AM
#16
Drifting
I'm reading that as the "easily assembled kit" is $60k and the "completed vehicle" option is at additional cost. Not that I could buy one even if the kit was $30k (without selling the vette, at least) 
12-18-2014, 04:54 PM
#17
Melting Slicks
Easily assembled kit - Better know what you're doing if you go to build one. Pics of the FSCCA kits I was building:
12-18-2014, 05:42 PM
#18
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A-arm mounts directly on the transmission. In board shocks mounted down the centerline. Bellcranks connecting to a tiny (aka light) anti sway bar, which I can't tell from the picture but am guessing is a rotating blade for adjustability? That's my type of car! Hopefully the NASA vehicle is laid out as well.
12-18-2014, 07:06 PM
#19
Drifting
I am not sure who their target demographic is. The people that can afford to buy in and race these cars are already racing ST3-U and GTS 4-U with NASA or the upper classes with NARRA.
12-18-2014, 07:16 PM
#20
Melting Slicks
A-arm mounts directly on the transmission. In board shocks mounted down the centerline. Bellcranks connecting to a tiny (aka light) anti sway bar, which I can't tell from the picture but am guessing is a rotating blade for adjustability? That's my type of car! Hopefully the NASA vehicle is laid out as well.
Here's a front setup with the cockpit adjuster cable, one blade for each corner. The bars in this setup are pretty beefy due to the heavy front springs (downforce car).