[speedee24]

How many Ford focus cars are actually out there running on a regular basis with the d2 series?

[gearguy]

Isn't a stock Focus 86mm bore x 86 mm stroke? 86 mm = 3.3858"; the 2.011 number is obviously an error,
We were allowed to run aftermarket cams in Focus motors in the Illini Series and Johnny Heydenriech actual won a dirt feature in one this year. It was a very dry slick track.
Even bumping the compression and changing everything allowed won't make up for .4 liters more compression. Its like running a 360 sprint car vs. a 410 with no weight break. Having run a Scream Focus, a Scream Focus with comp cams, and a completely stock 2.0 liter Honda F motor against the 2.4 Liter Ecotec I wouldn't advise spending a dime on the Focus. Neat little motor with 1990s technology that won't compete with current stuff, Stock Focus was 140 HP, Screams were 185 HP. Cammed Scream Focus maybe got to 205 HP. The top Ecotecs have to be 250/260 HP based on track speed.

[DAD]

Gear

Hot Rod probably had some sort of traction control in his car.

Honest Dad himself

[gearguy]

Hot rod's traction control is a finely tuned right foot and a great deal of experience. He put on a dry slick driving clinic that night. It was an honor to have him race with use although the tumble he took at Grundy was pretty scary.

[Wayne Davis]

Originally Posted by gearguy Isn't a stock Focus 86mm bore x 86 mm stroke? 86 mm = 3.3858"; the 2.011 number is obviously an error,

The 2.011 is 2 mil. over and is allowed with the focus. As far as the ecotec with 250/260 HP, I do believe that # is a little off for D-2 but pretty right on for Badger. The 2.4L Badger engine is not legal in Division II racing. Two different concepts as far as internals and HP.

Again this is for anyone that has a running Focus and can not afford to switch over and buy a complete Ecotec/Honda or Duratec but they would be able to upgrade a Focus for 2-3K and be a little more competitive...the way they are now it would be tough and ALL the stars would have to line up

[DAD]

Gear

It is kind of nice that we have a class competitive enough to attract seasoned drivers back to come and race with us. Good for the class and good for the new drivers. Just to say that you shared the track with racers like John is an honor. In fact several seasoned drivers have come back to race Mini Sprints and D2 Midgets. For them you might say that it is a "No Brainer".

Honest Dad himself

[LJC77]

Johnny won 2 races with his "antique" car.
Farmer city & Sycamore.
And yes it was an honor to race with someone of his caliber.
Some of you out there might wanna talk to a man of his experience when forming these "affordable" series.
You might learn a thing or two.
We had an interesting conversation at PRI.

[DAD]

Originally Posted by gearguy Isn't a stock Focus 86mm bore x 86 mm stroke? 86 mm = 3.3858"; the 2.011 number is obviously an error, We were allowed to run aftermarket cams in Focus motors in the Illini Series and Johnny Heydenriech actual won a dirt feature in one this year. It was a very dry slick track. Even bumping the compression and changing everything allowed won't make up for .4 liters more compression. Its like running a 360 sprint car vs. a 410 with no weight break. Having run a Scream Focus, a Scream Focus with comp cams, and a completely stock 2.0 liter Honda F motor against the 2.4 Liter Ecotec I wouldn't advise spending a dime on the Focus. Neat little motor with 1990s technology that won't compete with current stuff, Stock Focus was 140 HP, Screams were 185 HP. Cammed Scream Focus maybe got to 205 HP. The top Ecotecs have to be 250/260 HP based on track speed.

Gear

.4 liters isn't too much of a disadvantage. How can the cycle powered cars give up 1.4 (one point four liters) to the Ecotec's and keep up? Look what Esslinger is doing with a 50 year old design. The Focus motor might need a little more work but I bet the little Ford can get their numbers up and be made competitive.

I think what Wayne is saying is that semi-pro racing is always going to be regional by nature. The groups need to be able to adapt the rules to meet the conditions that they race under. In the Indiana area there are quite a few old Focus cars that could be up dated to be made competitive cheaper than making a power train switch.

I like the idea of National guide lines, as opposed to rules. Rule makers always tend to paint themselves into the corner when they make rules too specific. Then they try to fix that fact by installing an option rule. Wayne is using the option.

The Focus will probably die out in a few years hopefully of natural causes. The Ecotec also will hopefully vanish from the scene. The reason engines stick around longer than their useful life expectancy is because rule makers make the rules or specifications so specific that the only power plant that can be raced is the one they wrote the rules for 50 years ago. Making improvements on old designs is one way to improve an engines performance but it can also be very expensive.

Honest Dad himself

[gearguy]

The cycle powered cars are currently advantaged in the D2 rules due to the low minimum weight. You can't beat physics and for racing it comes down to F=MA, or power to weight ratio. The cycle powered math works out better than the driveshaft cars.
Giving up 20% displacement amongst the auto engined cars is very tough. You can run the 2 liters higher in rpm and match the horsepower of a 2.4 but you can't get equal torque coming off the corner. Restarts are a challenge. We lead three heat races for 7-7/8 laps only to get beat by acceleration off corner #4 when there was no need to "make" it through turn one.
The Focus has had plenty of development done to it in other racing series. A very high dollar Focus raced in the Chili Bowl back in 2006 or so and showed some speed but once again, it comes down to acceleration off the corner to pass cars and the little motors don't have it.
If you want to lavish $2000 to $3000 on a Focus to finish mid-pack at least you have that option. We're not allowed to unload our completely stock Honda F20 or F22 motors. I can't see the logic in that.

[DAD]

Originally Posted by gearguy The cycle powered cars are currently advantaged in the D2 rules due to the low minimum weight. You can't beat physics and for racing it comes down to F=MA, or power to weight ratio. The cycle powered math works out better than the driveshaft cars. Giving up 20% displacement amongst the auto engined cars is very tough. You can run the 2 liters higher in rpm and match the horsepower of a 2.4 but you can't get equal torque coming off the corner. Restarts are a challenge. We lead three heat races for 7-7/8 laps only to get beat by acceleration off corner #4 when there was no need to "make" it through turn one. The Focus has had plenty of development done to it in other racing series. A very high dollar Focus raced in the Chili Bowl back in 2006 or so and showed some speed but once again, it comes down to acceleration off the corner to pass cars and the little motors don't have it. If you want to lavish $2000 to $3000 on a Focus to finish mid-pack at least you have that option. We're not allowed to unload our completely stock Honda F20 or F22 motors. I can't see the logic in that.

Gear

If your Honda falls within the displacement limits why shouldn't it be legal? Then instead of the Ecotec motors every body would be racing Honda's, as they blew up their Ecotec motors and the cars would be faster and more competitive. Then when the Honda is eclipsed a new motor would be the hot set up and racing would continue to improve as it should.

It may seem strange but in the MMSA weight is not such a big factor, and some considered it an advantage. Several cars were 125 to 150 pounds heavy and still ran up front an won, go figure?

Honest Dad himself