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March 28, 2007
Dan GardnerDan Gardner and JD Scion tC Take Two Poles and Two Firsts in World Debut of Car
Testing Session at California Speedway Shows Great Promise as Team Wins Both Days at NASA's Season Opener.
TORRANCE, Calif. - Just days ago at California Speedway, the Jackson-Dawson Scion team took two pole positions, two wins, and a class track lap record. It was supposed to be a test weekend. The car had never seen the track, and driver Dan Gardner hadn't logged a single lap in it. Still, the car performed well for a first outing, and the team was rewarded with two unexpected victories in the PTE class.
"I started out slowly, just feeling things out.the suspension, the brakes, the engine," said Dan Gardner. "The car was fairly easy to drive, and confidence built throughout the weekend. We learned a ton about what we
need to do to make the car competitive at Nationals, but what a great first showing. We're all thrilled, and it reinforces our position that this platform has great potential."On Friday, the team got everything dialed in, taking lots of tire temperatures and making adjustments. Unfortunately the spring rates of the Progress shocks would need to be upped to keep the car from riding on the bump stops. The team combated the accompanying understeer by making radical adjustments to tire pressures and by setting the custom Progress one-inch rear swaybar on full stiff. By mid-Saturday Gardner was able to induce oversteer and drive around the problem. Lap times improved as the car was able to rotate, and by Sunday Gardner had ripped off a 2:03.594 best lap time. Not bad for a car with a totally stock motor and suspension that was still being sorted.
The team also competed in NASA's Time Trial series, running in TTE. They took the class win on Friday, but only managed a second and third on Saturday and Sunday respectively. More power is in the cards for the car
before the next event, and then even more before Nationals.In the team's core series, Performance Touring, the car really shined, executing many passes under late braking, even with the stock braking system still on the car. Of course it was enhanced by Carbotech race pads, Goodridge stainless lines, and quality brake fluid.
On Saturday's race, Gardner would secure the pole, get a great start, and go on to win the race by almost a full lap. The start was particularly good, as Gardner dipped inside of turn 3, and snatched several positions early on. From there the race was mostly a coast.
Sunday's race would prove to be quite different with more competitors and an awful start. A group of cars "jumped" the green flag, checked up, and then a group of Porsche 944s proceeded to crash into one another before the flag even dropped. It was an accordion effect, and Gardner was stuck in the middle, coming just inches away from being sandwiched.
The green flag then dropped, as Gardner was literally parked on the inside of the track. Just about every car he outqualified rushed past, as the team lost perhaps a dozen positions including one to an in-class Toyota Celica. It was time to play catch-up. Only half a lap later Gardner would simultaneously pass the Celica and the leading Spec-Miata. From there Gardner put as many cars as possible between him and the second place car. All in all, he would move up 15 positions over 12 race laps to take the win, again by almost a lap.
"It wasn't an ideal situation with the way the car was handling and a lack of power," said Lead Engineer Mike Kojima. "We really had to finagle things to work around the problem, but it was still a great first showing for the car."
Before departing for the race, Toyota Motorsports advised the team that the car would fuel starve at a shocking half-tank. This turned out to be exactly the case, as in the right-hand infield hairpin the power would completely go away.sometimes at even more than half a tank. It's a problem the team will address soon, but for now they'll just monitor fuel levels closely.
The engine oil would run up to 260 degrees F and the power steering fluid would reach almost 280 degrees, as it boiled over. Both systems will need coolers installed soon. On a positive note, the stock cooling system never got over 210 degrees, even with ambient temps moving into the mid-90s.
"Again, I would have loved to be there, but I'm just happy I was able to crank on the car before the race and make sure it was ready for its debut," said Chief Mechanic, Chris Viscovich. "The race definitely doesn't begin at the starting grid. It's a mantra the entire team lives by."
The JD Scion tC is currently fitted with. Scion-supplied OE and TRD parts
. Nitto 225/45R17 NT-01 tires
. Enkei RFP1 17x8 wheels. Recaro Pole Position Seats
. Progress Technology coilovers, rear swaybar, and camber bolts. Kaminari carbon fiber roof
. NST (NonStopTuning) Underdrive Pulley Kit
. NST (NonStopTuning) Shifter Cable Bushings. AIT carbon fiber hood
. Wild Pony Motorsports-supplied camber/caster plates
. Dezod-supplied stainless clutch line
. Goodridge stainless brake lines
. Carbotech XP10 and XP8 brake pads. G-Force 5-point harnesses, racing suit, gloves, and helmet
. TRD/AEM intake. DC Sports Header
. Hose Techniques silicone hoses
The JD Scion tC can be seen competing next on April 14 and 15 at
Buttonwillow Raceway, just outside Bakersfield, California.
