In the Shop: EK Civic Race Car (Updated)

In the shop recently we are preparing an EK Civic SCCA STL race car. First up- TIG welding door bars:



Next- AIM MXL data aq unit mounted in a very cool carbon fiber inlay:



Dashboard mock up. Check out the KMS custom fabricated adjustable steering shaft....







Just a few more bars and this EK Civic STL roll cage will be complete. Next step is all the tin work to separate the fuel cell from the drivers compartment.



Just a few more bars and this EK Civic STL roll cage will be complete. Next step is all the tin work to separate the fuel cell from the drivers compartment.


 

 


Finishing up work bulkhead work on the SCCA STL Civic race car. All aluminum panels are hand fit and then bead rolled for strength. The center section is attached with self ejecting DZUS fasteners for easier access to the fuel cell, fuel pump etc. All other panels are pop riveted in place.










The SCCA STL Civic heads to the body shop today for paint. Back in a few weeks for final assembly! Big thanks to Kyle Gessler of Gessler's Auto for the outstanding service!



Call us today for custom roll cages, race prep and fabrication!

http://www.kingmotorsports.com/c-248-roll-cages.aspx


http://www.kingmotorsports.com/c-242-fabrication.aspx


In the Shop: DC2 Roll Cage Overhaul (updated)

On the fabrication side of the shop: Roll cage construction progresses on Ian G.'s DC2/K20 road race car. Ian purchased this race car out of the Pacific North West and upon delivery was quite shocked by the (lack of) quality of the roll cage. Ian sawed out the original cage and brought the car to us for a proper NASA/SCCA-legal cage that will provide a much higher level of protection and chassis stiffness.

First step is an ugly one: grind out all the remnants of the original cage. Not for the faint of heart but when complete, you have a clean sheet to work from!



Now that the remnants of the original cage are history we can begin by fabricating the mounting plates for the main hoop. We use 1/8" cold rolled steel plate in this instance. We will MIG weld the side plates to the floor first. A hole will be drilled into the floor so we can drop the main hoop down far enough to TIG weld ALL THE WAY AROUND all tubes welded to the main hoop. Once they are welded, the bottom mounting plate is slid under the main hoop and welded into place.



More about King Motorsports roll cage design, fabrication and installation:
http://www.kingmotorsports.com/c-248-roll-cages.aspx

Update 8/30/2013: NASCAR door bar fabrication. Nearing completion of Ian G.'s DC2 race car safety makeover!

Geoff Foster's Dalt's Honda C Sedan Civic 1200



This awesome photo is Geoff Foster in his Dalt's Honda SCCA C Sedan Civic 1200 pictured here at Road Atlanta in 1979. Geoff raced Mini's in Canada for years before switching to a Civic in 1976. Geoff's best finish at the SCCA Runoffs was third in 1980. This car used many Mugen parts available at the time from Keihin CV carbs to a Mugen limited slip. This car was sold to Bill Shaw of CACI fame in after the Runoffs in 1980.



CACI was an early pioneer in the Honda performance market. Bill produced a line of high quality Civic 1200 parts in the mid-late 70's. Some of the highlight products were a twin Weber DCOE intake manifold, angle drive distributor, header and much more. Bill went on to race Civics in the IMSA Radial Sedan series at Riverside in early 1981 which is were this picture was taken. One of the cars was then sold and went on to great fame.......

Mugen Racing History: Circa 2003

Today we have a Mugen history brochure from 2003. It includes a storied racing timeline that starts in 1973 and covers Mugen's major racing contributions, engines and accomplishments up to 2003.

 

Right-click to see the images at full size.




We are proud to have the King Motorsports / Mugen GT3 CRX included as part of Mugen history!


King Motorsports RS Prelude at Daytona 1985


After the 1984 SCCA race season we turned our attention to the IMSA Radial Sedan series. This is our RS Prelude pictured at Daytona in 1985. Champion Spark Plug sponsored this series. Champion ran full page ads promoting the series. They featured our car under the heading "World's fastest Prelude" which was very cool. Gotta find that ad........


One of our favorite versions of the Prelude was of course the Prelude Si. Back then it was priced around 12K which was big money in 86-87, but- what a car!

Moser Racing on the Podium at Mid-Ohio

On the weekend of September 16th-18th, The Ohio Valley Region held an IT-Spec Miata Challenge race as a support race to the Grand-Am weekend at Mid-Ohio.  The event was open to all IT classes and Spec Miata with 48 entries.

 

It was a great weekend for long-time road racers and King Motorsports customers Bob and Joe Moser. Both of the Moser’s ITA CRXs chassis were fabricated and set up at King Motorsports – and both cars run King Motorsports built and tuned engines.

 

On Sunday the group ran two qualifying races and one trophy race, all on the pro course.  In the first photo Joe is leading the field to the start through the carrousel for the first qualifying race.  In the second photo Joe has pulled out a substantial lead at the end of the first lap while Bob races for position with two of the ITS cars.  In the third photo Joe is forced out of the first qualifying race with a grill blocked up with debris and starting to overheat.

 

In the second qualifying race Joe had to start at the back of the field.  He passed 44 cars in 12 laps to finish second overall behind Tim Selby in the ITS Miata and Bob Moser in the other King Motorsports ITA CRX.

 

The podium photos are after the feature race.  Tim Selby won first overall in the ITS Miata, Joe Moser second overall and first in ITA and Bob Moser third overall and second in ITA.

 

Joe Moser kept whittling down the ITA pro course lap record through the weekend, ending up dropping it by almost a half second to 1:40.35!

 

Check out Joe’s lead over the entire field on this rear-facing in-car video.

 

Congratulations to Bob and Joe on a great weekend.

 

Customer Ride: George Doganis

**

George Doganis is a Rally and Solo/Pro Solo Racer and long-time customer of King Motorsports.

 

He has multiple championships including:
4 California Rally Series Class Championships ('06,'07,'08,'10)
Bilstein Rally Cup(2010)
4 SCCA Solo National Championships
2 SCCA Pro Solo National Championships

 

 

George's rally car is a fully-prepped EK hatch. His latest King-supplied additions include WPC-Treated Gear-X close-ratio gears, Mugen Limited Slip Differential, and AEM adjustable cam gears.

 

Other notes on his car:
The car is built with an FIA-standards cage for Rally America/NASA 2WD class. The shell has been seam welded and strengthened in critical areas. Suspension has been reinforced and some of the links have been replaced with heim-jointed, chrome-moly custom pieces. Shocks are modified Bilstein units. Steering quickener was added and PS pump modified. Engine is 2-liter B-series VTEC. Trans has Gear-X gears (WPC’ d as well) and Mugen LSD. Brakes are Fastbrakes 11” F&R. Gravel tires are Pirelli(as of the next event) on Team Dynamics Pro Rally 1 wheels.

 

Congratulations on all of your success George!

 

David vs. Goliath

11/6/10, Road Atlanta

by Scott Zellner

photo and video courtesy Moser Racing


Heading into the SCCA ITA American Road Race Championship, Brian Price’s Miata was considered the car to beat. With the horsepower and torque of a 1.8 engine combined with near 50/50 weight distribution, superior suspension design and rear wheel drive, the Moser Racing CRX had an uphill battle.


As expected, Brian Price and his Miata took the pole position with a new record of 1:41.589. Moser and his CRX were a close second at a 1:41.953. The strength of the Miata’s being its straight line speed on the long back straight of Road Atlanta became a nightmare for the CRX contingent. The Moser race strategy was to avoid losing contact with the Miata, apply pressure and use track knowledge to gain the upper hand.



The race is on! Moser and Price begin their battle for first place.


The first lap saw the Miata and the CRX go two abreast into Turn 1, the Miata taking the point on corner exit. A true battle was on! Lap after lap, Price and Moser swapped the lead for the entire 45 minute race! The Miata and CRX battled nose to tail, always racing cleanly but not giving an inch. Price bobbled at turn 10a with one lap to go and Moser grabbed the lead.  Price then used the 1.8 Miata power to repass Moser on the back straight but then bobbled on 10b on the last lap which opened the door for Moser to make the final pass for the win.

Described as the best race of the weekend, Price set a new race lap record of 1:40.741 with Moser second fastest at a 1:41.253. King Motorsport congratulates the 2010 ARRC ITA champion Joe Moser and the entire Moser race team, unbeaten in 2010!


Here is the entire race from the in-car on Joe Moser's ITA CRX. Incredible racing and well worth the watch!




King Motorsports President Scott Zellner's ARRC Travelogue Pics

Our President/CEO Scott Z travelled to Atlanta for the SCCA American Road Race Championship this past wekeend. Scott was there to support and perform Crew Chief duties for long-time King race customers Bob & Joe Moser.


Scott decided to keep everyone updated with pics and tweets from his Android smartphone. Here are his travelogue pics!


Trip off to a slow start - flight to Atlanta delayed in Milwaukee.



The laptop faithfully doling out ARRC info while waiting for the flight to board.



First stop on every Road Atlanta excursion.


Welcome to Road Atlanta.



Hurry up and wait...



Wet and cold @ Road Atlanta



All calm before the first session.



On the false grid. The Miatas are favored to win. We'll see about that...



Night falls at the track.



Joe does his post-race interview.



2010 ARRC ITA Podium Finishers.



A jubilant Joe Moser after his hard-fought win.