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Greetings Saturn Enthusiasts!
Please enjoy the latest August SPS Updates…
Document Core Returns Properly to Receive Full Credit
Lately, we have received a large number of core returns that have not included the proper documentation. In fact, many of these core returns have had no documentation to identify the owners at all – not even a return shipping address! This makes it rather difficult to give the proper credit for the core return.
To avoid such problems, please be sure to send a copy of your original invoice within the shipment!
Product News
So you are looking to upgrade the interior of your 2000+ DOHC, but are tired of the same old status quo. Perhaps our brand new aluminum-look silver gauges will shake things up! The bright silver background works well with the bold black markings to create a highly visible gauge pod and considerably improve the fun-to-drive factor. Our kits include aluminum-look silver face covers for the speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, coolant temperature, and some warning lights, in addition to a special tool for the removal of the stock gauge needles. The aluminum-look gauges are only available for the 2000+ DOHC ‘S’ cars. Part number NR3827A is in stock now for $99.00 per set.
Our newest front strut tower brace is identical to the value-priced VIB1840, but it replaces the polished aluminum crossbar with an aluminum bar with a high-tech carbon-fiber look. This bar features a carbon-look crossbar with powdercoated black brackets. Fits all SOHC and 91-96 SC and SC2 Saturns. (Note: brackets will contact hood liners on some DOHC models.) Part number VIB1841 is in stock now for $54.00 each.
The long–awaited clear side marker lamps are finally available for 91-95 sedans and wagons and 93-96 SC1 coupes. These attractive clear side marker lamps replace the orange units within the stock front end of most Saturn ‘S’ cars. Part number VIB1841 is in stock now for $49.00 per set.
Many more new products will be introduced very shortly. But although we are excited about the new items, we must use discretion about releasing new product information because sharing any information before solidifying all of the facts can inadvertently mislead customers, employees, and supporters. Please visit our web site often and watch for future updates. Many more exciting items are on the horizon!
August Specials
Nology Hotwires can be a valuable tool for delivering sufficient spark energy to properly ignite the combustion reaction on many highly modified motors. They work by integrating a capacitor within each wire to store and release spark energy when it is most needed. Combine any of the Nology wire sets with the NOL005 12.0mm wire separators and a set of Beru Silverstone spark plugs and enjoy special discounted pricing for August. This month only, get any set of Nology Hotwires – your choice of model (NOL001B, NOL001L, NOL001R, NOL001Y, or NOL002) – combined with 1 set of 12.0mm separators (NOL005) and 4 Beru Silverstone spark plugs (SILV001) – normally totals to $194.95 – for only $175.46! Save $19.49!
We have several returned, damaged, or discontinued items still in stock that we need to liquidate. These items are now on sale for 50% of their original value. They will not last long. First come, first served. Available items include:
Several sets of Carbotech rear brake pads – discontinued, brand new, never opened! Choose from: Kelate metallic rear, part # BRAKE007R, orig $99.00, now only $49.50/set! F compound rear, part # BRAKE010R, orig $99.00, now only $49.50/set! HPS compound rear, part #BRAKE011R, orig $99.00, now only $49.50/set! Panther compound rear, part # CT508P, orig $109.00, now only $54.50/set!
Please visit the SPS web site (http://www.spswebpage.com) for more details!
SPS Racing
After almost eight months of rest, relaxation, and rebuilding, team scR took to the track on June 30 and July 1 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. With so much time out of the seat, the team certainly expected the cobwebs to be hanging around for most of the double regional, but it didn't take long before the racecars and their drivers were up to speed once again.
Following the ARRC in November, the #34 racecar was unceremoniously parked in Tom's garage until we pulled off the cover in March. Unfortunately, we were greeted by a quart of power steering fluid on the floor and a heavy layer of dust, but otherwise the car was ready for surgery to prepare for the 2001 season.
Phase one involved basic chassis work. We started by rebuilding all four shocks, increasing rear spring rates, and swapping in an SPS 16mm adjustable rear anti-sway bar. New wheel bearings, front hubs, and lug studs were followed by a complete replacement of the power steering system (pump, reservoir, and hoses).
Phase two involved working with the R&D lab at a well-known aftermarket manufacturer to develop a complete chassis bushing kit. While the installation went relatively quickly, a few bugs are still being ironed out for production. Word on the street is that bushings should be available for sale through SPS later this summer.
Phase three focused on addressing our horsepower-to-weight ratio. Taking advantage of new rule changes for 2001, we managed to remove an additional thirty pounds from the car, bringing us right to our minimum weight! To help things even more, the guys at Big Sky stepped up again and built a revised race exhaust system that shaved another ten pounds while bumping us up another three horsepower.
For the first event of 2001, scR’s red car teamed up with some familiar faces. Mark Rushbrook and the R^3 Motorsports team (that's short for Rushbrook Racing Research) had their #21 SC2 locked and loaded for the new season with a Womack-built motor and a Quaife differential, bringing it to the same spec as the #34 car.
Picking up where we left off last year, rain began to fall on the windshield as we idled through the paddock. This was not a surprise, as it had been raining off and on all morning, but of course, we had committed to our dry tires and chassis set-up for the session. As we headed out on the track, we quickly discovered that the racing line was dry enough to turn relatively fast lap times. One by one, the cobwebs were swept away as the #34 picked its way through the qualifying field. Due to the changing conditions and the large size of the field (thirty two cars, all in ITA,) the #34 car with James Walker at the helm was never able to turn a real screamer, but it still managed to qualify 4th in class. Not bad for a 32-car field!
Unfortunately, while the #34 car was making progress through the field, the #21 car developed a case of the ‘oil doesn't want to stay in the engine’ syndrome. Waving away billowing oil clouds, the R^3 crew discovered that an oil line fitting had come loose and had deposited several cups of oil across the engine, transmission, cradle, and just about everything under the hood. Three cans of Brakleen, two rolls of paper towels, and four hours of scrubbing later the team was ready to head back out, but their truncated qualifying session left them 30th on the grid!
And to make things worse, as though both teams didn't have enough to do already, both SC2s managed to violate the SCCA's maximum noise level of 103 dB (both cars blew 105's). So the fancy Big Sky exhaust systems were removed and replaced with last year's hardware. Take away two HP and add ten pounds, please...
At the start of Saturday’s race, James and the #34 car very quickly fell into single file formation, neither gaining nor losing any positions. On lap two, the #9 car in running in 3rd place spun in turn 13, allowing us a short-lived podium opportunity. That would be erased, however, as he made up the time and then some, relegating us to finish where we had started - 4th. But hey, we were just shaking off cobwebs, right? Our best lap time of 1:47.9 was still over one second faster than we had run in qualifying.
Back in the pack, the R^3 Motorsports crew (Cindy, Jen, and John) was running a 1-stop strategy. After moving up from 30th to 22nd in two laps, Mark brought the #21 into pit lane to pop the hood and look for oil gremlins. None were found, so Jen slammed the hood and sent Mark back onto the track without losing even a single lap. Over the ensuing ten laps, Mark would have a blast, passing eleven cars on the way to his 20th place finish!
On Sunday, the rain waited until the 5-minute warning was given on the false grid. A collective sigh was heard from the field as we stared in amazement at the rain falling in spite of the sunshine. Like Saturday, however, the track was clear and dry as we ran out to turn in our best times possible.
Midway through the session, the #34 and #21 cars were separated by a lone Honda CRX, but the miniature freight train ran laps clear of traffic. Positions were swapped sparingly as the group tried to work together to make the best of the open track. The #34 car developed a push early in the session that never went away, but without time to make an adjustment we simply drove around it the best we could.
When the results were posted we were disappointed to see that we had fallen to 5th on the grid, but we were starting right next to the #21 car in 6th! Row three was a Saturn convention in the middle of Honda land.
Mid-Ohio Race, Sunday, play-by-play
- Coming around the carousel it is #34 paired up with #21 at the green
- #34 goes low toward turn 1, allowing #26 (Honda) to run between #34 and #21
- #34, #26, and #21 are three wide running into turn 1
- #34 runs the inside of turn 1, exiting in front of #26
- #21 runs the outside of turn 1, exiting in front of #26
- #34 continues to run the inside of the track, passing #96 (Honda) for 4th
- By turn 6 it is #34 (4th), #96 (5th), and #21 (6th) nose-to-tail
- In turn 13, #9 (running in 3rd) loses brakes and exits the course
- At the end of lap 1 it is #34 (3rd), #96 (4th), and #21 (5th)
- Going into turn 5, #96 goes wide and is passed by #21
- At the end of lap two it is #34 (3rd) and #21 (4th)
- In turn 5, #21 misses the brake pedal (doh!) and is passed by #26 and #12
- At the end of lap 5, it is #34 (3rd), #12 (4th), #26 (5th), and #21 (6th)
And that is how the race ended, 8 laps later.
So for our first outing of the season, we came home with a 4th and a 3rd, kept the car in one piece, and managed to avoid the rain, which fell in buckets immediately after we left the track. Mark and his team solved the oiling issues, ran in front all day, and only needed to stock up on brake cleaner for the next event. What a great weekend!
SPS Moving Into Larger Facility
If all goes according to plan, SPS will be moving into our new warehouse and office facility on August 31. The new facility offers increased office and warehouse space and shipping facilities that better serve our current inbound and outbound freight volumes. It is our expectation that the resulting increased efficiency will allow our team to handle more customers with greater accuracy and lead to an improvement in the level of customer service that we can provide.
The new facility is located at 4212 East River Rd, Dayton, OH, 45439. (This is just a few doors away from our current location at 4220 East River Rd.)
To facilitate the move, we will be closed on Friday, August 31. We plan to open again with minimal disruption on Tuesday, September 4. We sincerely apologize for the inevitable inconvenience that the temporary closure may cause.
SPS 2001 Event Schedule (tentative):
Aug 31: SPS closed to move into new facility
Sept 3: SPS closed for labor day holiday
Sept 21: Valvoline Runoffs/SCCA National Championship Races at Mid-Ohio
(Thundersport Racing competes in the SSC race at 3:20 pm)
Oct 7: scR at Mid-Ohio
Nov 9-11: scR at the ARRC
If you have any questions about anything in this newsletter, please Contact Us.
To view previous editions of the newsletter, please visit the Newsletter Archive.
If you wish to add an email address to the list, please do so at http://spswebpage.com/email/addemail.html. If you need to remove an address from the list, please do so at http://spswebpage.com/email/del.html. Please do NOT notify us directly with your removal or addition requests!
Until next month, HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
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