Well #ridetechnation, it’s time to put up or shut up! We’ve successfully installed a full Ridetech suspension under Randy’s Randit Trans Am and now it’s time to test it against our earlier benchmark. Can it best the performance the car achieved in it’s as delivered condition?
In the blog of the first episode, we revealed that Randy’s car already had a modified engine and suspension that consisted of our upgraded front sway bar, and upper and lower control arms and springs. Those components were exactly why the car didn’t exhibit nearly as much sway or lean in the corners during our first test. However, one of the primary frustrations that Randy noticed was how much the rear axle liked to move around in back with the stock leaf springs trying to hold it in place. Even in that condition, both car and driver were capable of a 27.206 second lap time.
Now that he has a Ridetech 4-Link holding the rear axle exactly where it needs to be, it is clear that Randy prefers the added confidence that a more sure-footed rear end offers from a driver’s perspective.
You’ll have to watch the episode to see how much time we gained! Limited available space to autocross at the airport made it tough as space was obviously tight, but that was reality given the constraints at the airport that day.
Overall, we enjoyed the opportunity to work with Randy and update the suspension of his Randit Trans Am. It is now a force to be reckoned with on track, and much more enjoyable to drive on the street. At the end of our time together, we couldn’t help discussing what was next for the car, and Randy openly shared that he was hoping to make some additional modifications to the engine to make the car more road course worthy. Talks of an Accusump, power steering and oil coolers were discussed. And by the days end, we all agreed that we needed to get the Randit out on an actual road course to see what the car was capable of once those additional modifications had been made.
What was originally intended to be a four-episode series has evolved to include a fifth bonus episode. Look forward to seeing us next time when we’re all back together at one of the nation’s most well-known road courses for an awesome event that should prove to put the Randit through the gauntlet of multiple road course sessions over a weekend with many other performance cars on track. We can’t wait to see how both Randy and the Randit fare.
We’ll catch you on the next one!
