#FCMElite #Lamborghini #Gallardo #LP5604 #RideHarmony #RaceSynergy

Subscribe to Greg's channel here!
https://www.youtube.com/user/SaltySRT

The color is Verde Ithaca, by the way!

A little backstory: Greg asked me to create an FCM Elite setup for his 1994 Mazda Miata in 2014. He was setting it up for STS autocross (no LSD) and wanted a fast but also street-friendly setup. Greg was impressed him enough with the Miata setup that he approached me last year, in the Summer of 2019, with a simple (and clearly leading!) question:

"Do you want to work on a Lamborghini?"

"Oh h*ll yeah!" was my exact reply after I came back down from the clouds.

Interestingly, the ride frequencies I worked out for him turned out to be similar to his new fun car, the Lamborghini Gallardo, in the range of 1.8 Hz front, 2.0 Hz rear - a true 'GT' setup. Firm-enough for aggressive driving, but also able to deal with the street (especially with some trickery like our Ripple Reducer and KBO technologies!).

It's been a great project with a number of realizations, and Greg has had his own adventures with drag racing, diffusers, wheels, tires, and more. He's both very chill and very particular - my favorite kind of enthusiast! I'll document some of what we've done and make general comments on what gave me confidence that I could improve upon what Lamborghini (& Audi) had done in designing this special machine.

In short, while the factory springs produced Flat Ride, the previous owner put on Swift lowering springs which by themselves also gave Flat Ride... BUT the Swifts lowered the car enough that the front ended up RIDING THE BUMP STOPS! Very bad! With the extra bump stop engagement, you now had PITCH (higher front frequency than rear) which is TERRIBLE for compliance!

Being on the bump stops added to the ride harshness and pogo-ing plus the VERY firm valving on the factory Bilsteins (with hydraulic lift feature). The suspension was just too stiff and would both launching in compressi..

#BMW #F80 #M3 #FCMElite #H&R #Bilstein #RideHarmony #RaceSynergy

The video was shot on my ancient iPhone 5s apparently in low-res. Just excited to share my work!

Fill out our Ride Harmony survey for a $75 credit on FCM Elite services (not including consult fees):
http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/Ride_Harmony_survey.htm

Sign up for our newsletter for subscriber-only specials!
http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/#deeper

Wow, what a beautiful beast Chris has! Currently on Dinan springs with the factory adaptive shocks, he was so impressed with Christina's Stage 3 setup that we needed to get his own! It took a while to develop, including some new KBO research to manage the higher weight of the F80 M3 and in-board mounted shock, but I'm pleased with what I came up with. And, I can't wait to get his feedback!

I'll make more videos on this F80, and the E82 128i FCM Elite Stage 3 I'm working on - also for a Chris!

For your own FCM Elite optimized suspension, contact us here:
http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/contact_elite.htm

I'll be announcing my plans for a RIde Harmony-oriented documentary, and want to share my thoughts and hear your ideas. This will be about 1 hour long - come in any time!

#suspension #tuning #FCMElite #BMW #Porsche #branding

New Logitech C920 webcam and Blue Yeti microphone. I like the improvement - what do you think?

I had a brief chat today with a BMW owner and realized how people often get locked into ways of thinking / trusting with very little evidence. It's a common tendency we all have to some degree - when we have familiarity with a person, product, or service we want to go back to it and rely on it. But how do we KNOW that we're getting the best result? And are we willing to make a change if evidence to the contrary shows up? How willing are we to pursue truth and excellence vs. settling for what's familiar even if it's mediocre?

For FCM Elite consulting for a uniquely-tailored suspension solution, go here:

http://fatcatmotorsports.com/fcm_elite_consult_form.htm

#FatCatMotorsports #FCMElite #RideHarmony #FlatRide #Mazda #Miata #NB #suspension #tuning #SuspensionTruth #swaybars #handling

Short overview of the concept of Front Roll Couple which is a measure of how understeer or oversteer-biased your suspension is.

You can view the various NA and NB Mazda Miata Ride Harmony spreadsheets here. In this live stream, I go over the way I select springs, sway bars, and bump stops for:

1. Stock springs (regular street and E Street autocross)
2. 'Touring/Comfort' FCM Elite coilovers
3. 'GT/High Performance' FCM Elite coilovers
4. 'Track/Race' FCM Elite coilovers

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/FCM_Ride_Harmony_1_6NA_Mazda_Miata_Online/FCM_Ride_Harmony_1_6NA_Mazda_Miata_Online.htm

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/FCM_Ride_Harmony_1_8NA_Mazda_Miata_Online/FCM_Ride_Harmony_1_8NA_Mazda_Miata_Online.htm

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/FCM_Ride_Harmony_NB_Mazda_Miata_Online/FCM_Ride_Harmony_NB_Mazda_Miata_Online.htm

For a 1 on 1 FCM Elite consult (30 min for $125), use this link to send in your consult form and payment via Paypal:

http://fatcatmotorsports.com/fcm_elite_consult_form.htm

Thanks to Timothy and Brodey for joining in on this live stream!

I'll be sharing my 'recipes' for NA and NB Miata FCM Elite setups for

Comfort / Touring
GT / High Performance
Race / Track

This will include recommended spring rates and lengths, sway bars, bump stops, and damper forces / shim stacks (not using any holes so a typical shop or Bilstein can rebuild the damper without requiring any drilling as I do with Ripple Reducer). These setup would be what I call a 'Stage 1 FCM Elite' which is an 'optimized setup' vs. a 'revalve' as some people would say.

I use the phrase 'optimized' because I've applied the ideas of Ride Harmony and Race Harmony to create a suspension that WANTS to move forward (vs. having pitch from your spring rate choice, that is always bouncing and oscillating to DRIVE the car BACKWARDS!). Also, an optimized FCM Elite setup has well-balanced compression and rebound forces in the damper, so you're experiencing a minimum of jacking down (too much rebound) or launching (too much compression). Also, the bump stops and sway bars are chosen to allow Flat Ride while still making a predictable-handling setup.

For those who want to get further fine-tuning, you can work with me via FCM Elite consulting or (even better) GO EXPERIMENT! If you're rebuilding BCs or another damper, or even the Bilsteins when it's possible to add an external valve, you can experiment (and document your work) to se what setups you like more than another. This is how most of us learn - by trial and error - and it's an indispensable approach to learning in general.

If you have the software CD that came with your dyno binder then you'll have all the files you need (and won't have this problem).

The instructions in my Operator's Manual aren't as explicit as the online Interactive Troubleshooting guide. Granted, my manual is from 2008! The Shock software itself has a useful 'Interactive Troubleshooting' guide, under 'Help' menu option. That is what clued me into the fact that I was missing some registry files and why the Roehrig software wasn't seeing the datacard channels.

MTS (Roehrig's parent company now) can be reached for customer support at 952-937-4000.

This might be a bit choppy, had some connection issues so let's see how this goes down the road...

Through various events, I have a different computer in the workshop which also has a camera. So I figured to do a live stream to say I intend to do more live streams! I'd like to take some general suspension questions and also see if we can work through a few examples per session to help people work out spring rates, sway bars, and bump stops to get more Ride Harmony from their vehicles.

To set up an FCM Elite consultation, go here:

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/fcm_elite_consult_form.htm

#FCMElite #EdgeMotorworksMV #DriveNASA

Saturday races for TT4 and ST4, looking good so far!

#BMW #F31 #FlatRide

Andrew came by for a consultation and visit today (he's going his F31's evolution and moving to a Stage 3 setup with KBO!). During our conversation, he shared some of the extensive and on-going research he's done into various F-series BMW spring rates and other properties. I asked him to share some of his findings which he agreed to do in this and another video called 'Please do your homework' related to spring selection and which vendors gave the most options and information to make an informed choice.

For your own FCM Elite suspension, contact us at:
http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/contact_elite.htm

#Fseries #BMW #springrates

'Trust but verify!'

Andrew returns with some very interesting information about the range of spring rate options and data for various BMW F-series models. I highly recommend you watch this!

For your own FCM Elite suspension, get in touch here:
http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/contact_elite.htm

#RideHarmony #suspension #optimization #FCMElite

It's a tale as old as .. well, the first race car. How much to calculate and model vs. feeling the vehicle's real-world behavior? Do you model every little details or gather enough data, make some working assumptions, and then go test test test! I know what Carroll Smith would suggest!

Most of us have a bias toward one direction or the other and through a recent exchange with a mechanical engineer on the 'Porsche 911 Damping Analysis' video I've been able to take a 40,000 ft view and consider where our difference of opinions comes from: our inherent biases. In my experience, textbooks and standard engineer approaches neglect considerations that I account for, so it's patently false to assume a purely standard 'ME101' approach will result in an optimized race car.

This is a longer video but I feel a valuable one for those interested in seeing / hearing the differences between and utility of quantitative (number/data-driven) vs. qualitative (feeling / intuitive / real-world impressions) approaches to suspension optimization. I describe how I currently utilize both calculations and driving feedback (mine and/or yours as the customer) to create a refined, Ride Harmonized result. What a 'hardcore' mechanical engineer may see as woefully-incomplete I see and know (from over 1,000 vehicles safely tuned with this approach) as effective in the real-world without getting lots in minutia. I fully intend to incorporate additional quantitative analysis (SuspProg3D) in the future, starting with a hopefully-soon-to-be new FCM shop car, a Porsche Boxster.

It's better to see solutions as an 'and' rather than an 'or' and that is one reason I greatly appreciate all my engineer customers who can both understand theoretically and feel the benefits of my approach to Ride (and Race) Harmony.

I invite your comments and feedback - please continue to help advance the subject of suspension optimization for the real-world (road and tr..

#Porsche911 #Bilstein #Turbo #DampingRatios #ShockDynos #FCMElite

NOTE: I'm referencing the OE Bilstein dampers from the base 997. I don't have the PASM dynos (yet) which were original equipment on James's 911 Turbo. If/when I get those dynos I'll do a follow-up video. My working assumption is that the PASM would switch through similar damping ranges as the base 911 non-electronic dampers.

This is the second, more technical, part of my interview with FCM Elite Stage 3 owner James who did extensive research before deciding to work with Fat Cat Motorsports. "Night and day doesn't describe it" is one of my favorite quotes from the first part of our conversation.

In this video, I go into detail about the standard 997 (non-PASM) dampers from the 911 Carrera base I did for Carol a coupe years ago. I don't have James's PASM dampers yet but we're going to either test his dampers or try to source dynos from TPC or another vendor.

But the behavior of the OE Bilstein HD from the base 911 is very characteristic of 'Germanic' suspension tuning - more rebound bias that builds as shock velocity increases, pulling you into the front bump stops strongly and reducing compliance/suspension travel as a result.

The higher front bump stop spring rate and rebound bias also causes a higher effective spring rate which would contribute to the 'seat whacking against the head' feeling (pitching) that James describes.

I also show the standard H&R coilover dyno graphs (the starting point for our build for James), then the FCM Elite Stage 3 dynos to show how different (and IMO, improved) our approach is to get less jacking down, less pitching (none, effectively!), lower gas force (to reduce the high-frequency spring rate of the suspension) - and overall a smoother, more confidence-inspiring, stable, capable Porsche!

"From the factory, this is how it should feel!" - Carol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lP5wl9tIeM

===

I asked James if he could summarize 'why would someone want to c..

#Porsche911 #Turbo #FCMElite #RideHarmony

Note: please listen to the first 5 minutes at least to get the overview of James's research and feedback. Top quote (starting around 3:40)

As an overview, James has been able to save up to buy his dream car which I've also lusted over for years - a turbo-charged Porsche! I always held Porsche up to a high standard as the are a premiere high-performance sports car manufacturer with a long pedigree of racing success. What else would you want as an attainable supercar?

Although as I began to work on my first Porsches years back, I could see that they created a very 'firmly-controlled' setup that wasn't forgiving on any kind of road roughness. I think this came from their idea that German Autobahn roads were their focus so they could get away with a very TAUT suspension.

But I've found that this isn't the best way to get fastest lap times in the real-world nor the best comfort, nor the most relaxed and composed overall driving experience.

James has done extensive research before deciding to work with me and Fat Cat Motorsports so I greatly value his diligence and willingness to work with me and also inform the Porsche community via Rennlist forum of his findings!

===

James's threads on Renn List (Porsche forum):

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-turbo-forum/1134294-shocks-why-you-should-care.html

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-turbo-forum/1152008-shock-tech-long-read.html

===

"I can say for sure that the overarching result of getting this FCM Elite Stage 3 setup on the car and daily driving it around, it has revealed to me problems that I didn't know I had with the old setup, the factory configuration. That isn't necessarily saying it was bad - I don't necessarily think it was something anybody could say 'well this just sucks!' It's definitely better than other cars that I've been in - I've owned Mustangs, BMWs, Volvos - and I can say there's definitely some attention to how Porsche set their system up.

But com..

#RideHarmony #FCMElite #RaceTuning

In a previous video I covered the 3 Keys to Achieving Ride Harmony, my term for a smooth, 'coherent' (thanks Andrew!), fluid, and FAST approach to optimizing a suspension that can handle the road's bump and dips (and more than one of them at a time!).

In that video, a commenter asked a great question along the lines of 'wouldn't Flat Ride make a vehicle more oversteer oriented?' (to paraphrase). Meaning, wouldn't it tend to want to spin out or have the rear end come out more than you could control?

The answer is yes it could BUT:

1) You can balance a car's handling by using a reasonably-sized front sway bar and fairly small rear sway bar. Many high-performance cars from the factory already do this AND incorporate the benefits of Flat Ride! Witness BMW M3, Porsche 911, Corvette Z06, etc. But they aren't necessarily telling you how they're incorporating Flat Ride and sway bars or other aspects of the suspension to get a neutral or predictable handling.

2) You can utilize elements like bump stops (using a longer, firmer, progressive rate front bump stop with a softer rear bump stop. Again, the factory has done this for years if you watch my various videos on bump stops and also analysis videos for various suspensions including aftermarket (any of my H&R Street Performance coil-over based videos). Also remember that packers are very simple and quick tuning aids to allow more or less bump stop engagement which lets you make small changes to the spring rate front or rear. VERY useful! Same with spring rubbers or 'bump stop donuts,' made from the same material but placed inside a spring coil instead of on the shock or strut shaft.

3) You can also choose alignment setting, such as more rear negative camber than front, along with adding rear toe-in to keep a car from having too much oversteer.

Often a factory engineer will choose these factors, plus more sophisticated aspects of the suspension like the roll centers, scrub radi..

#FCMElite #springs #BMW

In this video, Andrew shares his experiences and insights about how important tuning for Flat Ride has been to get the most from his BMW so he's not 'fighting' the car. His BMW F31 328d xDrive wagon now has ride frequencies of about 1.4-1.5 Hz front and 1.5-1.6 Hz for about 8-12% Flat Ride (rear bias in ride frequency). He went through 11 different spring combinations to dial in track / street / off-road which he's now very pleased with. A video well-worth watching to help you make Quality decisions when picking spring rates and to understand how vitally important Flat Ride truly is in the real world!

Of note, he changed from the factory electronic dampers and softer OEM springs to an FCM Elite Stage 2 setup using Bilstein HD monotubes and firmer springs. But he felt something was off. I was pretty confident I had done my work well but had designed the setup for Flat Ride springs. From discussions with him, it seemed his current combination might not be creating Flat Ride and that could be the source of at least some of his concerns. He began getting the rear ride frequency higher by adding spring rubbers (a bump stop 'donut' that goes between the main spring coils to add some spring rate) and noticed an IMMEDIATE improvement in the ride behavior! Then he continued fine-tuning as he describes in this video...

I transcribed some of his comments below:

===
"Hey guys, Andrew here again. And one of the things I wanted to talk about that Shaikh really hammers home in a lot of his videos and I also thought needed a bit of a different perspective is why flat white matters and what is pitch? So when I first came to Shaikh with my vehicle the springs that I had put on there they work with my electronic dampers that I had from the factory.

And shortly after putting the Fat Cat (Bilstein-based) dampers on there I started to feel like you know 'what's up with this? The ride quality's not that great. Have I been duped?!' What it felt like ,was it ..

#jerk #FlatRide #FCMElite

NOTE: TRANSCRIPT of Andrew's comments below! Background noise gets high at a few points and I really appreciate what he had to say so it's worth capturing in text / captions.
---
For some background, Andrew has a BMW F31 328d xDrive turbo-diesel all-wheel drive wagon that he drives HARD on track AND also takes off-roading for camping! Before we started working on his FCM Elite Stage 2 build using Bilstein HD struts and some combination of F30/F80 springs, he'd been using the factory suspension (Tenneco semi-active) and had already experimented with different springs to get better roll control and handling. He was very methodical in his approach (no surprise - he's a design engineer, after all!) and I really appreciated his willingness to understand my approach and to see if and how the 3 Keys to Ride Harmony could apply to meet his wide-range of goals! We did a bit over an hour of consulting since he had some specific goals and we did some dyno tests of the factory shocks, measured the various springs he had, and discussed what new springs and bump stops would make sense (along with damping profiles) to get good handling and also a nice ride - ideally with both being at least as good if not better than the factory semi-active suspension. In another video Andrew will share some info on the many combos of springs he's tried which will save other F31 owners time to get his results!

I'm transcribing most of his comments below as the background noise was a bit high but I like filming outdoors vs. indoors.

===Andrew===
On theory and practice, applying ideas from Suspension Truth videos:

"It's been fantastic, with the amount of knowledge that Shaikh has been able to share with me and to with his Youtube channel.... and just being able to take what he says, you know, take that theory and try it out with the actual hardware and get all that different feeling and saying 'oh, ah-ha, this is why I'm feeling the ride is this way.' And I can rel..

#RideHarmony #suspension #FCMElite

The 3 Key Principles of Harmonizing your Ride are the most important aspects for you to understand about your vehicle's ride and handling. Watch this WHOLE video to see how each of the 3 elements is affecting you, whether you realize it or not!

Summary:
1 - 'Flat Ride' (or Fast Settling), having the front ride frequency about 5-15% lower than the rear. This lets the entire vehicle settle smoothly and rapidly over surface changes without unnecessary bouncing OR without resorting to excessive damping (which reduce ride quality and grip)

2 - Proper optimization and minimization of the rebound force and compression force across the damper's entire performance range. This is where the concept of 'jacking down' and 'launching up' come into play - it's easy to build too much rebound and many manufacturers do it to make a car feel 'sporty' but it compromises ride quality by reducing the tire's contact patch and also is abusive to your body. In some cases you'll find too much compression (often in 'high-performance' aftermarket setups) where they use too much of a good thing!

3 - Minimum possible nitrogen pressure inside the damper without causing problems with the damper's ability to generate force. It's very easy to use a LOT of nitrogen inside a monotube and even to imagine this is a 'good thing.' However, real world results and back-to-back testing show otherwise. This last element is so often overlooked when examining changing struts or shocks and it deserves YOUR attention and questions to a potential suspension supplier. Too high nitrogen pressure causes a 'nervousness' or 'skittering' of the tires across the pavement. The car just won't hook up consistently and is VERY sensitive to surface changes (gravel, weather conditions, etc.). Exotic / high end cars like Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, etc. can suffer from excessive nitrogen pressure inside the dampers making them VERY unfriendly to drive or ride in! It doesn't have to ..

I did

H&R Ride frequencies were about 1.9 Hz front and 1.6 Hz rear which isn't giving Flat Ride (it has 'pitch').

Some info on the new Eibach main and helper spring I'm using, along with the custom rear spring adapters to fit the new rear spring setup. If you don't change out either the front to be softer or the rear to be stiffer you'd have a very uncomfortable pitching ride. Then of course you can decide if you want the damping to be improved and to what degree but I'm giving some ideas on how to make any H&R or Bilstein setup more optimized per my concepts of Ride Harmony. I also spent a good amount of time (and Ed paid me for) some nice finishing touches to keep the main and helper springs better-connected to the upper shock mounts to avoid rattling / imprecision in the suspension's operation.

Want to enjoy Ride Harmony like Ed has?

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/img/portfolio/fullsize/Ed_Scion_testimonial.png

Then get in touch with us through our Elite Contact form:
http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/contact_elite.htm

#bumpstops #FT86 #H&Rcoilover

Ed's feedback was very positive! Initial testimonial link below:

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/img/portfolio/fullsize/Ed_Scion_testimonial.png

Some notes on bump stop tuning for the FCM Elite Stage 2 build we did for a super-charged Scion FR-S that is street-driven and pushed hard at the track. Also see the video I did on damping comparisons for OE vs. Bilstein vs. FCM Stage 3 (track/autocross build):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHyVoiP0o_8

and the H&R vs OE vs FCM for this Stage 2 build:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdbhNNUigx4

For your own FCM Elite setup, contact us through our Elite inquiry form:

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/contact_elite.htm

#FT86 #ScionFRS #SubaruBRZ

In this video I show a comparison between the original FR-S rear damper, the H&R Street Performance rear (as received), and my FCM Elite Stage 2 optimized damper for our customer. My goal was to give him good control for track without harshness on the street like the OE or H&R suspensions.

Want to experience Ride Harmony, too? Get in touch through our Elite Contact form:
http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/contact_elite.htm

===

Update: my customer's initial feedback on his FCM Elite Stage 2 build was very positive! I want to do a longer chat / interview with him as well.

Testimonial (text screenshot): http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/img/portfolio/fullsize/Ed_Scion_testimonial.png

"I can write more of a proper testimonial later but it was exactly what I was looking for. It was amazing on track and still comfortable on the street.'

Original ride frequencies on the H&R Street Performance coil-over with provided springs were 1.9 Hz front, 1.7 Hz rear - NOT Flat Ride (pitching going on!). I make comments about the damping in the video but suffice it to say it would have been over-pressurized and jacking down.

For our Elite improvements and his GT (dual purpose street and track) goals, we kept the original H&R front spring (~270 lb/in per my calcs) and I picked a stiffer Eibach 60mm ID rear spring (457 lb/in) to give frequencies of 1.9 Hz front, 2.1 Hz rear for 10% rear frequency bias. Also of note, I had to make a custom Delrin upper rear spring adapter to mate a new Eibach 3 inch ID helper spring to the upper mount. Some notes on that:

For rear, used Eibach 2.43 inch ID (61.7mm), 7.87 in long, 8.2kg/mm (457 lb/in). Made Delrin adapters using 1" thick, 5" ID raw material from McMaster-Carr: https://www.mcmaster.com/9986K52 and a pair of new OE Scion FR-S rear shock mounts to get the fit just right (no rattles!).

Above the new main spring, I used an Eibach 3inch ID helper, 4.84 inch long, Abel @ Eibach (5/1/19) the OD is 3.5 inch.

..

#bouldering #crimps #v5

Sometimes the biggest question is 'how much suffering can you endure?'

This was the second V5 boulder problem I was able to send and it was definitely harder than the green V5 I showed in a previous video. The crimps are really hard on my fingers and I'm working to lose weight so I'm hauling less up the wall!

Actually getting this send took me quite a few attempts and I wasn't even sure I could do it but on a fresh set of fingers and being patient with foot placements, I did!

I included this vid to illustrate that there's a lot more failure in climbing than success - your fingers (and other parts) get sore, cut, blistered, or all of the above. I wish I had a vid of me sending this problem (what I was hoping to film that day) but on this day I hadn't rested enough to stick those crimps. Still, I had the previous session and I look forward to doing more .. and even working on my first V6!

#DDay #HonorVeterans #CelebrateFreedom

Like many of us, I have a personal connection to the battle for European liberation. My mother was born in Ulm, Germany on July 7th, 1945, after being conceived inside a German slave labor camp. The Nazis did everything they could to make my grandmother abort my mother, aside from forcing it medically. But through God's Grace, my grandmother and grandfather survived their experience and my mother came into this world a year, a month, and a day after D-Day. I never realized that until today... My father was 10 years old, living in British India when D-Day occurred, and he had his own experiences living through violent suppression of freedom, eventually coming to the US where he lived the rest of his days and embraced life as an American citizen. I can't be more proud of both of my parents for the life they created, nor more grateful for the sacrifices of those who made their and our freedom possible.

Today, after watching President Trump's speech, I was moved to tears several times. I realized how absolutely blessed I am to have the life I do. If you're reading / watching this, you're just as blessed. I hear President Trump sharing stories of men who miraculously survived the through incredible odds while so many of their comrades paid the ultimate sacrifice. I'm particularly reminded to honor the sacrifice of all those men by cherishing life, liberty, and freedom to pursue my happiness. There is no way any of us can repay the gift of liberty except by remembering and honoring their sacrifice. When we celebrate freedom we keep the tree of liberty alive and in these trying times speaking Truth is indeed a radical act.

I thank each of you who engage with me and contribute to my efforts to share Suspension Truth, making a small impact in my own way to efforts to liberate and empower people to increase peace, joy, and harmony in their lives and interactions with your vehicle.

If you are a veteran, I can offer you a 50% discou..

I had a really rich weekend engaging with a friend and showing up as a coach and guide (receiving some needed inspiration in exchange!). Coming back from this experience and having made more one-on-one connections lately vs. working in isolation at my shop the past couple years reminds me how much I love that direct, face-to-face interaction in my life. Before I got into cars and performance, and even before I chose Physics as a path, I wanted to understand the Physics of people, of us, of myself - to understand our inner working and our connection to the Big Questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What should I do?

Therefore, in support of this deeper part of me that is now demanding fuller recognition, from today forward (5/6/2019), I'm declaring all new FCM Elite builds will ONLY be Stage 3 (including KBO and Ripple Reducer). The estimated price of your Elite build will be given during your initial consultation but you can expect to pay about $3600 not including the cost of the dampers. This Stage 3 product represents the very best of all the technique, technologies, and insights I've put together since I began my suspension explorations in 1996 and in earnest since 2004 - over 15 years of very intense, focused theory and practice!

I have many R&D projects I haven't been able to finish because I'm somewhat felt limited with offering my fullest gifts (KBO especially) and then having the financial in-flow to let me spend more time to exploring and inventing. Now, with my clarity of this choice and desire for future customer orders, I know I will be able to keep innovating which is the heart of why FCM even exists!

If you're concerned about what this may mean for you, take heart - I also love to create and share tools so that anyone can take action to build a suspension of their dreams, which is where the Universal Ride Harmony Spreadsheet(s) come in that I'm also going to be rolling out soon. You can use those tools on your own (along with supporting videos I've..

This is an intro video to what I'm working on - a set of Universal Ride Harmony Spreadsheets that will allow any user to enter the variables for their vehicle on the Fat Cat Motorsports homepage and make calculations to assist in choosing the right springs, sway bars, and dampers for your goals. These will only be available via the website (the fields will remain in your browser cache until you clear them). However, if you wanted a personalized Excel copy you can pay for a minimum 1 hour consultation and receive a downloadable spreadsheet tailored just for your vehicle.

Link to my basic Suspension Characterization Procedure, which will guide you gathering information needed for the spreadsheets:

http://fatcatmotorsports.com/PROC_FCM_SUSP_CHAR_2015.pdf

You'll need to do some internet searches for information like curb weight, weight distribution, photos of the suspension to get rough motion ratios for springs, sway bars, dampers, etc. I find that Edmunds Inside Line has great suspension walkaround that give photos and often rough motion ratios on newer vehicles.

With some time and focus, you'll be able to understand what your vehicle is doing and how to make targeted changes that yield improvements. Remember, just changing a part doesn't mean you've made anything BETTER! Don't put blind faith in any vendor to do things right for your specific needs - and that includes the original equipment manufacturer of your vehicle. Every one has their own agenda and once you are clear on your goals, and how the components affect you, you'll be better-prepared to make choices that provide the Ride Harmony improvements you need.

Edmunds Inside Line Walkarounds:

https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/track-tests/sitemap.html

For paid consulting, use this link:

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/fcm_elite_consult_form.htm