 Nearly
as soon as Jim Busby's 962s were delivered back in late '84, just prior
to the 1985 Daytona 24, did the team begin to tinker with the
car.
At first the modifications were relatively simple and consisted of
bodywork
changes and relocating the turbo and related plumbing. |
 But
by the late 80s it was clear the old-dog 962 needed much
more.
“The
962 was 1982-tech, actually 1980/81 considering when it was designed,
being
raced in 1990 (nearly)” says Jim Busby. Michael Colucci
elaborates
a bit more, “The areas of weakness were the chassis (not very stiff
only
5350 lbs per degree)...not as much down force as the Nissan, Jag, and
later
the Toyota…” Busby’s team embarked on a substantial
redevelopment
in order to improve overall torsional rigidity and aerodynamic
downforce.
|
 Testing
at
Riverside
in early 1988 (above and to left) showed that the modified car was 3/4
to 1 second quicker
than the standard 962. Ultimately it was uncertain where the
gains
came from, so many modifications were made. "(it) Was faster
on
the
stop watch and that’s all I was concerned with," say Colucci.
Clearly
the aero downforce was improved and Jim Busby makes a point of
indicating
that with the standard 962 you'd have to lift for the kink at Road
America,
not so with the updated car. |
