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Group Buy 1) Group Buy Prepreg Rear Strut Bar, 2) New project WIP

Joined
26 January 2001
Messages
2,102
Location
San Diego, CA

1) We are stoked to announce a GB of 20 of our new product. A structural 100% prepreg carbon Rear Strut Bar for 91-94 coupe model. Our trusty supplier had a batch of special epoxy pregreg carbon cloth from the aerospace slowdown and we were able to procure it at an attractive price to pass on the savings to you. Normally, it is not cost effective compare to the normal 3k cloth. Please see the link below to our website for a short video of this product.

We did not build this bar to make the OEM lighter/stronger. We built it to see how the material behaves and we will incorporate honeycomb and ROHACELL in our future product since these are typically materials used in aerospace , not commonly used in automobiles due to cost but the properties are just outstanding and would be a shame not to use on an iconic car like ours.

We see this material has great potential to make cool future product not just 5-10% better but 5-10x better with zero undesirable side effect. It will not only be ~50% lighter than a metal part but also improve the MOI, CG, weight distribution, better fuel consumption, which improves the driving dynamics of our car all the time. Pending on your response, we may build another one for the targa folks to be fair but for now, if you have a coupe, this is the best time to upgrade your existing bar as the price may change after this group buy.

Information of the bar

100% 3K PREPREG CARBON REAR STRUT BAR. SPECIAL AEROSPACE PREPREG WITH ~5% LESS EPOXY RESIN THAN STANDARD 3K CLOTH. FLAME RETARD RATED @400F. COMES WITH 4 TITANIUM BOLTS. THIS IS A STRUCTURAL PIECE NOT A COSMETIC PART.

PREPREG BAR = 8.5 OZ.
OEM STEEL BAR = 17.2 OZ.
PREPREG W/ HONEYCOME BAR = 11.1 OZ.
PREPREG W/ ROHACELL FOAM BAR = 6.3 OZ.
OEM BOLTS = 1.95 OZ.
TITANIUM BOLTS = 0.97 OZ.
PRICING = $550 WITH GR. 5 TI BOLTS + SHIPPING, QTY = 20.
PRODUCTION WILL BE 4-6 WEEKS, JUST IN TIME FOR X'MAS!!

https://pole2flagracing.com/prepreg-rear-strut-bar-91-94.html


2) We are also making progress on our next project of active-aero-on-demand which is focused on exciting user-experience and more than 50%(the design work is done) complete with more pictures to follow(see link below) and IFF you buy the strut bar, we will give you a discount for the active aero set up when it's ready for market.

We have finished most of the modeling/designing/packaging and with no less than 100+ CFD analysis complete to provide active-aero v1.0 with targeted 320-360 lbs of total DF on-demand with a 40/60 weight distribution of a 3,000 lb. car, yet we have plenty of head room for the frt flap and rear wing angles to reach stall.

Active-aero v2.0 will have a much higher DF on-demand with a bigger, taller wing with more camber and a deeper chord than v1.0. We are making a front bumper cover from carbon/kevlar/honeycomb(~50% lighter than the OEM urethane) with an active flap attached to actuators that are mounted on the carbon bumper beam that we already make, the control buttons/knobs will be mounted on our Type R style carbon center console, the v1.0 rear wing will be located on the existing trunk and be mounted slightly higher than the Type R wing to generate the targeted DF number but with an Eppler 420 profile with a lofted center section. For once, we don't need to worry about the drag, that is nice.

Initially, we spec-ed out the active aero system using Pi Research/Cosworth of ICD, IPS, ECU, sensors...components so everything is digitally controlled via CAN bus....but the component cost quickly escalated to $30k+ before ANY design/carbon parts are made. We got scared. The system we are building is more analog and focus on user experience so YOU get to determine when to turn on/off the aero to feel the difference which is a lot of fun IMO but you need to know what you are doing thus the low DF of in the v1.0 ~350lbs range => ~10% of the weight of your car to "keep you out of deep trouble." AND, this work well between 0-100-0 mph where most of us spending our time.

Yes, in short, we need your support to bring the active aero project to fruition. It is something we want to do before we kick the bucket. BTW, this set up is designed specifically for the Gen 1 NSX 1991-2005 with the OEM body shape in mind and all parts are reverse-able back to oem if necessary. If you purchase the strut bar, we will give you a discount for the active-aero setup should you decide to have one. This product is gonna be a lot of fun to use....all the time.

Active Aero R&D

Thx to Hoonigan for this review, this was the car we were involved in design and building working with Trevor Harris(trevorlharris.com), Don Devendorf(+/-), Wes Moss(mechanicals), Yoshi(Aero), John Caldwell(Engine R&D), Andy Galloway(composite), Bill Dailey(Dailey Dry Sump), Rob Edwards(Alex Rossi Strategist), Chris Willis(Real Time NSX GT3), and many other very gifted folks. After finishing engine R&D of the 4-valve 3.0, we moved on to suspension design and aero support. It was a privilege and extremely valuable experience working with them learning how to think and how to apply theory to real life cases, learning what not to do besides drawing circles and lines all day on CAD. Ignore the hideous intake periscope...but it was worth xtra 50hp needed to chase the AAR Toyota but Geoff Brabham had a fit. "WTH is this?" Chip Robinson was "ok" with it. Pay attention to what Trevor has to say, he has a physics background and we always learn something just listening to him. Kinda like an "American" Gordon Murray to us.


10,000lbs of Downforce at 200mph: Nissan’s Wild 950hp IMSA GTP Cars
 

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To answer a few PM questions:
1) You can sign up on this thread if you want to buy. No need for payment/deposit until we reach 20.
2) We will make the targa bar for the later model IFF we get a solid response from this bar to start tooling.
3) The discount you will receive for the active-aero set up is yet to be determined.
4) Epoxy resin is much harder and more expen$ive than Poly resin.
 
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I'm in for a kevlar version, same color/weave as the Type R seats and most kevlar parts coming out of Japan.
 

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Hi Rich, short ans. to your request;
1) we are not able to acquire the kevlar immediately that match your seat due to the following reasons.

Long ans.
1) Prepreg kevlar cost more than regular carbon but more importantly, the engine bay can get pretty hot especially for the FI folks and having two different materials bonded under such condition is "typically not recommended" for long term reliability going thru so many cycles of heat transfer. We are not confident enough to produce such product under these circumstances.
2) Even if we can acquire such kevlar, we need to purchase the whole roll and we need a quite a large qty. GB of folks who want this combination that makes this affordable.
3) Perhaps there is a high temp wrap on the market you can purchase to match your seat to cover the bar and see how it holds up overtime. This seems like a possible solution and relatively low cost.
4) We will use kevlar on our front bumper cover aero project but no guarantee it has the same pattern as your seat.
 
I didn't want to read length paragraph. your aero 1.0/2.0 includes wing and splitter? only it's a wing only.
 
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Hi Rich, short ans. to your request;
1) we are not able to acquire the kevlar immediately that match your seat due to the following reasons.

Long ans.
1) Prepreg kevlar cost more than regular carbon but more importantly, the engine bay can get pretty hot especially for the FI folks and having two different materials bonded under such condition is "typically not recommended" for long term reliability going thru so many cycles of heat transfer. We are not confident enough to produce such product under these circumstances.
2) Even if we can acquire such kevlar, we need to purchase the whole roll and we need a quite a large qty. GB of folks who want this combination that makes this affordable.
3) Perhaps there is a high temp wrap on the market you can purchase to match your seat to cover the bar and see how it holds up overtime. This seems like a possible solution and relatively low cost.
4) We will use kevlar on our front bumper cover aero project but no guarantee it has the same pattern as your seat.

Thanks for the update Tim!
 
Short ans.
v1.0 active rear wing and active front flap from the bumper cover for now.
v2.0 will generate more DF than v1.0. It is NOT fixed aero like most because all that unnecessary drag when not needed is extremely inefficient. we can certainly build an active front splitter with ANSYS CFD with and supporting numbers. It will be for "expert" drivers as you need to know car control with the DF is on and off while going around fast chicanes.

Long ans.
By choice, we are generating DF on demand from the air going over the top of the car. we had this idea way back in Nissan GTP days but it was not allowed. Now we have better tools and software to make this possible.

Other Aero PM questions:
1) To generate DF from the bottom of the car starting with front splitter/wing, a sealed flat bottom with tunnels from the CoP on both sides is better for longitudinal engine layout not like our, long diffuser needs to work with the rear wing mounted at the proper location as a whole package in order to work. Not to mention the ride height needed to keep the bottom seal from leakage. Even if it works well, the drag number is quite larger pushing all that air and you will never pass a gas station you don't like in the real world.

2) Really not trying post unnecessary long paragraphs but just the key basic points so "you" know what you are buying function more than form. Form over function or vise versa are important. In this case, we are making product that is functional all the time especially from 0-100-0 mph where we spend most of our time on track or on the road. It is more sexy to talk big HP and torque and boost and turbo and SC and intercoolers.....etc. Talking aero, Bernoulli, Reynolds number, F = Velocity squared, gets boring and too geeky for most and it is a poor marketing approach. We can take this on the side if needed.

3) One way to feel the aero is to try indoor sky diving. We were surprised how powerful air is by moving tiny body movements and the effect. We are playing with "invisible" force here. We have done the HP route for many years and finding the invisible force of air is very intriguing and we will try this on our iconic car, hopefully long before we kick the bucket. It is not a new concept as this is how the airplane takes off and land.
 
we have reached 16 committed to buy the strut bar thanks to many loyal P2F clients that already have either Comptech, Carbing, and other bars. IIRC, this is the 2nd load bearing carbon part for the NSX of our bumper beam being the 1st. We will start production after Thxgiving and should be ready to ship b 4 X'mas.

To show our appreciation, we are giving a $500 discount for the 20 GB for the active aero project on top of the yet "TBD" introductory price as these folks are helping us funding this project and seeing we are doing going forward with our future project. It means a lot to us and we whole heartily thank you for your support to make this real.

We are recruiting in the marketing department so we can focus on what we do best. contact us if you have time to help. Call is best.
 
Gents,
Don't miss this opportunity with the updated price. PM us to confirm your spot. We had 15 past customers paid in less than a day which made us realize how loyal they are and many already have the Comptech, CARBING, Foundry 3..etc. bars but this part is not a cosmetic dress up part but will carry longitudinal loads. We are deeply thankful for your support and the value what we are doing so we can complete the on-going active aero project.

We have 3 more spots left for the GB with a special price of $370 Deliver to Ramon or Nick's shop or shipped to US ONLY. PM for international shipping.

 
I love your products! Wish I needed a rear strut bar. Very high quality and I can’t wait to see how it all shakes out.

I keep my eyes out for any P2F products I can put on my NSX!

Keep up the outstanding work


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
strut bar

i'm in for the $370 rear strut bar and 4 titanium bolts
 
Update!
we are half way thru this batch of 20. production began mid-Dec. after the GB qty was reached. We gave the guys a wk off for X'mas. We are back now. Will ship soon with tracking.

We are working on the triangle brace for the later model. Will have a proto to show soon.
 
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In for the possible targa brace...

Not only am I (albeit early) for a targa brace, but based on the quality of your work and your expertise I'd be in on pretty much everything and anything else that you may come up with!

TAKE MY MONEY!! :biggrin:



Edit: I wasn't familiar with Pole 2 Flag Racing before today but I am glad that I am now. I'm very impressed and am looking forward to buying your products!
 
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Thx for your comment Matt. Since you are new to us as well, we're typically:

1) fly under the radar
2) too small to fail and too large not to care
3) we are slow cuz we make our stuff to order JIT in Calif. but the surf has been really good lately
4) but.....we always ship
5) Most our stuff is prepreg for a purpose based on physics(>Wt., PMI, CG, MOI, etc.)
6) Delivery to San Diego area and Ramon's shop is free
7) the best time to buy is the initial offering
8) you will experience the P2F difference right away even at 0-100-0 w/o going to the track.
 
Plan B Is Working...Finally!

Update,

Short Ans. - We will deliver soon....again.:rolleyes:

Long Ans. -
Checo tested positive for Covid :eek:but showed no symptoms. however, the city health Nazi paid a visit:mad: a few days later and shut us down:mad: like many biz in Calif. We are not making excuses but it is a fact of life running a biz in Calif. during Covid. As of today, we are cleared to push forward.:smile:

Now The good news::cool:
Plan B - During the shut down, we ordered a portable oven and a couple portable vacuum pumps to use it in our home garage and made arrangement for future production at a more friendly state. R&D will stay in San Diego for now. No surfing in other states.:wink:

We are supporting a couple local Radical cars where they often kiss each other on track during regular season. We are not sure if there is $$$ for a win or a real trophy. We normally don't do fiberglass as it is 1960 heavy and cheap but cheerful. One of these billionaires !!BATMAN!! #19 Ron Fletcher bought the very 1st US Revolution race car.....full carbon tub, prepreg body, a full undertray with tunnels(not a post rear diff. diffusers). The CFD attached show the DF starts around CoP similar to the GTP cars of the 80-90s.

Phil Abbott sold Radical cars to some "businessmen" and started a much more current technology Revolution cars with many of his original folks:smile:. There are a few YT shakedown videos and And Wallace gave two thumbs up. We should see the undertray live soon and will confirm if is fake news. This will help to fund the active aero project at P2F just like the strut bars.

We like to apologize again for the delay but it is out of our hands. we will deliver and the Triangle bar will follow soon.
 

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We are not running away or hiding. This Covid thing really sucks for us of the year of the Ox. It is not customary for us to keep making excuses for shipping as we are overcoming all the unexpected "Covid" related problems/issues imposed by the city. If you insist to have your money return, let us know but remember the next batch will be $100 more as this is an intro/GB/new product marketing/make to order effort for us.

The good news is, the vendor/contractor we teamed with is quite skilled in tooling which is the key for making CF parts especially prepreg. All the vendors we had before were too flakey. Took us a while to find him and initially he was too busy to entertain our requests until he understood our active project was something with value, not available on the market and quite interesting. The CAD/CFD are done to make the final parts more legit supported by numbers and we are moving towards the prototype phase. He asked to be partners and we could not be more stoked.
 
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