Ford Racing Performance Parts

Ryan Schnackenberg

In 2000, owner Ryan Schnackenberg purchased this car new as a daily driver. The same year he started autocrossing locally. The car did not stay in stock form long. In late 2003, the Focus began its long transformation into a true Street Modified contender. Among the major updates for the season 2004 were: a complete custom designed suspension, wheels, brakes, and transmission. In 2005, significant motor modifications from Ford Racing became the primary focus, and continued the project evolution to new levels. Now Ryan and his team not only compete regionally, but divisionally and nationally!

Jason Kolk

Before the 2004 season began, Kolk joined up with Schnackenberg to help bring the Street Modified Focus to the next level. His primary task has been to spearhead the suspension tuning and development. Throughout the season, the car's setup changed weekly with the team spending hours on the setup pad before each weekend taking alignments and corner weighting into their own hands. Thanks to the opportunity for two people to campaign the same car in autocross, the pair provided strong competition within the team to supplement the strong competition from the outside. It's amazing how much a person can improve when they see the same car go faster then they just drove.

Autocross is a precision driving event. A closed course is custom designed and constructed with cones, no two courses are ever alike, forcing competitors to memorize key elements quickly. Competitors pilot their machines individually through the track as fast as possible. Penalties are accessed for hitting cones or going off course. Every year over 1100 autocrossers attempt to be crowned 'National Champion' in their respective classes at the Tire Rack SCCA Solo II National Championships in Topeka, Kansas.

SCCA Solo II has several classifications. This particular Focus runs in Street Modified, which is one of the newest and fastest growing classes in recent years. Sporty sedans and coupes with a minimum of four seats like BMW M3s, Mitsubishi Evo's, and Honda Civics duel for top honors. For the most part, motors, suspension, transmission, brakes, and wheels are allowed unlimited modifications. The class allows drivers to implement some of the most popular modifications tuners are using on the street. Ford Racing offers several items from their Fast Focus catalog that compliment Street Modified and this Focus in particular.

The Focus seems like a unique entrant in autocrossing, currently this is true, but hopefully by continuing development, that will change quickly. Ryan and his teammate/engineer Jason Kolk have been overwhelmed by the advancement of the car in the last year. The car responds dramatically to the slightest change in air pressure, ride height, camber, and toe. Suspension adjustments are performed, with the highest precision, with a custom alignment rack and Longacre computer scales.

The team hopes in the near future to finish Top 10 in class at the National Championships, and win Street Modified Central Division and Championship series titles.

Stay tuned to Ford Racing to see the progress of this Focus and its drivers. Those looking to begin autocrossing should start searching SCCA.com and MyAutoEvents.com. There you can find info on how to get started in the right class and find local, divisional, and national events. If you aren't ready to race, spectators are also encouraged to attend, autocrossing is the most fun and safe form of amateur motorsport activity in the nation. Most importantly, it keeps racing on the track, not the street.

Ford Racing Big Boost kit - M-9000-ZX3

2.0 Zetec CNC Ported Cylinder Head - M-6049-ZX3P

Racing Valvespring Kit - AVAILABLE SOON!

SVT Focus exhaust header - M-9430-ZX3L

4:06 Final Drive kit - M-7343-A

Ford Racing 9mm spark plug wires - M-12259-FR2

We ported the intake manifold, it is now port matched. We would also like to port match the inlet adapter to the throttle body. I sold my stock throttle body, we had intended on bolting on my slightly larger throttle body. We wanted to ask first, because we didn't know how this would effect your calibrations. The 90 degree fitting that connects the vacuum line to the brake booster is missing. We have taken inventory of all our buckets. I am leaving Dearborn @ 4 p.m. today and driving to GR to pick up stock cams I located. It looks like we won't know exactly many new buckets we will need for the stock cams until late afternoon on Friday.