Hillclimbing, the 2007 Season Project.

rob4620

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place for this thread as the majority of the work to my car is done, however this project involves more than just the car.

I hope to fine tune my car across the season with the help of Paul at Zen to make it the most focused hillclimber I can within my budget, which has all but gone on the mods I will list below. However, there are still many cost effective mods I have in mind as well as working in with Paul to extract the best through correct set up for hillclimbing from the mods he has already carried out for me across the winter close season.

I also hope to fine tune my driving as I compete in the 2007 UK Changes Midland Hillclimb championship trying to achieve the best results I can in the face of what can only be described as tougher than a coffin nail competition in the shape of 800+bhp Audi, Midland champion in 500+bhp evo RS, my
brother in his soon to be 550bhp Evo7 RS, Graham Loakes (911) the seasoned scooby thraper with a winter full of new tricks up his cars sleeve and a pick of all sorts other machinery that could be racing this season from cosworths to m3's.

I would like to use this thread as a diary and discussion area for myself and anyone else on here who sprints or hillclimbs their subaru, would like to sprint or hillclimb their subaru or just likes s**t fast subarus!

So I'll kick it off with a short report on my car and my upcoming outings, I hope the rest of you like minded hillclimbers will follow suit and discuss anything and everything to do with sprinting and hillclimbing on this thread.

My Type RA Hillclimber






will be getting it's first outing with it's new set up tommorrow Sunday 18/3 at the shenstone and district test day at curborough, the car is putting out a good 80bhp more now than when I raced it in the latter part of last season and has undergone some serious chassis tweeking to take advantage of the fact it is no longer road legal, lower, more castor more camber, much harder spring rates. I have also managed to get about 35kgs in weight out of the car without going too 'strip out' crazy.

For a full spec with pics click the view my scooby link on the left under my user name.

I took the car out on a 'ahem' private test track last night for a very quick blast and have to say that it scared me half to death, it is so so so much quicker than it was and 4th gear is disposed of in the same time 2nd gear used to be. Paul I owe you another steak and ale pie and 2 Stellas mate, you did good! However with great power comes great responsibility someone much smarter than me once said, and this applies here, it now takes very little to get all 4 wheels smoking in the first 3 gears and I am going to have to learn to perfect my throttle contol down the 10ft wide 'lanes' that the likes of Graham and I throw our cars up or this thread could be over as soon as it started!

The handling is stiff to say the least but turn in is excellent and body roll nearly non exsistent, the extra keen turn I like especially as it allows me to run the dccd in a good strong position without creating masses of understeer which in turn allows me get on the throttle good and early exiting corners without the tail wagging around like a mad thing costing precious time.

Temperatures are set to be cold tommorrow and grip scarce as a result so it should prove interesting trying to tame the car and be quick.

The big boys of the class will be butting heads for the first time as well, the 800+bhp Dialynx A4 of Roger Banks on it's first outing and the God knows how powerful 'cause he never tells anyone anything 2006 champion EVO5 RS of Roy Standley. Along with loads more evo's, radicals, atoms and all sorts of crazy stuff so weather permitting it should be a good day out.

I will post up how I got on and I also hope that you other sprinters and hillclimbers will use this thread as your own to do the same.

Rob.

911

This will be a great refreshing thread Rob.
I hope I can make a posative contribution.

The tuning of an Impreza for this accurate form of motorsport has facinated me for 4 years after realising that my 231 bhp 911 was simply far too slow though very exciting to drive, and al the stories of tail happy motoring on the limit are true.

I spent 10 years with the 911, and the jump to 4 x 4 was a shock even though I had a UK Turbo at the time as a Company Car.

Compared to Rob car mine is a bit more modified as the techie side is of interest, especially the suspension and transmission side, but trying to find the perfect set-up has been a long road of blood sweat and tears.

Like Rob, you need the help of competent suppliers as well as finding many people on Snet and the 22B sites where the true technicians strut their very advanced abilities.

As I found with the 911, find a good specialist(s) and stick with them as they will follow your progress and understand what you are trying to do in this strange form of car racing.
In my case this has been with AndyF, Power Station and API with huge support too from the web site 'attendees'.

14 years of the sport have been great, many friends made even, and 2007 will be a very tough year to achieve a good result.

What is a good result? A win?

I think a personal best, chasing and beating an EVO (any EVO will do!) and having a good time.

There are about 10 events to do this year and I will try to keep up with 'Faster Rob'...could be tricky.

Our cars are now similar and quite different in several ways.
I hope to learn from his experiences.

I know to 5 other actual hillclimbers out there and I feel there are quite a few more around.

Off we go!



The other old banger that started it all


Graham

rob4620

First outing of 2007 for me and my car yesterday and what a lovely day it was, snow, sleet, rain, hail and 70mph winds at what is a miserable track in the best of conditions. The moss growing through the tarmac also didn't make for great traction.

I managed to get 3 runs in in the morning in what was a non competitve 'test' event under full race conditions the first was a slow exploratory run as the track was slippy and temperatures very low and with all the extra power the car is making full throttle anywhere, straights included meant serious sideways action.

The second run the track had dried out a bit and I got to have a bit proper go at it, still very cautious on the throttle but it gave me a good idea of how the car behaves on it's new set up. It is crushingly fast with the short ratios and lightweight car it just pulls in every gear like a train with less lag than I would expect from a turbo that can produce outputs like this. I crossed the line at 103mph into a very strong head wind with a tentative exit from semi circle to say the least, that is 5 mph faster than I have ever crossed at Curb' in the most perfect of conditions. The car also handles like a dream with great turn in and poise through the corners on the harder set up which when driving seems quite supple despite the brutaly hard spring rates.

The third run all hell broke loose in a big hail storm as we were waiting to go making it like driving on marbles so both Pete and I decided to call it a day as the storms drew in trailered up and left, both swearing we would never go back to Curborough, which is probably not true but yesterday it seemed like about the worst place in the world to be, and I know Graham will vouch for that.

I did however get to get back in the car and give it a good blast test the new set up and remeber why we spend all the money on this game, because it's absolutley great, even in those circumstances. I also managed to post the fastest time of all the mod prod saloons beating 4 evos in the process, so chalk one up for the Subarus! I did also realise how quick my brother Pete is going to be this season in his Evo7 extreme S, only 2/10ths slower than me and I crossed the line 4mph faster showing what a great handling car and good driver can make it up where it counts, and on tracks like Loton park and Prescott thats all that matters, if Pete does decide to up his power from the 400bhp he has now I think he will be pretty much unstoppable when he learns all the tracks.

On a more sombre note the Dialynx A4 was there and unfortunately for Pete, Graham and myself the outlook is very bleak, it sounds like a aircraft and looks like 1!! it crossed the line at 113mph letting off way short of the finish line to put some perspective on it all. There was a lot of paddock mumbling about how it cannot be in our class, but Keith Murray of Dialynx is no mug and knows this game very well so I'm pretty sure it's here to stay. I wouldn't fancy taking it round Pardon though would you Graham?



*Sorry for the crappy pic my camera battery went dead so it's just a phone picture, Graham was clicking away though so I'm sure some better pics will surface!

911

Weather was bad, and I would love to drive the V8, but never at real speed.

If Rob and I have any learning curve to climb, Roger has 10 x a steeper curve to climb!

The Impreza looked great Rob, and the accelleration through the gears very sharp indeed.
I certainly agree about Pete, but not sure if he will need any more bhp....

Got a few snaps at home, will post them later on.
Not sure I'm looking forward to Loton!
We are down to 3 Impreza's now Martin's found No 3 piston has gone..

Graham

Random pics:

rob4620

For the super high spec of his engine he is running quite low boost (1.7) and it can easily take more (2.1) and he has a restrictive 2.5 inch exhaust so there is a lot of power in the car not being used becasue of half a job done by the company who were setting it up, so it needs bringing up to it's full potential. Theres a lot of bhp for little £'s to be had, and you know yourself how much we all like that.

pete26

This should be a really good season of racing! As Rob has already said we got to drive our cars in anger for the first time this year at Curborough, with new handling setups for both of us and for rob new power and lots of it the git! It couldnt have been worse conditions for it with hail coming in sideways and a wind chill factor of -4000!!!! but as soon as you get sat in your car you remember what its all about. The track was nice and slippy with moss in the tarmac in all the wrong places, add hail and snow to that and you have some nice sideways power exits of corners which looks good but is'nt fast, theres my excuse!

Got a few pics of us and the Audi, cop a look at this thing 800+bhp




looks like a light but its a whooping turbo and theres one in the other light

911

Rob/Pete:
Take a look at the pics I've added above.

Is your Dad ok? ()

pete26

Whats he trying to do, think hes wanging a coke can at me!

Zen Performance

Looks like he's trying to walk against an 80mph wind!

911

Nah: Just an AUDI driver that's all...bloody nutter. Bit quick behind the wheel though!
Hope his white car is ready for the weekend!

Graham.

Brit_in_Japan

Hi guys,

Good choice of thread. I'm intending to start doing hill climbs this year so I thought I should declare an interest and introduce myself

I'm pretty much a hill climb virgin, so be gentle with me. Currently I'm only intending on competing in whatever's closest to a standard road going class, keep it cheap for now and try not to wrap it. Further suspension mods will be what I spend my money on if anything, more power can wait until I know how to get the best out of what it's got now.

It's a pretty standard JDM WRX Wagon, some suspension mods, uprated brakes, a big exhaust and bigger intercooler. It's quick enough for now.

http://images.fotopic.net/?id=39569222&noresize=1

I've got a debut event lined up, if it runs. The organizers are currently trying to get the MSA to come back and do a second inspection, but all rescue/medical services etc are booked. No regs have been issued and no entries accepted, so forgive me if I'm a little shy about saying any more about it for now. Fingers crossed it runs and I get an entry, then I'll spill the beans

I plan on going to some other hill climbs in the next couple of months to spectate and maybe get some tips from gents such as yourselves. I'm re-reading the ultimate chassis thread as we speak.

Cheers,
BIJ (Gary)

BTW, white wagons rule

911

Welcome to the merry clan!

I am pleased to see the Wagon is White, as often the C1 Class is known as the White Car Class...

Suspension mods first are in my mind so important in hillclimbs as handling is essential over bhp.

Graham

Etheridge-Bird

Graham and Rob,

I ordered the above DVD from the MAC on Thursday, and it was waiting for me when I returned home yesterday.

Spent a glorious 2 hours last night watching some fascinating machinery going up Shelsley.

Best £17 I have spent in months - thoroughly recommended.

The force is strong with a single seater.

PS Pity I cannot drive a "tin top" very well

Richard

rob4620

Hi Gary, I must agree with Graham for best time improvements handling is all in Hillclimbing/Sprinting when starting out and any power increases at this stage will expose the short comings in your handling more.

I must say that is 1 cool looking wagon, I don't like them generaly but thats ace!

Got the final instructions through for the first round of the Midland champs at Loton today 11 in the class should be interesting.

I have signed up for a few events at MIRA with various clubs because I love driving the track and on reading the HSA magazine noticed they are running the Midland sprint champs there and Curb' half of the events I have already signed up for so for the £20 I will be entering that, so thats 3 championships I am in the year, I'm going to be busy.

Etheridge-Bird

Graham

Not sure if you are aware, but the Shell Station at Sutton Maddock has been demolished and is currently being refurbished.

Nearest V Power Station is either on the M54/Junction 4 or at Ketley/A5 Telford.

Richard