Big race weekend at Prescott, one of the twistiest hillclimbs in the UK.
Practice day (Sat) went well enough considering the rain which suits me and this chassis well.
Got close even to the EVO, and mustered a good start on a dryish track, 2.04sec! The time was not quite as good but the hill was a bit slippy under the trees....

Car survived though, and Race Day loomed, today.

Today was a fun day. I am 2nd in class in the Championships and cannot be beaten so that is all done, and the EVO could win the Midland Championship, or could miss-out just as easily.
At last Roy was thinking about something else than humiliating me...

First run was good and strong, dry track generally, and the promise of a totally dry run in the afternoon.
Screeched all round the hillclimb and stood second in class @ 48.3 x 2.22 start, (= crap) Previous best was 48.01 x 1.99 about a month ago with Faster Rob chasing my ****.

Second run though was a beaut and scared myself at least 7 times by half way time beam, but thought I would have a pop.

Stumbled out of Pardon (killa bend to get right, see vid below) which p!ssed me off and dived hard into the esses, wizzed out (!) and wheelspin all the way to Semi circle, and even got round that smoothly and snatched 3rd for the finish line.

47.60 x 2.02 start...Ha! Absolute cracker of a run, just so pleased.
Even better though, I was only 0.8 behind the EVO who had put slicks on instead of the Kumho's for the second run (mistake in my opinion) and he dropped a huge 1.85 start...what a car it is.

The next class (Big AUDI's etc) were tantalising, and Faster Rob's dad cracked a fantastic 48.9 second run, Mick was SO pleased.
What a cracker of an afternoon it was, just so good.

I paid a surprise visit to Powerstation as they are only just down the road from Prescott, so Roy (EVO) and I strutted-in posing in our race overalls..what a sight...
Curtis (my chassis engineer ) ask how things were on the car after one of his demon set-ups at the start of the season. Great, and how!

That chassis was so faithful, so secure and so confidence inspiring at 72 mph under the Bridge (you try it!) I thanked him and PS for their support.
Got to see close-up a VERY famous hot Time Attack car which was a treat to say at least.

So; all in all a great weekend, great car and chassis, but just one more to go, the dreaded Shelsley Walsh next weekend, but there is a surprise 'thing' mid week that i might tell you about.

Hope you enjoy the vids by my Sponsor/Wife/pocket-money monitor.
Pardon bend:
http://www.dropshots.com/daymainfram...0030102&cimg=5
The EVO at full chat:
http://www.dropshots.com/daymainfram...0030102&cimg=2
Rob's dad's AUDI at full chat!
http://www.dropshots.com/daymainfram...0030102&cimg=3
600/700 bhp whatever Audi, just so wonderful:
http://www.dropshots.com/daymainfram...0030102&cimg=4

Graham!

 

HI Graham, the Scoob looks awesome. nice vids. what's your next move?

 

Transmission
Tyres
Bravery pills
Anti-aging potions/pills/creams/pray...
Hope the EVO man moves on...

Graham

 

I had a white v3 RA in today, I think you'll need to watch for more than just the EVO

 

They are EVERYWHERE.
Young bucks and everything in between.

If it was Rob's then I know the challenge
I can think of 3 others too....

The big issue is the Ex Jeff Stokes' EVO, the 4.2 litre twin turbo Audi Quattro with a real mustard driver, the improving EVO, then there is the EVO V7 (Rob's brother) and a host of others.

Thing is they have all yet to get an entry! That could be tricky the way the events are going for next year.

I'll keep plodding away, a great car is part of the formula, not all of it.

Time will tell.

Graham.

 

Rob said he needed half a second, I reakon he'll have got it today.

 

That is true.
He has every chance at Shelsley, and we all have the same chance of doing the same, and kissing the banks.

Not ready to give up just yet just because there is a faster car there.
There is always a faster car who can link all the sections up at the right time.

Just as you/Andy/Steven etc have found in TOTB/Time attacks and all that.

It is a challenge we all live with why else compete?

Such is life and progress!

Anyway I told him you could find more than 1/2 second, as to catch Roy he needs much more than that! (you should aim for the top, not the second rung down).

He will be a good customer!

Graham.

 

Still not bad for the standard turbo, intercooler, injectors and headers!

 

Exactly!
He will do really well in the class.
His brother will excel too in the EVO.

Add a touch more in other areas I can think of and he will be right on the EVO and the Audi next year.

I'm just not sure the events will take such a large class of tintops next year.
I can count about 9 or 10 cars.
Space is tightening.

Of course they could only take the fast ones, but it is not as simple as that...

Graham.

 

Hi all
I normally just read what’s going on around these pages, but as I was competing against “young” Geoff Twemlow last weekend at Gurston I wondered how well he went at Prescott over the weekend in his Scooby and did he beat Tom again or was Tom driving his BMW??

Rich

 

Geoff set a personal best and was well ahead of Tom(tom was in the BMW) who also set a pb too.
Geoff set a near 52 second run, and to me that is impressive!
You have seen how simple the WRX is, and that is a great result.
He was happy to say the least!
Graham

 

47.60! , that's awesome mate well done. To say my old man was happy with his 48 run is a bit of an understatement, considering he has never broken 50 before I'm well pleased for him. He finally ditched the 265 tractor tyres and went for the lower profile ones and I think it made the difference with a much smaller rolling radius. He is getting anti lag fitted at Powerstation this week and Rich is doing him a full remap so the lag problem should be solved and rich should finaly get it running properly.

Paul did a fantastic job on my car at Zen yesterday and it runs smooth and strong and is quicker than i ever imagined it could be on the standard TMIC. I have no idea on figures but it feels like a healthy improvement over the 304bhp I had before. And best of all no lights flashing at me and no more octane booster. My future business is secured.

Graham, where do you think you found the extra 4/10ths on your fastest run, going a bit more ***** out or taking a certain section better? I'd be interested because hacking 41/100ths off your PB at Prescott is impressive stuff! Well done mate and look forward to seeing at you the weekend.

Rob.

PS. Paul was mighty inqusitive about which class his 652bhp monster would be in if he wanted to do some hills and sprints, lets hope he sticks to drag/track racing.

 

He will/would be in our class. Be good, as so many think hillclimbing is easy, just as many think drag racing is, infact all speed events look easy until you are up against it.
Better time was simply driving it much harder.
I don't have your nerve, (joking aside, it IS age that tempers you down, fact)

Next year will be difficult for entries I think as our class will be huge and the balance is for single seaters sadly.
With this in mind not sure I will invest much more in the car.

Back to Paul: not sure if that car will be good on a hill, but maybe he will show-up and show how it is done!

Graham

 

Don't worry guys. I would be stricly in the "take it easy" class of gentlemen sprinters if I had a go. I really like the 800hp audi approach, a few squirts joined together by some gentle corners!

Paul

 

Don't believe you.

As soon as you get to the line...light goes green, no rush.
Bring the revs to about 'right' and dump the clutch; ****** 2nd and quickly third.
The track sweeps gracefully to the left, foot hard down past the armco and the ever encroaching grass banks.
See the 1000 faces of every spectator blurr by.
Hard to the brakes, down to 2nd....spool and hang-on, ****, under/oversteer, but away to Pardon.
Oh lord, what a bend, lurch round that and screeeeeem (the car, not you) to the kink before the Esses, mind the trees and the barriers at 80 mph (feels like much more) wriggle through the Esses and hard brakes,change, burst out to the left and onto the Semi circle.

Where's the friggin' right hander gone, can only see the blue sky...yikes, 50pence coin it round the ever decreasing radius of Semi Circle and blast to the finish line feeling a bit uncertain if it will stay in a straight line.

Relax. Check the time (45.xx) over the Marshals hut. give them a freindly wave and realise you are shaking...everywhere.
Cruise to the paddock park and chill.
Compare notes/excuses/lies with your class mates, and vow to try harder, you only have one more chance to better the time, just like everyone else is going to do...
If you are in a good position, pray for rain!

Yeh...you'll take it easy.

Graham

Rob knows where I'm talking about.

 

How many runs in a day?

 

One day meeting:

3 practice in the morning, start at 9.30am
30 mins lunch
2 race runs in the afternoon all strictly in program order, no messing.

Weekend meet:

3 Sat prac runs, one sunday morning, one sun afternoon.

200 cars to each weekender.

One day entry cost: £ 89
W/end: £98

That's it. Not a rush-rush kind of sport!

Laid-back comes to mind.

Try www.hdlcc.com my car club, and Loton is our own hillclimb.

Graham

 

Very nicely put especially about semi circle, you just must give it your full commitment and have faith in your cars capabilities or it will be up and over!!
Great to hear that Geoff got another PB to go with his Gurston one, I do know that the car is capable of a high 37 to low 38 at GD and that’s before Geoff started sorting the suspension so when he has done all that he plans to do I better watch out!!
Oh and can you say hello from Richard the next time you see them both,
Thanks.
ps: Follow the link below
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.brayspeed.co.uk/assets/ri...n%2006%20f.wmv

 

Nice vid, and nice unusual car too! Had a 21 turbo in the mid 80's when new.
Crazy turbo spool iirc?

Will pass your regards to the old madman from Cornwall!
He certainly enjoys it all doesn't he.

wife won't let me do Gurston, but been there to watch.
Love seeing Jonathan Williamson in his 911 hit the hill hard

Graham.

 

My runs involve more of a right foot, swearing, sweating, flapping arms about, smoke and the odd orange cone.

i do know what your talking about though, when i used to watch my dad before i had done it i was full of advise like 'keep your boot in' ' hang onto second longer' 'brake later' 'the apex is earlier'. then i did it and got every one of the above wrong but much, much worse and realised the odd trackday and negotiating a roundabout quite quickly does not make you a driver. To quote fight club "sticking feathers up your *** does not make you a chicken".

it's good fun trying though.

 

Could be a wet Shelsley...

 

you and the rain . Weather report looks sunny at the moment but you could always try singing Graham.

 

I'm off to Golspie this weekend... Warm and Sunny would be my weather of choice, got a class record to beat by at least 2 secs.

---john---

 

2 seconds! Bloody hell, that's a lot....
Faster Rob above will chase me and others over the weekend.
Why don't the quick one play elsewhere!
Hill climbing is an old mans sport don't you know.

mind you, today was something else...

 

Did a corporate track day at the local sprint track to put a bit back into the sport.
Glorious turbo weather, cool and dry.

12 runs, 12 very excited passengers scooting round at 90% ( I was told to...).

I have NEVER driven the car like this before, NEVER.
I was simply hurling the car into the bends, flat-out, and with very little consideration to the car, passenger or me.

I simply cannot express the drive the car gave, i just never knew it could deliver such grip and cope with such changes in direction, even the brakes were stunning!
Simply a revelation, and those AST's...gob smackin'!

however, a distraction, or rather two.

1
A 289 engined 1965 TVR. My ideal car for the rest of my life, sitting there next to the Impreza. a real V8, factory built and ozzzzzing patina and real life muscel, all 380 x 380 engiine and a Hurst shifter etc.
Oh so nice, glad i hadn't my Log Book with me.
School boy dreams are made of this.
2
A run on the trck in a tweeked road spec (modified) Caterham 7.
Never been in one or even sat in one, but Tim Cross offered me a ride to check the setting of the rear roll bar...
What a stunning experience.
So fu!kin fast it hurt. It stopped in 10% of the distance of the Sti and turned in literally as a go kart, all on List 1A tyres too.

I am so impressed, and such a good driver too, unbelievable run.

Then we did another *****-out run.

I cannot express just what a fantastic car this is, and the highlight of the day for me.

What a day. Did those 12 runs @ about 35 seconds a lap and used 1/2 a tank of V max. I think that is 4 miles to half a tank......

Graham

 

It was so good you said it twice..


What was today ??


Doh, you editted, so I better add this so I don't look silly later!

 

Sorry, but it was fab.
The Sprint Championship sponsors were treated to a private day at Curboughor Sprint Track neat Litchfield, literally the home of speed events for about 40+ years.
I was invited to bring the car along to entertain the sponsors for the day along with about 8 other cars giving hot laps on demand.
We did the famous Double Lapper route to add spice to the runs...

Fantastic!
Graham

 

Erm Graham - does this car performance inspire you to go a bit harder when next on the hill, against all these young guns?

Or just get a 1965 V8 TVR !! Or Caterham!!!!

 

My daughter graduates tomorrow, so off the Oxford!
Then Sat at Shelsley Walsh for the last hillclimb for me in 2006, practice day.
Racing against the Young Ones Sun, and then maybe, a V8 TVR!

We will see, but i now know how hard to press the car and survive!

Graham.

 

Paul we should dual drive your car, i'll come in for half the cost and go for some hill records together before the Dialynx Audi gets up to speed .

Graham this will put it in perspective for you, Keith thinks they should enter the new monster A4 in the top 12 run off!