Searching for the perfect Chassis
Sorry Rob, what I should have said was 'get your head out of Graham's **** for 5 minutes'.
You managed to denigrate a whole section of grass roots motorsport in one sentence. More to the point, the people involved, who are every bit as enthusiastic and dedicated as hill climbers.
You managed to denigrate a whole section of grass roots motorsport in one sentence. More to the point, the people involved, who are every bit as enthusiastic and dedicated as hill climbers.
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Last but one hillclimb for me and the car for 2007 at the 'bhp hill' Shelsley Walsh.
Rob has the Zen TA Impreza to play with and it truly is stunning. What a hill climber car in Rob's capable hands.
I dread to think what times he will get tomorrow, but a killer car.
I think it had 2 x my power-to-weight ratio!
My off-the-line efforts: (not too shabby 1.92 secs to cover 64 feet)
View My Video
Comparison of my car and /Rob in the Zen car!
View My Video
View My Video
Everyone at rest, Pete Harriman's so so nice EVO
Rob's/Zen killa TA car
My Sti
Race day tomorrow will be ballistic!
Graham
Rob has the Zen TA Impreza to play with and it truly is stunning. What a hill climber car in Rob's capable hands.
I dread to think what times he will get tomorrow, but a killer car.
I think it had 2 x my power-to-weight ratio!
My off-the-line efforts: (not too shabby 1.92 secs to cover 64 feet)
View My Video
Comparison of my car and /Rob in the Zen car!
View My Video
View My Video
Everyone at rest, Pete Harriman's so so nice EVO
Rob's/Zen killa TA car
My Sti
Race day tomorrow will be ballistic!
Graham
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Rob popped the car into the hallowed '29's' to join a very exclusive Under 30's Club'
Finishing line speed 119 mph (mine was 91)
Best start was about 1.82 iirc
600 bhp/tonne is amazing to see.
Friggin fast.
Finishing line speed 119 mph (mine was 91)
Best start was about 1.82 iirc
600 bhp/tonne is amazing to see.
Friggin fast.
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Good solid day of hillclimbing in glorious sunshine at Shelsley Walsh, topped off with a visit from a Spitfire cutting and looping over the trees, just what a sight and sound.
Took a pb on my second run of 32.34 I think with another hard 1.91 start.
There was only 3 in the class in the end instead of about 8 so no points for me I think.
Rob came first in the 700bhp/tonne Zen car Pete in the EVO and me.
Shame Rob didn't take the class record but was certainly close. The damage incurred yesterday was deeper than first thought so it was an overnight job over at Zen to get it all together.
A very nice weekend of true hillclimbing with a few mechanical spills, but my Sti did well for me.
On hols in a few days so time to ponder the 2008 season and just what to do, but I think my mind is made up now.
Some short vids from today were taken, but are much as yesterday so won't bother you.
A small view of our corner in the paddock:
The Zen car is quite inspirational tbh, and although beyond my budget, a big engined light weight racer is the way to go.
A big thanks to them for bringing it to the event form me!
Took a pb on my second run of 32.34 I think with another hard 1.91 start.
There was only 3 in the class in the end instead of about 8 so no points for me I think.
Rob came first in the 700bhp/tonne Zen car Pete in the EVO and me.
Shame Rob didn't take the class record but was certainly close. The damage incurred yesterday was deeper than first thought so it was an overnight job over at Zen to get it all together.
A very nice weekend of true hillclimbing with a few mechanical spills, but my Sti did well for me.
On hols in a few days so time to ponder the 2008 season and just what to do, but I think my mind is made up now.
Some short vids from today were taken, but are much as yesterday so won't bother you.
A small view of our corner in the paddock:
The Zen car is quite inspirational tbh, and although beyond my budget, a big engined light weight racer is the way to go.
A big thanks to them for bringing it to the event form me!
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Cheers,
Rob.
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Last edited by 911; Sep 9, 2007 at 08:55 PM.
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Who / what got damaged, and how bad was it? Looks like they all went well on the day.
Took a pb on my second run of 32.34 I think with another hard 1.91 start.
There was only 3 in the class in the end instead of about 8 so no points for me I think.
Rob came first in the 700bhp/tonne Zen car Pete in the EVO and me.
Shame Rob didn't take the class record but was certainly close. The damage incurred yesterday was deeper than first thought so it was an overnight job over at Zen to get it all together.
The Zen car is quite inspirational tbh, and although beyond my budget, a big engined light weight racer is the way to go.
A big thanks to them for bringing it to the event form me!
Took a pb on my second run of 32.34 I think with another hard 1.91 start.
There was only 3 in the class in the end instead of about 8 so no points for me I think.
Rob came first in the 700bhp/tonne Zen car Pete in the EVO and me.
Shame Rob didn't take the class record but was certainly close. The damage incurred yesterday was deeper than first thought so it was an overnight job over at Zen to get it all together.
The Zen car is quite inspirational tbh, and although beyond my budget, a big engined light weight racer is the way to go.
A big thanks to them for bringing it to the event form me!
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Rob clipped a bank at quite a speed and pushed the FMIC into the rad, into the oil line into the turbo cracking/bending a few bits and bob's.
Went like stink today, but; to be fair I think we all did in the class.
Went like stink today, but; to be fair I think we all did in the class.
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Last but one hillclimb tomorrow at Loton, and the last one of 2007 in a few weeks time.
Just back off 2 weeks hols and finally settled as to what to do for the future in hillclimbing for 2008/9.
Hope to start a new thread on it all as this one has certainly run for a while now!
Time to give the Sti a hard run for the last 2 events and then clear the garage out!
Just back off 2 weeks hols and finally settled as to what to do for the future in hillclimbing for 2008/9.
Hope to start a new thread on it all as this one has certainly run for a while now!
Time to give the Sti a hard run for the last 2 events and then clear the garage out!
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Thanks!
Ran a PB today and the car went really well with a good steady time improvement on every run.
Took a few 1/10's of my previous best and drove 'as if on rails' again ie boring.
I have 2 plans for the 2008/9 years, one is with the Impreza (I have refused several offers now, so must still like it a bit) and the second is to move dramatically away from the whole Impreza thing, but the first is the most likely.
I'm sure those reading this will also follow Rob's startling hillclimb year account, and the 'norm' at the top will be a minimum of 500 bhp/tonne.
My Sti is currently 360 bhp/1.25 or 290 ish/tonne.
This shows what is needed JUST TO KEEP UP!
Takes some thinking about if you are on a diet of a budget like me.
The ZEN TA car Rob drove is for sale @ £30K, but I think such a car is beyond my skills/bravery so '500/1000Kg' seems a good target to me. I might even survive such a task, but over 2008 so as to spread the cost.
This means running the trusty 911 next year in the same class as Rob's Dad, so would always be last in class, but could be a very cost effective year for me and allow the Impreza to be gutted to the very bare bones.
But can I still keep it road legal?
Ran a PB today and the car went really well with a good steady time improvement on every run.
Took a few 1/10's of my previous best and drove 'as if on rails' again ie boring.
I have 2 plans for the 2008/9 years, one is with the Impreza (I have refused several offers now, so must still like it a bit) and the second is to move dramatically away from the whole Impreza thing, but the first is the most likely.
I'm sure those reading this will also follow Rob's startling hillclimb year account, and the 'norm' at the top will be a minimum of 500 bhp/tonne.
My Sti is currently 360 bhp/1.25 or 290 ish/tonne.
This shows what is needed JUST TO KEEP UP!
Takes some thinking about if you are on a diet of a budget like me.
The ZEN TA car Rob drove is for sale @ £30K, but I think such a car is beyond my skills/bravery so '500/1000Kg' seems a good target to me. I might even survive such a task, but over 2008 so as to spread the cost.
This means running the trusty 911 next year in the same class as Rob's Dad, so would always be last in class, but could be a very cost effective year for me and allow the Impreza to be gutted to the very bare bones.
But can I still keep it road legal?
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1000kgs is quite some target mate I had my car on the weigh bridge recently and it was 1160 with 1/2 tank and you know yourself I have hardly anything left in my car, my target for the winter is to get sub 1100 but i think even that is a very tall order. I think John Stevenson has got his down to 1040 so his might be a brain to pick for major impreza diets.
Pick up a 25kg bag of plaster then think you need to get 10 of those out!
Pick up a 25kg bag of plaster then think you need to get 10 of those out!
Last edited by rob4620; Sep 30, 2007 at 09:45 PM.
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I am very happy to see you attacking this now. And although I have put £££ into my car, I think you have seen that a combination of engineering skill and cunning can work just as well as money!
Some areas are easy to trim off weight, but others are sometimes a compromise (ie bigger brakes or less weight?).
Under 1100kg is light for an impreza, make no mistake.
Weight, suspension, brakes.
By the way, I know of at least one 600hp/tonne impreza in your class next year.
Paul
Some areas are easy to trim off weight, but others are sometimes a compromise (ie bigger brakes or less weight?).
Under 1100kg is light for an impreza, make no mistake.
Weight, suspension, brakes.
By the way, I know of at least one 600hp/tonne impreza in your class next year.
Paul
Thanks!
Ran a PB today and the car went really well with a good steady time improvement on every run.
Took a few 1/10's of my previous best and drove 'as if on rails' again ie boring.
I have 2 plans for the 2008/9 years, one is with the Impreza (I have refused several offers now, so must still like it a bit) and the second is to move dramatically away from the whole Impreza thing, but the first is the most likely.
I'm sure those reading this will also follow Rob's startling hillclimb year account, and the 'norm' at the top will be a minimum of 500 bhp/tonne.
My Sti is currently 360 bhp/1.25 or 290 ish/tonne.
This shows what is needed JUST TO KEEP UP!
Takes some thinking about if you are on a diet of a budget like me.
The ZEN TA car Rob drove is for sale @ £30K, but I think such a car is beyond my skills/bravery so '500/1000Kg' seems a good target to me. I might even survive such a task, but over 2008 so as to spread the cost.
This means running the trusty 911 next year in the same class as Rob's Dad, so would always be last in class, but could be a very cost effective year for me and allow the Impreza to be gutted to the very bare bones.
But can I still keep it road legal?
Ran a PB today and the car went really well with a good steady time improvement on every run.
Took a few 1/10's of my previous best and drove 'as if on rails' again ie boring.
I have 2 plans for the 2008/9 years, one is with the Impreza (I have refused several offers now, so must still like it a bit) and the second is to move dramatically away from the whole Impreza thing, but the first is the most likely.
I'm sure those reading this will also follow Rob's startling hillclimb year account, and the 'norm' at the top will be a minimum of 500 bhp/tonne.
My Sti is currently 360 bhp/1.25 or 290 ish/tonne.
This shows what is needed JUST TO KEEP UP!
Takes some thinking about if you are on a diet of a budget like me.
The ZEN TA car Rob drove is for sale @ £30K, but I think such a car is beyond my skills/bravery so '500/1000Kg' seems a good target to me. I might even survive such a task, but over 2008 so as to spread the cost.
This means running the trusty 911 next year in the same class as Rob's Dad, so would always be last in class, but could be a very cost effective year for me and allow the Impreza to be gutted to the very bare bones.
But can I still keep it road legal?
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Thanks Paul.
I think that was why I was so keen to see the blue Zen car at a hill I know well, especially one I was 'racing' at, so to draw the comparison.
I'm sure the Brother's car will be fab with your skils and theirs as a combination, and I can watch from the C2 comfort zone trying to keep the gap to Harriman Senior down to sub 10 seconds in the 911.
Keeping road legal just might have to go though....
I have 18 months to do it in so it can be kept affordable and as simple as possible.
I think that was why I was so keen to see the blue Zen car at a hill I know well, especially one I was 'racing' at, so to draw the comparison.
I'm sure the Brother's car will be fab with your skils and theirs as a combination, and I can watch from the C2 comfort zone trying to keep the gap to Harriman Senior down to sub 10 seconds in the 911.
Keeping road legal just might have to go though....
I have 18 months to do it in so it can be kept affordable and as simple as possible.
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From: 7.74 @179 mph 1/4 mile - road legal
Looks like the competition in this class is pretty hot and getting hotter !
I had a certain EVO driver enquiring on Sunday at Shakespeare raceway about buying my car in hillclimb specification.......... I'm tempted.
Andy
I had a certain EVO driver enquiring on Sunday at Shakespeare raceway about buying my car in hillclimb specification.......... I'm tempted.
Andy
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Noooo!
You don't want to do that at all....
The class is going crazy but will calm down in 2009 I suspect when some find 600 bhp/tonne not good enough let alone your giggazillion bhp/tonne blue streak.
Seems though that the Impreza is the weapon of choice, and the only cars in our class to stay in one piece meeting after meeting for several years now.
Everyone else has broken in some way or other.
You don't want to do that at all....
The class is going crazy but will calm down in 2009 I suspect when some find 600 bhp/tonne not good enough let alone your giggazillion bhp/tonne blue streak.
Seems though that the Impreza is the weapon of choice, and the only cars in our class to stay in one piece meeting after meeting for several years now.
Everyone else has broken in some way or other.
Go on Graham, there's your way forward for next year .. Buy Andys car!
Must be cheap, as there is nothing inside it! ;-) and if he makes it hillclimb class legal for you ... bargain!
and STILL top mount intercooler!!
Must be cheap, as there is nothing inside it! ;-) and if he makes it hillclimb class legal for you ... bargain!
and STILL top mount intercooler!!
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The sight of Zen's car tearing up the tarmac was too much in Rob's hands, and the thought of his little bro Pete in the Forrest Performance hot rod stripping even more tarmac off is just silly.
I can't afford to get it from Scotland to Wolverhampton let alone buy the thing, and can you image bargaining with a Scotsman?!
It is about time some took responsibility for this hillclimb class and capped the bhp to 300 bhp and a big block of wood under the accellerator pedal!
But that would double the weight of Andy's fab car....and make it more valuable.
For sure, it is better to buy one done rather than do one from scratch, but what a fab car to buy! 700bhp/tonne, and a steal at £50.
2008 will be one hell of a year in 'Modified Production Cars over 2000 cc'
Stand well back.
I can't afford to get it from Scotland to Wolverhampton let alone buy the thing, and can you image bargaining with a Scotsman?!
It is about time some took responsibility for this hillclimb class and capped the bhp to 300 bhp and a big block of wood under the accellerator pedal!
But that would double the weight of Andy's fab car....and make it more valuable.
For sure, it is better to buy one done rather than do one from scratch, but what a fab car to buy! 700bhp/tonne, and a steal at £50.
2008 will be one hell of a year in 'Modified Production Cars over 2000 cc'
Stand well back.
