911

Golden rule is that each marshal post must be able to see the post before and after them.
I think Harewood is the longest hillclimb them Loton but there are several claims to fame!

Well done Rob.
That is a killer start esp at Curb where the line is skinned with road tyres of all sorts.
Think that shows that Impreza boxes are stronger than most think/say?

Keep at it Pete, drive it more rather than spend more, or get a Sponsor!

Graham.
Who else was there? Presumably not Roy?

John Stevenson

8 weeks away and you're deciding where to put marshals posts ? I assume you don't have a track licence in place yet then ? Seems to be cutting a bit fine !! Really good to hear a club is going to the effort of bringing on a new venue, well done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

---john---

911

I think he has the License, but not sure if you can do that without a plan of the track and a physical inspection .

Brit_in_Japan

It could be a bit fraught, but we're hoping not. One inspection has been done and we think we know what's expected, but trying to get the MSA inspector to come back to do the follow up inspection is like trying to nail jelly to the wall. He's given us the impression that we just need to continue full speed with the preps, send him diagrams/photos and he'll be along shortly to (hopefully) give us the OK. So long as he comes to inspect it more than 24 hours in advance, we'll be running ! Where there's a will......

I will soon be putting out a call for help from experienced track/hill climb marshals. So I would appreciate it if any of the hill climb regulars could help to circulate it to marshals at their clubs.

Cheers!

rob4620

My first weekend on the new rubber and all I can say is wow. I have grip, bucket loads of it, more than I know what to do with. Also the taller profile has stretched the gearing to a much more useful level than on the the kuhmos and my God does it go, 107mph across the line thats 8mph up on last year and in amongst the radicals etc!

The grip highlights how great the car handles now on the new suspension and with some more at venue tweaking I managed to make it behave the best way to suit the track and as a result go quicker.

On the new rubber the engines full potential is realised and I can finaly launch, started off easy progressive but still around the 2.02 mark then on my final run gave it some stick and hit a 1.87, a pb 64ft time and a curb' of all places where there is no grip. I chose not to spin up and warm the tyres and I didnt seem to need to, I'm not sure if I even could break traction and it didn't matter one bit so no need to put the strain on the clutch engine and tranmission, just roll up and launch.

Posted progressive PB's all morning then did a 33.34 on my first competetive run which I was over the moon with and took the pressure off a bit for the final run where I really pushed and was flying made it to the finish straight into 3rd gear boost through the roof then nothing sat at 0.9 bar, change to 4th boost through the roof then again nothing back to and held 0.9 bar; so frustrating and I still managed a 33.33 with half boost down the whole finish straight so a stupidly quick time was on the cards had I crossed at 107mph again rather than being forced to cruise down the straight to a sub 100 crossing speed.

The car slightly over-boosted but just enough to clip the boost max limit causing the e-boost2 controller to cut in and protect the engine by limiting it to 0.9bar, it's the first times it's happened and what perfect timing, just my luck, a few setting tweeks and it will all be sorted.

My old Kuhmos were absolutley trashed the tread had slipped in one piece off the casing and was overhanging on the inside 10mm. They served me well but definatley went 'off' as the tread got really low and were half the tyre they were when brand new.

Pete drove well and would have been deeper into the 33's if he just knew how to change gear , he still beat his pb by some margin but he seems to have inhereted my un-launchable car problem getting sucky launches all day. Whilst he it more than happy with his slicks the difference in compound between my hill-climb Avon's and his soft curcuit Dunlops is quite noticeable and has seen my car take a bit of a leap ahead in the fast stakes along with the big power to weight ratio advantage I have and can now make full use of, which is a shame because our battles of mere 100ths of seconds every time were great fun and good for people to watch as well and the difference in power and grip meant at curb' it was a bit of a one sided battle. However curb' is one track and a crap one at that and who knows what will happen at Prescott or what Pete will do next to get his Evo up to speed, we shall see.

Some pics, and I will post an in car video when I get a chance to up load it.

The new Zen sponsored exe-tc suspension which is an engineering work of art, and makes you go faster!

One set of very dead Kuhmos


Replaced with these, they stick like s**t to a blanket!


Rob.

911

Well done Rob, you will blitz the class this year I'm sure.

2nd pic of the Kumho: Is that the inside side wall? If so it looks like it's been rubbing the suspension?

Hope Pete gets back on form.
I had a set of those slicks 3 years ago on the P1 wheels I bought very secondhand and used them once on the Sti at Shelsley of all places, utter cr@p and shattered the stock clutch.

I think the EVO is ready for them, just a bit of time.

Looks like we are all at Prescott and i'm in with a chance...for 5th!

Looking at my new geometry, I will be hoping for some good times, especially with the diff out soon.

Good to see you are so pleased with your investment in time and $$$, I think you are one of the few who are!

Graham.

pete26

Graham at top form i cant make up time like that down the straight and off the line my car is to heavy! Im running 419bhp (318bhp atw) and 434lbft and my car weighs 1340kg's then add me! rob is running 423bhp dont know torque but around 345bhp atw and the car weighs nearly 150kg's less plus rob is the size of my thumb and can drive a bit, his car just bloody flys down the straights! It also handles as well if not better than mine with more grip. Paul has really done a good job!

Im not saying my car is bad, i love it! its amazing but all these tweeks to suspension and tyre presures and cambers means **** all when you could just bolt a **** off turbo on it and open the taps down the straight! But then it becomes a money spending competition not a race. Just a shame because as Rob said we had some real ding dong battles.

Lets see what prescott brings, launch control I think!

911

The numbers are interesting.
Had a chat with David at API today who has had a good drive of theSti on the road to check the diff at the front before it comes out.
He recons its a good 'un and ok! I think his rally past is still with him and he is happy with it.
It will have to come out for me.
More interestingly, he felt the car very docile and not giving the impression of 380 (Powerstation RR 2 years back) bhp.
He drives a lot of 350 to 450 bhp Impreza's and he should be well able to judge.
If he is correct, then mybe I'm down to 350 or so at the flywheel.

This could well explain why the car is not the improvement i thought it should be?

What to do?

I cannot justify spending $$ on a steel engine as Rob has, so i must make do with the car as it is.
This can become stupidly obsessive, and to be honest a bit over the top.

I'll give chase to you and Rob and the other 2 and try to keep close!

Can't help but feel there is more to find in the chassis and the 3 way AST's, so trying to book Curb (!) for a test morning to try different things with freedom.
I hope the engine is ok, and it is just the smooth 20g that is 'fooling' David's senses.
PowerStation have eased the spring rates (softer) so have to start all over again on the settings!
Need to develop the car a bit more using 'free' ideas and trial and error.

Will be interesting to see if Roy and Rob can close in on the V8 on the twisty Prescott.

Graham.

ps: make Rob eat pies.

pete26

Nah im just going to climb in his boot before his run!

rob4620

Graham, the picture is of the inside wall and all 4 tyres were the same, the whole tread surface had kind of shifted inwards towards the car in one neat piece about 10mm and had just torn free of the inside tyre wall and was over hanging inwards in the process, I'm pretty sure it's not scraping the suspension but as ever with my limited knowledge of cars cannot rule it out. The tyres are no wider than standard and the offset of the wheels moved the tyres away from the body of the car so I would be surprised.

For how fast the car is I have spent very little money in the grand scheme of things, I have been very lucky with Paul of Zen doing me a great deal but I bet most Imprezas out there that are as powerful as mine have spent at least twice what I have to get there.

With the ammount of junk I have eaten so far this season in only 3 meetings by August I should be 40 stone so no pies required, although I would not say no...

rob4620

Roy was there but again his car gave up, he finished the first practice run but it just kept blowing fuses until he had none left, we had to give him a push bump start so he could get back to his trailer.

He thinks he has found the problem though, something to do with his starter motor.

rob4620

An in car video of my first competetive run a 2.02 start, 107mph crossing speed and 33.34 time. I wish I had the camera going for my final run where I really pushed it and drove 'into' the slicks properly but I had it in my dad's car, a video of which I will post up here later and is not for the faint of heart!

MySpace Videos: My Impreza RA @ Curborough Sprint by rob

RESSE

iTrader: (1)

The Brecon Motor Club are organising a new hillclimb on June 17th at Epynt in Mid Wales. The course is 1650 metres long.

Entry forms are available from martin@leonard77.fsnet.co.uk or Martin.Leonard@BreconMotorClub.co.uk or by phoning 07766991803.

Further details will be available shortly at Brecon Motor Club

HSA members are invited so if you fancy something different to MIRA on June 16th?

Richard

Brit_in_Japan

Oi, I was supposed to say that! Something will be posted on our Brecon Motor Club website very soon.

rob4620

Got to do mira as it is part of the sprint champs, keep us informed of any future events.

911

I can do this!
It is between two major hillclimbs, but will take a look.
If Rob is not going to be there then I might have a bit of a chance to do well!
Just emailed for some regs.
Graham.

GeoffT

It also clashes with a major hillclimb------ come to Doune Graham and take on John! regards Geoff
ps he was mighty in the wet last weekend

911

Read that elsewhere Geoff, a bit of a legend and all that with a bent corner.
Got those Kumho's yet for Prescott?
The way Rob is going there will be a huge gap in the class very very soon.
I'll be lucky to take a point home from Prescott!

Graham.

Brit_in_Japan

If anyone wants regs and an entry form for the Epynt Hillclimb, you can also PM me

911

Just looked at the regs.
I presume road going is list 1A tyres, and modified is upto Slicks?

Looks fast...

When is the closing date?

Graham

ZEN Performance

Don't put yourself down Graham. You were very competitve at Loton on your first time on the slicks, and I am sure with the open diff that you'll be quicker again.

rob4620

Theres no telling him Paul, he is dead last at every event as far as he is concerned pre runs, then pulls out fast times and comes 3rd. The only person who has written Graham off this season is Graham, isn't that right Graham .

Brit_in_Japan

As it's not a championship event we aren't constrained by tyres. But in the spirit of the classes concerned then yes, we would expect road going classes to use 1A tyres and anything else it's pretty much free!

I think it will be quick! The chicanes will be the slowest parts and need to be pretty tight otherwise excessive speed will be carried up onto the big straight. Even so I'm expecting the mod prods among you to be pulling a ton+ before braking for the last corner, a hairpin! What were you saying about brakes?

911

Actually looks and sounds good.
Having brakes just encourages you to go faster...
I'll try to get Dave Parr along in his Cossie too and a few others that don't do MIRA.
There is a posative alterior (sp) motive in this!

Rob/Paul:
I know my place!
Besides, trophies always need dusting!

The lighter side is tempting me again...the 911.

Graham.

ZEN Performance

If you're trying to come 3rd you'll never win.

911

I will always try hard when it really counts.
Sometimes I get 1st, 2nd and if the class is big enough 3rd.

As the years go by (I've 'raced' for 14 years now) the competition gets much harder, and the cars much faster.
There comes a time when the raw 'I've gotta win' slips to the background esp at 55 years!
I'm old enough to be your father prob, and certainly Rob's!
10 years ago my attitude was just like Rob's and yours, but the car was a 230 bhp 911 on list 1A's.
I cut Loton Park in 62's and got trophies.

My nerve is not like Rob's now so I know my place is to squeeze PB's as much as I can.

This might catch Rob and Pete on the odd occasion (like at Loton).

I certainly hope you are right about the effect of that diff coming out, and I don't like others spannering my cars, but it is relaxing to have someone else take the strain at API.

Prescott is very hard to run fast and will bite back (as Rob's dad knows) but i think Rob has gone faster there than I and at Shelsley too.

We will see later.

Must admit it is hard to have been the fastest Impreza over the last 4 years then to be beaten!

Graham.

S.P.Developments

The bottom line Graham, is you have set the bench mark, so the end of the season will speak volumes for your efforts, each new competitor has had to spend £££££££££`s to get in front of you, so keep up the good work, with out you there is no inovation.....

Ps, the 911 is so sweet it should see the the light of day again, (Historics may be), take a look at the link below..

John


Brecon Motor Club

911

Yes, it looks good doesn't it John?
Might be a bit speedy for me (and my stock brakes) but fun nevertheless.
Even the wife seems keen!
Other good bit is no tress too close by.

I think I will enter and see how we go on slicks.
See you at Prescott John?

Graham.

rob4620

I think Graham has spent some £'s to get infront in the first place don't you?

This is not a cheap sport and there is a level of spend required to give yourself a chance to compete. All you can do is spend your £'s as smartly as possible and Graham has helped me from day 1 with advice on what does and doesn't work in hill climbing, you can lose thousands of pounds into your car and go no faster whatsoever, the key is to spend on a £'s per seconds ratio, if it won't make you go faster it's not worth it, if it costs thousands and makes you a 100th quicker it's not worth it.

Like I said above it's the smart £'s that go quicker not the big ££££££'s.

911

The first resource you need for (any) motorsport is money.
If you have little time, you need more money!

Over the last few years I've had to guestimate my way forward with the car and have made several big mistakes on the way that have cost £ and time (and enthusiasm).
The last winter with the car is proof of this.

today, i would do the Impreza hillclimber a very different way.

My major drawback is I want to do as much as possible myself, so I do not touch base with many specialists to guide me!

Such is life.

Graham.