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So got an article published from RoR 2019 in a work magazine 'The Craftsman' which I was happy with, obviously I supplied the pictures so got my car in it.
There were 6 race meets (cancelled now due to Covid 19) and each meet has 2 x 18 min ute races. Its run along with 750MC and along the lines of their clubsport championships, the idea is to progress to Road sports (45 mins) and the Club Enduro (3 hours)
Theres all sorts of cars entered and looks to be a good championship. I chose this as its relatively short races, my car was allowed to enter and theres chance for paid drives as you progress. Theres 4 categories based on BHP per tonne D 150, C 200, B 240, and A300. As a novice I'm not allowed in group A. My car is just in group B being 300bhp and around 1300kg ready to race, this includes the driver in this chamionship.
There are also consistency points, which means you can win without coming first, basically how close your are to your qualifying time each lap. There is also the 'winner' on the road too. Looking way back when at my Time Attack times, I always managed to be consistent I think.
So a selcetion process took place as Abingdon, where the heavens opened, still not wets, stayed on the Nangkang NS-2Rs but they aquaplaned like mad (as do all semi slicks), but just took it steady. It was part of a normal track day, some quick cars there. I did have some hesitation under power, which I'll cover later.
The selection laps were in a Peugeot 206 which was suprisingly quick, but took a be of getting used compared to my Impreza.
Bloody hell dont get on here much these days just seen this good to see you still have the car Dill and using it
Hi Gussy, I've not been on for a while as the car was mothballed but couldn't bring myself to sell it.
I will hopefully how everyone what I've been up to and planning.
So was selected for the Army squad which I was happy with, so we basically race for team points against the Navy/Royal Marines and the RAF.
The race organiser then got me an invite to a Lotus track day, it was open to any of the Forces novices. So off I went to North Weald airfield circuit in Essex. The Lotus organiser couldn't believe I'd made the trek from Salisbury, he was only expecting locals.
It was a great day, usually only reserved for 2 seaters. Lotus Elise, Evoras, Caterhams etc. It started with a 'How fast can you go round a left hander' apparantly 120mph is the record, most of us were doing about 70-80 on the 3rd go, it was slippery and tyres were cold. I was back to my Toyo R888 from 2010.
After the cornering exercise there were 2 tracks, a short 'oval' (think of a UK circuit squeezed into a 400m running track), and a handling loop with slalom cones, a straight, 180' island back and stop in a gate. The Caterams were quick and times tumbled, down to 42 seconds, I managed a 40 second, which they were quite surprised with. Then the times came down further, I think an Evora and 420R Caterham were quickest, then I posted a 37 second which they (and I) were all surprised a relatively heavy car could compete with the nimbler 2 seaters.
After lunch (kindly bought by Paul the organiser) there was a 'cat and mouse' race with 2 cars at time on circuit opposite each other, 3 laps to see how close you could come. Drew up against the Evora, I got a good start but span almost immediately, after that though I improved, even managing to catch some of the cars in 3 laps. Tyre pressures 40PSI near side, 30PSI offside. It was a tight circuit and almost impossible to get heat on the inside tyres.
Great to be able to push and slide the car on the limits without upsetting marshalls.
So back to the hesitation under load. The car didn't see much use for a while and the servicing also halted.
I did get the plugs changed, and also replace the external fuel filter, quite a bit of gunk in the old one. Was a bit concernec that they didn't look the same but apparently they change manufacturing plants some times.
The rough running was on wet tracks, I've noticed that the air filter is quite exposed and I'd imagine water coming in via the wing from the what the wheels pick up.
There are probably better solutions, but for now I made this patch out of mud flap material. I also used this to go on the floor where I relocated the battery to behind passenger seat. According to an online calculator corner weighting could be worse now, that's something I need to get checked.
The downside of this is there is currently no cold feed to the air filter, so thinking of either routing and cutting through inner arch parallel to the floor, or could potentially elongate the pipe run from the turbo and relocate the filter to the inner wing in front of the wheel.
Need to consider tow strap locations, these OEM ones are clearly fine, but for race use there needs to be a 60mm aperture out front (ideally 2) that they put a bar through attached on the tow truck.
There are holes that I could use on the chassis rails but would need cutting through the bumper. I currently considering either bolting the TRS straps via plates to these tow eyes and then securing with ty raps und the bumper to pull out when needed, or using climbing snap/screw gate karabiners to attach through the OEM tow hoops.
I checked the pads and discs all round, plenty of meat on the pads, some small fissures appearing on the front discs and checking sizes to order replacement parts. Rears are still the later OEM 2 pot caliper but running Pagid orange 4-4 pads. Up front is the Stop Tech kit, usually running Pagid Blue 4-2 (I think) but still have the experimental Dixcel pads, seem to work just as well as the Pagid Blues. There appears to be much cheaper pads out there but dubious to the life and performance of them.
I got a last minute invite to a track day before the weekend so this Monday it was up to Castle Combe for the day. Socially distanced due to current rulings, online checks etc. There were only 25 cars booked on so there was lots of space on track and a good day to gather some data and a shakedown for the car.
Did the 3 sighting laps on the Rainsports, even at 50mph couldn't believe how much the pressure altered in the tyres, so useful info for racing.
Some nice Lotus Elise, Caterhams and Porshe cars, some quick drivers to try and follow too. Excellent track etiquette.
Did over 150 miles on track which is 80+ laps. Gauging myself against cars of similar Bhp/ton everything seemed OK with out pushing too much, plenty more to come from some more tuition and braking later. Brake pedal was sometimes a little soft so a bleed required there.
Semi slick Toyo R888 tyres (now 10 years old) don't seem to be as hot as I remember, falthough this is just surface temp as I don't have a probe yet. Still theres not the 'pick up' I used to get when they got sticky, they have the consistency of 100 grit sand paper. Time for some new ones. Looking at either R888R, Nangkang AR-1 or MRF ZTR, although pricing may rule out the MRFs.
Slight leak (mist) from the power steering, which after I got home later looks to be cap tabs snapping which caused it.
PS was making some noises after 6-7 laps and have been advised to get a cooler, so currently looking to get a 7 row one and some piping to replace the front solid 'U' pipe.
What tyre pressures are you running when you use regular tyres on track, compared with recommend pressures for the road?
So for the Rainsports I planned to use standard road pressures, I've heard of pumping to a higher pressure to stiffen sidewalks. So aiming for 32 'hot' these were set to 30 cold expecting a slight increase as the sighting laps were only to be 50mph max. Even at low speed they went to 38psi. Thinking about it I should have bought these from somewhere that shaves tyres, they were on offer due to ebay discounts at the time.
Theres 2 trains of thought set high and bleed on a pit, or set low for them to come up. On a full wet track I wouldn't expect to get much heat into them, but the 7mm tread is going to move a lot which explains the lack of feel.
Last edited by Dill_typeR; 02 July 2020 at 01:24 PM.
Reason: Depth
Also of note, Back box is starting to fail. Its corroded and the perforated pipe is brittle and dislodged. Hayward & Scott wont honour the warranty as it's used in track. Read the small print now but I think I performance part for a performance car should be able to cope with a track day. Trying to see if I can get someone to repair it. Will need opening up, replace perforated pipe, may as well replace the wadding, then TIG weld back up.
So loaded up and off on the long drive up to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire. A track I’ve visited on many bank holidays to watch the British Superbikes but only ever one 15 min session and a track evening back in 2008 I think.
Car unloaded and a few last jobs to do, decals, air ducting as well as fluids and wheel nuts. Other members started to arrive so helped them with prep then a BBQ for tea. Not much sleep due to the cold, literally freezing, rudely awakened, not by the dustman but a generator…at sparrowsfart!
Breakfast eggs cooked and vintage brew, transponder fitted, almost ready for qualifying, but a quick trip to do some organic lightening of the driver. So 9am and we’re on quali, trying to get heat in the tyres with some heavy braking, finding the line, but not feeling like the car is hooked up.
So building up, not really having the confidence to push on at this point, then I started to slide at Charlies wondering what I’d done to induce it, then in front of me on the exit was Paul Roddison in the green Mazda 2 parked on the rumble strip. Fluid was down, another lap round and the slippery surface flags were out. End of session and the best I could manage was a 1.54.14. That put me 25/31 in that session 6th out of 7 in class and near the back of the grid.
Back to the paddock and a check of fluids, wheels, tyres are OK and race 1 seems to creep up quick. Out through assembly area and onto the grid. I was surprised how close the cars are placed. Green flag lap away and lots of heavy braking to get heat in the tyres, then back round to form up on the grid. I went exactly where the marshall indicated which was directly behind the car in front. I was behind the BMW 116 of Jimmy Broadbent #87. Because of the rear wing and where I was on the grid I could not see the gantry lights, lesson learned. So as soon as his car moved was my cue to go.
An average start, I came up between Alex Rivett in his red MX5 and Paul Roddison in the green Mazda 2, not wanting to be a hero and scrape though I backed off to go through Coppice. 1st lap through unscathed, 2nd lap and coming out of Charlies the black Civic Type R of Blair Thomson #23 was sliding in front of me. He was veering towards the infield so I slowed a little and steered to miss, his car then regained grip and went completely the opposite way to the outside of the circuit, I slowed more, jinked to the right and passed without contact. 5p 50p right there!
Throughout the race there were a couple of retirements, Sy Skerton #53 in his R53 Mini suffered a drive shaft issue and was parked on the Gooseneck so the yellow flags were out, took a while to close up to the pack. Eventually obstruction cleared, green flag and racing underway again. I made steady progression. Best lap was a 1:48.17 on lap 11 the last lap. I finished 13th out of 24 finishers and 3rd in class B.
I was extremely pleased with the steady progress and the car behaved well. Great through the tighter turns, a bit vague at speed. Back to the paddock, brew on, light lunch in between assisting Sy Skerton and team with trying to fix the damage to his drive train. Alex Rivett gave some welcome advice on where I could improve which I gladly listened to. Car checked over and round to assembly earlier this time due to the silence to show respect for HRH Prince Philip.
Lined up for race 2 I was behind the blue Civic Type R of Oliver Barsby #10. I got a much better start this time, but Blair Thomson in the black Civic Type R was flying, straight to the inside on Coppice. There was some amusing footage and commentary from Alex Rivett in the Mazda. I managed to pass 2 cars then was behind #10 going through to Charlies, a slight lapse and I was wide on the marbles, then onto Park Straight where I was able to pass #10 coming up behind Blair in the Civic who had just passed Rivett #113. I closed up through the Gooseneck and out of Mansfield. I was able to get the power down early and split #113 who was on my right and a slowing kit car on the left. Now behind Thomson #23 showing my intent up to Hall Bends but not enough to get past cleanly, I followed closely for a lap then Thomson going wide up the mountain so I was able to pass into Hall Bends this time. All the time I am being chased by Barsby #10 who was much quicker round a lot of the circuit, I was able to gap in places but he quickly caught up again.
I was getting pad ‘knock off’ I assume from running the kerbs so I was having to pump the brakes before they were needed in order for good pedal feel. Making steady progress, a fluffed gear change from 5th to 4th at Park didn’t sound nice.
The Toyo R888Rs were working well, passed a kit car just before Barn then I could see 2 cars battling in the distance. I was able to catch up over a lap or so to #9 Tim Hartland in a red Golf Mk2 GTI chasing #37 Mike Wells in a black/green MR2 Mk3 Roadster. Both going well, the Golf drifting the corners, a mistake through the Gooseneck meant I was able to get behind then get past #9 after Mansfield, I then followed #37 and next lap round a lock up from Wells at Mansfield meant I could get a tighter line and pass before the Mountain. Over the Mountain and past #87 BMW 116 I could then see the white Mini of Keith Attwood #3. I gradually caught up and tried going up the inside at the approach to Hall Bends, I didn’t quite get the overlap, but then got a good exit from Barn and passed just in time for the chequered flag. Phew.
Glad to get through both races, car intact and able to drive on trailer at the end, my initial aims complete. Plenty more to come from me with some driver training. Thank you to everyone who has supported me. Looking forward to the next round at Anglesey. TRS Motorsport Lifeline Fire & Safety Systems USA Motorsport Events Ltd FB Tuning Amesbury's Motor Garage HEL Performance Think Automotive LtdA-S-Performance Toyo Tyres Australia Opie Oils 750 Motor Club Lotus on Track Classic Sports Car Club
22 June 2020, 09:23 PM
