andy hs

Pete

I was impressed with your cars performance at Brands on friday, lapping on average 1min 5sec.
What modifications have you done to the car in the engine dept.

Andy.

DocJock

Andy

I think that must have been when Pete was "in traffic".
He lapped considerably faster than 1min on a clear track. (ie under 50 secs)

DJ (who would have loved to passenger one of those laps)

simes

Not that anyone was timing or anything

DocJock

Simes

As you will note I have said what times Pete DID NOT do so I obviously wasn't timing (too busy trying to keep my car on the tarmac)

DJ

Pete Croney

The car is a 94 RA shell with a full FIA weld in cage.

The engine is a closed deck RA block, machined out to take a Group A bottom end which was balanced with a 6.5kg flywheel, but using stock RA rods and pistons. The RA heads have much better cooling than WRX or STi units. The inlet manifold and intercooler are Phase II items, as are the fuel rails which are larger than the earlier ones. The injectors are big yellow 480cc units. The later inlet let me use an IHI turbo instead of the TD05H and the car has a VF24 using the late version straight inlet tract. The sump is an ex WRC unit, holding an extra litre of oil and being baffled like you would not beleive. The clutch is a Helix ceramic paddle.

On the exhaust side, the car has our 4-2-1 equal length manifold and the full Scoobysport apres turbo system.

It was on Leda Full Race suspension and AP 330mm 6 pot brakes.

The car could be substantially quicker, but I asked Bob to map the boost to a max of 1.25 bar and the rev's to a max of 7.2k, for reliability.

No idea of power or torque figures and not really interested. I was told be 3 people that the car was doing 49's on the clear runs mid afternoon, which is only 4 secs off a BTCC car in the dry. The forces make it very tiring to drive at those speeds though.

Some more little tweaks in the pipeline which I'll post about if they work.

All in all, huge fun to drive and some very enjoyable R&D

BIG thanks to AP, BR Developments, Hayward and Scott, Leda and Safety Devices (in alphabetical order).

Stef

Once again, I presume these times were obviously obtained from video footage of the day.
I had 'heard' that the RA was lapping faster than the BTCC cars, but couldn't really believe it! 16 seconds a lap would mean it was 1/4 lap per lap faster than any other car on track!
If it was, where's the Nitrous hidden Pete?
Just seeing the flames from it made my day though!

Stef.

Pete Croney

Stef, like you, I am beginning to doubt the accuracy of those times. The car is incredibly quick, but I can't see it being 4 seconds off a car costing £1/4M... 2 wheel drive or not.

Track speed is more down to cornering and braking ability than power and that's where most of this cars speed is. The cage has made the chassis amazingly strong, but it needs to be to use the suspension that we have on it.

There were one or two cars there that were quicker down the straight, but if they let me pass, it was possible to take almost the length of the start finish straight out in one lap. Tim King was seeing 130mph down the straight, my car can only do 126mph at the limiter in 5th. Hitting the limiter was probably what was giving those orange flashes in the mirror Brands is a slow track. The car would be hopeless at Donno, on its current gearing.

Rob Mac also drove the car and said he was lapping the same cars in 5-6 laps. But his driving is far better than mine. If the car is going to go faster, its definately going to need a better driver than me. My danglies are shrinking with age

Club track days are just fun and I don't really care about times. In a way, I wish I hadn't been told any, accurate or not. I had a GREAT day and that's all that matters to me

SDB

drool...

Steve Howat

Pete.

I guess the equal length manifold was the reason why your car didn't sound the same (as good )as the others out there then. I did wonder.

I have to agree about cornering speed and braking. When Stef took me out he was far quicker than any other car we came across through the corners. Only problem was the STi's and 22Bs that pulled away on the straights and then wouldn't let us pass when we were all over them at the next bend . I guess my next upgrade will have to be.... (please Mr bank manager). Thanks again Stef, it could end up being an expensive education

Dave T-S

Pete
BIG respect

andy hs

Pete

Thanks for the tech spec,out of interest
what would be the cost to have an engine upgraded to that spec.

Andy

Mossman

Can the engine on my new Astra be changed to this spec?!



Pete,hope you're well! Are you going to be at Donno on the 12th and if so, can I have a ride please!!!!!

Cheers,

Jon

Stef

Pete.
Agreed, enjoying yourself is far more important than being the quickest.
I can't wait for Donno, it's gonna rock! ]

Stef.

ChrisB

£10 for five laps - where do I sign and where does the Q start?

Chris.

Stef

Regarding these laps, it bloody costs more than £10 in petrol to do five laps doesn't it?????

Stef.

SecretAgentMan

Are you sure there aren't some yellow Koni's on the scoob Pete? And isn't it really a Cav masked up as an RA?



(had to do it)

Respect

A baffled sump, sounds interesting...would be great for those track days.

/J

Craig H

If it really handles that well, I would've expected it to have had optional pink sti dampers to make it handle like rally car.

So how does it compare to 22b? on track, wet, dry..................

Sorry

Pete Croney

Damn, you've rumbled me. It is a Cav on pink STi struts. I tried the Koni's but the chassis wasn't stiff enough for them. Mossman, I may transpose the running gear into an Astra, but prefer the van to the saloon, due to its higher street cred.

I hope to be at Donno. If I do make it, John Felsted and I want to do passenger rides for the day, raising money for Children In Need.

We'll deduct the fuel costs from the total received and the kids get the rest.

Would you pay a tenner for 5 laps, for a good cause?

SDB

I hope to be there also doing sideways laps for the same cause...

I think £10 for 5 laps is too cheap though mate. Didn't we say 3 laps?

NeilR

Oy Croney!

Where's the big thanx to NeilR for giving you that VF24 turbo !!


NeilR

Pete Croney

Sorry Neil

A HUGE thanks to Mr Riley for donating the VF24

For the Donno charity day, lets settle at 4 laps. That's about 8 miles so approx a gallon and gives the kids about £6+ a go. With a few cans of Red Bull we should raise over £300 each.

Can we get the BBC along? They like this sort of footage for the evenings show. Anyone got contacts?

Mossman

Great idea raising money for children in Need! There will be a queue round the track waiting for a crack in the Astra

See you all there!

Cheers,

Jon

IWatkins

Pete C, (and for John F)

With regards to the Children in Need stuff. Take a look at

johnfelstead

guys, i have still got to get the OK from dono for this, waiting for Rob Mac to confirm it is OK.

I think it isnt right to take any money from what is donated if this is OK'd by dono.

We are going to use the fuel anyway, all proceeds should go to Children in Need. We can all cover the cost of fuel ourselves, we do at every other track day.

Please bear with me on this. All participation is greatly apreciated, i just need to have got the OK before we can say for sure this is what will happen.

Pete Croney

I'm fine with that John, I just didn't want to make the descision for everyone

Stef

Makes a change Pete!
I agree about not taking petrol costs out though.

Stef.

RobMac

John,

You might be more up to date with this already than I am.

Pete was going to speak directly to Donington this morning to find out if this was OK. I have not heard from him yet.

I personally have no problems with you doing it at all.

Rob.