Proposed Test Day.Only the dead serious need apply!
17 July 2007, 08:10 PM
#1
Proposed Test Day.Only the dead serious need apply!
I am thinking of arranging a serious test morning/day at Curborough Sprint Track near Litchfield on the A38 by Derby for 5 cars with AST only suspension systems.
This is essentially an AST customer test day where I hope to get Power Station to send Curtis to help us set-up the cars.
Power Station suggested this event to me while we were talking about my AST's recently.
AST Suspension
For a private test day you are allowed only 5 QUIET road/competition cars mid week.
This will NOT be a chavs blatt around a real sprint track but intended to be an informative technical session with a focus on getting the best from the car's suspension.
This will be testing on the car overall, and there are bad places to come off and hit trees etc so be warned. (crash helmets advised)
I have 3 people already who (pending final dates) will come along.
The cost will be £240 split evenly between whoever turns up on the day off the list who have committed. A voluntary contribution to Curtis would be a good gesture i feel.
I do not want to be left with the full bill, so if you commit finally, I expect you to honour the deal.
Money in cash on the day. No cheques etc and no pay in advance.
All on trust this one!
The track is flat and bendy with a long finish straight, about 1/4 mile long.
There are acres of tarmac paddock/pit area for messing with the cars.
It will need to be organised to a loose degree to make sure everyone gets a good time on track, and I would suggest this is done on a time base, ie 15 mins per car then wait your turn again.
A good race time around Curb is 33 seconds, so in 15 mins you can do several laps and allow feed-back to Curtis to allow tweeks to be ADVISED.
Curtis will be an advisor, not the mechanic!
I want to see how many of you are SERIOUSLY interested, no dreamers or Boy Racers with lots of mates please.
I think this will be in late August if I can get dates.
Once I have a list I feel are committed people then I can get dates fixed.
I can see this becoming a regular affair!
OK:
Is anyone seriously interested in this 5 car event?
If there are more than 5 in the end, I can see if I can get a full day (10.00am to 4.00pm)
Post on here: please no pm's. I want everyone to see who is interested.
This is not a competition day.
Graham.
This is essentially an AST customer test day where I hope to get Power Station to send Curtis to help us set-up the cars.
Power Station suggested this event to me while we were talking about my AST's recently.
AST Suspension
For a private test day you are allowed only 5 QUIET road/competition cars mid week.
This will NOT be a chavs blatt around a real sprint track but intended to be an informative technical session with a focus on getting the best from the car's suspension.
This will be testing on the car overall, and there are bad places to come off and hit trees etc so be warned. (crash helmets advised)
I have 3 people already who (pending final dates) will come along.
The cost will be £240 split evenly between whoever turns up on the day off the list who have committed. A voluntary contribution to Curtis would be a good gesture i feel.
I do not want to be left with the full bill, so if you commit finally, I expect you to honour the deal.
Money in cash on the day. No cheques etc and no pay in advance.
All on trust this one!
The track is flat and bendy with a long finish straight, about 1/4 mile long.
There are acres of tarmac paddock/pit area for messing with the cars.
It will need to be organised to a loose degree to make sure everyone gets a good time on track, and I would suggest this is done on a time base, ie 15 mins per car then wait your turn again.
A good race time around Curb is 33 seconds, so in 15 mins you can do several laps and allow feed-back to Curtis to allow tweeks to be ADVISED.
Curtis will be an advisor, not the mechanic!
I want to see how many of you are SERIOUSLY interested, no dreamers or Boy Racers with lots of mates please.
I think this will be in late August if I can get dates.
Once I have a list I feel are committed people then I can get dates fixed.
I can see this becoming a regular affair!
OK:
Is anyone seriously interested in this 5 car event?
If there are more than 5 in the end, I can see if I can get a full day (10.00am to 4.00pm)
Post on here: please no pm's. I want everyone to see who is interested.
This is not a competition day.
Graham.
Last edited by 911; 17 July 2007 at 08:19 PM.
17 July 2007, 09:00 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: MY99UK-MY02STi-MY99Type R-MY06 T20-MY11 340R-MY05 TYPE25
Posts: 11,468
Received 22 Likes
on
19 Posts
Graham,
I would be interested date dependent
but my car is a MY06 Type 20
My miltek exhaust maybe an issue unless Curtis can lend me a Bung
t5nyw@homecall.co.uk
Tony
I would be interested date dependent
but my car is a MY06 Type 20 My miltek exhaust maybe an issue unless Curtis can lend me a Bung
t5nyw@homecall.co.uk
Tony
19 July 2007, 10:12 AM
#5
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 895
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Graham, would there be any interest in a comparative test? I know some KW and EXE-TC shod cars that would be interested. Could be held on a different day or in the afternoon if you feel it would detract from the original idea?
Cheers
Andy
Cheers
Andy
19 July 2007, 01:32 PM
#7
Andy:
The idea is to have AST engineer Curtis offer advice to customers of the AST systems, so a comparison test would not work tbh.
Kev:
You WOULD have odd-ball suspension...
The idea is to have AST engineer Curtis offer advice to customers of the AST systems, so a comparison test would not work tbh.
Kev:
You WOULD have odd-ball suspension...
Trending Topics
19 July 2007, 02:40 PM
#8
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: 'Around' Milton Keynes
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Graham. I would be interested in this but could not do until end Sept onwards 
. I spoke with Curtis a few weeks ago reference increasing the rebound on my AST's as they are bottoming on 'certain European roads' and it was something I had planned to do this Autumn. The AST's on my car are 3 years old, 40k+ miles as well, so they are more than due a re-build I think 
. I spoke with Curtis a few weeks ago reference increasing the rebound on my AST's as they are bottoming on 'certain European roads' and it was something I had planned to do this Autumn. The AST's on my car are 3 years old, 40k+ miles as well, so they are more than due a re-build I think
19 July 2007, 06:09 PM
#10
OK:
I am open to another venue with deep undulations and crests where you can have the track to yourself and do what you want.
Please send me the details so I can follow it up.
The track I have in mind can be seen on the Shenstone and District Car Club site.
Run a google etc and everyone can see the venue.
If no good then OK, at least everyone will know what they are getting, so can make their own minds up.
I am open to another venue with deep undulations and crests where you can have the track to yourself and do what you want.
Please send me the details so I can follow it up.
The track I have in mind can be seen on the Shenstone and District Car Club site.
Run a google etc and everyone can see the venue.
If no good then OK, at least everyone will know what they are getting, so can make their own minds up.
19 July 2007, 07:20 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Old Detroit aka Chippenham
Posts: 950
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Graham
I'm seriously interested in attending this, but I'm not available until after 20th August as I'll be at the WRC Germany.
The car is a MY06 Spec C Type 20.
Regards
Kevin
I'm seriously interested in attending this, but I'm not available until after 20th August as I'll be at the WRC Germany.
The car is a MY06 Spec C Type 20.
Regards
Kevin
19 July 2007, 09:16 PM
#12
Thanks Kevin.
I'll add you to the list.
I will find out the days available (the sprint track is very popular for all types of activity) and conclude a date and people.
Glad to have the serious types to this one.
Graham.
I'll add you to the list.
I will find out the days available (the sprint track is very popular for all types of activity) and conclude a date and people.
Glad to have the serious types to this one.
Graham.
20 July 2007, 07:19 AM
#14
This track is certainly NOT bumpy.
This is the track i used to finally resolve the damping/geometry/tyre pressures on my Sti V3 with 3 way AST's, and I've been faster ever since.
Single seater race cars use it all the time for set-ups.
This is the track i used to finally resolve the damping/geometry/tyre pressures on my Sti V3 with 3 way AST's, and I've been faster ever since.
Single seater race cars use it all the time for set-ups.
20 July 2007, 10:21 AM
#15
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2004
Location: North Yorks
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Graham,
what a great idea and yes I am interested, especially to meet up with guys with hands on experience of tuning the handling.
Car is MY04STI with 3 way ASTs, whiteline arbs front and rear and ALK.
As a thought is there any scope for Curtis to have access to alignment kit on the day? Unlikely I know but as you know this can have a major affect so any chance to check and correct (as necessary) would be excellent.
Your location is about half the trip to Tewkesbury for me, so is a good compromise and you might want to post to the WYIOC boys as well.
Cadwell is a great location to check handling under extremes of elevation but the location is probably not so great for others and I have not checked costs/viability of test sessions.
Dave
ps: a week day session would be much harder for me to make than a weekend session.
what a great idea and yes I am interested, especially to meet up with guys with hands on experience of tuning the handling.
Car is MY04STI with 3 way ASTs, whiteline arbs front and rear and ALK.
As a thought is there any scope for Curtis to have access to alignment kit on the day? Unlikely I know but as you know this can have a major affect so any chance to check and correct (as necessary) would be excellent.
Your location is about half the trip to Tewkesbury for me, so is a good compromise and you might want to post to the WYIOC boys as well.
Cadwell is a great location to check handling under extremes of elevation but the location is probably not so great for others and I have not checked costs/viability of test sessions.
Dave
ps: a week day session would be much harder for me to make than a weekend session.
20 July 2007, 11:53 AM
#16
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: MY99UK-MY02STi-MY99Type R-MY06 T20-MY11 340R-MY05 TYPE25
Posts: 11,468
Received 22 Likes
on
19 Posts
Graham,
looking forward to this, midweek mondays or Fridays are best for me
I've done a couple of trackdays with the AST adjustable suspension but uncertain if adjustments made it "feel" or "Handle" better. it will good to actually compare adjustments and experiences.
I shouldn't get too dirty as only mechanical adjustment will be the Anti-rol bar and 4 pots to tweak, metal note bring spanners
Once happy with suspension I'd like to do something simular with DCCD adjustments
Tony
looking forward to this, midweek mondays or Fridays are best for me
I've done a couple of trackdays with the AST adjustable suspension but uncertain if adjustments made it "feel" or "Handle" better. it will good to actually compare adjustments and experiences.
I shouldn't get too dirty as only mechanical adjustment will be the Anti-rol bar and 4 pots to tweak, metal note bring spanners
Once happy with suspension I'd like to do something simular with DCCD adjustments
Tony
20 July 2007, 01:00 PM
#17
This MUST be a weekday event as Curb is fully booked every weekend @ £1000 a day or more....
The track is great for sorting dccd's take it from me!
Curtis might bring a simple camber guage. you can make a significant effect by changing camber on the day as i did last time.
It is all done by tyre temperature across the tread face.
toe setting will be impossible I think.
There is a considerable amount to learn. I've just done this exercise (well, about 2 months ago) and transformed the car on track and road considerably.
The settings i had 'set' on my 3 ways were very different to the ones I left the track on.
Just so much better.
£ ways are very herd to set-up on your own driving up and down a road route, can be dangerous too.
The track is very tricky to drive fast, but mine became very 'chuckable'.
It was fun too!
Graham.
The track is great for sorting dccd's take it from me!
Curtis might bring a simple camber guage. you can make a significant effect by changing camber on the day as i did last time.
It is all done by tyre temperature across the tread face.
toe setting will be impossible I think.
There is a considerable amount to learn. I've just done this exercise (well, about 2 months ago) and transformed the car on track and road considerably.
The settings i had 'set' on my 3 ways were very different to the ones I left the track on.
Just so much better.
£ ways are very herd to set-up on your own driving up and down a road route, can be dangerous too.
The track is very tricky to drive fast, but mine became very 'chuckable'.
It was fun too!
Graham.
20 July 2007, 02:14 PM
#18
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Old Detroit aka Chippenham
Posts: 950
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Graham
This sounds just what I'm after. As you say, it hard and dangerous to keep using a certain favourite section of a public road to set these up.
To be able to replicate the same "course" time and time again in safety should help in setting the ASTs up to what I want.
This sounds just what I'm after. As you say, it hard and dangerous to keep using a certain favourite section of a public road to set these up.
To be able to replicate the same "course" time and time again in safety should help in setting the ASTs up to what I want.
Last edited by Robocop; 20 July 2007 at 07:00 PM. Reason: spelling
20 July 2007, 05:11 PM
#19
This is exactly what this day is all about.
When i did this the car was sorted and transformed.
It is being able to run the car the same every time and have someone there who knows what they are doing and can get the most information out of you.
If you can't feed back the behaviour of the car each time Curtis will be guessing a bit.
I intend to let this run over the weekend and then list everyone to 'close' it off.
I will then get dates and see who can/cannot make it. Some may well stand down, no probs.
Everyone interested has posted on here.
Power Station are enthused by this one so we can expect some expert help.
To the best of my knowledge this has not been done before, and to make it a twice a year event could be good, especially at £50 a head.
Of course, at the end of the testing some might like to passenger/drive each other round a few laps....but I never said that did I!
Hence bring your crash hat if you have one, I'm a cr@p driver....
Graham.
When i did this the car was sorted and transformed.
It is being able to run the car the same every time and have someone there who knows what they are doing and can get the most information out of you.
If you can't feed back the behaviour of the car each time Curtis will be guessing a bit.
I intend to let this run over the weekend and then list everyone to 'close' it off.
I will then get dates and see who can/cannot make it. Some may well stand down, no probs.
Everyone interested has posted on here.
Power Station are enthused by this one so we can expect some expert help.
To the best of my knowledge this has not been done before, and to make it a twice a year event could be good, especially at £50 a head.
Of course, at the end of the testing some might like to passenger/drive each other round a few laps....but I never said that did I!
Hence bring your crash hat if you have one, I'm a cr@p driver....
Graham.
Last edited by 911; 20 July 2007 at 05:17 PM.
20 July 2007, 08:46 PM
#22
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: scoobysmacs
Posts: 5,544
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Graham,
I would be interested, Mines a MY04 JDM STi with AST's plus all the T25 kit
As you know we test our single seaters there, its a very good test venue and is nice and tight
At powerstation in the morning for a tweak
Cheers Andy
I would be interested, Mines a MY04 JDM STi with AST's plus all the T25 kit
As you know we test our single seaters there, its a very good test venue and is nice and tight
At powerstation in the morning for a tweak
Cheers Andy
22 July 2007, 02:32 AM
#24
You will get false readings for camber setup on normal road tyres or even track tyres like R888's there Graham, it's a completely diferent scenario to running the slicks you use on that type of course. You should be able to make some progress on dampers, ARB's and DCCD though.
22 July 2007, 07:50 AM
#25
OK John. I will not be messing about with what we did there other than truing different rear bar settings.
It works too well atm.
Any adjustments made to any of the cars will be btween Power Station and the driver as I'm not a Suspension Mapper!
It works too well atm.
Any adjustments made to any of the cars will be btween Power Station and the driver as I'm not a Suspension Mapper!
22 July 2007, 02:35 PM
#27
Please all watch the thread for dates.
I will list the name tonight off here and will then contact the Track Manager for proposed dates.
You can then confirm if you can/cannot do the dates.
I shall be targeting late August.
Might even stop raining by then.
I will list the name tonight off here and will then contact the Track Manager for proposed dates.
You can then confirm if you can/cannot do the dates.
I shall be targeting late August.
Might even stop raining by then.
22 July 2007, 04:01 PM
#29
As long as you keep good records on your start settings, it wont do any harm trying a diferent idea out. Once youve gone through your bar tuning i would use the time to go radically diferent, if it doesnt work, you lost nothing, if it works, job's a goodun.
22 July 2007, 08:55 PM
#30
OK:
The list provisionally is listed in First come first served:
Dill Type R
T5ZYW
Simo (if in Sept)
Robocop (If late Aug)
Red Man (weekend prefered, highly unlikely)
burns
AndyS
Buckrogers.
Oh, and me!
So that is 9 with 3 with proviso's
I will find the dates for a morning, a full day (required with 9) and the associated costs to be shared.
I would suggest a token of gratitude for Curtis too!
Watch this space. Hope to get the details of the track by wednesday next.
Should be a good day
Graham.
The list provisionally is listed in First come first served:
Dill Type R
T5ZYW
Simo (if in Sept)
Robocop (If late Aug)
Red Man (weekend prefered, highly unlikely)
burns
AndyS
Buckrogers.
Oh, and me!
So that is 9 with 3 with proviso's
I will find the dates for a morning, a full day (required with 9) and the associated costs to be shared.
I would suggest a token of gratitude for Curtis too!
Watch this space. Hope to get the details of the track by wednesday next.
Should be a good day
Graham.