Pastywagon sprint dates 2010 - Overall championship win!

RobT

Full throttle trip
Nov 30, 2001
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Congleton
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Well what a great weekend at Anglesey.

anglesey_circuit.jpg


The trip started Thursday lunchtime when we went and picked the trailer up at the local hire place. Packed the car up and headed off the 100 miles or so to the Anglesey circuit, placed right on the edge of the Irish Sea. I had never driven the circuit since the layout was changed in 2008 so took the opportunity to get some practice at the Book-a-track trackday on the Friday before the weekend races. Dropped the car at the track on Thurs night, unloaded the trailer, and headed off for some sleep at a local B+B.

National circuit for whole weekend. Fri morning started dry so did some sighting laps using Toyo 888s. Tricky circuit; very technical at 'rocket' but very very fast at 'school'. 'School' is 5th gear, 80+mph, but the track then runs quite steeply up hill towards 'rocket', where you are braking quite hard whilst going over the crest of the hill into a 90-degree left....a recipe for a rear end lockup if there ever was one. The un-named corner heading onto the TP straight is a swine also; quite steep down hill from 'peel', brake before a late off-camber apex and up the hill again onto the straight.

angleseycircuit.png


After first run round, came in and adjusted tyre pressures. Out again and tried some different gear changes. Getting better but tyres were getting mullered by a very abrasive track surface. Changed damper settings. Another run and getting better all the time. Had a run out with a mate in his Lotus 211 - what a car - SO much grip. Awesome experience. Around lunchtime....rain. Reset damper settings and tyre pressures. Track was well slippy. Only thing faster than us on the wet track was an Ariel Atom. Passing some very nice Porsche race cars who were there for the weekend also. Came in after about a dozen laps to check tyres. Front nearside was getting very worn so decided to call it a day as needed to keep some rubber on there in case we had wet races Sat and Sun. One very quick couple of laps on Michelins as the track dried out a little before packing up.

Very tired so early to bed at the B+B. Felt good after trying the circuit out and had some starting setup data for the next day. Some great pictures taken by Book-a-track photographer so will put some of these up soon.

Race Day 1. Event run by Lancashire and Cheshire Car Club and MG Car Club. Weather forecast was for day in the am, and then heavy rain in the pm. So tactic was to get a really good run in straight after practice. We were in the usual 3b (Modified Production 1400-2000) with 2x Pug 205's. 3c had a ex-BBR Sierra Cossie and the BMW M3 from last week at Aintree (now wearing some tyres like mine). Format was to start from the pit lane exit, split time for first flying lap, then run finishes just before pit lane entrance (so nearly 2 laps of the circuit). Soft Michelins fitted.

P1 - 63.69, 129.04 - felt fine, taking it easyish, one corner could be taken in a lower gear probably
T1 - 61.48, 125.98 - absolute stonker - seemed to hook every apex up, gears perfect
LUNCH
T2 - 62.96, 127.40 - not quite as mad as the first run - when came in, noticed that rear hatch screen was trying to make an exit again after coming out at Aintree - obviously I had not given the glue enough time to set - decided to miss the final run to make sure car was able to compete on Day 2.

Result: first in class - 125.98 vs 130.26 in second place. Trophy.

Day 2.

Had duck taped the rear screen in to hopefully hold it in long enough to get some scores on the boards. Weather forecast was dry but cold and sure enough there was a bitter cold wind blowing. Good to see Daz (vrbanana) who came up for the day to take some pictures - I see he has already put one up higher up. Cheers bud! Plan was much the same as the day before. No practice runs were given to those who had been there on day 1 so straight into timed runs.

T1 - SPIN - on second corner 'rocket' - went in as previous but the back end just didn't stick and round it came as I ran out of steering lock. DUH. Need to settle it down a bit as clearly there was less grip than the day before.
T2 - 62.83, 128.46 - good banker lap at steady pace
LUNCH
T3 - 62.31, 127.31 - missed 2 gear changes - calm down!
T4 - 62.65, 127.27 - felt a lot quicker than it was....getting tired

Result: first in class - 127.27 vs 130.36 in second place. Trophy.

So overall a good weekend and because of good time difference to second place car, lots of championship points.

Results after rounds 3 and 4 can be seen here:

http://www.speedchampionship.com/

3rd place in Division 2 so far.

Anglesey results here:

http://www.ty-croes.com/ty-croes.co.uk/

Now to sort out the rear window and get the pickle ready for its next outing. More pics as I get them.

Ave it

Rob

ps - we gotta have a SCN track day here - its just a fantastic place to visit
 
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Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
Great write up.

What have you used to stick in your rear window?

I'm away to fit a Lexan rear window and had planned to use silicone sealant.
Was hoping this would be good enough as didn't want to bolt or self tapper it
 

RobT

Full throttle trip
Nov 30, 2001
2,538
1
Congleton
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Great write up.

What have you used to stick in your rear window?

I'm away to fit a Lexan rear window and had planned to use silicone sealant.
Was hoping this would be good enough as didn't want to bolt or self tapper it

Ta. I have used a variety of adhesives from Sikaflex to Tiger Seal, silicone adhesives etc.

None of them seem to work. My windows are from Plastics for Performance and are, I think, polycarbonate. Part of the problem is that I dont know exactly what plastic they are made from. So I think I am going to bolt them in now with some very thin stainless bolts and a bit of silicone just to seal it up.
 

ibizacupra

Jack-RIP my little Friend
Jul 25, 2001
31,333
19
glos.uk
I am surprised tiger seal did'nt hold.. it usually stick like sh1t to a blanket.

you getting tired? :confused:
you get old mate?
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
Ta. I have used a variety of adhesives from Sikaflex to Tiger Seal, silicone adhesives etc.

None of them seem to work. My windows are from Plastics for Performance and are, I think, polycarbonate. Part of the problem is that I dont know exactly what plastic they are made from. So I think I am going to bolt them in now with some very thin stainless bolts and a bit of silicone just to seal it up.
Mine are from there too.
Where does the sealant usually break from?
Have you tried keying the surfaces?
Do you always drive with your drivers window open?
Do you still have the vents in the rear to releave the pressure when closing your doors?
Great picture of you going tripod
 

RobT

Full throttle trip
Nov 30, 2001
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Congleton
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Mine are from there too.
Where does the sealant usually break from?
Have you tried keying the surfaces?
Do you always drive with your drivers window open?
Do you still have the vents in the rear to releave the pressure when closing your doors?
Great picture of you going tripod


sealer brakes from both body and window surfaces - hard to 'key' body surface as it needs to be painted - and plastic surface would look crap if that was roughed up

I keep my window up most of the time to try and stop the windows coming loose. Yes the vents are fitted and working as far as I know, but they vent into the rear bumper and this might not be working as it should with my modded rear bumper / wheel arches

its getting bolted in from now on. Job done.
 

motorhead

Guest
Some car glass companies use a primer/sealer before bonding the windows in, I’m not sure if it’s to act as a key for the sealant or to cover and scratches from when they remove the old screen, worth asking I suppose.

Think the body and the inner edge of the screen would benefit from a little scuff for the sealant to key into
 

RobT

Full throttle trip
Nov 30, 2001
2,538
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Congleton
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Latest: after having such a good weekend at Anglesey, and scoring a good haul of championship points, time for a rethink for the rest of the season.

Rather than do the Curborough rounds, its highly likely I will do the Anglesey double header June 12/13. Tactical. Now I know the track a bit, more scope for a larger time difference to others when the laps are longer. Greater time difference = more points.

Groovy.

And my back window has come out again and it needs sticking in properly this time so a bit of prep time before the next events would not go amiss.
 

RobT

Full throttle trip
Nov 30, 2001
2,538
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Congleton
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I think so - at Aintree last week I went through the speed trap at 124mph and thats the quickest I think I have ever managed - so that might suggest the car is more slippery through the air.

Also was 1 sec faster than ever before....which is unheard of for me on a track I know - so either the michelin tyres are miles better than very soft avon slicks, or the splitter is helping in the corners also.

I think it is an improvement - the car just feels more planted somehow
 

old 'uns

Modern Life is Rubbish...
Mar 20, 2003
1,627
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walsall
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re: the screen, would self-tappers & big washer screwed into gap between perspex & frame do the job?
bit Fred Dibnah i know but simple
 

RobT

Full throttle trip
Nov 30, 2001
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Congleton
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Round 4 Results - Curborough

Hi All

Well I decided to do the Curborough round after all - only 40 cars entered so it seemed a bit tight to pull out - racing clubs need all the support they can get sometimes.

This turned out to be an absolute cracker - one of the best days racing I have had for ages.

Forecast was for good weather and sure enough, the sun shone. Its great to go racing when the weather is nice although my forehead does not think so at the moment! (its a bit red).

Seven cars entered in 3b so an unusually good class entry. Potential competition looked like coming from a Pug 106, a Mk2 Escort, and a Manta. Damned old cars....too fast by half :D

I have only done the short track at Curborough once before I think, June 2007 when I was doing a lot of Curby events, and did a PB of 2.65/36.65. Good time to aim at and I would be happy to get near this as that was back when I knew Curby pretty well.

Short track layout:

Curborough.gif


Because of small entry list, format of day was two practices and two timed runs before lunch, and then probably 3 timed runs after lunch. All runs to count for awards.

Times are me, Escort, Manta, Pug

P1 - 3.00/39.25 - working out what gears to use for where - seems a very tight and narrow circuit after doing Aintree and Anglesey! really rusty with the place. Other cars still on road tyres after transport and also finding way around so hard to judge at this stage. Tweak on the damper settings.

P2 - 2.88/37.42 - gears better that time (37.97; 37.45; 38.75)

T1 - 2.75/36.94 - improving (36.78; 37.12; ?). Order: Es / Me / Manta - going to be close day by the look of things

T2 - 2.65/36.94 - same (36.33; 38.78; ?). Order: Es 36.33 / Me 36.94 / Manta 37.12

LUNCH

T3 - 2.69/36.74 - better (36.27; 37.85; 38.11). Order: Es 36.27 / Me 36.74 / Manta 37.12

Gotta give it some more stick round the first fast sweeping left.....

T4 - 2.65/36.25 - AVE IT! new PB (36.61; 36.76; 37.93). Order: Me 36.25 / Es 36.27 / Manta 37.12

Got out of car shaking - that felt quite committed. Leading by a very narrow margin going into the last run of the day.....

T5 - 2.59/35.82 - CUMMON! new PB again. Seriously pumped up. Shouting in helmet etc. :blink:

So what did the others do?.........

Escort - 2.34/35.58 - staggering 64ft time and pipped me to the post. Excellent run.
Manta - 2.44/36.05 - amazing improvement of nearly a second on the last run....possible sandbagging tactic from a very seasoned racer but not quite pulled it off.

So final places were Escort / Me / Manta / Pug

Simply brilliant day - all three of us did PBs and it could have gone either way right until the last run of the day. Big hand shakes all round.

This is what racing is about - really close competition with genuinely nice people.

Thanks to Daz for coming along and taking a selection of pics:

IMG_4563.jpg


IMG_3934.jpg


The official scores have not yet hit the internet but I think that leaves me leading Division 2 overall in the Liverpool and Chester champs - a first for me, so well chuffed!

Till the next one

Ave it

Rob
 
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