Rallyrep in action

[Isimmo]

Just love the ol' girl.... She's a stunning car Tim... Likewise, I've been thinking of dropping the 'historic' decals...

[Tim C]

Our first event of 2012 is this Saturday (24th) at Castle Combe.
A lap and 3/4 sprint, starting from the pit lane and finishing just after the second chicane on the second lap, for a return into the pit entry.

The event is oversubscribed and we were not as prompt as we should have been with our entries. I have a definite place but Andy is fourth reserve at the moment .
He will get to do the practice, but will only get to do the competitive runs if people don't show or droop out.
As it is the first event of the season for most, but without wishing ill on anyone, it is quite likely that Andy will get a drive. As we well know .

It kicks of about 9 and spectating is free of charge BTW.

[Audi Derek]

How did you get on Tim and did Andy get a drive..




..

[Tim C]

T'was a cold and misty morning on Saturday at Castle Combe. The track just became visible from the paddock during the drivers briefing and the sun started to appear as the event began at 9.00.

Andy was fourth reserve and by the time we signed on three reserves had already got a drive. Still a waiting game, but it looked hopefull for him.

Andy was first on track for his practice laps and came back in saying how well the car was going and asking what I had done to the ECU!
The only changes since last year are the ditching of the hydraulic pump from the engine, which would only account for a few horse power.
It must have been the cold dense air, the temperature still only being in single figures, and the remains of the mist making the intercooler work overtime.
Anyway, I went out for my session and sure enough it was going like stink. Pulling hard and strong, and revving easier up past 6000. It usually starts running out of puff, being a 10V.

On my second lap accelerating out of the last corner, there was a big bang and I lost, what I initially thought, was all power.
I soon realised I some power, as though a boost hose had blown off, and coasted around to the pits.
Everything looked fine under the bonnet, no hoses hanging off, wastegate wasn't jammed open, turbo seemed OK and was spinning up .
We eventually found a massive split in the hose from the turbo to the intercooler, right around the back where we couldn't see it.
They are proper multilayered silicon hoses, but it is a bit close to the exhaust manifold which may have aged it and with all that early morning cold air being squashed in there, it let go.
Fortunately, the Merlin Motorsport shop is on site and they had a suitable silicon elbow, albeit in bright blue!

During our head scratching about the lack of boost, one of the paddock marshals came to us and said that another competitor had withdrawn, so Andy had a drive.

With a new hose we were both set to go . It started to get very warm and the car didn't rev as freely in the afternoon but we still put in some good times.

After the first runs I was a couple of seconds ahead of Andy and leading the class.
A front wheel spacer came loose which was a bit disconcerting .
He nearly caught me on the second run but I went a second quicker anyway and took first place .

[Nicky C]

Some photos from a misty then sunny Castle Combe.







Tim missing the apex at Quarry corner in practice .



Andy, also missing the apex .











Richard's recently built 20V, his first event.

















The sun was getting very low before it finished!

[Isimmo]

Hi Nicky/Tim, is Richard the chap who had the silver Ur at Gurston Down the other year?

Interesting he has gone for A1 panels but standard front lights. I'm assuming th parts predominantly came fom Adam looking at them, yes?

[Tim C]

Originally Posted by Isimmo

Hi Nicky/Tim, is Richard the chap who had the silver Ur at Gurston Down the other year?

Interesting he has gone for A1 panels but standard front lights. I'm assuming th parts predominantly came fom Adam looking at them, yes?

No Ian, different chap. Richard had a WR many years ago when I first met him, then drifted away through 911's etc for a while but has always been in touch. But has now returned with this.

Hmmm, yes, I have suggested a sport front grill and lights.

And yes, Adam built the car. Althought the motor came complete in a crate across the Atlantic from 034 motorsport £££££.

[20vcqdriver]

Have you thought of adding water/meth injection to help on hot days? Made a difference to mine and its should be better still once mapped to match too

Originally Posted by Tim C

T'was a cold and misty morning on Saturday at Castle Combe. The track just became visible from the paddock during the drivers briefing and the sun started to appear as the event began at 9.00.

Andy was fourth reserve and by the time we signed on three reserves had already got a drive. Still a waiting game, but it looked hopefull for him.

Andy was first on track for his practice laps and came back in saying how well the car was going and asking what I had done to the ECU!
The only changes since last year are the ditching of the hydraulic pump from the engine, which would only account for a few horse power.
It must have been the cold dense air, the temperature still only being in single figures, and the remains of the mist making the intercooler work overtime.
Anyway, I went out for my session and sure enough it was going like stink. Pulling hard and strong, and revving easier up past 6000. It usually starts running out of puff, being a 10V.

On my second lap accelerating out of the last corner, there was a big bang and I lost, what I initially thought, was all power.
I soon realised I some power, as though a boost hose had blown off, and coasted around to the pits.
Everything looked fine under the bonnet, no hoses hanging off, wastegate wasn't jammed open, turbo seemed OK and was spinning up .
We eventually found a massive split in the hose from the turbo to the intercooler, right around the back where we couldn't see it.
They are proper multilayered silicon hoses, but it is a bit close to the exhaust manifold which may have aged it and with all that early morning cold air being squashed in there, it let go.
Fortunately, the Merlin Motorsport shop is on site and they had a suitable silicon elbow, albeit in bright blue!

During our head scratching about the lack of boost, one of the paddock marshals came to us and said that another competitor had withdrawn, so Andy had a drive.

With a new hose we were both set to go . It started to get very warm and the car didn't rev as freely in the afternoon but we still put in some good times.

After the first runs I was a couple of seconds ahead of Andy and leading the class.
A front wheel spacer came loose which was a bit disconcerting .
He nearly caught me on the second run but I went a second quicker anyway and took first place .

[Tim C]

Originally Posted by 20vcqdriver

Have you thought of adding water/meth injection to help on hot days? Made a difference to mine and its should be better still once mapped to match too

Yes we have and a bit more seriously since the weekend!

I've been looking at the ECU, the inlet temperature map takes off 1 degree of timing at a temp of 40 degrees and 3 degrees off the timing at 50. This is obviously to stop det at higher temperatures but would explain the laziness up the revs as the temperature builds.

I've seen over 40 degrees inlet temp when testing on the road, so 50 is quite likely around Castle Combe. Our ECU upgrade last year was supposed to allow on board data logging but as yet the software still hasn't been released. Logging the inlet temp was something I was keen to do. I must chase them up.

I might trim the map back a bit, it does seem a bit of a jump.

[butch]

christ all mighty, they are serious air temps them. blow your motor up territory sounds like your intercooler isnt adequate enough?