tallchap
27-10-2009, 21:05
So, after all the late night foolery in the garage to get the cooling issue sorted after the frustrations of Mallory, we were off to Brands for the final round of this years Nippon Challenge. I’d viewed these last 2 races as opportunities to get the car shaken down and things ironed out for a proper assault on the competition next year.
Those of you following the cooling thread will be pleased to know that in a nutshell it all worked. Didn’t have to run the fans at all and the gauge never went above half way all day, despite all the thrashing. In fact the front rad never even got hot, all the heat seems to some off the first rad really well and there was a good warm gust out the back panel so the bulkhead fan there is doing it’s job – pressure cap and adjacent pipe work were cool to the touch. This can now be marketed as “The 1.5t racing cooling pack.”
It’s been wet last 3 years I’ve been to Brands and here we were again. Qualifying was disappointing, didn’t get into a rhythm and had sod all grip – was expecting mid 50 secs but ended up with a qualifying time of 59! The car is light at the front so turn in wasn’t as sharp as I’m used to, plus you could barely get it near the rev limiter in lower gears without it spinning up – corners were more a case of hang on than drive!
Race 1 went well, started 14th on grid, got a wicked start and was in 11th by Paddock and finished 9th overall
Race 2 started 9th and got off to a reasonable start, tucked up behind the DC5 Honda, with an Intergra next door and Scoobies everywhere else. Had clean go of it until the last 3 laps where I got it locked up at Graham Hill bend and had a short excursion into the greenery. This let the 350Z close me down a bit, and I then made the same bloody mistake cupla laps later and he was past me, along with the Hondas I’d dispensed with earlier. Lost 4 places in the last half of the last lap and got it home 14th.
Anyway, main thing is all the Gremlins are sorted for next year, plus I’ve got fibre wings and poly windows to go in to get the weight down even more and allow some ballast in the frunk.
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/tallchap_2009/cooling%20upgrades/PICT0351.jpg
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/tallchap_2009/cooling%20upgrades/PICT0352.jpg
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/tallchap_2009/cooling%20upgrades/PICT0444.jpg
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/tallchap_2009/cooling%20upgrades/PICT0305.jpg
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/tallchap_2009/cooling%20upgrades/PICT0478.jpg
Those of you following the cooling thread will be pleased to know that in a nutshell it all worked. Didn’t have to run the fans at all and the gauge never went above half way all day, despite all the thrashing. In fact the front rad never even got hot, all the heat seems to some off the first rad really well and there was a good warm gust out the back panel so the bulkhead fan there is doing it’s job – pressure cap and adjacent pipe work were cool to the touch. This can now be marketed as “The 1.5t racing cooling pack.”
It’s been wet last 3 years I’ve been to Brands and here we were again. Qualifying was disappointing, didn’t get into a rhythm and had sod all grip – was expecting mid 50 secs but ended up with a qualifying time of 59! The car is light at the front so turn in wasn’t as sharp as I’m used to, plus you could barely get it near the rev limiter in lower gears without it spinning up – corners were more a case of hang on than drive!
Race 1 went well, started 14th on grid, got a wicked start and was in 11th by Paddock and finished 9th overall
Race 2 started 9th and got off to a reasonable start, tucked up behind the DC5 Honda, with an Intergra next door and Scoobies everywhere else. Had clean go of it until the last 3 laps where I got it locked up at Graham Hill bend and had a short excursion into the greenery. This let the 350Z close me down a bit, and I then made the same bloody mistake cupla laps later and he was past me, along with the Hondas I’d dispensed with earlier. Lost 4 places in the last half of the last lap and got it home 14th.
Anyway, main thing is all the Gremlins are sorted for next year, plus I’ve got fibre wings and poly windows to go in to get the weight down even more and allow some ballast in the frunk.
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/tallchap_2009/cooling%20upgrades/PICT0351.jpg
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/tallchap_2009/cooling%20upgrades/PICT0352.jpg
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/tallchap_2009/cooling%20upgrades/PICT0444.jpg
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/tallchap_2009/cooling%20upgrades/PICT0305.jpg
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af350/tallchap_2009/cooling%20upgrades/PICT0478.jpg