Blackbird Owners/Drivers

[DAC007]

Any Blackbird owners/drivers, past or present, on this forum?

I am interested to converse with same especially if the car is used for track/competition type use.

Thanks

[Tango7]

I have got a Blackbird and there are 2 or 3 other BB owners regularly on Blatchat that can be directed over here if you want some information I have only tracked mine once on Anglesey but its meant to be out at Llandow next week if I can get a misfire sorted.

[Krismuss]

I have a Caterham Blackbird though sadly not tracked it (yet), used solely as a few and far between weekend thrashabout!

BykerWill's on here who had one up until last year and will know far more about set up for track, etc.

DSL2 (Darren) is on here too and probably knows more than most about track set up for BEC Caterhams.

As suggested above, do a serch on BC for current owners, or I'd be happy to post on your behalf!

Good luck

Chris

[tony wright]

I have a Caterham Hayabusa (converted from Blackbird)not been on track yet unless the Ring counts? Did Spa a couple of years ago but that was in my 160BHP VVC Caterham.

[DAC007]

Thanks for responses.

I really would like to correspond with someone who has experience circuit racing a Caterham Blackbird. I race one "Down Under" and obviously only one in the country. I have some very specific things I would like to discuss to get some more speed and engine reliability from the car, to fast-track development of the car. One of the issues is limited supply of slick tyres, all very low profile in 13" sizes, and potential to go to 15" rears to increase top speed (3.14 diff already). Also change to 8" wide front 13" wheels??? Engine issues for discussion....

Sent PM to BykerWill but no response to date.

Chris, could you please post on BC?

Thanks

[Tango7]

Hopefully BykerWill and Neilg will respond later on. I think they have both been at Cadewell today enjoying some spring sunshine

[BYKer Will]

Back from Cadwell

I haven't replied because to be honest I never really felt I got to grips with the set up and utimate handling on the blackbird.

I ran nitrons and mainly r888's but suffered with mid to high speed understeer and a real lack of heat in the front tyres. I do wish I had put some more effort into it but just didn't probably because it always kept me busy with the oily bits.

Good luck. I would have though DSL or ming on blatchat might be worth contacting. Darren seems to do OK with his busa in the sprints and ming raced his bird I gather.

Will

[DAC007]

Will, thanks for your response.

Interesting comments.....your note re understeer is one of the reasons I asked about 8" wide fronts. Tyre temperature not a problem here but the outcome is the same. I have tried many different scenarios but the car lacks front end bite.

What do you mean "busy with the oily bits"? I have had some significant engine failures, always the same issue (no. 3 big end failure and if unlucky rod out the block as very little warning), and we have spent considerable effort to rectify. It is much better but not 100% solved. It is a problem which others on here know of in regard to the Blackbird engine but getting to the fix is difficult!!!!!

Could you help with contacting DSL and ming please?

Thanks

[BYKer Will]

On the issue of oily bits my biggest problem was breaking 4th gear normally due to wear on the standard non undercut dog gears and then bent fingers. To be honest this was probably due to a lack of mechanical sympathy but banging down through the gears is so addictive! I would guess if you look through the paperwork of most bb's they will be littered with bills for 4th gears!

I never got round to it but the best solution seems to be a nova gear cluster from the very helpful Graham Dyson at Nova Racing. His gears have fewer bigger undercut dogs.

I did have one engine blow but that was my 1200 and I think it was simply due to low oil levels but I will never know. If you are breaking rods in number 3 cylinder that is very likely due to lack of oil to the big end. You probaly know but the balencer shafts share the oil feed with number 3 and any low oil pressure issues will show up here first. Solution seems to be bin the balencer shafts.

On the handling the very light weight must be an issue. My slr is quite different to drive on track. Have you tried softer front compounds relatavive to the rear?

I must say blackbirds are brilliant and I would definately have another or a busa!

I don't know how to contact ming but DSL posts on here but more on the radical forum than caterham now.

Will

[DAC007]

Car has Nova gearset so no issues in that department.

Balance shafts removed because of that reason. Changes to Pace lubrication system have also helped but still had recent nip up.....switched off before major damage this time. On all occasions data logging shows great oil pressure to point of failure or shutdown, so very little or no warning of impending issue. The problem is most prevalent on a short, tight circuit with many changes of direction both right and left.

Tyre choice here is very limited in sizes let alone compounds. Have one option for front 6" rims thus strongly considering 8" fronts.

On another circuit with a very long, downhill straight I am on the rev limiter very soon after entering.....and losing heaps of time and distance to the competition. Thus question about going to 15" dia. rears to increase top speed as I am maxxed out on engine revs and diff ratio.

There is a very fast bike engined MNR here with 8"x13" fronts and rears.......I have driven it and it has tremendous front end grip. Under racing conditions it points very well through all corners whilst I am understeering.... I know it is a different animal but it is now my benchmark.

Thanks