First race next Saturday!!!!
Discussion
For anyone that might be interested, next Saturday will be the first race for a team called "TWM racing" at Oulton Park. TWM stands for three wise monkeys, (myself and two mates). We are racing in the Fun Cup endurance series. Should be a good laugh.
Here's a few photos of our car, still has last years stickers, these will be changed, also now has a new sequential gear box. Really looking forward to it.
http://www.funcup.co.uk/assets/Uploads/Car-62-2.JP...
http://www.funcup.co.uk/assets/Uploads/Car-62.JPG
Here's a few photos of our car, still has last years stickers, these will be changed, also now has a new sequential gear box. Really looking forward to it.
http://www.funcup.co.uk/assets/Uploads/Car-62-2.JP...
http://www.funcup.co.uk/assets/Uploads/Car-62.JPG
Heyrick said:
How'd it go, Paul?
What a weekend!!!First ever race, how did it go? - could have been better, but still a fantastic experience.
Low points:
1. Car seemed to crab, I drove the car on testing day and could not get it around Druids or Lodge without it feeling like it wanted to send me into the scenery. Had a look at the rear set up after a follwing drive couls see something was a miss and found the rear left hand side wheel was angled out, causing the rear to try to head left, even in a straight line. This was only found half way though our testing day, 10mins of tinkering, realigning and all was sorted, quick test and it was like a new car.
2. Seat runner decided to jam, unable to move the seat, two of us are 6ft5" one is 6ft2". This lost us a testing session, new runners in an all was well.
3. Lost of dispay on gear selector, then, unable to select gears when throttle flat. Found a faulty alternator, battery not able to power dispay of gear, or cut engine when flat shifting up. Replaced and away we went
4. Race day, got randomly drawn 21st out of 23 on the grid so had some work ahead of us.
5. Five laps in and the car comes in steaming, broken alternator and water pump belt!!!! At this point we had gained two places, but 10 mins later we were way back, but we were not going to give up.
6. Second stint out for our second driver, into Shell oil corner the steering wheel snaps on the boss!!!!! scary stuff, safty car out, but no damage done to the car. Car and driver returned to the garage, 5mins in the gravel and 7mins later in the garage, new steering wheel fitted and off we went, not a chance of getting even to the back markers (one of which was along side us in the garage) who were lapping 5-10 secs slower than us.
High points:
1. Getting asked for our autographs, the kid either thought we looked the part or was delusional, but either way that was fun!! on ticked off the bucket list, even if it was a one of mistake
2. The racing wheel to wheel.
3. Getting the best lap time of our team 2.053, fastest lap time of the day was 2.037
4. Having an epic battle with three other cars for about 8 laps
5. Passing the chequered flag and all the marshalls waving their flags and clapping, childish I know, but it made me feel a bit like an F1 racing driver and that was great.
6. Pulling myself out of the car, drowned in sweat and another driver walks into our garage asking who was driving the last stint??? "me" was my answer, he then shook my hand and congratulated me on a great battle, that was the high light for me.
7. Getting the car back after 6 x 40min races in almost one piece, (minus 1 front splitter that I managed to rip off)
Overall a fantastic start to our racing, could have gone better, lost due to technical failure rather than driver error. We finished 21st out of 23 so not last and where we started from, had we not had the failures and looking at the lap times we were putting in, we should have finished about 16th!! We wanted to be competitive and complete the race, we did both so we are happy!!!
Anyone interested in racing within a budget, I couldn't recommend this enough and a really frendly bunch. I will upload some photos once I get chance. The races are televised on Sky sports 4 I think so will keep you posted Next race Donnington in about 4 weeks time, can't wait.
wessexrfc said:
Bol for that mate, would consider hill climbing, but don't have the time to do all the spannering. What are you racing, have you done it before??
Spannering, what's that?! Had one mechanical incident in three seasons, that required the car being recovered to a garage as I had blown the diff.This will be my 4th season I think in my trusty 172 Cup, almost standard so not the quickest thing but great fun & (relatively) cheap. Nowhere near as much time behind the wheel as circuit racing, typically 4 runs at 45ish seconds each but very intense as every second counts! Some hills can be 5 or 6 runs a day.
Also a very friendly, social sport where everybody helps each other out, a great atmosphere in the paddock. Always helpful when you spend so much time there!
Thanks for the write up Paul! Sounds a lot of fun - sorry to hear of all the breakages but well done on the times. Hopefully a lot of the gremlins have now been sent packing and it'll go better next time.
I know I'll never get to do something like this so it's great to see it happening for someone local - please keep the updates coming!
I know I'll never get to do something like this so it's great to see it happening for someone local - please keep the updates coming!
wessexrfc said:
What a weekend!!!
1. Car seemed to crab, I drove the car on testing day and could not get it around Druids or Lodge without it feeling like it wanted to send me into the scenery. Had a look at the rear set up after a follwing drive couls see something was a miss and found the rear left hand side wheel was angled out, causing the rear to try to head left, even in a straight line. This was only found half way though our testing day, 10mins of tinkering, realigning and all was sorted, quick test and it was like a new car.
2. Seat runner decided to jam, unable to move the seat, two of us are 6ft5" one is 6ft2". This lost us a testing session, new runners in an all was well.
3. Lost of dispay on gear selector, then, unable to select gears when throttle flat. Found a faulty alternator, battery not able to power dispay of gear, or cut engine when flat shifting up. Replaced and away we went
5. Five laps in and the car comes in steaming, broken alternator and water pump belt!!!! At this point we had gained two places, but 10 mins later we were way back, but we were not going to give up.
6. Second stint out for our second driver, into Shell oil corner the steering wheel snaps on the boss!!!!! scary stuff, safty car out, but no damage done to the car. Car and driver returned to the garage, 5mins in the gravel and 7mins later in the garage, new steering wheel fitted and off we went, not a chance of getting even to the back markers (one of which was along side us in the garage) who were lapping 5-10 secs slower than us.
1. Car seemed to crab, I drove the car on testing day and could not get it around Druids or Lodge without it feeling like it wanted to send me into the scenery. Had a look at the rear set up after a follwing drive couls see something was a miss and found the rear left hand side wheel was angled out, causing the rear to try to head left, even in a straight line. This was only found half way though our testing day, 10mins of tinkering, realigning and all was sorted, quick test and it was like a new car.
2. Seat runner decided to jam, unable to move the seat, two of us are 6ft5" one is 6ft2". This lost us a testing session, new runners in an all was well.
3. Lost of dispay on gear selector, then, unable to select gears when throttle flat. Found a faulty alternator, battery not able to power dispay of gear, or cut engine when flat shifting up. Replaced and away we went
5. Five laps in and the car comes in steaming, broken alternator and water pump belt!!!! At this point we had gained two places, but 10 mins later we were way back, but we were not going to give up.
6. Second stint out for our second driver, into Shell oil corner the steering wheel snaps on the boss!!!!! scary stuff, safty car out, but no damage done to the car. Car and driver returned to the garage, 5mins in the gravel and 7mins later in the garage, new steering wheel fitted and off we went, not a chance of getting even to the back markers (one of which was along side us in the garage) who were lapping 5-10 secs slower than us.
wessexrfc said:
Bol for that mate, would consider hill climbing, but don't have the time to do all the spannering. What are you racing, have you done it before??
Don't have time for spannering? I'd have gone home with all the stuff you had to do. Alignment can be lived with, as can a loss of flat-shifting, but a broken alternator and water pump would've been the end for me. At a sprint, I rarely use more than the torque wrench for wheel nuts and the 12mm spanner for getting the body off for scrutineering. If I was in a roadgoing class, I wouldn't even take any tools. Hillclimbs and sprints are not spanner-sports!Thanks guys, its the best buzz I've ever experenced.
All the spannering is done by the pit crew who we employ through JPR Racing.
The big draw for us to this racing is the time spent on the track, we all did (almost) 2 x 40 mins of racing each and testing most of the day on Friday before the race!!
The closest race is Brands Hatch, but if anyone wanted to come along as our Pit b
h they are welcome, all expenses paid for!! if there is room you can stay with us in the Winnebago!!
We each get so many tickets that we have paid for, so really guys, if anyone wanted to come along for a day-out then I can sort your ticket and free Hospitality
All the spannering is done by the pit crew who we employ through JPR Racing.
The big draw for us to this racing is the time spent on the track, we all did (almost) 2 x 40 mins of racing each and testing most of the day on Friday before the race!!
The closest race is Brands Hatch, but if anyone wanted to come along as our Pit b
h they are welcome, all expenses paid for!! if there is room you can stay with us in the Winnebago!!We each get so many tickets that we have paid for, so really guys, if anyone wanted to come along for a day-out then I can sort your ticket and free Hospitality
How do you mean Pete, as a team there are a few others that are also new. We were lapping @ average 2:10 and our neighbours who were also new were about 2:15. They had all the stuff, from refuellers to full pit crew and racing suits with their names on. Classic case of all the gear and no idea, but they were very nice, but we did want to beat them!!! Next time 
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