Sunday Streetwars, Honiton, Devon - this Sunday
Sunday Streetwars, Honiton, Devon - this Sunday
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V8S

Original Poster:

8,582 posts

266 months

Tuesday 8th April 2008
quotequote all
Anyone going?

I shall be there with the V8 if the weather is half decent. Myself and S2 Giles were there in November with our Ss; hoping for some others to come along this time and do battle!

You're not going to shag your engine or destroy your tyres - it's just a little more spirited acceleration than you would off the lights by Tesco.

Really simple:

You bring your road-legal S.

It's £5 on the gate for each person to get into the event whether you're racing or spectating.

If you want to race, you go to the little hut near the start line. It'll cost you £20 per driver and you hand in your photo licence. I wasn't asked for the paper counterpart. No passengers during runs - driver only.

In November, open-face helmets were free to borrow, but there was a £10 deposit and there's obviously a limited amount.

You line up to be scrutineered to check your car is safe. Your number is then painted on your window in white polish stuff that can easily be washed off.

Now you join the line to race, and hopefully find someone reasonably equal to make it more interesting. We raced S2Giles for instance.

You might have 40 sets of cars in front of you when you join the line, so most people get out and push the car down until it's worth warming it up. In November, back of the line to front was approx 30 minutes so you have time to chat to people and grab some food.

When you are summoned at the front of the line, you take your position near the light gantry. Unfortunately there was no painted line to tell where that was so you have to watch the 'christmas tree' lights to tell you, and you're helped by the marshal. I went over and had to reverse the first time - embarrassing but lots of people in the same boat so don't worry.

Lights go green... you stop accelerating after the 1/8th mile board and drive around the airfield to the back of the line if you want to go again, and you will!

Sorry if that's teaching you to suck eggs, but for those who've never tried it hopefully it's given them an idea that it's not scary or damaging to the car. I wouldn't do it if it was!

Once you've had your first ever go, you're a lot less apprehensive about the next ones.

Hope to see you there!


Edited to add:

http://www.streetnights.com

Edited by V8S on Tuesday 8th April 16:04

wanacoop

1,249 posts

251 months

Tuesday 8th April 2008
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Good explaination!clap

I will see you there hopefullybounce

S2 Giles

2,871 posts

304 months

Wednesday 9th April 2008
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I may well make it ! I just hope its not too busy.

The SW TVRCC are heading up there early - like 7.30 which is never going to work for me !

jonnylayze

1,640 posts

255 months

Wednesday 9th April 2008
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I may pop down - trying to persuade some others to join me!!

V8S

Original Poster:

8,582 posts

266 months

Friday 11th April 2008
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jonnylayze said:
I may pop down - trying to persuade some others to join me!!
Any luck?

V8S

Original Poster:

8,582 posts

266 months

Monday 14th April 2008
quotequote all
After engine idling problems in the morning, we headed down to Honiton and reached the airfield at about 1pm. We were rather dismayed to discover that we were the only TVR there. We assume that the weather put many people off, but, apart from a short, light hail shower, we had mainly sunny skies all day until end of play at 5pm. In fact, for the first few runs we had the roof down.

In 4 hours I managed 7 runs, and Sandy had 8. In fact, we got our money's worth and she was the last run of the day up against a big 6-series beemer. This was made possible by far fewer cars turning up than last time, meaning only about 15 to 20 sets of cars ahead of us each time we joined the line. After about 4pm only about 8 or so cars were still wanting to go out, so our last runs were preceded by frantic swap-overs of helmet and seat position.

Aside from getting a little bit warm waiting in the line to race, the car performed very well indeed. Several times we got wheelspin off the line, most of it unintentional. I find it difficult to hear the revs with a helmet on but I suppose everyone is in the same boat.

We lined up against a variety of cars - 200SX, A-reg BMW, Subaru Impreza, MK2 Cavalier SRi, BMW 645, modified Mini, Audi S3 and more.

For me, the modified Mini was the closest race even though he won - seeing something in your peripheral vision either gaining or dropping back slowly is massive fun.

My downfall is my reaction times - Sandy is much faster - and we both had a couple of numpty launches (for me: 1. going too far then wondering if I have to reverse, but no we're off!, and 2. jumping out of first gear on the line) but it's all about learning and becoming more comfortable in front of those lights.

A chap in a Subaru I raced gave us a good tip about getting to the lights before the other car, so you have time to settle which I tried to remember but didn't really achieve.

As there's nothing on the ground to say where the line is, you're dependent on the marshal's hand signals and creeping forward to set off the pre-stage lights. As a novice I'd like some kind of physical indication to give me an idea of where I should be, then rely on the lights - but it's the same for everyone and I suppose it gets you more used to the lights.

During the afternoon a chap came by, who had a Chimaera and chanced upon the event while out on a hoon with his young son, but we couldn't persuade him to race. Maybe next time.

I realised after 5 runs that we were pretty quick in first and second against the other cars, but third gear seemed to see them reeling us back in, I guess down to the turbos coming in properly. Maybe a remap might solve this.

Anyway, we had a great day and hopefully will be there again in May. And hopefully one or two other TVRs will come and race us. biggrin

Dave_M

5,486 posts

253 months

Monday 14th April 2008
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That sounds like great fun! I've never done it, but I imagine you are absolutely right that practice makes perfect. Anyhow, whether it does or not, the object is to have fun and you did that. Nice post too. Dave

tinks v8S

2,153 posts

237 months

Monday 14th April 2008
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santa pod /avon park
this is a well run what u brung
may try to get a tiv meet

wanacoop

1,249 posts

251 months

Tuesday 15th April 2008
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Gutted i missed it, my mates let me down the day before, and i couldn't really take the gf!

V8S

Original Poster:

8,582 posts

266 months

Tuesday 15th April 2008
quotequote all
wanacoop said:
Gutted i missed it, my mates let me down the day before, and i couldn't really take the gf!
Shame you didn't come, it was a great day. Of course you can bring the g/f - I did! biggrin

Now I'm hoping not too many cars turn up in May, so we can have as many runs as this time!

wanacoop

1,249 posts

251 months

Tuesday 15th April 2008
quotequote all
V8S said:
wanacoop said:
Gutted i missed it, my mates let me down the day before, and i couldn't really take the gf!
Shame you didn't come, it was a great day. Of course you can bring the g/f - I did! biggrin

Now I'm hoping not too many cars turn up in May, so we can have as many runs as this time!
she's only just come round to the idea of me getting another performance car!(she likes TVR's, older the better also!party) so i don't want to overkill the 'car stuff'!!

out of the cars that you raced, how many did you get the better of??

V8S

Original Poster:

8,582 posts

266 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
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wanacoop said:
V8S said:
wanacoop said:
Gutted i missed it, my mates let me down the day before, and i couldn't really take the gf!
Shame you didn't come, it was a great day. Of course you can bring the g/f - I did! biggrin

Now I'm hoping not too many cars turn up in May, so we can have as many runs as this time!
she's only just come round to the idea of me getting another performance car!(she likes TVR's, older the better also!party) so i don't want to overkill the 'car stuff'!!

out of the cars that you raced, how many did you get the better of??
Hi Tony - out of the, what, 15 we raced, I suppose we beat about 7. I'll look at my slips tonight, but we both had a couple of bad starts so I don't really count those.

I think I need to firm the rear suspension up again before the next event because the car just sits down off the line; almost looks on the video like the exhaust scrapes the ground.

S2 Giles

2,871 posts

304 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
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Hello hello hello

OK so i missed it - She wasnt taxed in time (i forgot to do it)

I am intending to make the one in May and a friend of mine with a V8S is coming down for the weekend to participate.

I'm surprised the TVRCC guys didnt turn up ? they were supposed to be going from Plymouth at 7.30. Maybe they had left by 1pm or were put off by the hail storms we had over dartmoor.

V8S

Original Poster:

8,582 posts

266 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
I texted Corin a bit after we arrived to ask if he knew anything but didn't get a reply.

Hope to see you and your mate at the next one. thumbup

wanacoop

1,249 posts

251 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
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got the vid uploaded anywhere online??

V8S

Original Poster:

8,582 posts

266 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
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Not yet, will try to get it on Youtube in the next week and post a link here.