416 replies to this topic

[AliM]

Isn't it just! Really looking forward to it now though, just need to get a hurry on finishing the car off and get some days booked! Had the entry form through for race 1, need to get that sent off ASAP if we are car 60 then I'm guessing there's going to be a reserve list!

[Duncan_F]

Wooohoooooo we passed!

Yeah we did.

[AliM]

Real life racing drivists yeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa

[Darcini]

Well done both, you're beginning to run out of excuses to not actually do this though....

[AliM]

Well done both, you're beginning to run out of excuses to not actually do this though....

Thank you!! we were both grinning like idiots and I even did a little dance.

no excuses now, it's happening

[JohnTurbo]

Thats top work. I'm excited on your behalf. Excitement-by-proxy.

[Boombang]

Well done, knew you'd be fine. Can I mention I couldn't be any more jealous at you guys for getting a run out this season!

[rob999]

Well done Ali and Duncan. You know .Org has a 100% winning record don't you!!

[AliM]

Well done Ali and Duncan. You know .Org has a 100% winning record don't you!!

Yeah in VX's, Saxo's don't count

[AliM]

Thought i'd give a little update as we've been pretty busy this month! So following on from the ARDS test triumph earlier in the month we have been busy stripping down the car further and have removed everything that isn't absolutely necessary. The EML has come on, so it's possible we've removed something we did need I've bought an ODB reader so will check that out at the weekend, cheap as chips at £18 from ebay and I cleared the codes off the VX with it last night. We've removed the sunroof and plated it over with a sheet of aluminium, and we are doing a dry fit of the roll cage this weekend to see if we need to cut away at the dash or anything. Then hopefully it'll just be a case of welding it in when the day comes. We've got a 45 litre tank, but as it's a 40 minute race we are a little bit concerned about fuel starvation and also running out of fuel. We've bought a swirl pot, secondary fuel pump and in line filter, some shiney briaded hoses etc. so hopefully this will tackle both issues. I say that like I understand how it all works but i really don't. There are a few other bits which need to be done like plumb the fire extinguisher in, weld the plates in for the seat, and relocate the battery cut off switch. But i think we'll do this after the cage is in! Oh and i've painted some bits white to make it look pretty We've been registered for the test day on the 26th March and first race is Sunday 14th April, both at Snetterton. So we really are in the final run up, and we're both crapping ourselves because we've not driven the car further than round the estate (on private land obviously).

[Nelly Vx]

Got the gas sorted for the welder , is sat the 9th ok to come over and weld the floor plates in for the cage ? :-)

[AliM]

Good for me will check with Duncan, thanks Neil. Let me know where we need to be and when Thank You!!

Edited by AliM, 01 March 2013 - 09:02 PM.

[AliM]

Ok so it's the test day @Snetterton this coming Tuesday, personally I’ve got mixed emotions. I'm worried for 2 reasons: Firstly, I'm concerned we're not going to be competitive power wise, we've been chatting with people from our series on the Facebook group and have seen some of the work that's gone in to our competitors cars. Whereas Duncan and I have gone for the suck it n see approach, we've done everything we needed to in order to make the car meet the blue book safety regs, but we've not touched the engine. The car was pretty well set up when we bought it, so I’m keeping everything crossed that extends to engine work and there are a few extra ponies hidden under the hood! Reason 2 is that we've not driven the car further than round the block a few times, either of us, so this test day will be the first time we've given the car any abuse at all. Should make for an interesting, and expensive, day as I’m pretty sure we'll come home with a shopping list.

Nelly did a fantastic job welding the cage in for us 2 weeks ago, so big thanks go out to him! That leaves us with the following jobs to do this weekend:

Fit the seat and Harness,
Refit the dash,
plumb in the fire extinguisher,
relocate the battery cut off switch.
Make sure we've put it all back together properly and that it still starts.



If anyone is interested in coming along to watch us here's our race calendar for the season:

Sun 14th Apr - Snetterton
Mon 6th May - Brands
Sat 1st June - Thruxton (TBC, might drop this round)
Sun 30th June - Cadwell Park
Sat 13th July - Castle Coombe (TBC, might drop this round)
Sat 3rd & Sun 4th August - Pembrey
Sat 24th August - Donnington
Sat 21st Sept - Oulton
Sat 19th Oct - Snetterton

Edited by AliM, 21 March 2013 - 09:25 AM.

[Pidgeon]

Ali, you won't be competetive out of the box. Don't worry about the power. It will take a few races to learn to drive in a race and become used to having cars all around you, overtaking both sides, sitting on your bumper, braking in front of you. There's plenty to worry about, and power doesn't make the list! Your approach is sound.

[rob999]

Hmm, Brands on my birthday... maybe I'm sure you and Duncan will do well Ali, remember engine mods don't always mean more success, driver talent and all that

[AliM]

Hmm, Brands on my birthday... maybe
I'm sure you and Duncan will do well Ali, remember engine mods don't always mean more success, driver talent and all that

What I lack in talent/power i make up for in enthusiasm.....

Mr Partridge is absolutely right, this rookie season is going to be a massive learning curve and all about getting used to how things work. There are going to be other people in our situation too, hopefully with less track experience than us which might give us the edge on somebody at least!

[Mike (Cliffie)]

You are going to be so nervous at the first round and it will all go one the lights go out and yes; it will be a massive learning curve for you.

[Duncan_F]

It will take a few races to learn to drive in a race and become used to having cars all around you, overtaking both sides, sitting on your bumper, braking in front of you.

That's the thing that I'm most nervous about.

We've both done plenty of track days but actual racing is a whole different kettle of fish. I actually think the pair us us (well, definitely me) will be quite timid to begin with and we'll be letting people through because we won't want to hit them, that sort of thing. Once that first race or two is out of the way though I reckon our track driving experience will come through and we'll start to get braver and quicker.

I also agree with what people have said about power. For our type of car I think it's the driver that's going to make the difference. Rather than throwing cash at it to get an extra couple of horseys I think we could quite easily achieve the same result of reducing lap times by just taking the corners correctly and maintaining momentum.

We will inevitably want more power eventually, but that can wait for a little while when we have some actual race experience and our bank balances have recovered slightly from the last couple of months.

[Boombang]

If it makes you feel any better, at Brands my laptimes are 3 seconds slower in my 90bhp Saxo than if I drive my mate's 170bhp 205. I would say that I gain a second back for my car being better setup and lose a second for running A021s against A048s. Over a race distance that's obviously a lot of time, but laptimes are going to be reduced by people defending their positions. My dad used to always say to race your own race, don't get caught up in any one on one battles and just concentrate on tidy clean laps. If nothing your tyres will thank you.

[Boombang]

I'll also speak to Mrs B about Brands if you want someone in the pits that knows Saxo's?