Snetterton Track Test – BC Coilover review

Well, first time on track with the BC ER Series coilovers today at snetterton in the wet.  Although they have not been properly aligned yet I have set them up to visually replicate what was there before – way off being finished though but it doesnt tramline or pull either way so cant be a million miles out.  The ER Series are the external reservoir set up and I have uprated the springs to 10kg front and 8kg rear to use this as a baseline for future changes.

BC ER Series Coilovers

Previous suspension set up worked well but was always under-sprung bearing in mind the downforce I am now running and the power.  BChave been very helpful in providing excellent support during the set up process and I am pleased to have their support during Time Attack 2010.

I have played with the set up of these on the road and got them to what I thought was a good compromise set up for general road use and track work in particular. Today I managed to spend some time at Snetterton testing them and spent some time setting them up to provide a good predictable ride in the wet.

I was running T1R road tyres and normal fuel on low boost so not out for lap records but to get a feel for the composure over kerbs, on turn in, mid corner, exits etc to see where I go from here.

Unreserved judgement is that I am impressed – still. They work great and very smooth and controlled in the wet. I will reserve judgement for the dry until I have tested under those conditions but from what I have seen so far the extra stiffness of the set up is helping stability in braking as well as reducing weight transfer during turn in so it feels more planted than it did with the ex-tc in the wet. Riding the newly raised kerbs in the wet was a test to see how settled the car is on return to black tarmac. My passengers for the day seemed very impressed with the predictability of it.

No drama today but no lap records – some ten + seconds off the TA times but you would expect that in the wet. Mind you quite impressed with the T1R’s in the fully wet too.

I am very excited about a dry track test next month on 888’s to see whether this revelation continues.

More coming soon….

2009 Time Attack Results Summary

Total Points for the season of 690 out of a possible 750.

* corrected for Shane Smith moving to Club Pro.

Time Attack 2009 & Snetterton Review

It’s been a couple of days now since the last round of 2009’s Time Attack series and, truth be told, it hasnt really sunk in that I am now the Time Attack 2009 Club Challenge Champion.

The work put in within the last two weeks by myself  to get the car ready then decide to run a hitherto totally untested dry sump system had kind of distracted me mind away from thinking about how far I had come with the car in the last year or so. Still, the zen performance dry sump was in place and Paul from Zen was convinced it would work – initial tests on the road he was absolutely right and it was working perfectly.  It was time to get the rest of the car ready and get me ready to bring home the title.

I had done most of this to-do during the week but there were one of two bits left over from my list that unfortunately had to be done the day before the event. Nige and the rest of the Pinders were coming to ours for the weekend of the Snetterton round and this meant that together we could get them done – thanks Nige for helping to change brake lines to some lovely HEL stainless braided lines, change and bleed the brake fluid and generally get all the ’stuff’ sorted.

Cheers also to Jon and Fezza for bringing all of the E85 that I would need for the weekend from their local Morrisons and for the banter back at base

All that was needed then was for me to map the car.  Luckily Nige was willing and able to sit in the passenger seat and following instructions from me got a map fairly close to where I needed it within a very short period of time. Live mapping with the Solaris ecu is really a god send and saves a huge amount of time. We also discussed various settings for the map switches to allow me to run various levels of boost / aggressive timing/fuel etc should I need to in desperation but the plan was to stick to a known and comfortable level for the car for the morning sessions before upping the ante when it counted. No issues at all during mapping.

So …. saturday night and car loaded up, cleaned in the dark and food time and try and get some sleep.  Luckily so much work both on the car and ‘proper’ work over the preceding week meant sleep was just 1 second away at most times… before I knew it – it was the morning of the big day. My home track, the one I had done more than any other in the world.

I hadn’t driven since March on a track day with tuition from Phil Glew but felt confident in my knowledge of the circuit, the lines and the car – it just needed to work as expected.

Getting to the track was easy enough, although a bit of chaos in the pits themselves which meant that i was getting a tad stressed with set up and last minute check time was by eaten into by faffing around – thanks again Nige for taking on duties in that area and for my wife Rachel for putting up with my general edginess (understatement) LOL.

Team Zen arrived on cue and whilst the whirlwind that is Team Zen unpacked, the guy from Rapid Media set up the camera system in the car and matt (www.2clearbuckets.com) gave the car some TLC to make it gleaming for its big day.  It was show time…

Off out into the warm up and all was not well, every time I put my foot to the floor I got a horrid misfire the car missed several beats and it scared the sheet out of me, then the boost hose popped off and I headed into the pits to be greeted by Paul from Zen and the guys who set about getting it back on in record time to send me back out. Half throttle was the order of the day for warm up as a result of the misfire but I still surprisingly managed to equal my best ever time around Snetterton. Russ Paton (2nd in the championship and the only guy that could beat me) on the other hand seemed to be flying and doubts entered my head as to whether I could actually do this.

With only an hour between warm up and practice I set about trying to locate the source of the issue in the map that wasnt there the day before – it looked like the crank sensor voltage was dropping outside of the range to pick up a signal and the ecu thought the car was stalling at 7000 rpm ! It wasnt I adjusted the range and crossed my fingers that it would do it and headed out for Practice.  By this time friends and family had made it there and they were all expecting great things aswell as witty/relaxed conversation from me.  Sorry on both counts everyone.

Practice came and so did the misfire again. Balls. I knew I wouldn’t be able to solve the issue during the session so used the time on track to get the corners nailed, lines comfortable and settle myself – or at least try to. I came in from the session seeing Russ in the 1.15’s – way quicker than I thought I could go and felt beaten. Phil spoke to me about the lines I had been taken and reassured me that they were spot on – just needed to believe. Liz got my head straight in true lizzy fashion by telling me to snap out of it granddad (or words to that effect). Paul and Pat also had a look at the issue on the ecu/car to see if our collective minds could solve it – we all agreed what the issue was and the necessary changes made – it HAD to work.

Julian and Nige had been looking after me and the car superbly (as had Rachel by feeding, making coffee and generally keeping me upbeat about it) – I had to pay back that faith and support in qualifying. An agonising wait and eventually we get out on track. I put my foot down out of the pit lane … no misfire… hmm.  Ok, maybe this will be cool. I give myself some space ont he warm up lap and nail it but the Reynolds Sierra comes out the pitlane late and blocks Scott Robson in front of me, then I catch him in the Esses costing a lot of time.. I could feel it slipping away. I was angry – not a state that I normally like to drive in, but keep on it for that lap – i needed something on the board to count. I do the lap and carry on for hot lap 2 – yeah felt good but caught Scott on the straight and decided to pass, this took me off line and trying to keep on it too long – I missed my braking point and had to bail out and down the escape road. Calm down Duncan. I gave up on that lap and went past the pits and the pit board said P2 – OMG ! Even with the hold up… perhaps I could do it. Next lap it said P3.  I needed P4 or better and P5 in the final to win the series so had to do another hot lap to try and do it.  This time, I had a clear run, good speed around the important parts and came across the line and carried on for another hot lap but then the red lights were out and it was end of session due to an exploding reynolds sierra. I came in and I was in P1 with Russ in P4 – if it stayed like that the title was mine.  There were 6 mins remaining of the session so decided to sit it out and wait as it was working and I wanted to keep it that way for the final but quietly hoping that I could get it wrapped up in quali. A very long 5 mins once they were out there saw Russ improve his time but not by enough… my 1.15.3 was enough to secure 1st in qualifying and overall series win !

Lots of jumping around in the Team Zen garage by all and sundry ensued as Zen had also got P1 in their qualifying session just afterwards – it was awesome to see them come back so strongly after the bitter disappointment of brands hatch. It takes real resilience to do that and they have it in bucket fulls. A great team to have on your side.

Anyway – the final.  Half tempted to just drive around with anti lag on and waving but then curiosity struck and I wondered whether it would be possible to get what is still my daily driver into the 1.14’s.  I vowed to give it a good go and headed out.

hot lap 1 – 1.15.1 and the pitboard showed P1 as I crossed the line to start hotlap 2 – I was happy and the car felt immense and totally connected to the road. I took even more speed into Coram and still it gripped, spat me down the hill to the chicane and onto the finish straight.. yeah that felt sweet. if any lap would do it – that had to be it.  Pit board said P1. I did a few cool down laps checked the board and gathering myself for one last go – maybe it could go quicker still. i started another hotlap and my mind was elsewhere and the car was too, I was missing apexes by miles, but I kept going through that lap and decided to come in on the next lap – I wasn’t going to get any quicker today 1.14.999 was my time and I was over the moon … but Russ Paton pulled out a stormer just on my coming in lap and right on the chequered flag to beat me and take the win. Oh well – he deserved it – he had been on it all day and the 1.14.3 he got was simply stunning.

So – that was it. Just Zen to do their part and bring home the Pro win. Phil Glew had been on fire all day and a win was always on the cards although a change of weather caught RCM out and ended up taking away the massive fight between RCM + NOS and Zen + handling that would have been very interesting to see. I am over the moon for them – the late nights they put in with me in the last week to help get the dry sump system set up whilst rebuilding their own car (all outside normal customer hours) is humbling.

So – the awards ceremony and normal champagne madness and some cracking trophies and chatting to fellow competitors, friends, family, well wishers, team and basically everyone it seemed and it was time to go home.

What a great year ! – It wouldnt have been possible without the help and support of many many people …

• Paul / Liz and the team at Zen Performance and all of Team Zen (what a great team)
• Mark at Lateral Performance
• Pat and Charlie – Solaris
• Alyn at AS Performance
• Daren at AutoBodyworks
• Gary at Keith Michaels Insurance
• Julian and Donna from CJS Norwich
• Jon at GW Autoserve in Ipswich
• Ben at HEL
• Matt at 2ClearBuckets.com

With invaluable support from

• Ren
• Nige / Lou and the Pinders
• and especially #1 Supporters – Rachel & Annabelle

and everyone that has followed my progress through the year and wished me luck or said well done.  It takes a lot out of you emotionally and it is the support that keeps you going.

Thank you and who knows what the future may hold

ps – sorry about the huge amount of words and small amount (ie none) pictures – not had a chance to go through and sort pics out to go with this yet.  There will be some added though.

Time Attack Champion 2009 !!!

OMG.

An awesome day out at Snetterton and the Club Challenge 2009 title was wrapped up in qualifying with 1st place securing the overall win in the series.

that motorsport champagne stings but tastes ooo so good

I will write a full report later but for the time being a huge thanks to friends and family for their constant support and for sponsors for all that they have done for me this year – I could not have done it without you … I am sure we will speak soon about 2010

In particular I would like to say a HUGE thanks to Paul and Liz at Zen Performance – Team Zen never give up spirit, determination, engine building, chassis set up, constant support and race engineering assistance right through 2009 has made this happen.

Congratulations to them also for their win yesterday at Snetterton. !

oh and the Dry Sump worked perfectly

Zen Performance Dry Sump Kit

The long awaited dry sump set up is now off the drawing board and firmly into reality…

Who says function isn’t beautiful ?

Paul at Zen Performance in Wellingborough has designed and developed this set up specifically to solve the dreaded oil surge encountered on track in an impreza on high g corners  – the most frequent cause of engine death on track.

With the continued chassis developments and set up from Zen in the handling department along with aero (and it would seem faster driving), this dry sump kit is now a necessity on my car and most definitely needed for the long right hander of Coram at my local Snetterton circuit.  I am pleased to say that we will be endeavouring to be fitting a kit to the car before the grand final of 2009 Time Attack at Snetterton in 2 weeks !

Initial indications from Zen are that the kit will retail around £2K – £2.5K which may initially look like a lot but it pays for itself every time the car is taken on track by saving from VERY expensive engine rebuilds.

I am very excited about having the opportunity to test this pre final production item and curing oil surge for good !

A huge thanks also go to Ben Viner at HEL for supplying of all the braided hose and lush black anodised fittings for the kit… pictures will follow of the install.

‘Live’ In Car Video again from Snetterton

I am pleased to announce that Rapid Media will again be providing a live in car video feed from my car (and Zen’s) to a large plasma screen in our pit garage.

There will be two cameras; one forward and the other facing the driver as per the previous installs at Silverstone and Brands Hatch.  These will be beaming live pictures back to a huge 42 inch plasma screen as seen below.

We have found the footage extremely good quality and very useful in many ways.

Lateral Performance Baffled Sump

As Snetterton showed the need for additional oil surge protection – Mark @ Lateral Performance came to the rescue with a properly baffled and superbly built twin scroll baffled sump to replace the std item fitted to my car.

Looks a proper piece of kit !!

I am going to fit this along with the Cosworth Baffle plate that I already have fitted to give added protection from surge and blow by.

Cheers Mark

Testing at Snetterton

Well, first track test on the new set up yesterday at Snetterton and I can see distinct progress already.

Hardly off track all day apart from detailed de-brief with Mr Glew who was there all day with me to teach me a trick or two about driving imprezas fast.  They seemed to work lol.

So many positives from yesterday:

- smoother performance from the Solaris ecu meant power could be applied much earlier and progressively. Ran low boost (1.5 bar) to start with but upped it to a little more    and had a ball 

- handling… wide is good

- aero works … experimenting with a few rear wing settings gave great feedback that hopefully will translate into other venues.  I need to figure out a way to stop the dents in the double layer metal bootlid getting much worse though lol.

Some distinct improvements are needed in sump baffling now though.  Even two up, full fuel level and with having to back off to protect it from oil surge around Coram (looking at the oil pressure all the way around) we were clocking quicker times (I am told) than the final of TA.

There are obviously one or two other small things to sort but in general everything worked like clockwork and I got a huge amount of seat time and instruction from Phil.

Other improvements to come should improve the car further.

Some pics: