Clio 172 Merc ML55
Winters up's, downs and inbetweens part 3a. (Mar-May 19)
This is a long one so but do read on ?
On the back of a successful track day it was time to tidy up the last odds and ends on the car and organise this years racing plans.
First and foremost, where to race? For a number of reasons we've ended up in the Hot Hatches at Combe, completely underpowered in comparison to most of the field but its local with no need to camp/b'n'b, this year is all about seat time so as long as we're improving then all is good.
My list of odds and ends included
• Painting bonnet
• Replacing fuel line/rail to include a dry break for sampling
• Fitting PMS bullet rear axle kit
• Re routing the internal bias valve out of reach from seat
• Finish off door cards
• Fit new tow eyes
• Chamge front springs, lowering spring rate from 800 to 650 lb
Normally we'd be rushing around trying to sort everything out last minute but for once the car was ready well in advance, so to save time and find a space in the paddock it was dropped off the night before the Early May bank holiday (May Madness as Combe like to call it)
Mon 6th May arrives and we set off for an early start, get the car prepared, sign on, run through scrutineering etc etc.
Half 9 arrives and we're called up for qualifying, a little nervous as again there were new untried/tested elements but the nerves soon settled as we drove out onto the circuit. The first 10 minutes flew by until we lost the throttle coming through Folly and onto Avon Rise (quickest part of the circuit), cruising into the run off at the first chicane gave me an opportunity to switch off and restart the engine, hey presto the throttle returns and we continue on. 3 more laps and the chequered flag is out, qualifying over and we're all eager to see what the times were.
A fastest time of 1:20.9 saw us take 12th of the 23 on the grid for the race, with some comfortable 1:21's to back up our previous non timed timings from track days.
To say we were all ecstatic would be an understatement, yes theres plenty of time to still be found but that's the fastest documented time I'd done, for me an achievement.
We had 4 hours to kill before our race, with nothing to do apart from checking levels/pressures and torques, so sit back and relax, have a chat and a wonder.
We we're called up to the assembly area a little early as the day was running ahead of schedule, so off we go, drive the car up and switch it off whilst we wait. 15 or so minutes pass and the marshall's ask us all to get ready, so I go to start the car and theres nothing ??, no attempt to turn over but I've got ignition, I've got my best mate next to me so we decide to bump start the car, still nothing, we end up just watching everyone else drive out onto the grid.
I look to the chief marshal in the assembly area who's with the series organiser and ask how long have I got to get the car sorted, seconds is the reply, if we're ready before the end of the green flag lap then I can start from the pit lane, despite all our efforts the car refuses point blank to start and we've no option but to push it back to the van in the paddock, whilst my mate is calling both his mrs and my wife who were up on the banking expecting to see the car come out.
All I can say is there was total dejection, I don't think any of us spoke for a good 10 minutes, all the hard work over the winter, the faultless running, the improvement in lap times. All for nothing. A box of matches and a gallon of petrol were seriously considered as everything was packed away
(I hadn't planned on another post but this ones gone on long enough ?)
If you've got this far well done, and thank you
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This is a long one so but do read on ?
On the back of a successful track day it was time to tidy up the last odds and ends on the car and organise this years racing plans.
First and foremost, where to race? For a number of reasons we've ended up in the Hot Hatches at Combe, completely underpowered in comparison to most of the field but its local with no need to camp/b'n'b, this year is all about seat time so as long as we're improving then all is good.
My list of odds and ends included
• Painting bonnet
• Replacing fuel line/rail to include a dry break for sampling
• Fitting PMS bullet rear axle kit
• Re routing the internal bias valve out of reach from seat
• Finish off door cards
• Fit new tow eyes
• Chamge front springs, lowering spring rate from 800 to 650 lb
Normally we'd be rushing around trying to sort everything out last minute but for once the car was ready well in advance, so to save time and find a space in the paddock it was dropped off the night before the Early May bank holiday (May Madness as Combe like to call it)
Mon 6th May arrives and we set off for an early start, get the car prepared, sign on, run through scrutineering etc etc.
Half 9 arrives and we're called up for qualifying, a little nervous as again there were new untried/tested elements but the nerves soon settled as we drove out onto the circuit. The first 10 minutes flew by until we lost the throttle coming through Folly and onto Avon Rise (quickest part of the circuit), cruising into the run off at the first chicane gave me an opportunity to switch off and restart the engine, hey presto the throttle returns and we continue on. 3 more laps and the chequered flag is out, qualifying over and we're all eager to see what the times were.
A fastest time of 1:20.9 saw us take 12th of the 23 on the grid for the race, with some comfortable 1:21's to back up our previous non timed timings from track days.
To say we were all ecstatic would be an understatement, yes theres plenty of time to still be found but that's the fastest documented time I'd done, for me an achievement.
We had 4 hours to kill before our race, with nothing to do apart from checking levels/pressures and torques, so sit back and relax, have a chat and a wonder.
We we're called up to the assembly area a little early as the day was running ahead of schedule, so off we go, drive the car up and switch it off whilst we wait. 15 or so minutes pass and the marshall's ask us all to get ready, so I go to start the car and theres nothing ??, no attempt to turn over but I've got ignition, I've got my best mate next to me so we decide to bump start the car, still nothing, we end up just watching everyone else drive out onto the grid.
I look to the chief marshal in the assembly area who's with the series organiser and ask how long have I got to get the car sorted, seconds is the reply, if we're ready before the end of the green flag lap then I can start from the pit lane, despite all our efforts the car refuses point blank to start and we've no option but to push it back to the van in the paddock, whilst my mate is calling both his mrs and my wife who were up on the banking expecting to see the car come out.
All I can say is there was total dejection, I don't think any of us spoke for a good 10 minutes, all the hard work over the winter, the faultless running, the improvement in lap times. All for nothing. A box of matches and a gallon of petrol were seriously considered as everything was packed away
(I hadn't planned on another post but this ones gone on long enough ?)
If you've got this far well done, and thank you
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