172 Race Car
Anglesey Testing - Friday 21st May 2010
It was a lovely morning as we made our way to the Anglesey circuit for our first proper test session. Hopefully we would be able to improve on the setup we had at Brands. We arrived at the circuit mid morning and were immediately taken aback by the stunning surroundings.
We set up base for the day and went off to sign on. Playing to our strengths we decided to put Tony in the car for the full afternoon and I would be on the pit wall. We could both concentrate on our tasks. We fitted some more sponsor logos and pit board stickers again supplied by N2grafix.
One of the staff at the circuit gave us a drive around a few laps in a road car to show us the layout. We found this very useful and something we've not seen other circuits offer. The track is nothing like it appears in the video's, the gradients are much steeper than they appear.
After speaking to Curtis at AST we made a few tiny adjustments prior to the first run. Our main task for the first session was to establish a stable tyre pressure where we wanted them. Due to lack of running at Brands we didn't learn much about how the tyres reacted over a run and ended the race with extremely high front tyre pressure, partly the problem with the car.
Tony's first run went well and we had good tyre pressures when I checked them after the session. A fastest lap of 1:26.7sec gave us a base to start from. Tony had reported that the car had improved now the tyre weren't balloons but that it still was nowhere near where we wanted it. Prior to the day we had fitted a rear anti roll bar but left its links detached on the first run. So for the next run we connected it on its soft setting.
Session 2 was much better, the car reacted well to the change and an improved lap time of 1:22.8 was encouraging.
A small ride height change in session 3 didn't make much of a difference to the balance but Tony was able to get into the high 1:22sec bracket on a few clear laps
We had 1 run left, the car had been getting better with every change and after another quick call to Curtis at AST, we stiffened the rear roll bar right up. Tony had a great run and was consistently in the mid to low 1:22's. He managed a full 20 minute run and did 3 laps in the 21's. His best being a 1:21.8sec.
A very productive day, we still have work to do on setup but have made a giant leap forwards. Our first experience of test day was a positive one. We packed up ready to go and went off to walk the circuit. Tony describing the lap to me.
We’re looking forward to racing tomorrow and will hopefully be more competitive.............
Anglesey CSCC Tintops race - 22nd May 2010
We arrived early on Saturday morning after having a full cooked breakfast in the B&B down the road from the circuit. We found a spot in the already crowded paddock, setup, gave the car a quick wash and sent it off to be 'scrutinised' in the capable hands of our crew.
Qualifying was quite early compared to Brands but we had time to practice some driver changes for the first time.
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Tony had plenty of time to learn the circuit yesterday so we elected to put me in the car first.
The track walk, safety car ride and watching Tony's video from testing had helped and I quickly got my times below 1:23 seconds. The car was much better than at Brands. With one lap before I pitted to hand over to Tony, I had a clear track and tried to be as smooth as possible. I came into the pits and Tony hopped in. Our lads quickly checked the tyre pressures and he was on his way. Plenty of traffic to negotiate but settled into the high 21's in clear air.
Session over and it had been a good one. The final clear lap I had before pitting was a 1:21.0 putting us 5th on the grid! We couldn't believe it. Secretly we had hoped for top ten with the improvements we had made and in the slightly thinner field, but never expected that. Some insects had to give their lives to achieve it though.
Just before lunch I had a qualifying session for the Sports vs Saloon race I had entered. The field consisted of everything from big Jag's, Tintops, and Classic Porsche's to a Radical and some missile quick Caterham's. The session was fun and I used it to try some different lines after watching Tony's earlier runs. I managed a 1:22.0 to put me 14th out of 32 and next to a BMW on the grid.
Less than an hour later was the Tintops race. Tony would start and the plan was to leave him out right till the end of the pitstop window. After an aborted start and another warm up lap, he made a good getaway and briefly thought about challenging the car in front but slotted into 5th. Half a lap later and the safety car came out (just as at Brands) to allow the marshals to clear up an oil spill between the banking and Church corner.
Being much closer to the front meant Tony could see the lights go out on the safety car, and this time kept much closer to the car in front on the restart. The car behind was filling his mirrors for a lap or two but once he had pulled out a few car lengths and could take his normal line, his times picked up. Tony did a fantastically consistent fast run in the mid 22's and was in clear air most of the time, unable to catch the top 4.
By half distance other teams were starting to pit, Tony continued round and made up places, he was now lapping in the high 1:21's and not loosing much time lapping some class B cars that had pitted. We called him in with 28 minutes gone from 2nd place, we were the last to stop. We had a pretty decent stop of 23 seconds, almost half our Brands shambles. I rejoined the race in 3rd place, not far off 2nd. I took it steady on the out lap but the car felt great. The brakes and tyres were working well and it was the best it had been since we built it. With empty mirrors and 2nd place ahead I tried to keep the gap but found myself gaining. A few laps later a car span in front of us at church corner. Being slightly further back I didn't have to back off as much and got a good run up the hill to Rocket corner, a very big stop. Moving to the inside I had to brake on the dirty stuff and struggled to slow down. I remember wondering how much a passenger door was for an MG ZR but luckily Clinton in the MG was struggling to stop as well and ran wide, I was through into 2nd!
But it was too much for me in what was only my 2nd ever race and a lap later, checking my mirrors too much, I ran wide at Church and was re-passed.
The rapid 4th placed Honda had been catching our battle and I defended my position as best I could. I defended up at the top of the hill into Rocket but a lap later at the same point I hesitated trying to pass a Ford Puma and he was through.
On the final lap the Honda managed to pass the MG with a good run through Church and along the back straight. As the three of us came down the hill through the corkscrew, I could see the flag. We all finished very close together as I crossed the line in 4th.
What a race, our fastest lap was some way off the top 3's and a few cars behind had done quicker laps but our result was a combination of the work we did in testing on Friday, strategy, a good pitstop and Tony's mega consistent, mistake free long stint. The only thing wrong with the car was the windscreen strip that came loose.
It was over a three hour wait till my Sports vs Saloon race, a 15 minute sprint. It was great experience as I did a start for the first time. I had a little fight with the BMW, eventually passed and pulled away. 7 laps in I understeered wide at turn 1 and took to the grass. It caught me by surprise as id took my normal line and approach speed. The rest of the lap was a bit scary as the car would not turn in well. The front tyres were completely finished. I thought about calling it a day but stayed out and cruised around to finish 16th and another signature on my licence.
What a weekend. We are very, very pleased with how it went. The test was the key ingredient, being able to run the car and play with setup was what we needed.
http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/Results/2010 Anglesey.pdf
It was a lovely morning as we made our way to the Anglesey circuit for our first proper test session. Hopefully we would be able to improve on the setup we had at Brands. We arrived at the circuit mid morning and were immediately taken aback by the stunning surroundings.
We set up base for the day and went off to sign on. Playing to our strengths we decided to put Tony in the car for the full afternoon and I would be on the pit wall. We could both concentrate on our tasks. We fitted some more sponsor logos and pit board stickers again supplied by N2grafix.
One of the staff at the circuit gave us a drive around a few laps in a road car to show us the layout. We found this very useful and something we've not seen other circuits offer. The track is nothing like it appears in the video's, the gradients are much steeper than they appear.
After speaking to Curtis at AST we made a few tiny adjustments prior to the first run. Our main task for the first session was to establish a stable tyre pressure where we wanted them. Due to lack of running at Brands we didn't learn much about how the tyres reacted over a run and ended the race with extremely high front tyre pressure, partly the problem with the car.
Tony's first run went well and we had good tyre pressures when I checked them after the session. A fastest lap of 1:26.7sec gave us a base to start from. Tony had reported that the car had improved now the tyre weren't balloons but that it still was nowhere near where we wanted it. Prior to the day we had fitted a rear anti roll bar but left its links detached on the first run. So for the next run we connected it on its soft setting.
Session 2 was much better, the car reacted well to the change and an improved lap time of 1:22.8 was encouraging.
A small ride height change in session 3 didn't make much of a difference to the balance but Tony was able to get into the high 1:22sec bracket on a few clear laps
We had 1 run left, the car had been getting better with every change and after another quick call to Curtis at AST, we stiffened the rear roll bar right up. Tony had a great run and was consistently in the mid to low 1:22's. He managed a full 20 minute run and did 3 laps in the 21's. His best being a 1:21.8sec.
A very productive day, we still have work to do on setup but have made a giant leap forwards. Our first experience of test day was a positive one. We packed up ready to go and went off to walk the circuit. Tony describing the lap to me.
We’re looking forward to racing tomorrow and will hopefully be more competitive.............
Anglesey CSCC Tintops race - 22nd May 2010
We arrived early on Saturday morning after having a full cooked breakfast in the B&B down the road from the circuit. We found a spot in the already crowded paddock, setup, gave the car a quick wash and sent it off to be 'scrutinised' in the capable hands of our crew.
Qualifying was quite early compared to Brands but we had time to practice some driver changes for the first time.
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Tony had plenty of time to learn the circuit yesterday so we elected to put me in the car first.
The track walk, safety car ride and watching Tony's video from testing had helped and I quickly got my times below 1:23 seconds. The car was much better than at Brands. With one lap before I pitted to hand over to Tony, I had a clear track and tried to be as smooth as possible. I came into the pits and Tony hopped in. Our lads quickly checked the tyre pressures and he was on his way. Plenty of traffic to negotiate but settled into the high 21's in clear air.
Session over and it had been a good one. The final clear lap I had before pitting was a 1:21.0 putting us 5th on the grid! We couldn't believe it. Secretly we had hoped for top ten with the improvements we had made and in the slightly thinner field, but never expected that. Some insects had to give their lives to achieve it though.
Just before lunch I had a qualifying session for the Sports vs Saloon race I had entered. The field consisted of everything from big Jag's, Tintops, and Classic Porsche's to a Radical and some missile quick Caterham's. The session was fun and I used it to try some different lines after watching Tony's earlier runs. I managed a 1:22.0 to put me 14th out of 32 and next to a BMW on the grid.
Less than an hour later was the Tintops race. Tony would start and the plan was to leave him out right till the end of the pitstop window. After an aborted start and another warm up lap, he made a good getaway and briefly thought about challenging the car in front but slotted into 5th. Half a lap later and the safety car came out (just as at Brands) to allow the marshals to clear up an oil spill between the banking and Church corner.
Being much closer to the front meant Tony could see the lights go out on the safety car, and this time kept much closer to the car in front on the restart. The car behind was filling his mirrors for a lap or two but once he had pulled out a few car lengths and could take his normal line, his times picked up. Tony did a fantastically consistent fast run in the mid 22's and was in clear air most of the time, unable to catch the top 4.
By half distance other teams were starting to pit, Tony continued round and made up places, he was now lapping in the high 1:21's and not loosing much time lapping some class B cars that had pitted. We called him in with 28 minutes gone from 2nd place, we were the last to stop. We had a pretty decent stop of 23 seconds, almost half our Brands shambles. I rejoined the race in 3rd place, not far off 2nd. I took it steady on the out lap but the car felt great. The brakes and tyres were working well and it was the best it had been since we built it. With empty mirrors and 2nd place ahead I tried to keep the gap but found myself gaining. A few laps later a car span in front of us at church corner. Being slightly further back I didn't have to back off as much and got a good run up the hill to Rocket corner, a very big stop. Moving to the inside I had to brake on the dirty stuff and struggled to slow down. I remember wondering how much a passenger door was for an MG ZR but luckily Clinton in the MG was struggling to stop as well and ran wide, I was through into 2nd!
But it was too much for me in what was only my 2nd ever race and a lap later, checking my mirrors too much, I ran wide at Church and was re-passed.
The rapid 4th placed Honda had been catching our battle and I defended my position as best I could. I defended up at the top of the hill into Rocket but a lap later at the same point I hesitated trying to pass a Ford Puma and he was through.
On the final lap the Honda managed to pass the MG with a good run through Church and along the back straight. As the three of us came down the hill through the corkscrew, I could see the flag. We all finished very close together as I crossed the line in 4th.
What a race, our fastest lap was some way off the top 3's and a few cars behind had done quicker laps but our result was a combination of the work we did in testing on Friday, strategy, a good pitstop and Tony's mega consistent, mistake free long stint. The only thing wrong with the car was the windscreen strip that came loose.
It was over a three hour wait till my Sports vs Saloon race, a 15 minute sprint. It was great experience as I did a start for the first time. I had a little fight with the BMW, eventually passed and pulled away. 7 laps in I understeered wide at turn 1 and took to the grass. It caught me by surprise as id took my normal line and approach speed. The rest of the lap was a bit scary as the car would not turn in well. The front tyres were completely finished. I thought about calling it a day but stayed out and cruised around to finish 16th and another signature on my licence.
What a weekend. We are very, very pleased with how it went. The test was the key ingredient, being able to run the car and play with setup was what we needed.
http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/Results/2010 Anglesey.pdf
