Turbos.
So a few have been asking about the NSX. Having raced it in Donington, it was clear a lot more testing would be needed; the brakes were wooden, the car gave little feedback and the power steering wasn't reliable. It also had a huge amount of bumpsteer, which made correction of oversteer really hard work.
Rather than waste time, we got a pro in the car to sort it out together with the race team at various circuits. I got a quick go at Donington a couple of weekends back, but a broken alternator only gave only a tantalising glimpse of the improvements.
So the good news was that, heading to Snetterton, i knew the car was much better. It had a new master cylinder for the brakes, softer springs, different geometry and a few suspension components. I knew it wouldn't be like the Elise, but then it isn't one!
Anyway, arrived at Snetterton on Friday to find we bagged the scrutineering bay (it has a lounge with TV!). The car was being warmed up and it sounds immense now some packing has blown out of the exhaust!
As my dad hadn't been out in the car, i jumped in for the first session to see what it was like, and get it all warmed up for him. Unfortunately, i was back a lap later as i had yellow lights flashing for the gearbox. Presumed it was lacking charge again (since i'd experienced the alternator issue beforehand). Guys had no idea what it was though, so went out again and did more 1 lap stints by coming in and turning it off and on to reset the gearbox actuator!
Plugging in the laptop, the actuator was overheating, despite being moved to the passenger floor rather than in the boot (near the engine). The boys played around a bit so my dad would have a better session.
Just as the session was going to start, we got a thunderstorm! Cue tyre change...
Those Dunlops cost more than the wheels, eek!
So my dad went out, but unfortunately nothing had changed. Other than it had dried out and he had shagged the wets in about 20 minute of driving...lol.
I went out again next, accepting the problem. We could actually just turn the ignition off and on whilst on the move. The reason it would overheat is that it would switch off down the long straights (because it didn't have to change gear), and then suddenly wake up for another gearchange. When shutting down, it needs time to cool down, but it didn't get the chance, and so the issues. By randomly changing gear everywhere, i kept the actuator 'awake' and got round the problem with a mere one restart a lap. If anything, it was good practice, you don't always get a perfect car mid-way through a 24hr race after all!
My dad went out again, and was much more confident in the dry. In fact, he equalled the times of the Pro in the car, demonstrating that the mods had worked well. And that was with restarting the car mid-lap...
My dad being my dad though, went off at the chicane!
We then let our mate have the last session, where i got a couple of crappy pics on track.
After initial frustrations then, we actually got a fair bit of time in the car and i'm pleased with the potential she's showing. We plan to race it in a long race at Brands near the end of the season now.
Rather than waste time, we got a pro in the car to sort it out together with the race team at various circuits. I got a quick go at Donington a couple of weekends back, but a broken alternator only gave only a tantalising glimpse of the improvements.
So the good news was that, heading to Snetterton, i knew the car was much better. It had a new master cylinder for the brakes, softer springs, different geometry and a few suspension components. I knew it wouldn't be like the Elise, but then it isn't one!
Anyway, arrived at Snetterton on Friday to find we bagged the scrutineering bay (it has a lounge with TV!). The car was being warmed up and it sounds immense now some packing has blown out of the exhaust!
As my dad hadn't been out in the car, i jumped in for the first session to see what it was like, and get it all warmed up for him. Unfortunately, i was back a lap later as i had yellow lights flashing for the gearbox. Presumed it was lacking charge again (since i'd experienced the alternator issue beforehand). Guys had no idea what it was though, so went out again and did more 1 lap stints by coming in and turning it off and on to reset the gearbox actuator!
Plugging in the laptop, the actuator was overheating, despite being moved to the passenger floor rather than in the boot (near the engine). The boys played around a bit so my dad would have a better session.
Just as the session was going to start, we got a thunderstorm! Cue tyre change...
Those Dunlops cost more than the wheels, eek!
So my dad went out, but unfortunately nothing had changed. Other than it had dried out and he had shagged the wets in about 20 minute of driving...lol.
I went out again next, accepting the problem. We could actually just turn the ignition off and on whilst on the move. The reason it would overheat is that it would switch off down the long straights (because it didn't have to change gear), and then suddenly wake up for another gearchange. When shutting down, it needs time to cool down, but it didn't get the chance, and so the issues. By randomly changing gear everywhere, i kept the actuator 'awake' and got round the problem with a mere one restart a lap. If anything, it was good practice, you don't always get a perfect car mid-way through a 24hr race after all!
My dad went out again, and was much more confident in the dry. In fact, he equalled the times of the Pro in the car, demonstrating that the mods had worked well. And that was with restarting the car mid-lap...
My dad being my dad though, went off at the chicane!
We then let our mate have the last session, where i got a couple of crappy pics on track.
After initial frustrations then, we actually got a fair bit of time in the car and i'm pleased with the potential she's showing. We plan to race it in a long race at Brands near the end of the season now.
