DR Motosport

I wouldn't bother going. I was there on Saturday and wasn't impressed with it. It all started off bad with a queue of about an hour just to get into the car park, the tailback started before the crossroads for the Kelty / Dunfermline junction a mile south of the circuit. Then another half hour queuing to pay at the gates. Very badly organised for parking and only 1 person collecting money at the gate. Hopeless. The FXX sounded good, but 58 second laps. Come on, we were going 60's last month in the Subaru. At least put some effort into it. For the F1 car and the 43 second new lap record. Wow, took nearly a full second off the old record done in a 1992 Fortec or something ancient like that, should have been about 5 secs quicker given the track is also a lot quicker than from the mid-90's. Rest of the on track stuff was totally dreadfull. Demo laps with some very average road cars, Seat's, Fords. Even the supercars were on economy runs. So what did my kids enjoy the most, all the army displays in the centre of the circuit. But that's not what a Motor Fair is about. At least it was dry, on a wet day, that would be suicidal. David

Livingston Lizzie Brice had plenty on Saturday. Polbeth also had Optimax this morning. David

The rear spoiler is a replica and not the cars original. The wrx ra would have had a smaller spoiler, like the one on the other photo. David

So you've sold the "Shoe rack" spoiler after only 3 months. It was never a wine rack anyway, it was originally called the shoe rack; after 5 of us went to the Scottish Rally last year and 4 got their feet wet crossing a river ( I took my shoes and socks off). When I got back they all had their shoes in each of the slots and their socks on the top section. They thought it was funny. Better change this picture from Knockhill also from my profile. David

Similar embarassing story for you. About a year ago, I got a call from a Blobeye WRX owner from Edinburgh wanting to see a Rallytech spoiler for his Subaru. Sure no problem pop out and see a new one and also the fitted one I had on my own car. About an hour later, he arrives driving a Mercedes ML police traffic car. Or so I thought until I noticed the "Armed Response Vehicle" on it. Top bloke though and we spent about an hour chatting, but it sure got noticed by everyone else that passed. David

The owner doesn't post on here, and isn't an SIDC member. I just heard about this tonight, as I know him. The Sierra driver is supposed to be a karting champion (aged 18) trying the car for the first time. But totally lost it braking for the hairpin. Went onto the grass on the inside of the track, couldn't stop and bounced back across the track and collected the Subaru who was taking the normal line through the hairpin. I also heard the marshalls had to hold him back from killing him, so he started battering the car with his helmet. I'm going to see it tomorrow - he should be calmer now. David

No I won't be up at Knockhill on Monday John. A once a month track day fix is all I need. David

I don't think it could have been too bad ................ it did drive away home. He had to change the front left to the space saver, so he either had a puncture when out on track going down Duffus Dip - if that happened you would only come to a halt on wet grass / gravel when you hit something solid. Or, he went off at Duffus Dip and filled the rim of the wheel up with gravel, again you would only stop there when you hit something. I would say the driver was about late 40's John, most of the EVO's seemed to be struggling in the wet, probably all on similar A046 tyres. The Toyos on Xtremes were only slightly better. Surprisingly I was on the semi-slick Bridgestone RE-70's, and didn't have any problems. Bloody good tyres in the dry, and now also impressed in the wet. David

Anyone at Knockhill on Sunday for the Top Marques morning, know how badly damaged the WR1 was. I was on track when the red flag was brought out to stop the session, as I got to the bottom of Duffus Dip the WR1 had been off and covered in mud, but I couldn't see how bad it was. I was told it came back in and put on the space saver, then disappeared home. Just hope it wasn't too bad. Other than that, it was a good day. Weather was crap as usual for knockhill, but good track action. Nothing passed us all day, and I passed everything except Extreme's 450bhp EVO. I could catch it and keep up with it lap after lap but couldn't get past. Fuel was too low and started to get pick-up problems out of the hairpin, so had to use 3rd gear. Not so good. Next time.............maybe. David

Big thanks to JohnS for another well organised day - even got the weather right. Wasn't out on track as much this time. My mate Gavin was up with my old Impreza for his first track day, so I was instructor for the day. He still managed to scare the sh1t out of me. But not as much as the black EVO8 (not John's) who lost it right in front of me at Clarks. He was suprised I was gaining on him a couple of seconds per lap, and tried too hard. I went over to check all was ok, all he said was "that's a bit quick". Jap Import mate --- not a UK PPP I did get an e-mail from Knockhill today. Top Marques coming up on Sunday 28th November. 11am-3pm. David

I've been told that these speed camera vans are operated by members of the public and not police officers. And therefore can only operate between the hours of 8am and 4pm. Does this add up to the times you've seen them or is this info on times wrong. David

1. Evojkp - Black Evo7 2. sKunk - WRBlue STI8 3. Tim - Elise 111s 4. Ali - Elise 111s 5. Miss Scooby - Black STI R 6. tut - S1 Elise 7.Gambler formally scooby scott - Black 04 WRX PPP 8. David - WRBlue JDM STi (<--- spoiler isn't on it just now)

Chris, was this the accident near Breich on the A71, last Monday. I'd heard there had been one involving a blue impreza !!! That was all I was told. The cars looks repairable after some time on a jig to straighten the chassis legs. The main parts will be no damage to the roof or kinking to rear quarters. Can't tell from photos. Just glad no-one was badly hurt. David

The Scottish Classic and Performance Car Show takes place this weekend at The Highland Showground, Ingliston. I've been sent 4 guest tickets, but can't make it myself this weekend. So I'm splitting them into 2 pairs, and if anyone wants to go for free, please e-mail me at drmotorsport@lineone.net for a pair of tickets. The first 2 e-mails that come in, get the 2 pairs of tickets. Just include your address, and I'll post them this afternoon. The show is Saturday and Sunday, and the tickets are valid for either of those days. David

Anyone going tomorrow --------- Don't Bother. Utter crap, stayed a couple of hours then went home. 2 trade stands and nothing else. Guy trying to do stunts on a motorbike in the wet. Which he couldn't do. Plus a whole load of scrappy specials on track. So much for the festival weekend. So tomorrows plan is Moto Gp, then the Live Rally Stage, then the Ryder Cup. And NOT Knockhill. David

Just a note to anyone heading over the Forth Road Bridge. Road works are cancelled this weekend. Don't know why, but good news anyway. David

Might head up to the banger racing myself, depends on the bridge traffic. Anti clockwise on Saturday, clockwise (normal way) on Sunday. Hairpin on Saturday should be good for all the cars with dodgy brakes. David

Another great day organised by John, many thanks. Day started with a damp track, so took it easy with the RE-70's, didn't want to kill them as they were only a week old. Then a nice dry line appeared so on when the slicks, and the fun began. Got a great run on the Noble through the chicane and passed it into Clarks, then quite easily pulled away from it. Passed most things, and certainly nothing passed us today. Come to think of it, from all the SIDC days this year, the only thing to pass has been the Radical - but it wasn't there today. Used a full tank plus a 5 gal jerry can, so maybe 80 laps. David 2002 JDM STi

Just a tongue in cheek comment John. I think some of my laps had been timed on a mobile phone as well. But it is a good way to compare your driving and mods to the car. If losing 50kg can gain a second, how much power do you need to gain another second - 20, 30 bhp? Jools, probably best to give me a call when your back home. The S7 / S8 spoilers (what was fitted to the bug-eye WRC Cars 2001 / 2002) are available now. These overhang the rear boot, but don't have the 4 upright splitters. But they would leave you with exposed holes from your STi spoiler. But you could get another bootlid, and keep the original one with the spoiler still attached. The S9 / S10 spoilers from the blob -eye WRC Car 2003 / 2004 won't be finished until after the Winter, these do have the 4 upright splitters, and will cover all bootlid holes. The one on my car was just a trial and not a production version. Both spoilers are / will be homologated for rally use, and neither have a brake light fitted into them. David

Now John, Hope your remembering the rules for the track days. No timing of cars. 61 or 62 seconds is my normal for a JDM STi with moulded slicks and some clear track. Last year, the interior was stripped and a lightweight bucket seat was fitted - lost about 50kg. Result, a 60 second lap. My old UK turbo with PPP was 64 secs with full slicks not moulded. And the EVO 6 was also 64 secs, but with road tyres. Slicks, I'd say give you 2-3 secs per lap. Of course, you need to work all this out from a video camera !!!!!!!! David