gambler

I have decided to enter the time attack series (http://www.timeattack.co.uk) signing up for the 2009 season. Well, I have always had a problem confusing ambition for talent. Track days have been great fun. I just think its now time for something more competitive. I really miss the buzz from the pressure of competition I used to get when I rowed internationally. It’s also important to throw yourself right out your comfort zone every now and then to see what you’re made off. I started to get the competitive buzz when I started doing auto testing last year. Tar and grass tests, I do prefer grass tests though as I don’t have the brain capacity to remember a tar course on a Sunday morning. At the end of year awards I was given the trophy for novice of the year by the south of Scotland car club. Lets hope that I wont be using my grass skills as ill be trying to avoid having all 4 wheels on the grass. 2 wheels are ok 4wheels are bad. My car is currently putting out about 400bhp which may sound a lot but ill probably be up to 150bhp down on some of the people in club class. Ill just have to try and make up the difference by taking hero flakes for breakfast. If that does not work, ill just have to stop being cheap and buy a turbo as big as my head! A rough spec of the car is as follows - Exe-Tc dampers on race springs, new age brembo brakes, fully stripped out interior with bolt in cage2.0 cdb engine with forged internals sti3 heads and TD05 20G turbo I am now trying to get through the long list of things to do to the car before the 1st race of the season at Oulton Park on the 25th of April. There will be 5 races in the series 25th April - Oulton Park 17th May - Knockhill 31st May - Silverstone 28th June - Brands Hatch 11th October - Snetterton Will there be any other scottish scoobies competing?

Loving your work as always crank. That would be me, ahem, cliping the apex!

Thanks paul. Good pic

Another great SIDC day. It was absolutely baltic, at least it did not rain. I'll be competing in the time attack series so for a bit of improvement I had an instructor along with me for the session. Barbra Armstrong, she drove rally cars for Seat in the brittish championships, was a works driver for Porche UK in the GT3 cup and was an instructor at various circuits in the UK. It was good to get some instruction in a circuit i know well and to improve my lines. We also worked a lot on technique which also improved during the day. It was pretty hard work keeping the concentraion levels up. As even slightly missing a turn in, apex or exit would result in a slap or some abuse from Barbra! I did find her no take no prisoners approach to coaching amusing. It certainly keeps you on your toes. Im sure she would tone it down for the more sensitive types. I missed having the usuall pit lane banter with the pits being closed and only got to briefly got to say hello to cal and sti pretender. Hopefully get to catch up with some more of you guys at the next SIDC day Any pics of the Red Classic would be appreciated Scott

I just bought an AVRC from flat4 and the price had gone up a fair bit. They say it was due to the pound being so pants.

Look terrible. A track day version could be made very stiff without the problems of going over pressure when hot. Doubt they would get over big brakes though

Best - All on track. Various 911turbo's and a new nissan gtr at spa. Well driven gt3rs at donnington Worst - Missing a gear, twice at knockers and being passed by a lotus. In the wet!

I just bought a new set of 888's in the summer. They now come with a warning that the tyres must not even be stored below 0c and deff not driven. Something to do with the compound as they may crack if they freeze. They are also pants in the cold. Esp if its wet as you just cant get any temp into them. They were a good laugh on a wet cold track but not for the road

The thing about the veyron is - it weighs nearly 2 tonnes. So even with 1000hp is only just over 500bhp/ton. The car is a technical exercise to hit some top trumps figures. 1000bhp and 400kph. Its still a great car as it could be used every day. Its just not focused for the track like the gumpert etc

They look ok. They are sprint seats so im not sure if they would be very comfortable, even for a bucket. A lot of the rally guys use the sparco evo seats. I have been in a car with them and they are very good. Best to actually try one before you spash out and buy it. See what you find the best compromise

There must be something in the air at track day carparks. Its amazing just how many cars blow up there.Strange

Of course not. That would be against their terms and conditions . I have heard of some people doing that though

I use sabelt seats and 6 point harnesses. There is a bit of welding to get the harness points in though, its probably not worth it for the occasional track day. Sparco seats are also pretty good and not bad value for money. With all things its always best to go for the best you can afford. I would not bother with the carbon fibre. Slightly stronger, slightly lighter but 5 times the price. Demon tweeks have a good range of seats. Not always the cheapest though. You can always look there and buy elsewhere. I went direct to sabelt as they are just down the road in carlisle

Its Scott, well remembered! If you are not doing long journeys then just go for it. As you say there may be better things to spend your money on. But these will make you really happy

Welsho - I just drove down there. It was about 250 miles from dumfries. I met 3 other guys from cumbria who i go to spa with to convoy down. Sessions were half hour on half hour off from 9 till 4 and it cost £200. Its always intimidating to go to a new circuit when you are just used to your local track. I had second thoughts about my abilities the 1st time i went to spa. I think everyone does. Then i realised that it was no problem and i love the challenge of a new circuit now. I just read the dunlop circuit guide and went straight out there and within 5 laps was mixing it up with a GT3RS. Just sign yourself up and jump in with both feet! Craig - We only got the national circuit. I recon the extra haripin would have been great for drifting when it was wet. I love the circuit. Esp crainer curves. Cant wait to get back there. Good to see you fell off at crainer as well. As they say, if you dont come off, your not trying hard enough!

I went down to Donington with GoldTrack on 13th November The day was sessioned into half hour sessions. I prefer open pitlane but the half hour sessions worked quite well. As it was a bit too long for most people it made for a slightly quieter track. Rather than everyone trying to fill a 20 min session. 1st session was nice and dry. Very welcome as i have never been to Donington before. After the 1st session it either drizzled or rained all day. Never quite enough to wash the crap off the track. The circuit was as slippy as a greased up gimp going down a waterslide. I loved the circuit in the dry and its great fun in the wet. With 4wd! Lots of long corners for some great drifting action. None of that on film as the photogaphers were hiding from the rain most of the time. I managed a nice 360 down crainer curves in the wet. When was well out of shape going in and i looked into my bag of tallent only to realise it was empty!

Is it so you are held in a bit better on track?Have you considered one of the removable 4 point harnesses insetead? If you are using the car everyday i think you will find proper bucket seats a PITA. I have them in my track car and they have minimal padding. Exactly what you need for the track. But i have driven them to spa and the ring and back twice. They are not comfortable on a long journey. The second time i took a cushion for the 680 mile trip home

Weather is looking very ropey now. I doubt it will be on

Anyone else going to the hot marques day on sunday? Thats if its still on as the weather looks a bit ropey Scott

I have a set and its the fantastic. Massive improvement on road and track over the tein suspension that i had before. Much better on track than the teins. It gives more grip and is less bothered by kerbs and much smoother on roads

I fitted the z32 maf. Was a straight bolt on. Just needed to switch over a couple of wires. When i got them maf sent i made sure it had the connector still attatched. Whole thing took about 20 mins to do. I got the wiring from a guy from 22b.com Jolly green monster i think

Enjoy http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8E164vdn__Y

Good effort The guy who does all the work on my car was looking after Block and Pastranas cars at the weekend. Mainly blocks car. Think he had a bit of an off on practice. He said they were both thoroughly nice guys and very down to earth. Good to see them in mk2's

With the 380 having to be hand built my prodrive it kind of makes you worry about the new engines. Obviously they have to do a lot of changes to the internals to make them reliable. I have heard that some of the new engines have been having problems with cocolate pistons.

Cracking pics John