johns

I'm working with a few possible dates with KH at the moment. We're hoping to get a date in March sorted out (it's very busy!), but the first semi-confirmed date we've got is 29th April (9am - 1pm). We should have one before this, but it's finding a free slot that's the problem unless you want to go mid-week. Also sorting out a Friday afternoon session in May, but it looks like this may slip to the 9th June. August 19th, 9am - 1pm is also pencilled in. Got a possible date in late September or early October also. John

We've only got about two inches of snow here in Aberdeenshire. It was however very cold overnight, and was still minus 5 at 10am this morning. The main roads are fine, but some of the side roads are very slippery, as the compacted snow has been polished into ice. No problem for the winter tyres though - still can't believe the difference they make. I can even brake and slow down going downhill on ice! John

Up to a certain point, more power does mean a faster road car given the same driver and conditions. However, beyond a certain point, Imprezas with big power become more difficult to drive quickly, with all the power coming in at the top end of the rev range. There can also be problems in using all the available power due to traction, speed limits etc. In some cases, you may be limited by how early you can apply full throttle coming out of corners. In lesser powered cars, some corners may be safely taken at full throttle , but in higher powered cars you would be off into the scenery. It must also be said that 90% of a cars speed on the road will come down to driver ability and local road knowledge. A good driver will in most cases be faster overall in a medium powered car than an average/poor driver in a very powerful car. I dare say that a very well driven 106 or even a works van for example could keep up with most of us on most roads in typical conditions (ie keeping to speed limits, safe overtaking only). This obviously wouldn't be the case if the road was a serious of long straights where the extra power could be used to full advantage. John

We just found out a very short while ago that Tim Wilkinson, who was an SIDC member and used to own an Impreza before the Elise he has owned for the past few years was found dead at his house near Aberdeen last night. Currently there is no further information on how he died, reasons etc. I know a few of you who went to the first Golden Wheels event at the AECC a few years ago will have met Tim, as he had his red Impreza as a display car. Many more of you who went to our Alford event last year will remember Tim in his black Elise going around the sprint track many times, raising lots of money for the cash for kids charity. He even had their logo on his car for a few months. I last met Tim just a few months ago, and he was full of life, looking forward to next year where he was planning to compete in sprints/races etc in some form. More details will be posted once they are known. Tim will be very sadly missed John

Rob, I always planned to get them last year also, but just too many things to do, not enough time etc. Very happy with them now, and still can't believe the difference they make. John

Spolier press release It's not the winerack spoiler, but an STi look-a-like spoiler with a couple of extra vertical vanes in it.

When I spoke to the chap at Costco, he did say they would swap the tyres back again come spring. You don't need to be a business member, you can buy personal membership. Costs about £25/year for you and one other. We more than save that in a year with various purchases. You do need various proofs of address etc to sign up. John

Had a set of these fitted to my car just over a week ago. Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2 tyres in 225/45HR17. Cost about £360 fully fitted from Costco, using their 20% off voucher. I've always managed to get by on normal tyres for the past 7 - 8 years I've been running an Impreza. I've had a few scary moments, usually when braking on icy surfaces on a downhill slope, but with a bit of caution I could manage most journeys without problems. This year I decided to bite the bullet, and go for the winter tyre option. Decided that they would last at least 3 years before they needed replaced, so overall costs aren't that bad, and that the cost is actually about the same as the excess on my insurance policy so a worthwhile investment. Initial impressions for the first week were of a much spongier feel to the car, which is hardly surprising given the compound used, and the softer sidewalls. You soon get used to it though, and it's not as though I press on very hard on cold, wet roads covered in leaves etc anyway. Noise levels are actually lower then the Goodyear F1s I had on, and there's a slight improvement in ride quality. Initial braking tests on cold wet roads (3 degrees c) surpised me. I wasn't expecting them to be much different from the F1s, but stopping distances were shorter, and there was more control. The ABS didn't kick in so easily and the car felt more in control under braking. You can feel the tyres squirm under heavy braking, but you get very good initial bite, and not the instant buzz through the brake pedal as the ABS kicks when using the F1s in similar conditions. This weekend past, we had an inch or two of snow, so had a chance to try them out in anger. I must admit, I was gobsmacked at the difference they make. Previously, just touching the brake pedal on compacted/polished snow/ice, even on a level road would have the ABS kicking in, and I would normally use engine braking at all times. Downhill, you would just travel very slowly and avoid the brake pedal at all costs. Now I could actually brake and slow down, even on downhill sections. Yes it was quite easy to get the ABS to activate, but stopping distances were very good, and probably not that much longer than on wet roads. The biggest difference though was in traction. On F1s, wheelspin and tail happy action were just a blip of the throttle away, even off boost on a standard MY02 STi in 2nd gear, especially uphill. Now I can use virtually full throttle in 1st & 2nd gears without much wheelspin until you reach full boost, and even then it's very controllable. Just a slight lift and then reapply and off you go. Turn-in around corners is equally impressive. OK there's a bit of understeer if you turn in too fast for a corner, but most of the time they just grip and go round with little fuss. In normal (ie not pushing too hard) driving, you can drive on snow and ice as if the roads were just wet, but obviously with a bit more caution required. The difference in car ability and driver confidence is well worth the investment. My only concern was the H rated tyres, but I only get close to those sort of speeds on track, never on public roads. I wouldn't recommed using these tyres on track though, probably last about 3 - 4 laps I've since had a set fitted to my wife's car (FWD Astra), and she is now happy to go out driving in snow and ice. She reports that you hardly notice that there's snow/ice on the roads at all. In all, a very worthwhile purchase given the weather we'll get in Scotland for the next few months. John

We have a Santa by the looks of things

Count me in. Not sure about the family yet - possible clash with something else that day... Will find out over Xmas though. John

Superb work everyone John

I've simply not had time to get anything like this organised this year. However, we can start planning for next year. John

We can use the SIDC club shop to collect all the monies once we have a date, venue and price sorted out. Takes out all the hassles of people getting chased for money etc. John

Chris, yes I'm happy to sort out the database/teams etc. Done this plenty of times in the past. Will need some stats on the track/karts to be used, as our current scheme is set-up for Raceland. John

Can count me in as well. Always partial to some karting. As it's going to be team based, how about we resurrect the weight based rules we used to use a few years ago to even things up, and make the racer much closer ? Essentially, we get everyone's weights (fully clothed), and put them into the database. We then work out the average weight of all the teams. Those under the average weight get additional stop/go penalties, based on how much under weight they are. We can also factor in experience and sex (ie male/female, not how much you get ) For example, the first team event we ran, the winning team won by over 7 laps, another 2 laps to 3rd place, and the slowest teams were about 16 laps behind. In some of the later races where the handicapping system was used, we had 3 teams on the same lap at the end, and about 3 or 4 teams within a couple of laps. it didn't half make it very competitive and exciting towards the end of the race! It can be a little demoralising to see a team of lightweight guys start from pole position on the grid, and be lapping everyone else within a few laps. John PS Aberdeen team - though happy to be a member of a committee team if that's allowed ?

I think it crosses the A96 at marshall trailers. I've heard that what has happened in other places where bypasses have been built, that house prices actually start rising, as people realise the huge benefit of living near to a road with very quick access to any part of the city! I always thought it was silly that they didn't provide a link from Stonehaven - will make a huge difference in travelling times to/from Knockhill for us John

Russell, why don't you drop us a note with your schedule and we'll try and work in some meets/events around it John

I can't do the Monday night, but can do Tuesday or Wednesday.

Oh no he isn't

Russ, if you fancy a drive up to Aberdeenshire, then I'd be delighted to carry out some evaluation for you as well. Not sure the RE-070s would cope too well with the snow/slush/wet roads though! John

Wasn't me. I only saw the first report at about 6:30am an never noticed one. That's only about 15 minutes (when dry) away from us. John

The tyres are 225/45x17, and would have around 7mm of tread remaining on them. If the tyres are no use to you, then I'll happily do a deal to take them off your hands, and you can have the wheels. John

Nice indeed to meet you again Craig. Just wish I had those tyres on last night for my journey home. Was a bit slippery in places, but still a reasonable amount of fun until it comes to stopping It's all gone to slush today. Went in past Costco last night. They have Michelins Alpin PA2 tyres for £117 each fully fitted in 225/45x17, but starting on 1st December, there's 20% off if you buy a set of 4, so works out at about £95 each full fitted. Might still go for the Nokians though. John