7/8/2010 3 Sisters LAC Sprint
7/8/2010 3 Sisters LAC Sprint - 2 lapper - HOW IT WENT
Ok, so lets set the picture, we had had a nightmare journey down with the M6 being at a standstill with massive tail backs, we had no map or sat nav and in a split minute decision decided to go cross country to try and get there! This as you can imagine took its time!
We finally arrive at the venue, and guess what its starts to chuck it down! Lovely!
We get the car unloaded and attend the drivers briefing to be told there was alot of standing water - which we obviously expected! This mixed with the previous nights kart race met there was lots of slippery wet 2 stroke covered sections of the track to go at!
PRACTICE:
The rain was still falling in typical northern fashion, and thankfully dad was first out this time not myself. I watched with great amusement as he slithered round the track, struggling to get any traction as it came on boost and something we hadnt struggled with before, massive oversteer! The nice almost bald T1-R's we run on the back were somewhat struggling in the wet.
So the time came for my first run out, it was taken somewhat steadily as I attempted to feel for some grip, my findings...there was none! We were sat bottom of the time sheets in 3B and also comparing to our usual class we were at the bottom.
Things didnt get any better on the second practice run, at least the rain had now turned to drizzle but sadly there was still no grip, dad struggling more so with his driving style and saw him have a small spin. Even on my run, taking some corners at what felt like walking pace saw the arse end throw itself out.
Although the car had been running faultlessly and did appear slightly more responsive than in the morning. Sadly though the setup in wet conditions did just not work.
TIMED RUNS
The organisers decided to call an early lunch break as the weather was heading in the right direction so we all hoped we'd have a fine afternoon and a few more timed runs to go at!
Well at first is appeared to have been a good shout, the rained had eased and although not very hot things were getting better.
First timed run out saw the car starting to find abit more grip on most of the circuit, with just one or two corners being slippery. Still had to be fairly cautious mind! Still our times had dropped massively and the car was spot on, coming on boost really strong and felt great. We were now getting within the times of the other cars in 3B, and well in the mix of the 1B times.
Next run both dad and myself were feeling very positive, lots more time to come from the car and us, top 3 finish in class looked an option. Dad went out and set a good time but listening to it as he was out on track it didnt sound quite right, needless to say I got the message as he returned to the pits "we have a missfire, see how it goes for you"
I had a great start and instantly felt alot more grip available to me, the setup was really coming into its own, was well chuffed, but as It came on boost hard in 3 and 4th down the back straight it was missing its nuts off, meaning I had to either back off or short shift, felt like I was loosing masses of time. Was very very frustrating thought the times would be all over the place. Still the run felt good and I was very very commited through the corners the diff works amazingly I can stick the car into a corner, foot the board and its pulls itself round on the diff.
Time was a very respectable 88 seconds, a huge drop from the 90 odd second run of before. Surprised alot! This put me 3rd in 3B and right near the front of 1B even with the missfire. Analysing how it was affecting me on the quick sections I was thinking it was costing me a good 2-3 seconds a run which would have put us into the lead of both classes. So from the point of view it was pleasing, the car clearly has potential with alot more development to go.
We spent alot of time between runs trying to cure the missfire sadly we didnt have the parts/tools we really needed to try and check thinks so the afternoon went downhill from there really as the weather set back in, so we took the decision to back off rather than risk bending the car.
So overall, even with all the disapointments it was pleasing to see how the car went and felt and the car clearly has the potential to be front running at 3 sisters..role on the next event!
Update on the missfire, after getting it back to the workshop, double checked the plug gaps, two were slightly out, re gapped them and shes running fine again...typical!!
PICS TO FOLLOW
