pncarrerars
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Sorry, my mistake. The button on the right (add image) with what looks like mountains, not the world & chain.
Pete
Pete
My 2008 hillclimb season in my Bitza
- Thread starter 911hillclimber
- Start date
http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/upfiles/13472/0904B1EB77F9459998BA75FCDE39548F.jpg
[
] That's the R8 in the distance!
[
] That's the R8 in the distance!
Bank holiday = rain; spot-on every time and Shelsley Walsh was no exception...
Practice day saw us all drowning but at least I had a 'garage' where the Porsche Hillclimb boys and girls had to endure the open skys. It was miserable and the track was no better.
However, race day was MUCH better.
I was resigned to last in class as my fellow class mates had about 2 x my bhp and some at least 3 x. There were the usual dramas of tightly tweeked engines (and drivers) snapping and shreadding anf throwing bits off while the bitza hummed along. Never opened the engine cover for 3 days, kicked the tyres twice and washed it about 3 times.
First competative run was with a damp/dry/wet/damp/wet/dry track but the 911 was magic, just magic. I netted a good start and the car sang all the way to the top while I read the sunday supplements as progress seemed a little slow up this steepest of hillclimbs.
36.56 was a great start (pb was 36.21 6 years ago).
The Porsche swarm flew up the rapidly drying hill and I was a bit embarrassed how fast they all were. # 81 with a supercharged 3.3 was a lovely car and very fast indeed esp as he was not on slicks.
So: MUST try harder![]
Second run in the afternoon saw a bone dry hill, bit cool, but ready for a pb.
Made a great start (for me) @ 2.12 secs and the gears came crisp and clean (those engine mounts are brilliant). You simply must carry speed at the bottom of this hill or you are doomed, so deep breath, one eye closed and give it death....
FLAS! we were off and away. No time for the sunday suplements now. I kept on looking at the tacho as the miserable red line of 6200 loomed; snatch third and bury the throttle to the floor and onto the tarmac!
The approach to bottom Esse was measured, I thought to myself how Josh Saddler would get in fast and out faster still 20 years ago (my original inspiration to have a 911) and the car flowed into the complex and after a sharp dab of the gas, we went past the top Esse and to the finishing straight. Hanging on the tacho crept painfully to the red again in 3rd. Take 4th or hang on?
Hang on indeed.[8D]
WOW! a pb of 35.32 []
Was I ever happy. The girl marshals nearly go a kiss from an over excited 56 year old[:-] but they know me by now!
That is the second PB for me, so roll-on Barbon Manor where I hold the saloon class record (!), but there are 7 runners in the sports car class, inc 2 911's so things just might be a little more difficult.
Oh, and I didn't come last in class either! []
The Porsche crowd ran really good, behaved themselves (Ian McMath wasn't there) and were a treat to see leaving the line.
Now: a supercharged 3.2 in mine could cure the 'wish I had another 100 bhp' itch.
Graham[]
Practice day saw us all drowning but at least I had a 'garage' where the Porsche Hillclimb boys and girls had to endure the open skys. It was miserable and the track was no better.
However, race day was MUCH better.
I was resigned to last in class as my fellow class mates had about 2 x my bhp and some at least 3 x. There were the usual dramas of tightly tweeked engines (and drivers) snapping and shreadding anf throwing bits off while the bitza hummed along. Never opened the engine cover for 3 days, kicked the tyres twice and washed it about 3 times.
First competative run was with a damp/dry/wet/damp/wet/dry track but the 911 was magic, just magic. I netted a good start and the car sang all the way to the top while I read the sunday supplements as progress seemed a little slow up this steepest of hillclimbs.
36.56 was a great start (pb was 36.21 6 years ago).
The Porsche swarm flew up the rapidly drying hill and I was a bit embarrassed how fast they all were. # 81 with a supercharged 3.3 was a lovely car and very fast indeed esp as he was not on slicks.
So: MUST try harder![
]Second run in the afternoon saw a bone dry hill, bit cool, but ready for a pb.
Made a great start (for me) @ 2.12 secs and the gears came crisp and clean (those engine mounts are brilliant). You simply must carry speed at the bottom of this hill or you are doomed, so deep breath, one eye closed and give it death....
FLAS! we were off and away. No time for the sunday suplements now. I kept on looking at the tacho as the miserable red line of 6200 loomed; snatch third and bury the throttle to the floor and onto the tarmac!
The approach to bottom Esse was measured, I thought to myself how Josh Saddler would get in fast and out faster still 20 years ago (my original inspiration to have a 911) and the car flowed into the complex and after a sharp dab of the gas, we went past the top Esse and to the finishing straight. Hanging on the tacho crept painfully to the red again in 3rd. Take 4th or hang on?
Hang on indeed.[8D]
WOW! a pb of 35.32 [
]Was I ever happy. The girl marshals nearly go a kiss from an over excited 56 year old[:-] but they know me by now!
That is the second PB for me, so roll-on Barbon Manor where I hold the saloon class record (!), but there are 7 runners in the sports car class, inc 2 911's so things just might be a little more difficult.
Oh, and I didn't come last in class either! [
]The Porsche crowd ran really good, behaved themselves (Ian McMath wasn't there) and were a treat to see leaving the line.
Now: a supercharged 3.2 in mine could cure the 'wish I had another 100 bhp' itch.
Graham[
] 
IanHighfield
New member
Graham
Thought about popping over to Shelsley, but it rained heavily all morning here, and so didn't in the end. Looks as thought you had a dry day after all
Which championship are you doing (Midland ?), and did you consider going in to the PCGB Championship.
Will follow your exploits with interest this year, and will try to get along to Prescott later in the year.
Ian
Thought about popping over to Shelsley, but it rained heavily all morning here, and so didn't in the end. Looks as thought you had a dry day after all
Which championship are you doing (Midland ?), and did you consider going in to the PCGB Championship.
Will follow your exploits with interest this year, and will try to get along to Prescott later in the year.
Ian
Great thread Graham, nice to see you back in proper car []. Write up encourages me to dust off the RS!
Moved to Church Stretton last year but only spectated at one VSCC round at Loton last year - better send for some regs - hope they still run a Road Modified class!
Keep up the reports, look forward to the next one!
Tony
]. Write up encourages me to dust off the RS!Moved to Church Stretton last year but only spectated at one VSCC round at Loton last year - better send for some regs - hope they still run a Road Modified class!
Keep up the reports, look forward to the next one!
Tony
Ian/Tony: you both missed a treat with the Porsche Lot. Great day of hard hillclimbing in good conditions. I felt I could have left a lot of time in those Esses, the scene of my crunch so many 911 years ago!
I'm doing the Midland and Leaders Championships this year again, but was far far faster in the Impreza.
The Impreza is 3 seconds faster at Shelsley and a huge 5 seconds faster at Prescott.
There were zillions of Porsche's in the car park as I think there was a Register Regional gathering there?
Glad you are liking the humble thread on here.
My daughter told me tonight there is blue smoke coming from the Bitza on the over-run....[:'(]
Maybe a 3.4 conversion becons or even a 3.5?
Graham.
I'm doing the Midland and Leaders Championships this year again, but was far far faster in the Impreza.
The Impreza is 3 seconds faster at Shelsley and a huge 5 seconds faster at Prescott.
There were zillions of Porsche's in the car park as I think there was a Register Regional gathering there?
Glad you are liking the humble thread on here.
My daughter told me tonight there is blue smoke coming from the Bitza on the over-run....[:'(]
Maybe a 3.4 conversion becons or even a 3.5?
Graham.
Many of the Midland and Leaders events are shared, so easy to cover both Championships.
Next up is Barbon Manor close to Kendal this Saturday. Great short hill with 2 weird bends that have 2 HUGE trees beconing you to kiss them......[]
There are 2 other 3.2's there too, so tough one coming up!
afterthat is Loton and some more Prescotts and Shelsley's.
In June is the wonderful Epynt hillclimb ib the Brecons, but I'm using the Impreza for that. The class will be a real riot of a race, and the hill is simply awsome (used as a tarmac stage rally) You can hear Roger Clark blatting across it in the Mk II Escort I kid you not. Spooky place[]
I'll detail the places/dates later.
Anyone know the cost of bits for a 3.4 conversion or is it better just to fit a 3.6 993 engine?
Will the 915 cope with that torque??
It is a simply fab car and I'm still in love after 20 years with her [&:]
Next up is Barbon Manor close to Kendal this Saturday. Great short hill with 2 weird bends that have 2 HUGE trees beconing you to kiss them......[
]There are 2 other 3.2's there too, so tough one coming up!
afterthat is Loton and some more Prescotts and Shelsley's.
In June is the wonderful Epynt hillclimb ib the Brecons, but I'm using the Impreza for that. The class will be a real riot of a race, and the hill is simply awsome (used as a tarmac stage rally) You can hear Roger Clark blatting across it in the Mk II Escort I kid you not. Spooky place[
]I'll detail the places/dates later.
Anyone know the cost of bits for a 3.4 conversion or is it better just to fit a 3.6 993 engine?
Will the 915 cope with that torque??
It is a simply fab car and I'm still in love after 20 years with her [&:]
So to Barbon we went, close to Kirby Lonsdale, and a prettier hillclimb you will not find in the British Islands.
The Class was quite large, headed by the killa Quattro short wheelbase with about 650 bhp ish (or more), but a selection of E Types, Porsche and Morgan just to get the juices flowing, and indeed they flowed!
The practice sessions in the morning were dry and crisp despite the lousy track 'litter' left every where.
Strong runs by all and the class was split by onlt a few tenths in the listings.
After a sprinkle of rain over lunch, the skys looked less 'thunderous' and we were off!
There was pleanty off hard charging runs after sharp starts, and my target was the 3.2 of Sean Lockyear plus the others.
The track was semi damp for the first timed runs, then dry as a bone for the last runs, Sean pipping me by a miserable (for me) 7/100ths of a second!
Great racing and a very very nice field of Class Mates, true hillclimbing stuff and just underlines why this is such a great sport!
I still think Sean tricked the timing display using a powerful magnet, but he claims this faulse, and says it's because he is faster...
Great stuff, and just maybe next year if our paths cross again at Barbon I can reverse the position[]
A few pics for you:
The Class was quite large, headed by the killa Quattro short wheelbase with about 650 bhp ish (or more), but a selection of E Types, Porsche and Morgan just to get the juices flowing, and indeed they flowed!
The practice sessions in the morning were dry and crisp despite the lousy track 'litter' left every where.
Strong runs by all and the class was split by onlt a few tenths in the listings.
After a sprinkle of rain over lunch, the skys looked less 'thunderous' and we were off!
There was pleanty off hard charging runs after sharp starts, and my target was the 3.2 of Sean Lockyear plus the others.
The track was semi damp for the first timed runs, then dry as a bone for the last runs, Sean pipping me by a miserable (for me) 7/100ths of a second!
Great racing and a very very nice field of Class Mates, true hillclimbing stuff and just underlines why this is such a great sport!
I still think Sean tricked the timing display using a powerful magnet, but he claims this faulse, and says it's because he is faster...
Great stuff, and just maybe next year if our paths cross again at Barbon I can reverse the position[
]A few pics for you:
and another:
Picked up my new hillclimb car last weekend![]
No chance of fitting a 3.8 engine in the rear, just tooooo tight![]
]No chance of fitting a 3.8 engine in the rear, just tooooo tight![
]
Graham,
How nice to stumble accross you again, I thought that it might be you when I started reading the thread. What a small world!
I've not been on scoobynet much recently so haven't been following your antics, and now it sounds like the scooby has gone into semi-retirement.
I'm still got my STi, by now sporting a 2.5l [] and at the begining of last year got a track focused 964 C2 3.8, hence lurking here now!
Great to see that your back out in the 911 again, I'll have to make another visit to Barbon, (nearly did this year - that would have been a suprise- but the weather looked dodgy and my farther was going to be out all weekend so I gave it a miss), are you doing the one in June??
keep up the reporting.
Steve
How nice to stumble accross you again, I thought that it might be you when I started reading the thread. What a small world!
I've not been on scoobynet much recently so haven't been following your antics, and now it sounds like the scooby has gone into semi-retirement.
I'm still got my STi, by now sporting a 2.5l [
] and at the begining of last year got a track focused 964 C2 3.8, hence lurking here now!Great to see that your back out in the 911 again, I'll have to make another visit to Barbon, (nearly did this year - that would have been a suprise- but the weather looked dodgy and my farther was going to be out all weekend so I gave it a miss), are you doing the one in June??
keep up the reporting.
Steve
It sure is a small world!
Not doing the June Barbon, but wish i was. Love the place and the hill.
The 911 bitza is just so nice to hillclimb. Practice today at Shelsley Walsh and ran 2 personal bests, down to 34.9 and the car was rock steady. such a treat having this great car.
I hope to sell the Sti this coming week at a demon price....(low)
I have stopped doing the Snet now, it became very very tedious. Just have my car on there now for sale (zero response).
Very nice to 'hear' from you.
Race report tomorrow with a few pics if the wife will do them.
Graham.
Not doing the June Barbon, but wish i was. Love the place and the hill.
The 911 bitza is just so nice to hillclimb. Practice today at Shelsley Walsh and ran 2 personal bests, down to 34.9 and the car was rock steady. such a treat having this great car.
I hope to sell the Sti this coming week at a demon price....(low)
I have stopped doing the Snet now, it became very very tedious. Just have my car on there now for sale (zero response).
Very nice to 'hear' from you.
Race report tomorrow with a few pics if the wife will do them.
Graham.
Shelsley Walsh May 2008 will be a bit of a high-light for me. I went into the meeting chuffed with a 35.32 from the meeting there about a month ago.
Shelsley is a steep hill with a set of curves at the bottom and mid section that really can take your breath away when pushing on...
Some did today and paid a price.
But not for me!
Whata cracker of a meeting for my Bitza. Each of the 4 runs shaved the time down to 34.58, and every run I felt I knew where I had left time behind me, and attacked that 'bit' with more focus, and that worked.
The 911 was simply fab. Never ever missed a beat, BUT, it is starting to blue smoke on the over-run, so a 3.4 might be happening sooner than later!
The smile on my face cannot be errased, and the whole event inc driving there and back cost £15 in petrol.
I wasn't last in the class, and was very nearly 3rd from bottom, but one of the drivers pipped me by a 34.44 run after the first (tyre warming) drive had done his bit! It is great when the drives are so very close; just the slightest of slower gear changes, the slightly longer race line and such things split you. Bugger! I'll be after him this coming weekend at my very favorite track, Loton Park. ( www.hdlcc.com )
I have a hot chance of selling the Impreza this week which will be paying for the Lola engine and box, the 3.4 conversion, the stair carpet, the landing carpet, the new lounge suite, some of the Italian holiday....sounds familiar?[]
What a real club motorsport weekend, just the best (if only I'd got that other E Type driver! [] )
Graham. [8D]
ps:
Met a stack of '911' nutters on sat and sunday, very nice to meet you all and to share this great little 911 with you. Get to Loton!
Shelsley is a steep hill with a set of curves at the bottom and mid section that really can take your breath away when pushing on...
Some did today and paid a price.
But not for me!
Whata cracker of a meeting for my Bitza. Each of the 4 runs shaved the time down to 34.58, and every run I felt I knew where I had left time behind me, and attacked that 'bit' with more focus, and that worked.
The 911 was simply fab. Never ever missed a beat, BUT, it is starting to blue smoke on the over-run, so a 3.4 might be happening sooner than later!
The smile on my face cannot be errased, and the whole event inc driving there and back cost £15 in petrol.
I wasn't last in the class, and was very nearly 3rd from bottom, but one of the drivers pipped me by a 34.44 run after the first (tyre warming) drive had done his bit! It is great when the drives are so very close; just the slightest of slower gear changes, the slightly longer race line and such things split you. Bugger! I'll be after him this coming weekend at my very favorite track, Loton Park. ( www.hdlcc.com )
I have a hot chance of selling the Impreza this week which will be paying for the Lola engine and box, the 3.4 conversion, the stair carpet, the landing carpet, the new lounge suite, some of the Italian holiday....sounds familiar?[
]What a real club motorsport weekend, just the best (if only I'd got that other E Type driver! [
] )Graham. [8D]
ps:
Met a stack of '911' nutters on sat and sunday, very nice to meet you all and to share this great little 911 with you. Get to Loton!
One other:
Loton Park in June.
Sunny, crisp and fresh and full of the summer smells of a hillclimb!
What a great weekend of club motorsport and my bitza on full song.
In a full entry I found myself with my usual class mates, but no E type, so last place was looking 'for sure' for me!
Does'nt bother me as I'm hunting personal bests in 2008, what a good choice.
And so it was, 5 personal bests against my 6 year old PB of 61.99 secs and each run on practice day as well as race day today saw me shaving of the tenths run after run, so satisfying and so entertaining.
God, this little 911 is a great car!
It never put a foot wrong, some of the runs were progressivly harder and the delight of the steering loading-up, the tail just into oversteer, the steering wheel left to spin through your finger tips and the squat of full throttle accelleration is just SO GOOD!
Finsihed up with a 61.58, last in class, first in my mind!
The class winner (a Dax V8 with 4x4 transmission) hit 54.something, the 800 bhp Quattro in 56 and the Morgan in 58 were a 'bit ahead' of me, but it was fab.
I then drove home on the road, the only car to do that in the first 3 classes of the meeting.
What a car.
Sunny, crisp and fresh and full of the summer smells of a hillclimb!
What a great weekend of club motorsport and my bitza on full song.
In a full entry I found myself with my usual class mates, but no E type, so last place was looking 'for sure' for me!
Does'nt bother me as I'm hunting personal bests in 2008, what a good choice.
And so it was, 5 personal bests against my 6 year old PB of 61.99 secs and each run on practice day as well as race day today saw me shaving of the tenths run after run, so satisfying and so entertaining.
God, this little 911 is a great car!
It never put a foot wrong, some of the runs were progressivly harder and the delight of the steering loading-up, the tail just into oversteer, the steering wheel left to spin through your finger tips and the squat of full throttle accelleration is just SO GOOD!
Finsihed up with a 61.58, last in class, first in my mind!
The class winner (a Dax V8 with 4x4 transmission) hit 54.something, the 800 bhp Quattro in 56 and the Morgan in 58 were a 'bit ahead' of me, but it was fab.
I then drove home on the road, the only car to do that in the first 3 classes of the meeting.
What a car.
Been away for some time from here...
Still racing the 911, but distracted a lot by the Lola, especially in the last 3 weeks.
Looking forward to seeing the Hillclimb circus at Loton Park this weekend!
www.hdlcc.com if you are interested.
The old Lola is getting a drivetrain to die for, and one close to our hearts.
Graham.
Still racing the 911, but distracted a lot by the Lola, especially in the last 3 weeks.
Looking forward to seeing the Hillclimb circus at Loton Park this weekend!
www.hdlcc.com if you are interested.
The old Lola is getting a drivetrain to die for, and one close to our hearts.
Graham.
I've been a bit distracted by my Lola Porsche recently!
Thinking race cars is a whole lot more consuming than road 911's but they sure look good sitting (laying?) next to each other in the garage.
To the trusty 911:
The race weekend at Shelsley was a reasonably calm affair with a very full class, and I didn't come last! Beat a Caterham lightweight, but was miles off the rest of the slick shod and megga driver Quattro's and of course Jonathan Williamson's 911.
Couldn't quite hit my PB set earlier this year by about 0.1 second, but I know where I left time behind me.
I'm finding iot hard to get my starts keen enough, just too many revs and far too much wheeelspin (no LSD remember), but got to a 2.2 start so not too bad. The 4 x 4 Impreza would do 1.9's all day on slicks....
I have to say the car runs just great, and so far this year I've had such fun and far far more relaxed racing my old friend The Bitza.
This saturday is a clubby at Curborough, a place I really do not like to be honest, but I've a 550 bhp (detuned from 690 would you believe) Audi Quattro in the class of 2 so he had better watch out.
My heart is not in it.
Following weekend is Prescott and then Loton again for the final hillclimb of 2008.
No pics for you I'm afraid, but hope to correct that this and the following weekends.
I'm trying to imagine the Lola with just 500Kg total and the 3-2 on webers etc and 250 bhp, over double the power-to-weight of the 911.
Great car, I'm so lucky to have it still after 20 years. []
Graham.
Thinking race cars is a whole lot more consuming than road 911's but they sure look good sitting (laying?) next to each other in the garage.
To the trusty 911:
The race weekend at Shelsley was a reasonably calm affair with a very full class, and I didn't come last! Beat a Caterham lightweight, but was miles off the rest of the slick shod and megga driver Quattro's and of course Jonathan Williamson's 911.
Couldn't quite hit my PB set earlier this year by about 0.1 second, but I know where I left time behind me.
I'm finding iot hard to get my starts keen enough, just too many revs and far too much wheeelspin (no LSD remember), but got to a 2.2 start so not too bad. The 4 x 4 Impreza would do 1.9's all day on slicks....
I have to say the car runs just great, and so far this year I've had such fun and far far more relaxed racing my old friend The Bitza.
This saturday is a clubby at Curborough, a place I really do not like to be honest, but I've a 550 bhp (detuned from 690 would you believe) Audi Quattro in the class of 2 so he had better watch out.
My heart is not in it.
Following weekend is Prescott and then Loton again for the final hillclimb of 2008.
No pics for you I'm afraid, but hope to correct that this and the following weekends.
I'm trying to imagine the Lola with just 500Kg total and the 3-2 on webers etc and 250 bhp, over double the power-to-weight of the 911.
Great car, I'm so lucky to have it still after 20 years. [
]Graham.
I don't think they'll let you in the Porsche class with that - even if its engine pedigree is right! []
Really enjoyed Loton and knocked a big chunk off my PB. I always leave that place, more than any other venue, wanting another go. It's a difficult hill to learn and even more difficult to get right!
Finished for this year, sadly. Got to get planning - and saving - for next year.
Well done for this year.
L
]Really enjoyed Loton and knocked a big chunk off my PB. I always leave that place, more than any other venue, wanting another go. It's a difficult hill to learn and even more difficult to get right!
Finished for this year, sadly. Got to get planning - and saving - for next year.
Well done for this year.
L
Loton is very popular with those hell bent on going faster, and I share the same feelings with you.
Gimme another shot!
The day at Curb was just fantastic!
Really didn't want to go (I wasn't alone) but ended up with 2 PB's, and a great 35.45 sec 'record' for me.
The car was ballistic. 1st at the hard start (2.19) into 2nd and held that glorious gear alllll the way round to the end of the hairpin (that's a long way) with the delicate steering on the throttle that a 911 can do so well as you dance with the pedal, the wheel and the seat of your pants! bloody hell!
Came out of the hairpin on opposite lock a touch and nailed the gear then nailed 3rd to hit 90 mph over the finish. Sublime.
And then i did it again.
'Gimmie another go' comes to mind.....
Said it before:
What a car! [] [] [] []
Gimme another shot!
The day at Curb was just fantastic!
Really didn't want to go (I wasn't alone) but ended up with 2 PB's, and a great 35.45 sec 'record' for me.
The car was ballistic. 1st at the hard start (2.19) into 2nd and held that glorious gear alllll the way round to the end of the hairpin (that's a long way) with the delicate steering on the throttle that a 911 can do so well as you dance with the pedal, the wheel and the seat of your pants! bloody hell!
Came out of the hairpin on opposite lock a touch and nailed the gear then nailed 3rd to hit 90 mph over the finish. Sublime.
And then i did it again.
'Gimmie another go' comes to mind.....
Said it before:
What a car! [
] [] [] []
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