The 2010 PCGB Club Championship

[paulf968]

Well, just had a day testing at Silverstone National, ahead of the PCGB races on 26/27th June.

Thought I would share with you how it is going as I try to get a bit quicker. The car has it's refurbed/checked GAZ shocks on and has had its geo re-set. Also had new front discs and Perf Friction 97 pads all round.

That track and this layout is where I had my first ever race in 2008, you might remember I shared the car with JP. No race on that layout in 2009, so looking back 1 min 10.2secs was my best laptime.

Looked closely at the top 6 laptimes, pole would be around 1m 06 and I concluded that I needed to beat 1m 08 to keep in touch with the top 6, that being my current objective. Car went well, Ben was with me again + his data logger. The day was sessioned (4 only for us), quite busy and marred a bit by red flags, this stopped Ben setting a good benchmark time when he went out for a short period.

Ahead of analysing the data, he was somewhere in the 1m 08's but believed at least another second could be shaved off with my car. Using my in car laptimer I set about working towards my target. Quite soon after the brakes had bedded in I managed to get into the high 1m 08's, a step in the right direction. Did think that I could move down to a 1m 08 flat but as hard as i tried a 1m 08.3 was the best. Yes about 2 seconds better than 2008 but frankly not good enough.

Was disappointed with myself and left the circuit with lots of questions on where to find another half second or more. Analysis of the data may help - particularly with regard to the use of 5th or stay in 4th along the 2 longer straights. This concentrates my thoughts again - will tell you more when I know more!

 

[Neil Haughey]

Paul is that circuit layout exactly the same as before? It looked on some in car vids like some of the kerbs have been re-profiled etc.

 

[paulf968]

Neil - right question.

For the National circuit, the inside kerbs at Maggotts and Luffield now have what I call the 'stepped' type kerbs, that are a lot more bike friendly. As far as I can tell the width of the tarmac and profile of all corners seems identical on this layout, so lines do not need to be changed. So I think my time comparisons are a reasonable estimate.

NB things are a bit more different for the Bridge GP circuit though, where Vale has a new high kerb at the apex and Club has had the apex moved to make it more of an abrupt turn. IMO it might make it two tenths slower for us in PCGB.

 

[paulf968]

Well main issue after Silverstone testing was that the engine had developed a small rattle coming from the camshaft area when revving at about 1800rpm. Decided that it needed to be seen asap .......... as a stitch in time etc etc. So it is off to Ninex tomorrow for some investigation. I did have the camcover off for a look myself, no obvious issues, all the cam teeth there, Variocam pads OK but I do suspect that the inlet cam may have quite worn sprockets which might be making the chain jump a bit.

So did a trackday at Cadwell using Ben's 968 last Saturday, he really got me out of a spot and it was useful to compare the feel of the cars. His was set up much stiffer than mine usually is and apart from his very small steering wheel on the tighter corners, enjoyed it immensely.

Got dialled into the tricky narrow track and think I am now ready for the racing on Saturday 5th June, quali and both races the same day -- as ever come along if you can.
ps - also posted this on 968uk.com

 

[paulf968]

Engine in bits, the good news is there is a problem but thankfully a minor one. The little end on the No 4 cylinder next to the bulkhead is quite worn, might also need a new gudgeon pin as well. So all 4 little ends will be re-newed and pins as necessary.

The clincher when running the engine at 1800 rpm and using a stethoscope was that the noise stopped when the spark was disconnected on that cylinder alone -- ie as the load was taken off the piston so the rattle stopped.

I am indebted to my young paddock mechanic Michael who noticed the 'new' noise from the engine after coming off track, he has probably saved me from a thrown conrod at some later date, phew!!

NB The engine has been refreshed a couple of times once when I bought it in early 2008 and again overwinter in 2009/10 BUT the little ends are not something that does normally get a lot of attention. So they have probably done a lot of work, including the Britcar 24hr race in 2007 before I got the car!

 

[Peter Smallwood]

See you at Cadwell Paul - I am doing an arrive and drive in Ben's 968 for both races.

I need to get my license upgraded, so will stay way out of trouble and trundle round at the back.

Are you testing Friday?

Cheers
Pete

 

[paulf968]

That's a good idea, if you want to get the signatures asap, see you there. Come and have some fun!

Yes, am doing the Friday test day.

 

[paulf968]

Just been told about 2 professional vids with commentary of the Brands races in April, see:
www.raceandrallyuk.tv

Click on Porsche Races 1 & 3, tell me what you think? My starts were good but as mentioned a few posts back I was not so quick during the race - but one of my front shocks was completely knackered (racing excuse No 23 !)

Finally, Cadwell races this Sat 5th June, drop by if you can.

 

[Neil Haughey]

That was good watching, enjoyed that, thanks for the linky Paul.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Results are up http://www.smart-timing.co.uk/

 

[paulf968]

Neil, is it me but I cannot find the results on that link! -- they should be there but that organisation
has a tie up with mylaps.com, so look here instead.
http://www.mylaps.com/results/showevent.jsp?id=546625

also view the PCGB motorsport site here:
http://www.porscheclubmotorsport.co.uk/race_series/club_championship

My quick report now that I am back home at my PC after a trip to Cornwall.

Bit of a come down for me after Brands when I finished nicely inside the top 10 for quali and both races. At Cadwell I was very consistent but too slow -- came12th in everything I did despite getting lots of practice on the Friday. Left scratching my head a bit and put it down to driving too safely as the car was in good fettle! It is one of those circuits which is very narrow and has a reputation for being dangerous and I probably did give it too much respect (or was just not courageous enough, take your pick) My fastest lap was a 1 min 45.2 and about 3 less seconds per lap would have got me a podium - so that is the size of my challenge

Clean sweep for Mark McAleer in his 968 followeed home by a mix from the Carniel, Morris, Clark, Sumpter, Harrison grouping. Ed Hayes and Richard Higgins in their 968's had bad mechanical gremlins & did not finish either race. Fraser Robertson was the only person to have an off (into a tyre wall in quali) but a load of tape and a bit of fettling and he finished both races. The Alfa racers on Saturday were not so lucky, at least 3 of their cars looked like write offs - ouch!

NB thx to Ninex for finishing my car in time, all little end bushes now replaced and reamed to suit the existing gudgeon pins -- James did the work including a 5am start one day as the parts were slow in coming.

 

[Neil Haughey]

The link works its just their site is shall be say a little old fashioned. You have to click 2010 results then Cadwell, this gives a linky for the pdf.

I guess Paul you will be looking forward to Silverstone. Complete opposite to Cadwell.

 

[paulf968]

Funny that, seems to be a problem with my AOL browser -- can see it on Int Explorer though!

 

[paulf968]

Next round is this Sunday 27th June at Silverstone (National).

Quali at 11.15 and races at 14.50 & 17.15.

I am informed we have use of the garages, so drop by and say hello if you come.

 

[MarkK]

Have a good one Mr F[],would desparately like to have come and cheered you on but family stuff and all that,one day someone at apple will invent something that enables someone to be in two places at once,that would be great!

 

[lali]

I think me and the ankle biter will be there on Sunday....

 

[ukmastiff]

Oh dear, now I would have liked to go but the penny has finally dropped that this is during the world cup match.

Despite the fact that I relly do not like football AT ALL , the atmosphere in my village pub will be electric and the drinks will be flowing this is not good timing []

Regards

Mas

 

[paulf968]

BUT -- I'll have a TV on in the paddock between the races -- best of both worlds!

 

[paulf968]

Quick update on the the Silv National event. Did test on the Friday and then had my best ever quali session on the Sunday race day - 6th on the grid for Race 1 and my second best time got me 4th for Race 2. Quite frankly I was amazed.

In hindsight these results were due to 3 things, apart from knowing the circuit quite well:
- Andy Duncan said I needed to attack the corners more, as evidenced by looking at me thru Copse
- Ben D, said stop in quali to check tyre pressures and re-focus on the task - then re-join and really go for it.
- Came out just behind Pete Morris, we had 3 or 4 quick laps together, he was trying to get away from me and I was trying to hang on to him -- he got pole, so was a very good person to follow!

Got off the line quite well in both races but had cars all over me like a rash for the first lap -- did hang on in there but lost some places getting 8th both times. Little bit disappointed - but in the second race was only 12 secs off the winner after a race long dice with Mark Sumpter who got me just before the end! Still going up the learning curve for racecraft but will be that little bit wiser next time. Reviewing my video I did seem to be watching my mirrors too much so need to concern myself more with pushing forwards than what is going on behind.

Onto Snetterton in Norfolk on Sun 25th July for 2 races -- drop by if you can make it. (also GT3 Challenge races that day)

 

[paulf968]

Just had the Snetterton meeting on Sunday 25th July, a quick report:


SOMETIMES YOU NEED A BIT OF LUCK
Quali started with a sudden rain shower, which took about 15 mins to dry out -- so the track came back in before the end and I was placed 9th just before the flag -- we have just started to use pit signals to show quali position -- with enough time for 3 laps I pushed on as hard as possible and got 5th, which was pleasing.Quite a few drivers not present: Sumpter - engine issues, Clark - transmission repairs needed, Hayes - blew his 4th engine five minutes into quali, no Clapham or Higgins. Race 1 -- got a slow start off the line as I almost jumped it, settled into 8th then Pete Morris & Richard Ellis were given 'stop go' penalties for corner cutting! -- I was then chasing a 3 car group including McAleer and Harrison to improve my 6th place when they had a heavy coming together just ahead of me on the penultimate lap -- then the race was red flagged and I got 4th which was my best ever placing. So, not a lot to do with my own driving skills, but you have to be thereabouts to take any scraps that get thrown and I seized them with both hands Also, I was only 8 secs behind the winner, so closest yet to the front. Race 2 -- now with 2 less cars on the grid it was another opportunity. Much better start, then Marcus Carniel was in the lead but he had a gentle spin first time round at the second chicane and was then stationary across the track! - I tip toed around the traffic jam and was then 4th, but soon slipped to 6th when Maserati & Botterill squeezed past. The latter is not contesting the full championship but was stealing my points. Marcus was then on his way back through the field but I drove like mad to stop him catching me -- in the end he was 30 secs behind (poss braking issues?) and I was 20 seconds off the winner this time. Ended up 6th. So those 2 races gave me my best ever placings and a very handy uplift in championship points. By my calculations that makes me 6th in Class 1 having been 9th prior to the meeting. Car going well, main things that seem to be helping are: a) stop adjusting the shocks too much, just get on and drive it ! b) attack the corners more and be calm in the knowledge that I can catch it if things get crossed up! c) from the datalogger; use even later/harder braking and push myself to get on full throttle earlier. Onwards to Oulton Park on 14th August, where I hope to progress further - not a circuit I have performed well at despite having done a lot of laps there -- so need to challenge myself.