November 2015
Event: Test & Tune
Location: Winton Raceway
Notes: After taking my sweet time getting the gearbox replaced, I didn’t have the chance to do a shake down run before the November event so I elected to miss it. On Nov 20 I managed to find time to get down to Winton Raceway for a test and tune day. Thankfully everything went well. Fourth gear was a little notchy if you didn’t have the revs right, but after a few laps, a rythum was found and we were happy as! It was a hot day with temps in the early thirties, so between me trying to be conservative with the car, a new track to learn and the track a little slick, times weren’t where they could be. But much fun was had and I was happy with the 1:47.1 I did on the day.
I’m searching the calendar to try and get down there again soon. For now, it’s a matter of waiting for next years racing calendar to be published and looking at a possible brake upgrade for the car.
August 2015
Update: Gearbox Failure
Notes: After pulling the box apart, we found three teeth had been stripped of second gear. One jaming in the selector fork, which is why we were unable to select any gear.
A second hand box, in unknown condition, has been procured and we’ll bolt that in to see how we go.
August 2015
Event: Interclub Supersprint
Location: Wakefield Park Raceway
Notes:For some Sunday was a day of tribulation, as the WRX Impreza club held round 5 of th he Interclub Supersprint. Dave and I both nominated a 1:13 for the day, with Dave ending in the slightly faster group. The weather was cool but dry and sunny. During Dave’s first session the car in front had a radiator hose blow off causing him to end up facing the wrong way in the final corner. He returned to the pit covered in dirt and I’d only just finished cleaning the car.
My session was pretty good, getting to my nominated time 1:13.8. So it was Dave to catch up in his second session, but on lap 3 the gearbox gave up leaving him unable to select a gear and stranded at the end of the main straight.
So that was our day done. We packed up, had lunch, assisted a few of our other club members with other woah’s before leaving a little early. Time for a beer and to throw some spanners around, pulling the gearbox out and seeing what’s what.
July 2015
Event 2: Wakefield 6 Hour Regularity
Location: Wakefield Park Raceway
Notes: The Southern Sporting Car Club entered two teams in this years Wakefield Park Six Hour Regularity. “Team Southern” and “Southern Comfort”, of which I was a part. Each team had five drivers. Southern Comfort lost one the day before the event due to a mechanical issue.
John Walker was Team manager, sending Brad Bassett out to start. Strong beginning for us running 62 laps in the sunshine scoring 31 bonus laps. Nathan was next for 33 laps with 8 bonus laps, then me. 25 laps with 7 bonus laps before weather moved in. Matt put in 22 laps, but due to weather no one was going to be hitting their nominated times anymore. Warren was next out for 22 laps, after which I returned to run in the wet for 39 laps.
Matt was sent to see the afternoon out. In the wash up, team Southern Comfort achieved 4th place. Not bad at all! I really enjoyed the day, the car went well and I’d like to say thanks to the team for all the assistance and guidence accross the whole weekend.
Event 1: Interclub Supersprint Rnd 4
Location: SMP
Notes: Sydney brought out the sunshine for the 4th round of the interclub Supersprint series. It started rough for a couple of competitors with Chris OConn nor spitting a welsh plug in his Green 77 Toyota Celica, Eddie Swat found an oil leak on his Number 97 Toyota Sprinter that needed attention and this was just on the orientation laps. Both however would see runs later in the day.
Running in the Blue Group, my brother running in the slightly faster Orange, the SMP north circuit is a quick 2.2km and in our buggy you would run up to about 198km/h on the main straight. After the first session I was trailing Dave by 3.6 seconds obviously far to conservative, so on the second session I let fly !!! … and reduced the gap to 1.9 seconds. DOH!
That would be as close as I would get. Dave kept getting faster each time he went out and ran a best time of 1:18.3114. This put him in 33rd place overall me in 43rd out of 66 cars.
If my workings are correct Dave ends up 12th in class, me 18th out of 26 in class.
I think it might be time I stop listening to my brothers track advise and find an impartial third party ;
June 2015
Event:Speed Off The Streets
Location: Wakefield Park Raceway
Notes: Finally!!!!… we sorted the rev limit/backfire issue. We’d done all the normal things, leads, plug gs, MAF sensor, oxygen sensor, fuel filter, we were out of ideas. Asking around, it was believed that if the CEL light isn’t giving us a code, then it could be mechanical. Time to pull off the turbo, check it and the cat converter in the up pipe, ensure it’s not blocked , if it’s still installed. We haven’t had the exhaust off since we bought the car. I’d spent the Sunday afternoon testing the two fuel pumps, ensuring correct running pressures. So before I start tearing peices off I thought I’d have a beer.
Staring into the engine bay I noticed the cam position sensor had quite a lengthy lead on it. I glanced accross at our spare motor sitting in the corner and it didn’t have a long lead like that.
So I swapped them and BOOM! problem solved.
So we believe, that when we tidied up the wiring in the engine bay, we cable tied the excess lead against other wires that the alternator fed. And at 5500rpm noise was being introduced into the signal and causing issues.
Today was spent just enjoying the car again and turning laps, trying to better our times. I’m closer, but Dave still rules, beating me by six one hundreds of a second. Dam It!!
March 2015
Event: Interclub Supersprint
Location: Wakefield Park Raceway
Notes: still unable to pull full rpm, but with aplom we headed out again to give it our best. At the end of the day Dave was again victorious and able to beat me by nine tenths of a second. The problem with the car now is entering annoying stage and we have elected to hold of any further competing until the rpm issue is resolved
February 2015
Event: Interclub Supersprint
Location: Sydney Motorsport Park
Notes: Our first Supersprint Event. We still haven’t resolved our rev limitation issue, but we’re confident the issue is electrical and sure it’s not doing any engine damage, so we ran the event.
It was a rainy day and plenty of wet track, not to mention with the rev issue, we were a little slow down the main straight. So our times weren’t great. It was a great experience and awesome playing on the Brabham circuit. Dave again beat me by more than a second, so beers were on me. Back to the garage for beer, bragging and look further for that bloody rev issue
January 2015
Event: Speed Off The Streets
Location: Wakefield Park Raceway
Notes: A test day for us, after replacing plugs leads, MAF sensor we’re trying another ECU. Though second hand, it’s in full working order. After arriving at the track, our hopes were dashed again with no discernible difference. We’re still only able to pull 5600rpm. So the day becomes track practice. Still fighting for bragging rights, Dave again beats me by around three tenths of a second. Arriving home I start pinout tests tracing all the wiring and ensuring everything is where it should be, voltage and/or resistance wise.