Sprinting advice

[dern]

Hello.

Had a bit of a year with my car (the white one with the rotary engine) in that the engine died in May and I've not seen the car since due to the engine builder fitting the work in and me getting fed up with the thing and not really doing anything to chase it up.

Anyway, the engine is completely rebuilt and I'm getting a new ECU system installed early next year so I'm hoping I'll be back in business in the spring.

In order to take advantage of the new engine and its ability to start when warm I'd like to take it sprinting and/or hill climbing. I know a few of you do this with your cars and wondered if you had any advice on how I can get started.

I was planning on doing a day at gurston down for a bit of tuition and mainly because it looks fun.

So I have a stylus (obviously) running an rx-7 turbo engine which produces somewhere between 3-400 bhp. I have normal track oriented road tyres but I also have wheels for slicks. I have a trailer and a tow car for getting to and from events.

Any idea on what class I'd be in and are there there any clubs or championships I could join that would be fun and appropriate to the car and my lack of experience? I'm based in Newbury in Berkshire.

Many thanks,

Mark

[stylussprinter]

Pretty sure you'd be in either modified kit or sports libre . Best thing to do would be to get it log booked by Jim at FDMC then there's no insurance tax etc to be paid for. Presumably you'd run the 1B tyres in wet and slicks in dry conditions. Gurston is the most fastidious regarding scrutineering for competition days but I also took mine there for it's first ever outing on track , on one of their instruction days. Good value plus experience of controlling your adrenolin on a very narrow track.
Club wise , why not join the FDMC which is great for masses of info from other experienced sprinters and some hillclimbers . Then the ACSMC championship of around 15 events to choose from. FDMC also run many events themselves including EELMOOR , RUSHMOOR and sharing organising the ABINGDON sprint. The ACSMC championship has 4 of it's events at GOODWOOD which is a stunning circuit to compete at .
Matt D could well be answering you soon as he is competition secretary for some events also the timing gear on occasions.

Come and join us Mark --- yours should go very well and scare us all a bit

[MattD]

Hi Mark

Seems you are on a similar schedule to me, my turbo beastie should emerge with its replacement engine & proper ECU early next year too
I've not done much sprinting myself, just the odd event here & there, spent too long watching & organising for everyone else do it.
Hope to change that in '14 and enter the ACSMC championship myself

If you're intending to keep the number plates on it you can enter in road-going classes - due to the turbo + rotary combo you get put in the over 2ltr top class with the big boys (same as me, JeffW on JPSC forum, ). Road going doesnt need an MSA log book, but does need an MSA licence Speed B & you cant run the slicks. For Sport Libre, where you can run the slicks, you'll need an upgraded Speed A license. Unless you've done sprinting before you wont get that, as you need the upgrade "I've been a good boy" signatures.

But yes... join FDMC for £20 (of which I'm the club Comp Sec), and go from there
http://www.farnboroughdmc.org.uk/

[kevp]

Hi Mark

If the car is road legal (insurance, tax & mot) using road tyres (1b) you will be in the specialized production class, with the largest engine capacity.

If its not road legal, as Rob states you will be Sports Libre, again largest engine class. You can then run slicks as well.

As for Gurston Down, my wife - Liz, started her competition career at the school & had a very good day. Loads of hill time & very good lunch.

Look forward to seeing you around next year.

kevin

[dern]

Thanks all. I'll have a good look at all that over christmas but the FDMC does seem like an excellent place to start.

I'm quite happy running the car on the road tyres for now and it will definitely stay taxed, mot'd and insured.

I've been wanting to get in to motorsport for years and keep making excuses and now I have all the kit and the kids are old enough for me to get on with it I can't wait. I suppose I'll find out whether I'm any good or have just been relying on the power on straights on track days

Thanks all and speak to you soon.

Regards,

Mark

[dern]

One stage closer... actually saw the car for the first time since May last year yesterday evening. I forgot how small these things look.

Engine is rebuilt (rebuilt is an understatement as not much got transferred to the new engine) and in the car and it's all running. Improvements to the install including changes to the cooling system. Last thing to do is replace the ecu and the ignition system with something better and I should have the car back ready to go.

I've then got to do 1000 miles to run the engine in which is going to be incredibly painful but needs must.

I think a colour change is on the cards to celebrate its return... it's all starting to look a bit tired around the edges. Might be the time to learn a new skill... vinyl wrapping.

Cheers,

Mark

[stylussprinter]

I know now't about 'wrapping' but for a good spray job at very sensible price , I'd steer you towards Joe Middleton nr Aldershot (has done many Stylus's) . Regarding ECU then there's no one better than Dave Walker , especially when tuned unusual engine's are envolved -- plus has his own rollers. He has contributed to many magazines over the years , TRACKDRIVER being the most recent . A very clever guy
I can't wait to see you in that car , in our ACSMC Championship roadgoing kit car class ------------ it will certainly ' frighten a few horses ' It'll blow mine away , although not in my class of course

[stylussprinter]

I forgot to mention Mark -- if you join up with FDMC quickly then you could come to our 55th dinner dance on the 1st March , plenty of other guys to chat with all doing similar things , some in other diciplines. Check it out on the FDMC website forum
It's held at the ' VILLAGE ' in Farnborough , so rooms available too.

[dern]

Thanks for the tip about Dave. I had his emerald system in a supercharged elise I had prior to the stylus. I had mine mapped by a place in northampton and was never very pleased with the result but I understand Dave is a good guy.

I'm getting something more specific to rotary engines installed and mapped by a guy called Carl Hayward who does plenty of race rx-7s and 8s so I'm confident it should be pretty good. He's also rebuilt the engine and is giving me the warranty on the final package so I'll just leave it all up to him. Having seen some of his race rx7 creations I'm pretty excited about getting it up and running again. He's also confident that I'll notice the difference in performance from when I had it on track if the state of the engine when it came apart was any guide.

Can't wait.

Thanks for the heads up on the dinner dance. I might never be able to afford to go out again after what this has cost

Cheers,

Mark

[stylussprinter]

Lots of people rave about NORTHAMPTON MOTORSPORT but my own experience was very poor and not to be typed here , so am not surprised at your own disappointment.

[stylussprinter]

Thanks for the tip about Dave. I had his emerald system in a supercharged elise I had prior to the stylus. I had mine mapped by a place in northampton and was never very pleased with the result but I understand Dave is a good guy.

I'm getting something more specific to rotary engines installed and mapped by a guy called Carl Hayward who does plenty of race rx-7s and 8s so I'm confident it should be pretty good. He's also rebuilt the engine and is giving me the warranty on the final package so I'll just leave it all up to him. Having seen some of his race rx7 creations I'm pretty excited about getting it up and running again. He's also confident that I'll notice the difference in performance from when I had it on track if the state of the engine when it came apart was any guide.

Can't wait.

Thanks for the heads up on the dinner dance. I might never be able to afford to go out again after what this has cost

Cheers,

Mark

Forgot to say that we have a very long term NZ rotary engined racer in our club --- he's had awesome success with rotaries in both original bodies also in a Westfield --- a good contact for you if you come to the D Dance

[jeffw]

Sprinting...ummmm, sounds like a good idea. Think I might go Sports Libre this year Rob

[stylussprinter]

Sprinting...ummmm, sounds like a good idea. Think I might go Sports Libre this year Rob

This ' little ' Stylus weighs very little and had over 400bhp before Mark bought it and had it upgraded by a seasoned rotary tuner/builder

[dern]

It's very much a case of all the gear and no idea as things stand.

[stylussprinter]

It's very much a case of all the gear and no idea as things stand.

I'm always willing to help a new guy into motorsport , we all started knowing now't at some point. If you enter an event where I'm also competing on the day then just ask away Mark , each time you compete will be a learning curve . There will be perhaps 5 things you get wrong on first practice then by second practice 1 or 2 will get sorted . Chat over lunch ready for the timed runs and maybe you'll be happy with your last run , either way you'll improve as you compete more . Partly technique along with a few hints on set-up adjustments.
It's an addiction