Kev & Liz SBD BARC Speed Championship 2010

[stylussprinter]

Well done , damn quick turn around. Good luck at PEMBREY

[kevp]

Its 4.30pm, Im loaded up & about to leave for Pembrey. Its a good 3 1/2 hour journey without stops & the wife isnt home yet. So looks like we wont be on our way until 6ish.

I have driven the car to the petrol station & back, so got up to 25mph. Ran quite well. The VVT isnt working (think its a management programming issue). I suggested the wife drive the Stylus, at least to the M4, so the management could adjust & we know it would run up to 70mph OK. And then load it onto the trailer. But she is happy to take the risk of all being well at the circuit.

I have been told the old engine had a bearing slip on one of the con-rods. This blocked the oilway & blew it out of the oil filter gasket. I dont know if thats feasible or not but seems possible.

Back to Pembrey. Our class has a TVR (went really fast in the wet last year!), the roadgoing racing V8 Westfield (last year we swapped close times). Another Westfield.

Liz has just go home. give you all an update later. Kevin

[stylussprinter]

Good luck both of you for tomorrow

[kevp]

What a numpty I am - dont even know what engine Iv got The telesales man said it was an ST, & to add to that there where quite a few differences to the silver-top I had. I therefore didnt question it. Seems I have a black-top (but an aly cover not a plastic one).

Got to Pembrey at 11.00 plus friday night

Liz ran 1st on Saturday & did a very good time. About 15 seconds faster than her best last year. And she got quicker on her following runs.

I had a problem on my 1st run. The connector to the coil pack came off. Although it is held on with a locking spring clip, I discovered that it falls off with a bit of wriggling. It is now cable tied on.

This event consisted of 1 practice & 3 timed runs. Luckily for me, you only have to cross the start line to achieve the qualification of running a practice lap. As you cannot do a timed run without a practice run.

So my 1st timed run was 4 seconds faster than my best last year. My nearest competitor, Anne - had over the winter got a more powerful 4.5 v8 & gone dry sumped. She beat my by .04 of a second. However she soon got faster & left me behind.

I am awaiting the official times but on Saturday I came 3rd Liz 5th. As I had set the target time for this course last year. And beat it by 4 seconds this year I come away with max points.

Sunday was even better. A bit of rain late morning, but we had already done our 1st timed runs. This was an even better time for me, so max points again.

The engine ran very smoothly & reved a bit happier than the last. When I got home I downloaded the ECU. The lambda was having to add up to 15% more fuel on max throttle. I will have to sort the injection map out. Should get a bit more speed.

[stylussprinter]

Well done Kev ' , things are perking up for your season it seems

[kevp]

Just got my acceptance to Castle Combe on the 26th. Never had so many in our class before, 15 entrants. The class record for this event is 64.9 seconds, set by a Noble M12. My target time is 78.41s. Dont think I'll get anywhere near the Noble's time, but as I set the target time last year I should beat it

So apart from the Noble we have 6 x Caterham 2L. 1 x Caterham R500, & a Hyabusa, Scimitar, Riot, Westfield & Robin Hood. The Caterhams are fast, light & dedicated, so I feel we will be at our usual finishing position

Better try some mods this weekend. Ideas welcome.

[kevp]

Reminder for this weekend. Castle Combe on Saurday.

[Cerberus]

Reminder for this weekend. Castle Combe on Saurday.

i might pop out and see you Kev after my usual Saturday morning blat, what time are you getting there?

[kevp]

Got to be there by 7.30 for signing on. Dont know the running order yet, the finals havent been issued!!!

[kevp]

Another great day. Weather was of course hot. Both Liz & myself improved our times from last year by a few seconds, (official times not been issued yet).

We had a lot of competition. The Noble was about 10s faster than us. I spoke to some of the others & they had highly tuned engines, so we where always going to struggle. When I got home I looked at the injection correction map, it is still fuelling an extra 10% at the higher revs. I really need to sort this and gain some hp's.

As I beat the target time I will get max points. My main championship rival - Derek in a BMW Z something - was about 10 points up on me. However he has a gearbox problem, so he's not getting the results expected. I do not feel bad about this as my engine didnt run sweetly at Gurston & of course I have not been getting the best from the new engine.

I did get a video of 1 run. Cant post it as the recorder did not copy a "data" file for the computer to read. I can only play it from the memory card. However I have watched it a few times against some of the videos on you tube, and Im very happy with my efforts. We are considering getting a data logger (recommendations?) to aid our progress.

It was good of Dave Huggett to come along & support us in his Stylus. He cant make Rob's gathering but is keen to get together on a meet or track day.

[stylussprinter]

Well done Kev ' and nice to hear Dave is getting about in his Stylus , long time since I met him -- Llandow I think Shame he can't get to mine on the 24th July -- how about you two

[kevp]

Just got back from blatting around Scotland.

Got Llandow on the 17th of July & also booked the Friday (Westfield) track day. Although its unconfirmed at the moment.

Rob, would love to join the meet on the 24th, but cant commit at the moment.

[stylussprinter]

It'll be great to get you two up here Stylus or Bikes -- we had a good day last year , some staying over till the Sunday

[kevp]

Had a great weekend at Llandow.
Friday was a WSCC track day that we went on. The WSCC do a deal that 2 people can do the track day in the same car for no extra money. This suited us fine. But unfortunately for the Westfield guys not many turned up. So we had loads of track time. A bargain except for the tyres.

The track day was great for Liz. I took her round a couple of times to show the lines (helped by the cones). She went out for a few laps, then took me out for some pointers. After she did a few more runs she came in to collect me in the passenger seat again. Well the improvement was amazing. She was really flying & took quite a few laps before I could get her in.

For the sprint on Saturday the weather was sunny but windy. This improved to be very pleasant after lunch. Our times where good. Both of us faster than last year. Liz by a considerable margin, mine by a few seconds. Our competition was 4 Westfields. Apart from Tim ( a very experienced test & track driver) with best times of about 80 seconds. The rest of us where within half a second of each other all day. Unfortunately my best time (good enough for 2nd) was set during practice. My timed best run was only good enough for 3rd or 4th. Liz came last but was not far behind.

I beat the target time, so max points. I am waiting for the final results now. I think this maintains my 2nd position in the championship. I cannot win the championship on the remaining events unless Derek (BMW M coupe) does not enter or fails some of the remaining events.

Still 2nd overall & class win in only our 2nd year (1st full year) of sprinting, on a scrap yard engine is a great result.

[stylussprinter]

Brilliant Kev ' -- bloody well done Might you turn up to mine next Saturday
Get in touch for address/postcode if yes It would be good to have more ladies , there's just 3 at present.