2010 season

[stylussprinter]

Having been to the speed forum meeting last night at Puttenham nr Guildford , it's still not absolutely clear where my car belongs , category wise A scrutineer thought he'd pass it for sports libre but that it should really be in the new LIMITED(20 CARS) MODIFIED SPECIALIST SPORTS PRODUCTION god knows why because the blue book says full rollcage required A South West MSA official said the same. HOWEVER ----------- I was handed an invitation from another forum official for a CLASSIC TOURING CAR RACING CLUB sprint at Goodwood and the reg's showed no class for the '' above new class '' but did show sports libre mentioning kit type modified I really don't think they know what the hell they're doing
So I'll enter it as above except for the Classic T C R Club event on 15th May --- that will be sports libre & we'll see what happens Only thing being that if I'm thrown out of these events I'll lose the entry fee £££££££££££££££

Events planned
BOGNOR REGIS GOODWOOD SPRINT 24TH APRIL 1st in class
CLASSIC TOURING CAR RACE CLUB GOODWOOD SPRINT 15TH MAY 1st in class 2.4 sec's quicker
TWMC TONHIRE GOODWOOD SPRINT 26th JUNE -- My cousin Melvin's wedding so no can do
BRIGHTON & HOVE MOTOR CLUB GOODWOOD SPRINT 7th AUGUST -- Didn't enter
ABINGDON CARNIVAL SPRINT -- TWO COURSES in one day . 12th JUNE(ENTERED) 5th in class but beat the MG6R4

HILLCLIMBS
GURSTON DOWN JULY 18th Didn't enter
PESTOLOZZI HILLCLIMB AUGUST 7th & 8th This was cancelled as a venue

Decided at last minute to enter two more events after the ACSMC co-ordinator informed me I was in front points wise for the championship --- so last minute dash for chance of a 2010 win in S.Libre

BRANDS HATCH 12th Sept
DEBDEN 3rd Oct

[stylussprinter]

I've booked a test session at Goodwood on the 6th of April in the afternoon so will get there around 11-30am ish . It's the only opportunity to bed in some pads --- if they arrive on time , that is
If anyone has a day off I'll be pleased to see them

[stylussprinter]

This is very strange BUT very welcome too Many weeks ago I emailed Malcolm Duncan / technical admin MSA , regarding my category position for 2010 ---------------------- today I've had it very clearly spelt out in his reply , that my car could be entered in either SPORTS LIBRE or LIMITED SPECIALIST MODIFIED and no full rollcage would be required
So all the travel down to Guildford to the speed forum was irrelevant BUT why can't these classes have more clarity when written in the club reg's

[bluestu]

Hey good news !! looks like i can make tues 6th too

[stylussprinter]

Hey good news !! looks like i can make tues 6th too

H'mmm , getting worried now apparently snow is forecast over Easter

[stylussprinter]

Race pads arrived today so fitted them , after cleaning up the calipers etc . While cleaning around I noticed that the bearings are loose --- really didn't notice that last time out at Snetterton in October Hopefully they'll repack and adjust up seeing as I only replaced them after the 2008 tree incident and they've only done two events plus a trackday since then .

[stylussprinter]

The bearings adjusted up fine but there was still a bit of play which confused me a bit. After rocking the complete suspension , hub and brake assembly about , I found that the stub axle was loosening from the alloy upright When I fitted them , I used locktite and torqued them up as per advice sheet Anyway , I looked at the other side and it too was loose so refitted with locktite all the way along the threads length THEN ignored the torque sheet and bolted them as hard as I could pull
Obviously , having missed that before and got away with it , I was still a little concerned so once all was bolted up tight , I got hold of the complete assembly and rocked it ----------- there was nothing I could feel but I could hear a slight tapping as I rocked it up and down Finally , I held my fingers under the top Rodend as it rocked only to find a sideways movement of the ball within the shank -- nothing longitudally though . I couldn't measure the play and once removed it was impossible to move it by hand . Both sides were the same even though the drivers side was new after my tree shunt
Upshot is , I've ordered two new National rodends TSMX8T from Merlin which should be here tomorrow --------- phew
Just shows that you really should jack up your Stylus occasionally and check for everything and anything When I competed regularly , checking was the first thing I did before washing and loading but I've got a bit over confident lately SO what a good job I ordered the new Hawk DTC30 pads or maybe I'd have been in trouble at Goodwood

[kevp]

Rob. They check things like that at the MOT. Which makes me question why you have taken yours off the road.

[hearbear]

Rob. They check things like that at the MOT. Which makes me question why you have taken yours off the road.

His fuel tank can't get him to a MOT station now

[stylussprinter]

I wouldn't let an MOT guy anywhere near my car with the levers I've seen them using to check for ' play ' . My car is all national rodends at the front and alloy billet uprights / hubs . The outer rocker ends are also national rodends.
There are no headlights because the tyres would break them out , no indicators , no windscreen washer . The sump would probably get smashed going into the brake rollers.
With the list above being necessary to lower the car to where I want it to be , an MOT is out of the question ---- hence trailering it and competing in sports libre.
When competing twice a month a few years back , I checked all these things . Looking for movement on the white paint marks I'd put on every nut -- along with cleaning the chassis/suspension each time

Once you reach a certain development stage , taking it off the road is inevitable

[stylussprinter]

Kev ' , it's only just occured to me that MOT's of course would be once per year , whereas the loosening of my components has been between events , probably Snetterton Oct ' 2009 , after I trotted off across the rock hard so called grass around Corum twice

[stylussprinter]

Merlin were true to their word so the rodends duly arrived with the postman by 9-30am and they are now fitted & adjusted Just need to jack the rear up high enough to check and grease the propshaft

[stylussprinter]

While greasing the propshaft I found that the diff nose bearing was a touch loose again(Rod Styles adjusted it for me at the very wet Goodwood sprint last August) I took the nut right off this time and cleaned the oil from the threads . Refitted and adjusted up but with plenty of locktite which hopefully will keep it in place this time

[stylussprinter]

It was good dry weather for the test day at Goodwood . Stuart came with me to help and get a spin around the circuit. Tony Jardine was there testing an A35 , possibly the one we saw at the Revival last year. Various Caterhams / one pretty quick , a single seater but not sure what it was plus a very nicely turned out MK1 Cortina going pretty quickly.
First time out I needed to go through the bedding in process for the DTC30's which meant being in everybody's way somewhat , braking along the straights at a fairly moderate speed x 8 then repeating 8 more much harder braking at around the 100mph mark. Takes a few laps because the brakes need cooling in between each application of the brakes. We kept tight to the inside of the circuit which was a bit tricky for cornering without braking . Then trickled our way back into the paddock not touching the brakes , apart from the handbrake , they were left to cool off for 30 minutes .
My assessment of them is that they are as good as the HAWK Black but easier not to lock up and nice to modulate and release .
Only problem I had was that with Stuart on board the front left tyre fouled the arch through corners , leaving melted rubber stuck around the inner arch So looks like in my repairs to the hinge/flip reinforcing , I got it a little closer the before That meant I had to run the rest of the day without Stuart on board
Quickest car there seemed to be the Caterham on 9 or 10 inch A048's but I didn't get to run with him except in my brake bedding session . He's in the SBD Speed series and noticed his name sown into his overalls as '' STARKEY '' , didn't catch his first name though. As usual he asked was my car a GINETTA
Didn't get my best time . Apparently I was clocked at 93.3 best . I found keeping hold of the car difficult so I may change to a larger steering wheel. At the end of 4 sessions I was absolutely knackered . I think being retired and not doing any heavy physical work has weakoned my arms/shoulders so really struggle with the 1.7 ratio now

So I need to get about 5 to 10 mm's more space under the left front arch somehow --- without misaligning the side pin attaching points ------------ that'll keep me busy before the 24th

It used 7 gallons which surprised me --- about 8.5 mpg

On the way back around the M25 , the inside rear trailer(4 wheeler)tyre burst so that was tricky to get off. Moved the front to the rear and trickled home at 50mph

[MattD]

Nick Starkey - Caterham Superlight, Black with Orange cage ?
According to google he got a second at brands in an intermarque race in March.

Sounds like you had a tough day then Rob.
Positives are the brakes are run in, she ran well, & I presume the diff-knock wasn't there ?

Doesn't help having other quick guys around to compare yourself to when you are feeling rusty.
You'll be much better with a bit more running & the car & trailer tyre problems sorted.

Dave was there on Monday for the GRRC members day...

Times : E type 104 ; Audi R8 94 ; GTR R35 90 seconds
Antony Reid was enthusiastically driving a TVR Griffith 400 and made 91.57

So the track was proably a bit green too