Prawn and BigAls A3 Track Car

[Prawn]

Yes you understood me correctly, just suggesting 2 people driving may make a difference to the amount of heat, resulting in cracking but appreciate you have been piloting this setup and for all intents and purposes it has been a success.
Seriously, great stuff and keeps me sane at work and elsewhere

Thanks Graeme, I didn't take it as a criticsm at all just explaining it for dad who read it out of context between posts

I think you could well have a point, I do ask an awful lot from the car, we covered over 500 miles in 24 hours last weekend, and absolutely thrashed it on track all day long with very little down time between sessions, as it simply didn't need it.

After one session, dad and I swapped round, and went to head straight back out. One chap asked me as I was jumping in 'arnt you even going to check it over?'

I said, " oh yea, great idea"

Opened the bonnet, no oil or water visible on the outside. They must still be inside then....
'yup, it's still there!'

Shut the bonnet and headed straight out

Didn't use a drop of oil all day, didn't fill the catch can, just worked, perfectly. Still so happy with it.

 

[daz-20vt]

Video is awesome mate!!! gotta love hd!!!

 

[future]

That's the only bad thing about this hobby Glad to hear it's being enjoyed and thrashed as it should though!
I will have to sort my life and get to a track day that everyone is at as I would love to see yours go and put a few faces to names!

 

[kwistof]

haha, Cheers Kris (assumption on spelling based on username!)

I have competition for sure, I had some great fun laps with Nige in his mk2 ABF turbo, and a few of the m3 bunch on Northloop are seriously fast too!

It must have a huge amount to do with track knowledge as well as knowing your own car inside and out, a bit like the Nurb when you get locals in their sheds over taking Porker tourists and the like! lol.

You thought about going into any sort of time trials or competitions? Other than the odd auto solo every now and again

Tom- an event that a lot of us on here go to is Audi Drive International that is held at Castle Combe around October time buddy.

Audi Driver International ADI 2014

Audi Driver International 2014 at Castle Combe 11 October 2014

That's when you'll get to see Nick chasing down the badgerwagon and the likes of Jo pulling of some serious drifting on track! lol. I should be heading down there this year but doubt I'll get any track action as it's a right mission from mine and wouldn't want to be stuck over in the West country if anything went bang :\

So I will going mainly to put some more names to faces/cars and also have some banter with the regulars

Good assumption on the name...nearly there
Reason behind it #28
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/rs3-fo...ort-user-name-your-user-name.html#post2036986

Chris

 

[Lavis89]

I might head up to ADI this year, wont be tracking it but will be good to meet a few of the people i've had so much advise from, also nice to see some of the purpose built cars hooning it, mine is still my daily at the moment so not going to see the track for a few years yet

 

[Prawn]

It must have a huge amount to do with track knowledge as well as knowing your own car inside and out, a bit like the Nurb when you get locals in their sheds over taking Porker tourists and the like! lol.

Track knowledge helps a lot for sure. At places like Combe that I know I'm fairly on the pace from the first session, We'd never done Bedford before, so most of the morning was spent just learning the track and building up slowly.

it's also amazing how much time you lose in traffic, i was watching the clips through last night, and on one section, one lap without traffic, and one lap with, there was 4 seconds difference over just 3 corners! So definitely potential to go a LOT faster still i think.

I might head up to ADI this year, wont be tracking it but will be good to meet a few of the people i've had so much advise from, also nice to see some of the purpose built cars hooning it

You really should come to ADI, it's a really good event with a great atmosphere!

 

[future]

looks like i will be booking some time off for ADI then!!

 

[superkarl]

You're probably overlooking that proper race cars and their teams don't give a feck if the drilled rotors, if they use the, crack. Theyl bin them after a race. As long as they remain structurally sound and under decent operating temperatures during track sessions then that's them happy.

long term longevity wont be a goal for them from race to race, theyre consumables, which they are.

general pop with track cars will be wanting longevity from race to race which given their uses is somewhat unrealistic.

 

[Prawn]

You're probably overlooking that proper race cars and their teams don't give a feck if the drilled rotors, if they use the, crack. Theyl bin them after a race. As long as they remain structurally sound and under decent operating temperatures during track sessions then that's them happy.

long term longevity wont be a goal for them from race to race, theyre consumables, which they are.

general pop with track cars will be wanting longevity from race to race which given their uses is somewhat unrealistic.

Correct, these things are definitely considered more as a comsumable on a thoroughbred race car, but at club level, things like time attack and Castle Combe Saloons, the guys are still expecting to get a half decent life span out of them.

It's certainly a tall order for sure, although I think we're doing pretty well with it so far.

Thicker discs, grooved and not vented, and I think we'll get fairly acceptable life from them.

 

[bigal 1]

That last sentence should read thicker discs grooved AND vented. (typo)

 

[bigal 1]

Hi Graeme, I didn't think your remarks about the brakes were a criticism at all. I just wasn't thinking when I posted. (forgot my brain pills that morning)

 

[kwistof]

I don't expect you weighed the 2 piece 330x28 discs before you added them to the car? Bells/rotors and all bolts combined.

Be interesting to know what they weigh to compare against others as obviously one of the main reasons for 2 piece discs is for the reduction in weight.

 

[Prawn]

Thicker discs, grooved and MORE COOLING, and I think we'll get fairly acceptable life from them.

Edited to keep Dad happy

I don't expect you weighed the 2 piece 330x28 discs before you added them to the car? Bells/rotors and all bolts combined.

Be interesting to know what they weigh to compare against others as obviously one of the main reasons for 2 piece discs is for the reduction in weight.

I'll be honest mate I didn't. When you get to those kind of sizes they're pretty heavy regardless!

it's a bit of a trade off really, as larger thicker discs have more material to dissipate the heat, but of course unsprung weight isn't enjoyable.

The AP calipers are nice and light, and the alloy bells save further weight, so any gains from massive rotors are just something we have to accpet in the quest for the impossible - a car that can lap a track reliably ALL DAY at as close as possible to race pace.

 

[A19quattro]

You have brain pills, I could do with some of those!
You are forgiven anyway, must stop typing with a Scottish accent, that's probably where all the mis-understandings lie

Hi Graeme, I didn't think your remarks about the brakes were a criticism at all. I just wasn't thinking when I posted. (forgot my brain pills that morning)

 

[kwistof]

No worries, it was just a random request really fella.

I am kicking myself still from not weighing my SMF kit tbh.

As long as it works better than before then it's all good

 

[MIGGZ]

glad the brakes are holding up dude!
need to sort out my rear brakes im over them lol

 

[Prawn]

Got bored, spent a while looking through this vid to get an idea of fastest time around a lap in clear traffic.

2:33 - 5:17, timed from Rumble strip on the RHS to same position next lap. ~2:44 region. Happy with that.

 

[bigal 1]

And that on LOW boost. Looking forward to the next Bedford session. Do like it there.

 

[Prawn]

Just bought a fresh set of BKR7E plugs, will close the gaps down to 0.65-0.7mm from the stock 0.8.

Also bought a new fuel filter. See if that cures the questionable running on full boost.

 

[daz-20vt]

Any luck with the plugs?

 

[Prawn]

Define luck

I found some plugs, bought them, and fitted them, but to no great gain. I have a few other things to look at first, but I'm confident I know what's going on with it now. Plus it's really fast enough on low anyway! so I'm in no hurry

Got a few essential jobs done today on a rare day off.

I'd split another CV boot at Bedford, which had once again caused a massive mess in the wheel arch.

1x brand new OE boot from TPS, and following a few chats with Robin I've decided to try venting the boots to allow them to breath when hot

I used a small section of steel pipe I cut off an old mk4 steering rack I had lying around.

Due to the shape of the shafts, a plain bit of pipe wanted to pop inside the joint when clamped, which could have ended badly with a munched CV joint.

I shaped the tube and put a notch in it so it would be retained in place when clamped up:



In and clamped up:



Venting to the inside of the boot:



One shaft with vented CV boots:



I also set about making my splitter removable again. When I fitted it I used some nice dome headed allen bolts, thinking they'd never touch the ground.

i was very wrong. This was one of the better ones!



I could only get ONE of the 8 bolts off with an allen key. The rest needed the grinder!



I got busy with the grinder and drill, and a countersink bit, and knocked these up pretty briskly. Not the neatest work, but they're going to get ground away, so it really doesn't matter too much!

This is pre clean up with a flap wheel:



And finished and installed:



The allen heads are now sunk 5mm inside the wear blocks, so I've got 5mm of wear on those before I have to worry about being able to remove the splitter at all

I also did an oil change, but that's even LESS interesting, so no pics

 

[bigal 1]

WOT No pics of how to change the oil. How depressing. Glad to see you are looking after your fingernails.Looks like you used a Leatherman on that thumbnail .

 

[Sam_]

Not sure if you've dealt with Tony at Touring Car Spares before but he's always selling the btcc slicks if you need them.... Used Motorsport Race Parts

I bought quite a few bits off him before I scrapped my 306 project and moved here. He's a really nice bloke.

Worth going to see him as he has loads of interesting parts lying about. Some nice roads driving out to his place too

 

[daz-20vt]

So what do you think it is then? Cars very fast for sure so running spot on is most important. Maybe use high boost to pass the more stubborn traffic?

 

[bigal 1]

We think it is possible that the fuel pump is not up to it at max power, so an external inline pump has been ordered. That will be in addition to the in tank pump which will be used as a lifter. So we will see. We have used high boost in the past as you suggest, just to clear marginal traffic that won't move over.

 

[daz-20vt]

Yeh ive seen most of your guys vids and your not exactly shy with overtaking. But a lot of the faster cars tend to think they dont need to move over. Pride or assuming they will leave you i guess?

 

[bigal 1]

Porsche, M3's and Lotus spring to mind.

 

[daz-20vt]

Hahaha. Tough having all those kind of cars holding you up isnt it!!
My fav was the c63 amg merc on the abingdon vid. He was in traffic and you guys caught him. When traffic cleared i think he thought he was off but not long after he had to pull over!! Hahaha

 

[bigal 1]

In that session, there was a prepped M3 and that C63. When we pulled into the pits the quy in the M3 came over, looked at the car and said "that's a 1.8T???", I replied yes. His response, "Oh Hell, that goes well doesn't it." The guy in the Merc just pretended we weren't there.

At Bedford last week we were next to a couple of Exige's, in the garage, they pretended were weren't there also. So funny. Might put some vids of that up when we get them sorted.

 

[daz-20vt]

That is the exact way id guessed he would act though!! His was a car pride thing.
Fair play to the m3 guy though,
The c63 guys a local i think. Seen a few random abingdon vids with him posting an apperance.

 

[Prawn]

it is strange how the reaction we get from some people is so different isn't it?

Some people are really friendly and come over for a good chat, yet other times, you'll park up next to someone in a Lotus or similar, and they'll be really chatty in the morning pre briefing, then after you've passed them on track, they won't say another word or even look at you!

Shame really, I'd much rather a good day on track with loads of closely matched cars than just be passing a load of slower stuff, hence why the laps I had at Combe with Bill were some of my most enjoyable laps ever

 

[daz-20vt]

Yeh some people are wierd though. They probably turn up in their "more focused cars" and think they are the ones to beat and you go tearing past. Its pride, jealousy and arrogance. Who cares whos faster and why. We all have the same hobby so lets all just get on!!

 

[jimmcgee]

it is strange how the reaction we get from some people is so different isn't it?

Some people are really friendly and come over for a good chat, yet other times, you'll park up next to someone in a Lotus or similar, and they'll be really chatty in the morning pre briefing, then after you've passed them on track, they won't say another word or even look at you!

Shame really, I'd much rather a good day on track with loads of closely matched cars than just be passing a load of slower stuff, hence why the laps I had at Combe with Bill were some of my most enjoyable laps ever

its because your not being serious enough ,
"After one session, dad and I swapped round, and went to head straight back out. One chap asked me as I was jumping in 'arnt you even going to check it over?'

I said, " oh yea, great idea"

Opened the bonnet, no oil or water visible on the outside. They must still be inside then....
'yup, it's still there!'

Shut the bonnet and headed straight out ""

 

[Prawn]

its because your not being serious enough ,

Perhaps we should take a bit more seriously. At Bedford I even wore my Captain slow James May jumper to throw them off the scent

 

[Lavis89]

I've so far only ventured into the go-karting side of motorsport due to not having nearly enough money to start tracking a proper car. But even in that, people not yielding when you are obviously the faster driver is such a huge pain in the ***! I got stuck on 20 second track (record is 18.9ish) with 9 other people last night, i was pretty much permanently stuck behind some slowcoach! (still got fastest lap, and best average )

 

[Prawn]

So, after spending the day slaving on the car yesterday, I got home today at 17:30, the weather was gorgeous, so I thought I'd head out for a drive!

Beautiful sunshine, the finest hampshire roads, it was awesome!

This car is perfect for me! 102 000 miles driven by me behind the wheel since buying it 8 years ago, and the last 3 years of constant non stop development on just about every area possible.

It's nice how doing a few little maintenance jobs can really make the whole thing just feel 'right' again. Knowing everything is right.

I've not spanner checked it since the splitter went in in October, but after Spa, Audi-Driver, and Bedford, around 600 on track miles, and 3000 road miles, nothing has come loose at all, and apart from a CV boot all was perfect under neath.

It's looking a bit battered at the moment, when they opened up the South/East/North circuit at Bedford there was alot of debis on the link beween the two parts of the track, and this seems to have taken it's toll, smashing the airdam in 3 places, but apart from that, she's all good





Poor battered splitter:

 

[daz-20vt]

Just spray the gaffer tape. Pro job

 

[bigal 1]

its because your not being serious enough ,
"After one session, dad and I swapped round, and went to head straight back out. One chap asked me as I was jumping in 'arnt you even going to check it over?'

I said, " oh yea, great idea"

Opened the bonnet, no oil or water visible on the outside. They must still be inside then....
'yup, it's still there!'

Shut the bonnet and headed straight out ""

I totally agree, I must take it more seriously. A discarded sweater that Nicholas had, an old shirt worth about 50p, jeans from sainsbury's (£15) and some old leather shoes I bought some 10 years ago and now wear around the house because they are so comfortable. My mission next week is to source and OMP fireproof suit so that I can improve my driving abilities. Oh and I forgot; I MUST have my name on the suit. (Small on the front and Big on the back).

 

[jimmcgee]

I totally agree, I must take it more seriously. A discarded sweater that Nicholas had, an old shirt worth about 50p, jeans from sainsbury's (£15) and some old leather shoes I bought some 10 years ago and now wear around the house because they are so comfortable. My mission next week is to source and OMP fireproof suit so that I can improve my driving abilities. Oh and I forgot; I MUST have my name on the suit. (Small on the front and Big on the back).

can you go to the motor bike shop and get one of those [FONT=arial, sans-serif]mohicans you see the bikers wearing on there helmets [/FONT] .

 

[bigal 1]

Brill, I'll keep that in mind. It's good fun isn't it.


Unless you drive a LOTUS. (lots of trouble, usually serious)