August 2018
30Aug
Blyton preparations
I've just bought another 50 litres of 102 octane fuel, following the engine's renewed appetite since it was tuned again in July. She now has quite a thirst. And I've started replacing the damaged side skirts, and will have these finished for the Blyton weekend. The tyres still need cleaning, which is a couple of hours work, and there's a couple of other 'secret' aero mods I've added, more will be revealed at Blyton (if anyone spots them). I've also reviewed the footage from Matt Hillam's 2nd place drive at Rockingham (on youtube), and I now know where I went wrong, because Matt catches me up half way round the course, on one particular corner, Yentwood, and drives past me, despite my >1s lead up until that point. So now I know I need to trust the downforce more. Mind you, the aero package on the SBD Dallara is very highly developed, so to be 0.8s behind Matt at the finish is something to be proud of. I just wish I hadn't lost as much time as I did, as I could have been 2nd and Matt 3rd. I'll work on my cornering speeds at Blyton.I've also realised that the Anglesey weekend in October takes place the same weekend that the WRC are competing on the Wales Rally GB, so I hope we dont get too much traffic on the way down on Friday afternoon, or back on the Sunday.
This is my 3rd place run from Rockingham.
21Aug
BSC Rockingham report, EcoBoost gets a podium finish in the BSC
Fourteen of the regular BSC contingent travelled to Rockingham on Sunday, with a new track layout for everyone to learn. The National circuit took in the infield section, with no banked track to play on, but nevertheless, the infield proved just as quick, with some exceptional speeds reached during the event.On arrival I found an empty garage, number 11, and unloaded the car and the wheels and tyres, and fitted the front wing and slicks, and headed out for a track walk with Graham Porrett and Terry Holmes. 30 minutes later, I was ready for scrutineering, but signing on wasnt until 9:30 so there was plenty of time to finish preparing the car and socialise.
With a dry forecast, and a strong breeze for most of the day, for the first couple of practice runs, I found myself unusually in the top 3, with Pete Goulding, and Colin Calder in the Gould V8 topping the charts. I suffered fuel surge on the final left hander on the first practice run, with 4L of fuel in the tank at the start, so for the 2nd practice I added a further 4L of fuel to ensure that the level didnt drop again, and during the rest of the day, maintaned that buffer. [I'll have to look at getting a smaller tank fabricated for 2019, as I've had to carry additional fuel at several events now to avoid fuel surge.]
During practice I noticed that the car was getting a lot of wheelspin off the line, and Chris Robinson from ****, who was present and supporting both EcoBoosts, suggested a lower start RPM. So I dropped the setting from 3500rpm to 3250, and sure enough it cured the issue. Chris also regularly took samples of data from both cars, and checked our traction settings, but we decided not to make any changes on the day.
For the first timed run before the break for lunch, I was placed 3rd overall with Matt Hillam and Colin Calder both ahead of me, and for the second timed run 90 minutes later, I improved again, but dropped to 4th, this time behind Steve Broughton, Matt and Colin. But I was still ahead of Pete who was sat in 5th place, so the signs were good for the Top 12 run-offs, that followed.
As soon as the second timed run was over, I drove back in to the garage and set about preparing for the two back to back Top 12 run-off runs, that I'd qualfied in 4th place for. That would mean I was the 9th car out on the track.
I fitted the gold rims with the newest run-off Avon tyres I'd bought in July, added another 4L of petrol, downed a quick drink of water, and pushed the car down to the assembly area, and before I knew it I was joining the queue for the Top 12 run-offs.
The slower cars went first, and it was unusual for me to watch the more experienced and usually quicker guys going out ahead of me. But my turn soon came around, and on my first run-off run, I posted a banker time of 54.51s, on the fresh tyres, which always took a lap to start working after they'd been cleaned with the heat gun. The car was a little loose, but I was sure they'd perform a lot better on the 2nd run. And so they did!
Pete had recorded a 54.18s run, also on fresh tyres, but I was determined to set the class record for the National circuit, and overtake him in the championship. So on to the second run offs, and I lined up again behind Pete, and watched the clock as he left the line, and waited eagerly to see what time he'd record. It was a quicker 53.46s time. I knew what I had to do. I selected first gear, drove up to the start line, lowered my visor, and waited for the green light and I drove as quickly as I dare. I braked later than before, and drove as smooth as possible, and I was totally committed for the final left hander leading to the finish line, almost running out of track. But had I gone quicker?
When I drove back towards the paddock, a thumbs up from a friend on the pit lane said it all. When I checked the time I'd done a 52.74s, to place me 3rd, my highest ever finishing position, only 2s slower than the winner Colin Calder (Gould V8), and 0.8s behind 2nd place Matt Hillam in the 2.0 Dallara. (My 52s run earned applause from those stood on the pitlane too!) Not only had I scored 10 pts for coming 3rd, but I'd also earned a bonus point for setting my fastest time of the day on my final run! 11 points moves me up to 8th in the championship, with four more rounds left to go. I've only scored on 8 rounds so far this year, and it is the best 9 scores that count, so I can still gain extra places in the Top 12, simply by continuing to improve.
The next event is the Blyton Speed weekend, on September 8/9th. No major modifications are planned, but I've a couple of minor aero tweaks up my sleeve to aid the top speeds.
20Aug
EcoBoost scores a 3rd place at Rockingham
A fantastic result at Rockingham, with a 3rd place in the Top 12 Run Off, which moves me up to 8th overall in the #britishsprintchampionship. The car was perfect, the weather stayed dry, and the National Circuit at Rockingham was extremely fast, and that rewarded the big power cars. I ran a 52.74s on my final run, and earned a bonus point for going quicker than I had on my previous run off and timed runs. So that netted me 11 points, which gives me a total of 50. Perfect.15Aug
Car #66 at Rockingham
I'm running car #66 on Sunday, at round 12 of the BSC at Rockingham Circuit. We're not using the international circuit layout though, which is a shame as when I was there in March, I had the standard Mygale front wing fitted, and I never took Turn 1 flat, and suffered chronic understeer in to Pif Paf. Now I'll have to wait until 2019 before I get to have another go.Instead, we're on the National circuit, which still looks very quick. The layout is similar to the Snetterton 100 track in both the corner speeds and downforce requirements, so I shall see if I can cure the power understeer that I suffered at Palmers (Snetterton). Since then I have modified the front wing mounting plate to allow a far steeper front wing flap angle, so Rockingham will be the first track I can see what difference it makes. Hopefully I can get around Pif Paf, and carry good speed in to Gracelands, I can set a quick enough time to qualify midfield and score some good points. There are no bonus points for breaking records at Rockingham as there are no records, so I'll only get 100 Britannia Trophy points, but 100 points will put me back at the top of the tables with 926pts :D. My objective for Sunday is to #beatpete for a fifth time,
3Aug
Ford approves my changes to the ECU
After all my badgering, Ford UK have agreed to allow the relaxations I asked for on my ECU. I've passed the approved list of changes on to ****, and I'm waiting to see if they can implement them, in time for Rockingham. Chris will be attending the next BSC sprint meeting anyway, to make a few changes to Pete's traction control settings, and I'll see if we can open the access up there.I've removed all of the new pushrods, and have sprayed them in gloss black paint, ready to be refitted to the car. Although I'd protected them with oil, they were starting to look tatty. And we cant have that! I'll get the car back on its wheels before the weekend, and the next step is to replace the side skirts, with deeper ones, to reduce the gap to the ground. The photos from Knockhill show a lot of daylight beneath the car, and now it no longer drags its arse on the floor (the uprated springs have settled and it no longer grounds out over the bumps) I can try and seal the gap around the floor to give me even more ground effect. There has to be a 40mm gap between the skirt and the ground, when the car is static, but as the car drops when the speed builds, the gap can reduce to zero, or at least a safe level so they dont drag on the ground and create drag.
