January 2024
25Jan
3D printed trigger disk fitted
I fitted the first of the two front wheel trigger disks that I designed and had printed in December, having tested the operation on the bench. With the number of teeth set to 20, in the ecu, I was then able to spin the front wheel at ~100mph using a electric drill, and the ecu reported a steady speed, with no drop outs. I will run with just the one printed trigger disk for the first few events, until I'm happy that it works reliably, and then I'll replace the opposite side.
Here is a YouTube short showing the testing of the front wheel trigger disk.
24Jan
Leak down test performed
Why do a leakdown test? I needed to confirm that the coolant pressure reported by the Life ECU was accurate, hence I bought a leak down test kit from ebay. The kit is really impressive, and the pump obviously has a gauge on it to show the pressure in the system. So it was really straight forwards to connect everything up, and with the ECU on, apply 10psi of pressure, and see what the ECU read. And low and behold, it also said there was 10psi of pressure in the coolant system. I can therefore rely on the pressures reported as they are as accurate as they can be :D
21Jan
Engine runs
I ran the fresh engine on Saturday, I haven't started it since the last time it ran at October at Castle Combe. Of course it started first time after I'd primed the oil system (I'm always impressed with the Zero Gravity Lithium battery, and how much current it can deliver having not been charged for 3 months). With the engine running, I monitored the coolant pressure whilst the engine got up to temperature, which took around 11 minutes in total. Cant find any issues, with any of the changes that I've made. Before I ran it, I made some more modifications to the chassis loom, to add adhesive heatshrink to a few connectors to protect them from fatigue. I've also disconnected the front suspension potentiometers, and removed them from the car, which frees up another pair of analogue sensors.One other job which I've been meaining to do for so long, is replace the four flourescent tubes in the garage, with LED Tubes. It was very easy to do, almost a straight swap for the flourescents, and the brightness in the garage, its like an operating theatre. I then fitted white ceiling tiles in the centre section between the four tube fittings, to reflect more light down, and its looking much better. It'll make a difference when I take any video or photographs outside.
The total distance for this years championships 22 rounds, is I reckon, just over 4500 miles travel, simply because additional rounds have been added, and we've more one day events in 2024. Thats for me anyway, other drivers who live down south or up north, may have to travel even further. Makes you question the sustainability of a championship, when it has more rounds than the BTCC, which is anything but amateur motorsport.
17Jan
New helmet
I've put a short video together showing the new Bell GP3 Carbon crash helmet I bought to replace the expired Bell GT5 which was certified to the old SNELL2010 standards, and no longer legal for use on MSUK events. The new helmet is made from carbon fibre, and is a lot lighter than the old one.
I've also had some more vinyl come through, and I'm busy preparing the car for the start of the season. I've some silicon-glass sleeving to fit over several of the wiring loom sections, where I feel they're vulnerable to damage, so I'll get on with that in the next few days.
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14Jan
Sensor replaced
I have swapped the ecp sensor out for the gauge version, and the ECU now reads 0.0psi when there is no pressure present, which is good. I've also stuck the championship numbers on the rear wing, and I'm now ready to re-upholster the bead seat, replace the front nose, and modify the front wing. Its all go, and there's still 68 days left before the first event at Cadwell Park in March 2024.
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12Jan
2023 season review part two
The second half of the season review is now YouTube.
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11Jan
Archive news
I appreciate there there is a lot of information on the website, which has been running since 1998, and its all searchable, but I'm still trying to make it more accessible; so I've written a small piece of php which allows you to search by year, and then read each months update, using the previous and next buttons at the bottom of the page to move forward and backwards through the pages.
The archive news can be reached through the Resources Menu above, click News Archive, then jump to the year you are looking for.
10Jan
Sensor delivered
The PX3 pressure has now arrived from Mouser Electronics, and I'll fit it over the weekend. This will give a reading of 0psi when there is no pressure in the coolant system, rather than 14.7psi. My 2024 numbers have also arrived, I went for the same style and colour as before, turquoise matt, in Basic Square font. I know, it should have been number 1 not 2. I must try even harder in 2024.
I'm not going to the Autosport show this year. Yet again Demon Tweeks are absent, as are many of the big brands, so it'll be fine if you want to buy dog blankets or gardening tools. The industry hasnt recovered from Covid-19, and it'll be a very long time before the Autosport show attracts the levels of attendance once seen.
The 2024 exhibitors list
07Jan
Gearshift system pressure sensor fitted
Over the weekend I've fitted the G1/4 Honeywell PX3 10bar pressure sensor to the pneumatic line that feeds the pair of solenoids for the gearshift actuator, and I've modified my loom from the X10 to the gearbox, which was previously connected to the pair of linear sensors that sat on the rear dampers. The loom is now split to connect the engine coolant pressure sensor, and the gearshift system pressure sensor, to two analogue inputs, and they're both programmed in to the ECU to provide logging and warnings should pressures be abnormal. I used Deutsch DTM 3-pin connectors, and adhesive heatshrink to keep it all looking tidy, and semi-professional :D
I've managed to find a stockist of the Honeywell PX3 100psi pressure sensor which is gauge or relative rather than absolute, so I'll replace the one fitted to the header tank so it reads 0psi when there is no pressure in the system. The part number is PX3AN2BS100PSAAX.
04Jan
2023 season review part one
I've put a video together showing the first half of the 2023 season, which is now on youtube.
Part two will drop in the next few days.
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