49 days since last trackday… In that time we’ve done a lot of work.

• Checked and replaced our usual fluids
• Finished the front splitter and undertray
• Built and fitted a front tow point
• Hooked up the over-boost to the steering wheel
• Upgraded the comms system to proper Motorola 5W two-way system with push-to-talk button on steering wheel and in-helmet mic / headphone jack.
• Built drivers door card using 0.6mm sheet
• Fabricated front brake scoops
• Re-mounted the exhaust for better clearance and added ‘slides’ to flanges to clearing trailer lip better.
• Sealed over holes on sides of front bar
• Shimmed the diff to a total of 3.1mm
• Fixes and additions made to VBOX Scene File:
  • Current Lap TIME to display for 3 secs not Current Lap NUMBER
  • Check brake pressure settings (full)
  • Bar graph overlays are pointless remove
  • RPM scaling tweak
  • Add G-Ball, Best Media Lap and Predictive Delta (realtime)
  • Set G scales to 1.2G’s allround for symetry
  • Created math channel for wheel spin % (3rd gear only – use rpm / speed ratio)

The benefit of all that work however would pale in comparison to the raw car speed we gained from the tyres working in the dry for the first time. The work we did to the the diff however was of remarkable benefit. I don’t think we had any power-oversteer, you could now use so much more throttle so much earlier and it would just hold the line and go!

However, in our excitement, as I headed out for my second session it became suddenly apparent that we had forgotten to pin the bonnet. Luckily the windscreen stayed intact and after a bit of banging and drilling, we re-secured the bonnet and returned to the track with the Marshall’s blessing (and wry smile).

Our day came to an end tho later on where we realised that all that extra grip had caused one of the front drop-links to fail. They were stock, so it just went to prove that upgrading them is worth-while. Overall, probably a super exciting track day, even with the bonnet flip-up scare!

Here’s some pics:

Drive by:

Bonnet flip up:

Pit Notes:

Cold Pressures set to 32 all round, hoping for 36 hot. Reference Temps from Track day 7 (wet):

• Oil Filter: 70-75
• Water upper: 60-65
• Water lower: 40-45
• Front Rotors: 240-260
• Rear Rotors: 260-300

Session 1 Marty:

• Oil Filter: 79
• Water upper: 70
• Water lower: 43
• Front Rotors: 220
• Rear Rotors: 260

Comments: Major improvement in power down, everywhere. No noticeable drawbacks either under brakes to turn-in to mid corner. No noticeable noises from splitter, exhaust or brake ducts, but was using isolating canal earphones. Never really pushed the braking too hard in this session or rev’d it right out too hard, but started to load up laterally over the last two laps (PBs). Comms was great but being set at low power both ends mean black spots through turns 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12. Increased both units to high at end of session, and max squelch (15). Overall, most satisfying session to date for me! New lap record for us at 1:41.29.

Session 2 Rory:

• Oil gauge: 75
• Water gauge: 86
• Front Rotors: 270
• Rear Rotors: 260
• Tyres Front: 62
• Tyres Rear: 60
• Tyres Pressure Front: 39 (lowered to 36 hot)
• Tyres Pressure Rear: 39 (lowered to 36 hot)

Comments: Another new lap record! 1:39:96 on last lap, Data logger was not recording (stopped 4 seconds into first lap, 39 seconds of recording only).

Session 3 Marty:

Comments: Bonnet wasn’t latched, flipped up to windscreen at 80km/h just after entering the circuit! Repaired and approved by marshals for next session….

Session 4 Marty:

• Oil: 75
• Water: 85
• Front Rotors: 280+ (off chart)
• Rear Rotors: 280
• Tyres Front: 64
• Tyres Rear: 64
• Tyres Pressure Front: 36
• Tyres Pressure Rear: 36

Comments: Great first hot lap (lap #3), new PB & record, but had trouble with traffic & stringing better sectors together. Ideal lap expected around 1:38.5. Noticed loud clunk from front right just before turn 5 (sweeper) on lap 4, assumed to be large tyre marble at the time. In retrospect probably was the FR drop link failing.

Session 5 Rory:

• Oil: 80
• Water: 70
• Front Rotors: 250
• Rear Rotors: 240
• Tyres Front: 50
• Tyres Rear: 45
• Tyres Pressure Front: 35
• Tyres Pressure Rear: 35

Comments: Managed to get within a second of PB, but after a few laps slowed due to infrequent noise from indiscernible location, mostly on RH corners under compression, not felt through steering. Came in and notice broken drop link on FR. Ended the day.

Overall notes:

• 3rd quickest car on the day out of about 15 or more. 1x Escort and 1x ‘funny / mini’ super car was quicker, but not by much!
• Comms was great
• Car was much easier to drive fast, never really got a good string of laps to hunt down the extra speed the car had in it (drop link broken).
• Mis-firing at lower RPM, above about 5,000rpm boost came in smooth and was normal, below that definitely hesitating / missing.
• We’ve beaten the following lap records at Winton:
  • Lotus Elise
  • V8 Utes
  • and are within 0.1secs of the BMW E30 lap record
• Replace plugs, miss firing below 5,000 / off full boost.
• Check all rear diff bolts, sway bay mounts, exhaust bolts etc.
• Intercooler piping leaking drivers side last connection before BOV outside of engine bay / in wheel arch.
• Need new bonnet > http://justjap.com/store/product.php?productid=20665&cat=328&page=1
• Need heavy duty front drop links > http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_detail4.php?part_number=KLC108
• Blue smoke for first 1-2 laps of each session, worst during first session, but there in every session…
• Too much oil picked up and pumped (accumulating in head / rockers etc)… Stock pump is moving too much oil at such a high average rpm – need bigger sump w baffles and also need to restrict 1 of the two feed lines.