Alwayzsidewayz is racing!! 2008 New Updated

On the track we went to for the second time, I was nearly 3 seconds faster, but all the others are new to me.

My bigest issue, and its really my problem rather than the car is learning the tracks, some drivers after 1 run are bang on the pace, were as it takes me 5 or 6 runs to get a good feel for the track. Which if it rains ( as it did for the last event, straight after the first two runs) means I am stuck..

I am planning next year to do this

http://www.timeattack.co.uk/rules_and_Regs.html

As a club driver, so the car will be even further modified for motorsport.
I plan a new 350bhp engine, along with lots of chassis tweeks. It will be good fun, but compared to some off the 500bhp plus cars, a class win looks hardwork lol

However track driving is great fun and so as long as I am enjoying it, I will keep going.

New look to be shown this weekend!!! pics will be taken. 8) 8)

ST162.com will have pride of place, I promise!

 

Thought I would do the updates for round 4 & 5 again if any one is interested.

I did a shake down test at Brands Hatch the weekend before the 4th Round, taking advantage of some cheap track time at Brands Hatch. The sprint Series Had a space booked, so we went on track then looked to show off the cars at the show.
Some on track pics and vid.







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjma0_KDAh8
Some in car footage, I messed up completely when I saw Simon in the MR2 go off and Russ in his 330bhp 205 flew past me!

It was a great shake down though, everything felt right and I was feeling good for the event.

Round 4 was a 2.5 mile course, held in just crazy rain in the morning and drying out in the afternoon. The venue was an RAF base, used for apache Helicopter training. The surface varied from smooth tarmac, to broken concrete and gravel.

The track was very very fast at times, with 3 big stops from over 100mph.
With 26 corners to learn and some very big and hard things to hit, it was the most difficult drive of my life.
as you can see it was wet!


It did dry out, but for a while it was so muddy and greasy, I was spinning u
the wheels in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and even 4th at times!!



I Did okay at the track, I never really found the quick way round it, and a lot of cars that I would normally be very close to, beat me. I finished 37th overall and 15th in my class. I was not down beat however, as it was clear to me that the car was a lot faster than it had been, it was my driving now letting the side down.

 

Before the 5th and final round, I attended a driving school, based at a local sprint track, I spent the whole day with a few others being taught by seasoned pros, how to go faster. What a difference it made, I was so much happier in the car and the way I could push it.

Round 5 saw the championship go back to the same venue as round 3. But this time as it was the season finale, the event would be held in the darkness.
Below is a cut and paste of my experinces on the day.
Teeside update.

I went to this round, full of anticipation, as it could not have got any worse from last time, where I was 35th overall and last in class.
I had the confidence from the driver training, and a host of further improvements to the car.

I had hoped to scrub in my new R888s on the way to the track, but sadly the car scrubbed with them on and fully loaded. So I went with still very green R888s

We did not have an opportunity to walk the track, however we were due to have more practice runs until it got dark, so I was hopeful I could get myself dialed into the track.

One big change we did to the car was fit a cold air box.

And right from the start, I noticed a change, no longer was hot air being drawn into the filter straight from the fan, so the Ecu was happier and I had full power straight from the word go.

Practice went well, but I made a schoolboy error, got braking and turn in points for corners all sorted in my head, but then completely forgot it would be dark and that they might just disappear in the poor light!!!

Guess what happened on my first run?? Missed the first corner by miles, half spin on the next series of corners, then I totally lost the chicane, it just vanished as I was looking for a now invisible braking point. End result a lap so slow it was close to 200 seconds

It was at this point, I did actually question the point of racing in the dark, I was a bit worried about crashing and damaging the car.

2nd run, I took it easy, and found my reference points, now concentrating on the drive of the car, I felt that the tyres were feeling odd, why I did not pick up on this on my practice laps I do not know. Again experience and calmness, I need to work on next year. 60.24 run

Checking the tyre pressures, the R888s were all over the show, with 45psi in two, 37 in the others, No wonder it felt loose, my rookie error for trusting the tyre fitters gauge when having the tyres fitted.

Thanks to Darren and Ottis plus Adrian for the advice and loan of a decent gauge. Once the pressures were sorted, I went back out.

Success, everything just fell in to place and I did a 56.81 run, which ended up being my fastest of the night.

I then also did, 56.97, 57.21 and 57.22, so I was consistent, but I think I started to over drive the car to find extra time, which actually meant I was getting slower.

But overall I was competitive in my class, finishing 5th in my class, only 0.8 off Baz, and 11th overall, a huge improvement over the last visit

The tyres made a difference, so did the changes to the car, but I really felt the biggest time came from the driver tuition, just having the confidence to push the car and to really make the best use of the car and its gearing and power curve.

Next year, will see lots of small changes, aimed at pushing my and the car higher up the standings, I have no doubt that the series will be even tougher next year, but If I can build on my knowledge for this year, and still keep having the great fun I am doing, I think it will be awesome.

Cheers to Bazza and Adrian for sorting the series, and to all the new friends I have from racing in it.

Roll on 2009.

Couple of pics, just to sign off, and coz I like em LOL




To finish the season almost braking into the top 10, in my first season gives lots of confidence for next year. The car has developed so much from the first event way back in 07.

My driving has taken a few Confidence "knocks" along the way, but I am now faster and more consistent than I have ever before been.

A huge thanks to you guys for your words of support this year, it has really meant a lot, and I hope to go on to bigger and better things representing you next year!!

Cheers

Will update the final fun on track day later, it was wet again LOL

 

Totally agree, I lose a few seconds a lap compared to some of the guys with the stripped out MR2s etc, But I just could not live with myself if I smashed her up, although I know its a chance each time on track.

I have to say the on track driver training was just great, I never really left foot braked before, but I am now practicing all the time, Working out if you need to short shift, I have the habit of hanging onto the gears for to long, etc It made a huge difference.

I was basically just driving it as if I was on the road, which was not a good thing.

The series for next year looks to have over 60 possible entrants already.

I am going to speak to Kev and see if we cannot sort out a huge ST162 themed graphic look for next year. As all my support comes from here and my friends site ADL racing.

 

Last event of the year, was a open sprint day, back at the barkston track, which is fairly local to me. It saw us timed against a number of different cars from BMWs to Fords

I wanted to go and use it as a test session for next year, and also give my mate Doug a chance to drive the car, as he does so much on the spannering side.

Sadly the weather was just awful, lots of standing water, driving wind, and even mist. I never even got to bolt the R888s on the car, it was so wet, so we went round the track on my now pretty worn Yokos, which are to be frank shot.
Still it was a lot of fun, thankfully I was faster than my mate, by 2 secs, and the car came home in one piece. With the car sliding so much, we were a bit off the pace, even with 4wd, and I finished 9th overall with Doug in 12th. Only out of 18 cars.

Few pics.


I took a bit to much Kerb here! got a little outa shape lol





End of the day, with the car all loaded up, sits pretty low with 4 wheels and tyres in it, plus tools!!

 

I would really like a bit more power, but not at the expense of the existing power low down. I am looking to re route the IC pipework and maybe change the actual intercooler, I only run 1.0bar so my turbo can cope with extra boost.

Suspension I have lots of detail changes, I want firmer springs with a higher rate, adjustable rear shocks, and pillowball mounts for the rear.

Brakes I want to increase the stopping power, and I am stripping out the ABS.
Lots of other detail improvements to come to, such as new gauges etc.

Cheers for the kind words, its great to be able to share with you guys, I will keep you updated on the mods and developments

 

I am actually thinking of getting Klues custome side intake buts its for a ST185 head, and Ii am not sure if it will fit my 165 head?? If not I will go 3sge, I have one already

Suspension wise, its a question of money tbh, I can get the springs for about £200.00, so I will try those, plus go to the agx for the rears thats only £70

I would love that willwood set up es racing has, but I am going to see if I can get the Brembos calipers to fit, with some stock larger discs, Audi TT ones look good. will keep you posted, but I have to get the brakes to fit behind my 16" race wheels.

Cheers for the sugesstions and help

 

Thats well coool, cheers!!