Cadwell Park Test Day - The Results!

Well it didn't go quite as to plan as I was expecting or hoping for.  In-fact the day had hardly begun and found myself heading home for an early bath :-(

I had asked Tim Gray to come along and help steer me through the mine field of setting a car up.  Well its a mine fields to me.

Post sign on and briefing  it was a case of heading out on track to the obligatory sighting laps.  After 3 laps we all came off track and the day could commence.

Straight away Tim started questioning what have I got set on the car already, taking notes as he went.  At this point the track was still wet  from all the rain from the previous night, so Tim recommended we focus on setting up the car for a wet set up.  Fine with me.  Essentially a wet set up would be to soften every setting possible.  Body work back on and strapped in and i was off.

Unfortunately for me....my first lap would be my last lap of the day.  As it was wet and greasy still on track I took my time going round playing with the brake bias to achieve a sensible balance under braking.  This done  I proceeded to 'Charlies - Park Straight (up through the box) - into Chris Curves (making sure the brakes felt good, through the Gooseneck then into the Mountain section.  This is where it all went wrong.

Approaching the 'S' bends at the foot of the Mountain section, I was determined to start the day i meant to go on.  I.e. get my gear selection right.  Last year in the Fury i would quite often go through this section in 3rd or 4th even....which really isn't quick.  In the 'S' bends, through in 2nd gear.  Applied the power for the Mountain, up over the crest.....back end went very light.  The rears lit up as they broke traction from the wet track.  Slightly off the line meant i came over the top at a slight angle.  Downward force on the rear axle was regained and promptly spat me off the track, down the bank to the right hand side straight into the barrier.

Needless to say I was a little miffed with myself for stuffing it on the first lap......but everything happens for a reason.  Although i punted the barrier with the front left the body work surprising just seemed to absorb the blow and flexed back into position.  However, it was the second rear impact that did the damage with the rear wheel taking the full impact.  Not knowing the extent of the damage; 20 mins later revealed all.  I was actually quite lucky.  The wheel and the rear upright took all the force of the impact.  Wheel was bend and buckled and the upright was twisted, but other than a small amount of bodywork damage, that was pretty much it.

So after feeling very miffed; knowing the extent of the damage wasn't quite so bad, i felt somewhat relieved.

I dropped the car off at TG Motorsport as it was en route on the way home (sort of) and Tim set to fixing it all up over the following weeks.  He also did another Geo set up on the car.......so i couldn't wait to see how it handled at the next race meeting at Pembrey :-)

Test Day Planned - Cadwell Park

A much overdue test session is imminent......thank god! Having spent the Brands weekend making sure everyone else had a good a grid position by me taking one for the team by occupying last place; its not a place I want to frequent too often.  So i have opted to get some quality seat time in to properly get used to the car.

As Cadwell is a 'trackday', obviously lap timing is not allowed, but the beauty of gps data logging is that it automatically captures the times, so I guess I should check the card periodically through out the day to ensure the memory card doesn't get full and is still working ;-)

Anyhow....laps times round Cadwell last RGB round 2012 ranged from 1:29 to 1:44.  Needless to say it was me in the Fury last year that set the 1:44, but this was my first ever outing in RGB.  I think if I can achieve a 1:35 by the end of the day, and if I can I will be extremely happy.  Bearing in mind other track traffic, I believe this is a reasonable target.

Anyhow, watch this space and i'll report back with how i get on

Brands Hatch Race Weekend 2013

First race of the season in the newly rebuilt Genesis RR.  So what could I expect?  Thinking back over the past 12 months to when I had my first outing in the Fury at Cadwell Park last year, arriving at Brands Hatch on the Friday afternoon to watch the Friday testing, alot of the nerves started to resurface from what I felt like about this time last year.

It was exciting, yet a little intimidating   It almost felt like I had never been in a race situation before which was a little unsettling.  But after the initial half hour worrying about things, the weekend started to get under-way and what ever fears I had soon were forgotten.

I ventured down to Brands in the car and new trailer in tow which was all pretty uneventful other than when I was parked up at the services at South Mimms on the M25, when returning to the car there was some young lad sat on the storage box next to the tow hitch......"ahem......do you mind!?".  He quickly scarpered.  A quick check round the vehicle to make sure he hadn't unplugged anything and I was on my way again.

On arriving at the circuit there were a number of RGB lads already there testing, so promptly went over to say hello to the RGB veterans and also all the newbies.  You could tell there was already a good atmosphere flowing through the paddock........"this is why I love RGB".

It wasn't long before new boy Danny Keenan turned up with his entourage.  Very kindly Danny offered to share the his marquee with me and it was very much appreciated as it would turn out the heavens opened right on que 30 mins before our first race.  More on that later.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALLY, RACE 1 and RACE 2

Saturday Qualifying

Well this session was going to be my; learn the circuit and try and post a decent lap time session.  Took the first few laps quite steady in an attempt to scrub the greasyness that is characteristic of new tyres off.  As I started to crank it up, I soon noticed some unique handling characteristics I hadn't noticed at the shakedown at Bylton.  Some really shockingly bad under-steer   Clearways saw me in the kitty litter after I had been giving more and more right turn input in attempt to coax the car round the corner.  I was having to back right off any kind of pace as I had to get the car to stay on the tarmac.  After slowing a lot the front end regained grip, back end came round and off I went.  

Rest of qually was a case of post a decent time and don't fall off the track again!

Result: Qualified 20th out of 20
Best Lap Time: 59.64
Conditions: Sunny, Dry

Race 1

Could it get any wetter?  30 mins before the start of the race the heavens opened after it being such a wonderful day.  Bloody typical!  I was already dealing with the fact the tyres felt incredibly greasy still after qually.  So the the fact there were rivers flowing across the circuit filled me joy!  However, I don't know what I was so worried about.  Pre race adjustments meant I had set anti roll bars dampers to soft soft soft.  First lap of the race....the car was brilliant!  It felt very grippy and, compliant in the corners which really provided a much needed boost in confidence.  Unfortunately Race 1 was red flagged and restarted.  The restart meant I was sent back to the back of the grid even though I had made up a few places on the first lap.  I hope this sending to the back of the grid malarky doesn't become too much of a theme as it happened at Mallory last year after having made up places.

Although post restart I finished last, this was mainly due to 2 spins I had getting on the power too early on the exit of Graham Hill bend.  First spin was beautifully executed keeping it on the tarmac.  The second spin saw me slide onto the grass so braced myself for the imminent impact into the barrier, but thankfully, I stopped short of the wall only to be greeted by Duncan Horlor off of Acorn Printing parking up next to me.  Phew that was two close shaves in as many seconds.  Like I said, if it wasn't for my spins I would have finished 13th or 14th.  Had a quicker lap certainly than the 2 guys who finished in front of me which was pleasing.

Result: 16th out of 20
Best Lap Time: 1:12.73
Conditions: Very Wet.  Monsoon!

Race 2 

Kept the back row of the grid occupied once again.  Dry race meant I reverted back to a harder setting but in turn brought back my horrendous under-steer.  Race 2 was pretty uneventful to be honest from my point of view.

Post race analysis, I soon realised I kept fluffing the gear change.  I put this down to not being used to stick shift and taking my hands off the wheel having gotten used to paddles last year.  Also due to the under steering issues meant I only felt confident to push the car to circa 80% of what it could possibly do.

My intention is to have a dedicated set up day with the car with the objective to achieve a compliant, confidence boosting car......so Snetterton wont seem so daunting.  There is a lot of tight bends at Snett!

Result: 16th out of 20
Best Lap Time: 58:04
Conditions: Dry, Sunny

Exciting news..... revealed!

Well....after much waiting the exciting news really isn't that exciting at all.  After a complaint from Mr AB Performance....."well what's your news then?......"   Turns out AB has been waiting feverishly for the news to break.  Think he thought I would be ordering a Sabre G2 (I would love too i might add), but unfortunately had to set my sights a little lower in the "exciting news" stakes.

Yes folks....I have treated myself to a new trailer!!!!  Oh yeah!!!  Its got a cover and everything.  Which ultimately means I don't have to clean the crud off the car every time I take it some where.

I told you it weren't that exciting.  Those of you at Brands Hatch at weekend would have seen it possibility 

As it is now the trailer doubles up as accommodation which provides some quite luxurious living area boasting a full 91sq ft of living space.  Enough for a double bed, kitchen area and a couple of comfy chairs....oh and a tyre rack!  I had even sorted out the lighting and heating in form of a gas heater much to dismay of AB.  I think ABs fire service days kicked in and was very concerned about carbon monoxide risk, which to be honest was a fair point.  So I might have to bin that idea and go electric for heating in the future. When i said "dont worry Andy....I have a fail safe at night to ensure I have switched the gas off before going to asleep" the fact the fail safe would constitute a phone call from the Mrs to remind me to switch it off really didn't wash with him.  Reviewing the fail safe plan I now realise there were a couple of flaws in my plan.
A) What if I had fallen asleep already and missed the phone call
B) What if I was out of phone reception
C) What if my battery died on my phone already

Anyway, I take the point.  Bin it off before it bins ME off!

Anyhow, i'm still alive, so I best get on a edit some video footage and write up the antics of Brands Hatch weekend.

Exciting News..........

...............I have some exciting news!  I will reveal all tomorrow once it has become a reality.  Cant wait ;-)