Scaffolding poles + old VW bits + Rotary engine....
Discussion
If it didn't have 4 parachutes pretending to be mudguards it'd go a bit quicker too.
As would it if it didn't use 50 year old suspension designs.
Or hadn't be built around a little VW aircooled motor.
But hey, it was, it does, and it was f*****n' hot.
As would it if it didn't use 50 year old suspension designs.
Or hadn't be built around a little VW aircooled motor.
But hey, it was, it does, and it was f*****n' hot.
Edited by PhillipM on Monday 9th May 15:16
A highly sophisticated CAD* modelling and measurement system has been employed, along with our patented rapid prototyping machine and materials, to make some new mock-up side scoops to feed more air down over the gearbox and block...
Amazing eh?
The flat rear section will actually be open with just a flange for a seal on it, and then a mating piece behind it will be mounted on the bonnet to feed air into the sides. Have to do it like this or the rear bonnet won't open
The top bit will have a mating piece too to give the air somewhere to slow down and expand into - no good having a big opening if all that happens is the airflow stalls and spills around the sides!
Amazing eh?
The flat rear section will actually be open with just a flange for a seal on it, and then a mating piece behind it will be mounted on the bonnet to feed air into the sides. Have to do it like this or the rear bonnet won't open
The top bit will have a mating piece too to give the air somewhere to slow down and expand into - no good having a big opening if all that happens is the airflow stalls and spills around the sides!
- Cardboard Aided Design.
Right, not got much in the way of improvements this time around I'm afraid, bar making up the new side scoops, then deciding they looked crap and didn't allow the air to expand enough and shelving them, back to the drawing board.
Anyway, with this weekends event being a 2-day race rather than one, we decided to concentrate on a bit of maintainance and setup work rather than introduce yet more new parts (got some front suspension/arm upgrades in progress, and some stiffer damping settings, but we'll wait until we can get some more testing time before fitting those)
So, spent this weekend having various sensors recalibrated to ensure they're accurate, tidied some of the wiring up that had been chopped about before to add new bits, and then sat with the laptop refining the engine mapping.
End result is 8-10lbft more torque in the 3.5 to 5krpm region, which should help a little when slogging out of a muddy corner in 3rd, etc, and a touch more power after 8k too, but only a couple more peak horsepower.
Mainly been focusing on the throttle transients to get it to respond as smooth and crisply as possible, as it sometimes had the odd hiccup when it was still on the cold engine map, and added as much fuel up the top of the rev range as possible without killing the power in order to cool the engine a little more.
And the most important bit, the nice 3ft long over-run flames are back
Reliability tweaks and refinements this month really, sorry, no pictures of new shiny bits for a change!
Regrease all the bushes and bearings on Friday, set the tracking, load up and off to Baden Hall and see how she goes!
Anyway, with this weekends event being a 2-day race rather than one, we decided to concentrate on a bit of maintainance and setup work rather than introduce yet more new parts (got some front suspension/arm upgrades in progress, and some stiffer damping settings, but we'll wait until we can get some more testing time before fitting those)
So, spent this weekend having various sensors recalibrated to ensure they're accurate, tidied some of the wiring up that had been chopped about before to add new bits, and then sat with the laptop refining the engine mapping.
End result is 8-10lbft more torque in the 3.5 to 5krpm region, which should help a little when slogging out of a muddy corner in 3rd, etc, and a touch more power after 8k too, but only a couple more peak horsepower.
Mainly been focusing on the throttle transients to get it to respond as smooth and crisply as possible, as it sometimes had the odd hiccup when it was still on the cold engine map, and added as much fuel up the top of the rev range as possible without killing the power in order to cool the engine a little more.
And the most important bit, the nice 3ft long over-run flames are back
Reliability tweaks and refinements this month really, sorry, no pictures of new shiny bits for a change!
Regrease all the bushes and bearings on Friday, set the tracking, load up and off to Baden Hall and see how she goes!
Oh, also had a slight arguement with a concrete post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEq1enypU6g
For once, the car won
(Seal bust in the front damper and let the gas out overnight, hence the weird bounce that threw it into the fencing).
Definately going to have step up with saving the money to get that limited slip diff as soon as possible though, it was so wet today that if you came out of a corner behind a 4wd car they pretty much disappeared whilst the car sat spinning wheels, once it got going you caught them back up under the brakes but it's a fair struggle to keep the car up where it needs to be in the results once the heavens open
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEq1enypU6g
For once, the car won
(Seal bust in the front damper and let the gas out overnight, hence the weird bounce that threw it into the fencing).
Definately going to have step up with saving the money to get that limited slip diff as soon as possible though, it was so wet today that if you came out of a corner behind a 4wd car they pretty much disappeared whilst the car sat spinning wheels, once it got going you caught them back up under the brakes but it's a fair struggle to keep the car up where it needs to be in the results once the heavens open
Edited by PhillipM on Monday 30th May 22:40
Still having issues with the scanner so had to resort back to taking pictures of pictures again...hence the flare from the lights (and the cut off top on one, whoops!
I've only took a few of them, I'll get some more pictures up when the scanner is sorted out, the rest are more of the same - most of the wheels in the air as per usual
All from Walters or Waterbeach.
I've only took a few of them, I'll get some more pictures up when the scanner is sorted out, the rest are more of the same - most of the wheels in the air as per usual
All from Walters or Waterbeach.
That busy posting video and pictures I forgot to list the results. 1st in class again (in fact the only 2wd that finished), 7th overall in the awdc results, and, because we've been fairly consistant in pace through the events, we're now 3rd overall in the championship. Long way to go yet but we're hoping if we can hold off on the big upgrades whilst winter (new front suspension in the works) and just concentrate on current suspension setup and reliability mods, then we might be able to hold station there and end up with a podium, with a lot of luck.
[scooby doo mode]
Would have been second if it weren't for that pesky throttle cable!
[/scooby doo]
[scooby doo mode]
Would have been second if it weren't for that pesky throttle cable!
[/scooby doo]
Right, had the rear dampers apart and put in some more low speed rebound - to compensate for the friction lost with the new rear suspension - and also put some more compression damping in the range for landing over jumps, as it's a touch soft at the back at the minute. Sounds simple but it was a pain in the arse
See how it fairs this time out - probably tweak the fronts a bit to match but we'll see how it goes first.
Two new aluminium plates ordered for the sump and gearbox guards too as we've worn a hole in them...
And two new mudguards, give the hole in the rear one from firing a rock through it off the rear tyre, and the post incident with the front one!
See how it fairs this time out - probably tweak the fronts a bit to match but we'll see how it goes first.
Two new aluminium plates ordered for the sump and gearbox guards too as we've worn a hole in them...
And two new mudguards, give the hole in the rear one from firing a rock through it off the rear tyre, and the post incident with the front one!
Well, dampers back on, new skid pans made and fitted, new mudguard on, fresh fluids, new mastercylinder for one of the brake circuits (score on the bore from some debris), new power steering valve and pump, and she's strapped down to the trailer ready to roll again
Even given her a polish!
Even given her a polish!
Edited by PhillipM on Friday 24th June 23:40
Well, there's been a few posts on here about Gtechniq products for paint protection (and even a news article IIRC), but here's the result of a 50:50 dirt repellency and durability test I've just done for them, it's pretty damned impressive...
C1 crystal coating on the drivers side panel, G3 rain-repellent on the drivers side window and their C2 product on the plastic mudguards and mirror (the rear mudguard was fairly clean too until it got ambushed by a tree at the bottom there, hence the crack!).
Gtechniq side:
versus:
C1 crystal coating on the drivers side panel, G3 rain-repellent on the drivers side window and their C2 product on the plastic mudguards and mirror (the rear mudguard was fairly clean too until it got ambushed by a tree at the bottom there, hence the crack!).
Gtechniq side:
versus:
Looks like RX8 engines at the moment are going for a fair old chunk, so it's probably season over, we didn't budget for a spare engine I'm afraid! 
We'll keep on the hunt, but I'd just like to say thanks for the comments and encouragement, I'll let you guys know if anything happens on the engine front.
If not, I'm sure we'll manage to sort something silly out over winter instead
We'll keep on the hunt, but I'd just like to say thanks for the comments and encouragement, I'll let you guys know if anything happens on the engine front.
If not, I'm sure we'll manage to sort something silly out over winter instead
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