Cerbs racing at the weekend
Discussion
I let the side down Mike 
So, turned up, signed on, scrutineered. The sun is shining. All is good.
Attatch timing strut, go up to the line early for practice, an error by all accounts. Announcer comes over the tannoy saying "Nick White in a TVR Chimaera" A what? Cheeky bastid!
Red mist descends. Chimaera? I'll show him feckin Chimaera!
Light goes green. Wallop! Full throttle...spin, smoke, spin. Grab second, full throttle, spins up again! Grab third...yup, spins up again. Finally get some traction and we're off. Wahey!
Get back to the pits. 14.4
To make matters worse, I track down Ben's dad. They were astute enough (experience showing) to go late in practice when more rubber has been put down. 13 something!
Speaking to the other competitors, and Ben/Tanguero in particular, decide that maybe my road tyre pressure may not be optimum
, so lower mine to 18psi
My one timed run starts a little better, in that the announcer refers to "Nick White in his very yellow TVR" Great, no mention of a Chimaera!
Green light. Here we go! Granny start then full throttle. Spin. Bugger! Grab second, mash the pedal. Spin!. Grr. Bites, get going, grab third and wahey, we're off
13.6/107mph
Much better, but need more practice. Plenty more to come. The car flies when finally hooked up but I just cant get these launches.
Tracked down Tanguero in the pits. He bettered his time with a 13.5. Bugger!
Didnt get to see Ben's dad proper runs in anger as my day was finished and they stopped for lunch before the big boys came out to play and I had to leave to take the Fubelings to a party.
What have I learnt?
You cant just turn up at a sprint, in road spec, and be competitive.
You must practice the starts (Tanguero did a day at North Weald recently just practising his starts)
Lower your tyre pressures. (12-14?)
Dont go out in practice early, when there's no rubber down!
Dont let the red mist descend when on the start line.
PRACTICE!
Having said that, I had an absolute riot, and loved every minute of it. Im definitely doing the Speed Trials next year and Im sorely tempted to do some rounds of the TVR Sprint series. Its addictive!
Big thanks to all who came and cheered me on, and came said hello. Many whom Id never met before. Especially to rev for being my mechanic/Pit Babe
TVRs aside, some awesome machinery there and a real friendly bunch
I'll be back
So, turned up, signed on, scrutineered. The sun is shining. All is good.
Attatch timing strut, go up to the line early for practice, an error by all accounts. Announcer comes over the tannoy saying "Nick White in a TVR Chimaera" A what? Cheeky bastid!
Red mist descends. Chimaera? I'll show him feckin Chimaera!
Light goes green. Wallop! Full throttle...spin, smoke, spin. Grab second, full throttle, spins up again! Grab third...yup, spins up again. Finally get some traction and we're off. Wahey!
Get back to the pits. 14.4
To make matters worse, I track down Ben's dad. They were astute enough (experience showing) to go late in practice when more rubber has been put down. 13 something!
Speaking to the other competitors, and Ben/Tanguero in particular, decide that maybe my road tyre pressure may not be optimum
, so lower mine to 18psiMy one timed run starts a little better, in that the announcer refers to "Nick White in his very yellow TVR" Great, no mention of a Chimaera!
Green light. Here we go! Granny start then full throttle. Spin. Bugger! Grab second, mash the pedal. Spin!. Grr. Bites, get going, grab third and wahey, we're off
13.6/107mph
Much better, but need more practice. Plenty more to come. The car flies when finally hooked up but I just cant get these launches.Tracked down Tanguero in the pits. He bettered his time with a 13.5. Bugger!
Didnt get to see Ben's dad proper runs in anger as my day was finished and they stopped for lunch before the big boys came out to play and I had to leave to take the Fubelings to a party.
What have I learnt?
You cant just turn up at a sprint, in road spec, and be competitive.
You must practice the starts (Tanguero did a day at North Weald recently just practising his starts)
Lower your tyre pressures. (12-14?)
Dont go out in practice early, when there's no rubber down!
Dont let the red mist descend when on the start line.
PRACTICE!
Having said that, I had an absolute riot, and loved every minute of it. Im definitely doing the Speed Trials next year and Im sorely tempted to do some rounds of the TVR Sprint series. Its addictive!
Big thanks to all who came and cheered me on, and came said hello. Many whom Id never met before. Especially to rev for being my mechanic/Pit Babe
TVRs aside, some awesome machinery there and a real friendly bunch
I'll be back
Edited by FUBAR on Saturday 13th September 16:36
itsallyellow said:
450Nick said:
To answer your question, I'm just looking over the data from the weekend and Mike managed 128.85mph before braking in qually, 134.19mph in race 1 and 132.21mph in race 2 Thats pretty fast!
To give you some idea, the next fastest class B car managed 124 on the same straight. Nearly 10mph on the straights goes some way to explaining his quick times, but its the corners which really surprise me.
Comparing fastest laps with another Class B car, through McLaren, Mike is a full 10mph faster, and at Paddock around 8mph faster than others. Good car and a good driver I guess. Now if only I can get a car together, I shall be out to challenge you Mike! And since I'm running the dataloggers, I shall win since everyone else will be illegal
Good post Nick! Thats pretty fast!To give you some idea, the next fastest class B car managed 124 on the same straight. Nearly 10mph on the straights goes some way to explaining his quick times, but its the corners which really surprise me.
Comparing fastest laps with another Class B car, through McLaren, Mike is a full 10mph faster, and at Paddock around 8mph faster than others. Good car and a good driver I guess. Now if only I can get a car together, I shall be out to challenge you Mike! And since I'm running the dataloggers, I shall win since everyone else will be illegal
The most intresting thing there is that quali was in the wet. So i was only 4-6mph slower in the wet! I dont brake for Mclaren....
On the few occasions where I have been anywhere near him, its obvious that his speed has come from the corners and not from power levels. The lack of weight, amount of grip and talent have enabled him to hold his speed through the corners and carry it onto the straights where the Tuscans power advantages have helped them out.
He overtook me on the outside at Mclarens and then held the speed thru the whole corner, giving him a good second by the time we hit the straight. My torque then allowed me to keep within another sec or so...therefore proving the lack of power advantage in Mike car.
Just a shame that the other "sorted B" cars havn't been out to give more racing, but as even they havn't been able to hit the front running A cars, Mike STILL would have been where he has been all year...at the very front.
Don't brake at McLarens!!! If I didn't I'd be in the conference centre...or the hotel!
Did the Sprinters do a whole lap then? Or did you break off at the Pit lane?
Did I say too much wheelspin?
Pic courtesy of MGuat
that's actually the burnout of the car behind. A young guy in his mum's (no honest) CLK 63 AMG. Checked his tyres in the pits and he stripped them down well into the 'wear bars'. I also witnessed his mum giving him a bol locking for it
Pic courtesy of MGuat
Was great to see you again.
Our runs were:
13.00
13.02
and 13.7something... we completely screwed up launch revs, but reckon we've found the limit there, so all good knowledge for next year... 4krpm+ at launch doesnt work.
Disappointed to not get back down to 12.79 (our previous best there) - the second run should have done, the start was pretty reasonable, but dad left the aircon on and shifted into third a little early...
Brilliant day as always, a pleasure to meet the new competitors and see Fubar again. Roll on next year...
Oh and blue Cerbs are *officially* faster.
Our runs were:
13.00
13.02
and 13.7something... we completely screwed up launch revs, but reckon we've found the limit there, so all good knowledge for next year... 4krpm+ at launch doesnt work.
Disappointed to not get back down to 12.79 (our previous best there) - the second run should have done, the start was pretty reasonable, but dad left the aircon on and shifted into third a little early...
Brilliant day as always, a pleasure to meet the new competitors and see Fubar again.
Roll on next year...Oh and blue Cerbs are *officially* faster.
FUBAR said:
I let the side down Mike
What have I learnt?
You cant just turn up at a sprint, in road spec, and be competitive.
In fairness, thats exactly what we set out to prove every time... Our car is a 100% road car, has the mileage to prove it (78k)- looks scruffy - had 8 year old knackered tyres (bridgestone S-03's nothing special) on old manky wheels and still runs cats! Our slight lowering of the rear tyre pressures is nothing special, the car produces very average power and was driven home (to Birmingham) after... tomorrow, it'll be taking Dad to work.What have I learnt?
You cant just turn up at a sprint, in road spec, and be competitive.
These Cerbs are so fast it is perfectly possible to turn up, sprint, be competitive and then drive home to radio 4 whilst chilled by air conditioning. We're proud of that. Not many other cars managed the same...
Edited by BCA on Sunday 14th September 00:49
BCA said:
Oh and blue Cerbs are *officially* faster.
In a straight line perhaps.But I think you'll find that if you add some wiggly bits then the green ones are fastest of all, as prooved by Jes Firth at Cadwell yesterday.
Nick, get your act together and come and 'play' with us next season in the TVRCC Speed Champ' we'd be delighted to see another Cerb' out.
Tim
What I really meant by 'road spec' was aimed as much at the driver's mindset (i.e. me!) as much as the car.
Somewhere between what I was doing and how I would set off from the traffic lights on a Monday morning would result in better launches than I was getting. I think Ive already mentioned it, but what I need is practice!
I definitely expect to bump into you and your dad at some of the southern Sprints next year. Even mentioned it to Mrs FUBAR last night and not even a whimper of complaint
BUT, what Id really like to see, is YOU, young Ben, in the Speed Trials next year. No excuses next time laddy
Somewhere between what I was doing and how I would set off from the traffic lights on a Monday morning would result in better launches than I was getting. I think Ive already mentioned it, but what I need is practice!
I definitely expect to bump into you and your dad at some of the southern Sprints next year. Even mentioned it to Mrs FUBAR last night and not even a whimper of complaint
BUT, what Id really like to see, is YOU, young Ben, in the Speed Trials next year. No excuses next time laddy
Fubes,
Next time you'll be better prepared. With the adrenaline pumping it is really hard to concentrate on the launch, especially at a well attended event like the Speed Trials. If you spin the wheels badly in first then you are likely to do the same in second. Get yourself down to Santa Pod and practice, don't worry about racing the car next to you just concentrate on getting the balance right between your revs and how well you control and release the clutch, thereafter you left foot and hand do all of the work as your right foot should remain planted.
All credit to you and glad to hear that the car held up well.
Jules
Next time you'll be better prepared. With the adrenaline pumping it is really hard to concentrate on the launch, especially at a well attended event like the Speed Trials. If you spin the wheels badly in first then you are likely to do the same in second. Get yourself down to Santa Pod and practice, don't worry about racing the car next to you just concentrate on getting the balance right between your revs and how well you control and release the clutch, thereafter you left foot and hand do all of the work as your right foot should remain planted.
All credit to you and glad to hear that the car held up well.
Jules
More power maybe? Jules, Santa Pod will only help with basic launching, the speed trials are unlike anywhere else - it is *really* slippery and bumpy... the best idea is to just keep entering every year.
One thing that needs mentioning here is Dave Morris and his Tuscan. 11.4 last time I saw!? Absolutely incredible, a 10 second car on a proper drag strip easily!?
One thing that needs mentioning here is Dave Morris and his Tuscan. 11.4 last time I saw!? Absolutely incredible, a 10 second car on a proper drag strip easily!?
Ooo, also a special mention for Tanguero - he managed a better start than we have ever done and managed a 13.5 with a touch less power than us and a fair amount less than Fubar - a very very strong performance, and an extremely pretty example.
Once again, hats off to the competitors, it takes alot of effort, guts and skill to perform there - and they did the Cerb community proud.
Once again, hats off to the competitors, it takes alot of effort, guts and skill to perform there - and they did the Cerb community proud.
BCA said:
Ooo, also a special mention for Tanguero - he managed a better start than we have ever done and managed a 13.5 with a touch less power than us and a fair amount less than Fubar - a very very strong performance, and an extremely pretty example.
Once again, hats off to the competitors, it takes alot of effort, guts and skill to perform there - and they did the Cerb community proud.
Thanks for the up - though I have to confess to beginnners luck!Once again, hats off to the competitors, it takes alot of effort, guts and skill to perform there - and they did the Cerb community proud.
North Weald drag days http://www.northwealdmotorsport.co.uk/drwebroot/dr...
(not to be confused with Car Limits courses - which are also excelent!) are good for practicing starts as its a fairly slipery concrete surface and you can run as many times as you want (17 runs last time!) for one signing onn fee.
The red mist still seems to descend for the first few starts of the day despite best intentions, which didn't help ar Brighton as I only had one practice and one timed in the handicap class.
Next year I will be at the back of the practice queue with you Fubar, it was very slipery to start with!
Brilliant days fun though and good to see you all. Much respect to team BCA on excelent times!!!
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