Gurston Down Hillclimb

Gurston Down Hillclimb

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Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Friday 26th May 2006
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Anyone coming to Gurston this weekend? It's a National Championship round so some serious machinery will be on view.

As will the Scimitar and I, trying our best not to post the slowest time of the day.

Or fall off, like we did at Wiscombe last weekend http://wheelspinphotography.co.uk/Wis and look for number 54.

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Wednesday 31st May 2006
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Glad you enjoyed it - come and say hi next time.

There were quite a few no-shows, which is unusual.

Saturday's practive was a bit hit and miss with the weather - drizzle meant that the last run was definately a wet one. Sunday was better though and I finished up with a 39.45 run, taking 1.25 seconds off my previous best. Which was nice. No falling-off, either.

The car will do loads more, so I'm aiming for a sub-39 when I'm there again on the 18th of June.

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Wednesday 31st May 2006
quotequote all
Hello Mike,

It wasn't a Scimitar Championship round - that's in September. Gurston just happens to be my 'home' hill.

The car is more or less to 'Super Modified' Class regs, but it still has a single-carb standard-valve 'Modified' Class engine.

Jerry Cunningham used to do low 38's or high 37's with 260bhp, so if I can get within a second or so of his times with my 180 - 200bhp I'll be chuffed.

Are you competing in yours this year?

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Wednesday 31st May 2006
quotequote all
I did the Gurston School Day on 11th September 2001...very useful if you are either new to the sport and want to learn about hillclimbing or want to learn how to drive Gurston quickly.

It's not a car control course, but it will show you where the braking points are, what lines to take, which corners you should take an early apex on, which ones late etc.

You're not timed, but the instructors score you on commitment(!) and accuracy so there is still an element of competition.

I'm tempted to have a go at the Prescott School Day, too, as I only compete there once a year and need to re-learn it every time: I'll have to ask the bank manager.

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Thursday 1st June 2006
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Hello Andrew,

17th/18th seems really busy - I only managed to get an entry for the 18th (car no. 99).

About 400bhp should get the Scimitar into the 33's...

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Friday 16th June 2006
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Weather looks safe - nice change for this season so far.

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Monday 26th June 2006
quotequote all
Didn't see you on the Sunday, Andrew - hope nothing went wrong.

Didn't manage to get under 39, either, but crept down to 39.16, so it's getting closer.

Next effort on 16th July.

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Monday 17th July 2006
quotequote all
39.05 yesterday. An improvement on my PB but still not sub-39...

Theoretical fastest - adding together the best split times - is down to 38.88, though, so it's the driver, not the car. Still not flat through Hollow and shedding way too much speed for Karusel.

Bizarre consistency in one respect: fourteen runs so far this year and with no launch control, traction control or any other gizmos my times for the twelve dry starts/first 64ft are all between 2.38s and 2.44s: only 0.06s variation and it's all seat-of-the pants - I don't even look at the rev counter.

Third in class behind an Escort Cosworth and a Sierra RS500. Next round is the National Championship event on August Bank Holiday weekend.

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Monday 17th July 2006
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Time to start drinking that Red Bull...

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2006
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Hello Ben,

Weather looks okay for Sunday - according to the BBC at any rate - if my smart new Eze-up arrives in time then that should guarantee sunshine...

N.

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Sunday 27th August 2006
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Cracked it! 38.72 and a class win into the bargain! Another trophy to add to my extensive collection of er, two.

After being Mr Consistency all Summer this time I was all over the place, with a 43.35 shocker as Saturday's first run, then 39.99 and 39.47. Back up to 40.15 in final practice this morning and then 39.26 to take the class lead on the first timed run and 38.72 to keep it for the second. One more round on 10th September when I'll have some other Scimitars to run against - I'll be no. 20, so come and say hello if you're there.

Then the big question: another set of A048s for next year or switch to slicks?

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Monday 11th September 2006
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Hello Andrew, thought I saw the car, how did you get on?

Only managed third in class to the other Scimitars - but then I was giving 50+bhp away to most of them - still lowered my PB to 38.26, though, which was nice - especially as I managed to stuff it into a tirewall at Wiscombe on Saturday. Silver duck tape looks quite good on a purple car.

Anyone got a 300bhp Essex V6 they don't want?

Nick_F

Original Poster:

10,154 posts

247 months

Wednesday 13th September 2006
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That sounds entertaining - has someone built a winged version of your chassis, or do you have to invent it all?

Sunday was it for the year for me, my entry to Longleat was too late and, in any event, the clutch started to slip on the way home from Gurston. Not a hint of it on any of my runs, so dead lucky in one sense, I suppose, but I have a much longer list for the winter than I was planning to tackle.