Discussion
I am thinking about taking the Advanced Performance Driving Course at Silverstone as advertised in Sprint.
I have a few reservations though, one obviously being the price and insurance.
The other, will my Griff engine cope with 5 20-minute lapping sessions? That is a fair distance, if you only averaged 60 mph, that would be 100 miles. I wouldn't be ragging it all the way but would like to have a bit of fun. The last thing I want is to blow it up.
Cheers Grouch.
>>> Edited by groucho on Friday 8th October 07:42
I have a few reservations though, one obviously being the price and insurance.
The other, will my Griff engine cope with 5 20-minute lapping sessions? That is a fair distance, if you only averaged 60 mph, that would be 100 miles. I wouldn't be ragging it all the way but would like to have a bit of fun. The last thing I want is to blow it up.
Cheers Grouch.
>>> Edited by groucho on Friday 8th October 07:42
groucho said:
will my Griff engine cope with 5 20-minute lapping sessions?
You're joking right Steve?
I took mine down to Spain in 110 degree heat last summer and ran it at a steady 90-100 for three hours at a time in between fuel stops... Oggs has just taken his 4L Chim hooning with us round Europe including 130 cruising and hammering, and I mean hammering, it up and down the big Alps for 8 hours at a time (plus fuel stops obviously).
If the engines are kept serviced these V8s are very robust - usually only let down by something daft like a relay. Go give it some and enjoy
burriana500 said:
will my Griff engine cope with 5 20-minute lapping sessions?
You're joking right Steve?
I took mine down to Spain in 110 degree heat last summer and ran it at a steady 90-100 for three hours at a time in between fuel stops... Oggs has just taken his 4L Chim hooning with us round Europe including 130 cruising and hammering, and I mean hammering, it up and down the big Alps for 8 hours at a time (plus fuel stops obviously).
If the engines are kept serviced these V8s are very robust - usually only let down by something daft like a relay. Go give it some and enjoy
Just echoing Al's (burriana500)comments.
You do more damage to the engine on start up in the morning than on a dozen track days.
Warm it up (and the car) and give it a bit of what it was designed to do.............you know it NOW makes sense!!
Trev McM
It's what it was built for. Track driving is unlikely to make anything go wrong that isn't going to go wrong anyway (does that make any sense at all?
) Warm up for the first lap, steady lap at the end to cool it down (esp brakes) and you'll be fine. Make sure all fluids are topped up at the beginning of the day.
Not seen the Silverstone driving course, so don't know what the cost is. But if you're concerned, have you checked out the other performance driving instruction options?
My advice would be as above, but in addition you might try an extra pound or two in the tyres to help reduce any tendency to roll on the side walls when cornering hard.
When parked between sessions don't put the handbrake on (it would tend to cook the pads on the very hot discs) -- just leave it in gear.
Find out where the inertia fuel cut-out is and how to reset it (usually hidden up behind the dash somewhere). If you happen to spin and don't get the clutch down quick enough you may find the trip trips... and it is really embarrasing if you are stranded out on the circuit somewhere with a car that wont go!
Have fun!
hugh
When parked between sessions don't put the handbrake on (it would tend to cook the pads on the very hot discs) -- just leave it in gear.
Find out where the inertia fuel cut-out is and how to reset it (usually hidden up behind the dash somewhere). If you happen to spin and don't get the clutch down quick enough you may find the trip trips... and it is really embarrasing if you are stranded out on the circuit somewhere with a car that wont go!
Have fun!
hugh
The Griff is no exception to any other car built in the last 10 years.
The average road mileage does'nt test half of a cars potential.
A track, on the other hand is where you can use these cars to close to maximum of what they will do.
Simple really, as long as you dont abuse it, i.e over rev, theres little that can go wrong. Make sure your levels are where required and crack on.
The Griffith belongs on a track more than a road. As such, track driving is the only way to use your car properly.
The average road mileage does'nt test half of a cars potential.
A track, on the other hand is where you can use these cars to close to maximum of what they will do.
Simple really, as long as you dont abuse it, i.e over rev, theres little that can go wrong. Make sure your levels are where required and crack on.
The Griffith belongs on a track more than a road. As such, track driving is the only way to use your car properly.
I have done 5 days in a 5ltr Chim now, two of them finished with problems.
One, a head gasket blew between cylinders 1 and 3. On inspection the camshaft proved to be very worn, maybe to the extent that the combustion chamber pressures got too high and blew the gasket.
Two, the "valley" (camshaft cover gasket) blew, the frustrating thing here was I had already had one rocker box cover gasket replaced 'cos of a leak. If I had the sense to say "ones gone, lets do all three cos the other two must be on the way out soon", I could have finished my trackday!
I believe (with hindsight) that both occurred because the car was less than perfect to start with. So I agree with all the above posts, if the car is 100% it can more than cope and runs better for weeks after cos it is so happy to have been used properly! But if it is less than 100% any weaknesses may be exposed, IMHO.
One, a head gasket blew between cylinders 1 and 3. On inspection the camshaft proved to be very worn, maybe to the extent that the combustion chamber pressures got too high and blew the gasket.
Two, the "valley" (camshaft cover gasket) blew, the frustrating thing here was I had already had one rocker box cover gasket replaced 'cos of a leak. If I had the sense to say "ones gone, lets do all three cos the other two must be on the way out soon", I could have finished my trackday!
I believe (with hindsight) that both occurred because the car was less than perfect to start with. So I agree with all the above posts, if the car is 100% it can more than cope and runs better for weeks after cos it is so happy to have been used properly! But if it is less than 100% any weaknesses may be exposed, IMHO.
Cheers for all your comments. Yes, there's nothing wrong with the car, Just had a 12000 service about a 1000 miles ago. I have booked the course already and insured the car for £22000 so I will go and give it a blast.
I didn't really think the car would have a problem with this, but it doesn't hurt to see what other PHers have to say about the matter. Puts my mind at rest.
to you all
Grouch.
I didn't really think the car would have a problem with this, but it doesn't hurt to see what other PHers have to say about the matter. Puts my mind at rest.
to you all Grouch.
My Chimaera never missed a beat being trashed around a track (badly). I've done numerous 500 mile + journeys in one day, 2 trips to Italy with 2,500 miles in 8 days and other trips to mid France. The car performed faultlessly each time. The more you use the cars the better.
I've now done the Italy trip with my T350 too. Can't wait to take it on the track.
Brakes and tyres will be the weak points. Don't push it too hard and you'll be fine. IMO you'll want to upgrade the front brakes if you do much track work (285mm 4 pots are sufficient - no fading whatsoever).
P.S. I might have done trackdays, but I'm still a crap driver on the track. I take my hat off to anyone who can punt a car around a circuit well.
I've now done the Italy trip with my T350 too. Can't wait to take it on the track.
Brakes and tyres will be the weak points. Don't push it too hard and you'll be fine. IMO you'll want to upgrade the front brakes if you do much track work (285mm 4 pots are sufficient - no fading whatsoever).
P.S. I might have done trackdays, but I'm still a crap driver on the track. I take my hat off to anyone who can punt a car around a circuit well.
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