Spa Trackday in the Phoenix

[jeffw]

I took my Sylva Phoenix over to Spa for a trackday on the 20th and had a great time (apart for the rain in the way back !)

First video of me following my friend John in a Z4M who's son, Edward, is in the passenger seat with me. 3.01 best lap of this run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJDeV2Ybklw


Passing a bunch of cars including a tussle with a V10 M5, down it under 3.00 mins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO2j3y6cDd4

The M5 driver came over after the session and had a good look. He couldn't believe I was able to almost stay with him on the straights and then get past under brakes. Once I was past he disappeared pretty quickly. Some numbers from the datalogger

Highest top speed 133MPH
Highest Entry to Eau Rouge 122MPH
Highest Exit from Eau Rouge 105MPH (so not flat !)
Fastest lap 2.55
Highest lateral G 1.45
Highest Braking G 1.2

Lots of smiles and no car got past expect when I was following John in the Z4M.

The I drove it home 250 miles. Got to love kit cars

[anonymous-user]

I'm impressed, what is the spec on the car, my Phoenix laps sepang in 2.31, (prorata the length and thats is 3.09 around Spa OK I now that is not a true figure but for discussion), which is about 8 sec faster than the Excige that Lotus car run, and way faster than M5's Evo Wrx etx, but I have 350 Bhp, 700 Kg, full slicks Evo brakes etc, so what is the spec on your car?

[jeffw]

210BHP, 525Kg, 185/60 13" R888 GG. I sprint the car but it is a road car really. I'm pretty sure your car should be capable of 5+ secs faster with the extra power and the slicks.

Edited by jeffw on Friday 22 July 11:13

[Mr Sparkle]

Nice video, what engine do you have? Also I take it you have no wet weather protection were the electrics ok?

[jeffw]

The engine is a 2lt Zetec with head/cams + Jenvey ITBs on a Omex. Electrics where OK on the way back but it did pour down near Brussels.

[anonymous-user]

Sounds like yoor a better driver than me, looked at the distenace around the curcuit and the F1 times and you are about 8 sec faster than my car and me, (OK its not a true comparission) I know but gives me something to aim at.

525Kg is light, how do you do it, do you have the light weight shell? My car is 698, without fuel, everything out no lights etc, but it does have a atles Axil and a full cage, intercooler etc,

[jeffw]

The car is a Sylva (rather than a STM/Rainbird/Cyana/Raw) and was originally a Striker. It has carbon Tillett seats at 2.5Kg each, aluminium alloy bell housing, alloy Type 9 gearbox, alloy English axle nose plus lightweight race battery. Compomotive CXR in 13" are very light as well. It retains the rear drum brakes as well but has standard weight body. So no full rollcage, no turbo/intercooler etc.

525Kg dry and around 625-640 with me and fuel.

My fastest lap according to the datalogger was a 2.55 and the theoretical fastest (adding all the best sector times together) was 2.51 . I'm sure if you had your car at Spa you wouldn't be a million miles away from those times, indeed probable faster than I was. There are a number of fast sections at Spa where your turbo top end would count a lot.

[antnicuk]

i went to spa last year, unfortunately as a passenger not a driver. It was a lovely track.

Your camera set up is impressive, especially the GPS (i assume) map in the corner. What do you need in the way of hardware and software to create videos like this. I assume it must be connected to the ECU for revs?, where does it take its braking, accel from?

525 is very light for a CEC, it is obviously a credit to you.

[jeffw]

Thanks.

The system is as follows

Race Technology
Dash2 (Dash Display)
DL1 Datalogger
DL1 to Omex ECU cable
Video Synchroniser

The DL1 gets inputs from the ECU (revs, water temp, throttle position, air temp, ignition, duty rate injectors etc etc) and also from 8 analog inputs (I only use three, oil temp, oil pressure & fuel). This is then combined with the GPS speed reading and sent to the Dash2 from where you can page through the data as you drive. My Dash2 front screen has Revs, Speed, Odometer, Trip, Oil Pressure, Water & Oil Temp. I have various alarms set which will show on the front screen and then 5 other screens with things like laptimes, G and so on.

The video synchroniser is linked to the DL1 datalogger so when you commencing logging it triggers the flashing light and when you stop logging the light stops. So as long as this is in view of the camera you get synch between the camera video data & the datalogging. You can then combine the two together and display any of the logged data.

I'm still playing with the overall program as well as the map file generation.

Race Technology do a combined Video & Datalogger called the Video4 which you can have upto 4 cameras combined with the datalog but I did it on the cheap using a MiniDVR2 system from Dogcamsport. I'm looking to change the video system out for a 1080p bullet cam system and I will be able to keep the rest of the system.

One point to make is that the Speed reading you see on the video is a true GPS speed not from a wheel sensor or gearbox.

Edited by jeffw on Saturday 23 July 11:29

[jason61c]

I've said it before but its an awesome car you've got there. All nicely set out/developed too.

[anonymous-user]

A few pictures of mine, at Sepang,also a Sylva, made by JP, but pure track now, original car was built to take a Lotus 900 engine, but now SR20DET, single seat, Haltec ECU and Dash, cage adds alot of weight, and 17 inch wheels x 8.5, I need to look at the vidio of your car but I can't until I am home my current mobile connection is to slow.
Are you on the Stylus Club forum?
Not sure I would be faster at Spa even with the extra power, half of Sepang is the two straights, flat out, my car needs a good driver,
Sepang full track is 30 pound a day, public, and 50 for a club day with limited numbers race weekend is 150 so I tend to spend a lot of time there.

[jeffw]

Looks good...not sure the 17" wheels suit it though. I guarantee you would go faster on 13" wheels which is what the car was designed for. The SR20 must be awesome though

[Yazza54]

I agree with jeff, it needs a set of 13" CXRs and a048/888's, bet it would go better. Would look better too... nice car though nonetheless.

Good vids jeff, impressive

[jeffw]

Thanks Yazza,

I am on the JPSC forum if that is what you are referring to.

[Woody]

Some awesome video there Jeff - great work!
Spa is on my list of tracks to drive at some point.

[jeffw]

It is an amazing track. It has an added advantage that it allows overtaking on either side and in the corners. This is why you don't get long lines of cars behind the very quick in a straight line but desperately slow round the bends guys. I would never had been able to get past the M5 in a UK trackday in the same way.

[anonymous-user]

Still need to see the vidio's as I am not at home and conection I am on is to slow. I can't put 13 inch on, they will not fit over the brakes, brakes where upgraded as they only lasted a lap and half, car was built by JP to take 14, then had 15 inch slickes x 7 which needed a couple of inches into the rear arches, Now it has 17 x8.5 nad both front and rear arches have been extended, and the mount points changed, I do agree 13 inch are more of a 'period' look, but no longer an option.
I wish they where as I can get lightly used 13 inch slicks from my empoler for free, but they just wont fit.

[jeffw]

13" wheels would be 10Kg a corner lighter as well. Looking at the front on your car in the picture I would guess you don't have a front Anti-Roll Bar? Since I've fitted mine (from Rob Farley) the car is significantly quicker on track and is probable worth a few secs on somewhere like Spa.

Edited by jeffw on Monday 25th July 07:14

[antnicuk]

iirc he has one of Rob's arbs fitted, but with 8 inch slicks on the front, it may need to be stronger than rob's one.

[anonymous-user]

Yes got bob's ARbar but with much modified and stonger mountings, currently we are looking at a rear ARB.