Trackday at Lydden Hill in the XJR

[ARAF]

First one in the Jag, so I didn't know how well it would behave. Apart from losing fluid from the Power Steering reservoir, which then smoked on the left bank manifolds, everything went really well. Here's a video of part of one of the sessions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uOAUFwzqd8

[jas xjr]

nice work. which xjr?

[ARAF]

X308. I bought it specifically to do stupid things like this in.

[xkrGiles]

Good lines you took there, better than the guys in front.

You just need a louder exhaust.........i know i know, db limits

nice one

[ARAF]

Cheers. In the Fiestas, any line will do. With bigger cars, you really need to pick carefully.

As to the noise, I'm not sure that's the Jag way.

[groomi]

Interesting. I was never brave/stupid enough to do this in mine.

How did the brakes hold up?

[ARAF]

groomi said:

Interesting. I was never brave/stupid enough to do this in mine.

How did the brakes hold up?

Pretty well considering it's a very short, tight track - but I'm not too heavy on the brakes as a rule. Once I sorted out that the gearbox was better in 'normal' than 'sport' mode, the car was working a lot better - and I then managed to get them very hot. I'll be changing to ATE Blue fluid over the winter, and renewing the pads, as they are a little spongey after yesterday.

[jimattfield]

ARAF said:

... Once I sorted out that the gearbox was better in 'normal' than 'sport' mode, the car was working a lot better...

This is very interesting - would you mind expanding on this a bit?

Jim (XJR100)

[ARAF]

jimattfield said:

ARAF said:

... Once I sorted out that the gearbox was better in 'normal' than 'sport' mode, the car was working a lot better...

This is very interesting - would you mind expanding on this a bit?

Jim (XJR100)

No problem. In 'sport' the car kicks down to first with a light throttle opening, coming out of tight bends, whereas in 'normal' the car holds second, unless you mash the pedal into the floor. In normal, and with spirited driving, the gearbox still wouldn't change up too early. I had the gearbox set at '3' - so it didn't hook 4th as I lifted off for corners, as well. 2nd and 3rd and the amount of flexibility in the engine were fine for this track.

[xkrGiles]

ARAF said:

As to the noise, I'm not sure that's the Jag way.

I didnt think you were a purist, if your doing trackdays. Mine only has 1 box left in the system, sounds gorgeous

[ARAF]

xkrGiles said:

ARAF said:

As to the noise, I'm not sure that's the Jag way.

I didnt think you were a purist, if your doing trackdays. Mine only has 1 box left in the system, sounds gorgeous

I've never been conventional - but if I have to choose, prefer the quiet life.

[johnxjsc1985]

That looked great fun Araf and the car seemed very stable pity about the little fellas in your way.

[ARAF]

johnxjsc1985 said:

That looked great fun Araf and the car seemed very stable pity about the little fellas in your way.

They were fine - or else I would have gone bach to the pits, and fitted nudge bars to help them along.

[varsas]

Was sorley tempted to do a track day in mine but was never brave/stupid enough...well done!

[groomi]

varsas said:

Was sorley tempted to do a track day in mine but was never brave/stupid enough...well done!

Indeed. Given how I didn't feel the brakes were really up to hard road use, I didn't dare chance it on track!

[jimattfield]

ARAF said:

jimattfield said:

ARAF said:

... Once I sorted out that the gearbox was better in 'normal' than 'sport' mode, the car was working a lot better...

This is very interesting - would you mind expanding on this a bit?

Jim (XJR100)

No problem. In 'sport' the car kicks down to first with a light throttle opening, coming out of tight bends, whereas in 'normal' the car holds second, unless you mash the pedal into the floor. In normal, and with spirited driving, the gearbox still wouldn't change up too early. I had the gearbox set at '3' - so it didn't hook 4th as I lifted off for corners, as well. 2nd and 3rd and the amount of flexibility in the engine were fine for this track.

Many thanks. I can see your logic here (the kick switch in the floor is occasionally a godsend I find though). Puzzled by 'the gearbox set at '3' - are you referring to the J-gate?

Jim

[ARAF]

jimattfield said:

ARAF said:

jimattfield said:

ARAF said:

... Once I sorted out that the gearbox was better in 'normal' than 'sport' mode, the car was working a lot better...

This is very interesting - would you mind expanding on this a bit?

Jim (XJR100)

No problem. In 'sport' the car kicks down to first with a light throttle opening, coming out of tight bends, whereas in 'normal' the car holds second, unless you mash the pedal into the floor. In normal, and with spirited driving, the gearbox still wouldn't change up too early. I had the gearbox set at '3' - so it didn't hook 4th as I lifted off for corners, as well. 2nd and 3rd and the amount of flexibility in the engine were fine for this track.

Many thanks. I can see your logic here (the kick switch in the floor is occasionally a godsend I find though). Puzzled by 'the gearbox set at '3' - are you referring to the J-gate?

Jim

Yes, 3 on the J gate, so the car wouldn't go into fourth, when I lifted off the throttle, to brake for a corner.

[varsas]

groomi said:

varsas said:

Was sorley tempted to do a track day in mine but was never brave/stupid enough...well done!

Indeed. Given how I didn't feel the brakes were really up to hard road use, I didn't dare chance it on track!

That did cross my mind, I assumed it'd at least boil it's fluid (which can be pretty scary), and probably destroy it's pads too. As you say they aren't great on the road, they just aren't up to the performance of the rest of the car unfortunately.

[ARAF]

varsas said:

groomi said:

varsas said:

Was sorley tempted to do a track day in mine but was never brave/stupid enough...well done!

Indeed. Given how I didn't feel the brakes were really up to hard road use, I didn't dare chance it on track!

That did cross my mind, I assumed it'd at least boil it's fluid (which can be pretty scary), and probably destroy it's pads too. As you say they aren't great on the road, they just aren't up to the performance of the rest of the car unfortunately.

It was only on the last session of the day, that I experienced additional pedal travel (which would point to the fluid not coping). Upon arrival back in the pits, pads were also smoking. By the following morning, the pedal is now the same as it was before the track day, and the pads are pulling the car up fine - so I can forget about doing anything until just before the next one.

I will get the fluid changed to ATE Super Blue, and will investigate other pad materials before I look into putting bigger brakes on the car. I'm not usually heavy on brakes, so some could run into trouble very quickly, on a track day.