"Modern Classics" 40 minute race series
Discussion
Lady luck has decided to urinate on us from a great height. 
With the ECU issue now resolved the car was on the dyno, but mapping was aborted when detonation noises were detected. Upon inspection it seems a dodgy injector has caused piston and bore damage. Block is off for repair/re-bore/whatever and piston(s) need replacing. Injectors will be cleaned and checked. If necessary they will be replaced as well.
Money doesn't burn itself, right?
With the ECU issue now resolved the car was on the dyno, but mapping was aborted when detonation noises were detected. Upon inspection it seems a dodgy injector has caused piston and bore damage. Block is off for repair/re-bore/whatever and piston(s) need replacing. Injectors will be cleaned and checked. If necessary they will be replaced as well.
Money doesn't burn itself, right?
Silverstone on Saturday was sunny, cloudy and cold with some rain, it all made for a great day. We had 33 Modern Classics entered and all went well, except for an unfortunate coming together of the Smart ( who did great to make the start after earlier troubles ) and the Ferrari 355. Hope they get fixed up ok. Aidan my pal shared my car and he did this report for our Porsche Club Ireland Forum which I feel is worth repeating here.
I'm sharing with Dave in the 993 RSR in the Modern Classics class and on my own in the Exige in the New Millenneum class. We're planning next time out in Brands Hatch that we both share the Exige. Photos below taken by my son-in-law at the exit of Luffield ....
Having been christened & taught the jammy gits funny handshake at the 10 hour Race of Remembrance in Anglesey last November this was my first exposure to a "normal/ordinary" type race, first experience of Silverstone and my first races in the 993 RSR and Lotus Exige 255 Cup, to give it it's full title. As you can see, it is normal for those within the racing fraternity to set out the basis for the excuses clearly, openly & honestly, up front. But what an experience, I'm only now returning to earth from the high that Saturday was.
Silverstone, what an impressive facility. I thought Angelsey was OK, Oulton very good, but Silverstone is in another league. The pit garages even have there own jacks, which was very convenient! The whole complex is huge. I've been there before for a few GPs, but that was a good number of years ago. It really did take a bit of adjusting to the scale of it and to being "inside the ropes". The schedule of Sign-on, Scrutineering, 1st time driver briefing, series specific briefings and qualifying sessions, meant that a hectic Saturday morning flew by with hardly a chance for a race tactics discussion or a sustaining cuppa tea. But Chris & Dave saved us all by arriving with Cuppas & Banger & Bacon butties late in the morning.
The layout we raced on was the National and it really is a bit more of a challenge than it looks. It's very very fast, Copse is blind and its all about the braking in to Maggots & Brooklands. In qualifying in the 993 I was being very cautious and am still far from used to the brilliant brakes. I gave myself a serious fright on exiting Woodcote early in my stint when she let go left and came back too right before I caught it straight again. Its a long hard pit wall on that right hand side! It was a chastening lesson and probably a good one to have happen early on, I was much more cautious for the rest of my stint. Luckily Dave was on his game and gave us a very good grid position. Dave started the race and drove brilliantly being up to 5th as the pit stops began. He stayed out for the early part of the pit window and led I think for 5 or 6 laps. Needless to say we dropped back with me at the wheel and I think finished in the top 10 out of 33. It was only in my final laps that I really felt that I was starting to drive the car properly and trust the brakes. I pushed hard and managed to overtake a couple of cars in the final laps. I felt much much better about my driving at the end of the race than I did at the end of qualifying.
I'm much more familiar with the environment that is the Exige given my long acquaintance with the VX220. But it is different and a lot more powerful. Being far too cautious I qualified way back in 29th out of 39 runners. Just before the race there was an almighty downpour so it was going to be wet, very wet. At the start I could hardly see the BMW in front of me and took it very easy for a few laps until I felt the tyres were not at all bad in the conditions, so, despite Dave's sound advise that the priority was to finish the race to gain the necessary license upgrade signatures for the rest of the season, I decided I'm going to have a go. And boy did I have a ball! Like in the 993, the more laps I did the more my confidence grew, particularly in the brakes. I also didn't mind the car moving around in the wet, it was very catch-able and controllable. I started making huge gains on much more powerful cars under braking in to Maggots, but it's far too risky diving down the inside there. But not so at the next corner, Brooklands, at the end of the Wellington straight, I'd make up huge distance under braking and dive down the inside to overtake. Although 2 cars were very aggressive and nearly removed my front end by turning in anyway. At the next, Luffield, I'd try to drive round the outside as most cars easily covered the inside line. Then it was an exhilarating flat to the floor surge through Woodcote teetering on the edge of traction in the wet on to an increasingly later braking point for Copse. In the end I finished in 16th, 3rd in class, but totally beaming from ear to ear. I might as well have won, the way I was feeling. It was just so rewarding to have pushed hard, given it a go and gained so much confidence in the new car in difficult conditions.
And least I forget, a big big big thanks to Dave. Mentor & tutor extraordinaire!
Roll on the rest of the season, I can't wait.
Thanks a lot to Richard and Matthew at CTR Developments for looking after the car and Donal and Chris our carers !
I'm sharing with Dave in the 993 RSR in the Modern Classics class and on my own in the Exige in the New Millenneum class. We're planning next time out in Brands Hatch that we both share the Exige. Photos below taken by my son-in-law at the exit of Luffield ....
Having been christened & taught the jammy gits funny handshake at the 10 hour Race of Remembrance in Anglesey last November this was my first exposure to a "normal/ordinary" type race, first experience of Silverstone and my first races in the 993 RSR and Lotus Exige 255 Cup, to give it it's full title. As you can see, it is normal for those within the racing fraternity to set out the basis for the excuses clearly, openly & honestly, up front. But what an experience, I'm only now returning to earth from the high that Saturday was.
Silverstone, what an impressive facility. I thought Angelsey was OK, Oulton very good, but Silverstone is in another league. The pit garages even have there own jacks, which was very convenient! The whole complex is huge. I've been there before for a few GPs, but that was a good number of years ago. It really did take a bit of adjusting to the scale of it and to being "inside the ropes". The schedule of Sign-on, Scrutineering, 1st time driver briefing, series specific briefings and qualifying sessions, meant that a hectic Saturday morning flew by with hardly a chance for a race tactics discussion or a sustaining cuppa tea. But Chris & Dave saved us all by arriving with Cuppas & Banger & Bacon butties late in the morning.
The layout we raced on was the National and it really is a bit more of a challenge than it looks. It's very very fast, Copse is blind and its all about the braking in to Maggots & Brooklands. In qualifying in the 993 I was being very cautious and am still far from used to the brilliant brakes. I gave myself a serious fright on exiting Woodcote early in my stint when she let go left and came back too right before I caught it straight again. Its a long hard pit wall on that right hand side! It was a chastening lesson and probably a good one to have happen early on, I was much more cautious for the rest of my stint. Luckily Dave was on his game and gave us a very good grid position. Dave started the race and drove brilliantly being up to 5th as the pit stops began. He stayed out for the early part of the pit window and led I think for 5 or 6 laps. Needless to say we dropped back with me at the wheel and I think finished in the top 10 out of 33. It was only in my final laps that I really felt that I was starting to drive the car properly and trust the brakes. I pushed hard and managed to overtake a couple of cars in the final laps. I felt much much better about my driving at the end of the race than I did at the end of qualifying.
I'm much more familiar with the environment that is the Exige given my long acquaintance with the VX220. But it is different and a lot more powerful. Being far too cautious I qualified way back in 29th out of 39 runners. Just before the race there was an almighty downpour so it was going to be wet, very wet. At the start I could hardly see the BMW in front of me and took it very easy for a few laps until I felt the tyres were not at all bad in the conditions, so, despite Dave's sound advise that the priority was to finish the race to gain the necessary license upgrade signatures for the rest of the season, I decided I'm going to have a go. And boy did I have a ball! Like in the 993, the more laps I did the more my confidence grew, particularly in the brakes. I also didn't mind the car moving around in the wet, it was very catch-able and controllable. I started making huge gains on much more powerful cars under braking in to Maggots, but it's far too risky diving down the inside there. But not so at the next corner, Brooklands, at the end of the Wellington straight, I'd make up huge distance under braking and dive down the inside to overtake. Although 2 cars were very aggressive and nearly removed my front end by turning in anyway. At the next, Luffield, I'd try to drive round the outside as most cars easily covered the inside line. Then it was an exhilarating flat to the floor surge through Woodcote teetering on the edge of traction in the wet on to an increasingly later braking point for Copse. In the end I finished in 16th, 3rd in class, but totally beaming from ear to ear. I might as well have won, the way I was feeling. It was just so rewarding to have pushed hard, given it a go and gained so much confidence in the new car in difficult conditions.
And least I forget, a big big big thanks to Dave. Mentor & tutor extraordinaire!
Roll on the rest of the season, I can't wait.
Thanks a lot to Richard and Matthew at CTR Developments for looking after the car and Donal and Chris our carers !
Edited by majordad on Tuesday 3rd May 16:19
I raced last weekend in my 993 RSR with CSCC at Spa but had a large off at Blanchmont 2 which severly damaged my car. Afterwards I was fine but my rib got sore Saturday night and by Sunday Night I was in agony. Despite this I had to drive another old 911 I have from Ireland overnight to reach 9M Warrington for Monday morning and then fly Liverpool- Cork with Ryanair home. Went straight to the Doc who said I have either, a broken rib, a cracked rib or a bruised rib, pain level she said is all the same and not worth exraying you as it will heal anyway. Since I'm alergic to Asprin and most painkillers she said €50 and take a few paracetamol/hedex. I've supplememted that with some of my choice old Jameson Whiskey and am on the way to recovery.
I have to say despite my woes this was one of the best organised and ran events I 've ever done in my 39 yrs racing and rallying. The CSCC lay on a supperb event and it all works due to the hard work put in by them. Great, racing, grat track , great BBQ and fun. My car might take some time, and a lot of money before it's out again but I plan to be back racing asap. I might not race at Anglesey but I intend to come over there with my Pal Aidan who races in Millenium Series for the craic ( which is very different from crack, craic being an Irish Word for fun , it's a bit like the French Wine word Terroir which does not really translate into English too well ).
Thanks to Richard and Chris , and to all my fellow MC cometitors for their words of encouragement.
I have to say despite my woes this was one of the best organised and ran events I 've ever done in my 39 yrs racing and rallying. The CSCC lay on a supperb event and it all works due to the hard work put in by them. Great, racing, grat track , great BBQ and fun. My car might take some time, and a lot of money before it's out again but I plan to be back racing asap. I might not race at Anglesey but I intend to come over there with my Pal Aidan who races in Millenium Series for the craic ( which is very different from crack, craic being an Irish Word for fun , it's a bit like the French Wine word Terroir which does not really translate into English too well ).
Thanks to Richard and Chris , and to all my fellow MC cometitors for their words of encouragement.
majordad said:
I raced last weekend in my 993 RSR with CSCC at Spa but had a large off at Blanchmont 2 which severly damaged my car. Afterwards I was fine but my rib got sore Saturday night and by Sunday Night I was in agony. Despite this I had to drive another old 911 I have from Ireland overnight to reach 9M Warrington for Monday morning and then fly Liverpool- Cork with Ryanair home. Went straight to the Doc who said I have either, a broken rib, a cracked rib or a bruised rib, pain level she said is all the same and not worth exraying you as it will heal anyway. Since I'm alergic to Asprin and most painkillers she said €50 and take a few paracetamol/hedex. I've supplememted that with some of my choice old Jameson Whiskey and am on the way to recovery.
I have to say despite my woes this was one of the best organised and ran events I 've ever done in my 39 yrs racing and rallying. The CSCC lay on a supperb event and it all works due to the hard work put in by them. Great, racing, grat track , great BBQ and fun. My car might take some time, and a lot of money before it's out again but I plan to be back racing asap. I might not race at Anglesey but I intend to come over there with my Pal Aidan who races in Millenium Series for the craic ( which is very different from crack, craic being an Irish Word for fun , it's a bit like the French Wine word Terroir which does not really translate into English too well ).
Thanks to Richard and Chris , and to all my fellow MC cometitors for their words of encouragement.
DavidI have to say despite my woes this was one of the best organised and ran events I 've ever done in my 39 yrs racing and rallying. The CSCC lay on a supperb event and it all works due to the hard work put in by them. Great, racing, grat track , great BBQ and fun. My car might take some time, and a lot of money before it's out again but I plan to be back racing asap. I might not race at Anglesey but I intend to come over there with my Pal Aidan who races in Millenium Series for the craic ( which is very different from crack, craic being an Irish Word for fun , it's a bit like the French Wine word Terroir which does not really translate into English too well ).
Thanks to Richard and Chris , and to all my fellow MC cometitors for their words of encouragement.
Saw and caught the crash on my inboard video, from our E36M3 as we came around B2.
IF you want the vid link, send me a message
glad it wasn't too bad....looked like it could have been as I saw the wreckage strewn across the circuit
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