Spire GT3 RGB Racer
Discussion
Morning 
So this Sunday marks the end of the season and due to me having such a crap time of it at Anglesey it's all to play for.
I still have a 20 something point lead, but given the recent bad luck I've had it's not a foregone conclusion at all.
To make matters worse we are sharing the grid with bikesports, which is less than ideal, this is due to time pressure scheduling everyone in. I'm not happy about it, but it is what it is. We are supposed to be starting with a relatively healthy gap to the back of them.
Their cars are much faster, loads more aero and stickier tyres, yet when we've done this in the past on the odd occasion weve found our front runners catching their slower drivers... And vice versa eventually their front runners may come round to lap us. Not something I really wanted to have to navigate on a championship decider.
As for the circuit, it is the Silverstone GP layout, which I've only done once on a track day 2.5 years ago. Have raced international and national layouts a number of times, so not too worried.
I'm not testing as I'm more concerned about reliability than outright performance. Also the test day was an absolute rip off, as is the entry fee for the race, especially to share a grid, can you tell I'm not happy?
to be fair I doubt the bikesports guys are happy about it either.
I did fix the car and take it to blyton where I did about 15 laps and it felt great so I threw it back in the truck and went home.
Weather wise, it's looking wet. I am happy wet or dry, changeable conditions however are not welcome, chances are that's exactly what we'll get, but from my point of view I'll be going with whatever seems the safe option. With a points buffer there's less sense in taking a gamble, but we'll see what happens on the day.
It looks like it's being live streamed via alpha live, so should show up here
https://www.750mc.co.uk/live.htm
& here's the race timetable
So this Sunday marks the end of the season and due to me having such a crap time of it at Anglesey it's all to play for.
I still have a 20 something point lead, but given the recent bad luck I've had it's not a foregone conclusion at all.
To make matters worse we are sharing the grid with bikesports, which is less than ideal, this is due to time pressure scheduling everyone in. I'm not happy about it, but it is what it is. We are supposed to be starting with a relatively healthy gap to the back of them.
Their cars are much faster, loads more aero and stickier tyres, yet when we've done this in the past on the odd occasion weve found our front runners catching their slower drivers... And vice versa eventually their front runners may come round to lap us. Not something I really wanted to have to navigate on a championship decider.
As for the circuit, it is the Silverstone GP layout, which I've only done once on a track day 2.5 years ago. Have raced international and national layouts a number of times, so not too worried.
I'm not testing as I'm more concerned about reliability than outright performance. Also the test day was an absolute rip off, as is the entry fee for the race, especially to share a grid, can you tell I'm not happy?
to be fair I doubt the bikesports guys are happy about it either. I did fix the car and take it to blyton where I did about 15 laps and it felt great so I threw it back in the truck and went home.
Weather wise, it's looking wet. I am happy wet or dry, changeable conditions however are not welcome, chances are that's exactly what we'll get, but from my point of view I'll be going with whatever seems the safe option. With a points buffer there's less sense in taking a gamble, but we'll see what happens on the day.
It looks like it's being live streamed via alpha live, so should show up here
https://www.750mc.co.uk/live.htm
& here's the race timetable
Yazza54 said:
FuzzyLogic said:
Yeah we’ve spent more time under red than green (or at least that’s how it feels)
I’m in a Caterham 270R but just testing - not racing this weekend..
Ah annoying given the expense!I’m in a Caterham 270R but just testing - not racing this weekend..
I'd guess at c. £750. My memory is poor... I think it was around £500 back in 2011.
Anyway, good luck and enjoy yourself!
Today was £529. It was open pit lane and there was a lot of guys testing for the Birkett relay so a big difference in the performance of some of the cars and drivers. I didn’t know this when I booked - more planning required on my behalf..
It felt like we didnt go longer than 10 minutes without a red flag this morning. This afternoon was better because it was drying out..
It felt like we didnt go longer than 10 minutes without a red flag this morning. This afternoon was better because it was drying out..
FuzzyLogic said:
Today was £529. It was open pit lane and there was a lot of guys testing for the Birkett relay so a big difference in the performance of some of the cars and drivers. I didn’t know this when I booked - more planning required on my behalf..
It felt like we didnt go longer than 10 minutes without a red flag this morning. This afternoon was better because it was drying out..
I loved the test day personally - yeah the start was sIt felt like we didnt go longer than 10 minutes without a red flag this morning. This afternoon was better because it was drying out..
t with the fog delay etc. and the string of red flags (3 different incidents in the exact same spot exiting Club onto Hamilton Straight!?) but to have an open pitlane... ... ... AMAZING!!! Yeah lots of cars at different speeds, but it was no more than a minor annoyance for me.I'm so used to test days where we pay around £370-400 for just 4 x 30 min sessions (and given my usual race car doesn't want to run more than about 10 mins without a cooldown to protect engine life, and there's still plenty of flags, we often don't get anything like that in actual seat time). I was out in a Mazda Locost this time which can run for longer, and ended up doing lap after lap... so good! Must have done 40 odd 2min30-3min laps throughout the day! It was absolutely great!
And congrats Yazza, but I said that in person on Sunday
Hope to join your grid one of these days.RiknRoll said:
FuzzyLogic said:
Today was £529. It was open pit lane and there was a lot of guys testing for the Birkett relay so a big difference in the performance of some of the cars and drivers. I didn’t know this when I booked - more planning required on my behalf..
It felt like we didnt go longer than 10 minutes without a red flag this morning. This afternoon was better because it was drying out..
I loved the test day personally - yeah the start was sIt felt like we didnt go longer than 10 minutes without a red flag this morning. This afternoon was better because it was drying out..
t with the fog delay etc. and the string of red flags (3 different incidents in the exact same spot exiting Club onto Hamilton Straight!?) but to have an open pitlane... ... ... AMAZING!!! Yeah lots of cars at different speeds, but it was no more than a minor annoyance for me.I'm so used to test days where we pay around £370-400 for just 4 x 30 min sessions (and given my usual race car doesn't want to run more than about 10 mins without a cooldown to protect engine life, and there's still plenty of flags, we often don't get anything like that in actual seat time). I was out in a Mazda Locost this time which can run for longer, and ended up doing lap after lap... so good! Must have done 40 odd 2min30-3min laps throughout the day! It was absolutely great!
And congrats Yazza, but I said that in person on Sunday
Hope to join your grid one of these days.Mum says don't meet strangers off the internet but what does she know
So just to elaborate on how it all went. I was really unwell all week, think I'd come down with some sort of virus but it wasn't covid. Bloodshot eyes the works. Thought here we go again bad luck incoming!
It just about cleared up by Saturday and Sunday I felt pretty good.
Tricky meeting with the birkett going on the Saturday, bit of a logistical mare getting their cars out and ours in on sat evening in time to get settled and get some kip. Some teams seemed completely unaware that there was a day of racing on Sunday, the garage next to me had a full blown BBQ starting at 7pm when people were trying to get in and setup.
Woke up early for 7.45am scrutineering, all good other than the scruit saying half my gear needs replacing soon
Onto quali, it hadn't rained since the middle of the night but it was cold and everyone was saying how slippery the track was on Friday and how it didn't dry until late afternoon, so I took their word for and wet for wets, then when I saw the recovery truck go by on the national pit straight throwing loads of spray up that confirmed it.
It also confirmed the theme of the day because even though the track didn't look too wet it was mega wet and slippery all day.
So anyway onto quali, having not tested I was pleased that I got out there and was straight on it and felt comfortable in the car. I do like the wet but the car didn't feel quite as good as the last time I drove it in the wet, again I think it was simply just a very low grip day rather than anything wrong with the car.
Pushed on as much as I could and got pole by 0.6s. Whilst a decent margin, not huge on a 2.30 something lap.
Race 1, lots of deliberation about tyre choice but I decided to take the safe option. It was that cold that I figured even if it dried out I probably wouldn't destroy my wets. It looked patchy but overall still damp and the problem with our dry tyres is that it's impossible to get heat into them if it starts off remotely damp and the ambient temp was already cold.
Did our green flag lap and it felt slippy which I was pleased about as my main champ rival had chosen the not so safe option of dry tyres. One of the radicals broke down on the first green flag lap so that brought about a slight delay. During this delay the heavens opened and that kinda sealed the deal really. I knew it wouldn't even be a battle at that point, but even if it hadn't have rained, it wasn't properly dry to begin with, and I was prepared to just follow him home if I had to anyway.
Not withstanding this, these are tricky cars to drive regardless, it rained very heavily and I couldn't see a bloody thing in my mirrors. As I mentioned in my last post we were out with bikesports and I caught and passed a few of them, and didn't get lapped by one in race 1, which was good as I was struggling with vision behind.
The only ones that did overtake me were ones that came in for wets and went back out. I think in the end I was the only sports 1000 car that wasn't lapped by the leading bike sports car with their much stickier tyres, downforce etc. To be honest I was surprised that I caught and passed a few... That shouldn't happen particularly in the wet.
So it was a case of managing it and bringing it home. I enjoy the wet but it was fairly tense.. eventually saw the chequered flag and that was that.
Race 2, everyone was on wets. It didn't actually rain again but was still mega slippy. Straight forward win and lead from the start.
I really wanted to upload some footage but all I've got is quali because my camera shat itself annoyingly. I'll get my best quali lap up... Watched it before and it feels so slow but it was like driving on ice!
Already looking forward to next year, had a few people ask me what next but simple answer is I can't afford anything else. Anything faster involves tuned engines, slicks and wings. We aren't talking double the cost, more like quadruple.
I'm not even convinced the racing is as good elsewhere anyway. So that's that really. Kind of bittersweet, I feel like I should try something else but unless I get some help I simply can't.
The other thing is that the challenge for me is competing in the first place, I fund everything myself, the transport, engine rebuilds I do myself at home and so on. It takes a lot out of me just to turn up and be in with a shot and because I have now won this championship a few times I think some people look at it as though it's easy for me and let me tell you now it absolutely is not.
I also put a lot of pressure on myself to perform and do as well as I know I can, meaning sometimes when I do well it's more relief than elation, and I have to tell people I'm happy because I probably don't look it. It's a strange thing when you achieve something and you don't really feel any different about yourself or your life. I'm in a decent place now but the last time I won the championship I dipped massively over winter and put about 3 stone on, so I need to make sure that doesn't happen again!
Anyway enough rambling, thanks for reading.
It just about cleared up by Saturday and Sunday I felt pretty good.
Tricky meeting with the birkett going on the Saturday, bit of a logistical mare getting their cars out and ours in on sat evening in time to get settled and get some kip. Some teams seemed completely unaware that there was a day of racing on Sunday, the garage next to me had a full blown BBQ starting at 7pm when people were trying to get in and setup.
Woke up early for 7.45am scrutineering, all good other than the scruit saying half my gear needs replacing soon
Onto quali, it hadn't rained since the middle of the night but it was cold and everyone was saying how slippery the track was on Friday and how it didn't dry until late afternoon, so I took their word for and wet for wets, then when I saw the recovery truck go by on the national pit straight throwing loads of spray up that confirmed it.
It also confirmed the theme of the day because even though the track didn't look too wet it was mega wet and slippery all day.
So anyway onto quali, having not tested I was pleased that I got out there and was straight on it and felt comfortable in the car. I do like the wet but the car didn't feel quite as good as the last time I drove it in the wet, again I think it was simply just a very low grip day rather than anything wrong with the car.
Pushed on as much as I could and got pole by 0.6s. Whilst a decent margin, not huge on a 2.30 something lap.
Race 1, lots of deliberation about tyre choice but I decided to take the safe option. It was that cold that I figured even if it dried out I probably wouldn't destroy my wets. It looked patchy but overall still damp and the problem with our dry tyres is that it's impossible to get heat into them if it starts off remotely damp and the ambient temp was already cold.
Did our green flag lap and it felt slippy which I was pleased about as my main champ rival had chosen the not so safe option of dry tyres. One of the radicals broke down on the first green flag lap so that brought about a slight delay. During this delay the heavens opened and that kinda sealed the deal really. I knew it wouldn't even be a battle at that point, but even if it hadn't have rained, it wasn't properly dry to begin with, and I was prepared to just follow him home if I had to anyway.
Not withstanding this, these are tricky cars to drive regardless, it rained very heavily and I couldn't see a bloody thing in my mirrors. As I mentioned in my last post we were out with bikesports and I caught and passed a few of them, and didn't get lapped by one in race 1, which was good as I was struggling with vision behind.
The only ones that did overtake me were ones that came in for wets and went back out. I think in the end I was the only sports 1000 car that wasn't lapped by the leading bike sports car with their much stickier tyres, downforce etc. To be honest I was surprised that I caught and passed a few... That shouldn't happen particularly in the wet.
So it was a case of managing it and bringing it home. I enjoy the wet but it was fairly tense.. eventually saw the chequered flag and that was that.
Race 2, everyone was on wets. It didn't actually rain again but was still mega slippy. Straight forward win and lead from the start.
I really wanted to upload some footage but all I've got is quali because my camera shat itself annoyingly. I'll get my best quali lap up... Watched it before and it feels so slow but it was like driving on ice!
Already looking forward to next year, had a few people ask me what next but simple answer is I can't afford anything else. Anything faster involves tuned engines, slicks and wings. We aren't talking double the cost, more like quadruple.
I'm not even convinced the racing is as good elsewhere anyway. So that's that really. Kind of bittersweet, I feel like I should try something else but unless I get some help I simply can't.
The other thing is that the challenge for me is competing in the first place, I fund everything myself, the transport, engine rebuilds I do myself at home and so on. It takes a lot out of me just to turn up and be in with a shot and because I have now won this championship a few times I think some people look at it as though it's easy for me and let me tell you now it absolutely is not.
I also put a lot of pressure on myself to perform and do as well as I know I can, meaning sometimes when I do well it's more relief than elation, and I have to tell people I'm happy because I probably don't look it. It's a strange thing when you achieve something and you don't really feel any different about yourself or your life. I'm in a decent place now but the last time I won the championship I dipped massively over winter and put about 3 stone on, so I need to make sure that doesn't happen again!
Anyway enough rambling, thanks for reading.
Edited by Yazza54 on Tuesday 31st October 11:53
Gassing Station | UK Club Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff