Trackday

[Storer]

Hi All.

Bedford Autodrome was the venue and a couple of Ultimas were there today.

I have yet to check my short video so that can wait.

This is one of my front tyres afterwards



I ended the day with a couple of small issues.
My rack started to move and it is a bit of a job to tighten as there are a few things to remove to gain access to the Allen heads (might change them to HT bolts). I obviously erred on the side of caution when tightening to avoid squeezing the internals too much!

Air (gas) in the clutch and brakes was also an issue. The fluids gets quite hot but the standard AP fluid should be able to cope so not sure what the issue is there. I may well fit a second bulkhead in front of the clutch/brake/battery area as you could not put your hand on the chassis behind the rad.

No fuel, engine or cooling issues. Noise was 97.8db so very happy with that.

The car is quick. Nothing there able to keep up - even round the corners - and the brakes are mega.
Anti-roll bars, at least on the rear, may be a worthwhile addition as I don't want to fit track springs which would harm the ride on road.

A bit more gravel rash to get repaired over winter (I should have had that film my painter recommended!) More polishing to do - hope it removes rubber marks!!

Craig.
Nice to see you again. These car's are not too quiet as they go by. You can hardly hear the lovely V8 growl. Hope you had a good end to the day and got home OK. Did your lovely lady (I am crap at remembering names, sorry) have a go on track??
Nut torque is 288 to 322lbs/ft which is still bloody tight!!!!


Paul

[Storer]

For those that have never done a trackday. The light coloured bits in the middle of my tyres are rolls of rubber that have detached themselves.

The tyres are so sticky that the straps I wrap round them to hold the car on the trailer were stuck to the tyres when I got home!!!!!!!


Paul

[LuckyP]

Nice one!!!

Good choice of tyres to. They really are good on track.

Here are mine after Bedford:





With regards to the track springs. They really make a massive difference on track, and to my surprise found them perfectly acceptable on the road. The only thing they do seek out is just how well your panel joints are buffered. I needed to revisit the buffers to ensure no chattering.

Pete

[deadscoob]

Had a blip in the morning and it was faultless for the rest of the sat followed by a 160 mile drive back to Bristol.

Didn't get passed all day, some quick cars there, 300hp atoms included.

Mobile chicanes my arse.

[deadscoob]

A few pics







When a camera man is waiting at a hairpin, what else are you supposed to do?

Dampers were on 11 clicks out of 25, will wind them up another 5 next time.

[UltimaCH]

What tyres are you using?

[spatz]

where have you got Our mirros from .?

[V8Dom]

matter of interest im having a handling problem with Kumos on the front.. Are you guys experiancing tram lining and sever steering on un even roads..?
Dom

[cito quod fortis]

V8Dom said:

matter of interest im having a handling problem with Kumos on the front.. Are you guys experiancing tram lining and sever steering on un even roads..?
Dom

Hi Dom

All of the front tyres I've tried on the Ultima have tram lined a fair bit, so I was thinking it's more a car issue than the tyres. Can't remember what I had on last, but the only noticable difference I found was that the Kumho's had loads more grip.

Might see you at Cholmondley next weekend?

Cheers Andy

[F.C.]

V8Dom said:

matter of interest im having a handling problem with Kumos on the front.. Are you guys experiancing tram lining and sever steering on un even roads..?
Dom

Sounds like you need to adjust your steering rack to reduce bump steer

[Storer]

V8Dom said:

matter of interest im having a handling problem with Kumos on the front.. Are you guys experiancing tram lining and sever steering on un even roads..?
Dom

Tramlining is an issue made a little worse by the Khumo tyres but is still an issue on the Goodyears too. However, you need to ensure there is no play in any of the front wheel components. Wheel bearings, track rod ends, rack, rack attachment bolts, upper and lower ball joints and all bushes. Also all steering column joints. A small amount of play in any of these components will exaggerate the tramlining.

Bump steer can be drastically reduced if the rack is correctly positioned. It takes a while to do and the tolerances are quite small to get it right.


Paul

[Storer]

The video is boring. I should have taken more.

I was pushing on and you can see why I think I need anti-rollbars...



I didn't spin......this time, the Khumo tyres make a massive difference on track. The grip in second when accelerating out of corners is fantastic when added to a LSD.


Paul

[UltimaCH]

Yup, roll bars look to be needed. What about some stiffer springs as well?

[ROWDYRENAULT]

One of the joys of my GTR is that it does not tramline, period. The roads in California will create this problem in a heart beat. My GTR is on Michelins with a factory spec alignment except for castor which is run at 7.5 degrees instead of the 4-5 of the standard factory suspension. This change in castor was facilitated by a change to heim joints and an alloy steering arms about 18 months ago. The car never tramlined on the factory setup either. After I changed the front suspension I started to notice what I thought was bump steer and it got worse over time. The problem was actualy a leaking/ failed Intrax shock, the second such occurance with the car. The first shock went bad before I ever had the car finished so I never drove on that shock. Once I replaced the front Intrax with Konis the problem was completly gone.
If your Ultima tramlines you have a problem somewhere, start with a good detailed inspection of your suspension tires and shocks. If these are in optimal condition, run don't walk to a professional shop that will bump steer and correct the problem. There is no reason to put up with this on these cars. lEE

[macgtech]

Might be worth checking the amount of camber - higher levels can cause tramlining.

Glad you had a good day Paul. With regards to track springs - you can go quite (very!) hard without compromising the ride - its the damping that makes the difference.

Jonny

[deadscoob]

Mine is acceptable on the road with 600/800 and dampers wound to soft.

I think if the dampers were fully wound up on mine, there would be almost no roll. It's a little nuggety on road but is perfectly fine.

Paul, what were your dampers set to, looks like the splitter could kiss the Tarmac

[macgtech]

deadscoob said:

Mine is acceptable on the road with 600/800 and dampers wound to soft.

I think if the dampers were fully wound up on mine, there would be almost no roll. It's a little nuggety on road but is perfectly fine.

Paul, what were your dampers set to, looks like the splitter could kiss the Tarmac

Stiffening the damping essentially effects the velocity with which the dampers can move - it does not effect the amount they move. Stiffening the damping will improve the transient response of the car (it will feel more responsive) but ride will suffer.

It will not effect the amount of overall roll you get very much at all - only if you are, for example, slaloming or going through a tight chicane with very fast inputs will effect the overall roll - through normal/longer corners the roll will likely be the same.

[LuckyP]

Bedford with std springs:

[UltimaCH]

LuckyP said:

Bedford with std springs:

Yikes that is some nasty roll

[V8Dom]

macgtech said:

Might be worth checking the amount of camber - higher levels can cause tramlining.

Jonny

toe in is 2mm each side
caster is 3.5 degree factory checked
camber 1.8 degrees factory checked

This is the problem Ive been told.. I have toyo R888 on the rear and kumo V70a on the front.. tyre specialists say the imbalance of the car could only be upset in cornering not in a straight line... I want to run toyo if i could on the front as the thred wear is so much less yet grip outstanding... thinking of widening the front rims on the inside then running 255/35/18 R888..
there is no play in the steering or suspension at all, and bump steer is zero as the rack is adjustable.

is anyone running Toyo R888 front and rear??? I know Pete is in Waynes but smaller sizes..Dom

interesting about the dampers,, i will look. also 7 degree caster. wow it has been suggested to increase caster. wow how heavy is that steering???