Brighton Speed Trials
Discussion
Yes its that time of year again.
Firstly, I would like to clarify the difference between the 1/4 mile at the speed trials in comparison to say, Santa Pod - or any other established 1/4. The Speed Trials are set on Madeira drive, this is, as its name suggests - a public road. Its closed only for occaisional events such as the speed trials and not used as a 1/4mile strip outside of these events. The surface is not as grippy as Santa Pod or similar, not even close. Cars that can run under 10s did not manage to get into the low 11s on the day, this included a record holding skyline with 4wd. Next, as found out rather scarily by a Pug 607 V8 racing car, the surface is BUMPY - which again, makes for interesting traction issues. For reference, there tends to be a second or more difference in times recorded here and times recorded at 1/4 mile strips. I feel this explination is necessary as we had quite a few people saying that our car should be doing 12 second runs, which is true - at a proper drag strip, a Cerbera will, at the speed trials - no chance, an F50 barely breaks into the 12's here - infact the only F50 run I saw was a 12.95.
Right, now thats cleared up, the car: A pretty standard 4.5, standard wheels/tyres, 66k miles old, in need of new cats (this may drain power a little) overdue a service and according to our performance meter, down on power from earlier in the year. Its never had any engine work and has spent most of its life being driven as PW intended, hillclimbs, sprints, trackdays, speed trials, trips to the shops/trainstation daily. It's spent most of its life looked after by Track Car Solutions, who is the reason we still have the car and didnt lose faith years ago - my endless thanks to him for everything he has done on the car.
The runs: As I have mentioned, we have known about the cats going, according to our performance meter the power is down a little and its in need of a service. We also had our handicap set wrong, so no chance of class honours - but a chance to improve on our best time yet, a 13.5 second run. I had low expectations of matching that time and just hoped it would atleast out pace a lovely F355/ 996 carrera to save face. The first run was promising, into a head wind, the rarri/996 couldnt break 14.5 seconds... Dad tried a new launch technique and using 4th (we would have liked to have kept 3rd, but our car doesnt rev past 7krpm due to the standard early 4.5 air intakes) managed a 13.8.
I was very pleased, and noted a few slight issues that may get us a tenth or so.
The next run out saw alot of very very very fast cars failing to break 14 seconds, including a 997 Carrera S, whose superb traction should have really allowed it to have an edge on the battle scarred blue rocket. Not so, Dad launched the car in much the same way as before, and thanks to a little more rubber being down (the difference is quite noticeable, but still not as grippy as a proper 1/4), it hooked up a little better off the line. As the timing board flashed up a 13.27 and 107 terminal I nearly punched the guy infront in excitement as I threw my hands in the air. 13.27 at the speed trials!!!! I texted dad immediately with "fcuking awesome run" and waited for him to return. I watched many many cars run to get a few comparisons for you all;
4.5 Cerbera; 13.27
Ferrari F50; 12.95 (start wasnt quite perfect, but not bad)
Ferrari F40; 13.3something (start was bad)
Porsche Carrera S; 14.05
Ferrari F430; 13.2something (fantastic launch, TC? very impressive car)
Aston Vanquish; 14.something
Ferrari F355; 14.3(? maybe more)
Tuscan Racer; 12.5 (500bhp/500lb ft, did TVR proud)
SL65AMG; 12.95 (BEAST)
Porsche 964RS; 13.38 (spec unknown, but running sticky R888's)
I cannot stress how much of a giant killer this nearly ten year old car is. Christ, fluff the start slightly in an F50 and it'll have you. These are probably the closest you'll get to real world, off the traffic light figures - its unbelievable to think how quick it is.
Next year, we will hopefully be in an even better position to run. My thanks to all those who spoke to us/ cheered us on - we will be there next year, hell I may even run.
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE YOUR CERBERAS, to go quicker you need something very very special, the closest match was an F430 and last time I checked they sell at £100k more than a Cerbera, which doesnt have the advantage of traction control.
Ciao
BCA
Firstly, I would like to clarify the difference between the 1/4 mile at the speed trials in comparison to say, Santa Pod - or any other established 1/4. The Speed Trials are set on Madeira drive, this is, as its name suggests - a public road. Its closed only for occaisional events such as the speed trials and not used as a 1/4mile strip outside of these events. The surface is not as grippy as Santa Pod or similar, not even close. Cars that can run under 10s did not manage to get into the low 11s on the day, this included a record holding skyline with 4wd. Next, as found out rather scarily by a Pug 607 V8 racing car, the surface is BUMPY - which again, makes for interesting traction issues. For reference, there tends to be a second or more difference in times recorded here and times recorded at 1/4 mile strips. I feel this explination is necessary as we had quite a few people saying that our car should be doing 12 second runs, which is true - at a proper drag strip, a Cerbera will, at the speed trials - no chance, an F50 barely breaks into the 12's here - infact the only F50 run I saw was a 12.95.
Right, now thats cleared up, the car: A pretty standard 4.5, standard wheels/tyres, 66k miles old, in need of new cats (this may drain power a little) overdue a service and according to our performance meter, down on power from earlier in the year. Its never had any engine work and has spent most of its life being driven as PW intended, hillclimbs, sprints, trackdays, speed trials, trips to the shops/trainstation daily. It's spent most of its life looked after by Track Car Solutions, who is the reason we still have the car and didnt lose faith years ago - my endless thanks to him for everything he has done on the car.
The runs: As I have mentioned, we have known about the cats going, according to our performance meter the power is down a little and its in need of a service. We also had our handicap set wrong, so no chance of class honours - but a chance to improve on our best time yet, a 13.5 second run. I had low expectations of matching that time and just hoped it would atleast out pace a lovely F355/ 996 carrera to save face. The first run was promising, into a head wind, the rarri/996 couldnt break 14.5 seconds... Dad tried a new launch technique and using 4th (we would have liked to have kept 3rd, but our car doesnt rev past 7krpm due to the standard early 4.5 air intakes) managed a 13.8.
I was very pleased, and noted a few slight issues that may get us a tenth or so. The next run out saw alot of very very very fast cars failing to break 14 seconds, including a 997 Carrera S, whose superb traction should have really allowed it to have an edge on the battle scarred blue rocket. Not so, Dad launched the car in much the same way as before, and thanks to a little more rubber being down (the difference is quite noticeable, but still not as grippy as a proper 1/4), it hooked up a little better off the line. As the timing board flashed up a 13.27 and 107 terminal I nearly punched the guy infront in excitement as I threw my hands in the air. 13.27 at the speed trials!!!! I texted dad immediately with "fcuking awesome run" and waited for him to return. I watched many many cars run to get a few comparisons for you all;
4.5 Cerbera; 13.27
Ferrari F50; 12.95 (start wasnt quite perfect, but not bad)
Ferrari F40; 13.3something (start was bad)
Porsche Carrera S; 14.05
Ferrari F430; 13.2something (fantastic launch, TC? very impressive car)
Aston Vanquish; 14.something
Ferrari F355; 14.3(? maybe more)
Tuscan Racer; 12.5 (500bhp/500lb ft, did TVR proud)
SL65AMG; 12.95 (BEAST)
Porsche 964RS; 13.38 (spec unknown, but running sticky R888's)
I cannot stress how much of a giant killer this nearly ten year old car is. Christ, fluff the start slightly in an F50 and it'll have you. These are probably the closest you'll get to real world, off the traffic light figures - its unbelievable to think how quick it is.
Next year, we will hopefully be in an even better position to run.
My thanks to all those who spoke to us/ cheered us on - we will be there next year, hell I may even run. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE YOUR CERBERAS, to go quicker you need something very very special, the closest match was an F430 and last time I checked they sell at £100k more than a Cerbera, which doesnt have the advantage of traction control.
Ciao
BCA
Cyclone, get yo ass down to Brighton next year. Lets see you rip 'The Drive' to shreds dude raw cerb said:
i have a small clip of you doing the qtr, and will try and post it soon.
Awesome, I only saw it from behind briefly... though that is how most see Cerberas.
Edit: Good to meet you Lurkio, hope you have better luck with the Cerb from now on!! They're irreplaceable for the pace on offer.
Edited by BCA on Sunday 10th September 21:51
Great write up and well done 
.
Some tasty cars in that line up with some good times posted, yet again puts into perspective what a Cerb is capable of. It's always good to beat your best time, however, it means that unfortunately more mods will needed to do the same next year
......
Jules.
can't wait to see a few pics from the day.............
. Some tasty cars in that line up with some good times posted, yet again puts into perspective what a Cerb is capable of. It's always good to beat your best time, however, it means that unfortunately more mods will needed to do the same next year
...... Jules.
can't wait to see a few pics from the day.............
Ditto, great write up and times. I just love atmosphere of the event - with cars, bikes, competitors and spectators of all ages and from all walks of life. I agree with the fact that Santa Pod times are hard to reach along the sea front, so I like to put on a bit of show and smoke the tyres up a tad more than necessary for the crowd.
Fantastic day and I'm still buzzing from being a part of it.
Fantastic day and I'm still buzzing from being a part of it.
Yob Tar... no car in the profile but from the url im guessing yours was the awesome Cobra that arrived with spare wheels on its roof rack/rollcage? 
Lovely car, "gonna kick chengs ass" or similar on the back.
Cyclone, as I said earlier, the car isnt 100% atm, the cats are gone and according to our performance metre we are down on power form earlier in the year, so we really cannot wait for next year, there was also a slight head wind. We also still suffer from a lack of revs, ours can only do 7000rpm - so we have to use 4th gear, which as you know costs more time still. Its not the rev limiter that stops us, its the fact that the intake tubing compresses too much and doesnt allow the air through, we would need a TCS whirlwind intake kit to sort that so we shall see... got a few expensive bits to sort first!!
The mods will start soon no doubt, I'll have to have a look at your car sometime and get a few ideas.
God I love this car!!!!
Lovely car, "gonna kick chengs ass" or similar on the back. Cyclone, as I said earlier, the car isnt 100% atm, the cats are gone and according to our performance metre we are down on power form earlier in the year, so we really cannot wait for next year, there was also a slight head wind. We also still suffer from a lack of revs, ours can only do 7000rpm - so we have to use 4th gear, which as you know costs more time still. Its not the rev limiter that stops us, its the fact that the intake tubing compresses too much and doesnt allow the air through, we would need a TCS whirlwind intake kit to sort that so we shall see... got a few expensive bits to sort first!!
The mods will start soon no doubt, I'll have to have a look at your car sometime and get a few ideas.
God I love this car!!!!
jesfirth said:
Awesome BCA-well done in hilding up the end for TVR and the cerbs in particular. Was the Tuscan race car dave Morris's by any chance?
Was there 2 Tuscan racers there? Im sure I saw a roofless dark blue one parked up close to the start line and there is a pic of the light(er) blue chevvy powered one with a white roof on here?
jesfirth said:
Awesome BCA-well done in hilding up the end for TVR and the cerbs in particular. Was the Tuscan race car dave Morris's by any chance?
Was there 2 Tuscan racers there? Im sure I saw a roofless dark blue one parked up close to the start line and there is a pic of the light(er) blue chevvy powered one with a white roof on here?
jesfirth said:
Awesome BCA-well done in hilding up the end for TVR and the cerbs in particular. Was the Tuscan race car dave Morris's by any chance?
Certainly was
It ran superbly too, didnt chat to him like we normally do, he seemed quite busy with his kids. The crowds loved his tyre warming!! He's been there every year that we have and more I think. Edit: Just the one Tuscan racer. Well, technically its a 1960something Tuscan road car... there was an article in sprint a few years ago on how it was rebuilt into a tuscan racer chassis/body with a very very special chevvy engine.
Edited by BCA on Monday 11th September 13:27
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