"Street Car" and "Improved Production" race at Wanneroo

[tim the pool man]

OK, for those who don't venture into the other forums on PH, I'll repost a thread I put in General Motorsport yesterday.

Only relevant to this forum because I *think* there is "one of us" in the race... I'll confirm later.

This is a video of race 3 for the combined Street Car and Improved Production class from Wanneroo (Barbagallo Raceway) last weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiwSfwuo6l0

Street cars is the class I competed in from 1981 through 1991. Has been one of the most popular classes in WA for years. Started with the idea of road licenced and driven cars, but the rules have "evolved" a bit over the years. Still must be proper full bodied cars, running on a control road tyre, but the quick cars are running 450-500 plus BHP, and several use the fantastic PPG gearbox; this can be seen in the Skyline and one of the RX7s in this clip.

Incidentally the Skyline, and several of the RX7s (the blue ones) in this field are owned and entered by my former sponsor Kim Ledger (Heath's Father).

In the early 90s the quickest Street car times were 66 seconds, while the contemporary Australian Touring Cars (Intl Group A at that time) were doing 60 second laps, the quick cars being Nissan GTR and Sierras.
Now the Street car lap record is around 60 seconds, and the current V8Supercars are doing mid 57 second laps.

ETA: I'm almost certain that the Commodore (road going) being lapped at 6.30 on that clip is driven by a PHer... although he has only appeared in the HSV forum AFAIK

Edited by tim the pool man on Wednesday 24th September 17:08

[Stigmundfreud]

interesting write up and good to see street cars now just 3 seconds off the touring cars, wonder how that would change with race rubber..

[racebreed]

Stigmundfreud said:

interesting write up and good to see street cars now just 3 seconds off the touring cars, wonder how that would change with race rubber..

in the uk time attack series the time attack cars like ROger Clarkes Scooby was lapping faster at silverstone than the touring cars, a few seconds as well

[racebreed]

mind you the cars were running up to 900bhp and there are some quality experienced drivers in them!

[tim the pool man]

racebreed said:

Stigmundfreud said:

interesting write up and good to see street cars now just 3 seconds off the touring cars, wonder how that would change with race rubber..

in the uk time attack series the time attack cars like ROger Clarkes Scooby was lapping faster at silverstone than the touring cars, a few seconds as well

But to be fair the current BTCC cars (what are they, 2 litre and wrong wheel drive?) are hardly comparable to the Aussie V8s, which are 640BHP with massive aerodynamics and big slicks... with most of the top drivers now earning in the 7 figures apparently.
WTF is "time attack"? sounds like something you find on an arcade game. I assume it's 1 car at a time? Not really racing is it?

[tim the pool man]

Race 2 has now been uploaded. This is a reverse grid with the fastest cars starting at the back. I used to love these races, although it looks like the speed differential is even greater now than it used to be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5uRmQhVJp4


ETA in this clip you get to see Sean Ferral's Monaro, think it was the first outing for this car. Expected to be a front runner in the Improved Production class. IP is a National category, and fairly new in WA. Currently running with the (quicker) Street Cars (a WA only class) until they get enough entries to run separate races.

Edited by tim the pool man on Thursday 25th September 16:33

[Bonnie and Clyde]

Get ready to shoot me down. I watched the video and the PPG gear box you pointed out looked and performed amazingly. Is it not possible to get that or similar in the Monaro? And are rip shifters the same? It seem the guy driving was loosing no time at all changing gears!

[tim the pool man]

Bonnie and Clyde said:

Get ready to shoot me down. I watched the video and the PPG gear box you pointed out looked and performed amazingly. Is it not possible to get that or similar in the Monaro? And are rip shifters the same? It seem the guy driving was loosing no time at all changing gears!

The PPGs used in these cars would be the race only units, straight cut gears (very noisy) and dog engagement. You'll notice they don't use the clutch on upshifts and yes the shifts are lightning quick!
Wouldn't use that box in a road car. They're also quite expensive...
http://www.ppgearbox.com.au/index-html.htm