First Championship win for a T350 !

[tail slide]

I’m pleased that a T350 has finally won some silverware, and chuffed that it was mine! I remember hearing at the T350’s launch that TVR planned to race them as replacements for the Tuscans in the Tuscan Challenge.

We finished the 2010 TVRCC Speed Championship season with 7 wins out of a possible max 8, and won ‘fastest lap’ TVR class records at 15 race circuits & hillclimbs, some by just a few tenths.

The first time I ventured onto the ‘Ring with it in 2004, as my brand new standard car, it was obviously a useful leap forward in track potential from my previous Griff and Cerbera, well up to scaring Porkers (and occasionally me – I spun at Brunnchen but only damaged my pride) but after several year’s development it’s really very forgiving and fun to slide around on the limit, but can be re-set to comfy road-spec in an hour on it’s 3-way adjustable dampers etc.

Many of the TVR’s are stripped out to lose weight for our track events, but like several others in the Championship I was determined to compete in a roadgoing TVR with full interior and all mod cons like air-con and stereo still fitted (it weighs a porky1180kg) so had fun driving hundreds of miles to our events rather than trailering, and still using it between events as a road car, true to the spirit of legendary road-racers like Aston DB’s, Cobras and D-types. I also just didn’t want to strip it out, as there are few enough of them as it is.

So I covered 15,300 miles of road, trackdays and competition this year, listening to the gorgeous tune of a totally reliable special 4.2 speed six engine and transmission built by Jason at the TVR specialist STR8SIX, who also thoroughly checked and prepared everything else. The only issue I had was a wheelbearing which still got me home, where I replaced it myself. Thanks guys!

The engine has been peachy with no issues whatever, making c.430bhp (377 at wheels on TVR Power’s dyno) but more importantly for acceleration a flat 375lbft torque curve across 2000rpm, and lowered gearing to 162mph max, it’s now usefully rapid for a road registered car, at below 8 seconds to 100mph.

It also beat all the roadgoing Porsches & Ferraris at the events this year too. But I’m sure Peter Wheeler would have retorted; ‘…and so it bloody well should do, lad, if you drive it properly!’



Paul Edwards

Edited by tail slide on Thursday 23 December 21:38

[sibo99]

great news! you and the reliable machine should be proud

any vids?

[Mattt]

[GTRene]

very good news, congrats to you and ofcorse that lovely T350.
is the chassis untouched? I mean no improvements?

what is the most important update to make it a better track weapon?

[jrb43]

Very well done. You've modestly glossed over it, but you must be a bit handy behind the wheel too. This is the kind of feel-good story we need in a week when it's -3oC and nobody can remember daylight. Bravo!!

[tail slide]

Thanks guys, it was fun in a high-pressure sort of way.

Main spec changes are on my profile; calmed the rear down noticeably by a little more toe-in on the rear than standard, and slightly less anti-roll bar stiffness. The rear set-up on a car dictates most of the 'turn-in' feel, which should be sharp but personally I found a bit excessive as standard.

Only 1 vid I know of, at Shelsley, first runs were not that quick but was near the limit on the last few. The tyre marks half way up the track were from a fellow competitor Mark who spun his Chim within the banks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwLx3u3diZg

Edited by tail slide on Thursday 23 December 23:25

[GTRene]

great picture of your car on your profile.

also a very nice video, car looks good with great road holding, sounds like a spitfire sometimes
nice...
the T350c looks a bit like a modern Griffith 200/400 those fast machine's but then of those days.
I love it.

[sidewayz]

Congratulations on the silver TS! Here's to you and yours for the season.

[TVR_owner]

Well done Paul, and well deserved too!

[tail slide]

Cheers, I saw that you chalked up a few notable successes yourself in the Challenge in your venerable steed, a full season could have seen a different winner..... Maybe next year?




I aim to get out to Zolder etc this year for some slightly more relaxed fun.

[TVR_owner]

tail slide said:

Cheers, I saw that you chalked up a few notable successes yourself in the Challenge in your venerable steed, a full season could have seen a different winner....fun.

Classic and Sports Car Club next year Paul. No outings with the Tuscans planned

Zolder is a no miss weekend, but a busy time with the weekend before hopefully racing the M at Spa!!

A full season last year may have made a difference, but you need to be in it to win it...

See you in the bar at Heerlen

John

[ochten]

I like the blue colour of your car. What is it exactly?

[tail slide]

ochten said:

I like the blue colour of your car. What is it exactly?

Thanks, Jaguar Antigua Blue metallic circa 2004, I liked the way it takes on an aquamarine tint in the sun, but looks nothing special in dull light. Easy to match for stone chips.

[blackiepaul]

Well done Paul, great news

[TVRMARK500]

Congrats Paul,

tail slide said:

and slightly less anti-roll bar stiffness.

did you change the bar, angle, drop links?

been told if you slacken the M8 nut on the drop links that should give you more compliance, though i'm yet to be convinced,

anybody tried that?

Cheers
Mark

[dbv8]

Excellent result.

Below 8 seconds to 100? That would give you a 1/4 mile in under 12 seconds.
Bring it to Santa Pod!

[tail slide]

Hi,

Yes a/r bar softened on trial basis (all year!) by loosening nut and fitting half a normal rubber bush on top of the original one, on each side, then re-tightening.

This just gives a 'slightly softer', progressively-sprung setting, which I found better but ideally needs a proper adjustable 3-5 hole position or blade-type for quick softening from dry to wet, a little smaller diameter to start with... I'll be looking around for budget possibilities at Autosport show on Friday.

Drag racing - tempting, and my new R888's just arrived, but would probably also destruction-test whatever weakest link in the transmission on the very grippy start line! Data log does suggest we might conceivably break into 11's if the nut behind the wheel got the hang of the Christmas tree lights, and sort the tyre pressures etc.... if you could let me know of an event March onwards may give it a crack, esp if other rwd cars there to learn from.

Edited by tail slide on Monday 10th January 20:59

[dbv8]

Here ya go...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... for an event Summer 2011. Comments and ideas please.
Lookout for the thread to finalize the date.

[TVRMARK500]

tail slide said:

Hi,

Yes a/r bar softened on trial basis (all year!) by loosening nut and fitting half a normal rubber bush on top of the original one, on each side, then re-tightening.

This just gives a 'slightly softer', progressively-sprung setting, which I found better but ideally needs a proper adjustable 3-5 hole position or blade-type for quick softening from wet to dry, a little smaller diameter to start with... I'll be looking around for budget possibilities at Autosport show on Friday.

Thanks and very interesting, have you ever ran it with the bar disconnected in dry conditions?

[slimtater]

Well done - I met you at Curborough and I was in the other blue T350 (not competing)