First track outing

Dave Bilyk · 04-19-04, 11:46 AM

Hi everyone. This weekend 17-18 April was the first track outing for the DAX40, two 30min sessions on each day.
Friday night.
The night of the 16th, the engine started popping and banging under acceleration above 4000rpm. Below that rpm everything wasfine. It was already late, so decided to get some sleep and fix it at the track.
Saturday
After topping up at the petrol station, I heard a clicking noise and noticed no speedo reading. Ah well these things are sent to try us.
At the track, removed speedo inner cable from the back, broken. Then opened up distributor and had a good look at the rotor arm. The spring blade had fallen apart and the spark was having to jump an extra 3/8" or so. Now in America you could probably find or borrow a rotor arm in 5 minutes, but here 302's are a bit more scarce [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] So I reckoned an emergency repair was in order. The blade just about wedged in place, and with some superglue and epoxy paste looked like it might last, which it did.

Dave Bilyk · 04-19-04, 12:02 PM

Saturday sessions
Drivers briefing - basically 'This is a show, we don't want the show interrupted to get spinners out of the traps. If you spin you're off for the rest of the day - no exceptions'
Morning session. - Dry track
Engine was fine, but the car seemed quite twitchy on right handers (most of the track [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]) trying to be as smooth as I could, I could feel the back end kinda giving way and I had to steer out of it and keep it slow. So while I could drive the car and give it head on the straights, the corners were tricky. Here's where I found out how soon not to wellie it out of the hairpin [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Dave Bilyk · 04-19-04, 12:17 PM

Afternoon session - Wet
This was a nightmare, the rear end had determined to get out in front, I was driving so slowly there was a queue forming in the corners. Now I have to admit that driving this style of car is new to me, but I have done hours in FF1600 single seaters and gone a lot faster in the wet. As time went on it seemed to get slower and more slippery, culminated in a 180 spin in a medium RH bend near the end of the session. I drove back in the pits without waiting to be flagged [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
Checked the tyre pressures, at 20,22 a bit low for the wet so I upped to 26,28 for the next day.

Malcolm · 04-19-04, 12:46 PM

Sounds like you had a grand time. I think that driving in the wet will sharpen your skills and knowledge of your car much quicker than driving only in the dry. However hairy it might be! That is a good action shot you posted!

I would suggest you have a look at the suspension geometry and check it is in order. A lot of guys build their cars and don't properly set up the geometry and wonder why they don't handle quite as well as expected. I haven't experience of the DAX 40 other than a test passenger drive many many years ago but would guess it needs setting up well as much as a GTD does.

But to me the next stage of your ownership of your car is part of the fun - development into a real beastie!

If you were to book into the GTD club track day in August there would be lots of guys you could chat too and pick brains of.

Keep up the fun! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Dave Bilyk · 04-19-04, 12:47 PM

Sunday Morning session - Wet
Hopes that the tyre pressures might improve things seemed pretty much dashed, and although I kept on the black stuff for the whole 30 minutes it was very tricky.
On saturday, notable cars in my group were a couple of Porsche GT3's, a Noble, a Ferrari 355 and 3 TVR's.
On Sunday we were joined by a lotus Esprit a Carrera and a Lamborghini Diablo. All well sorted quickly driven cars, so by now I was beginning to feel a bit embarrased, and far too proficient at letting people past [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] I was beginning to think about giving the last session a miss, but then two things happened, the sun came out, and someone with experience came to have a look, pushed down on the back end and said 'it's too hard, let's soften it'. So the dampers were clicked down till he was happy.
The afternoon session was now dry, and the back was no longer giving the impression that someone was throwing ice under it, so the pace quickened, up to the point where the brakes were juddering. So I braked early to keep that under control, but enjoyed the whole session thoroughly, and felt there was more to come from the car, but didn't want to push it with so little experience and so many unknowns.
I can see that the damper and bushes are compressed, the LH trailing link rose joint and bracket is close to the tyre and tends to touch when the tyre flexes. I had to raise the RH front corner 10 mm to even things up, and have yet to check the corner weights and camber / alignment. If I had time I would have done it before the event, but wasn't going to miss the opportunity. So all this I will take care of soon. Any advice on setup welcome, but I will use the search facility here.
Here is one of my favourite pics, but don't mean to imply that my marine engine was able to hold a Diablo on the straight that followed [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Dave Bilyk · 04-19-04, 01:18 PM

Thanks for your kind invite Malcolm, which I will consider, and your comments on setup noted. I have had an offer of help from someone closeby so hope to check setup soon.
Oh, almost forgot to say that credit for the pictures goes to Mark Scoular who gave me this link to post for more pictures. more pictures

regards
Dave

BarryD · 04-19-04, 01:56 PM

Looks like a nice car.
I'm sure you will find more than enough help on this forum to get the set-up right, but I'd agree that Goodwood would be an excellent opportunity to meet the experts.
(I'm booked, and I have not even got my car home yet !.)
I have only been on the forum for a couple of months but everyone has been most helpful, free with advice, and the depth of knowledge and experience is mind-blowing.

PS. Being a nosey b***er.... why is the number plate blotched out in your pix?
Surely it was not another case of the registration authorities getting mixed up and the same number applying to 2 cars !!! ... or did you tick the box for no publicity ?

Ho ho ho !

Barry D

Dave Bilyk · 04-19-04, 02:37 PM

Thanks Barry, I'll have you know I'm a member of the number plate preference society [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] It seems to be common practice to fudge the number plate in photographs posted on some forums. I never thought of why really, but for instance if one did 160mph down the road, and the policeman couldnt catch sight of the number, but then he saw the very distinctive car with number on the web??? Or is it just part of the modern paranoia and fear for identification in any shape or form?? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Maybe someone can explain.

As for Goodwood, yes I really want to go there, and Le Mans too. I decided that the car is not ready for Le Mans this year, maybe next. Goodwood, I cannot commit to for personal reasons, but the enthusiasm is there.
rtegards
Dave

Dan Weilacher · 04-19-04, 05:02 PM

Hi Dave , great pics thanks for posting. If it rains you definatly want to soften up the backend of a car. On Formula Fords and F2000 cars I have driven you either (if cockpit adjustable) go full soft on the rear bar , or unhook it all together. To get bite you need to allow the wheels to act more independent. The same gos for a rough track , too stiff and you unload the chassis and suffer grip and traction. Get the car properly aligned, go to the next track day (hopefully in the sunshine) with a tire pyrometer and a good air preasure gauge and you can do wonders in the setup with these two.Record your temps (inside , center , out ) right after each session so you have a log of changes after you adjust the car and how it affected it.Change things in small increments if you can help it. Good luck, Dan

ViPerNet · 04-19-04, 07:36 PM

Hi guys, like the site etc and I'm glad you all like the pics, if your wanting more of other cars take a gander to here: www.iwsconsultants.com/cars/knockhill

The reason I've blanked out the number plates is because any would be thief can use a car number plate to find out who the vehicle is registered to and where they stay, hence if we can stop them getting the reg plates then we can hopfully reduces thefts or vandalisms against these wonderful cars [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Ian Anderson · 04-20-04, 12:34 PM

Ok I'm a "happy snapper" and take loads of photos.

Say I take a photo of a car at a kit show, and then ask a question on the web on a forum as this, supplying photographic evidence to support a question, this shows a number plate, am I breaking the law and potentially getting in someone's face on their privicy?

I plan on attending Stoneleigh show in May and Le Mans Classic in July - If I take photos at public events like this and show them here do I need to get the owners' permission first?

Perhaps I should never scan and post them!

Ian