4th place at Sandown Today

Ross Nicol · 23rd July 2006, 06:47 AM

I've had a very up and down race meeting this weekend. The suspension work I've done since the last meeting has improved the handling and reduced the understeer but did not reflect in faster lap times. This morning though the track was very damp from overnight rain and I fitted my wet tyres ready for the 1st race of the day at 9am. Yes I had to get up at 6am, no sunday morning sleep in for me. Anyway I proved my 3rd place in the wet last year was no fluke rocketing off the line and moving up the grid from my 14th place start to 4th where I finished. During the race a Porsche driver destroyed his car by smashing into the armco and Ferrari driver was up to his usual trick of trying to travel around the circuit the wrong way. As we have progressive grids I started 4th but new in the dry I was never going to hold that position and came home in 12th. So I have decided I'm tired of not having adequate power to be competitive and improvements are going to be made. Our next meeting is back at Sandown in early September so watch this space. Sorry no pics from today but I hope someone took a shot of me 4th on the grid.

Ross

Ron Earp · 23rd July 2006, 07:24 AM

Sounds like fun! Congratulations on the rain start and finish, nice job.

I've not been racing long, but I've learned that Racer Hours are different from normal life - they have you up extremely late and up extremely early.

They don't let you race with knock ons do they? And, what sort of power do you have, I can't remember what your motor configuration was. I do remember the ZF though, so maybe more displacement is the answer since your transaxle can deal with it.

Malcolm · 23rd July 2006, 08:01 AM

Well done Ross, a good result does wonders for self encouragement. I wonder if I can manage 4th place in my race in September? I wish!!!!

Ron, you need to dig out your sheet with set up adjustment cause and effect. I guess Ross will know most if not all of it but it should be useful to a lot of gus who play with set up.

ChrisL · 23rd July 2006, 10:34 AM

Well done Ross. Almost came to watch you too. I wish I had now. Sounds to me like you have a great wet setup though. Stiffer suspension in the dry maybe?

Pete McCluskey. · 23rd July 2006, 08:06 PM

Congratulations Ross.

Bill Musarra · 23rd July 2006, 09:10 PM

Ross,
Congrats, I think with a little more displacement/HP you should be able to keep up with the big boys. You are beginning to notice that practice does make better. Keep it up. If you can do that well in the wet, I can't wait to see how you do on dry pavement.

Bill

Russ Noble · 24th July 2006, 01:24 AM

Well done Ross.

Regardless of setup, I always think that the wet sorts the men out from the boys. In fact IMHO in the wet the only thing that really matters besides big balls is f/r brake ratios.

Cheers

LoveGT40 · 24th July 2006, 03:53 AM

grats Russ,
I just hope to see some pics and videos of u racing.
Love to much to see u fighting with ferrari and porsches..and beating theme.

Hope maybe to see something next time

)

Paolo

Russ Noble · 24th July 2006, 06:31 AM

"grats Russ"

Paulo,

I think you mean Ross.

My car is still a figment of my imagination! Give me a year to translate the imagination into a race winner!

Cheers

Ross Nicol · 24th July 2006, 07:27 AM

I think Paolo has worked out that we're both Kiwis Russ and has decided Russ, Ross ah damn it it's only one letter, or maybe he's using an Italian to English translator and it's confused. Anyway really appreciate everyone's comments it's quite lonely being the only GT40 racer around here especially when over on the dark side (the Porsche camp ) they are numerous in quite a few models from 944 to GT3,911,GT2 etc. Malcolm I can never forgive you for turning and racing with the dark side but good luck in September.
Ron I don't know about the knock ons but a lot of race cars run with a single large wheel nut around here. One funny event from the weekend was a couple of kids came over to get my autograph (reminds me when I was a rock star) and I explained the car was a FORD they weren't very happy and said they" didn't like Fords" as they were Holden fans. I didn't let them go without my autograph anyway.
Ross

flatchat(Chris) · 24th July 2006, 05:26 PM

"Rossle" (that should cover it) Well done mate , if its that good in the wet then a dry track should be a breeze --- spend more time on the handling issues, as you have "adequate" power .
I know DRB Cobras handle pretty well, but the GT should cream it in corners.

A nip of scotch and some viagra before the race should get you to the podium next time. (chuckle)

So what about Wakefield this October--the Cobra nationals--would like to see you there
Cheers

Ross Nicol · 24th July 2006, 07:26 PM

Ah very good Chris "Rossie is ok by me". Actually the handling is very much on the improve now and it is 'turning in' as it never has before. I have a very heavy dead brake pedal, an accelerator pedal that's a bit digital in operation.
But mostly I'm down on power compared to the opposition. To give you an idea I was the full length of the straight behind Paul's DRB Cobra after 6 laps.
I was so depressed in the last race I just gave up trying. I was surprised the 40 was so good in the wet as I've now got stiffer springs and bumpy ride but it just grips up in the wet so well. I will admit to taking my new cockpit adjustable anti roll bar down to full soft though. The current motor has run well for me but I always intended to replace it after the handling was sorted.
I basically built it myself and it doesn't have the goods to take me up the grid.
The new motor has a Motec dyno sheet 438hp @ 7000 revs with a 4 barrel on it, so will be interesting when I put the 8 barrel on. I'll give more detail in the engine threads when I get round to it. We go back to Sandown about the 10th of September and I hope to have the motor in for back to back comparison. One interesting point I have noticed, the new transaxle has lost me 2 seconds a lap due to wider spaced gear ratios, just another reason for power enhancement.

Ross

Pete McCluskey. · 24th July 2006, 09:33 PM

[QUOTE=

A nip of scotch and some viagra before the race should get you to the podium next time. (chuckle)

Cheers[/QUOTE]

Chris, does that ummm stiffen the suspension?

Ross the new motor sounds like it will be the duck's nuts.

LoveGT40 · 25th July 2006, 04:25 AM

LOL yep sorry i made a little mess between Russ and Ross.

Is Ross that makes me dream with his car

)...but I hope also u Russ will do the same as soon as possible

sorry again

Paolo

Owen C · 31st July 2006, 04:36 AM

Congratulations Ross, it’s a significant effort to put one of these together and a prodigious effort to build one that is race competitive.
RE:wet weather 4th…… I'm with Russ you need to be extra large in the under pants, a very very good effort. Having not punted one of these around a track yet all I can suggest is to think rainey thoughts in the dry and see how that goes.
As you are aware we’re all flat out trying to put the business back together so we can’t do a lot to assist you at the moment.
However we do have a dyno that we can help you with so you can at least maximise that go fast engine. Give Paul or Jonathan a buzz about organising the dyno availability.

We are a little confused why you would be behind a Porsche in a race to start with ….Aren’t they some kind of Vee Dub with electric windows………….

Rgds and congrats
Owen

Ross Nicol · 31st July 2006, 09:13 AM

Hi Owen
Thanks for the positive comments, it has been a long journey to get the car to this stage and there is still some way to go. I don't believe I can take all the credit for my wet performance, the car just uses it's grip brilliantly.
Really appreciate the dyno offer and I'll contact Paul or Johnathon to arrange the timing soon.Mmmm Vee dub with electric windows eh, well the Top gear guys do maintain the Porsche design team are lazy as the 911 still looks the same as it did 30 years ago and I believe it still looks like a volkswagon but they don't have 1600cc motors anymore.
Regards Ross