Ross Nicol
GT40s Supporter
This meeting caught me a little by surprise as I had to complete some of the upgrades the 40 was having, sooner than expected. The race season normally starts for me in April. In Australia Feb is usually hot and yesterday no one was surprised when the mercury rose to 38 degrees centigrade. Being a Kiwi (born in NZ) Invercargill to be exact, it rains a lot and high summer temps were more like mid 20 degrees. Anyway in 26 years of living here i have got used to it, but still hate anything over 30.
Calder Park is situated 25km north-west of Melbourne and is a complex consisting of- A disused Nascar track 1.83km, National Circuit 2.28km, Club Circuit 1.45km (basically a shortened large track) and a 1/4 mile Drag Strip (using the long straight of the National circuit). One of the negatives of this track sharing is the VHT they use for the Drags which gives huge grip off the start in the dry but treacherous in the wet to a point where, if it rains the meetings are called off.
Yesterday we were scheduled to have seperate practices on the National and club circuit in the morning, 2-8 lap races in the afternoon and 2-6 lap races at night on the club circuit (under lights).
My day started when I got out of bed at 5.30am (you have to be keen) and headed off to my factory to pick up the car which I'd loaded on the trailer the night before.I arrived at the circuit at about 8am leaving enough time to get to scrutineering at 8:40am. Because of my late entry I had missed out on a garage so I moved a couple of times trying to find a location in the pits in preparation for a long day in the hot sun. Just then (lets call it GT40 luck) I ran into Greg who is the leader of the Kangan Batman Tafe College and he invited me into his garage that he has for his students to gain practical experience on race car repairs.I would have to say sometimes the GT40 opens doors, either that or he likes me.
He even had carpet on the floor but no it wasn't red.I will admit to drinking lots of his water and then returning it to his carpet in the form of sweat, absolutely dripping off me after a race.
The Sports cars couldn't make up a full grid so they combined us with others and called it Super TT.
First outing for Qualifying on the National circuit and turn 1 is a sweeper turning 180 degrees, short run to a right hander and quick left, then up over Mount Jane (Aussie Joke it's a tiny mound) and then onto a tricky chicane, along the back straight to a 90 degree right hander, quick left and power on to a tight sweeper leading back to the long straight. I take a lap to warm things up and then into turn 1 after hard braking and the car didn't want to pull up. Mmm I thought the new front brakes need a bit more bedding in and I was cautious for the remainder of the session and I was 5th fastest. Next came the qualifying on the club circuit and being the first time on this shortened straight I caught myself out and headed off onto the grass, got myself together and worked the corners out but finished in 7th. I was still trying to work out the corner gearing and realized I had to get into 2nd gear for both circuits at turn 1.
Race 1 and the car as usual rocketed off the line and through to first place I held this for a couple of laps before a Porsche GT2 Turbo took it off me and he (Harry) basically became my nemisis for the remainder of the meeting. I kept in close contact with him and I fended off a hard charging Lotus 7 clubman behind.I spoke to the clubman owner later and he was impressed with how my car now gets out of corners and launches.Trust me I can feel that inside too.So I finished 2nd and very happy that the brakes were fine too.
Race 2 much the same except a V8 Supercar got past me and I finished in 3rd still happy.
Race 3 at night under lights.Now I don't normally like driving in the dark from past experience but this was different and the track was well enough lit I had the confidence to go hard. Starting in 7th was no problem and I rocketed in behind the clubman. I spent the whole 6 laps watching the clubman all over Harry (porsche) on the tight track but even the short straight allowed the Porsche to pull away.The V8 supercar never got near me and I finished 3rd.
Rage 4 and the clubman didn't show up to the grid so I slotted in behind the Porsche and was happy enough to take 2nd place.
So for the day I finished with 2-2nd places and 2-3rd places.Best results so far and the car reliable as hell and handling is really impressive, we will move up from here.
Ross
Calder Park is situated 25km north-west of Melbourne and is a complex consisting of- A disused Nascar track 1.83km, National Circuit 2.28km, Club Circuit 1.45km (basically a shortened large track) and a 1/4 mile Drag Strip (using the long straight of the National circuit). One of the negatives of this track sharing is the VHT they use for the Drags which gives huge grip off the start in the dry but treacherous in the wet to a point where, if it rains the meetings are called off.
Yesterday we were scheduled to have seperate practices on the National and club circuit in the morning, 2-8 lap races in the afternoon and 2-6 lap races at night on the club circuit (under lights).
My day started when I got out of bed at 5.30am (you have to be keen) and headed off to my factory to pick up the car which I'd loaded on the trailer the night before.I arrived at the circuit at about 8am leaving enough time to get to scrutineering at 8:40am. Because of my late entry I had missed out on a garage so I moved a couple of times trying to find a location in the pits in preparation for a long day in the hot sun. Just then (lets call it GT40 luck) I ran into Greg who is the leader of the Kangan Batman Tafe College and he invited me into his garage that he has for his students to gain practical experience on race car repairs.I would have to say sometimes the GT40 opens doors, either that or he likes me.
He even had carpet on the floor but no it wasn't red.I will admit to drinking lots of his water and then returning it to his carpet in the form of sweat, absolutely dripping off me after a race.
The Sports cars couldn't make up a full grid so they combined us with others and called it Super TT.
First outing for Qualifying on the National circuit and turn 1 is a sweeper turning 180 degrees, short run to a right hander and quick left, then up over Mount Jane (Aussie Joke it's a tiny mound) and then onto a tricky chicane, along the back straight to a 90 degree right hander, quick left and power on to a tight sweeper leading back to the long straight. I take a lap to warm things up and then into turn 1 after hard braking and the car didn't want to pull up. Mmm I thought the new front brakes need a bit more bedding in and I was cautious for the remainder of the session and I was 5th fastest. Next came the qualifying on the club circuit and being the first time on this shortened straight I caught myself out and headed off onto the grass, got myself together and worked the corners out but finished in 7th. I was still trying to work out the corner gearing and realized I had to get into 2nd gear for both circuits at turn 1.
Race 1 and the car as usual rocketed off the line and through to first place I held this for a couple of laps before a Porsche GT2 Turbo took it off me and he (Harry) basically became my nemisis for the remainder of the meeting. I kept in close contact with him and I fended off a hard charging Lotus 7 clubman behind.I spoke to the clubman owner later and he was impressed with how my car now gets out of corners and launches.Trust me I can feel that inside too.So I finished 2nd and very happy that the brakes were fine too.
Race 2 much the same except a V8 Supercar got past me and I finished in 3rd still happy.
Race 3 at night under lights.Now I don't normally like driving in the dark from past experience but this was different and the track was well enough lit I had the confidence to go hard. Starting in 7th was no problem and I rocketed in behind the clubman. I spent the whole 6 laps watching the clubman all over Harry (porsche) on the tight track but even the short straight allowed the Porsche to pull away.The V8 supercar never got near me and I finished 3rd.
Rage 4 and the clubman didn't show up to the grid so I slotted in behind the Porsche and was happy enough to take 2nd place.
So for the day I finished with 2-2nd places and 2-3rd places.Best results so far and the car reliable as hell and handling is really impressive, we will move up from here.
Ross
