Ross Nicol
GT40s Supporter
Talk about highs and lows, very thankful the highs followed the lows as the race meeting progressed.Winton, as I've reported before is about a 3hr drive for me so I arose at 4am,loaded up (including fitting the wheels with slick tyres,soon to become part of the story) at the factory and drove off in the dark. Arrived at a little after 8:30am unloaded at my carport, parked the trailer, completed the paper work and drove the car to the end of the scrutineering line. Got the car to the end of the line and as I tried to move it into the scrutineering bay I could feel some resistance to the cars forward movement.I overcame this resistance with power(stupid thing as it turned out) and moved down to the bay.After the test one of the female testers said "Are you aware your rear right tyre is flat" and sure enough it was very flat.I decide to move the car as I could almost roll it to the Dunlop tyre truck and when I checked the tyre I could hear air rushing out from the inside of the tyre.At this point I should have checked further but due to Ross' sillyness I just got the wheel fitted with a new tyre ($500). So I am ready for the first practise and go out to complete only one lap before the same rear tyre blew,luckily in front of the track exit so I was able to get it off the track with some help.Got the car back to my pit and found what I should have realized before.The newly fitted Rear anti roll bar was rubbing on the inside wall of the tyres.Luckily the left tyre was ok but the newly fitted RH tyre was trashed. After giving myself a severe talking to I sent the wheel off to the Dunlop man for another new tyre ( another $500, $1000 total ) and removed the offending roll bar. So with my pocket feeling much lighter and all rear end restored I confidently set off for qualifying with only the new front brake pads to bed in.Car felt ok, understeering the way I expected at this vey tight circuit and as I remembered from last visit.
Qualified 10th time 1min 37.9
Race 1 on Sat afternoon was an 8 lapper and we roll round on the warm up lap to form on the grid.I was confident of my usual good start and sure enough rocketed up to third place.I was having a good dice with a supercharged Lotus Exige, he was all over me in the corners but my superior power kept him behind me until he took advantage of a slight off I had at the 2nd last corner. I recovered ok but he hit my rear wheel when he had a lunge under brakes.I spun on my own axis but got going again only to lose 5th position to him.Finished 6th Best lap 1min 35.6
Race 2 Sun Morning, 8 lap race I had decided over night to disconnect the front roll bar as a test.Got away to my usual ripper start and wow the car was now turning in and handling much better.So pleased with the improved handling I was shouting to myself under the helmet.
Held out the Lotus easily and finished in 3rd.
Best lap 1min:35.6
Race 3 Sunday arvo 10 laps, not good start as felt light headed as we ran to the first corner. The Lotus blew up during the race so I finished in a lonely 4th place
Best lap 1min:37.4
Race 4 and last race 6 laps got a great start and into 2nd place but lost that position at the 2nd corner to a fast charging Ford Falcon v8 supercar, but held onto his rear quite well for the whole race.No threat from behind and held on to finish 3rd.Tightening the left front wheel bearing had cured the steering shimmy under brakes and the car felt good.I was having to hold the gear lever to stop it jumping out of third gear at one corner.A little adjustment to be made.
Best lap 1min:36.6
Picked up a trophy for 2nd place over all in Sports Cars and Loaded up for the 3hr trip home.
I believe I have found a large improvement in the handling of the car which I now need to use as a base to carry on.Really good to finish the weekend on a high when it started so badly.
Ross
Qualified 10th time 1min 37.9
Race 1 on Sat afternoon was an 8 lapper and we roll round on the warm up lap to form on the grid.I was confident of my usual good start and sure enough rocketed up to third place.I was having a good dice with a supercharged Lotus Exige, he was all over me in the corners but my superior power kept him behind me until he took advantage of a slight off I had at the 2nd last corner. I recovered ok but he hit my rear wheel when he had a lunge under brakes.I spun on my own axis but got going again only to lose 5th position to him.Finished 6th Best lap 1min 35.6
Race 2 Sun Morning, 8 lap race I had decided over night to disconnect the front roll bar as a test.Got away to my usual ripper start and wow the car was now turning in and handling much better.So pleased with the improved handling I was shouting to myself under the helmet.
Held out the Lotus easily and finished in 3rd.
Best lap 1min:35.6
Race 3 Sunday arvo 10 laps, not good start as felt light headed as we ran to the first corner. The Lotus blew up during the race so I finished in a lonely 4th place
Best lap 1min:37.4
Race 4 and last race 6 laps got a great start and into 2nd place but lost that position at the 2nd corner to a fast charging Ford Falcon v8 supercar, but held onto his rear quite well for the whole race.No threat from behind and held on to finish 3rd.Tightening the left front wheel bearing had cured the steering shimmy under brakes and the car felt good.I was having to hold the gear lever to stop it jumping out of third gear at one corner.A little adjustment to be made.
Best lap 1min:36.6
Picked up a trophy for 2nd place over all in Sports Cars and Loaded up for the 3hr trip home.
I believe I have found a large improvement in the handling of the car which I now need to use as a base to carry on.Really good to finish the weekend on a high when it started so badly.
Ross