Ross Racing at Sandown this weekend 14/15 July 2007

Ross Nicol

GT40s Supporter
Bit of a mammoth task but I've got the car back together just in time.
I waited for the new Synchro to arrive before pulling the ZF out and this only left a week to complete the job. I've also evened up the front castor and both sides are now 5.5°. Been working every night this week and will need a well earned rest on Sunday night after the race meeting. Missed out on a garage so I may be out in the rain but will try the College boys for use of their's again if possible.Of course I am not at the practice day today (friday) but it is a bit showery and I don't mind missing out on getting wet. My new tyre pyrometer arrived yesterday so I hope it's dry enough to make use of it. It's a longacre 10 memory storage type and should simplify the process a lot.Tonight I will run the car around the streets to check the trans is working ok. Yes I will have street tyres on for the test.

Ross:)
 

Ross Nicol

GT40s Supporter
Hi Dalton
No I just leave the factory for the test and drive around the block a few times trying to be as quiet as I can, and then put the car away before the cops arrive. They haven't got me yet, but I'm not out long and traffic is non existent.
Ross
 

Pete McCluskey.

Lifetime Supporter
Kick arse Ross, show the College boys what a Kiwi can do.:pepper: :pepper: :pepper: I hope the even castor helps a bit.
BTW if you move to Brisbane you can throw away the wets.
 

Ross Nicol

GT40s Supporter
Yes I have been meaning to reply to your post Randy.I had the split puller made up and Will used it to pull the synchrobodies off. I used your heat gun Idea to heat them to 80°c before pressing back on. Thanks for the tips I will try the shaft freeze as well, in the future.
Ross
 

Randy V

Moderator-Admin
Staff member
Admin
Lifetime Supporter
Glad to have helped Ross - I hope all goes well at the track and looking forward to your posts!
 

Ross Nicol

GT40s Supporter
Well I've just got home ( Sunday evening ) car is in one piece and all the work put in last week was successful. The ZF is shifting into 2nd gear with no crunching, the new C/V boot is still in place, the tyre pyrometer confirmed that neg camber and tyre pressures are quite good and I can confirm that matching the left and right front castor has not made my steering any lighter in corners. We had trouble with the video camera again (due to incompetence) and only got the last race.
Here's the blow by blow of the weekend as it unfolded-
Arrived at Sandown circuit at 8:30 am Saturday morning, I'd only just got out of the tow car when a voice from behind beckoned me into the college boys garage, yes it was Greg who looks after the boys and girls through varied race car prep courses and I didn't need a 2nd invitation.The track was damp from overnight rain but the day seemed to be clearing.I now have a pit crew of 1, his name is Robert and he is a great help, so when I say 'we' I am referring to the 2 of us. Saturday was to have 2 - 15 min qualifying sessions in the morning and a 6 lap race in the arfternoon.
We set tyre pressures filled up with fuel and I warmed up the engine in the marshalling area. The track was dry enough for slicks so but I was cautious during first Q and just checked out the ZF shifts and grip levels. An hour later and I'm heading to the Marshalling area again and I suddenly remember we hadn't removed the ride height blocks that raise the front to fit on the trailer. (Notice I said WE there as now I only accept 50% of the blame) anyway shot back to the garage to remove the blocks and out I go for Q2. The front end did feel better now and I pressed on and qualified 21st out of 30 odd cars which was not my best effort.
Onto the afternoon race and track really dry now and good for fast times.
The 6 laps seemed to go quite quickly but the Aston Martin DB9 (yes really) and Ferrari 360 both were attracted to the Armco barrier and DNF.The Aston did not return and it's weekend was over, however he had set a sizzling lap time of 1min 13sec. I got past a struggling Daytona and remember that Porsche that spun in front of me at PI in the video? well I was way in front of him. I finished 13th and best time of 1min 19.3sec pretty happy.
Sunday morning and the track is very wet from o/night rain but day looks ok. As we had our first race 8 laps at 10am it was on with the wet tyres and this decision proved to be a good one.I got off the line ok but when I put the power on in 2nd gear the rear tyres just spun up and so it wasn't one of my best starts, down to the first corner and the Cobra that outqualified me was in all sorts of strife so sailing past I went.I settled into a rhythm and was passed by the Ferrari that came from rear of grid and a black Porsche that may have had an earlier off. I had no idea how many laps I had completed and as I passed the finish line I saw them with the chequered flag and I thought the race was over but as we got to the first corner and they didn't make us exit I realised oh no I've just slowed down and given up a position to the enemy P.....Gt3 and that was that I really finished in tenth but was recorded as an 11th place bugger.
3rd and last race in the afternoon and back on slicks as the day got better I got off the line ok and beat that pesky Porsche into turn one and for a few laps more, eventually he lined me up at turn 1 and while the yellow flags were waving passed me ( naughty boy) anyway I didn't dob him in just in case kudos gets me. He then went on lapping a little faster than me till the finish of 10 laps, and in 11th place.All that was left was to pack up and come home after a successful weekend. I'll see if I can get the video up soon.
Ross
 
Great stuff, Ross. This is sounding very professional with pit crew and all. We appreciate you taking the trouble to give a detailed account of your exploits, despite probably feeling buggered after all the work involved in the preceeding week and the race weekend itself. You appear to be making the correct decisions (tyres, etc.) and driving consistently. How do you improve from here? To beat the pesky P******s?

Cheers,

Dalton
 

Pete McCluskey.

Lifetime Supporter
Good stuff Ross, if you ever get sick of the Rock Band you can start another life as a journalist. It seems that once you solve the heavy steering dilemma it will be worth a couple of seconds. I'm looking forward to your progress reports.
BTW all you need is one more pit crew and you won't have to take any of the blame.
 
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