Another race update
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From: Leigh-On-Sea
Another race update
As the 24hr 2cv race didn't happen for us 
, yesterday I did the August round of SEMSEC at Lydden Hill (surprise surprise) instead.
I entered the usual Championship double header and Challenge race and didn't do too well but had some of the best racing so far.
Having destroyed yet another set of tyres at the last event, I had new pair of the usual yoko 48s on the rear but thought I'd try some Kumho Ectsa V70A's that the Caterfield chaps seem to be raving about these days, on the front.
It's hard to tell the difference straight away when going from worn tyres to brand new but by the end of the day I was starting to see some benefits. Maybe not a huge amount in outright grip but they didn't seem to go off as the yokos do and they're very reasonably priced so I'll be buying some for the rears very soon.
First practice wasn't too good, the engine developed a mis-fire that turned into a refusal to rev, I kept thinking I was getting 5th instead of 3rd and on the way back into the paddock I couldn't even rev it enough for the noise test.
It turned out to be just a loose connection on one of the ECU plug pins and it was right as rain. The engine didn't feel quite right at the last meeting but we'd put it down to the hot weather. I wondering now if that was the whole story. It wasn't a good time for me though, I think one of worst things about running a tuned K Series is the paranoia!
Second practice went a bit better, I was getting a lot of oversteer on almost brand new rears and the best time I could manage was 46 dead. This was quite disappointing as I have previously managed a 45.4. I did get a 45.8 during one of the races but still not good enough
There was unfortunately only 3 in our class - myself, a same spec Caterham and the Sylva Riot that up until the last meeting I had been competitive with and managed to beat, just about.
The Riot is now way out ahead, the looks might not be to everyone's taste but it's a superb example, goes like stink and is very well driven. Hats off to the chap.
I just tried to report race by race but it's all blurred into one so I'll just have to summarise
The same spec Caterham wasn't on the pace after our power hikes before yesterday but now is.
The driver has now got wise to my tactics and when I was behind, nearly every attempt I made to dive up the inside under braking was blocked. I am pleased to report that I appear to be getting out of the habit of braking before I usually would because the car in front is, the several near collisions are testament to this
I had a couple of dices with a more powerful, Nitron equipped R400 swapping places several times. Although there's not a huge difference in power, his extra 200cc and 20odd bhp give him an advantage dragging up the hill that I just can't overcome. I can hold him off for a few laps but eventually he'll get past
The same car gave me quite a clout during one of these dices, I left the door open coming into the hair pin, he squeezed through and then understeered into me fatally damaging my rear wing. Taped it up on the day but a new one's been ordered this morning.
I span in the first two races meaning I finished last, I did manage a second in class for the third but that was the least eventful race.
During the last race I ended up with a largish space in front and behind me so took the opportunity to experiment with my lines and gears and maybe work out where the oversteer was coming from. Although I think there is room for improvement on the car, it seems a large part of it is down to overdriving and holding small amounts of lock on when I can afford to be letting the car go where it wants to, i.e. straight on.
I'm not sure if this is a bad habit I'm getting into or I was just getting away with it when I had less power. I suspect the latter.
Next race is Brands and if I'm honest, as much as I love it, I'm really looking forward to racing at a different circuit for a change.
Also, I might just be able to reel in that bike engined Riot again with the longer straights and hopefully his superior rear engine traction won't be such an advantage there. We'll see.
, yesterday I did the August round of SEMSEC at Lydden Hill (surprise surprise) instead.I entered the usual Championship double header and Challenge race and didn't do too well but had some of the best racing so far.
Having destroyed yet another set of tyres at the last event, I had new pair of the usual yoko 48s on the rear but thought I'd try some Kumho Ectsa V70A's that the Caterfield chaps seem to be raving about these days, on the front.
It's hard to tell the difference straight away when going from worn tyres to brand new but by the end of the day I was starting to see some benefits. Maybe not a huge amount in outright grip but they didn't seem to go off as the yokos do and they're very reasonably priced so I'll be buying some for the rears very soon.
First practice wasn't too good, the engine developed a mis-fire that turned into a refusal to rev, I kept thinking I was getting 5th instead of 3rd and on the way back into the paddock I couldn't even rev it enough for the noise test.
It turned out to be just a loose connection on one of the ECU plug pins and it was right as rain. The engine didn't feel quite right at the last meeting but we'd put it down to the hot weather. I wondering now if that was the whole story. It wasn't a good time for me though, I think one of worst things about running a tuned K Series is the paranoia!
Second practice went a bit better, I was getting a lot of oversteer on almost brand new rears and the best time I could manage was 46 dead. This was quite disappointing as I have previously managed a 45.4. I did get a 45.8 during one of the races but still not good enough
There was unfortunately only 3 in our class - myself, a same spec Caterham and the Sylva Riot that up until the last meeting I had been competitive with and managed to beat, just about.
The Riot is now way out ahead, the looks might not be to everyone's taste but it's a superb example, goes like stink and is very well driven. Hats off to the chap.
I just tried to report race by race but it's all blurred into one so I'll just have to summarise
The same spec Caterham wasn't on the pace after our power hikes before yesterday but now is.
The driver has now got wise to my tactics and when I was behind, nearly every attempt I made to dive up the inside under braking was blocked. I am pleased to report that I appear to be getting out of the habit of braking before I usually would because the car in front is, the several near collisions are testament to this
I had a couple of dices with a more powerful, Nitron equipped R400 swapping places several times. Although there's not a huge difference in power, his extra 200cc and 20odd bhp give him an advantage dragging up the hill that I just can't overcome. I can hold him off for a few laps but eventually he'll get past
The same car gave me quite a clout during one of these dices, I left the door open coming into the hair pin, he squeezed through and then understeered into me fatally damaging my rear wing. Taped it up on the day but a new one's been ordered this morning.
I span in the first two races meaning I finished last, I did manage a second in class for the third but that was the least eventful race.
During the last race I ended up with a largish space in front and behind me so took the opportunity to experiment with my lines and gears and maybe work out where the oversteer was coming from. Although I think there is room for improvement on the car, it seems a large part of it is down to overdriving and holding small amounts of lock on when I can afford to be letting the car go where it wants to, i.e. straight on.
I'm not sure if this is a bad habit I'm getting into or I was just getting away with it when I had less power. I suspect the latter.
Next race is Brands and if I'm honest, as much as I love it, I'm really looking forward to racing at a different circuit for a change.
Also, I might just be able to reel in that bike engined Riot again with the longer straights and hopefully his superior rear engine traction won't be such an advantage there. We'll see.
Joined: Jan 2008
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Cool.
I too have the issue with oversteer. I put it down to overdriving and too anxious to get on the power to make a good time. Weekend sprints at Curborough were testement to this. 94mph terminal speed in practice, 92 in last timed run.
BTW: You'll have more space at Brands compared to Lydden.
Matt
I too have the issue with oversteer. I put it down to overdriving and too anxious to get on the power to make a good time. Weekend sprints at Curborough were testement to this. 94mph terminal speed in practice, 92 in last timed run.
BTW: You'll have more space at Brands compared to Lydden.
Matt
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Paranoia over a tuned K was the reason I sold the first Lotus, no such worries with the Toyota engine - time for a swap Graham (a nice 1000cc bike engine, keep up with the cheapo kit car 
)?
Overdriving is the usual cause of poor handling, much as we'd like to blame the machinery, we're usually the cause
)?Overdriving is the usual cause of poor handling, much as we'd like to blame the machinery, we're usually the cause
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Originally Posted by JD_S2k,Aug 10 2009, 05:45 PM
Didn't you say in a previous post you geo was set up by eye? I think this may be a problem
No matter the setup, you still have to drive it right according to the conditions!
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