Cadwell Park (UK) 3rd Sept 2011 (Road race) Options

[Al weyman]

I have decided to enter my 3rd Gen Camaro into this event, just hope the mods I have done work OK including new head gaskets, cutting down Spohn supplied front springs and balancing car, new Eaton LSD, Moser 28 spline shafts and new bearings and seals and a Jegster Panhard bar relocater bracket! Can't be any worse than it was thats for sure oh and hopefully adjusting the shockers the right way round this time. http://beta2011.cadwellpark.co.uk/calendar.../sept/barc.aspx Will have the incar camera on as usual.

This post has been edited by Al weyman: Aug 24 2011, 01:05 PM

[trackbird]

I can't wait to hear how you like the changes to the car. Have fun Al!

[Al weyman]

Thanks Kev I will do my best. Seeing the 3rd Gens go on the incar video under Road Racing I am convinced there is a lot more to come from this car that I havnt yet seen. BTW some friends of mine will be comingto the States soon to race, Watlins Glen and tracks near New York I think sometime in Sept. A close friend of mine is going and has bought quite a well known Notch Back Mustang (there are I said the word) historic (Vintage) racecar over there he flew over the over the other week to do the deal and is keeping in the States for a while and is planning some races next year including Sebring, I will crew for him I am sure at at least one of those. He is going at the end of the week with a party organised by UK Corvette racer and another friend Bernie Kodash, anyone know him?

This post has been edited by Al weyman: Aug 24 2011, 02:09 PM

[trackbird]

Thanks Kev I will do my best. Seeing the 3rd Gens go on the incar video under Road Racing I am convinced there is a lot more to come from this car that I havnt yet seen. BTW some friends of mine will be comingto the States soon to race, Watlins Glen and tracks near New York I think sometime in Sept. A close friend of mine is going and has bought quite a well known Notch Back Mustang car over there and is keeping in the States for a while and is planning some races next year including Sebring, I will crew for him I am sure at at least one of those.

It would be cool to get a chance to buy you a pint (or a few) if you get close to Ohio or somewhere I can get out to meet you guys. I'd love to have you drive my Camaro for a few minutes, you'll love it or hate it, but I'm sure it's different from your current setup.

That's not a name I know, but I haven't been to an HSR or SVRA race in a while. I used to handle crew chief duties for a 1971 Mustang Mach I.

[Al weyman]

That would be cool. I will post up more on my mates events as I find out. His name is Cliff Ryan, a proper paddy name! BTW Bernie is organising a V8 Historic race meeting in October in aid of the Help for Heros charity for wounded soldiers I have entered it looks good, he is hoping for a 6 round series next season. Details here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156087217805268

[Al weyman]

My friends have been delayed because of Irene and now wont be there till Monday, not sure when or where the races are but I know one is at Lime Rock and I think Watlins Glen.

Found other things wrong with IROC apart from knackered LSD, shockers all adjusted wrong, front sprngs too long causing unbalance in the chassis, this was also causing a set on the sway bars so rectified that today and to my horror I checked the front wheel alignment and it was towing out about 3/4" !!!!! That may have been due to a side swipe I took the last time I took the car out though if not I cannot understand how that has happened and the whack was more on the door although there was evidence of tyre contact on the front rim but cannot see any damage to the steering. Also the panhard bar needed adjustment as the axle was about 8mm over to one side but again that may have been due to the fitting of the panhard drop bracket which has lowered the bar about 2 inches. Lets hope we see a difference next weekend and it all comes together.

[Al weyman]

All loaded up ready for tomorrows race at Cadwell, I will do the 142 mile run this evening and sleep overnight in the DayVan. Wish me luck I have done an awful lot of modifications since last time out and found a lot wrong, if I can beat the Supra Turbo I will be happy, if I can keep up with the Jaguar XJ12 I will be over the moon!!!!

[trackbird]

Sleeping in a comfortable bed is over rated. Go get 'em Al! Let us know how the changes work out...

[Al weyman]

Will do Kev I am interested in feedback of my alterations so will definitely post my findings and hopefully a video from inside the car.

[Al weyman]

Oh dear my luck ran out yet again, what a bum season I am having.

Qually went well but I lost power steering almost immediatly but being a strong old lad soldiered on. The alterations I have made have absolutely transformed the car. It took me several laps to up my confidence levels as the car felt so good, I could drive far deeper into a corner before braking and then turn in and any hint of understeer could immediately be corrected with a bit of throttle. Its still early days but lots of guys came up to me and said the car just looks so much more stable through the corners and it was really hooking up on exit. I was just over a second slower than my rival in the Supra but I am sure with power steering working and a few more laps on this very demanding circuit which I could have used my SatNav around as I had forgot the layout, I would soon close that gap down. In fact we went out twice in quallifing as a Vento V6 blew its oil filter off depositing a huge oil slick on the track which I went on and got very out of shape and am sure if the car was in its old state I would have lost it but managed to save her from a visit to the barriers! I now find the car is very firm bit like a Go Kart, is this normal or should I soften up on the shocks a bit, I guess I really need a test day.

Anyhow onto the race or in my case none race! I attempted to fix the power steering in the much shortened interval and misdiagnosed the problem. There was a spit in the low pressure return hose so i though that must be the problem, I spliced a new bit of hose in topped up with fluid we were then called up so I shut the hood and lined up in the marshalling area. The power steering still didnt feel right then stopped working as we drove down to line up. I pulled on to the grid and the start marshals came over and said I am leaking oil, I said its the power steering not the engine and there is only a max of half a pint of oil in there and its probably gone now. But oh no they were having none of it and pushed me off the grid. I protested rather loudly (and bluely!) and was told to report to the clerk where I was given two points on my licence and excluded from the meeting! I mean whats the matter with some people, OK I should have shut my mouth but I knew the problem and could easy have started from the pit lane after running the engine for a few minutes till the oil stopped but no, then to go and report me to the clerk! Still I guess I was lucky not to have got fined on top of this. Thus ended my day I couldnt even enter the end of day all comers race, I must learn to keep it buttoned lol!

BTW they may have done me a favour as it transpires as i took the pump off last night and the bearing was completely shot like in hanging off which was the problem not the hose or my hasty repair so if that thing had come off at about 7000rpm it would have made a lot of mess under the hood!

Next round is Rockingham and I will take the 3rd gen there for a double header. Rockingham is the only full oval circuit in the UK and is a bit of a red herring to be honest with vast unused stands and built at great cost to the British tax payer. We will use two of the oval corners but only one at high speed then turn onto the infield section which is a bit Mickey Mouse but the one advantage for me is that its the only UK circuit with predominately left hand turns and I will have a small advantage in my left hand drive car. Mind you my rival in the Supra is also a US spec car so thats a left hooker as well!

[Al weyman]

Oh I forgot, any noises from the rear end have virtually gone! When you concider I just plopped the new eaton back in and only checked the back lash was OK thats pretty remarkable as it was a tad noisy before!

[NJSPEEDER]

Sounds like it turned out for the best that you shot your mouth off and got excluded. Having the steering go out at speed would not have been any fun.

If the car feels firm but isn't oversteering wildly I would leave it alone. If you want to make an adjustment to eliminate the touch of understeer that you mentioned you could go a click softer on the front shock compression but be mindful that wil make it more snappy if you get into a spot that you have to steer with throttle.

Better luck next time out. If you see the guys you yelled at next time out just shake their hands and apologize. Racing can be frustrating and I am sure they understand that. Better yet, offer them a beer at the end of the day, an apology no man will turn down. lol

-Tim

[trackbird]

Al,

Sorry to hear about the troubles, but the rest of the report is pretty positive. We'll get this car sorted out yet. I think you'll be amazed how good it can be once we get there. There's a lot left in that 3rd gen and we're just scratching the surface. Power steering issues have always plagued these cars. Good quality synthetic fluid and a good oil cooler will help reduce the issues.

[Al weyman]

Thanks guys the steering packed up after a couple of laps in qually so I was struggling with it throughout the session. A friend of mine who races a 2nd gen firebird has fitted a cooler, I have ordered a new pump and may do the same. The tip about the fluid is good as well. Yes I have made up with the marshals on line and have made a donation to the marshals fund it was pretty juvenile but I was so disappointed. Anyhow I may take both cars to the next round as one of the Class A guys who is neck and neck for the championship wants me to take the 2nd gen out but I am keen for more time in the 3rd gen and have entered that also its a double header. Anyhow he has come up with a sponsorship deal to bring the 2nd gen out in his race for pre 74 cars so he can get maximum points if I enter his race. Well if I can get them both up there I will take them both and have a busy weekend and take his $500 as it will only cost me about $150 for the extra race plus fuel. Excuse spelling mistakes cant find my glasses.

[Racerdad916]

sounds like your making great progress! Some people just don't appreciate colorful use of the Queen's english (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)