Re: KS's hillclimbing odyssey
Posted: Mon May 15, 2023 6:11 pm
Well, here we are again, back at Wiscombe for the Wildlife Motorsports Sunday event on 14th May. Wit the engine seemingly oil tight, I was hoping for a good day, especially as the weather forecast was promising a (mostly) dry (mostly) sunny day after what seemed like months of rain. Saturday's event run by Torbay MC had been hot and sunny, so fingers were firmly crossed for Sunday. I left home at just before 6.00am and almost immediately drove into thick fog, which persisted most of the way to Exeter, a journey of around 70 miles, before clearing to reveal light cloud. The car ran well – all I had done since sorting out the oil leak was to install an external battery cut-off switch. I didn't need one in the class I run in, but felt it was a worthwhile addition. However, I didn't want to drill any holes in the bodywork, so decided to remove the small grill above the battery and replace it with a piece of black acrylic, into which I mounted the cut-off. As the car has an alternator, this needed to be wired into the positive battery lead, with the alternator output directed through a resistor to earth when the main switch was operated – this stops the engine running on when the battery is isolated thanks to the alternator continuing to 'feed' the ignition circuit. It took me most of a day to sort out the wiring and routing of the internal pull cable, but it all works just fine.
And so to Wiscombe. It was a full field, with about 120 cars and loads of motorbikes. I don't actually like mixed meetings too much as the two disciplines don't really mix that well and it always seems inevitable that you get more 'red flag' events on two wheels than four, slowing proceedings while the marshalls sweep the course of dust and bits of motorcycle… Anyway, it was great to be back especially as the sun was shining for once.
Wiscombe has been resurfaced from start to finish, so everyone was expecting great things. It sure was grippy compared to past outings, as jwhillracer will attest. This was to be my first proper go with the car now with its roll bar and door bars to brace the shell, the quick rack and rebushed front end. I was amazed on the first run how tighter the car felt, and how sticky the track was compared to last year (the previous outing at the hill this year had been pre-resurfacing and in the damp). I was a little disappointed with the practice time – 51.17 secs – as I had my heart set on a sub-50. But hey ho, it was early days. (As it runs out, this was my fifth fastest time ever in the car at this venue).
The next run was far better, with my short-shifting into 3rd up through the Esses to take advantage of the engine's impressive mid-range torque. Although messy the run put a smile on my face as I achieved my goal by 1/100th of a second! 49.99 secs was fine by me...
After what seemed like an eternity as lunch break and red flags slowed things down, it was time for what was to be the final run... I attacked the infamous Bunny's Leap with a little more gusto, entered the Gate slightly quicker than usual and almost paid the price as the car understeered rather violently, which I put down to lower track temp now that the sun had disappeared behind the gathering clouds. And my inexperience... Up through the Esses where I took some rather conservative lines, lost momentum going into Sawbench and staggered up the final hill – Castle Straight – before braking hard for Martini. The inside rear wheel lost traction and that was that. Or so I thought. The timing board showed 49.77 secs, so I'd got another PB and finally achieved my back-to-back sub-50s I'd so longed for. I was like a Cheshire cat with a constant smile on my face all the way back down the hill and into the paddock. Then came the seemingly interminable wait while the marshalls cleared up another 'off' before the inevitable announcement came that we wouldn't be doing any more timed runs... The upside of that was I could head to the bar and have a celebratory drink!
Here's a video of the final run – not very impressive but I learned a lot this weekend:
https://youtu.be/McvFUW_8k74
Next stop St Goueno in Brittany...
And so to Wiscombe. It was a full field, with about 120 cars and loads of motorbikes. I don't actually like mixed meetings too much as the two disciplines don't really mix that well and it always seems inevitable that you get more 'red flag' events on two wheels than four, slowing proceedings while the marshalls sweep the course of dust and bits of motorcycle… Anyway, it was great to be back especially as the sun was shining for once.
Wiscombe has been resurfaced from start to finish, so everyone was expecting great things. It sure was grippy compared to past outings, as jwhillracer will attest. This was to be my first proper go with the car now with its roll bar and door bars to brace the shell, the quick rack and rebushed front end. I was amazed on the first run how tighter the car felt, and how sticky the track was compared to last year (the previous outing at the hill this year had been pre-resurfacing and in the damp). I was a little disappointed with the practice time – 51.17 secs – as I had my heart set on a sub-50. But hey ho, it was early days. (As it runs out, this was my fifth fastest time ever in the car at this venue).
The next run was far better, with my short-shifting into 3rd up through the Esses to take advantage of the engine's impressive mid-range torque. Although messy the run put a smile on my face as I achieved my goal by 1/100th of a second! 49.99 secs was fine by me...
After what seemed like an eternity as lunch break and red flags slowed things down, it was time for what was to be the final run... I attacked the infamous Bunny's Leap with a little more gusto, entered the Gate slightly quicker than usual and almost paid the price as the car understeered rather violently, which I put down to lower track temp now that the sun had disappeared behind the gathering clouds. And my inexperience... Up through the Esses where I took some rather conservative lines, lost momentum going into Sawbench and staggered up the final hill – Castle Straight – before braking hard for Martini. The inside rear wheel lost traction and that was that. Or so I thought. The timing board showed 49.77 secs, so I'd got another PB and finally achieved my back-to-back sub-50s I'd so longed for. I was like a Cheshire cat with a constant smile on my face all the way back down the hill and into the paddock. Then came the seemingly interminable wait while the marshalls cleared up another 'off' before the inevitable announcement came that we wouldn't be doing any more timed runs... The upside of that was I could head to the bar and have a celebratory drink!
Here's a video of the final run – not very impressive but I learned a lot this weekend:
https://youtu.be/McvFUW_8k74
Next stop St Goueno in Brittany...