Brands evening track day 15th Aug 12

[HYFR]

Or Top Trumps

700PS

I win

[PJC]

Good come back Dave.

[PJC]

Hopefully with be able to come along too will bring the S3 just in case they have any space left.

[HYFR]

Nice one Paul
That's the spirit

[PJC]

Just don't tell the Mrs

[sonny]

Nice one Paul, so a little tester session for the S3 then, seeing if its track worthy?

[RS_Nicks]

Hmmm, yesterday didnt quite go to plan, did it lads!?

Really enjoyed most of the session, seeing how Sonny's Clio went compared to mine seeing as we were running the same suspension setup (both 24 hours old!) same Yoko A048s and same base car - 172 cup. (main differences being mine is still injection, but remapped with cams and induction setup, caged, LSD, 4-pot HiSpec brakes and 16's and some other race-required additions like plumbed in fire extinguisher - total weight 1001Kg, against his which is stripped and strut braced, running 15's and on throttle bodies / cams / remap - weight 950Kg.)

My car was fresh from Bubbleandkick racing who setup up the geometry for me for Brands, and corner weighted it to within .5% tolerance - but I was struggling all evening a little with my front left setup - basically it would go round left hand turns way better than right! Also my front left tyre seemed to go "off" really quickly when the car was cooling down, so Paddock was, er INTERESTING ( ) as Dave will testify on a couple of occasions. I could only put that down to the tyre going cold as two corners in it was back on track again - odd.

It was great to see the mighty V10 doing its stuff too - my little clio had absolutely no chance against that on the straights, and on Clearways it was a pleasure to see how smoothly it would take that long, sweeping curve. (then see it disappear into the distance!)

Then we had "one last run" and DK and Dave went out in the Seat and followed me - I was in no particular rush and was probably only 80-90% pace as was trying to fathom whey I couldnt take Paddock like I usually can, so I could feedback suspension mods (in hindsight I am convinced the front left damper was set too soft, and the front was possibly too high, giving me too much dip under load - ie hard right).
But that all became a bit irrelevent really, as on the very last lap I planned to do, I hit the brakes at Druids and NOTHING HAPPENED!
Well. when I say "nothing" - lots actually happened and I've been reliving it since to work out what the hell went wrong.
I had that bizarre sense of "huh, no brakes?", then pumped the hell out of them, turned right to make an effort at least to get round the hairpin from around 80mph
I declutched and dropped several gears to try and shrug speed whilst stamping on the brakes but nothing really made a difference as the top of Druids, where I usually brake, drops off slightly, so there is no hill to slow you, and the circuit was changed last year to add more tarmac, reducing the shingle, so I basically flew across the shingle, still doing at least 60-70mph as far as I can work out, and smashed into the tyrewall.
I had a moment to think "this is going to hurt, BRACE!"
The impact was not like a normal car crash, no smashing and crunching, just a THUD. Then bits of car flying around - I hit the front left HARD.
I braked and braced SO hard that I've deformed the footrest but the cage, harness (and tyrewall) did their job and I'm still here to type..

Then I sat there in disbelief with my feet locked out on brake and clutch - what the hell happened?!
After pumping the brakes again as I sat there (and they had absolutely NO resistance as Dave and DK were able to witness from yards behind me - I hadnt slowed at all), the pressure came back and they seem to work again....!!?

Here's what my little race car now looks like - at first glance not that bad (the front wheel has some gravel and most of the inner wing lodged between the tyre and the wheel!) - I was amazed that a 1000kg car at that speed could come off so well - it was towed off the circuit almost steering - but it looks like I've bent the shell as there's a little ripple in the roof.

I'm going to try and get the car recovered today, though last night had to drive back to Devon so am doing it all remotely! - to work out next steps as I am supposed to be racing on the 11th November (at Brands!)

Thank you all for being understanding last night, and especially to Dave for getting me home - Really really appreciated and I hope I dont have to return the same favour (!) but any other, please please ask (lets get your grille wrapped! ). Was lovely to roll up in an R8 though...

At the end of the day, I know its only a pile of tin and plastic, but it was a fairly well sorted pile of tin!

Cheers all, from a slight embarrassed, stiff and sore, but mostly confused (want to find out WHAT caused the brake failure!). Nick

Hmm - several cup's being broken on ebay right now - I think I see a project coming up

PS - if anyone has any footage that might help me work out what happened, please let me know!

PPS - I saw an opportunity and took this photo "before" yesterday morning, too. what a shame...

[HYFR]

me and Dave were absolutely gutted when we saw you hit those tyres mate
but glad you are ok, and the car will sort itself in due course ... keeps you busy!

80-90% ?! Pah ... i was quite pleased to be keeping up ... but then I was only going 70% myself

[Ian_C]

Glad you surived to fight another day. Taking those front panels off should give you an idea if it can be saved, check the damage, would be a shame to lose it. If the windscreen has cracked and the roof has rippled you might be in trouble though

[RS_Nicks]

Thanks lads.

jammy update - got a call back from Bubbleandkick this morning and they were already on their way to Brands to drop a client's car off, so are collecting mine already for the return!

step 1 sorted anyway!

They are gonna look into my options, but I think that the roof crease and screen crack mean the shell is scrap personally. I suspect the front chassis leg has been forced in and down and that the floor will also be kinked.

I also think (having looked on ebay already) that a re-shell into an engine-failed second cup car would be the best and quickest option - B&K reckon a day to swap everything over (its all bolt-in after all!)

will keep you informed. And thanks again.

[Nudenut]

Chin-up Nick!!

Was so sad (and sobering) to see that happen last night, you were driving so well and the car was a credit to you... you'll get back there real soon by the sound of it and ultimately you came out pretty unscathed to tell the tail which is paramount. As for the braking Issue hope you get to the bottom of that after a good look over the car... thankfully it didn't happen on the road!! Will be cheering you on in that race !!

[sonny]

What a end to a totally amazing day, as above it is sobering when something like this happens. We all know that this can happen to anyone of us so we are know how you must be feeling.

At least your ok and the car can be replaced/swapped over. I hope you get it sorted before your next race Nick.

The car was a rapid and being driven very well, I had trouble keeping up with you

If you need a hand with anything please don't hesitate to give me a call.

Sonny

[stumpyrs4]

Sorry to read the above Nick. Glad it's only the car that's damaged...

[Nudenut]

Have to say as Sonny did it was a great night overall with a good turnout on track and Px's (my Dad & Brother may not jump in so fast next time, bless lol)

Nick, Sonny, DK, Paul and I tracked and IR8V8 turned out as Px too, the sun shone, it was hot and we had a blast.

Some fast cars there of all shapes and sizes (Mk1 Escort, Anglia, classic porker, TVR’s and the usual open tops and Scooby brigade spring to mind) I had some great fun with a Radical too, don't think he like me for my audacity in passing him LOL of course I let him back past but then it broke !!

Will try getting the Vids sorted later.

[RS_Nicks]

Chin-up Nick!!

Was so sad (and sobering) to see that happen last night, you were driving so well and the car was a credit to you... you'll get back there real soon by the sound of it and ultimately you came out pretty unscathed to tell the tail which is paramount. As for the braking Issue hope you get to the bottom of that after a good look over the car... thankfully it didn't happen on the road!! Will be cheering you on in that race !!

Cheers Nige. thats appreciated. Certainy dont plan on it stopping my track / race action if i can!