Super Lap Scotland - Sunday 26th May - Knockhill

scottishselise · Post by **scottishselise** » Fri May 31, 2013 5:42 pm

So David's caterham can lap knockhill in 50secs like the focus can?

You see my blanket statement is as silly as what you are disagreeing with.

David · Post by **David** » Fri May 31, 2013 5:52 pm

For the same power to weight ratio (and unless you can significantly reduce drag on the lighter car) the more powerful car is always going have a higher top speed, it's the laws of physics.

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Fri May 31, 2013 6:30 pm

David wrote:For the same power to weight ratio (and unless you can significantly reduce drag on the lighter car) the more powerful car is always going have a higher top speed, it's the laws of physics.

I never disagreed with the top speed comment, it was your comment that it was meaningless to compare lap times. Top speed is only a small factor of laptime. The more powerful car will win at top speed, but the lighter car will benefit at braking/turning/accelerating

TrackScotland · Post by **TrackScotland** » Fri May 31, 2013 9:51 pm

the caterham should be skinning fee's 1400+ kg car through the twisties and on the brakes.

Yup, it does (did :/) have massive brakes, and big fat grippy tyres but its still working very hard to slow and turn that mass. Its main advantage is grip out of the corners, and they seem pretty equal until 70+

She should have been in B but opted to run in A as she thought it was more in the spirt of competition - ie, her car is (was) pretty well specced for a one lap wonder.

You can see the Noble leaving the GTR for dust up the straights too... it must be a whisker inside the class in the opposite sense to you.

TrackScotland · Post by **TrackScotland** » Fri May 31, 2013 9:53 pm

the noble runs a 3.0 to Fee's 2.7... and the same twin turbos she ran last year.... so power capabilities are were similar.

i think its about 200kg lighter too

Fee didnt run anything like full power on sunday though LOL it had an old standard gearbox in rather than the sequential... so anything over 550-600bhp would have stripped 3rd (again!!!!)

Scotty C · Post by **Scotty C** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:33 pm

I'm with Ape here. Unless we're talking high speed downforce corners you r400 is ideal for KH.

On my I phone so can't really see the graphs great. But as Andy said just need bigger balls/a bit more talent?

David · Post by **David** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 4:00 pm

I'm aware that I'm off the pace and driving talent has never (and probably never will be) my strong point. All I was trying to say is that if you class cars together on power-to- weight ratio, then a 500 BHP car is going to have an advantage over a 200 BHP car. On Sunday that advantage was more than 20 mph on the straight, so it's a lot of catching up to do - I'd have to apex around 6 mph faster and hold that extra speed down the straight. Maybe that is possible, but the G readings I was getting on Sunday suggest not on 1B tyres.

As Adam says, the cars were pretty even up to 70mph but top speeds were twice that, and that's a territory that a Caterham just can't get to with only 200 WHP.

scottishselise · Post by **scottishselise** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 4:19 pm

So what time should r400 be capable of? (Technical limit)

David · Post by **David** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 5:28 pm

scottishselise wrote:So what time should r400 be capable of? (Technical limit)

At a guess, a standard (ish) spec R400 could do a 56 second lap. But that's still well off the pace of the top Class B cars. With slicks we've seen a 260 BHP Westfield do 53 second lap.
Some example of lap times here: http://trackscotland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19

Scotty C · Post by **Scotty C** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:06 pm

I think quicker then 56. I've driven and been out with people in there r400 and they are quicker then my 211..

David have you ever had track instruction?

Might be worth thinking about more.

Modena Scotland · Post by **Modena Scotland** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:27 pm

I think 56 sec is about right

+1 for the instructions

David · Post by **David** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:09 am

I did 20 mins with Walshy round KH - he mainly picked up on my braking not being aggressive enough. I've always intended to do more but Caterham is not the easiest of cars to use without a good intercom. If I'm going to get serious with the SLS, then I’ll need to sort my driving at some some stage.

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:31 am

So long as you're having fun, that's all that really matters ... like most sports, motorsport is a waste of time, logically, so the only reason for being involved is to enjoy yourself. Some can only do that by winning, others like the paddock banter and "having a go" with the only real competition being with yourself

Cheers,
Robin

David · Post by **David** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:18 am

robin wrote:So long as you're having fun, that's all that really matters ... like most sports, motorsport is a waste of time, logically, so the only reason for being involved is to enjoy yourself. Some can only do that by winning, others like the paddock banter and "having a go" with the only real competition being with yourself

Cheers,
Robin

Very true! For me it's all about the car - getting the most out of it, reliability, and engineering out the problems. Lap times are important, but only comparatively. They're a measure of progress.
It is not a ragged, on the edge, fast lap that is rewarding for me, but lapping consistently. If I do a 57 sec lap then I want to be able to do it again. I’m potentially the biggest variable in the system but subconsciously there’s a desire to be in control, and if that means leaving a little in reserve, then that’s OK. As long as I am consistent then I can start to understand what works and why.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:44 am

robin wrote:So long as you're having fun, that's all that really matters ... like most sports, motorsport is a waste of time, logically, so the only reason for being involved is to enjoy yourself. Some can only do that by winning, others like the paddock banter and "having a go" with the only real competition being with yourself

Cheers,
Robin

Not sure if I entirely agree with that sentiment. Yes, it is great fun and yes, banter and "having a go" is all good. However, I have really enjoyed some good battles when I was competing, and got a real buzz from pipping a competitor to the win / class win. I go out to first of all enjoy myself, and secondly, have a go a beating the other guys

Scottish Elises