i have thought about all these things guys, its just a case of how much money its going to cost. I didnt really want to get into cheque book racing as i will probably lose, so whatever i can do on a budget i will do.
Keep shouting out idea's though please.
Handling wise, i have a very oversteery car, so a rear wing might be heading my way.
Snetterton - Result
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thinfourth
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Neil
You say you have an oversteery car.
Before putting a heavy and drag inducing wing on the car I'd look at the set up.
Lower the back a bit or dick about with the bars/springs if it is roll that is causing the problem.
I think the weight of the rice boiler engines would need a stiffer set up on the back.
Caterhams are my game so ignore this if you like.
Malcolm
You say you have an oversteery car.
Before putting a heavy and drag inducing wing on the car I'd look at the set up.
Lower the back a bit or dick about with the bars/springs if it is roll that is causing the problem.
I think the weight of the rice boiler engines would need a stiffer set up on the back.
Caterhams are my game so ignore this if you like.
Malcolm
Neil,mckeann wrote:i have thought about all these things guys, its just a case of how much money its going to cost. I didnt really want to get into cheque book racing as i will probably lose, so whatever i can do on a budget i will do.
Keep shouting out idea's though please.
Handling wise, i have a very oversteery car, so a rear wing might be heading my way.
At this point I think you would be better off switching to class A from a cost-to-become competetive perspective (assuming you're prepared to sell the whole car or sell the engine conversion).
However, in order to make progress on lightening your car we need some facts - i.e. how much does your car really weigh in current race trim, and how little does Steve Williams' car weigh?
Cheers,
Robin
I is in your loomz nibblin ur wirez
#bemoretut
#bemoretut
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minkypotglory
- Posts: 1118
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- Contact:
I keep forgetting about this forum. I had wondered why there wasn't more excitement about Neil's result on SE1. 
Anyway, the big fella did fantastically well particularly given his lack of knowledge of the track and his car prep as it's effectively still a sheddy track car that's a bit overweight and down on power compared to some others in his class. However, he ought to do well at OP given that he is familiar with it which might help even things up a bit. Plus he can still lose some weight out of the car too. As for the 2nd handicap race, all seemed a bit odd although apparently a mistake by the handicapper that was too late to fix for the actual race. Neil was understandably upset both before the race and afterwards (Rachel whispered to me that he was swearing a lot
)
Also great to see Graham make it back on track for the 2nd race given his pyrotechnics. Graham makes me laugh at how relaxed he is about everything. I was chatting to him just before his first race at Brands and he pointed out his detailed pre-race car prep (sponge and bucket of water) which he also pointed out to me again at Snetterton which he certainly needed, to clean all the crap off his car after the fire. I don't think his car has been washed so much.
Overall the racing at both Brands and Snett has been great so far, so those of you that are heading down to OP (hopefully as many as poss) will have a real treat. I'm hoping to be able to make it up so maybe see some of you.
It was also great to see Bob V again. Top commitment flying over from Cloggyland and hiring a car.
Anyway, the big fella did fantastically well particularly given his lack of knowledge of the track and his car prep as it's effectively still a sheddy track car that's a bit overweight and down on power compared to some others in his class. However, he ought to do well at OP given that he is familiar with it which might help even things up a bit. Plus he can still lose some weight out of the car too. As for the 2nd handicap race, all seemed a bit odd although apparently a mistake by the handicapper that was too late to fix for the actual race. Neil was understandably upset both before the race and afterwards (Rachel whispered to me that he was swearing a lot
)Also great to see Graham make it back on track for the 2nd race given his pyrotechnics. Graham makes me laugh at how relaxed he is about everything. I was chatting to him just before his first race at Brands and he pointed out his detailed pre-race car prep (sponge and bucket of water) which he also pointed out to me again at Snetterton which he certainly needed, to clean all the crap off his car after the fire. I don't think his car has been washed so much.
Overall the racing at both Brands and Snett has been great so far, so those of you that are heading down to OP (hopefully as many as poss) will have a real treat. I'm hoping to be able to make it up so maybe see some of you.
It was also great to see Bob V again. Top commitment flying over from Cloggyland and hiring a car.
It's confusing for the spectators and drivers as no one had a clue where anyone was after the first lap. That said, the commentator at Snett made a decent fist of keeping track of the leaders and how much time they had to make up as the race unfolded.
What I will say though is that from a spectators POV, the handicap race is more exciting since everyone is racing against everyone else. Plus they tend to bunch up so lots of three abreast into the corners with the late brakers either winning the corner or going off road.
What they really need is a successful year such that they get enough entries next year to be able to run Class A as a separate race from B&C.
What was quite interesting was comparing how boring the 911 race was compared to the Elise race.
Cheers
Kelvin.
What I will say though is that from a spectators POV, the handicap race is more exciting since everyone is racing against everyone else. Plus they tend to bunch up so lots of three abreast into the corners with the late brakers either winning the corner or going off road.
What they really need is a successful year such that they get enough entries next year to be able to run Class A as a separate race from B&C.
What was quite interesting was comparing how boring the 911 race was compared to the Elise race.
Cheers
Kelvin.
greyrigg wrote:Good result Neil
Can't get my head round this handicap thing, I am a bit simple and think fastest should win.
Malcolm
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Fluoxetine
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Well done Neil!
(Took me an entire season to manage a 3rd in class...And you do it in your first race, on an unfamiliar track!)
I'd echo Malcolm's view that you'd probably be best looking at suspension settings before electing to stick a huge wing on the back...
* Does your car have adjustable ARB's? (Are they allowed?) You could stiffen the front / soften the rear one (Fnarr fnarr!
)
* Can you change spring rates?
* Change ride height? Drop the rear a few mm's lower than the front?
* Tyre pressures...Increase the fronts, and lower the rears for understeer?
(Best look at all the above when the weight loss programme is complete)
It's probably worth the expense of having the car flat floored / corner weighted / geo checked once you've found a set-up you're happy with...
(Will you have an opportunity to test before OP?)
Of course, you could always just swap the yellow beastie for my shed, which would probably be pretty competitive in class 'A'...(early S1 / PTP kit / Nitrons etc etc...)
Cheers,
Ross.
(Took me an entire season to manage a 3rd in class...And you do it in your first race, on an unfamiliar track!)
I'd echo Malcolm's view that you'd probably be best looking at suspension settings before electing to stick a huge wing on the back...
* Does your car have adjustable ARB's? (Are they allowed?) You could stiffen the front / soften the rear one (Fnarr fnarr!
)* Can you change spring rates?
* Change ride height? Drop the rear a few mm's lower than the front?
* Tyre pressures...Increase the fronts, and lower the rears for understeer?
(Best look at all the above when the weight loss programme is complete)
It's probably worth the expense of having the car flat floored / corner weighted / geo checked once you've found a set-up you're happy with...
(Will you have an opportunity to test before OP?)
Of course, you could always just swap the yellow beastie for my shed, which would probably be pretty competitive in class 'A'...(early S1 / PTP kit / Nitrons etc etc...)
Cheers,
Ross.
Cracking result Neil 
Having had a quick scan of the regs, i'd say they've covered the bases as regards mods. There apperars to be little room for lateral thinking; anything considered 'not in the spirit of the series' can and will be banned. The reasons for this are pretty clear.
I had a few ideas, mainly regarding cleaning up the aero, buti don't think they'd be seen as in the spirit.
Neil, as regards the oversteer. Before fitting a wing, have you got one of the extended diffusers? Not sure how much downforce it'd add, but they are allowed.
Having had a quick scan of the regs, i'd say they've covered the bases as regards mods. There apperars to be little room for lateral thinking; anything considered 'not in the spirit of the series' can and will be banned. The reasons for this are pretty clear.
I had a few ideas, mainly regarding cleaning up the aero, buti don't think they'd be seen as in the spirit.
Neil, as regards the oversteer. Before fitting a wing, have you got one of the extended diffusers? Not sure how much downforce it'd add, but they are allowed.