4mil Race report - Oulton Park

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon May 21, 2007 4:52 pm

How much of a cage is there? Could you loose the side impact protection from the doors? Lexan back screen? Ali back deck, thinnest clams you can find/make?

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Mon May 21, 2007 4:54 pm

mckeann wrote:The best car in class B is a 250bhp elise with 710kg. My car is 27bhp under, and 65kg over, OR just 105kg over if i leave my engine untouched.

I thought your gingR natural talent made up for having reduced car performance?

Top write up

mac · Post by **mac** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:34 pm

I'd keep going with what you have - your doing really well and attracting the eye of the director on the TV.

A few more results and if they keep the TV cover going your sure to attract some kind of sponsorship.

Mac

Post by **campbell** » Mon May 21, 2007 7:44 pm

mckeann wrote:Still got a bit of a decision to make about the future of my car. Do i sell up and build a competitive class A car with the money, or do i keep going with Class B which could result in a lot more cash required to be competitive.

What does Robin think

Respec' on the results, btw. I realised too late that I could have made Oulton to cheer you on, with a bit of cashing in of chips. Will try harder for later dates in the calendar, I promise.

Campbell

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:22 pm

Actually, I thought it was pretty clear cut before, but now I am not so sure it'll make that much difference - starting from scratch I would always say class A, but starting from where Neil is now, I would say maybe stick in class B a while longer and see how things go, doing the more affordable mods (i.e. those that involve taking a grinder to the car).

I guess that's an advantage of class A - it's easy to have a car that you can more-or-less live with on the road and thus drive to the events - I think Neil is the only class B/C contender to drive to the events. The more you strip the car of weight the harder it is to use as a road car (no heater, stupid little batteries that go flat in a blink of the eye, no stereo, no pax seat, no boot (I mean none at all!), etc., etc.)

While I can manage to get to some of the races, at least most luggage and stuff can be carried in the bus, but there will be some I cannot attend and for those, having a boot and a pax seat is going to be handy, or get a trailer on the barge!

Cheers,
Robin

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:26 pm

robin wrote:Actually, I thought it was pretty clear cut before, but now I am not so sure it'll make that much difference - starting from scratch I would always say class A, but starting from where Neil is now, I would say maybe stick in class B a while longer and see how things go, doing the more affordable mods (i.e. those that involve taking a grinder to the car).

I guess that's an advantage of class A - it's easy to have a car that you can more-or-less live with on the road and thus drive to the events - I think Neil is the only class B/C contender to drive to the events. The more you strip the car of weight the harder it is to use as a road car (no heater, stupid little batteries that go flat in a blink of the eye, no stereo, no pax seat, no boot (I mean none at all!), etc., etc.)

While I can manage to get to some of the races, at least most luggage and stuff can be carried in the bus, but there will be some I cannot attend and for those, having a boot and a pax seat is going to be handy, or get a trailer on the barge!

Cheers,
Robin

At the risk of over inflating McKean's ego, we all know he has the talent to make up for at least 50kg of excess car weight. ....

Now there's a thought.... how heavy is an average McApe?....

Salad for McKean!

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:40 pm

Well there will soon be two b class cars driving to events.....

I would stick it out. It is clear that your talent makes up for a lot of the cars weight/performance disadvantages.

Sounds like sorting the handling completely and sort the brakes (think you mentioned both in your write-up) should be the first port of call.

It may be hard, but if you take the view that you are the underdog and therefore every podium should be that much sweater. (Everyone knows it too)

Hell I have a lot less talent and all I hope to do is finish, enjoy it and hopefully get faster.
I certainly wont be anywhere near the weight/hp ratio of the class

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:47 pm

jamie wrote: all I hope to do is finish, enjoy it and hopefully get faster.

Rest assured you will love it mate.

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:55 pm

I am already crapping myself

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:31 pm

Great write-up Neil

I don't know much about this racing malarkey, but from what I hear, it sounds like you're doing great at the moment with what you've got! Maybe stick in current class this season and spend the winter looking at options for a new car and changing class?

roadboy · Post by **roadboy** » Mon May 21, 2007 11:46 pm

By the sounds of it, we really should talk Neil.

Dan@JPS

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:19 am

That you offering me a class A car noops??

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:31 am

i'll be gentle AND your car would be famous. its a win win scenario for you

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:50 am

Sport 160 is a good spec for class A

Kelvin · Post by **Kelvin** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:34 am

Great write up Neil.

After your Oulton performance I reckon you need to keep the car and take out as much weight as is practicable without going mad and just race the year out to see how it goes. The regs are bound to change for next year and you'd kick yourself if they make changes to the class B regs that suit your car a bit better or at least even things up a bit as class B is really excluding NA Honda's to some extent. Moreover, if it ends up that they are able to run class A as a separate race next year then it might make it more tempting to move down to class A but that's not a decision to make now I reckon.