Guys,
I must apologise for not getting around here very much these days. I pop by and have a read every now and again but haven't posted in ages.
I got a last minute deal to race this last weekend, in the new for 2008 Nippon Challenge (wonder if there are any prospective racers here??). Anyway, to cut a long story short the team fouled up and didn't put enough weight in the car after pre-race scrutineering, so was demoted to back of the 40 car! grid. I didn't do great in quali, 9th of the MX5s but from looking at data-logs I knew I could do much better. I was quite happy, exstatic in fact as I had my onboard camera setup and so was looking forward to capturing some great footage.
Anyway, here are the vids :
Race 1 (Parts 1 & 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkbT-1lOsbo&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq4vxHUIi58&fmt=18
Race 2 (Part 1 & 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmbVkunsKQ0&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsN0S3jUkQ4&fmt=18
Maxx
I just had to share these with you guys!
INFO : I did this for another forum I post on so thought i'd copy it across here
Nippon Challenge - Silverstone National - 27th April 2008
INTRO
The Nippon Challenge is a new series for 2008 and this was the first race meeting. As the name suggests this is a series for Japanese cars. I had not planned to do this race and it all came about at the last minute. Earlier in the week I had spoken to Jonathan Blake the MD of Keystone Group who I knew from 2007 rented out race prep'd MX5s about renting on for the first 2 Powernights events. We sorted this out and he then told me he'd had a driver drop out of this race and did I want to do it. All race entries and such had been paid, I would just need to pay for the use of the car, I agreed straight away.
There was a test day on the Friday before which I could also have done in with the price but I was working that day so couldn't make it. It was a shame as I know from previous experience I tend to take a while to get used to a car and had never driven an MX5 before.
RACE DAY
It was an early start as they all are. First thing I did was to check out the seating position and such with the car and get the data-logger fitted. It was then off to scrutineering. As part of the process all cars+drivers were weighed to ensure we were not below the minimum weight for the class. The minimum weight for the MX5s is 960k and thats with driver and fuel etc. We had to finish quali/race on or above that weight. My car weighed under to the team added more weight to ensure it would comply with the regs.
QUALI
Quali was shortly after and would be really tough as it turned out that 41 cars were to qualify. 41 cars on the 1.6 mile National Circuit is very busy, it's about 1 car every 70yds. As I was mid-pack leaving the assembly area at Brooklands I'd decided to go flat out from the off and just see what transpired. My first real braking zone was for Copse. Foolishly I just braked in my usual place and the car decided it would turn left towards Northampton Town Centre. Whew, luckilly enough I had not used every inch of track to the left as I would usually and there was enough tarmac to wrestle it back straight before turning into Copse. I should know better. The car had been stood a while (another driver had done a few test laps on Friday) and what tends to happen is that pad material gets transferred to the disc and they can grab for the first few braking attempts.
There was lots of traffic but my main problem was getting to grips with the car. I'd driven MR2s and Elises but the MX5, being front-engined, rwd, was quite different. I was also struggling badly with the gearchange. The gearbox itself is fine but I was sitting very low in the car and the gearshift was quite high and well over to the left and I struggled to find the gears, particularly 2nd to 3rd. This was so bad I stopped using 2nd but it was borderline if it was required anyway.
I was also struggling with the tyres. A brand new set of Toyo T1Rs (road tyres) had been fitted on the Friday and, as anyone who'd used these on track will concur, they are very vague at best and very much so when new. Recommendation is they need 1000 miles on them before they start to work well. If you run them hard early the tread curls up and you get ridges which makes things even worse with the grip carying mid-corner.
I was half getting used to the car and had a good Copse and Backets when, approaching Brooklands I see the dreaded waved yellows. 99% of the time this is a car off into the gravel on the way into Brroklands and you have Marshals on track dealing with it, you have to really slow down as you are always squeeling tyres round there so you have to back right off or risk a penalty.
We had about 3 laps of this and with only 15 mins of quali, time was running out. I got a bit more comfortable with the car in the last few laps but always traffic somewhere and when the flag dropped I knew I'd not done anything special, I just hopped that others had found it tough also.
INFO : DL1 is a data-logger from Race Technology. It plots position/speeds etc. via GPS and g-forces via accelerometers, will post screenshot later
First thing I did was dig the data card out of the DL1 and look at the times. a best of 1:15.8 which I knew was pretty poor. Lap record for the MX5s was 1:14.9 and as all of the top guys from the MX5 series were in attendance I pretty much knew i'd be a fair way back on the grid. What was encouraging was that my best theoretical lap was a 1.15.1
Results for quali came out and it was no surprise to see Eugene O'Brien as quickest of the MX5s with a 1:14.6. If I'd strung some decent sectors together and managed a half second quicker I would have been in 3rd of the MX5s just behind last years MX5 Champion.
OH OH
As we came off track from quali were were all again guided to the weighbridge. This is quite unusual as they generally just pick a few cars at random but as it is a new series and the organisers are keen toi ensure a level playing field, all cars were weight again. Bu@@er, seems like i'm underweight again, nothing that would have made any difference but again, as they want to appear tough and fair me and one other underweight car were relegated to the back of the grid. Far from being disappointed, I was really pleased with this. Yes, I would have love to be fighting at the front for a podium but failing that, a start from the back would provide great racing plus I had my video hooked up now so should get some great video.
RACE 1
So as not to risk an underwieght car again the team filled the tank up fully so was going to be racing with a full tank of fuel. Sitting on the grid in 40th the lights were only just visible but as the lights went red I got the revs up to around 5,000 and was poised for what I hoped would be a good getaway. It was, zipped past a few cars, grabbed 2nd, past a couple more, then 3rd ... although it wasn't, it was 5th, been struggling with this all day. Didn't make any more progress and probably lost a couple of places into Copse. There then followed some very close, door-handle racing. After about 4laps coming through Brooklands I could see the cars in front slowing and could see some smoke in the distance. As we rounded Brooklands we could see an MX5 on it's roof over on the left before Luffield. As expected we then got the reds and the race was stopped. They formed us back up on the grid and after quite a wait we set off for another green flag lap in prepararion for a "part 2" restart.
Again, I got a great start and again I think muffed the gearchange. There then followed 8 more laps of some great racing, I was having a ball picking cars off at almost every corner. In the end I got past 23 cars to finish 17th on the road and 10th of the MX5s. Think Eugene may have had a problem somewhere as he finished back in 6th.
RACE 2
Pretty similar this one apart from it ran from start to finish and again I finished 17th from the back of the grid, Eugene converting his MX5 pole to a win.
I had a real blast and am sure I enjoyed the race more from the back than I would from up front.
LAPTIMES
From the back of the grid I was always in some traffic, either attacking it or defending after a pass but I felt I was getting to grips with the car more. Being front engined you can sling them into the corners, back off, let the back slide to point you into the apex and then get back on the power, very different than you would or could drive an MR2/Elise/Porsche.
I'd taken a quick look at the data after Race 1 and was very pleased to see a best lap of 1:15.0 but even more pleased to see a best theoretical of 1:13.7. Much of the time lost with the 1:15 was at Copse where I never had a clear run and lost .5 sec so a good Copse would have given a 1.14.5 which would have been a 10th quicker than Eugene.
After race 3 that had gone down further to a 1:13.6 which, had I managed it would have been a full second quicker than any other MX5. It's rare to do your best theoretical but certainly I should be within .5 sec on a clear, well driven lap which would still have been half a second quicker than any other MX5 driver.
So, had a great time, proved I can lap really quickly given a clear lap and with a rental car on less than optimum tyres. The cars themselves are good, very strong. I was pleased with the level of prep although the underweight things was a major foul up. The Keystone mechanics were very helpful, mostly students on a Motorsport Engineering course and really eager to help. If anyone is reading this and thinking of renting a car from Keystone I can heartily recommend them.
SUMMARY
Poor quali with 41 cars on 1.6 mile circuit and new (road tyres). Qualified 9th out of 27 MX5s but Judged underweight and demoted to back of 40 strong grid. Made up 23 places to finish 17th in both races. Never got a full clear lap once confortable with the car but best theoretical would have been over a second quicker than any other MX5 driver (even EOB!).
VIDEO & DATA
I will post the race videos soon and may try and do the data overlay if I get time.
Maxx
( Malcolm Edeson, Car #8 )
Nippon Challenge - Silverstone National - 27th April 2008
INTRO
The Nippon Challenge is a new series for 2008 and this was the first race meeting. As the name suggests this is a series for Japanese cars. I had not planned to do this race and it all came about at the last minute. Earlier in the week I had spoken to Jonathan Blake the MD of Keystone Group who I knew from 2007 rented out race prep'd MX5s about renting on for the first 2 Powernights events. We sorted this out and he then told me he'd had a driver drop out of this race and did I want to do it. All race entries and such had been paid, I would just need to pay for the use of the car, I agreed straight away.
There was a test day on the Friday before which I could also have done in with the price but I was working that day so couldn't make it. It was a shame as I know from previous experience I tend to take a while to get used to a car and had never driven an MX5 before.
RACE DAY
It was an early start as they all are. First thing I did was to check out the seating position and such with the car and get the data-logger fitted. It was then off to scrutineering. As part of the process all cars+drivers were weighed to ensure we were not below the minimum weight for the class. The minimum weight for the MX5s is 960k and thats with driver and fuel etc. We had to finish quali/race on or above that weight. My car weighed under to the team added more weight to ensure it would comply with the regs.
QUALI
Quali was shortly after and would be really tough as it turned out that 41 cars were to qualify. 41 cars on the 1.6 mile National Circuit is very busy, it's about 1 car every 70yds. As I was mid-pack leaving the assembly area at Brooklands I'd decided to go flat out from the off and just see what transpired. My first real braking zone was for Copse. Foolishly I just braked in my usual place and the car decided it would turn left towards Northampton Town Centre. Whew, luckilly enough I had not used every inch of track to the left as I would usually and there was enough tarmac to wrestle it back straight before turning into Copse. I should know better. The car had been stood a while (another driver had done a few test laps on Friday) and what tends to happen is that pad material gets transferred to the disc and they can grab for the first few braking attempts.
There was lots of traffic but my main problem was getting to grips with the car. I'd driven MR2s and Elises but the MX5, being front-engined, rwd, was quite different. I was also struggling badly with the gearchange. The gearbox itself is fine but I was sitting very low in the car and the gearshift was quite high and well over to the left and I struggled to find the gears, particularly 2nd to 3rd. This was so bad I stopped using 2nd but it was borderline if it was required anyway.
I was also struggling with the tyres. A brand new set of Toyo T1Rs (road tyres) had been fitted on the Friday and, as anyone who'd used these on track will concur, they are very vague at best and very much so when new. Recommendation is they need 1000 miles on them before they start to work well. If you run them hard early the tread curls up and you get ridges which makes things even worse with the grip carying mid-corner.
I was half getting used to the car and had a good Copse and Backets when, approaching Brooklands I see the dreaded waved yellows. 99% of the time this is a car off into the gravel on the way into Brroklands and you have Marshals on track dealing with it, you have to really slow down as you are always squeeling tyres round there so you have to back right off or risk a penalty.
We had about 3 laps of this and with only 15 mins of quali, time was running out. I got a bit more comfortable with the car in the last few laps but always traffic somewhere and when the flag dropped I knew I'd not done anything special, I just hopped that others had found it tough also.
INFO : DL1 is a data-logger from Race Technology. It plots position/speeds etc. via GPS and g-forces via accelerometers, will post screenshot later
First thing I did was dig the data card out of the DL1 and look at the times. a best of 1:15.8 which I knew was pretty poor. Lap record for the MX5s was 1:14.9 and as all of the top guys from the MX5 series were in attendance I pretty much knew i'd be a fair way back on the grid. What was encouraging was that my best theoretical lap was a 1.15.1
Results for quali came out and it was no surprise to see Eugene O'Brien as quickest of the MX5s with a 1:14.6. If I'd strung some decent sectors together and managed a half second quicker I would have been in 3rd of the MX5s just behind last years MX5 Champion.
OH OH
As we came off track from quali were were all again guided to the weighbridge. This is quite unusual as they generally just pick a few cars at random but as it is a new series and the organisers are keen toi ensure a level playing field, all cars were weight again. Bu@@er, seems like i'm underweight again, nothing that would have made any difference but again, as they want to appear tough and fair me and one other underweight car were relegated to the back of the grid. Far from being disappointed, I was really pleased with this. Yes, I would have love to be fighting at the front for a podium but failing that, a start from the back would provide great racing plus I had my video hooked up now so should get some great video.
RACE 1
So as not to risk an underwieght car again the team filled the tank up fully so was going to be racing with a full tank of fuel. Sitting on the grid in 40th the lights were only just visible but as the lights went red I got the revs up to around 5,000 and was poised for what I hoped would be a good getaway. It was, zipped past a few cars, grabbed 2nd, past a couple more, then 3rd ... although it wasn't, it was 5th, been struggling with this all day. Didn't make any more progress and probably lost a couple of places into Copse. There then followed some very close, door-handle racing. After about 4laps coming through Brooklands I could see the cars in front slowing and could see some smoke in the distance. As we rounded Brooklands we could see an MX5 on it's roof over on the left before Luffield. As expected we then got the reds and the race was stopped. They formed us back up on the grid and after quite a wait we set off for another green flag lap in prepararion for a "part 2" restart.
Again, I got a great start and again I think muffed the gearchange. There then followed 8 more laps of some great racing, I was having a ball picking cars off at almost every corner. In the end I got past 23 cars to finish 17th on the road and 10th of the MX5s. Think Eugene may have had a problem somewhere as he finished back in 6th.
RACE 2
Pretty similar this one apart from it ran from start to finish and again I finished 17th from the back of the grid, Eugene converting his MX5 pole to a win.
I had a real blast and am sure I enjoyed the race more from the back than I would from up front.
LAPTIMES
From the back of the grid I was always in some traffic, either attacking it or defending after a pass but I felt I was getting to grips with the car more. Being front engined you can sling them into the corners, back off, let the back slide to point you into the apex and then get back on the power, very different than you would or could drive an MR2/Elise/Porsche.
I'd taken a quick look at the data after Race 1 and was very pleased to see a best lap of 1:15.0 but even more pleased to see a best theoretical of 1:13.7. Much of the time lost with the 1:15 was at Copse where I never had a clear run and lost .5 sec so a good Copse would have given a 1.14.5 which would have been a 10th quicker than Eugene.
After race 3 that had gone down further to a 1:13.6 which, had I managed it would have been a full second quicker than any other MX5. It's rare to do your best theoretical but certainly I should be within .5 sec on a clear, well driven lap which would still have been half a second quicker than any other MX5 driver.
So, had a great time, proved I can lap really quickly given a clear lap and with a rental car on less than optimum tyres. The cars themselves are good, very strong. I was pleased with the level of prep although the underweight things was a major foul up. The Keystone mechanics were very helpful, mostly students on a Motorsport Engineering course and really eager to help. If anyone is reading this and thinking of renting a car from Keystone I can heartily recommend them.
SUMMARY
Poor quali with 41 cars on 1.6 mile circuit and new (road tyres). Qualified 9th out of 27 MX5s but Judged underweight and demoted to back of 40 strong grid. Made up 23 places to finish 17th in both races. Never got a full clear lap once confortable with the car but best theoretical would have been over a second quicker than any other MX5 driver (even EOB!).
VIDEO & DATA
I will post the race videos soon and may try and do the data overlay if I get time.
Maxx
( Malcolm Edeson, Car #8 )
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ScoobieWRX
- Posts: 2136
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- Location: Northants
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Great Vids Maxx....I was right there with you 
Did you have a gearbox/clutch problem? I noticed you had issues sometimes getting into 3rd or 4th on the upchange i think, and missed gears only a couple of times. Bloody quick little car!!
Fast and furious toe to toe racing...just how it should be, nice and close!!. 8)
Ace driving Maxx...i only wish :thumb:
Did you have a gearbox/clutch problem? I noticed you had issues sometimes getting into 3rd or 4th on the upchange i think, and missed gears only a couple of times. Bloody quick little car!!
Fast and furious toe to toe racing...just how it should be, nice and close!!. 8)
Ace driving Maxx...i only wish :thumb:
Buggers cancelled my op just a couple of days before it was due. Inconsiderate barstewards!! 
Waiting now for another execution date!!:headhack:
Waiting now for another execution date!!:headhack:
Cheers!
Yes, I struggled with the gearshift, partly for safety and partly for lower centre of gravity you sit very low in these cars (vartually on the floor). I'm only a little fella and it was just a bit tough to get the gear selection right especially going into quali the first time in the car, was better by race 2 though and should be OK next time.
Maxx
Yes, I struggled with the gearshift, partly for safety and partly for lower centre of gravity you sit very low in these cars (vartually on the floor). I'm only a little fella and it was just a bit tough to get the gear selection right especially going into quali the first time in the car, was better by race 2 though and should be OK next time.
Maxx
Hi Malcolm
Great in-car, I'm thinking about the Nippon challenge, was there much in the way of 400+bhp 4WD Imprezas/Evos etc?
The shallow line into Brooklands seemed to serve you well and you seemed to be later on the brakes there than the competition, were you having to defend much into Luffield using that line?
Also noticed the straight lining of Maggotts to apex Becketts early, I used to use that line myself but wondered if you felt it cost you on the club straight? Was anyone else hugging the left hand side after Maggotts to open up the exit of Becketts?
Hope to speak soon
Andy
Great in-car, I'm thinking about the Nippon challenge, was there much in the way of 400+bhp 4WD Imprezas/Evos etc?
The shallow line into Brooklands seemed to serve you well and you seemed to be later on the brakes there than the competition, were you having to defend much into Luffield using that line?
Also noticed the straight lining of Maggotts to apex Becketts early, I used to use that line myself but wondered if you felt it cost you on the club straight? Was anyone else hugging the left hand side after Maggotts to open up the exit of Becketts?
Hope to speak soon
Andy
Andy,
Hi, good to "see" you, lonh time since Snetterton, will have to get over to another one of your meets soon.
It was the first race and there is LOTS of interest. The MX5s really filled all the remaining slots as it was their first real outing but I am told there is lots of Japanese Exotica on the way. Here is a link to the series homepage : http://www.nipponchallenge.co.uk/index.asp
And here is a link to the MST results : http://www.tsl-timing.com/brdc/2008/81759.pdf
You do have to be pretty adept at trail-braking and using the sporadic blip of throttle to keep the car in a (reasonably) straight line. In all honesty though, these cars are so well balanced that most half decent trackday drivers could drift them around no problem.
I did some data-logging and you can see clearly the effect of different lines. MY best lap was a 1:15 dead but my best theoretical was a 1:13.6! Once I'd got a decent handle on the car I never really had a clear lap so my real "clear" time is probably low 1:14s
Maxx
Hi, good to "see" you, lonh time since Snetterton, will have to get over to another one of your meets soon.
Couple of very rapid RX7s, an Imprezza and a very Hot (literally, he blew up in 1st lap of quali) Integra. Pole man (RX7) doing 1:06s which is pretty rapid.ESL wrote:Hi Malcolm
Great in-car, I'm thinking about the Nippon challenge, was there much in the way of 400+bhp 4WD Imprezas/Evos etc?
It was the first race and there is LOTS of interest. The MX5s really filled all the remaining slots as it was their first real outing but I am told there is lots of Japanese Exotica on the way. Here is a link to the series homepage : http://www.nipponchallenge.co.uk/index.asp
And here is a link to the MST results : http://www.tsl-timing.com/brdc/2008/81759.pdf
Not at all really, I generally exit well over to the right and pretty much hug the curb, only way round me is round the outside which with a similar car is not really on.The shallow line into Brooklands seemed to serve you well and you seemed to be later on the brakes there than the competition, were you having to defend much into Luffield using that line?
You do have to be pretty adept at trail-braking and using the sporadic blip of throttle to keep the car in a (reasonably) straight line. In all honesty though, these cars are so well balanced that most half decent trackday drivers could drift them around no problem.
To be honest there is not a lot to choose in that type of car (fairly low power). You should see in some of the vids that I take people round the outside as well. As you suggest, you gain on the way in but lose a little on the way, so depends on if you are defending or attacking. I was often having to defend into Brooklands having taken the tight entry into Beckets but I was so much later on the brakes than (nearly) everyone else, it wasn't a big problem.Also noticed the straight lining of Maggotts to apex Becketts early, I used to use that line myself but wondered if you felt it cost you on the club straight? Was anyone else hugging the left hand side after Maggotts to open up the exit of Becketts?
I did some data-logging and you can see clearly the effect of different lines. MY best lap was a 1:15 dead but my best theoretical was a 1:13.6! Once I'd got a decent handle on the car I never really had a clear lap so my real "clear" time is probably low 1:14s
Maxx
