Hethel Sprint 2nd May
what can i say!
A venue that seperates the men from the boys, and put me in my place a bit.
Compared to NW and Honnington, it brings out a lot more of the drivers input. Last events, my comparitive good power to weight helped for the heavy stops and hard acceleration. Hethel is all about grip and talent. Not sure how much of the first i actually had, but showed up the lack of the latter.
My well used RS2's didn't seem to give great grip, and the first 3 runs before dinner i was 2 seconds off the pace. After lunch when it had dried up, i gave it a bit too much enthusiasm and found i was going quicker than i expected into the first right hand corner. dabbing the brakes wasn't the best solution and i was too slow to catch the resulting spin. When i thought i was taking the rest of the lap easy, i till managed a half spin on the low grip roundabout.
This all sapped my confidence for the last run and i took few risks to post a time 3-4 seconds below the class pace. (can't remember exactly). But to be honest i don't think i could have got close to the guys battling for 1st and 2nd. To rub it in the winner was in a totally standard integra on 1A tyres. These were the latest Yoko AO08's, which appear to be a good choice.
I need to put the thinking cap on for the return visit in August. I definately had less rear end grip, so i'm going to think about how to help that. I suspect a bit less rear camber wouldn't hurt. I'm also tempted to blame tyres, but the reality is i probably need more driver training.
Logan and Mark looked awesome on their last runs, no shortage of commitment from either.
Cheers for the advise Logan, shame i didn;t actually use it properly but i will remember for next time.
A venue that seperates the men from the boys, and put me in my place a bit.
Compared to NW and Honnington, it brings out a lot more of the drivers input. Last events, my comparitive good power to weight helped for the heavy stops and hard acceleration. Hethel is all about grip and talent. Not sure how much of the first i actually had, but showed up the lack of the latter.
My well used RS2's didn't seem to give great grip, and the first 3 runs before dinner i was 2 seconds off the pace. After lunch when it had dried up, i gave it a bit too much enthusiasm and found i was going quicker than i expected into the first right hand corner. dabbing the brakes wasn't the best solution and i was too slow to catch the resulting spin. When i thought i was taking the rest of the lap easy, i till managed a half spin on the low grip roundabout.
This all sapped my confidence for the last run and i took few risks to post a time 3-4 seconds below the class pace. (can't remember exactly). But to be honest i don't think i could have got close to the guys battling for 1st and 2nd. To rub it in the winner was in a totally standard integra on 1A tyres. These were the latest Yoko AO08's, which appear to be a good choice.
I need to put the thinking cap on for the return visit in August. I definately had less rear end grip, so i'm going to think about how to help that. I suspect a bit less rear camber wouldn't hurt. I'm also tempted to blame tyres, but the reality is i probably need more driver training.
Logan and Mark looked awesome on their last runs, no shortage of commitment from either.
Cheers for the advise Logan, shame i didn;t actually use it properly but i will remember for next time.
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Honda Rush
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:37 am
What can i add, about the cold and damp Hethel on sunday, Well as still a new boy at this sprinting malarky. And still just putting names to faces, Just blown away by the commitment from Logan and i presume Mark on the wet and cold practice laps having never driven or been a passenger in one of those 4 wheel drive thingemebobs from Japan i can now see how very well they do work in the wet and the dry.
For me sitting in my cold and very wet bath tub ( caterham ) the practice runs were taken pretty steady as the tyre walls seem pretty close and at times in the line of travel, But as things dryed out the pace changed, and everyones confidence picked up, I am just amazed at Matt Hillman in his Westfield i new it was fast but FTD with several single seaters there as well, wow what a well sorted car and what a great drive.
Great day out just wish for more cars in my class so moving into Sports Libra for Debden on Sunday
For me sitting in my cold and very wet bath tub ( caterham ) the practice runs were taken pretty steady as the tyre walls seem pretty close and at times in the line of travel, But as things dryed out the pace changed, and everyones confidence picked up, I am just amazed at Matt Hillman in his Westfield i new it was fast but FTD with several single seaters there as well, wow what a well sorted car and what a great drive.
Great day out just wish for more cars in my class so moving into Sports Libra for Debden on Sunday
