Project GTR (zed replacement)

[Stuart]

Nice update Christian What are you doing with the graphics?

[Monster]

and your thoughts on the GPS...?

On the stickers it's just going back to how it was, poss a few little differences but essentially the same

[Monster]

Sounds like a very productive day and nearly there on the logger and dash setup.

If you are a pretty consistent driver sometimes the green and red (up/down on laptime) lights can be distracting and I prefer to see the actual timeslip in seconds on the dash. I don't know for sure but I assume the lights will show based on hundredths, easy to drop a few hundredths, make them back again and lose them again in a few metres. I'll try and find out actually.

A good way to setup shift lights to be perfect (as you can define them different;y based on each gear) is to have the video showing the shiftlights and displaying the rpm overlay from the data. Some of my Middle-East drag buddies have recently started doing this and in many cases made dramatic gains (drag racing as opposed to dressing up in female clothes

Malc

That's interesting, hadn't thought of that. You do realise Malc that you've just nominated yourself as dash set up support aswell as chassis and driver support at Silverstone in 2 weeks time

Really looking forward to that, it's so long since I've driven at Silverstone I can't even remember what car I was in... but it wasn't the 300zx so it must be over 10 years!!!

[Monster]

Quick update.

The more eagle eyed will notice in the next front pic of the car an additional hole drilled in the left side of the bumper. This is due to finally getting round to putting a much bigger cooler on the PAS in an attempt to stop it always leaking from the bottle when used on track. pics soon.

New oil P sensor fitted but fuel P didn't turn up which is annoying. Dash is all working on current sensors so need to have play with the different screens to get them how I want.

Also put a new Bosch 044 external pump on as got v paranoid that it "sounded noisy" at Snett last week. This was driven by the fact that the pumps weren't switching on properly (had to re cycle the ignition if they stopped) but this was fixed by changing the ignition to the switches. So the new pump may have been overkill (I was convinced it sounded noisy) but at least I now have a spare.

So all set for Silverstone on Tuesday with Malc and really looking forward to another training day, aswell as driving Silv GP for the first time in about 12 years.

Other little project I seem to have brewed in the last 48hrs is a new or rebuilt gearbox, which I think is progressing.

[Monster]

Mike re-did all the stickers on Sunday so back to "full" Calsonic again. Very pleased with how it looks. Also got all the sensors working.

So all ready for Silverstone tomorrow and another day's instruction with Malc which I'm really looking forward too.

Is it bed time yet...

[Maxx]

[Monster]

Well, another Epic day on track with Malc.

Silverstone, as suspected, was a great venue for the GTR, big and wide with some real fast stuff. The RMA trackday rules of "overtake both sides" also made for good use of the circuit and attracted some serious machinery - from Classic Ferraris and a lightweight E-Type racer, classic Morgan racers ( I shared a garage with one as Malc knew his instructor) through the usual Radicals to a GT2 Merc SLS, a gaggle of 458 GT2/3 - not sure but - only one of them didn't get taken by the GTR (which I am under no illusion is down to the drivers lack of ability rather than my skill in building an R32 track car)

I had a lot to learn as was effectively starting from scratch but Malcs easy style had me flying within the first session. We spent a lot of time working on maximising use of grip through weight transfer today and more of this crazy "accelerate mid bend to tighten your line when you already think you're running out of grip" malarkey which I loved and to which the GTR really seems to respond. Really really awesome.

I only had large enough stones to brake as late at Stowe as Malc wanted me too a couple of times, even though when I did the corner felt much much better. This was frustrating but also gives me something to work on. We were pulling over 140 as we entered the braking zone so hats off to Malc for insisting I hold off the anchors - he's a brave man!

Other highlights were Abbey and Farm which I had just about mastered and again were big big speeds with the GTR all loaded up, very exciting. Also enjoyed Copse of course, and we had a big "moment" there which is on video so I'll post up. A lot of head scratching and examining the data and video resulted in the finger of suspicion pointing at the fresh tarmac laid on the other side of the exit kerb from Woodcote - I'd just run onto it and we think the only explanation for the way the car snapped sideways on entry (circa 90mph but before it was even pulling full G's) was that I must have had some of said tarmac on the outside rear, causing it to snap sideways as it loaded into copse. Again, very exciting and a good resultant tank slapper

Really hard to pick favourite parts of the day because as before, the whole day of instruction seems to just blend into a whole lot learnt, and a whole lot of fun. But I simply can't speak highly enough of Malcs tuition which not only makes what can be quite complicated stuff make sense, but also a lot fun too as he's a top bloke. I was also enjoying being taken round in the GTR by Malc but that cut short by a red which was a shame as you do get a different perspective from the pass side, and it was great to experience what he was teaching me to do - Especially Stowe braking zone

The GTR clearly loved it too as it behaved impeccably - used no oil, all temps completely steady all day, tyres had even heat across them, brakes were mega with no fade at all. She gobbled a bit of V Power but in fairness she did 316kms pretty much totally flat out so I can more than forgive that.

Completely Awesome day on track

[Maxx]

Awesome day ....
Silverstone ... "owned"

Come back to a load of admin that needed sorting or would post more, will add tomorrow. 143.86 mph max speed just before braking for Stowe

Malc

[Tk]

What a way to spend a Tuesday Sounds an awesome day and good to hear the gtr is now behaving itself and delivering the goods.

[Stuart]

144mph
Hahhhahahahahahahhahaha. Nice to see that Malc is slowly taming the wild one (No, I'm not on about the GTR)