mikuni

Here's the link

http://www.hdticketing.co.nz/index.php/cPath/17

Is it too soon for people? There will be a few other options a bit later if people want. 

Unfortunately I'll be in London when it's on. Wonder if people watch it over here

I think so, but according to Top Gear they call it Barthurst.

This sounds choice, I was thinking of organising something but a projector and speakers trumps me! Keen for that.

The old ultra light weight no brake lights trick.

The lights are there, unfortunately I just accidentally ultra light weighted by removing the switch and not refitting anything when I put the pedal box in   Didn't realise no brake lights were a deal breaker. I watch too much open wheel stuff, I convinced myself they wouldn't check at scrutineering

More deets Bradkuni?

I got the timing wrong as they do twilights on week days (4:30 - 7:30) and afternoon sessions on some weekends (3pm - 7pm)

Playday at Hampton Downs

WEDNESDAY 29 OCTOBER TWILIGHT                               $75

On Track from 4.30pm to 7.30pm, limited to

3 Groups

SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER AFTERNOON

On Track from 3.00pm to 7.00pm                                         $85

Limited to 2 Car Groups & 1 Bike Group

They're doing the twilight ones again now too. Would be sweet, 3:30 til 7:30 for $70 or something like that. Even out if towners could probably get away with a half day at work

Yeah and put more oil into the mix, maybe run a 30:1 mix instead

Yeah the coby guys are good to deal with. Off Te Rapa straight.

I just looked at the weather and it looks ok in the morning going to iffy in the afternnon. Pretty sure the car will be broken by then so I’m in!

It's pretty much changing hourly. Now it's looking not so bad, more like showers but quite windy. Hopefully that'll mean it dries out quickly.

Sweet, cheers for advice. Will check that stuff and maybe some of the other possibly dodgy things.

any proj thread updates brad?

Nah, pretty much had baby 9 Months ago..... lol. I've fixed many of the problems I found last year at Hampton Downs though, so that's a bonus. 

What about the doortle bodies? They must add about eleven or more horsepower. I just slammed 205 on budget coilovers and now I don't know how to make it go around corners. And it seems to get hot really fast and I'm not entirely sure why.

I reckon set the rear slightly higher than the front and quite firm with decent spring rates, and set the front lower and softer in a front wheel drive. I've even taken out my front sway bar to try and soften the front and keep the inside wheel on the ground. Will be interesting to see if it helps. 

Oh choice. Yeah had seen that one before too. I think you'll pwn.

Hmm? It's slow, it's like a standard vectra with an extreme seating position. lol

I thought it was red. Where's project thread?

I had a red one but I got carried away and chopped it up

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/38017-opel-vectra-track-car-v2/

Frig. I suppose I should make an effort then. Weather looks a bit scary though.

What is your thing even? XE Vectra A?

oh yeah the weathers looking way worse now than it was yesterday. I'll wait and see what it looks like tomorrow evening.

Yeah, the white Vectra A. 

Is your thing legal etc?

No but have log book, so will tow it down and get scrutineered. Hope it passes, haven't put too much thought into that side of things.

I'm pretty much committed now, so pending a test drive tomorrow afternoon and the wheels staying on, I'll be there. 

That's 99.2km more than I've done. Seems a bit stupid to drag it all the way to Taupo to break it, but what better thing to do on a rainy Saturday?

Damn. Should I flag? Forking out a few hundred to get to this, don't want to do it without a few boes there

I am trying my hardest.

Same.

Tomorrow or Wednesday is the last day to register depending on how you read the rules. I'm pretty much sweet but having a crappy brake line issue in the master that is hopefully sorted now.

/keen

Have updated the topic title nice and early to avoid any confusion

Did you get one of those chargers that poke into the battery? They seem pretty essential if the car is going to sit for a long period of time... I might have to get one of those too, but will get the battery first and will steal your charger in the mean time if I need it . 

Yeah they are essential. It has a plug with 8 or so wires, designed to individually charge each cell to make sure they are balanced. If you charge it with a normal charger, or even from the alternator, eventually the cells will become unbalanced and the battery will lose performance. It's not a huge issue really, but if you want the battery to last and keep optimal condition you need a proper charger. As my battery is only a little $250 one it makes sense to invest in the charger.

I'm about to spend $350 or so on a LFP battery for my racecar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery 

 

They're super cool and tiny as fuck. You could probably start the Alto with a cheaper one for a motorbike too (about $200 I guess). Only issue is they don't like going flat, so they're no good for a road car IF it has something draining the battery down all the time like an alarm or dodgy wiring. 

I left my Shorai LiFePo battery in the car with the kill switch open. Unfortunately the kill switch only does the main relay and the starter cable is still direct off the battery, which apparently caused some level of current draw over time. When I went to start the car again recently; nothing. I tested the battery; 0.1V or something stupid. Gutted. $250 battery down the drain.

I did a bit of research and it turns out they are actually OK at coming back from nothing - far better than a lead acid. But you do need the appropriate charger. I bought this (another $140 but you need it anyway) and sat it on the battery. Unfortunately it just came up as an error saying there was no battery present it was that flat. But after about a week of it on charge, pushing the charge button to trigger it to look for the battery again, it began to hold voltage. So far it seems to be holding about 13.3V at rest after a few days and has even managed to start the car again. I don't really use it as a primary start battery, just standby, with a jumper pack starting the car to take the strain away from it on cold starts.

So, in summary, LiFePo batteries seem very good. But you have to buy a charger.

Thanks Brad for the escort home, we made it back to the workshop with out any sign of missfire which was good.

I'm pretty amazed tbh. It must have a super efficient ignition. The last cars within failed alternators that I've seen haven't gone that long without an issue.

I could see the indicators were very dull, could barely tell they were on. Thought you might want to pull over and change the battery, but stoked that it got all the way home sweet. 

Let's be honest, it was a bit of a shambles at times. I saw a little bit more of it being a spectator rather than a driver, who was out there doin' it. 

They had only run a half arsed practice by lunch time, which was more like a track day, where some cars seemed to just keep going back out. Sure I saw a couple of them do 2 or 3 runs, while everyone else just did a single run to set a time.

By 1pm they were finally getting into the runs, and it started running a little bit more smoothly. Except for a rogue lady in a turbo Capri, who cut across both lanes nearly taking out her competitor, then spun on the spot narrowly missing the wall. She had no idea what had happened, and all from her grid spot, before even crossing the start line. Then there was the Evo who got carried away and launched from third spot with the two first cars, and flew past them, before pulling over and slowing once he realised he did something wrong. Neither driver even got a warning.

There seemed to be quite a number of drivers leaving after only a run or two, and I heard a couple people spitting the dummy about how shambolic it all was.

Don't get me wrong, it was a cool little club day, and it turned out well for those who genuinely participated, but I think it's worth mentioning that it was an eventful afternoon.

That's a good time man. Stoked that it's all coming together.

More details on the close ration box? Your old man was telling me a little bit about it, out of the Avenger? 

Hopefully its a fine day. Need some consistent conditions to compare set up changes...

Your car looked pretty good for a first outing, from what I could see of it in ten fives video. 

What changes have you made? 

I might try and come down for a look.

Would this type of thing work for you? It's what I'm planning on using in my track car for similar reasons I think. The offset mounting position might not be ideal, but it might actually make it easier too...?

These can be found at any pick a part on the lower arm of Holden Vectra B's (96-03) and Astras (similar years), plus probably other GM stuff. Only problem is they have pressed pins holding them in which would need to be cut/drilled out, or take the entire lower arm from the car.

We where at Hampton on Sunday testing out the new engine . You should come to the next one we go to Brad.

Keen for that. Let us know when.

Mark105 is looking at doing the taupo dual springs and Markku was talking about organising a trackday at some stage (I think Hampton) so there should be plenty to do.