I went for the full FIA approved custom cages option which is looking fairly substantial, having had the seat trial fitted the car's now at SPR coachworks having the inside painted before returning home.
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
E36 M3 Build - Update
I pleased to say at long last the E36 M3 has a roll cage installed.
I went for the full FIA approved custom cages option which is looking fairly substantial, having had the seat trial fitted the car's now at SPR coachworks having the inside painted before returning home.
I went for the full FIA approved custom cages option which is looking fairly substantial, having had the seat trial fitted the car's now at SPR coachworks having the inside painted before returning home.
Thursday, 3 October 2013
Donington Park - 29th September 2013 - PBMW rounds 11 & 12
After all the stress, hard work and cost of rebuilding the engine I was really looking forward to rounds 11 and 12 of the PBMW championship, Unfortunately due to work commitments I could do the test day before the weekend, which in hindsight isn't ideal.
Sunday started off with an early qualifying, as always only 7 laps to remember where the track goes and set a time. Ended up with a time of 2:05.014 which whilst being towards the back of the grid in 25nd place was still over 5 seconds quicker than my qualifying time in 2012.
First race was fairly quiet trying to continue to find a bit of time eventually finishing 22nd with a best time of 2:04.683 equalling my best time of the previous year.
Got a good start in race 2 and for the next 7 laps had one of the best races to date with Arron Morgan and Rob Cooper. Unfortunately on Lap 8 whilst trying to pass Rob I put the car into the gravel, real shame as they finished 14th and 16th so a reasonable result could have been achievable.
On a positive note my best time of 2:03.233 was over 1.3 seconds faster than I previously been at Donington so I left quite content despite the trip into the gravel.
Now only a few days until the last rounds of the championship at Castle Combe, Another track I've never visited and another test day I'll miss due to work.
Sunday started off with an early qualifying, as always only 7 laps to remember where the track goes and set a time. Ended up with a time of 2:05.014 which whilst being towards the back of the grid in 25nd place was still over 5 seconds quicker than my qualifying time in 2012.
First race was fairly quiet trying to continue to find a bit of time eventually finishing 22nd with a best time of 2:04.683 equalling my best time of the previous year.
Got a good start in race 2 and for the next 7 laps had one of the best races to date with Arron Morgan and Rob Cooper. Unfortunately on Lap 8 whilst trying to pass Rob I put the car into the gravel, real shame as they finished 14th and 16th so a reasonable result could have been achievable.
On a positive note my best time of 2:03.233 was over 1.3 seconds faster than I previously been at Donington so I left quite content despite the trip into the gravel.
Now only a few days until the last rounds of the championship at Castle Combe, Another track I've never visited and another test day I'll miss due to work.
Monday, 23 September 2013
Snetterton - 19th September - Trackday
After several weeks of hard work the engine was now ready for running in.
With everything looking good I set off to Snetterton to run in the engine, Started off on a dry track with limited revs for the morning, It was a relieve to see everything running correctly after all the hard work which went into building it.
By the afternoon the rain had set in and a good number of people had left the track (there was only 26 signed on in the first place) In many ways this came just at the right time as I was now able to use higher revs and the wet weather and quite track meant for an ideal opportunity to gain some experience of driving on a wet track, something which up until now I hadn't done much of.
Ended the day positive that the car was ready for Donnington in a weeks time, check engine and gear box oils and both were fine. Now all it needs is a quick oil change and the hand brake shoes replacing as for some reason all of the material had come off of one and was locking the rear wheel.
As well as giving everything a clean and checking tolerances to make it as new, we also replaced piston rings, main and bottom end bearings, valve guides, skimmed the head and added an oil pressure gauge.
Found a few other minor issues along the way, including noticing we'd only been getting 80-85% throttle for a while and quite embarrassingly I also found the current clutch looked like this when it was removed, may go some way to explain the lack to drive out of corners!
By the afternoon the rain had set in and a good number of people had left the track (there was only 26 signed on in the first place) In many ways this came just at the right time as I was now able to use higher revs and the wet weather and quite track meant for an ideal opportunity to gain some experience of driving on a wet track, something which up until now I hadn't done much of.
Ended the day positive that the car was ready for Donnington in a weeks time, check engine and gear box oils and both were fine. Now all it needs is a quick oil change and the hand brake shoes replacing as for some reason all of the material had come off of one and was locking the rear wheel.
Friday, 16 August 2013
New Engine for the 320.
After destroying the engine at Cadwell it was time to locate and rebuild a new engine. ASWR managed to supply a used engine in super fast time and in order to make sure we where going to get the most out off it a rebuild was going to be needed.
In order to keep the cost a little more sensible I stripped down the new engine and took care the the time consuming task of de-greasing and cleaning all of the parts as the engine builder wasn't about to start putting together parts which weren't like new.
after hours of cleaning the block, pistons and head we're currently starting to look on track.
In order to keep the cost a little more sensible I stripped down the new engine and took care the the time consuming task of de-greasing and cleaning all of the parts as the engine builder wasn't about to start putting together parts which weren't like new.
after hours of cleaning the block, pistons and head we're currently starting to look on track.
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Cadwell Park - 20th July - PBMW rounds 7 & 8
Cadwell was another first for me having never visited the circuit before, I had concerns about the width of the track in a few places but after a few laps this was all forgotten as the circuit is great.
Prior to the weekend the rear shocks had been sent back to GAZ and shortened to eliminate the bottoming out, this seams to have done the trick, Nice to see some forward progress after several annoying outings.
We did the test day on Friday and although we had a little under steer the car generally felt good, Come the qualifying we ended up on the back of the grid, I think mostly down to using worn tyres, still had plenty of tread but past their best.
A quick trip to the kwik fit van for a pair of fronts both cured the understeer and improved the pace slightly for race 1. Unfortunately they only had 2 tyres left.
Between Races 1 and 2 Ben Woodcock took the class win in Project 8 Racing saloons (sure he won't tell the grand children it was first of 1!)
By the time race 2 came round we'd located a second pair of new tyres for the rear. I got a reasonable start getting passed a car or 2 but on the second lap whilst trying to make up some time to the cars in front there was a sudden loss of power and a very poorly sounding engine.
We're not sure what cause the failure, either over revving the engine and the valve head eventually coming off or if the bearing failed, either way it's pretty safe today number 6 is past it's best so the hunt for a new engine starts.
But we did at least get a picture of the car in the programe
Prior to the weekend the rear shocks had been sent back to GAZ and shortened to eliminate the bottoming out, this seams to have done the trick, Nice to see some forward progress after several annoying outings.
We did the test day on Friday and although we had a little under steer the car generally felt good, Come the qualifying we ended up on the back of the grid, I think mostly down to using worn tyres, still had plenty of tread but past their best.
A quick trip to the kwik fit van for a pair of fronts both cured the understeer and improved the pace slightly for race 1. Unfortunately they only had 2 tyres left.
Between Races 1 and 2 Ben Woodcock took the class win in Project 8 Racing saloons (sure he won't tell the grand children it was first of 1!)
By the time race 2 came round we'd located a second pair of new tyres for the rear. I got a reasonable start getting passed a car or 2 but on the second lap whilst trying to make up some time to the cars in front there was a sudden loss of power and a very poorly sounding engine.
We're not sure what cause the failure, either over revving the engine and the valve head eventually coming off or if the bearing failed, either way it's pretty safe today number 6 is past it's best so the hunt for a new engine starts.
But we did at least get a picture of the car in the programe
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Some Progress on the E36 M3
Whilst trying to sort out the E30 Handling the E36 M3 build has been a little neglected.
Since the Last Production BMW round at oulton the rear shocks have gone back to gaz and with great efficiency were rebuilt and shortened, New Performance friction front pads fitted and pagid rears. Only thing that might be an issue is that I'm starting to suspect the chap who built the car may have left the master cylinder from the drum braked shell in place which might send to much pressure to the rear brakes but that can be looked at another day.
With the E30 ready for Cadwell Park attention turned to the E36 over the last couple of days the remaining parts of the wiring loom were removed and the fuel tank taken out which involved removing the exhaust and dropping the prop shaft down.
This now means that bar removing the front and rear screens, adding some bonnet pins and possibly doing something with the sunroof the car is ready to be sent to Custom cages for a multi point cage
Since the Last Production BMW round at oulton the rear shocks have gone back to gaz and with great efficiency were rebuilt and shortened, New Performance friction front pads fitted and pagid rears. Only thing that might be an issue is that I'm starting to suspect the chap who built the car may have left the master cylinder from the drum braked shell in place which might send to much pressure to the rear brakes but that can be looked at another day.
With the E30 ready for Cadwell Park attention turned to the E36 over the last couple of days the remaining parts of the wiring loom were removed and the fuel tank taken out which involved removing the exhaust and dropping the prop shaft down.
This now means that bar removing the front and rear screens, adding some bonnet pins and possibly doing something with the sunroof the car is ready to be sent to Custom cages for a multi point cage
Saturday, 6 July 2013
North Weald Autosolo - 30th June 2013
Ever since marshalling at an autosolo in 2010 I'd been keen to have a go but for some reason until this year I'd never quite found the time.
Seeing the tyres on my 996 GT3 looking well past their best I thought the north weald event run by sevenoaks motor club was the perfect excuse to enter my first autosolo before replacing the tyres.
The format is similar to a sprint but slower and much tighter. I knew the GT3 wasn't really the ideal tool for the job but with just under 400bhp and no traction control 2 things were certain. Firstly over steer and secondly fun.
In total 4 different courses were set up the best two times from each course were added together to give the total time at the end. I managed to take a wrong route on the first run of each course just to back things more difficult. I think I managed to come 10th in class out of 22 with the top runners being in more nimble MX5's.
Great fun event and very good value for anyone looking to try some affordable Motorsport as no license or safety gear is required just £20 to join the club and £35 entry fee for the day.
Seeing the tyres on my 996 GT3 looking well past their best I thought the north weald event run by sevenoaks motor club was the perfect excuse to enter my first autosolo before replacing the tyres.
The format is similar to a sprint but slower and much tighter. I knew the GT3 wasn't really the ideal tool for the job but with just under 400bhp and no traction control 2 things were certain. Firstly over steer and secondly fun.
In total 4 different courses were set up the best two times from each course were added together to give the total time at the end. I managed to take a wrong route on the first run of each course just to back things more difficult. I think I managed to come 10th in class out of 22 with the top runners being in more nimble MX5's.
Great fun event and very good value for anyone looking to try some affordable Motorsport as no license or safety gear is required just £20 to join the club and £35 entry fee for the day.
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