My nova on track at Mallory
29-12-2008, 01:05 AM
#1
My nova on track at Mallory
What an awesome day out, had fantastic fun in my nova for its first outing.
My first drama was tearing open one of my rear slicks, meaning I had to go onto some fairly narrow wet weather road tyres instead as it was the only other rubber I had.
This meant it was a bit of a handful to be honest as the normally fairly tame backend really came alive with the lack of traction, massively slowed down my laptimes I expect (fuck knows wasnt timing and didnt care, lol) but made for a really good laugh throwing it around, I probably learnt far more about how to handle (and not handle, lol) it like this than I ever would of on the rear slicks to be honest, so alls well that ends well etc
Managed to spin out at the hairpin about 4 times arseing about, and did a piroutte on the big chicane, but other than that it was suprisingly controllable really when I wasnt messing about, and im quite pleased at the amount of feedback it gives.
Still loads of work to do on the suspension, but at least now I have a starting point
Did 50+ laps all without any major mechanical incident, engine didnt use a drop of oil or water, which im really pleased about as only built it 500 miles ago and technically I was just finishing off running it in on low boost and a low rev limit, so its now ready for its new management and a significant increase in power.
Si B was saying his 340bhp evo couldnt keep with it when I was pulling out of the low speed stuff like the hairpin, which is quite amusing as its only currently running 12psi of the 30psi I have planned for it.
Minor issues included my started motor solenoid kept jamming a few times (had to start it with a screwdriver instead, lol) and a bit of damage on the fibreglass rear arch where the tyre caught it, but I reckon thats getting off pretty lightly considering the way I beat its face in all day
Video of it here, courtesy of Si B in his evo
(click the "watch in high quality" option at the bottom or its really grainy)
My first drama was tearing open one of my rear slicks, meaning I had to go onto some fairly narrow wet weather road tyres instead as it was the only other rubber I had.
This meant it was a bit of a handful to be honest as the normally fairly tame backend really came alive with the lack of traction, massively slowed down my laptimes I expect (fuck knows wasnt timing and didnt care, lol) but made for a really good laugh throwing it around, I probably learnt far more about how to handle (and not handle, lol) it like this than I ever would of on the rear slicks to be honest, so alls well that ends well etc
Managed to spin out at the hairpin about 4 times arseing about, and did a piroutte on the big chicane, but other than that it was suprisingly controllable really when I wasnt messing about, and im quite pleased at the amount of feedback it gives.
Still loads of work to do on the suspension, but at least now I have a starting point
Did 50+ laps all without any major mechanical incident, engine didnt use a drop of oil or water, which im really pleased about as only built it 500 miles ago and technically I was just finishing off running it in on low boost and a low rev limit, so its now ready for its new management and a significant increase in power.
Si B was saying his 340bhp evo couldnt keep with it when I was pulling out of the low speed stuff like the hairpin, which is quite amusing as its only currently running 12psi of the 30psi I have planned for it.
Minor issues included my started motor solenoid kept jamming a few times (had to start it with a screwdriver instead, lol) and a bit of damage on the fibreglass rear arch where the tyre caught it, but I reckon thats getting off pretty lightly considering the way I beat its face in all day
Video of it here, courtesy of Si B in his evo
Last edited by Chip; 29-12-2008 at 01:17 AM.
29-12-2008, 02:02 AM
#4
I think the ratio was about 50% sideways, 40% forwards and 10% backwards
Found this awesome set of pics of it on another site, when I got it REALLY wrong at the end of the day when the tyres had really gone off
(still had my foot planted at this stage trying to recover it, you can see the rear tyres spinning up still on the grass, but that was never going to happen, lol)
and start it with a screwdriver again
Last edited by Chip; 29-12-2008 at 02:07 AM.
29-12-2008, 02:12 AM
#6
It wasnt too bad as it was obvious we werent going to hit anything cause we were just spinning in a straight line.
Had a couple of other moments during the day that bothered me more to be honest, the bigest one was when Dave (yum) in Helen's car stamped on the brakes in the middle of the straight as he thought the chicane was in use, and I nearly went up the arse of him as I was accelerating flat out at the time and only a couple of car lengths behind him, fuck knows how I managed to avoid him, but Im pretty sure it was luck not talent
Had a couple of other moments during the day that bothered me more to be honest, the bigest one was when Dave (yum) in Helen's car stamped on the brakes in the middle of the straight as he thought the chicane was in use, and I nearly went up the arse of him as I was accelerating flat out at the time and only a couple of car lengths behind him, fuck knows how I managed to avoid him, but Im pretty sure it was luck not talent
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29-12-2008, 07:47 AM
#10
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It wasnt too bad as it was obvious we werent going to hit anything cause we were just spinning in a straight line.
Had a couple of other moments during the day that bothered me more to be honest, the bigest one was when Dave (yum) in Helen's car stamped on the brakes in the middle of the straight as he thought the chicane was in use, and I nearly went up the arse of him as I was accelerating flat out at the time and only a couple of car lengths behind him, fuck knows how I managed to avoid him, but Im pretty sure it was luck not talent
Had a couple of other moments during the day that bothered me more to be honest, the bigest one was when Dave (yum) in Helen's car stamped on the brakes in the middle of the straight as he thought the chicane was in use, and I nearly went up the arse of him as I was accelerating flat out at the time and only a couple of car lengths behind him, fuck knows how I managed to avoid him, but Im pretty sure it was luck not talent
Dont forget your spin in front of me
I think that was one of the highlights of my day ! I found it comical ! I look terrified in some of the photos, but i enjoyed my session out with you ! When's the Nova coming out again ?
I think you did well for its first outing, you seems to be getting used to the car as the day went on in certain parts of the track
29-12-2008, 08:24 AM
#12
At least you took the car out to learn what it does or does not do
Looks dangerous like that though
So many people want to build a car and be told what are the best settings/products before they will go out on track and it never works like that.
What slicks were you on ? Remoulds ?
Shreading could have been caused by either age or getting them too hot too quick, once the fronts were warm you may have got away with putting them on the back to avoid all the spinning and putting others in danger
Looks dangerous like that though
So many people want to build a car and be told what are the best settings/products before they will go out on track and it never works like that.
What slicks were you on ? Remoulds ?
Shreading could have been caused by either age or getting them too hot too quick, once the fronts were warm you may have got away with putting them on the back to avoid all the spinning and putting others in danger
29-12-2008, 08:27 AM
#13
Id really love to get it out at bedford, but sadly due to the lack of time ive got between now and then to work on it, and the noise etc, its just not realistic, so I'll just be in the astra with Rob instead.
The "low traction" rear tyres really gave me a chance to learn how to react when it lets go, and a slow track like mallory is a good place to do that, lol
29-12-2008, 08:30 AM
#15
Indeed, they're built to drive not chat about, lol
I certainly wouldnt want to use it on the road in a hurry with that tyre combination, lol
The issue ive got is more to do with the change in toe mid bend than the static settings, if you watch it on the long sweeping right hander, you can actually see the inside wheel bump steering.
Need to change the arm length and location.
The tyre got shredded by hitting the arch, it had a fairly sharp edge on it and it just cut straight into it like a knife, it wasnt a failure due to heat etc.
I certainly wouldnt want to use it on the road in a hurry with that tyre combination, lol
Need to change the arm length and location.
The tyre got shredded by hitting the arch, it had a fairly sharp edge on it and it just cut straight into it like a knife, it wasnt a failure due to heat etc.
29-12-2008, 08:31 AM
#16
Seriously though, although the car itself needs a bit of work (well its bound to, im no suspension expert and its all designed by me) the engine really does seem fantastic so far
29-12-2008, 08:40 AM
#17
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We will have to find a full noise day somewhere next year then, book on for a day of fun.
The photos of me holding on i was actually laughing at the same time
The photos of me holding on i was actually laughing at the same time
29-12-2008, 08:54 AM
#19
Id imagine thats part of the reason why when it lets go, it comes round quite so abruptly, lol
Not really anywhere else it can go though mate.
After even my longest session, it was still cool to the touch by the way, so thanks mate
29-12-2008, 10:10 AM
#26
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was great fun as passenger and watching, whenever you didnt come back round we all started wondering 'wheres chip span?' lol. keep up the good work mate
29-12-2008, 10:13 AM
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Glad you enjoyed it, not sure when its out next, got a few changes to make first, and need to find out when there is another full noise day somewhere.
Id really love to get it out at bedford, but sadly due to the lack of time ive got between now and then to work on it, and the noise etc, its just not realistic, so I'll just be in the astra with Rob instead.
Id really love to get it out at bedford, but sadly due to the lack of time ive got between now and then to work on it, and the noise etc, its just not realistic, so I'll just be in the astra with Rob instead.
I thought it was very quite
A bit more boost will change that i suppose.
29-12-2008, 10:14 AM
#29
Was a great day out and Chippa's nova is immense fun. Well built mate. I like the way it really tugs towards the top end of the rev range due to the monster turbo. Makes for a lot of driver involvement round the bends due to it continually twitching. another couple of mph through the bend would see you spin its that fine a line i reckon Did Rob make it home ok in the astra?
Did Rob make it home ok in the astra?
29-12-2008, 10:35 AM
#31
i did indeed, no problems at all on the way home
29-12-2008, 11:14 AM
#35
What distance from the track?
Thats making it sound like bedford might be a possibility if I leave it on the existing management and baby boost for a bit longer, and I really would LOVE to get it out at bedford as there is plenty of run off for me to slide off into while running out of talent
29-12-2008, 11:38 AM
#36
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I was right by the barrier at the hairpin where you come onto the trackfrom
The outside
Probably about30 feet from you and 10 foot elevation
I was suprised how quite it was as the ex is very short,
The outside
Probably about30 feet from you and 10 foot elevation
I was suprised how quite it was as the ex is very short,
