PCA SDR

Since there is not much action on the forum lately, I thought I'd share my first race video in the Formula Renault video from last weekend.

Link to Saturday's qualifying race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv2z7ePevDM

Note: Click on the HQ for better video quality

Nice - looks like you are having a lot of fun.

Sounds like you are not flat through 8 - still working on the setup?

Thanks Kris,

Yes, it was the most fun I had in a long time and HSR West is a great organization.

Sometimes I was flat and others I wasn't, the correct way would have been being flat out from 5 to 1, little lift in 1 and flat out again from 1 to the exit of 2, which is definitely possible but I don't have the confidence just yet.

Willow Springs had the strongest winds I had ever seen there, especially Friday and Sunday in 1 and 9. Jennifer was worried that it would flip over my new trailer On the track one lap it was fine and other it would move the car 1-2 feet from left to right without warnings just before 1 and just before 9.

The oversteer was a problem all weekend and I couldn't adjust the camber as I don't have other thickness of camber shims. Tawfik drove up on Saturday to help me and we adjusted the downforce / the rear wing, tire pressure and shock compressions which helped, but I was still not able to keep the tires up to temperature.

Overall for setting up the car by myself I am very pleased with the results and how the weekend went. I learned a lot and I will be much better prepared for the next race.

Martin,

Great video!!! Makes me want to get a formula car.

I hope I can come and watch/help at one of your up coming events.

Excellent video Martin! That looks like a ton of fun...

Great video and drive Martin...looks like fun!

John

Looks like a blast Martin. I am jealous, I can't even find the time to autox my 911 and here you are living the life with a formula car. I will just have to live vicariously through your movies for a while I guess. Keep posting them.

Thanks.

Yes, I hope that we will have other PCAers joining the fun of the open-wheel racing. I don't know why I waited so long, other than it took me a long time to find the right car.

Here is a link to a few pics i took of the event
http://picasaweb.google.com/tawfikben/HSRWest#

Hi Martin,

It's great that you are running with HSR. I also run with them - not the Cayman, but a 67 Triumph. Here is a link from the PIR race in february. It was dumping rain right before the race started, so things were still pretty slippery, and lap times were slow. Here is video from the event:

http://www.vimeo.com/3592738

I really need to get back out autoxing again with PCA - I sold my Cayman. I am looking for an earlyish 911 if anyone knows of one for sale - something that does not have to be smogged.

-Mark

Phenomenal Martin, you are living what we all only dream about Curiosity: what kind of times were you achieving with that car at Big Willow?

markvaden wrote:Hi Martin,

It's great that you are running with HSR. I also run with them - not the Cayman, but a 67 Triumph. Here is a link from the PIR race in february. It was dumping rain right before the race started, so things were still pretty slippery, and lap times were slow. Here is video from the event:

http://www.vimeo.com/3592738

I really need to get back out autoxing again with PCA - I sold my Cayman. I am looking for an earlyish 911 if anyone knows of one for sale - something that does not have to be smogged.

-Mark

Great Video Mark, I really like the data overlay. I wanted to go to PIR, but I couldn't put the car back together on time. Are you going to California Speedway in June 26-28?

Otto wrote:Phenomenal Martin, you are living what we all only dream about Curiosity: what kind of times were you achieving with that car at Big Willow?

Hallo Otto,

Thank, yes it's fun and different. My lap times are nothing to brag about compare to the previous owner. He ran a 1:16.9 in good conditions at Willow Springs in this car. My best was a 1:24.2 with strong winds in 1 and 8-9, of course I don't have a dedicated race engineer like he did. So, I am very happy with the results as I did the gear ratios, shock compression and rebound, springs, etc setup by myself. The previous race team didn't want to share their setup sheets with me, but it's different for each driver anyways.

Once I have collected some data and I gain the confidence to stay at least flat thru 8 and 9 then I will definitely be below 1:20, so far it's no breaking from 5 to 1

martinreinhardt wrote: so far it's no breaking from 5 to 1

Is that a typo? Or wishful thinking...

I wanted to go to PIR, but I couldn't put the car back together on time. Are you going to California Speedway in June 26-28?

Maybe it was good you did not go to PIR, the formula race was crazy - all kinds of accidents. I am sure the somewhat wet conditions had something to do with it. I am not sure if I am going to cal speedway the 26-28th, my crankshaft cracked at my last event (VARA), and I am still getting the motor back together. It is taking longer than I anticipated.

I assume you meant "braking", but with my 40 year old car for me it is a matter of not "breaking" between 1 and 5.

Your videos really rock - I cannot imagine lapping big willow in anything capable of breaking 1:24!

Impressive times Martin. Also the fact you do all the work on your car with the help of your Assistant Race Engineer Tawfik. We want to continue hearing about your progress with this car. Keep us posted.