Loton Park 2007
30th September – National B Meeting
The power struggle goes on….Our driver Rob Morgan still took it easy due to the ongoing problem of the rear locking up too often. Rob did however beat his best time which was set yesterday. The record now stands at 63.77 secs. This time was set on the first timed run. The second timed run did not happen. Well Rob never managed to complete, as he caught the nearside wheel on the grass entering Keepers corner, causing the LSD to give all the power to the other wheel and throwing the car across the track. A 180 degree spin, lots of smoke and facing the crowd spelt the end of the 2007 season for the Drivers Domain UK team.
Overall we were pleased with the season. We did however not beat our target time of 63.50 sec. However, we know what needs to be done to be even quicker in 2008. Having a new engine with much more power, really brings it home how important the correct setup is. Runing road going “fast road” Koni shocks and springs may feel great on the road. But with around 200 bhp in a car weighing 820kg at full competition speed they just do not work like you want!
29th September – National B Meeting
The weather was great, however the first run was not. Our 205 GTI had appeared to either develop a fault causing the rear wheels to lock up, or Rob our driver was just not used to the new much more powerful engine.
A sideways lockup on the first and second attempt at Hall corner almost resulted in a roll…The rest of the day was taken easy due to the fact that we could not source the problem. However, the powerful engine got us up the hill in a record 63.88 sec on the second practice run and on the first timed run we managed a respectable time of 63.79 sec (previous PB is 64.13). The final run of the day was a dismal 71 sec after a major spin at fallow corner….please read the notes from when we first started in 2005 – they are very similar to todays events! why? simply because Rob the driver is learning the car again with the new engine!!
Nothing else to report except for an 800bhp Audi Quattro blowing its turbo over the finish line.
11th & 12th August – National A Meeting
The Saturday was great all day – not a cloud in the sky. The times we managed were at best average. However, it was only practice day and so we were not too concerned. No real drama except Rob managing to get two wheels on the grass at Fletchers Dellow – not a good place to do it!
We held our breath as on Sunday we had some rain in the morning. However, this did not last and on both our timed runs we enjoyed a dry track. The first timed run was 65.42 sec – mainly down to Rob slipping into 5th on approach to Triangle and not 3rd! The second run resulted in Rob beating his PB which now stands at 64.13 sec. Overall a good weekend. Hopefully we will have our new 16v 200+bhp engine fitted for the last race of the season end of September.
7th July- National B Meeting
The day stayed dry all day. Considering the recent weather this was a real surprise! The first practice could not be timed as the timing system had failed. However, the second time was 65.17 which is fair. However, Rob commented that the tyre pressures were too high (26psi frony 24 psi rear) and so we dropped them to 24psi on the front and 22psi on the rear – excellent! The first timed run netted us a 64.61. The main competition was with a Mk1 Escort. However, this car developed LSD problems and could not beat Robs times during the day. The driver was not too happy as he had just spent £700 on a set of slicks!
The second timed run was a rather off the pace 65.52. No records taken but it was fine as Rob had won the class for the day and was presented with an award for his efforts. We are looking forward to having the 200bhp Mi16 engine fitted soon and seeing some fantastic times and more awards!
9th & 10th June – National A Meeting
What a wonderful weekend! The sun did not go in once and there was no sign of rain all weekend. The Saturday (practise day) allowed us to see how the car performed with the new 24mm rear TBs. Our driver, Rob could not feel any difference and the times, although impressive, were no better than before. A time of 64.80 then 65.30 and finally 65.06 finished off the practise day. Although no records were broken, a bit of light hearted competition with another driver, Steve Bailey in a lovely 1974 Ford Escort (producing circa 200bhp) made the day more fun. Rob was pleased to inform us that out of the 3 practise runs the Escort was only quicker on one of them. After the practise day, the team headed back to Loton Park to enjoy a Hog Roast and help raise money for Air Ambulance and the local church – both important causes.
The Sunday (event day) went well. No real drama except for Rob slightly overcooking it at Logerheads and as a result found an innovative racing line – half the car on the grass, half on the tarmac! This occurred on his second and final run and as a result he came away with a 65.47. The first timed run netted a 64.66. Overall, the weekend was a success, we only know now that the TBs (Torsion Bars) did not work as we intended. However, they are now fitted and must be of some use, although we are yet to discover the benefits.
19th & 20th May – National B Meeting
The Saturday started off wet…very wet! Rob managed to get a time just over 72 secs. The LSD did a great job in keeping the car on the track, also the Yokohama Tyres (A048-R) were great. The second practice run up the hill was thankfully dry and this time we managed a time of 65.76 secs. Robs best time stood at 65.25, set in March practice day. After lunch the track was still dry and we were hoping Rob would smash yet another record. However, he only managed a time of 66.19 on first timed run (not practice!) and then 67.13 secs on the final run. So still no where near beating the Drivers Domain UK record of 65.25 secs!
Sunday started off sunny and stayed like that all day! In practice (second run) Rob smashed his record, which we like to call the Drivers Domain UK record, as all the team play a part in making the car quick! including Kathryn and Emma who appeared more interested in making fun of a woman wearing pink wellingtons! anyway the time of 64.19 secs was a real surprise when you compare with the previous days times! this first run netted a respectable 65.36 secs. Determined to keep in the 64′s on the timed runs and not just the practice, Rob really went for it again and got a 64.57 on the first run, but only a 65.04 on the final run of the day.
Overall the team were really impressed with the times the mighty 205GTI made. The Yokohama tyres are really working well and the team feel confident that the June meeting will be the perfect opportunity to maybe get in to the 63′s – especially as the Torsion Bars are in the post and will be fitted for that meeting!
24th March – Members Practice Day
Our work over the Winter was at an end and it was time to see how improved the car was. The results were very pleasing! We had our first run at around 09:30 bearing in mind the track was cold, driver (Rob Morgan) had been away from the track for almost 6 months, and the tyres had only done 50 miles we managed to smash our best time of 2006 on our first go! Last year Rob acheived a time of 68.18 sec, the first run was completed in 67.39 sec. The two further runs got even better. The last time of the day was a fantastic 65.25 sec…This is a real achievement considering we had set a target by the end of 2007 of 65.50.
Due to this great advancement we have no option but to re-set our target for this season. Originally we had set a target of 65.50…we have now set the target of 63.50. This target will keep both team and driver busy these coming months. These great times are down to the LSD doing its work, allowing the car to get the power down and keep things tidy. The lack of body roll and tyres also greatly helped.
For any of you who have not visited Loton Park, a time of 63.50 sec is around the same a well driven Subaru Impreza Turbo/ Porsche 911, BMW M3 (in mildly modified road form) would expect to achieve.
The mighty 205GTI, as you can guess punches well above its weight!
