Loton Park 2008
September 13th & September 14th – National A Meeting.
Despite the wet weather we have been experiencing the last few weeks, we were very lucky as both the Saturday and Sunday were fantastic. Although fog early on Sunday caused slight delays. Once the fog lifted the racing restarted. As our Peugeot 205 project car still has its engine in bits, we had to use one of our staffs car, a Peugeot 207 GT HDI. As you can guess the times were massively off the normal times. At the sound test we were the most quiet car (74db), but also the slowest! Incidentally the course record went on Sunday by Martin Groves in an F1 beating single seater. The course record now stands at 44.53 secs!
We did not record exact times but our best was around 75 sec and slowest being around 77 secs! One the Saturday we used the ESP and found it quite intrusive and cut in well before the grip limit was exceeded – great on road, but not good on track. We tried on the Sunday with ESP off however, half way around the track we found it had switched itself on again!
This was the last meeting at Loton Park for 2008. It was a shame that the 205 was not ready, but we have learnt that although the two cars are very different the weekend gave us an appreciation of how good the cars are at what they were designed to do. The Peugeot 207 was no good on track, but is great for sitting in traffic, giving 50+ mpg and starting first time on a cold December morning! The 205 is hopeless at all these, but great on track. It’s all about understanding and respecting the car for what they are. Experiencing a car outside its comfort zone is ideal for this.
We have beat our PB time this year, which now sits at 62.32 sec. For 2009 season we aim to have a much more reliable 205 (after the engine rebuild) and may even venture to other hill climb and sprint circuts across the UK.
June 7th & June 8th – National A Meeting.
Both days Motors TV were filming at Loton, as they are making a one-hour program about the course/meeting and hill climbing in general – This is to be shown on this channel 21st June 2008 at 8pm.
Saturday 7th June.
Practise Day – The day started off fine, bright and dry – which was to be the backdrop for the entire weekend . There was a slight concern as we pulled in to the paddock due was a strong smell of petrol from the car. Upon investigation the fuel regulator had started to leak slightly, which was resolved by tightening a bolt on the underside. The first run of the day netted a rather disappointing 64.54 secs. We have shortened the gear shift a little too much which resulted in some fumbled gear changes. The second run was a vast improvement getting up a time of 62.98 (Robs PB to date). The final practise run got a 65.20 thanks to Rob having a too higher entry speed in to Fallow – resulting in a lock up.
Sunday 8th June.
Competition Day – As yesterday, but even warmer. Rob managed to smash his personal best, which now stands at 62.32 secs on the first timed run. A very impressive time when you consider we are still running road tyres! The second time got a 63.49 – ok but the driver and tyres had succumb to the increasing temperature. We were very please to have won our class, and received an award from the boss of Scania (lorry manufacturers) which was filmed by the Motors TV crew (as were hopefully lots of us on the track!). The course record, which has stood for four years went this weekend also. The record, now held by Scott Moran is now an incredible 44.56 secs (a Formula 1 car would be doing well to hit 46 secs)
We can only put these impressive times down to only using 2nd gear to triangle corner (and not bothering with 3rd) and being able to get on the power earlier, due to the increased levels of grip available. However, as we learnt, warm weather is only so good for tyres to a point, as if it is too hot the tyres will not stick as well.
The only slight twist in the weekends meeting was at the end, as one of our team accidentally dropped our 1st in Class award, smashing it. We are trying to rebuild this! Well what can we say……a smashing weekend for all..!!
Sunday May 18th – National B Meeting.
The day started off dry and bright and to our delight stayed like it. Our first practise run netted us a time of 66.49 secs – a disappointing result. However, Rob was still in “wet mode” following the events the day before. A couple of missed gear changes also added to the time.
The new Grp A rose jointed gear setup is good but Rob thinks it will take some time to get used to, as he put it from 2nd gear to 5th on a couple of occasions – it goes into gear without much movement, so you often find you are fighting a gear you already have! The second timed run was completed in 64.05 secs – getting there….
After lunch the timed runs were done in the dry, as were the practise runs. A time of 63.88 secs was later bettered by a time of 63.68 secs which represented the last drive of the day. No prizes won, and no records (PB’s) broken. Rob suggests that blocking off 5th gear may help solve the gear issue. We will let you know after the June meeting.
Saturday May 17th – National B Meeting.
The day started wet and remained wet all day. During our first practise run Rob got a time of 77.10 sec. This was about the norm for our group. The next run resulted in a time of 75.40. The two seconds were gained by reducing the tyre pressures to 18 psi all round.
The timed runs were not much better, Rob missed his breaking point at Fallow and ended up on the grass – a time of 81 secs was not a true reflection of the efforts made.
The final run gained a time of 73 secs. Although an improvement, it was not good enough to win an awards. The day was long and the event finish at around 18:30 thanks to so many cars going off, due to the poor conditions.
Saturday April 5th – National B Meeting.
The first event of 2008 was a success and at the same time a slight disappointment. The successful part was that our driver, Rob Morgan beat his personal best time. But the disappointment was the fact that a class above us only had one competing car, and so was merged with out class. The real problem was the fact that this car was a 600+bhp Audi Quattro Turbo, which as you can guess won the class by a long way. Overall we came 4th (or 3rd if we were to only count the cars that should have been in our class!). We missed out on a trophy but still remain optimistic for the season ahead.
The day was very cold, and the first practise run was taken nice and easy. Rob managed to get a time of 67.89 sec. The second practise run equalled the record of last year – 63.77 sec. There was the odd spec of rain but nothing serious. As the track temperature increased, and driver confidence did likewise, we were pleased to note that on Robs first timed run he got a time of 63.72 sec. The final run was even better, netting us a time of 63.15 sec. Apart from the Audi (which broke a driveshaft on its final run) the cars which beat us in our class were two Mk1 Escorts, running 200+ bhp with Avon Slick tyres and straight cut gear boxes (slicks will take around 2 seconds off your time, due to the increased levels of grip)
The problems of last season with the rear brakes locking up have been resolved as we have totally disconnected the rears. Although some people will be alarmed by this, the level of braking stability has hugely increased and there is no longer that dreaded rear locking/sideways motion to worry about. The alteration the braking shows to us how well balanced the front brakes are. To add to safety we have new copper brake pipes fitted along with Goodridge steel over braded brake hoses.
No real drama except for an MG-F over cooking it badly at Fallow and launching all four wheels off the ground and almost rolling! Plenty of duck take was applied to the front of the car, and it competed again after!
By the next event in May we want to have improved the quality, speed and feel of the gear change, which is not great at the moment. We should by then be running Group A rose jointed gear levers, with a short shift component and bronze gear levers bushes (standard ones are nylon). At Loton Park, Rob will make six gear changes. If we can save 100th of a second on each gear change, we should in theory take around six 100th of a second off our final time. So a time of 63.15 could come down to 63.09. In the real world this is a difference of just a few inches, but in the world of hill climbing and other speed events can be the difference between 1st and 3rd.
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!
