2013 NSW Supersprint Championship

[greenMachine]

Great day yesterday!

Well, maybe not great, but very interesting! Running in the same group as a Stohr adds a new dimension to supersprinting ... He was 30secs quicker (on just 1 litre ), so he only had a couple of laps to set a time before he started lapping the slower cars (like me), it is not often you see the blue flags waved with such energy at a supersprint meeting . Being passed down the main straight by this little weapon travelling 60-80 kph faster was quite an experience, and of course even at that speed he is taking T1 flat.

I got only three sessions, sitting on the dummy grid for the fourth at about 4pm we were told there would be 20-30 min delay due to cleaning an oil spill, so I and a few others decided to put our cars away for the day, but as soon as we got to our pit they said the session was ready to go - this after waiting 10 minutes or so after the previous session. In terms of times, the track was past its best anyway, and the oil spill would make it even slower, so nothing lost there execpt the opportunity to practice lines through the unaffected corners, and that most basic - seat time!. Another oilspill earlier through T1, just the best place ever to drop a sump of oil !

Another reason for the limited runs was the large number of entries - I think 120, apparently the largest SS meeting ever!

The series results are not up yet, but the round results are in, and MX5CC seems to have got some solid results in 1A, 1B, 2B and 3B.

1A we had a 1-2, 1B a 3-4 and 6, 2A a 4, 2B a 2-6 and 3B might be the surprise of the day with an unexpected 1-2, backed up with 4 and 6-7, the most surprising being that the class win was taken by a pretty stock road registered MX. Modesty forbids ... however it never hurts to have some of the heavy competition sit out a round. Interestingly, the GM did a 1.58.2 with a stock engine (with CAI), the best I can remember it doing with the big kw engine was 1.56.something. Yesterday's time was set on 195/50 Yoko 48s, the earlier time on 205/50s but I don't remember which tyre. Tyres were the difference yesterday between first and second, the GM on newish, and second place Kevin on old.

Certainly the runs were filled with drama, as to postpone the arrival of the Stohr in our mirrors our group went out without the customary spacing, and as a result we had someone (who shall remain nameless - but not me) spin on the warm-up sending MX5s in all directions, someone else have a big lose on the exit of T2 to mention just a couple. Basically we were getting under each others feet in the interests of another car having the best opportunity to set his laps.

BTW Peter, I have some silverware for you, from your 2nd in the series in 2B from last year - for which congratulations - see you Thursday?

Keep an eye out for R3, as with the popularity of the series we need to get our entries in during the preferential period.

[Guran]

It actually got quicker right at the end of the day. Stewart and Glenn finished their 4th run after the second oil spill clean-up, and then cheekily rejoined the marshalling grid immediately after. They squeezed into the "butcher's picnic" run, and both did their fastest times, following each other very closely (but not racing, of course!).

[PeterB]

GM

Well done - a 1st in class and a 1.58.2 after a couple of years out is an excellent result - that new radiator must have fixed your water heating problems.

Good results and some quick times times by the rest of the team, with plenty under the 2.00 min with Ralph 1.53, Phil 1.54, Luke 1.56, Mike 1.57, GM in 1.58 and Glenn and Stewart in 1.59. I notice Bryan was stuck over 2.00 min, so those R888s must have been playing up again !!!

I notice first in 3A was a 1.51 by the O'Meara Civic so I would struggle to catch him in Fanta - a bloody quick Honda !!!

I will see you Thursday to pick up the trophy - should be 2nd class 3A for Britney. She deserves a trophy after the treatment she has had.

[Guran]

Yes Peter, you're right about the R888s. At least I matched my previous GP times with them, which was in better conditions in August. Good news is that the R888s are pretty much finished now and I'll be on Bridgestones for Round 3 on 2nd June.

[david_syd_au]

It actually got quicker right at the end of the day. Stewart and Glenn finished their 4th run after the second oil spill clean-up, and then cheekily rejoined the marshalling grid immediately after. They squeezed into the "butcher's picnic" run, and both did their fastest times, following each other very closely (but not racing, of course!).

Only through good luck, I ended up being first car out for that final "butcher's picnic" run, and was glad for the efforts by the guys in the previous run to clean up the mess of oil and dust on the track. I think Stewart and Glenn deserved another run for their good work :-)

I managed my best times of the day in that last run, with 2 laps of 2:00.6, although, as it was my first event at any of the SMP tracks, each run of the day yielded a new PB, as you might expect for someone learning a new track.
It would have been nice to have gone that 0.6 seconds faster though ... anyway, that can be a goal for next time!

Overall it was a good day, although the delays of over 1.5 hours between runs was slightly frustrating, but with the good company of many MX5 club members, it helped pass the time. It didn't seem that the delays were due to the way the day was run, but just down to the number of drivers. I was told that the final count of entrants running yesterday was around 160.

Looking forward to the club track day at SMP South in May (only 20 sleeps away!), and SS Round 3 at SMP North in June

[greenMachine]

Thanks Peter.

Yes, it looks like I got away with a new (secondhand) rad, and thermostat. Currently waiting on a new SE radiator.

Bryan, I had started the pack-up when they called the group, and I had started to switch off so stuck to my decision.

I can remember doing that at OP in my 2006 campaign, and knocking off the class leader who had done what I did yesterday - he was not pleased, but I thought it was a neat trick . Fortunately it did not bite me yesterday ...

[Guran]

It would have been nice to have gone that 0.6 seconds faster though ... anyway, that can be a goal for next time!

Next year, then. There are no more CAMS Supersprint rounds this year on the GP/Gardner circuit.

I was told that the final count of entrants running yesterday was around 160.

Not sure if that is correct. There are 122 drivers listed on Natsoft, and Mike mentioned a figure of under 130 in total, so maybe there were several drivers who ran without Dorians??? The 1.5hr delay between runs seems about right for a 120-130 field, based on how much (little) track time we got with similar numbers at the Supersprint Nationals in 2011. Actually, four runs of four laps each (16 total) was a better result than normal - especially considering there were two very long clean-up delays. Five runs of three laps each (15 total) has been the norm in recent years on this circuit, with smaller fields of around 100 drivers. Makes you realise what great value the Vics get with AROCA at Phillip Island - achieved by running much larger / more crowded groups ... and lots of Alfas that break down by lunch time.

[guss]

I was told that the final count of entrants running yesterday was around 160.

Not sure if that is correct. There are 122 drivers listed on Natsoft, and Mike mentioned a figure of under 130 in total, so maybe there were several drivers who ran without Dorians???

I guess David got this info from me... Bryan, a few days prior to R2 you mentioned that:

Bob has emailed a list of registered championship entrants. There are 169 drivers in total.

I misunderstood it as being 169 drivers registered for R2. Only now I realised that you meant the total number of drivers registered for this year's championship.


It was a great day yesterday! I loved the GP circuit and managed a 2:02.00 on a stock NB8B with coilovers and R-specs. At the end of the day, after trying many different lines and entry speeds, I was taking turn 1 at 160km/h and I knew I could go even faster.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a clean lap during the "butcher's picnic" run, when I was hoping to put everything I learned through the day together in one final fast lap. Can't wait to drive there again next year!

Thanks Stewart for being my instructor during the familiarization lap and for all the great advice!

[Charlie Brown]

Well I left early after just two sessions of “driving on ice”, so I missed the wait, which after my day probably was the best thing to happen.

I hadn’t done a close check of the tyres after Wakefield until I fitted them on Saturday. I knew they were getting low but upon inspection it was obvious that I needed to replace them. I was hoping the Kumho truck would be at the event and decided it best to ring and check but got no answer. He wasn't at the track, probably down at Wakefield, so the old tyres would have to do. Big mistake.

So the first session went a little bit like this. Depending on the corner, any steering input resulted in snap oversteer or mass understeer. I finished the first session feeling lucky that I didn’t spin or exit the track. I had no hope of putting in a good time and expected something around the 2:05 mark due to the unexpected sideways action, not being able to get on the power early, braking well before T1 to stay away from the wall.
You could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw I’d done a 1:54.

Back in the pits an inspection of the tyres showed the front right was blistered so I swapped it to the rear left in an attempt to reduce understeer in all the LH corners.

The second session didn’t get any better, in fact it got worst. T8 at the bottom of Corporate Hill was diabolical. That blistered tyre had no grip. Trail brake, snap left, snap right, snap left, drift action, watch out for the wall!!!
I backed off the next lap and call everyone through as I had a conga line behind watching my antics as I held them up. I tagged on behind Mike for a couple of laps before it became really apparent that if I kept going it wouldn’t end up pretty, so I back right off to pull into the pits only to hear that my front left wheel bearing was complaining. Great.

The positive I’ve have taken out of this is that with a good set of tyres I’m sure it will be possible to get into the low 1:50’s. Now to get everything fixed before the Club day in a couple of weeks.

[Luke]

Round 3 open.
$225 plus $15 for dorian hire!!!
Plus 3% credit card surcharge
Are they for real!!!
Biggest gouge I have ever, seen.
I am considering not entering(probably will, can't resist), since we will probably only get 3 sessions from previous experiences.

The RRC acronym can be said how you feel in this case.

[evil_weevil]

wow, MRA is $5 more for entry.
thats expensive for a sprint!

[Guran]

Cheaper than last year though. I seem to recall that NSWRRC charged $245 for the north circuit last year. Now THAT was a gouge.

[Tony]

If the NSWRRC manage to get anywhere near the same number of entries as the ARDC got last weekend, it will be a complete shambles.

Personally I think the FoSC day on Saturday will be much better value for money.

[greenMachine]

I am in for Rd3. $225! plus 3% if paying by credit card! Nice little earner ...

[Luke]

Well Round 4 Opened last week for the full circuit at SMSP.

Emailed my entry in yesterday, and ARDC already charged my card today.
Just be aware of one thing, it doesn't say anywhere I can see on the form that there is a credit card surcharge, yet they charged me $219.30, instead of the $215 listed.
Only complaining as believe it or not, $1 over my credit limit!!! Bank says all good though, as the transaction was pending, and I have put cash in to cover it.
Never been charged a surcharge from ARDC before, so I have sent an email off querying that.

Luke