TOTB4 - Who wants to be involved?

[stevecordiner]

I can't remember Steve's time last year, but wasn't it 12.5 or around there? We should both be capable of better than that by then. I'd be very surprised if we're not both around 12.2's in a couple of months time. You sort your CC core and i'll get my motec working properly and we'll get back up to the pod again soon and get the times we're both capable of.

I ran a 12.7 last year, but I had some pretty severe clutch issues .... lol ... e.g. I couldnt heat my tyres up because my clutch would die on the way up the strip and I had to baby it off the line.

I dunno whether my car will be quick enough, but at the end of the day we need to get the times in.

The sad state of affairs is we arent going to score points in the top speed unless some people have got crazy gear ratio's going on, we also arent really going to score any points in handling if the track is laid out like last year - sorry but back to back hairpins just is not suited to a rwd car as the gulf in times showed last year when put beside 4wd cars.

We should aim to be competitive and beat the rwd players

Michael, any idea how many places are up for nabs this year?

[michael]

Michael, any idea how many places are up for nabs this year?

Not yet, just going through the usual process of trying to get as many as possible

[Bender Unit]

>>I dunno whether my car will be quick enough, but at the end of the day we need to get the times in.<<

I am sure it will be Steve!

>>The sad state of affairs is we arent going to score points in the top speed unless some people have got crazy gear ratio's going on<<

I was going to do a top speed run and hit the nitrous on the top end of 5th to give the car more punch on the last stretch but they closed the strip before I could give it a go TBH though I think it would have been a waste as the turbo just couldn’t cope with that much gas and wouldn’t pull hard on the top end. I am hoping that with the new turbo that wont be an issue. Still your right the MR2 isn’t geared for silly top end. However wouldn’t 8k in 5th work out in the high 170’s?

>>we also arent really going to score any points in handling if the track is laid out like last year - sorry but back to back hairpins just is not suited to a rwd car as the gulf in times showed last year when put beside 4wd cars.<<

I would say though in the RWD cars defence the 4wd cars that did well were stripped Evo’s primarily set up for rally / or track work making decent power. The track was a crap layout though. Just need to take a step out of JJ book and drive it like you stole it! What about having the nitrous set for the circuit, have it come in on WOT, should be a scary session when you finally get the clog down to the floor, and the power will be off when you not on WOT. Just an idea that might be fun playing with.

Cheers

James

[stevecordiner]

Ahaaa ... good work Michael, try for as many as poss!



"Still your right the MR2 isn’t geared for silly top end. However wouldn’t 8k in 5th work out in the high 170’s"

Very true james, 8k would be around high 170's low 180's, but realistically there'll be 3 or 4 skylines pulling that speed easily, 3 or 4 supras doing it easily, a porsche and then theres vipers ect etc Not to mention a couple of the Evos with daft gearing. Our cars just arent built for those speeds sadly

I agree on the 4wd cars that did well were basically tarmac spec'd rally cars, but they'll no doubt be there again this year lol and probably a few better handling skylines/scoobs too. The layout was 4wd bias and will no doubt be again this year.

I recon the only chance of imoc getting any points will be 1/4 mile as MR2's have the best layout for it.

I suppose realistically it'd just be nice for whoever competes to surprise a few people in other clubs etc. I know I saw quite a few comments afterwards on some forums that were impressed with how the MR2's did last year given our cars were virtually standard compared to the other cars running there.

[Paul R]

Hi,

I'd be interested in this I think. My car should be quite quick when complete. I'm not sure about on the track though, I dont know if I'll have time to set the suspension up properly for then.

Whats the deal with this anyhow? Do you have to run lots of events or what?

Paul.

[BenF]

Hi,

I'd be interested in this I think. My car should be quite quick when complete. I'm not sure about on the track though, I dont know if I'll have time to set the suspension up properly for then.

Does the owner have to take the car around the track?

If not, I'd be happy to volenteer to be track driver if needed, even if the standard suspension wasn't fully aligned

[Paul R]

Err....the standard suspension isnt aligned no, it's also totally sh@gg$d!! It has ohlins coilovers on it actually, but they are nackered. It needs new shocks, front ball joints and bearings before it will go round any corners remotely well!!

I'm not gonna have the time to sort that for a while though!

Paul.

[stevecordiner]

Whats the deal with this anyhow? Do you have to run lots of events or what?

Paul.

Nope - think last year I got 2 quick runs at the track and one spin off haha.

Drag racing I got about 8-9 runs at it.

Basically, you dont get much racing to be honest. Its more of a show peice event.

[Bender Unit]

From my experiences I would say its best to attack the track at the very start of the day and get you allocated runs in and then hit the strip for the 1/4 miles and top speed runs. The circuit closes early on in the day and is usually rammed into the afternoon. It also means you can tailor you set for each event (i.e drop tire pressures for the circuit, change ARB rates etc)

Regards

James

[Hedgehog Dodger]

BOO HOO!!!

[michael]

Just had a TOTB update to confirm that Tim Webster with the Top Secret Drag R and the Jun Lemon Skylines is entering both cars - once again TOTB will be more about how much money you have rather than showcasing what the average Joe can do with a normal car

Don't get me wrong I think it's great to watch these cars in action but I think the time has come for TOTB to be split into two events, one for rich people with unlimited budgets for importing ready built drag cars and one for everyone else.

[stevecordiner]

I agree Michael, rich individuals is one thing but company cars isnt exactly fair. For starters they'll get the VAT back on parts and be able to get tax relief on the development on the car. I know thats a daft thing to say but it suddenly makes what they do quite cheap anyway!

They need to split it somehow, more genuine street cars in the competition would be nice.

Until last year I didnt realise a street car was a car turns up on a trailor with no interior in it and plastic windows. Having said that, Rocket Ron's car is quite streety

[tonigmr2]

Kind of agree with that - that Tim guy has about 5 skylines, three of which are world known, and another which is a Nur Spec. Hardly your average owner!

Plus tuners splash up to 100K on a car, no way the average person could even think it. They don't have to pay the labour after all!!

T

edit: That's what makes Ronnie Rockets car so amazing, I saw it at Abbey Motorsport a couple of weeks ago - just looks like a normal skyline in full 'normal' trim, so to do what he does with it is pretty mental.

[michael]

I've raised my concerns with them and asked about the possibility of a second event (BOTR - Best of the Rest) to be considered, maybe have a weekend event with TOTB on Saturday and BOTR on Sunday for 2006?

If they aren't keen I'll see what I can come up with myself - the gulf between the big power rich boy cars and the grass roots stuff is getting too wide for them to be in the same comp IMO, of course the handling course is a great leveller but it doesn't get the focus it should.

Anyway we'll see what happens, these big power cars tend to blow up the week before the event

[Hedgehog Dodger]

[quote="michael"]I've raised my concerns with them and asked about the possibility of a second event (BOTR - Best of the Rest) to be considered, maybe have a weekend event with TOTB on Saturday and BOTR on Sunday for 2006?

If they aren't keen I'll see what I can come up with myself [quote]

This would be much more fun

[tonigmr2]

A cap on tuning costs....hmmn hard to police perhaps but might give the smaller guys a chance.
T

[stevecordiner]

I dont think a cap on tuning costs is the answer, but it'd be nice if there was a bit more recognition for the little guys.

I remember queing up for the first run of the day last year with the RC Evo beside me. Lol ... I thought here I am in my 3k tubby, brought my own tools, still with mac dees wrappers in the car and there they are with a 20k engine and pro mechanics lol.

[JJ]

I remember queing up for the first run of the day last year with the RC Evo beside me. Lol

You didn't have a crack it though !!!!

I tried my best, then my poor old car fell apart soon as it saw all the competition !!

[stevecordiner]

Lol .... very true, I squeezed forward to have a pop at the white 200sx

Ooo .. pistons are on order btw

[tonigmr2]

Realistically I guess a car which cost £3K and has had another £3K spent on it just can't compete with a £20K car with another £50K spent on it...I'd like to think it'd give it a good run mind

Wonder how my lickle car which cost £2850 would fare....mind you have spent *cough* a little more since then.
T