Another Couple of Months, another mix of emotions.
After having braking issues I decided to give the pads and calipers a good clean and check if there was anything obvious that was hindering the stopping power of the heavy beast. Plenty of brake dust embedded in the front calipers:
so gave them a good clean with APC and they came up nice:
Inspected the front pads and although a little glazed, overall were in decent nick and roughly half the "meat" still left on them:
It was a different story at the rear, have alook at the discs and see what you can spot:
Not only were the grooved choked up with brake fallout but because of that the pads must have dragged it around the disc creating lots of ridges/scoring that was very pronounced to the touch and looked like the rings of Saturn. The pads were also very unevenly worn with peaks and troughs.
a magnetic screwdriver reveals the amount of metal filings below:
I decided to bite the bullet and purchase some new rear discs whilst filing the rear pads to get them smooth again. New EBC Turbo discs arrived which looked the part:
So all fitted, it was onto the next event in July which was a nice warm one I was looking forward to. Practice was 2 runs and the second effort got me a 64.8 (only a tenth off my PB) so I was expecting big things in the afternoon.
Sadly, the times went backwards. My practice run was smooth and precise rather than balls out. The afternoon runs, with me thinking I can smash my PB were just too aggressive and loose. The late braking (and the dreaded brake fade) did not work as I just couldn't stop for the corners so was sliding round losing time. That coupled with lots of accidents/hold ups on the day meant we only got 2 timed runs and my quickest was 65.48, still good enough for 3rd but 2nd was identical time to my practice run so should have been mine. I put the brake fade down to shear heat of the day but something was still not right.
Times below, me number 59
The following day was the visit of the UK hillclimb Championship and also a Car show so I had to pay a visit as a spectator. Some awesomely quick cars on show, mainly single seaters but watching the speed they can take a corner compared to road cars is incredible.
Couple of pics from the show, the first, an incredibly small car, the picture does not show that, but this thing was tiny:
And a nice R34 GTR
So back home, I decided to take the wheels off again and inspect the brakes as it was costing me about half a second. Fronts fine, back discs gouged into, this is after 1 hillclimb event and a 20 miles drive either way. The pads were gouged also, so I don't know what the issue is, I have a brand new set of discs that are almost ruined and pads that must be made from adamantium. I decided the bast course of action was to put some OEM pads back on, so on went the hawk road pads I still had lying in the garage, most of the braking is done at the front anyway right?
Onto Yesterday, and another hot one at Harewood, now you may think I haven't explained if my brakes were ok, and you would be right. its amazing what a busy work /home life does for ones limited memory span. Practice one was a 66 second steady sighter run as always. Practice 2 is when everyone tries to fine the limits of grip. for me that was missing the last corner completely and you guessed it, the brakes had gone (now I had been slamming on both on the way to the events and during thinking I needed to warm them up but in hindsight, that was probably a bad decision)
Now common sense dictates that I would take a steady run next or not at all, but for me I left that common sense at the start line so went for it, 40 seconds later I was sliding off up a 45deg banking heading for the same tree Kieren had taken out previously, luckily it was no longer there so I slammed back down onto the tarmac, tootled back the the paddock for damage assessment part 6 2019.
Main rad support broke again, oil cooler fubared, undertray was origamied into one of those swans they make on your bed in the Caribbean, and the 2 front wheels were cambered the same way to the left, great for the hill billy oval racing I suspect but not so good when you have to turn left and right.
BUT and its a small consolation, my PU bumper had took several whacks and come out screaming F--- You Mastercard. You will not be making any more money out of Mr Shaw this time, despite all the impacts, the bumper had a slight kink at one side, if only all the rest of the front end could be made of the same.
Amazingly the oil cooler is not leaking and seems to functioning fine so that can wait while the winter, I think I may try and fibreglass the rad support as I cant have the expense of yet another. With a little help from my fellow professionals, I adjusted the camber back to negative, all done by eye. The undertray was panel beaten from a swan back to the front doorstep or as close as and hey presto we are back in the game. It was during this damage assessment that the wife turned up with the kids for support. Now as you may have read on a previous page, one of the benefits about having a non-petrol head partner is this will only cost £40 to fix and she is happy. In fact she can never get her head round why her Fiat 500 and previous ford fiesta cost so much for parts and tyres when mine should cost more, hmmmm that is strange love.
Anyway, with a car that refuses to slow down and a brake pedal that goes to the floor and with family watching, I set out for the final run, Don't crash, don't crash again you muppet, was going through my head. out came that inner Hamilton in me and put in a 64.96
Now that is my fastest run of this year (that counts) and although 2 tenths of my best and it being a disappointment in general this year, I was well happy with that. I was literally braking 10 metres earlier for every corner with pedal to floor not knowing if I was gonna scrub enough speed off for the corner or not. A wheel alignment that could be sending me to Glasgow or Manchester. Its amazing what a bit of support can do for you. and speaking of support, here is the little man getting prepped to take over the car in 16 years time, if its still held together by that point.
And time below, finished in 4th place but considering everything, I will take it
and a failed run to boot for exceeding track limits - did I mention its the brakes?
So onto today as this was a full weekend double header and after some calm thought process I concluded my brake fluid must be cooked or past its sell-by date, I had 2 bottles of RBF660 fluid in the garage so took them along with me and was praying that the bleeding process was not as bleeding difficult as people on here sometimes make out. Spot the PUN) I also went through super early to drop off my spare set of wets as the forecast for the afternoon was thundery showers:
By the time I returned with the Zed, which decided to eat through a front arch liner on route, we were well on the way to starting practice so I had to do a run before sorting the brake fluid, needless to say, that was a sunday drive and confirmed the brakes needed attention. Big thanks to @Kieran O'Quick and another fellow competitor for helping me flush through some new fluid and between the 3 of us, we managed it in double quick time. around 45 mins I would guess, no dramas apart from Kieran spilling some of the fluid on the discs which wasn't ideal as we had no brake cleaner with us.
Onto practice 2, unknown brakes, covered in fluid, unknown alignment setup, unknown oil cooler condition. I was for once, cautious, brakes felt a little spongy still but their was bite on the pads that I had not felt for several months and at Orchard where I had been off several times I actually slowed enough to pick a line round the bend rather than trying to push the brake pedal into the engine bay, shutting my eyes, turning the wheel and hoping I come out the other end pointing in right direction.
Have it sorted the braking issue, partly, The first timed run, I could push a little harder and finished with a 65.2 We were back in the game and once again, a high 64 or possibly a PB was in the offering until...…..
……..watching some action with Julian, one of the cars careered off the track and head on into a farm building at around 50mph. the car went up into the air nose up before crashing back down and coming to rest luckily right way up. The ambulance crew rushed in and took the gent away and after 40 mins or so the event was called off, reason given was the building was deemed unstable. the car had taken out 7 or 8 of the stone wall blocks. Latest report is the chap is ok and should just be in hospital for one night, a timely reminder that motorsport can be dangerous and another reminder why we have to wear helmets, suits etc..
On a lighter note, I was leading at that point and on for some good points so it will hurt me ( and others) in the championship as you need to make the most of the dry days. With finishing early I also never got to try out the wets as we missed the afternoon showers so that was another wasted opportunity.
So brakes feeling better but more testing needed, I may have to get some new pads, any ideas why the rear carbonne Lorraine pads are chewing through discs but the fronts are fine?
Shot below of someone else going off just to prove its not just me that cant drive:
and a nice landscape/sky/weather/moody shot of the zed, don't know what correct term is.
Next up is the Coventry indoor show in 2 weeks, always a great selection of cars, and will be good to catch up with some fellow forum members. I may have to change the thread title to 95% race car 5% show car now though as it has more dents and scrapes than a builders wheelbarrow. I really will be showing the stand up so will park right at the end because its "racecar Yo"
Till Next Time.
