Any Rennlisters from New Zealand?
07-19-2015, 06:54 AM
Rennlist Member
Yesterday turned out to be a great day in the end -- I'm glad I waited around a bit because I came very close to leaving before lunch. Paul, thanks for organising and I think your management throughout the day was spot on. I also had 888s on, they're the only tyre I've got. I know they're not ideal in the wet but I would've been disappointed to be turned away because of them. I've had a big spin in the wet and now I have more respect. (For what it's worth, I think Steve had the same tyre on his RS rep in the wet sprints last year and still managed a 1.19.) John/Doug -- surprised to see you gone so early! The sun was shining, the track was dry and getting warmer, traffic was sparse... I was looking forward to watching you duel 
Can't speak for Doug, but during the second session post lunch my Hankook roadies showed their limitations and it was time to either reduce speed or go home with some damage, or just go home. I was starting to lose it on the sweeper and plough through turn 2. Trail braking didn't seem to help get the front to grip in the turns. Given the morning we felt lucky to get two good sessions in.
No duelling this time although maybe in the RS60 and R as they have similar tyres, if we go to the one on the 15th. No NITT for me this year, so it may be the last chance for a while as the new 2kcup race season starts. Then we can duel it out in the DC2s
07-19-2015, 07:14 AM
Burning Brakes
Any Rennlisters from New Zealand?
Is it recommended to increase tyre pressures in the wet? My vague recollection is that a std aeroplane tyre aquaplanes at nine times the square root of the tyre pressure (nerd alert). Upping the pressure although reducing the contact patch should increase resistance to aqua planing?
07-19-2015, 07:25 AM
Rennlist Member
Is it recommended to increase tyre pressures in the wet? My vague recollection is that a std aeroplane tyre aquaplanes at nine times the square root of the tyre pressure (nerd alert). Upping the pressure although reducing the contact patch should increase resistance to aqua planing?
07-19-2015, 05:16 PM
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07-19-2015, 05:46 PM
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Paul. You can tell by the narrow rear fenders and the 17" Cups its not a C4S. Its a 1994 993 C2 Tipo with Turbofront bumper...
Glad only one bent car yesterday. Not an RSGer either. Sounds like people were cautiuous which is good. Looked very much like our 27 April track day (hosing down in morning and drying off in afternoon). As others have said its up to the individual at the end of the day about tyre chocie and drying attitude.
Not a day I felt jealous about returning to NZ for.
4 of my last 5 track days in NZ have been wet or damp ones (Taupo taking the washout award) - getting a bit tired of it to be honest. Next year we will look to move NITT to early November if all agree. Early September is probably too cold/questionable/unpredicatble - but lets see how it goes this year. Certainly after paying for slights, accodation and people to look after property and pets at home its a bit dissapointing recently to only have 20% of days bone dry.
Hopefully the track day mid August will be better. Im sure it will be.
Next up Pete & Enduro. 2K Cup starts end of Sept. Matt is still AWOL. Anyone for Targa NZ this year? Wheres Walt in these events? and many more questions...
Glad only one bent car yesterday. Not an RSGer either. Sounds like people were cautiuous which is good. Looked very much like our 27 April track day (hosing down in morning and drying off in afternoon). As others have said its up to the individual at the end of the day about tyre chocie and drying attitude.
Not a day I felt jealous about returning to NZ for.
4 of my last 5 track days in NZ have been wet or damp ones (Taupo taking the washout award) - getting a bit tired of it to be honest. Next year we will look to move NITT to early November if all agree. Early September is probably too cold/questionable/unpredicatble - but lets see how it goes this year. Certainly after paying for slights, accodation and people to look after property and pets at home its a bit dissapointing recently to only have 20% of days bone dry.
Hopefully the track day mid August will be better. Im sure it will be.
Next up Pete & Enduro. 2K Cup starts end of Sept. Matt is still AWOL. Anyone for Targa NZ this year? Wheres Walt in these events? and many more questions...
07-19-2015, 07:23 PM
Rennlist Member
Macca, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place with track dates in that we get easy access in Winter when weather is changeable and racers are thinner on the ground and less in Summer as race series lock in dates a year or more ahead of time. In 2k cup races we have been drenched, semi drenched and baked, you just have to deal with it. If I recall correctly the first RSG year we struck mostly dry tracks days. In hindsight that was sheer/good luck. If it's that important to be dry, the easiest way is to book a space and bow out if you don't like the conditions, or alternatively hope there is a place and book when the weather forecast is reliably good. Of course that's easier for those of us 60km from the track
07-19-2015, 07:53 PM
Rennlist Member
Macca, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place with track dates in that we get easy access in Winter when weather is changeable and racers are thinner on the ground and less in Summer as race series lock in dates a year or more ahead of time. In 2k cup races we have been drenched, semi drenched and baked, you just have to deal with it. If I recall correctly the first RSG year we struck mostly dry tracks days. In hindsight that was sheer/good luck. If it's that important to be dry, the easiest way is to book a space and bow out if you don't like the conditions, or alternatively hope there is a place and book when the weather forecast is reliably good. Of course that's easier for those of us 60km from the track
Unfortunately that is not a luxury I have the benefit of with my offshore lifestyle, hence I go to the track rain or shine when I'm in NZ.
The NITT has latitude to be moved to a later date in the year. The September slot only came about because we were leveraging of a Playdays annual Manfield fixture. However this year and last has proven we have enough demand to take out the short track entirely for ourselves in the future at no real additional cost to our participants. In fact we have faced the opposite issue this year in securing enough places and currently have a reserves list and have had to open the extension even to get us to this point. I should think mid October dates for example may be a better option in 2016 and as NITT takes in a weekday (usually a Friday or Monday) that should not be an issue.
I am currently working with Playdays on "Arrive & Drive" dates for RSG for 8 Jan and late March 2016. We are awaiting confirmation of pricing and availability at HD as the prices look like they will be on the up after Xmas. No surprises there I guess. Coupled with SITT in March this should give RSG 6 track dates in the first 3 months of 2016! Plus the Festival for those participating on track over that period. Not too bad. If RSG can organise some April/May dates at HD then with NITT in say October plus a few Playdays and PCNZ dates sprinkled over June-Sept plus November that should provide around 12 possible dates for RSG in 2016....
07-19-2015, 08:36 PM
Rennlist Member
Certainly plenty of chances to get out there, not forgetting the race series as well. I think you can count on prices escalating. The 2k cup is apparently moving to $300 per meet.
At some stage I need to tackle Herman's gearbox, so need to work out the best time to do that. Given the above, it may well be now, albeit I want to complete the Hondas first and that starts tonight. If it goes badly I may have the materials to get another geabox kiwi made up
At some stage I need to tackle Herman's gearbox, so need to work out the best time to do that. Given the above, it may well be now, albeit I want to complete the Hondas first and that starts tonight. If it goes badly I may have the materials to get another geabox kiwi made up
07-19-2015, 08:58 PM
Rennlist Member
Winter seems the ideal time to sort out larger mechanical jobs such as gearbox IMO. You can pretty much guarantee with a geabox job that you will have to strip it down first to find out what needs ordering, then order and wait then start the rebuild. Even when planning carefully there will always be a couple of items that you didnt anticipate. This happened to me last May with the 993 and in the end the gearbox was apart for around 6 weeks end to end (in my case 2 weeks lost for LSD clutch pack from Guards but also note that CCS made a late call on some gearbox internals that necessitated me ordering from EMD to finish the job in a timely manner). The car was completed late June and I flew in to run it up and check it mid July at a HD Playdays/RSG event. Most people Ive spoken to having a G50 rebuilt have found it can be a longer job. Parts are not off the shelf.
07-19-2015, 09:22 PM
Rennlist Member
Winter seems the ideal time to sort out larger mechanical jobs such as gearbox IMO. You can pretty much guarantee with a geabox job that you will have to strip it down first to find out what needs ordering, then order and wait then start the rebuild. Even when planning carefully there will always be a couple of items that you didnt anticipate. This happened to me last May with the 993 and in the end the gearbox was apart for around 6 weeks end to end (in my case 2 weeks lost for LSD clutch pack from Guards but also note that CCS made a late call on some gearbox internals that necessitated me ordering from EMD to finish the job in a timely manner). The car was completed late June and I flew in to run it up and check it mid July at a HD Playdays/RSG event. Most people Ive spoken to having a G50 rebuilt have found it can be a longer job. Parts are not off the shelf.
The Honda race ones are carbon lined brass. I expect G50 will be another level and likely well outside a DIY job, but I will be well placed to understand what they recommend when it's opened up. I also want to inspect my planetary gear. It's lasted 17,000km of hard use since it was welded up, but I'd like a sanity check anyway.
07-19-2015, 09:48 PM
Rennlist Member
Seems like a logical plan John. The G50 brass synchros arent expensive. The cost comes if there has been big damage to the teeth on a gear set. I only just managed to escape this cost. If course there are plenty of little things worth doing while you are in there like replacing the reverse lock out spring and pin and also replacing the selector forks if they show wear at these Kms which one assumes they will. Then there are the usual gaskets etc. Ideally you need a clean environment with steel bench to lay everything out, gear pullers and associated tools, an engine stand or bench brace to mount the gearbox and a place to put the car without its engine/gearbox while its all coming together. Definately not a simple DYI but after your Honda rebuilding excercise you may have the experience and space to tackle it...