Awesome, completed my first timed competitive event succesfully. Evo vs WRX Jacks hill climb. First time I have been to the venue since... Dutton Feb? 2006 while driving Rob's liberty (PROTOTYPE) and the course has been extended and changed. Sweet. Up to the event I managed to do some testing (as above, yesterday at AHG), got a set of pretend r-comps on (Federal 595 RS or something), installed my drivers Velo seat finally, got an alignment, and put a blue sticker on my car.
We got a sighting run, and i made a note of a particular right hand corner that Fred (Blues) forgot to take last time. We were to have 5 runs, with only the best time counting toward final standings. So that was 1 sighting run, 4 practise runs, and 1 hardcore run, right? Wrong. Sitting on the start line, telling myself to go easy. Eaaasy jester. easy. GREEN LIGHT -> RED MIST GOGOGOGOGO.
Ah me tyres, they aren't warm. I click 4th up the hill, over the crest and realise there is no road infront of me, only trees. PANIC. brake, no traction, turn in... understeer.. only thing for it.. HANDBRAKE. Managed to keep it on the blackstuff. back into second, keep going!!
Over the line in 65.85. The leaders are doing mid 50s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khsOn1J0zQc
Second run I failed at video
i kept it smooth and just tried to drive it, tried a higher gear through some corners. cross the line in 61.52 seconds. Not bad. At this point the leaders are doing 53s
I decide my goal is sub 60
Third run. That hairpin back onto the track for the second time (after the Laguna Seca style dipper) is pretty tight. Maybe a handbrake turn will sort it? Came around beautifully, only to sit on the spot baking wheels. Clicked second and it bogged down and i had to kick the clutch to make it take off again. 62.34.. a second slower than my last run *facepalm* leaders are down to 52s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTZL1rXxD98
4th run. ok this time its serious, I'm actually running out of runs at the event to do a good time. tyres are now warm, i know the lay of the course and where to use what gears (well I think i do.. clearly not as im 10 seconds off the pace). i decide to short shift the first part of the course and concentrate on the corners. some understeer but i remember i have a front LSD so i keep the throttle nailed and let it pull me through...a little raggard towards the end as i touch the sand but as i roll in...59.87 ! i made my target!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5xDQki8yxg
5th run, i am OUT TO WIN. well maybe not win. I've equalled the times of some evos in my 190hp shitter, so I'm pretty happy. sitting on the startine line.. lets do it like we did last time! launch... first, seco... sec... sec.... GOD DAMMIT GET IN GEAR.. second.... off we go. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK. nail it up the hill and sweep through the esses. get to the top, third back to sec.. SECOND, and smoothly through. cross the line and 1.00 something. shit shit shit if i had got the gears properly that would have been my fastest run.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E3orlMQvf8
after that a poor chap in an evo7 met an untimely demise and the 5th run was cancelled.
happy to drive the car home and have a few drinks after a successful outing. choice!
some things to note from the video, looks like the sliding rail in my velo seat is shit, as the seat is moving everywhere. so am i as i didnt get time to put a harness in!