Hammer's Clubbie

[Hammer]

Anzac Weekend (24-26) April 2010

After curing the mud flaps I was finally ready to fit them into the car.

All the stuff needed just to re-paint and fit a set of mudflaps


1st Step was to remove the masking tape around the mud flaps


2nd Step was to buff it with a bit of cut and polish


I also got some big flat washers from Bunnings. Big flat washers are great @ spreading the pressures on plastic/rubber material


I did a quick coat of glossy black to ensure they don't stick out


Washers fitted


Front before and after shots








Personally I prefer "Ginger Spice" without any mudflaps, but I prefer to protect her duco more. This is a case of function over form.

[Hammer]

24 APRIL 2010
MX5 Club Wheel Alignment Day @ Spinning Wheels

Wheel alignment done by the MX5 Alignmnent Whiz, Stu.

The Whiz himself

[Hammer]

2 MAY 2010
DIY CUSTOM RACECAM MOUNTS

Today, I decided to make my own mounts for the two "RaceCams" that I'd like to try out at Wakefield tomorrow.

The criteria for the mounts were:

1. No drilling to any part of the car
2. Must not leave any marks
3. Easy to install and remove
4. Easy to access
5. Make it as light and small as possible
6. Must be adjustable

Found two mounting points on the car that were ideal.

This mount is to fit the stick camera under the front bumper bar. It'll be fitted using the existing holes in the bumper bar where the front number plate is attached (which I've always removed when on the track).




I recently got this Camshot Weatherproof Sports Camera, and using its numerous mountings on the bar was sturdy, but was too low to see much outside the screen.



So off to Bunnings I go and bought these parts to make....



.....this custom mount. I've designed it this way to allow me to use the existing handlebar mount of the camera. Plus this method allows me additional adjustments both in height and angle (up and down, left to right). And if i add a smaller right-angle bracket, and I can fit a stick camera pointing backwards.

[Okibi]

Hope you've got some video footage coming, thanks for sharing your modifications with us.

[broady]

Brilliant. Top work Allan. Keen to see footage after Monday's session...!

[two40]

Nice job on the mount.

[Jeo]

And the footage...

[Hammer]

Thanks Guys.

Here is the bumper mount fitted with my bumper cam. Vids to follow after editing.

[broady]

Your car is so clean, Allan. I remember when I saw it at the track day, I said to Lindsay "Holy sh*t, I've never seen such a shiny red NA!"

[Hammer]

Your car is so clean, Allan. I remember when I saw it at the track day, I said to Lindsay "Holy sh*t, I've never seen such a shiny red NA!"

[Hammer]

3 MAY 2010
MX-5 CLUB TRACK DAY - 4 MAY 2010
WAKEFIELD PARK RACEWAY

[Guran]

Great work Allan, both on the camera mounts and the video. I think I can see a little vibration in the video image. Nothing dramatic though and you might be able to reduce it by taping the camera more tightly to the bracket.

You did a 1:17.69 and that included a sloppy finish in the fishhook! I don't think I stand much chance of catching you now . Your car seems to be so much more balanced in the corners than mine at the moment. I was having to drift through 4 and 5 with a little oversteer. Definitely need a wheel alignment. Sounds like you were sometimes short shifting on the main straight into 4th and in the fishhook into 3rd. Is that true? Was it deliberate?

[Hammer]

The video just does not show it, but I do drift a little through turn 4 & 5. And I've been told by more experienced drivers that drifting a little through those corners seems to be the quickest way around then.

As for shifting, I did get a miss-gear change in the start of my first lap exiting the fish hook. But on most occassions, I hit the redline just before the end and have to shift.

As for the straight, I generally shift just a smidge before the redline. Not sure if this is best or not, but I know the torque on the NA engine maxes out before the redline. I was timing it more with getting the most torque onto the ground. Plus I'm hopping doing it this way is better for the engine.

But somehow I feel it won't take long for you to improve the NA class 1 record time once you get your wheel alignment done. I'm still very sloppy - as evident with my inconsistent lap times. So lots of opportunity for you (and me) to better the time. I don't think the current time will stay there too long.

[Guran]

The video just does not show it, but I do drift a little through turn 4 & 5. And I've been told by more experienced drivers that drifting a little through those corners seems to be the quickest way around then.

I've had a good look at your video now. You call that a drift? In my last session of the day I reckon I must have had 20 or 30 degrees of drift angle through turn 5 ! I'll post some video ASAP. Makes me wish I'd paid a bit more and bought the DriftBox instead of the PerformanceBox. As for the quickest way through there, I think you're probably right - my split times for turns 4 and 5 were pretty good when I was using that technique.

[Benny]

Excellent video there Allen.
Even the sound was good as you could clearly hear the engine rather than just wind.

The brackets look really good too and they sure seem to work well for you.

Do you go flat out through the kink on the front straight?
It sounds as if you are feathering the throttle into the kink.

You will pickup valuable 10th's by pushing hard through the kink, although it is very daunting at first, and makes you work hard through corner 2.
My SP hits the kink at around 185k's, and my coit does get very tight as I go through, I must admit, but it does lead to better times.

Any picks from the new camera?