MX-5 Club Track Day - SMP South Circuit - 27th October 2012

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:42 pm

No.

Yet another thing that was funny 2 years ago thats now all over facebook I guess? I dont have facebook but a person who got that from its original source wouldnt throw it up on a public forum.

No one cares what you think about my post Dann! If you don't have Facebook, why bother commenting about something your presuming, since your absolutely wrong.

Atleast my comment was relative to Gurans post, about not lifting off the throttle.

Troll be gone.

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 8:48 pm

Sad sign of the times is all, And no one cares about my first post your reply or my post, none of its relevant but thats how converations on the internet go, Sorry i offended.

Dann

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 10:51 pm

Not offended, I understand the nature of your reply. Back to said topic! I'm pumped, hope my exams are after as I could be double booked argg

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 10:53 pm

I managed to get in a 1:08.7643 on the fourth and final run of the day

. This video shows that PB lap and gives a good idea of what to expect from the track. Lots of elevation changes and two sections of linked slaloms where you need to be careful with the weight transfer. The walls never came into play for anyone, although it was a close call for a C63 AMG! This is already proving to be a fantastic circuit for MX-5s. Huge fun and very busy! :mrgreen:

Spectating and photography areas are excellent too.

Full results from today's supersprint are here. Quickest MX-5 so far is Ralph Thompson with 1:04.3334 in his road registered NC. Incidentally, there was a Subaru BRZ there for a couple runs - best lap was only 1:12.9582 although the car was fitted with 18" alloys and crappy Chinese tyres.

The south circuit facilities are still pretty basic at the moment, with no shelter in the carpark, a partially completed timing tower, temporary toilets and an absolutely rubbish catering van. I highly recommend bringing a packed lunch on 27th October unless you fancy a $9 hamburger which is virtually inedible, tasteless coffee, served by bitter & twisted staff who will will ignore you while you stand waiting to place an order and than scowl "yeh-wadda-ya-want?" Pass.

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:00 pm

Wow, Im going to a drift night there.

Wow, Excellent track.

Dann

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:57 am

Nice to see you guys today @ SMP.

Looking at the video, it seems (like Wakefield) it's mostly a 3rd gear track on the NA. Your thoughts? Is the uphill hairpin the only time you used 2nd gear?

It would also be interesting to see how the club will time our laps (or rather where they'll place the markers). And with most of the circuit not visible from the tower/pit straight (I had to drive along the access road to see the back of the track), the track will definately need marshalls in most of the key points (with radios back to the tower the only means of comms).

Considering the twistiest and most undulating part of the track is not visible from the tower, it's not a spectator friendly track IMO. If you like hanging around pit lane and also see the track, then this is not that track. As previously mentioned, you'll need to take a walk (or drive) along the access road around the track to see the back (and IMO the more interesting part) of the track.

Looking forward for my first go at this circuit in October. See you guys then.

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:09 am

It would also be interesting to see how the club will time our laps (or rather where they'll place the markers). And with most of the circuit not visible from the tower/pit straight (I had to drive along the access road to see the back of the track), the track will definately need marshalls in most of the key points (with radios back to the tower the only means of comms).

Perhaps time to raise a levy for timing devices? (don't shoot the messenger)

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:57 am

I suspect the club's timing system could be used with the normal start/finish line. It's well sited from the tower and there's plenty of time for the spotters to see the cars coming through the last three turns.

As for spectating, yes it's true that you can't see the whole track from any one vantage point. However you can get good close views of the last three turns and turn 1 just from the front of the carpark. The views of the back section do require a long walk / short drive, but they are worth it for those who venture out there.

Hopefully they'll build a pedestrian bridge to allow access to corporate hill again - then the spectating possibilities will be excellent.

As for driving the track, yes it was nearly all third gear in my NA6. I used 2nd for the two hairpins (1 1/2th gear would have been better for the first hairpin!), and briefly got to 4th just before the last three turns. NA8s and NBs with taller gear/diff ratios might not see 4th. I was using 2nd through those last three turns while I was getting the feel for them. Even though it's mostly 3rd gear, it's at fairly low revs so you need to be pushing hard to maintain 3rd and avoid lugging the engine. The slalom corners demand careful weight transfers and you can't rush them too much either. It's a VERY technical track and will take a long time to master.

doctor_bob · Postby **doctor_bob** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:17 am

Interested in doing this assuming I have sorted my car issues. Haven't got CAMS license yet, how long do they usually take to be approved once you post the forms in? Is there likely to be enough of a window between now and the event?

edit: just read through the regulations document and noticed I'll need to present my mx5 club membership card... this hasn't been posted to me yet either... can I bring a copy of the email saying I was accepted into the club which has my member number on it in lieu of the card?

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:28 am

Usually takes about a week to get your L2S licence after posting the forms. Still plenty of time ... but don't leave it too late.

Here is the datalog from my 1:08.7643 lap to give an idea of speeds in a stock NA6 with R888s. Note that the track length is about 1740m. This lap is definitely not optimal as there are several areas where my other logged data indicates I can go quicker ... but it's somewhere to start.

Track Map by Guran5, on Flickr

Luke · Postby **Luke** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:38 am

Now for some info for those who may want to know.
I was quicker with my rear sway bar disconnected.
1:07.2815 with it on.
1:06.6329 with it off.
With only 4 sessions though, I wouldn't could that definitive.

Main reason was simply more traction and less side ways action out of all the sharp corners.
Something worth considering for guys out there with standard Suspension(SE), with a bit of power and road tyres.
I was lifting the inside rear wheel in the 2 hairpins, when the sway bar was connected, which really kills your top speed going up the hill and around the sweeping left. With it disconnected, I could just floor it in 2nd up the hill.
You do suffer understeer in the higher speed corners though with the bar diconnected, plenty of run off for that.

Black_Penguin · Postby **Black_Penguin** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:41 pm

Sent my entry in, can't wait!

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:49 pm

fancy a mate having a wedding in Victoria that weekend.

Would love to be there, but groomsmen duties prevail

hamx5ter · Postby **hamx5ter** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:51 pm

Sent in my application .. gotta organise the blue triangle and the plastic film for the headlights ... :sigh: more weight...

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:18 pm

hamx5ter wrote:Sent in my application .. gotta organise the blue triangle and the plastic film for the headlights ... :sigh: more weight...

The CAMs scrutinnering requirements states..."All forward facing glass lenses to be completely covered by a protective film. Refer Schedule B Article16 in the CAMS Manual of Motor Sport."

The operative word being "glass". As far as I know all NB headlights are made out of plastic.

Unless the word "glass" here is a generic term for any headlights, irrespective of what they're made out of. Someone I'm sure can clarify further.