Monday Aug 19th Track Day at Wakefield

[Guran]

Looking back, there has been a rumbling sound, sometimes quite load, for the last 3 events, which I had put down to tyre noise due to uneven wear. Reviewing some videos from those events shows the noise was worst when turning left, gone when turning right, still there when going straight ahead, and gradually got worse over those events. In retrospect I should have investigated that noise further back then, and fixed the bearing before it become terminal.

I had this same noise start on Monday during my 4th run. In my case it was the righthand corners that were worst, and the noise disappeared on left turns. I started the 5th run, but retired early, packed up and managed to get home OK. The front left bearing was humming all the way. Peter B is looking after me too!

[david_syd_au]

Looking back, there has been a rumbling sound, sometimes quite load, for the last 3 events, which I had put down to tyre noise due to uneven wear. Reviewing some videos from those events shows the noise was worst when turning left, gone when turning right, still there when going straight ahead, and gradually got worse over those events. In retrospect I should have investigated that noise further back then, and fixed the bearing before it become terminal.

I had this same noise start on Monday during my 4th run. In my case it was the righthand corners that were worst, and the noise disappeared on left turns. I started the 5th run, but retired early, packed up and managed to get home OK. The front left bearing was humming all the way. Peter B is looking after me too!

I'm glad to hear you got home ok.
Hopefully it will be easy to replace. Give me a yell if you need help, as I am now a qualified expert :-)

It scares me to think that I did 3 track-days/supersprints at the South Circuit with the bearing rumbling away, not realising what it was, nor the risk. Yikes!

[cwto24]

Looking back, there has been a rumbling sound, sometimes quite load, for the last 3 events, which I had put down to tyre noise due to uneven wear. Reviewing some videos from those events shows the noise was worst when turning left, gone when turning right, still there when going straight ahead, and gradually got worse over those events. In retrospect I should have investigated that noise further back then, and fixed the bearing before it become terminal.

I had this same noise start on Monday during my 4th run. In my case it was the righthand corners that were worst, and the noise disappeared on left turns. I started the 5th run, but retired early, packed up and managed to get home OK. The front left bearing was humming all the way. Peter B is looking after me too!

I'm glad to hear you got home ok.
Hopefully it will be easy to replace. Give me a yell if you need help, as I am now a qualified expert :-)

It scares me to think that I did 3 track-days/supersprints at the South Circuit with the bearing rumbling away, not realising what it was, nor the risk. Yikes!

Oh David! Absolute pleasure meeting you on Monday. Had a ball of a time. Definitely took away alot from the driver training session. The last rain session taught alot.

[Apu]

So who got fastest of the day?

[david_syd_au]

So who got fastest of the day?

The weather.
Sunny one lap, raining the next :-)

[manga_blue]

So who got fastest of the day?

Who cares, when the big battle of the day was being fought out in Clubman class. GT has waltzed in with a new car and blitzed the opposition by several hundredths! At lunch the Cafe reverberated with the sounds of sobbing and gnashing of teeth as the other three would-be Clubman leaders contemplated a bleak new future. Guran may be considering heresy. I think the difference between the first four in that class is less than a car length.

Just for the record I checked the BOM's observations for Goulburn yesterday. Maximum apparent temp for the day was -0.4 degC (or 9 deg with 57kmh winds) when we abandoned at 3:00pm. It was -4.8 when we kicked off, pretty tough for cossetted Sydneysiders. The officials on the grid, marshalling area and start/finish were out in that for at least 6 hours and I thank them for that.

Special mention goes to Victorian visitor Mike Corbett in a classic Mini. Flaggies' driver of the day on the Sunday, carrying all of turns 4 and 5 without touching down on the inside rear wheel and then doing it again for 50m through the fishhook. 8200rpm through straight cut gears sounds pretty good too.

[david_syd_au]

Oh David! Absolute pleasure meeting you on Monday. Had a ball of a time. Definitely took away alot from the driver training session. The last rain session taught alot.

Hi Trevor,

I'm glad to hear the day went well for you. As long as you left with a smile on your face and a commitment to do it again, then the "training" worked.

You've dipped your toe in the track-day water, next time you can splash around with your feet :-)

Unfortunately, I didn't catch up with you during the day, but, saw you go around a few times, and all seemed well, .... except, I think I saw you way off the track between turns 3 & 4 during the afternoon, ...... inspecting the grass I assume :-)
Was that you?

David

[Apu]

So who got fastest of the day?

Who cares, when the big battle of the day was being fought out in Clubman class. GT has waltzed in with a new car and blitzed the opposition by several hundredths! At lunch the Cafe reverberated with the sounds of sobbing and gnashing of teeth as the other three would-be Clubman leaders contemplated a bleak new future. Guran may be considering heresy. I think the difference between the first four in that class is less than a car length.

Just for the record I checked the BOM's observations for Goulburn yesterday. Maximum apparent temp for the day was -0.4 degC (or 9 deg with 57kmh winds) when we abandoned at 3:00pm. It was -4.8 when we kicked off, pretty tough for cossetted Sydneysiders. The officials on the grid, marshalling area and start/finish were out in that for at least 6 hours and I thank them for that.

Special mention goes to Victorian visitor Mike Corbett in a classic Mini. Flaggies' driver of the day on the Sunday, carrying all of turns 4 and 5 without touching down on the inside rear wheel and then doing it again for 50m through the fishhook. 8200rpm through straight cut gears sounds pretty good too.

It's days like these that make for terrible viewing but exciting racing / fun driving! I thought my recent cold and wet track day with Circuit Club was cold, but this is really brass monkey weather! -4.8!!!

[Blesif]

Peter Battisson got me out of a hole on my second trip to Wakefield. Car failed scrutineering with a coolant leak. Peter fixed it in no time rigging up a by pass and I got on the track in time for the first session and had a super day. Glenn Thomas helped as well. I remain forever grateful. The track day support is always outstanding and Mike and crew's organisation legendary. Really disappointed I couldn't make last Monday. Nothing to do with the car, just couldn't get there. Those are great times, David. Glad Rachel enjoyed herself.

[cwto24]

Oh David! Absolute pleasure meeting you on Monday. Had a ball of a time. Definitely took away alot from the driver training session. The last rain session taught alot.

Hi Trevor,

I'm glad to hear the day went well for you. As long as you left with a smile on your face and a commitment to do it again, then the "training" worked.

You've dipped your toe in the track-day water, next time you can splash around with your feet :-)

Unfortunately, I didn't catch up with you during the day, but, saw you go around a few times, and all seemed well, .... except, I think I saw you way off the track between turns 3 & 4 during the afternoon, ...... inspecting the grass I assume :-)
Was that you?

David

Well, i thought that the grass on that side was a bit odd so i went did a courtesy inspection for the owners of Wakefield

Dont really remember what happened there but i think either i floored it too much into the corner or i was in the wrong gear. Confidence was a bit shattered but can't wait for the next one!

Got some good tips from other drivers and the drive home was wombat-less, which was much to my pleasure

[Patrick Bramston]

I care who got fastest time of the day..So does Simon and the Helmunator..1.06's do not happen by themselves..

[Apu]

Well done Patrick! So the MX5s beat the other cars - I assume there were a bunch of other cars, race and otherwise!

BTW did you have to widen your guards to fit those wheels? They look like they're squashed in really tight!

[mehow]

Survived my first track day and had an absolute blast! Many thanks to Greg who was my instructor for the first time, learnt alot and was great meeting a few people.

Like everyone else said was cold and a little bit slippery at times but awesome fun either way. Managed to post a 1.20.38 (i think) for my first time so I'm pretty stoked with that.

[chops]

i care too, well done on the 1.06

i left at lunch time did you guys go faster?

[Patrick Bramston]

There was a dry session towards the end but I changed to a set of tyres that were not as good. I did get to chase Helmun for 6 laps watching his new found talent for drifting which was fun.I think with 96kw he used to have much more grip than power now with 200kw it's definitely the reverse.