VIC MSCA Round 1 Sandown.......>>>

It was HOT. 36 degrees at lunch time with a strong northerly blowing that meant a big head wind on the back straight and a nice tail wind on the front straight. It was a full field with a very mixed range of competitors stretching from a couple of GT-40 replicas all the way to an old (late 80s) Mercedes Benze 450se. There were 3 Z32s running, Paul Freeman (in Vincents old slicktop) Mikey and I. Paul and Mikey were in group 4 and I was in group 5.

It was well after 10.00 by the time group 4 hit the track and the temperature was over 30 degrees by then. Because I was in the group straight after Paul and Mikey I only got to see their first flying pass over the start line before I had to head for the pits to get ready. I was just about to jump into the car and head out to line up when Mikey came back in trailing a heap of smoke. He gave the car a small rev before shutting down and there was a jet of flame and a loud explosion out of the passanger side pipe. Later investigation revealed spark plug 2 drowned in oil so it was decided to put it away for the day to prevent any possible damage. We will investigate what is up next Sunday when we can devote some time to run a compression test and find out what is up with that cylinder (Graham....can we use your bore scope?????).

I don't have the official times yet but I belive Paul's best lap for the first session was around 1.35 or 1.34. I headed out for my first run and thought I would play it smart and start at the back of my group as it has been 2 years since I turned a lap at Sandown, that was a big mistake. By the time I'd done 3 laps I'd over taken eveything in my group except for a 911 RS Porsche and a very quick 260 that would get away from me in the corners, but would be caught up to at the end of each straight. Best lap time was a 1.36, 2 seconds slower than my previous best, but I figured that between the heat, the traffic and me finding my way again it wasn't a bad time.

In the second session Paul didn't really improve his time with a best lap to that point of 1.33.2. I started closer to the front of my group and pushed a little harder to get to a best of 1.33.4 but the air temp was up to 36 degrees by then so by the time you were on your 4th and 5th laps the car was hot and the tyres were also starting to show their fatigue. I see what John was talking about when he said the Toyo R888s get a little loose when they run too hot.

For the thrid session Paul tweeked his brake bias (he runs 4 pot alcon rear calipers with APs on the front, and a twin reservoir master setup without the booster) to try and get a better balance out of the car and it worked, giving him a best lap in the 1.32 area. I battled traffic and the heat, and experimented with lines through a couple of the corners but none of it worked and I failed to improve on a 1.33.

It was a good day that unfortunately was soured by Mikey's engine woes. Next Saturday we move on to the first round of the VHCC with a twilight meet at Bryant Park in Morwell.

 

Again?

This is not good.

 

Good stuff Pete. But not such good news about Mikey and RZ2.

 

Well done Pete. Would have liked to be there but had to attend a session with the outlaws in Stawell .... the first MSCA event thta does not clash with the state series is PI in May, so I will definitely be there to provide some support (i not actually run my 370). May also have the 300 ready as well ...

 

Nice Job Pete!!

How did the camera holder go? Got some footage?

Max

 

Pete

Laptimes are up on the Natsoft site ... go to

http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?31/01/2010.SDMO.Q1.I

RB

 

It would be great if you could make it to the Island round. Even if you aren't competeing it would be good to chat to an experienced driver with as many laps of the circuit as you have. To go faster I need to improve ME, and any tips you could impart would be welcome.

 

The camera mount was great. I just need some editing software to edit mp4 so I can upload them as the sessions are nearly a gig each.

 

Thanks for the link Rob.

 

thanks for reminding me - I'll get it to you.

 

Well done guys

Good to see the Zeds representing.
Oh Mikey not again.

 

I was asked last night if I could add anything to this thread.
I can't hear anyone, or anything, and am in total denial. Nothing happened.
I hope to post up on Sunday night or Monday.

 

Compression test was done yesterday.

Cyl #1 ... 150
Cyl #2 ... 0
Cyl #3 ... 150
Cyl #4 ... 150
Cyl #5 ... 150
Cyl #6 ... 150

Tested #4 first, sprayed oil everywhere out of the #2 plug hole, some of which Pete wore! Radiator was holding heaps of pressure, and no oil evident anywhere in the coolant.

Peered into number 2 with a borescope (thanks, Tekkie) which at first revealed half a piston and a big puddle of oil covering the other half. Slowly slowly took out as much oil as we could, but still nothing obvious. No gaping hole in the piston top. I guess I was expecting to see a hole you could drive through!

Piston may still be buggered of course; may also be broken ring/s, or blown Cometic head gasket near an oil gallery???

The Z now sits for a while so I can gather together some $$$.
Will have to think about O-ringing the block, and going back to standard head gaskets.
Invoices from the previous owners build tell me the current pistons are 88mm, so if a new piston or set of pistons is required, will have to a) find out what is available in 88mm off the shelf; b) consider getting a set custom made, or c) Get another block and work with that, getting a bottom end to suit.

No decisions to be made until the problem is clearly identified, so I'll have plenty of time to think about all this ......
Will probably be a few Z parts up for sale shortly to help with the funding!
Track type activities probably curtailed for the rest of the year unless the right numbers come up one Saturday night!

 

Oh Mikey, sorry to hear. Vote 1 to Rebuild RZ1!

 

Col, it had crossed my mind to rebuild Old Faithful instead of the Jinx Car!
I don't believe in jinxes, but this car is testing me!
Maybe this Z has an old copy of Steven King's "Christine" hidden somewhere in it ....

 

Do it!!!!! Bring back the old girl!

 

Sad news in deed......but at least RZ2 had a couple of brothers around for moral support.

 

ewwwww....

definetely need some grey there to break up all that awful red..

Sorry to hear the news Mikey..

 

Let us know when the tech day is!

I'm in the market for a full set of coilpack bracket bolts...

 

geeze terrible luck mikey, been having a hell of a run mate! All the best with getting rz1/2 back on the road.

still in the market for brakes mate, no rush though.