Pembrey 31May/1 June

[Taff Striker]

Short update from the Wild West

Second outing of the year coming up for me after a second in class at Llandow a fortnight ago

Class 2A is a straight JPSC v WSCC duel this weekend

38 John Loudon Westfield Se 1679 Westfield SCC WSCC/SBD.HSA
39 Paul Aspden Westfield Sei 1598 Westfield SCC WSCC
40 Mike Smith Sylva Striker 1700 Bristol SBD.HSA/BARC.SBD
41 Richard Jones Sylva Striker 1598 Kidwelly Trident

The only other Sylva making an appearance is Ian Parr in his Riot in class 3A
Just hope to improve my times from last year

[Taff Striker]

Headline after day one- - 2-0 to WSCC

Good day - overcast but quite warm with tee shirts in abundance - a rare sight at Pembrey

John Loudon run times - 120.01 117.67 F 115.44
Paul Aspden 120.54 117.47 116.95 117.39
Mike Smith F 121.33 119.15 117.74
Me 119.58 133.42 132.09 119.87

John's third run was cut short when his alternator broke it's mount which, on the Sigma engine, is part of the engine block. Luckily the first timed run was before lunch so ,with the help of Mike and various others, they were able to manufacture a new mount during the lunch break Oil pressure is still a concern as the dry sump pump drive belt was dislodged during the initial incident so it remains to be seen whether he gets out tomorrow.

Mike's first run was aborted when his bonnet/engine cover tried parting company with the rest of the car
A big spin on each of my two middle runs didn't help matters but have gone a full 8 seconds quicker than last years best time
Lets hope for better tomorrow

[David]

Richard

No shame at all in getting below 120s (I've known many who are nearer 130s in JPSCs -- and I don't think I've ever broken 116s!).

John will be difficult to beat (with his 230 or so bhp) on a circuit like Pembrey. Chris and I had enough trouble with him around Snetterton 100 a couple of weeks ago, and that is much less of a power circuit.

Good luck today

David

[dopdog]

Yes good luck and also I am interested to see how the riot goes, can you post its times as well please.

[Taff Striker]

Yes David , I remember you saying before that John is the man in this class - just happy to be quicker than last year

Times for the Riot from yesterday are

110.63 109.60 108.36 108.10

BTW Simon your old Jedi was competing on both days.

Today's story:
John did not run his own car due to yesterdays maladies but was given a second seat in Paul's car
I don't have times for them as yet but will post them up later

As for myself had one practice run and one timed run interrupted by spins but was consistent with mid 119's for both other two clean runs,
After much discussion with other competitors it seems that the cause of the spins seems to be trying to put in excess of 200 horses through 175/55 Avon CR 500's
I have to wait what seems to be ages entering corners for the tyres to get adhesion before I can apply the power Tried different spring rates, shock adjustments, pressures but it seems I need wider tyres with stiffer walls.

Hey-ho the joys of motoring

[dopdog]

Thanks for that interesting times, glad to hear the Jedi is out and going well will see it next week at Abingdon but will be a marshall rather than driving.
On my striker I ran 195/50/15 cr500s at 18psi. This is not what all the sprint boys recomend but they did work very well and gave me my first FTD in sprinting. Worth noting they worked really well until they reached a certain point, from then on they were no good. I remember when they went no turn in and a massive loss of grip.

[jeffw]

175 section tyres and 200BHP.....is never going to work well. Avon ZZRs in A24 compound or V70 Kumhos.

[David]

Richard

We run ZZRs on a similarly powered car, 185 at the front and 215 at the back (both on 7" rims) -- seems to do the trick.

David


(Edited to agree with Jeff -- the rears are indeed 215s)

[jeffw]

ZZRs are 215 on the back (but they are actually 230 section if that makes any sense).

[PumaWestie]

Just a thank you to Striker driver Mike Smith who helped in a big way to make a temporary alternator bracket. (Mike also has a Puma engine in his striker) Unfortunately, the hot oil pressure after rerunning is now about half what it used to be and needs surgery before running again.