Fiesta Cup Testing 2011......

[northernjim]

Now that The CSL Cup is dead and buried, S.Mac has stepped up to the mark, to keep us all entertained by buying his first race 'car'


Here she is Tango 2.5



660kg of fords finest hot hatch painted in a demure and subtle shade of Tango proud owner towering above her




The car has just been built, Steve's parted with the readies, and now its time to turn the key for the first time ( hmmm ) and see how she performs...





I've come along wearing many hats today - official tool man as I have a swiss army knife ( which is more than steve has) along with technical datalog wizard ( I'm Nathan's puppet really) picture whore( eat your heart out Matt) and chief scribe....

I knew we were going to be in for a good day when Steve rang me up and said could I go source a battery for him - 9v square - economical these fiesta's and then I couldn't find Team Fiesta Cup's Garage due to all the £100000 motorhomes in the way

some of the competition....

not that we were worried.....

For Roberto Gaydog a Gaynetta...


for the rest of you lot a proper car



and the rest of the field that we are looking forward to tussling with out on track











Vbox fitted, tyre pressures checked, nuts tweaked Steve's ready for the off but won't let me turn the cameras on for his first session - scared of the mighty fiestas FWD power I think?

anyway he comes back in complaining of dodgy steering so we/mark gives he the once over then sends him back out





second session and its his partner in crime/other half of double act - Mark who built the car's turn... In he comes after his half hour stint, the battery is fooked ( that 9v didnt go very far) as the alternator belt has dissappeared....

the spare they have brought along is the wrong size so we nip to the shop at Oulton where the guy very handily has a delivery setting off from chester in 10 mins - it will be here in an hour top man! That shop has far more parts in it than I thought possible to mend your car with... one to note for the future

We charge the battery up with some bike jump leads and send Steve out for his 2nd session with seconds to spare!

Steve's vid

http://vimeo.com/23375161

Marks vid

http://vimeo.com/23471106


feel free to offer all and any criticism of the slowness/driving style or lack of it! It really was Steve's first time in the car and its going to be a steep learning curve for him these next few months

especially as......... when Steve came into the pits after his 2nd stint I could hear something was wrong with the engine - it was definitely missing

after borrowing a few tools we/Mark compression tested it and we/Mark found that number 4's exhaust valve was - FOOKED day over real shame as the car was sounding great and the day was perfect...

Lets hope Tango 2.5 is back in rude health asap, in time for Anglesey's double header and First race for Steve on Sunday 22nd May



I know this has been long winded, but I really enjoyed the day, it was a baptism of fire for Steve unfortunately, but I loved it!

[glendog74]

Great report Jimbo - sarky twat!

Big up to Steve for having a go!

Lovely Ginetta (and E46 GTR)

[glendog74]

Video links not working for me btw

[northernjim]

Originally Posted by glendog74

Video links not working for me btw

I can't help it if your cornish t'internet isn't being pedalled quick enough


those links work for me tho?

I love you Rob

[glendog74]

Originally Posted by northernjim

I can't help it if your cornish t'internet isn't being pedalled quick enough


those links work for me tho?

I love you Rob

Ball bag.

[Bounce]

Originally Posted by glendog74

Video links not working for me btw

Its working for meWell done Steve and good wright up Jim.Looking forward to the next vid of the race

[shimmy]

Good goin Smac, you'll soon find out how pricey racing and testing is





Surprised you chose to test and noT Trackday as normally it is much more pricey and most important thing until you get set up right and up to speed is seat time if you are on a budget

Good start though, when is race 1?

[s.mac]

shows you where you are gaining time as it happens so you can really work out what lines are working

I know the answer to that one Nathan, everywhere

maybe one for the future

where is the first race?

Anglesey 22nd May

Thanks Bret, Rob

you'll soon find out how pricey racing and testing is

and all that goes with it

Surprised you chose to test and noT Trackday as normally it is much more pricey and most important thing until you get set up right and up to speed is seat time if you are on a budget

I wanted to do a track day, open pit lane but my mate Mark said the only place to test for times is on a test day.. Ive booked some track days now

Good start though

I was gutted
I think I got 25 mins max in 2 sessions, plus 2 pit drive ins on the 1st session ... really not good time in the seat

[s.mac]

Thanks Jim

1st - I'll remember that when you are texting you are really taking pictures...

2nd -

now its time to turn the key for the first time

it really was, I know

3rd -

official tool man as I have a swiss army knife ( which is more than steve has)

true , Ive got nothing

4th - 4th pic, before you take the p-ss, yes it is a booster seat so I can reach the pedals

proud owner towering above her

hardly, Its still not right and I cant complete a full steering turn as my arms arent in the right position, too far away

5th -

Vbox fitted, tyre pressures checked, nuts tweaked Steve's ready for the off but won't let me turn the cameras on for his first session - scared of the mighty fiestas FWD power I think?

may be, I had a right spin at the bottom of cascades

6th - what the fook am I looking in there for, I havent got a clue what it is


7th -

anyway he comes back in complaining of dodgy steering so we/mark gives he the once over then sends him back out

its the first steering wheel Ive used, when, after turning out of a corner it stayed in the turn in position of course all components were checked and tightened before Mark went out ...

8th -

feel free to offer all and any criticism of the slowness/driving style or lack of it! It really was Steve's first time in the car and its going to be a steep learning curve for him these next few months

true and fair comments its already been a steep and stressful learning curve.

the engine was stripped today and some bits ordered, dont ask me what

Apart from the thread (well written for a Preston lad)thanks for your support Jim the vbox really does show how bad I am, thanks for loaning and wiring it up Jim

it can only get better and my 1st 15mins were quicker shame the cameras weren't set up. I think the steering, the spin and the cylinder down didnt help me or the car with my 2nd stint.

next day, race day : smt100

[s.mac]

forgot to mention, due to the booster seat the harness centre point (where the belts clip in to) is sat right on my tackle
the only way forward I can see is for the seat to be on runners and under the runners something that can bridge the chassis strip that run through the car but I'm not sure how safe that set up will be