Charlie Brown's NC

[Charlie Brown]

Thanks for that Monte5, I knew there must be some rule that would result in the ultimate disqualification and humiliation of a Reverse Concours entrant. I’ve just been the first to achieve it.

This disqualification comes at a very bad time; just when there are few performance parts on order to get me into the 10’s at Wakefield and they would have taken the count into the mid 50’s. sigh. Now it’s all been for nothing. I feel like those who have kept their cars locked up in the garage so as not to put too many K’s on the clock. Utterly deflated.

Oh well I’ll just have to get battle on as best as I can and not be tempted to start taking off pieces in an attempt to retain the “Auld Mug”.

[CoffeeBoss]

And take heart in the knowledge that you know what it's like to drive your car

PS. *ahem* Oran Park Circuit Club day coming up

[Charlie Brown]

And take heart in the knowledge that you know what it's like to drive your car

PS. *ahem* Oran Park Circuit Club day coming up

Matt, the following weekend is the Club day at Wakefield and I'm entered there.
If your entered I'll see what I can do about having a run with you at lunch time, provided there is a lunch.

[Charlie Brown]

Here's some shots from the Club track day at Wakefield on 6 December 2009


It took a lap or two but I finally caught and past this pesky Elise on the back straight.



Being chased by Joe Macare

[CoffeeBoss]

Heh heh, nice scalp Phil

Times?

I couldn't make this one, but will be at Wakefield this weekend - hoping to set a new PB since i should be on my semi slicks.

[Charlie Brown]

Heh heh, nice scalp Phil

Times?

I couldn't make this one, but will be at Wakefield this weekend - hoping to set a new PB since i should be on my semi slicks.

I could only manage 1:12.70, which I suppose under the circumstances wasn’t too bad, although 1.5 seconds off my best.

I ran another set of second hand D01s and one of them had a flat spot on the outside edge. It wasn’t noticeable when driving at 80kph but from 100 on the kidneys sure had a good massage.

I also picked up another Concours win given out at the Clubs Christmas Party for the Best Modified NC. I was most surprised with that. I thought there was no way I could achieve that this year with all the additional marks received from track days etc on the car.

[Charlie Brown]

Update as at 26 February 2010.

Well time has come for a suspension upgraded following 4 and a bit years running the standard shocks and the first King Springs produced for the NC, tied down with the Whiteline adjustable sway bars.

I’ve managed to pick up a nice set of Tein Flex from overseas at the right price.



Last night was spent pulling out the old front setup including the Whiteline sway bar. I had a bugger of a job getting the bottom shock bolt (that had been tightened with an air gun) undone. I must have spent half an hour swinging away with a 5lb hammer hitting the other end of a 17mm ring spanner. I was just about to get the angle grinder out when it finally moved. The other side was easy in comparison.

Three hours after starting the car was off the stands and on the ground. Teins in, standard sway bar back in and a broken fog light replaced. At least an hours more work than I expected but then the removal of the big sway also slowed things down, as those who have installed one in a NC would know.

A quick spin around the block and a check on the height revealed I need to do a bit more work as it is sitting 5mm lower that it was with the King springs (now 335mm).

The rears will be put in over the weekend and the height adjusted up another 10mm.

The run to work today showed a huge difference in the way the front of the car felt. A lot more composed is probably the best way to describe it. Smoothed out the bumps more. I can’t wait to see what the total package is like.

[Guran]

Very nice CB! I imagine you'll have a much better chance of catching Mark with these babies!

Last night was spent pulling out the old front setup including the Whiteline sway bar. I had a bugger of a job getting the bottom shock bolt (that had been tightened with an air gun) undone. I must have spent half an hour swinging away with a 5lb hammer hitting the other end of a 17mm ring spanner. I was just about to get the angle grinder out when it finally moved. The other side was easy in comparison.

I've had similar problems with other nuts and bolts, wheel studs especially! One trick I learnt is to put a few extenders on your socket (to clear the guard) and then fit a long tube over the end of your socket wrench. The extra leverage is much more effective than whacking it with a hammer.

A quick spin around the block and a check on the height revealed I need to do a bit more work as it is sitting 5mm lower that it was with the King springs (now 335mm).

I'm probably telling you how to suck eggs, but it's worth getting a full alignment done before you push it too far. It's likely that your new coilovers would be set different to your old springs/shocks, as evidenced by the ride height difference, and that'd affect the handling.

[Charlie Brown]

I'm probably telling you how to suck eggs, but it's worth getting a full alignment done before you push it too far. It's likely that your new coilovers would be set different to your old springs/shocks, as evidenced by the ride height difference, and that'd affect the handling.

You missed the corner weighting.

[marcusus]

Any reason you're not running the whiteline sway straight off the bat? Just experimenting to see how it all feels, or is there more to it than that? Last I recall you couldn't get the car to step the back out as much as you wanted.

[Guran]

I'm probably telling you how to suck eggs, but it's worth getting a full alignment done before you push it too far. It's likely that your new coilovers would be set different to your old springs/shocks, as evidenced by the ride height difference, and that'd affect the handling.

You missed the corner weighting.

Yeh OK. I guess my previous post was mainly aimed at those who might be following your thread and not aware of the need for this.

[Charlie Brown]

Any reason you're not running the whiteline sway straight off the bat? Just experimenting to see how it all feels, or is there more to it than that? Last I recall you couldn't get the car to step the back out as much as you wanted.

Yes, I sort advice from the most experienced NC racer in AU, Chris Gough.

Also have a look at FCM’s table here:

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/FRC_NC/FCM_MSDS_NC.htm

Plugging information into this table I found the roll stiffness for the various springs / sways combo’s I’ve had/have is as follows:

Stock NC springs and sways: 1436.4 lb/ft
King springs and Whiteline sways set on soft: 2153.1 lb/ft
Tein springs and stock sways: 2526.4 lb/ft
Tein springs and Whiteline sways set on soft: 2941.0 lb/ft

So you can see that the Teins with the stock sways have a 17% greater roll stiffness than my old King/Whiteline set up.

[CoffeeBoss]

So you can see that the Teins with the stock sways have a 17% greater roll stiffness than my old King/Whiteline set up.

Definitely the case, it's why I haven't felt the need to change my sways yet.

Yeh OK. I guess my previous post was mainly aimed at those who might be following your thread and not aware of the need for this.

at least someone is being responsible

TEIN FLEX are a nice coilover Phil, you'll love them. Only thing is they tend to go off the boil bigger than some of the bigger ticket items (or the stock shocks for that matter), but that's what the damper adjustability is for anyhow, to maintain even damping over the life of the shock.

You've also now got the option of adding EDFC for in cabin adjustment. Really good for impressing your mates

[Charlie Brown]

You've also now got the option of adding EDFC for in cabin adjustment. Really good for impressing your mates

Nah, not unless I can get it at a really good price.

I'm sure after a bit of time I'll know what to set them on for the road and what's required for the track.

[marcusus]

I'm sure after a bit of time I'll know what to set them on for the road and what's required for the track.

It only took me one track day to figure out what to run my super streets at. Road wise, I've had a bit of a play and think I've got it right, but it could just be that I want that racier feel even when I'm still on the street

I run full stiffness at the front and 3 clicks off full stiff on the rear for the track, whilst on the street it's 5/7 off stiffness. I find that balance of 2 clicks softer on the rear keeps the car balanced without giving me too much over/under steer.