June 6, 2009

Changes since May 30th race: 

Using same base setup. 

1.  Deglazed the rear brake rotor and pads - they never properly bedded in last week and I did not have rear brakes!
2.  Changed the front brake bias -- took out 58% of the front brake force.
3.  Reviewed the MoTeC data logs from last weekend and adjusted the fuel map.
4.  Grooved/Siped rear tires.

Hot Laps: 

The car ran horrible -- I was passed by a couple of cars! The engine has no power off the corners - feels like a boat anchor -- no POP whatsoever.

Changes before the Heat:

Reviewed the datalog from Hotlaps and it shows LEAN -- real lean. I have no idea why - it should be consistent and richer than last week. I richened the Map from last week and it got leaner! I'm confused and I overreat by adding 8% more fuel to the entire fuel curve.

Track is narrow with a slick bottom and ROUGH cushion.

Tightened the car by dropping RR air pressure (6psi) and increased wing angle.
Started with the RR shock set to #3 position.   

Heat Race: (started seventh and finished eigth) 

I cannot remember ever finishing last in a heat race (at least not one that I finished). The engine was way too rich (remember it was lean in hotlaps) - so rich that it was loading up 1/4 way down the straights. The car handles horrible since the engine has no power. It is incredible how bad a car will handle when the engine isn't running right. Rear brakes still are not working properly -- can you tell I'm getting frustrated?

Changes before Feature: 

Starting 7th:

Put the fuel map back to where it was in hotlaps.

Track is getting sealed over (slick) and wide with a cushion pushed way wide.

Tightened the car:
Changed to a 12" wide right rear wheel (more sidebite) with 5psi and moved the wheel in 3/4".
Set RR shock to #2 position to start the race.
Increased top wing angle by another notch.

  

Feature: (started 7th, finished 6th) 

The first lap is an adventure - I start on the inside fourth row and try a move to the middle going into 1 - I pull up past the row in front of me, then the rear brakes don't work well and I slide high off of turn 2. By the time the lap is over, I am in 12th place!! I regain my senses and start abusing the brakes - two laps later the car comes alive (the rear brakes finally start working right) and I start a climb back into the top 10.

I start running the middle - right in the BLACK SLICK and the car responds. We get into the top 10 and then have an awesome three way battle with Terry Hinck and Danny Billings. After about five laps, I clear both of them focus on the 6th 7th and 8th place cars about 1/2 a straighaway ahead. I run them down in three laps and pass them all in the next two. I then catch 5th place just as the checkers fly.

Wrap-up: 

It sure is nice to have my brakes! If we hadn't have given up those 5 spots on the start - who knows?
The engine was pretty decent, but still weak off the bottom. We'll look at the data logs and make adjustments for next week. Not much bad to say about the handling of the car - goes right where I want it to go. Normally, I am not happy with a 6th place finish, but tonight -- I'll take it. This car is going to be awesome once we get the engine figured out.