AmDMilltekRacing: BTCC Blog

Round 5 Croft

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Finally last weekend we managed to rid our run of bad luck and dissapointment! It wasn't all plain sailing though.

Practice 1 didn't get of to a good start with the Golf oversteering badly, it also had spongey brakes and a slight gear selection problem.

It was all hands on deck to get the Golf improved for Practice 2

Practice 2 saw Shaun instantly improve his times by over a second and a fresh set of Dunlops were fitted to improve this further half way through the session but Shaun locked up the brakes into the first corner and ended up in the gravel.

The Golf was recovered back to the pits and we set about stripping parts of the car down and getting every last peice of gravel out of every crevis, nook and cranny! And trust me when I say, it gets everywhere!

We even had Shaun on broom duty.....well it was his mess!

and just incase you missed it! Yes a BTCC driving clearing up his own mess, its not all glamour!

One very dusty Golf being de-gravelled (this picture courtesy of Bob & Steve Knightly)

Once we had cleared all the gravel out of the car and the awning it was time to set the car up to improve it further from the morning sessions.

Height bars under the car to make sure its running above the minimum height requirements

Round 5 Croft..

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We also had to replace the rear bumper and repair the front bumper. Something that would end up causing us issues in qualifying.

We did improve our times further in qualifying but on entry to the pits to fit new rubber for a final go at improving the times our height was checked and the Golf was sitting too low at the front this meant all of our times were void up untill that point.

The actual height of the car was fine as this was checked when setting up the car before qualifying, the problem was the bumper had sagged due to the damage picked up in P2.

We raised the suspension to try and over come this and Shaun went back out and came straight back in for scrutineering to be checked again but the bumper had dropped further, which meant we failed the ride height test again. By this time it was too late to do anything about the issue and we ended up with out a qualifying time.

Shaun putting the Golf through its paces in Qualifying.

No pictures I'm afraid but Saturday nite we stayed at the track till about 9.30 taking the gearbox out to change the dog rings. We also further repaired and reinforced the front bumper to avoid more problems with it sagging and failing height checks.

Round 5 Croft...

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Sunday morning we fitted our newly designed and improved KW front shock absorbers and set the car up ready for Race 1

It was almost touch and go that we would make it onto the grid or not for Race 1. At Croft you are not allowed to run any engines before 11.45am this meant we could not run the car through the gears untill after this time to check all was well after we had it apart the nite before. In typical racing fashion it would seem all was not well and there was an issue with a sensor in the gear box. We set about rectifying the problem and did get onto the grid just in time.

After 6 laps of Race 1 it would appear our run of bad luck wasn't over just yet. Shaun stopped out on track and we did not receive any radio communication from him. So we were all thinking the worst that the engine had given up on us, as it had been smoking on idle since Oulton Park and getting progressivily worse over the weekend.

When we finally got the car back it wasn't as bad as we thought just a very annoying simple problem! The alternator belt snapped and Shaun had simply ran out of electricity!

Shaun on track in the first race of the day.

Shaun reported back to us that the new KW shocks had totally transformed the handling of the car and was like driving a totally different car to the Saturday, which meant Shaun had to learn the best way to get the most from the car again. We could clearly see the Golf looked more planted through the corners than it ever has before.

Golf being prepared for Race two (well we had actually stopped for lunch in this picture)

Luckily not too much to do just the usual check over, set up and replace the alternator belt.

On to the grid for Race 2. Obviously we were starting from the back due stopping so early on in Race 1.

Golf giving out some un-healthy smoke signals.

The changes we made from Race 1 made a vast improvment to the handling of the car.

Shaun had a great battle with Martin Johnson and they finished less than 400th's of a second apart over the line.

Round 5 Croft....

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Golf finished 16th, which for us is very promising and most importanly we finished a race after a terrible run of bad luck.

Back to the awning to check the car over and to further improve the set up for Race 3.

Then back out to the grid with us starting from 16th.

Shauns main aim for the first couple of corners was to let the faster guys behind us get through cleanly as we just don't have the straight line pace at the moment to hold them off. So it was best to make sure he made it through he first few corners and not end up with a DNF.

Shaun latched onto the back of the grid and was chasing down John George. The Golf was handling the best it has all season and he ended up finishing a solid 14th.

More impressive than this, is that our fastest lap was only 2 seconds slower than the pace of the front runners, which shows how much we have improved since the start of the season.

To round up we were all very happy, the car came back in one piece, we finished two races and we are closing in on the pace!

Another update to follow tomorrow, which explains why our straight line speed is sofar of the rest of the field!

(all action shots, inc gravel pictures courtesy of Bob & Steve Knightly, rest by myself)

Final Update before Croft.

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

There hasn't been too much to report since Outlon Park. We started off with replacing the damaged suspension parts, which were the result of us coming off worse than the tyre wall, along with a new wing, bumper and wheel arch that were damaged in the same incident.

The car then had a thorough check over, change of fluids etc and then some basic set up work was done.

We also had the intake slightly redesigned again to help with air flow and aerodymanics.

Another addition in time for Croft as has been a steering angle sensor. This is so we can get some more data back from the car to see whats happening through out the corners.

We also have a new set of KW front dampers, which are a newer design than we have been running on the car. Along with these we are also running stiffer springs this weekend too.

The Golf already to be loaded on to the race transporter.

(please excuse the black mess on the floor in the dyno we had been mapping a big turbo Golf PD)

one final shot, just because I like it.

Oulton Park - Round 4.

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Last weekend saw us travel up to Oulton Park for our fourth BTCC meeting, which wasn't our best weekend results wise but showed a promising improvment in pace and performance.

Saturday Started off with the usual set up work and we were hoping that the improvements we have made over the break would help with our pace.

New and improved air intake/duct fitted just in time for the weekend

The car was oversteering quite abit in the first practice session, which was losing Shaun time but as we have no previous data to work from we do expect these problems to arise. During the break between P1 and P2 we undertook some more set up work to try and improve the handling of the car.

Shaun improved his times in P2 but we were still lacking in straight line speed.

Due to the fact we are a new team with a new car we have to make alot of changes between sessions and races because we have no previous data to work from.

Some more tweeks and setup before qualifying and Shaun went a second faster and managed 20th place. Still not last and our times were closer to the front of the grid than any previous round.

Random shots from Saturday

Oulton Park - Round 4..

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Sunday morning we got straight into setting the car up and getting it ready for Race 1

Before racing started we had a very busy driver autographing session.

Shaun with the rest of the drivers on the parade lap.

One BTCC Golf ready for Round 4 of the championship.

Then round onto the grid to line up for the first race of the day.

Shaun got a good start from a difficult grid position. Difficult being he had to perform a racing start, up hill!

On lap 3 Shaun had a slight coming together with Matt Hamilton which bent a tie rod.

The team worked as quick as they could to fit a new one to get the Golf back out.

Oulton Park - Round 4...

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We did get to the end of the race but were 1 lap down from being classified. Had we been classified we would of been 16th.

Car was back in the garage after race one for a check over and more set up work. Due to the inpact the alignment was quite far out. We also got abit of bumper damage but nothing too serious.

Couple of random shots.

At each round tyres are marked for which circuit we are attending and numbered, so we know which tyres to use when, which pressures they should be running etc.

We were then out onto the grid for race two.

Race two Shaun got a good start to stay ahead of the cars behind him on the grid.

Shaun then got a tap from John Boardman in the Seat, which sent him spinning off and just keeping it out of the tyre wall.

We recovered from this and were running 17th but the on lap 6 the clutch failed and Shaun could no longer select gears.

Oulton Park - Round 4....

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The car was recovered back to the pits after the race and we set about getting the gearbox out to change the clutch over, which we managed in record time.

Damaged wheel from the Seat incident.

Finishing set up for race 3

Lining up the Grid for the final Race of the day.

Race 3 was going well with Shaun chasing down Martin Johnson in the Astra.

Until 2 laps from the end Shaun clipped a tyre barrier on the chicane, which ended his race.

What you can't see is the very bent lower arm, tie rod, snapped tie rod end and sheered off drive shaft!

Overall not a great weekend results wise but we have progressed in certain area's. These being able to hold on to the pack more in the first few laps as previously our cold tyre performance meant we were trailing back quite abit, we are on the pace through the corners and the handling is far better. We just need to over come our straight line performance. We will continue to develop and test new things and in time the results will come.

(all action shots and autograph session shots by Steve Knightley unless watermarked other wise, rest by myself )

Ready for Oulton Park

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A long overdue update!

There hasn't been too much to photograph really since the last up date but here is a small insight into what we have done.

Freshly rebuilt engine and gear box going back in. We were lucky in the end and the engine only needed a minor rebuild with a new set of pistons

Alloy knuckles have now been machined to fit. Something that we did not have time to get ready previously.

To further over come our CV joint issue we had a pair of spacers made so they are not able to pull themselves out when running a more extreme set up.

New Oil breather/catch tank

Coil pack and ignition amplifier we have moved again, purley because they were not in a position that meant they could be changed quickly if one breaks down.

Engine wiring loom has now been totally replaced.

Super lightweight battery weighing less than 2kg!

New stronger steering column now fitted

Car going back together.

New aero dynmic changes on the front end have been made as you may have seen in the last picture

We no longer have the deep recess in the front bumper to try and help with straight line speed.

We also have a smooth grille for two reason, one is for aerodynamics and the other is so we do not over cool the engine.

Golf "almost" already for Oulton Park, just needs the new perspex screen fitted, which is being done at the circuit. Rear suspension update has hopefully sorted out the handling issues, and fingers crossed all the current changes will help to us progress further this weekend.

just a small update

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Sun, 16 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Just a small update at the moment.

We got the car back to the workshop and began to strip it down again. There is a long break between Brands and Oulton Park, so this gives us time to further develop and sort out afew issues.

Car being stripped down......again.

Engine coming out for a strip down to see how much damage was done at Brands

Engine out

Gear box and manifold off, ready for it's trip over to Liechtenstein.

We should get the engine back sometime this coming week. The engine was stripped down last week and we were very lucky. Only needs a new set of pistons, could of been much worse!

All the rear suspension is coming of to have an issue sorted. While going through the data and footage from Brands Hatch we found a fundamental suspension geometry issue, which is effecting the way the rear end behaves when coming on and off load.

Two parts of the car that we did not change was the engine wiring loom (this gave us an issue at Rockingham) and also the steering column, which simply isn't man enough. So last week a new engine loom was being made (no pictures yet) and a much stronger steering column.

out with the old

and the new, not ready to go back in the car as it still needs finishing.

Rear bumper is now off to reveal some more damage from being hit from behind at Rockingham. Bumper looked pretty much undamged due to the flex they have.

How the car is at the moment.

More updates to come this week.

Round 3 Brands Hatch.

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Round 3 of the BTCC had a promising start but didn't end too well, read on to find out why,

Weekend began well with us 17th in the first session, we were even matching the pace of much quicker cars through the first sector.

Here is Shaun coming back in the pits for a quick front to rear tyre change after afew warm up laps.

Some more setup up tweaks to try and improve the Golf's times for Practice two.

For the second session we managed to take a further half a second of our quickest time in the first practice.

Practice two was not with out problems though. A problem we wern't expecting was to have a shattered rear screen!

As far as we could tell a stone has come up over the car hit the underneath of the rear spoiler and deflected into the rear screen. Even managed to hit dead centre! Luckily TOCA allowed us to go out for qualifying as long as we taped up the edges.

Round 3 Brands Hatch..

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As always more set up work for the next session, which was qualifying.

Shaun in the car ready to put in some times.

Another quick tyre change during qualifying.

Qualifying we were pleased with as we managed 19th out of 22 on merit which shows were are making a move in the right direction.

Some great actions shots courtesy of Steven Knightley from Saturdays 3 sessions.

After some ringing around we managed to get a new rear screen, which we had fitted shortly after qualifying as with out it we wouldn't of been able to run the next day.

Sunday morning we were greeted with torrential rain, which meant some serious set up changes would be needed. Not many shots from me on race day as I didn't facing getting my camera water logged!

Some action shots from race one.

Unfortunatley the extreme changes we made would turn out to be a down fall as under hard cornering the inner CV joint pulled out. So it was race over for us and something that will have to be re-developed over the 4 week break.

So back into the garage to change the CV joint and set up to avoid the problem happening again in the wet race two.

After the changes to the car, Race 2 started well and Shaun managed to get up to 14th

Round 3 Brands Hatch...

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

With only two laps to go Shaun locked up and went straight on over the grass. Not normally a problem but there was a big dip, which destroyed the front end of the Golf.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/minimadgriff/Brands%20GP%20AmD%20Golf%2010/img_6167800x600.jpg

Shaun did try to carry on with only a lap and half to go not realising that the bottom hose had been ripped open causing a loss of coolant. A warning did come up on the dash but when Shaun reset it, it didn't come back. Unknown to Shaun, this was because the coolant temp sensor was actually reading air as there was no coolant in the system.

He finally came to a stop with one lap to go.

We got the car back to the garage.

and began to rebuild the front end while the data was checked over from the incident. The front end was built back up but when we put water in the system it was found that the water pump had let go. The data did show that the engine had seen some high temperatures and it was decided it was best not to change the pump and run in the last race as we could not be certain how much damage had been caused to the engine.

Sadly that was the end of the day for us, so it was time to pack up and go home.

Another sad sight, bits of Golf in the bin.

Overall not a great weekend but thats motorsport for you and we will be back out fighting for Oulton Park.

Ready For Brands Hatch

info@amdessex.com (AmDEssex.com) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Due to the very short gap it has been a mad rush to get the car ready. Here is the final update before Brands Hatch.

The changes we made to the rear suspension before Rockingham were to these rear arms.

Before

After

Before

After

And fitted to the car (please excuse the dirt these were taken the day after the car came back from Rockingham)

Much greater adjustment

These changes to the rear end have given us much more adjustibility as well as being much stronger than the original items.

The car on Monday had the usual check over, oil drained and changed.

Next up was to repair the sill and change the door frame because of the Rockingham Race 2 incident.

Due to there only being one week between races it would not have been possible to send the car to the body shop for the repair and get the rest of the work done in time for this weekend. So we undertook the sill and "A" pillar repair in house as a temporary measure untill after Brands as we have a 4 week gap till the next meeting.

First we cut off the damaged outer sill, which showed the the inner sill and the "A" pillar had also been damaged. We were expecting this, so it was no suprise.

We straightened that as best we could, we are not a body shop here so it is not our forte, so that will be put 100% right after Brands.

Next we cut the section of sill we need off of the complete spare whole side and offered it up and cut down to exactly where we needed it.