1st Outright at MSCT Motorkhana

Following the cancelation of the khanacross last weekend due to heavy rainfall I was really looking forward to this event.
The second round of the Motorkhana series held by MSCT was held at Symonds Plains. It wasn't located on the track but in the car-park area. This Motorkhana was a bitumen event, with some very tight tracks. The weather was hot all day but as always at Symonds very windy. The surface was slippery in the morning but after lunch the track was quite warm and grippy. Some very tough competition turned up, including Street's Nissan Skyline. The Excel ran well all day with only a small problem with the handbreak. Keeping my driving style clean and smooth gave me the trophy. Unfortunately my style of driving wasn't very spectacular and without having the hand break made it difficult to get through some 180 corners. I was experimenting with left foot breaking throughout the day and I found it very helpful.
Results: 1st by just under 4 seconds from Stefan and in 3rd was Jason Street.

Update and Preperation for Khanacross on 29th of November at Cambridge

Update!!!
Car is almost ready for khanacross on the 29th of November at Cambridge Motorsport Park. I have swapped setup from circuit to gravel again which takes about a days work, with all the fiddly settings. The circuit wheels have been swapped for some radials due to the khana rules. The car just needs a toe check and it should be right to go.
The car has recently developed a problem in it's mid range power and we don't know what it could be, so I might start at the top by replacing the fuel filter and work my way down from there. Also I have fixed the terratrip and it is now working perfectly with the foot remote and all.
Summer break is coming up and I have a relatively large list of jobs that I should get done. Hopefully the car will be in full TRS spec(Tasmanaina rally series) around March next year and Then I will keep running it in club level motorsport until late 2009 where I will try and enter a full TRS event again.

New Parts Arrive

I have ordered some parts for the Excel recently. I bought some bushes from Superpro. They are made from a much stiffer polyurethane material which will make the car setting in toe, camber and caster much more fixed, which will give better stability, handling, and control.
I also purchased a shift light kit from Jaycar which I am in the process of wiring up. The kit said that it takes 60min to wire up but it has almost taken me 3 times that and I still haven’t finished.
I also received some more camber washers from DMS so I can give the car a more neutral set-up for gravel I will probably be running around 0.5 negative camber on dirt on the front and rear and 2-4 negative camber on the circuit.
Next event is a Khanacross out at Cambridge.

Wiring the Terratrip and Intercom

Today I was able to get a little bit completed all though it felt like the small jobs took for ever to do. I was able to get some of the wiring for the terratrip and intercom done. A wheel probe was inserted inside the hub and a small bracket had to be made, to hold the probe. Then thin wiring had to be run up to the dash to the terratrip. The terratrip was mounted to the dash with the wiring coming up from under the dash. Then we sourced some power from the cigarette lighter to power the terratrip and intercom.

Excel shows potential at Supersprint

The Excel debuted at it's first track day and it surprised a few people including myself. We were out there to see what it would do in standard form. We were hoping to run a 1:12.00 around the track if we were lucky but we managed to get the car down to a time of 1:10.60, beating alot of high performance cars. out of a field of 36 Aaron (my brother) managed to finish 19th with a time of 1:10.6 and I finished 20th with a time of 1:10.7. The car suffered a fair bit of oversteer with the standard bushes and lack of stiffness in the body. The brakes weren't up to scratch either, although once these minor issues are sorted I'm hoping to get a 1:08.00 out of the car. I will be getting some Whiteline swaybars and nolathane rubbers for the car shortly and that should help with the handling.
The highlight of the day was a close 4 way battle with 2 Minis and a Daewoo. had a blast...
Results
http://mgtas.org.au/Competition%20Results/MG%20Mini%20combined%20club%20day%20191008%20results.pdf

Preparations finished for Baskerville Supersprint

I spent today getting the car ready for the Supersprint tomorrow. It will be my first supersprint and I'm looking forward to it. The last event was nearly a month ago, so it will be good to blow the cob webs of the Excel. In preparation for tomorrow I replaced the oil and oil filter, fitted new spark plugs and got some track tyres fitted to my 13 inch rally rims. Hopefully the weather will be similar to today's weather. Tomorrow I will be making some changes to suspension set up and maybe toe, to get a better feel for the car. I will also be trying the difference between a 13 and 15 inch tyre. Halfway through the day I will put on the 15 inch wheels and tyres from the Domain and see what difference it makes to the cars handling and times.

1st Outright at MSCT Motorkhana

Yesterday MSCT held it's first motorkhana for the year, it was held behind Symonds Plains race track. It was a great day and the track was very slippery and muddy. The Excel proved to be a great car around the muddy track. It was good to experience alot of understeer and oversteer on the entry of corners. Out of 22 competitors we placed first outright. 

Results:

http://www.msct.com.au/results/Motorkhana/Motorkhana%20Results%2028%20September.pdf

Baskerville test with David

David Waldon tested his new Subaru for the first time on Saturday. I went out for a look and helped out a little bit with some of the setting changes. It was great to see the new car with it's new livery and  he should be a contender for some podium places in the next few tarmac rounds coming up. Tarmac challenge is only two weeks away and they are planning on entering the Subaru in that event.

some pictures of the new car:

 

Domain Results and photos

Results for the domain were 26th out of a field of 48, and also 4th in class.
click on pictures

http://cmitas.org/

Great day at the Domain

It was another great day at the domain hill climb the conditions were a bit eratic but overall it was quite sunny. The Excel showed good pace, especially considering it is a standard car and it is Front wheel drive. It felt tight through the corners. My first run was very cautious as it had been raining and the tyres I was using had been siting in the sun for 3 years and were very worn. When the sun came out the grip improved and on the last run I was able to shave almost 10 seconds of my first run. which is a dramatic improvement considering each run was only about 50 seconds long. Had a ball although the track would of been nice if it was longer.

Results and more pics to come, also next event is a supersprint at Baskerville October 19th, keep tunned.

Preperations finished for Domain Hill Climb

I have been spending a few nights getting my car to a semi tarmac set-up for some events coming up. The next two events I will be entering will be Domain hill climb and a supersprint at Bakserville. The Domain hill climb is tommorow and the supersprint is still another couple of weeks away. The car is looking very good with some 15 inch R31 skyline wheels modified to suit the excel. and some semi slick tyres to go with the wheels. It is lowered about 30 mm all round from gravel spec and a little more camber is added. Results for tommorows event will be posted up, so be sure to come back and check.

2nd outright at MGCCT Motorkhana

Today a motorkhana was held out at Kellyfield. Motorkhanas are timed events were flags are set out in a field and a track is to be memorized. We were allowed 2 attempts at each track and we took our best time from each track. In total there were 4 tracks. To memorize the course wasn't easy, but the challenge made it enjoyable.

In total there were 12 competitors. The Hyundai Excel felt great through the tight and twisty corner although the small Mini's were hard to beat finishing 1st and 3rd outright. I was happy with 2nd outright as it was my first motorkhana, and a few costly errors were made throughout the day.

results:

http://www.mgtas.org.au/Competition%20Results/Results%20State%20Motorkhana%20Series%20060908.pdf

1st Outright at MSCT Powrana Khanacross

The Excel takes it second outright victory yesterday at Powrana Khanacross track. It was a very competitive field of 20 entries with some highly modified machinery. I managed to keep it clean except for 1 +10 second penalty for finishing outside of the finish area. But managed to win 2 of the 5 stages keeping me in first. Aaron also entered and finished 3rd outright with a slowest plus 5 second penalty for going in the wrong direction but manged to keep the rest of the runs clean also wining 2 stages out of 5 to put him in 3rd outright.

Results

www.msct.com.au/results/Khanacross/KhanaX%20Results%2030.08.08.pdf

Build Update

Getting the car ready for the next khanacross this one will be out at Powrana. It is held with the motorsport car club tas. In preperation for the khana I have got stuck into converting the standard suspension system to run with DMS rally suspension. This suspension had added travel, adjustability in height, bump and rebound, it is also better suited to rough surfaces.

Also I have a picture of the updated cockpit, it is still waiting to receive cage, nav seat, terratrip and terraphone.

Could be a posibility of runing a track day soon... as I want to see how the car performs on the sticky stuff. If i have enough funds I will enter the mcct track event after the khanacross at powrana, or just go for a private practice one day, keep you posted.

1st Outright at MGCT Kellyfield Khanacross

Today at Kellyfield Aaron and myself entered the Khanacross event. I managed to get first outright, which i was pretty happy about. It shows the potential of these little cars in standard trim. The field consisted of about 18 competitors. It was a good day, the track was nice and tight.

The night before the event we fitted a bose kit and a sparco steering wheel, couple of fire extinguishers and did some trim removal.

results:

http://www.mgtas.org.au/Competition%20Results/Results%20Khanacross%202%20Aug%2008.pdf

Workshop receives some organising

This weekend was spent organising the workshop area.

Last week I received another green excel, this excel will be used as a daily driver. It is located in Melbourne, so we will bring it back over on the boat and I will put some pictures up. It is registered and in good condition, it is also green which makes it good for a donor car if the time comes where the rally car needs some panels.

Green Excel receives cage treatment

This is the cage out of the old excel we didn't manage to salvage much out of the front half of the cage but the rear part of the cage is going to go in. We need to clean up this cage pictured below put some paint on it and weld it in. I have also started to repair the rear damage to the excel so hopefully that will be fixed and it can be driving on the road shortly. Can't wait till the first event...

Excel Update

Today and yesterday afternoon Aaron and myself managed to replace the cam belt (big job), remove air conditioning, fit drivers bucket seat, removed rear damaged parts, and fit twin 1 kg fire extinguishers, we are no longer entering the motorkhana next weekend because it is north east of Tasmania, which is to far to drive. So our next event is the Multi club khanacross which is located at kellyfield on the 2nd of August then on the 10th of August Multi-club Baskerville supersprint.

The replacement Hyundai Excel

Picked this car up from Targa ace Adrian Morrisby.


This car is alot better condition to my old car except for the rear damage. This has less km's and less dents (not that the dents matter). This will be receiving a cage shortly and all the rest of the gear should just bolt in.

First event is next weekend were it will enter a motorkhana.

Pictures

After

Before

Bad Luck at Hellyer

Unfortunately the team ran into some bad luck at Hellyer. The car was performing well until the second last stage when we ran wide into a soil bank and rolled the car end for end. The corner was a very tricky one with other competitors also having problems, but managing to power out of it. "The corner was a slightly cambered corner with very slippery rocks on the outside line. Unfortunately I got onto the outside line a little to fast and hit a soil bank." No one was hurt and it is a testament to the strength and design of the cage.
Damage report: written of car and one damaged wheel, rest is fine.

Lesson learnt, now it's time to move on. Plans are to swap all the gear over into a new Excel.

Thanks to the following people for the help: Parents, Anthony Shaw, Andy Morris, Bill Fulton, David Waldon, Jamie Drumond and Peter Eastly.

Excel Build Update 17

Another Update, we have finished rebuilding the front hubs and brake callipers with new seals and bearings. I have cut off the rear exhaust and put a hot dog on there to give the car a note, couldn't hear the car before. Also Strengthened rear suspension arms by using 4 mm flat steel and boxing them to the arms. Removed sway bars.

We are still making up the strut tops, we have decided to use standard strut tops in the front and spherical bearing in the rear just for the first and maybe second round, then we will upgrade the front.

2 weeks until Hellyer.......

New Car in the Build process

Just thought I would put this up on the blog, my Father, Brother and myself are slowly building an E30 M3 to use for tarmac rallying and circuit. The car will be hopefully finished later this year altough finding time to work on it is very hard. I will write a report on what has been done to it and what needs to be done shortly.

Excel Update #16

Car is starting to look like a rally car. Wheels are on Stickers were done by Andy Morris at Signworks.

I really can't wait till hellyer now... Hellyer will be held on the 14th of June in Burnie. Unfortunately regular co-driver Sam Button won't be able to make it due to University Exam's, but Anthony Shaw (2007 Tas P2 Outright Driver) will be taking sam's place in the co-drivers seat.

Build update #15

Front Hubs were removed on the weekend and received an overhaul with new bearings and disc rotors. Also new pads and brake shoes were put in. I used Mintex pad, and brake shoes which is apparently really good stuff. The car will be ready to get log booked for this weekend, unfortunately I won't be able to make Styx, but I'll be at Hellyer. 

Sump guard and Foot Tray are ready to be fitted into the car for this weekend too. 

Excel build update 14

Trying to get the car ready for Styx Valley Rally which will be held in 3 weeks time. (still don't know if i'll make it) it will be located near New Norfolk. I have bought 6 Tyres which are dunlop SP 85's as pictured below. I may be puting DMS suspension in the rear and keeping the bilsteins for the front. Mudflaps are on. 

I'll be doing alot of work this weekend....

Hyundai Excel Build update #13

I ordered my new wheels of Mick Gillet and they have finally arrived. I think the white colour will co-inside well with the white car. I got 6 so I have one spare in the car and one spare at the service park. I will be ordering my tyres shortly, and put some pictures up with the new wheels on the car. My suspension is slowly coming along, I have drivers seat fitted and passenger side harnesses. Also fabricated up some mudflap brackets and cut some mudflaps out of tough mudflap material (hand is still recovering).

Work Experience

Since the 2nd of January I have been doing some work experience for LWR, based in Launceston. I enjoy learning how things work behind the scenes in the workshop. Work Experience is an important aspect of my future career path. This has slowed my progress on the Excel. Although the Excel will be ready for a practice event held on March the 8th also in Launceston.


Quote from http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/ "The LWR team have just five weeks to prepare for the opening event, to be run from February 15-17. Both Longhurst and Quinn will test their Subarus prior to the rally, in order to get the set-up right before the opening stage gets under way"