News
Gurston Down May 2008 (posted-09/06/2008):
Hi Jo, A summary of the Gurston may meeting for you if you want it..... It was wet and horrible.
This was not a championship round for us so it was a good chance to try to concentrate on my driving and try to overcome some of the bad habits that I had acquired over the last couple of seasons..
I have been unable to improve on my times but had identified where I was making mistakes so wanted some time in the car without having to worry about driving for points.
This meeting, along with all the Gurston championship rounds, was being filmed for a series of programs on Motors TV and we were asked if we would agree to have a camera in the car for the weekend. I am not sure how much footage will be used but all the runs that Dee and I did were filmed.
Dee had been fighting some demons following her accident in the car 2 seasons ago and had been unable to get her times down under 50 seconds. Her first run of 46 seconds set her well on the road to previous form. 45 and 47 second runs consolidated the fact that she had laid the demons to rest.
My runs on Saturday were reassuring producing 37 second runs while trying various ways of getting into and out off 2 corners that are critical for a good time at Gurston.
Sunday was very wet and windy, and Dee decided not to run in the wet this time and potentially risk damaging the confidence that she had built up on Saturday.
I bolted on the cut slicks and went out to have some fun in the slippery conditions. Once again the Pride build and mapped engine delivered the power and torque in a smooth useable way that left me leading the class at lunchtime.
A missed 2nd gear at the top of karousel and the TVR driver trying a little harder than I thought left me 6 tenths of a second behind him at the end of the 2nd run so had to settle for 2nd place but more importantly with some new driving tactics for the next meeting in June.
Catch you soon Ben and Dee
- Customer Reports: Ben Stapley, Datsun 240Z (posted-06/05/2008):
Gurston Down Hillclimb Meetings
The season opener double header meeting at Gurston Down on 19th and 20th April was a character building start to the season. With drizzle interspersed with rain and gusting winds on Saturday, the track was somewhat slippery.
Work commitments conspired against us to rule out a practice day.
The Pride built and mapped Datsun engine performed with consummate consideration to its occupant’s well being, delivering the power and torque in a very progressive and predictable way.
This allowed me to drift and slide the 240Z to a comfortable class win in worsening conditions, while Dee was able to drive it without fear of it biting hard and taking her on a rollercoaster ride.
Sunday started badly with a wheel stud shearing off as I was undoing the nuts to change onto the slicks for the dry track and threats of sunshine if the fog burnt off.
A 2 and ½ hour round trip home to find a spare stud (not the time to find that the only studs that I had were much shorter than the broken one) and then the job of removing the rear hub and bearing to replace the offending item began in earnest.
After a bit of knuckle grazing I was ready to put the rear wheels back onto the car only to find that the wheels fouled the callipers. I normally have a spacer but could not use it due to the stud being shorter. We also had to cut the wheel nuts in half as they were not threaded to their full length.
With the scrutineers breathing down my neck and the last batch of practice nearing the end I bolted on the old cut slicks that I run in the wet. They have a different offset but at least 12 year old tyres fitted.
I missed practice by about 5 mins so the first run in the afternoon had to double up as practice, find out how much life was left in the rear tyres and hopefully bank a respectable time.
That run proved to be my best of the day due to some over exuberance on my part on the second run, but good enough for another class win.
Not a bad start to the season after all!
- University Placements, Youth Apprenticeship Scheme and School Work Experience (posted-02/02/2007):
Several university students on Motorsport Engineering degree courses have had their year’s placement with us. They have invariably learnt what ‘working’ is, i.e.: being able to apply theoretical knowledge gained into practice. We have also helped with their final year projects.
We are very happy to be part of the Youth Apprenticeship Scheme and currently have two young people training with us once a week each.
We have also had several students now on work experience with us for one week at a time. All seem to have enjoyed their time with us and have learned a good deal whilst here.
We have been able to offer them all (with an accompanying adult if applicable) entry to motorsport events which we have been attending at the weekends during the racing season. We aim to continue doing this as we feel this gives each student an ‘all-round’ experience of our industry.
- New Dyno Up, Running and Available For Hire (posted-25/09/2006):
We installed a Superflow Sf901 dyno cell in September 2005. It has the ability to test engines to a 1000 bhp / 19,000 rpm (approx.) limit.
Many engines have successfully run on our dyno and we are therefore now in a position to offer this facility.
Any interested parties should call or email us for any further information.
