It’s Sunday, 4:30am. Why are you still in bed…?
In Detail #3
Motorcycle vs Car Drift Battle
A couple of friends shared this on Facebook and I just had to pass it on. You will not stop grinning even if you don’t like drift.
How Fast Are F1 Race Cars?
…fast enough to make us mere mortals white out. …fast enough to make your dad’s station wagon look like Fred Flintstone’s car. …fast enough, well, just look for yourself. Watch the first video where you will spot some weekend warrior types in a Gumpert, a 911, Radical, Ultima, a Caterham and a Lotus. Then watch the second video.
Props to iedei.
In Detail #2
Interview | Project Clubman | Paul Smith
A little over a year ago, just before I started this blog, I invested a couple of months on researching clubmans. It’s the ultimate sports car and one every enthusiast gazes at with salivating lust. I had the pleasure of being driven in one which further fueled my desire to undertake an expensive and time consuming project. My undoing came in the form of an MX5, the next best thing – yet still not even close to the thrill of building and driving a clubman.
I haven’t given up on the idea as much as shelved it for later in life. I have continued to read about them and collect bits of information, parts lists, drive train combos and I keep up with rule changes in regards to Individually Constructed Vehicles (ICV). Keeping my finger on the pulse so to speak.
With that in mind, it doesn’t take much to interest me in someone elses build, reading about their trials and tribulations, their constant amazement and frustration with the authorities that take forever to approve their ICV, their joy when the engine fires up for the first time, and again when they first sneak out for a quick spin around the block in the dead of night.
The feeling of achievement one must feel at the end of such a long and complex project is beyond me. I might find out one day but for now, I’ll just have to ask Paul Smith about it. He has only this month registered his clubman after a 5 year build! A big congratulations to Paul on registering his clubman, a pat on the back for his dedication, and I hope he continues to draw enjoyment out of the car beyond his construction phase.
Q&A With Paul Smith
What was the spark that set this project in motion?
I previously owned a fairly modified Toyota Celica GT4. I enjoyed the car, and started to get into some entry level motorsports, such as track sprints. I quickly realised that while the car was quick, it was not enjoyable to drive. Its weight (approx 1400kg) worked against it. It was heavy on fuel, tyres and brakes, with a typical track day costing around $200 not including the actual track day cost itself!
I started looking around for something that was unique, lightweight and above-all, fun to drive. I considered the Toyota AE86 but was too common and attracted a bit of a stigma. Also considered early RX7 but I’m not a fan of the sound nor the shape of the car. I was attending a track day at Morgan Park, and saw about 3 or 4 of these little clubman cars zinging around the track. Talking to the owners, they were so enthusiastic about their machines. The costs are approximately a third of a “hot street car” to run in events. They weigh around 500kg dry, which means less tyre wear, less brake wear and much less fuel.
I was hooked. I started to do my research and 1 month later I started the project.
Many projects of this magnitude are abandoned. Was there ever a time when you were ready to call it a day?
Many times. When my wife had our first child in 2007, I didn’t have time to continue the project. It sat untouched for nearly 2 years at that point. I also nearly threw in the towel when I started having to jump through the registration “hoops” that make getting an Individually Constructed Vehicle (ICV) on the road.
What kept you motivated after all these years?
The thought of numberplates finally being on the car and having the freedom to drive it wherever and whenever I want. A track only car, such as mine was for 2 years, is very frustrating to own. You don’t get value from it.
Are there any decisions, such as engine or tranny choice, you regret after completing your project? Would you have done something differently in hindsight?
Yes, I probably would have gone with a different kit manufacturer. The fit and finish of some kits is much higher. They have a higher entry price, but there is a lot less “other parts” to buy, and a lot less work fixing problems, so at the end of the day, the higher quality kits cost only around $5000 more on the road.
What was the most difficult aspect of the project?
Fiberglass body preparation and spray painting. I’m competent with mechanicals so that side wasn’t overly difficult for me. My kit was let down severely by the quality of the fiberglass. It was full of cavities and “spider webs” which required endless hours of sanding and filling and sanding again. This should have been picked up in the manufacturing QA process.
Can you estimate the hours you have spent completing the clubman?
Probably around 1000 hours as a conservative estimate. Probably half that is actual work, the rest is sourcing parts or researching/learning. If you had all the pieces ready for assembly, I could put it together in less than 50 hours. This is what a lot of people believe “Clubman” building is like, thanks to shows like Top Gear that used partly assembled “jigsaw” cars that just fall together. The Australian Westfield is very different and a much more difficult project. A scratch build (called a LoCost) is even more so.
What kind of a person do you believe is best suited to undertake a similar project?
A patient one. I completed my car and passed engineering in June 2010. My car was accepted and registered in December 2010. If you rush a project you will ruin it. Even though the average clubman owner is probably a 45+ year old male, I believe they are suited to young people as well. I think my project brings a few modern aspects to what is a traditional car, such as larger brushed alloy rims, LED lights and “JDM Spec” interior and engine parts. I get positive comments from the older car enthusiast as well as the young guys (and girls!).
What are your plans for the car? Will you be entering a racing series, casual track days or just spirited driving?
I’m enjoyed just driving it around at the moment. After a major car accident some time ago, I don’t really drive in a “spirited” manner on the road. There are far too many things to hit! I really enjoy track days and once you have experienced driving a car 100% flat out in a safe environment, “hooning” on the streets has virtually no appeal. In the future, I will be competing in timed sprints with the other Qld Clubman drivers, plus some casual race the clock competitions with groups like “Time Attack”. Since the car has such value to me personally, I can’t see myself competing in side-by-side motorsports any time soon.
Is there a seed forming for another project down the road?
2 days after I registered my car, my wife looked at me and said, “You are bored. Whats next?”. I’m currently putting a V6 Commodore engine into my 2WD Hilux as a small side project to keep me twirling spanners, however I don’t have any firms plans for a large project at the moment. I have a fair bit of yard work to do after 5 years!
Is there anyone you wish to thank?
My wife for not looking at receipts and letting me spend many nights in a shed without any complaints. All the Clubman guys have been very helpful. They are a strong group which go to great lengths to help other owner/builders. Join them at ozclubbies.com.au
In Detail #1
Winding Road #18
Copyright | Tim Schmidt | Used with permission.
The Stig Eye View
Many of you would have seen the Top Gear episode where The Stig took to the track in a Caterham R500 and broke the track record. Here is a short video of that run from one camera angle… The Stig eye view.
Tracks | Summit Point Motorsports Park | Summit Point, USA
Summit Point Motorsports Park. The name alone conjures up images of a picturesque wonderland where a stable of exotic cars are free to test drive, grid girls hand feed you grapes, the sand pits are filled with marshmallows and your tyres do not wear out.
Built in 1969/70 and opened that very year for professional racing, the track has held numerous events from regional to national and even some international events. At Summit you can race your car, drift it, autocross it, learn to drive it, learn how to teach others, race some karts or enjoy a slide on the skid pan.
Over the 40 year history, the Summit Point bitumen has seen many stars battle it out. One famous patron was the charismatic Paul Newman. He raced his Datsun 510 where he kept to himself, wanting nothing more than to be just one of the racers.
In the early ’80′s the track was purchased by Formula Vee World Champion Bill Scott (who sadly passed away last December). Over time, as well as racing, the complex would be used as a training ground for various federal agencies and security organisations. Last year they opened a skid pan for autocross and driver training.
The facilities on-site are many and varied. Apart from the marshmallow sand traps, they offer plenty of paved parking, electricity sockets, showers, a race products store and even camping which is included in the ticket price.
Four configurations at Summit Point keeps the racers on their toes. From their website:
Summit Point Circuit
Summit Point Circuit is a 10-turn, 2.0-mile (3.2 km) road course that features a 2,900-foot (880 m) main straight. This original circuit opened in 1969.
The road course we run today is a ten turn, two mile road course that includes a 2900 foot straightaway and 400 feet of elevation change. Summit Point Circuit provides challenging high speed turns with ample run off areas and gravel traps along with a challenging and technical carousel section. The track’s features truly make it a must destination for recreational drivers.
Jefferson Circuit
The Jefferson Circuit is a seven-turn, 1.12-mile (1.80 km) road course that was designed and built by Bill Scott as a dedicated course for high-performance, accident avoidance and emergency operation driver training. Opened in 1996, the Jefferson Circuit is a course that demands constant attentiveness and smooth inputs from drivers.
The Jefferson Circuit hosts a number of driver training schools, as well as a handful of motorcycle trackdays each year.
Shenandoah Circuit
The Shenandoah Circuit is a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) road course that first opened in 2005. It is a no holds barred technical challenge that will take years for drivers to master. The track contains a dimensional replica of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife’s famous bankedKarussell turn complete with 20 degrees of banking. The corners contain both positive and negative camber as well as increasing and decreasing radius turns with vertical drops. If you are truly up for a challenge to your car handling abilities, the Shenandoah Circuit is truly one of the most technical tracks in the country.
Washington Circuit
The Washington Circuit is Summit Point’s newest addition and is home to Summit Point Kart. Constructed and opened in 2009 it features 10 feet of elevation change, 1300 feet in length and over 300 feet in width. It is capable of being configured for many uses.
Summit Point Kart has created the “Washington Long Course”. This is 11 turns, including a sweeping 160 degree decreasing radius corner and 3 straights with one stretching nearly 1,000 feet in length. With lighting, the action doesn’t stop after the sun sets. Karting under the lights is an entirely different experience not to be missed.
Drift Nirvana | Copyright | Jillian | Used with permission
I recruited Carrie, from the miata.net forums, for some insight into what it’s like to be a part of the SPR family and how she got involved with racing in general.