NAMS/Clubchampionship Hillclimb @ Ringwood Park

[stouty]

Was just wondering if anyone was going if you interested its on the 25th of january. Here is the link. http://www.mgcarclub.com.au/entries.htm

Im entering into it, it will be the second hillclimb ive been into last one was awsome so im keen to give it another go.

[Course_Out]

Hey mate

Unfortunately I can't make it to this one, but have competed on the track before - have you driven on it yet?

[stouty]

Nah i havnt driven on it yet ive only done the buladelah track late last yr. What is it like?

[Course_Out]

I've only driven it once in my 4ac ae71 with 8kg/6kg springs and a locker. I had a ball, the track ends back at the finish line so the 2nd half of the run is downhill. Last time I was there they ran 2 runs each turn (1 practise run, then an "official" run, with the next car running their first run in between, if that makes sense). Usually this will happen 4 - 5 times, so it's a good value hill climb

I would suggest getting there early and having a walk aroudn the track, it is narrow and has a few bumps here and there. Biggest things to remember are:

* to stay wide on the entry to the top loop and cut back across so you don't end up on the dirt at the exit.

* I also had issues with understeer on the second last corner (left around the tree) but I have sicne been told that the best thing to do with that one is run wide on the entry and cut across the apex so you are lined up for the last corner in order to nail a good time

My best time was, i think, a 37 or 38. Fastest guys in the sedans are the vw's and the Evo 7 that runs (both around) 34 seconds

It's a good fun track, and the guys that run there are all really cool. Have fun and let us know how you go!

[stouty]

Thanks for the info im looking forward to it. Ive got a time im aiming to beat now too lol.

[stouty]

Had a great day best time was a 37.23 which was 3rd in my class (3u) so im pretty stocked. Looking forward to the next one and keen to beat my time.

[Course_Out]

Hey mate that's a pretty good time! I'm keen to hit the next one if my car is back together (waiting on parts) I will shoot you a PM and try and get some xe7x domination in type 3, lol

[stouty]

yeh man let me know for sure would be good to have some other xe7x there i was the only one which i was surprised about.

[Course_Out]

To be honest there aren't many that I've seen. Was a gze ae71 that was super fast, but other than that we are it mate!

[ae86rally]

you are not alone. I have ran there for years. but in a lj torana then commodore. I wont put my rally car up there (wrong suspension and axle tramps like a pig on take off on hard surfaces). Im still trying to find tyres to run on my ae82 (only have dirt tyres but they went ok).
As you have found out Ringwood is a very technical track and if you can master it King Edward park is easy (very similar car setup too). low 37 is a good time for your first go at the track.
35 second times are possible as the track relies a lot on getting it right than horsepower.
tin tops can get down to 32's (seen it, but the guy is one hell of a steerer).
Lsd is worth half to 1 second and good tyres (semi slicks) worth the same, take that off your times and start to look at where youre at (1-2 seconds faster)

when I ran the commodore it had an open diff so I dissconnected the rear sway bar, understeered like a pig but less wheelspin out of tight corners so I was faster.

get the line wrong going into the dip (loop) and its disaster (have pics of my sons bent car somewhere) you must stay on the inside as Course out says as the track drops rapidly on the left hand side and totally upsets the car to the point of loss (and then you find out why the armco is there.
the corner at the top of the loop I could never get right, (poor car setup) but get it wrong and you stuff up the downhill run. powersliding out of it is fun and easy but you will be pointing wrong for next corner which mucks up the next which mucks up the next..................
spot on the money with the last corner, I used to turn in too early and the car just understeered. It feels wrong taking it wide and late until you do it and the car turns in much better and it took half a second of my time.

they have what they call a junior training day next weekend(sat?) and I would recommend it . it not just for juniors, I learnt a hellaofalot just watching and listening to them teach my son. They put an experienced driver in the car with you and show you how to drive the track.
might catch you guys up there one day, Ill be in a crappy looking ae82 twin cam or if I pull my finger out might have a v8 early model commodore (not fast around corners but the torque factor is huuuuge fun)

[stouty]

Thanks for the info ae86rally.
I was wondering if older ppl could go to the junior training day i might go to it.
Im in a yellow T-18 with number 78 so if you see me there come over and say hello.

[Course_Out]

OK, that's it - I am putting the car together tomorrow, being on the sidelines sucks!

[ae86rally]

older people are normally welcome, but ummmm it was last weekend.

ever ran at Kempsey? its a bit less technical but a lot faster, the boys I took got their VL and VK's revving hard in 3rd gear. interesting to watch the two cars On different tracks with basically same suspension (VL was a tad :DD lower) with different motors(both injected sixes), VL was stronger bottom and top end, whilst Vk was stronger mid range. After learning to drive in those cars they can drive a lot better.

[Course_Out]

Yeah I know it was last weekend - I work for Peter who rusn the red open wheeler with his daughter Elizabeth

Haven't run Kempsey yet, would definitely like to make it out there this year sometime

[ae86rally]

Peters a good bloke, I wish I had at least half his knowledge on motorsport. Does Glynn still work there? he would remember my son (brendan) who drove the VK commodore, they went to school together. Peter would remember me if he seen me but i havent been that involved with the club for a while.

[Course_Out]

He certainly is! His story about rolling the group C Mini at Oran Park sends shivers up my spine though...

Yep, Glynn works there still - you would know Jim, Beau and Owen Fernance I take it?

[ae86rally]

rolled end over end didnt he 4-6 times? thought it was Amaroo after the dog leg in the straight but. (he just mentioned it briefly and the track even more briefly along time ago so my memory is prob wrong).
Jim has a nice collection of cars, wont say anymore on the net. Owen used to race against My son Brendan but Owen had cars more suited to wherever we ran ( WE ran old Commodores as they were given to us, So I'M cheap) next time you see Owen ask him about Burnouts at King Edward Park in his turbo alfa GTV with Brendan in his Commodore! (dont worry it was all legal, officially it was tyre warming )

[Course_Out]

He told em the whole story the other day - apparently passing a Cortina (or possibly an Escort?) on the outside of turn one at Oran, got the Mini in the kitty litter and yeah, you know the rest!

I will have to ask owen about that, was that the tiem he spat the diff on the road? The replacement for the old alfa is going to be a hell of a monster as well....

[stouty]

Is anyone heading to the Buladelah Hillclimb run by WAC? Its on the 29th of march. Ill be there cant wait not as tight and technical as Ringwood but high speed.

[ae86rally]

I will have to ask owen about that, was that the tiem he spat the diff on the road? The replacement for the old alfa is going to be a hell of a monster as well....

nah he blew the gearbox big time, tried to pull second gear and the alfa came on boost big time and no more gearbox.
At scrutineering the next year when he fronted with the alfa I asked if he was ready for another burnout comp, cant print his reply!!



Is anyone heading to the Buladelah Hillclimb run by WAC? Its on the 29th of march. Ill be there cant wait not as tight and technical as Ringwood but high speed.

its a blast just keep changing up gears and accelerating.
The old commy peaked out in 3rd (140-150) with a bit more power a better driving skills would have pulled 4th easy.
Be careful of the the first major right hander (if its the same bit of road) it changes camber if you run to wide coming out of the corner and the armco is very unforgiving a few people have come undone there. I didnt have any problems in the commy but when we changed motors my son found it a lot more challenging and so do his friend in his VL.

[Course_Out]

I might do Buhladelah if I get the car together

[stouty]

Would be good to see you there. Im keen for it just getting my car together fitting my cage and a bit of tidying up. Im heading to Melbourne for a wk next wk to watch my grandpa and uncle race at Phillip Island for the 40th anniversary of Formula Ford in Australia. http://www.vhrr.com/phillip_island.htm Cant wait will be an awsome wkend.

[Course_Out]

Yeah, I just started a new job workign 6 days a week, so no guarantees - I'll do what i can!

[ae86rally]

I know how you feel, I work 7 day roster, variable hour, shift work - any day of the week at any time, very unfriendly to motorsport.

[stouty]

Anyone coming to Buhladelah???

[stouty]

28th of June and 12th of july at Ringwood Park. Anyone coming?

[stouty]

12th of july 3rd round of Championship anyone coming???

[stouty]

This sunday is the last round of the Speed Championship at Ringwood Park anyone coming????

[Course_Out]

Stupid car still isn't running, so I won't be there.

Again

[ae86ln]

i might go to watch. what car do you drive?

[stouty]

Its all over for the yr now. I ended up 3rd in 2u class for the yr was coming 2nd by a point but got beaten by .22 of a second by the guy that was one point behind me. Has been a good learning experience for me being my first yr.

There is a hillclimb on at kempsey this sunday. We need more corollas at these events come on guys.

I drive a yellow T-18 number 78.

[ae86ln]

i went for like 2 hours, it was so hot. what engine was in it, i thought you went pretty good. the evo's and the bug yer fast

[stouty]

So hot fucking i hated it i blew both tires on my tralier on the way home spent 3 hours by the hwy was the worst. I just have a standard 2tg engine yeh that bug is crazy fast. My build thread is in my sig.

[ae86 drifter]

older people are normally welcome, but ummmm it was last weekend.

ever ran at Kempsey? its a bit less technical but a lot faster, the boys I took got their VL and VK's revving hard in 3rd gear. interesting to watch the two cars On different tracks with basically same suspension (VL was a tad :DD lower) with different motors(both injected sixes), VL was stronger bottom and top end, whilst Vk was stronger mid range. After learning to drive in those cars they can drive a lot better.

hey mate do u remember wat times the commos were doing at kempsey.
ended the day up there with a 31.5. my favourette track forsure.

Not much of a fan of ringwood even no i did a 36 on street tyres,cars not really suited to that track

[ae86rally]

Sorry moved about 4 times since then I think we were about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way down the field. thats were we normally ran.

Ringwood is a very technical track, get it right and you will handle other tracks better, it runs a similar suspension set up to what you would for King Edward park

At ringwood I ran a high 36 in a poorly setup LC torana and all the wrong lines. later got to a low 37 in a stock 6 cyl auto VK (taxi pack too so it sat a little higher) commodore on old roadies off my dads car. Ringwood can be frustrating and seem slow but you learn a lot about car placement and throttle control. It was also setup to run with a minimum of people. how many other tracks can you think of that need just a starter and one flagman

[stouty]

Went to first event for the year was at ringwood park. Moved up into Improved Production car is now log booked.
Hit the armco heading into the top corner, went in too fast and just couldnt quite get it around. Nothing major smashed parker light, fairly large dint in bumper and worst took about 5 20cent size chunks out of front rim and scrapped all around rear rim. Only cosmetic stuff so could have been worse.
Finshed 3rd with a 35.94 so was pretty happy havnt driven for about 4 months, god damn VW beetles are fast.

Kempsey in a couple weeks then bulahdelah the following week 28th march.

[ae86rally]

thats a trick off camber corner corner (hell there all tricky) cant go in too fast, accelerate to early and you understeer too late and you loose heaps off time too hard in the corner and you spin as it changes camber coming out. I remember talking to Peter R about it one day and he said get the lines and power right and it can be good for up to 1/2 a second!!!!
have a think about your approach to the dip it sets you up for coming out ( as your suspension will normally be compressed fairly hard making steering hard) and into that corner. get that wrong and you have no hope of getting the top corner right which will muck you up for the next left hander which will muck you up for the right hander around the tree. be careful going into the dip too get it wrong and your in the armco at the start of the corner.:embarassed:
If you want to be fast around Ringwood spend your money on suspension and lastly on the motor.
Ringwood also teaches you to think your way around a track, as I got older and reflexes slowed (and I got slower cars) I actually got faster as I thought more about what I was doing instead of just going for it.

[dtour]

So what date and where is the next one as i would love to check it out
hopefully join up aswell

[stouty]

Here is the page there is membership forms and a calender of when events are on.
http://www.mgcarclub.com.au/

[stouty]

Anyone doing the first round of the Tri-Series at kempsey on the 25th of April???