Time Trial 2

I'm starting to like this format, mostly for convenience. I have no problem running all seven cars for 25 laps each. Doing 50 each needs to be on a day when I have time. It doesn't seem so much when you look simply at elapsed racing time, but it's all the other things; notes, setups, clocks, taping...all of it. Shorter times also give me good results without so many offs. There's nothing worse than having a great running car come off on the 92 lap of a 100 lap race. I can also run time trials in between races and it'll allow me to vary the race format as well.

Track temps were 9ºC today, which is warmer than it's been in the past week or so. Still not at it's normal 13-16º, but I'll take it. It might be important to include room temps in the report, if just to see if there are any patterns. Maybe not with little changes, but I'll bet things are different in the Summer.

I'm trying a slightly different controller configuration, moving the Power Trim from 0 to 5. Theoretically this is supposed to help prevent wheel spin, which will probably help some of the cars.

The Power Trim [outlined in green upper left] helps with traction control, or wheel spin, or whatever you want to call it. Up until recently I ran it at 0.

In other notes, the Sweeper curve is running great. I'm so looking forward to picking up some thin sheets of wood to get started on the track foundation. It's going to be awhile, though. Probably not until Fall.

Here's the lowdown on today's run. We're on Trial 2.

I didn't think I'd see a 4.8 for awhile, like maybe some months from now when things get a little warmer and the cars are more adapted to the track. But for whatever reason, there's some ass-hauling going on, and it has affected almost all the cars. Again practically everyone beat their previous time, with some really setting some impressive new numbers. 

Lower is better. Everybody hovering at or below that 5 line is okay by me. The colors on this graph are all wrong, though. I'll have to work on that.

Let's go car-by-car, in order of finish.


Ford MKII

The other day I said the MKII isn't likely going to run a consistent lap under 5 seconds, but I may be wrong. It's still a bit early to tell, but I'll get a better idea in the next few trials. A rock-solid 4.8 [2:00.06] that never let up. It flows through the curves and seems very light. Fast acceleration and quiet, smooth running.
Curve/Max: 4 [this relates to the overall maximum power setting programmed onto the SCP-1 controller.]


Alfa Romeo 33/3

But the MKII isn't alone. Not today. The Alfa ran a great 4.8 at 2:00.23, just missing it by a hair. I've been recently frustrated with the Alfa's lack of gusto on the permanent track so far, but I spent a bit of time cleaning and straightening. I also gave a quick taping to the tires to get the crap off them. I've been sanding tires and running laps, so each car needs a bit of taping now and then.
Curve/Max: 4


Ford GT40 #8

Also killing it was the good ol' #8, which ran a kickass time. Both it and the Alfa shaved almost three-tenths off their time today. This car runs so dang smooth. Did a 4.8 at 2:01.22 and never looked back.
Curve/Max: 4


Ford GT40 Jacky Ickx

Breaking 5 seconds with a respectable 4.96 at 2:04.16, that's a mighty fine lap time, yet not as fast as the lead pack today. Either way, there is nothing "wrong" with a car that runs a 5 second lap around here. Well done.
Curve/Max: 4


Porsche 962C

Pulling a 4.96 at 2:04.53 is also a damn good time, and a tenth better than the previous time. I'll take that. The tail was a little twitchy at the end, and it had picked up some dirt on the tires, but it otherwise ran great. I have a lot of expectations for this car, and it's beginning to meet them. It's running at 6 Power on the controller, which is the highest-drawing car, but it can handle everything thrown at it. The addition of traction control really helped as well. The problem I was having was the car climbed slower or else it got very wiggly. With traction control on, the acceleration was less erratic, which makes getting through the sharp corners smoother and easier. There's less of a chance of over-accelerating when going through a curve, giving you more control and a better run out of the corner.
Curve/Max: 6

Audi R8 Safety Car

This guy has almost earned his way back into the big show. It was definitely a surprise to see it shave four-tenths off the lap rime, running a 5.48 at 2:17.72
While that still doesn't change the fact that the Safety Car is running a second and a half back, that doesn't amount to much. One or two crashes and any of those cars could be passed by it. I think the tires are kaputt, though. No matter how much I sand them, at the end of each race they're hard and shiny. I'll have to look up some solutions to this. I remember reading of methods for reviving tires, so I'll have to give that a try.
This car needs a lot of juice just to get going, so I ran it hot of the controller.
Curve/Max: 6


Audi R18

The beat-up, listless, slippery old dog went in reverse today, even after extensive sanding and taping. I wonder what would happen if I put good rubber tires on this thing. It might be worth three bucks to find out. Otherwise I'm going to tear it up and turn it into a full-time camera car.
Curve/Max: 3

__________

I've started a 10-minute endurance race for points. Each car will be run when I have a good chance to take a look at it and get it running great. This will be the third race of the series, and not include the Carreras. They'll continue testing, but not competing until they can turn respectable lap times [near 5:00].
I've run two of the cars so far and hope to run the rest of the cars in the next day or two.