<img style="width: 682px; height: 231px;" src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/web-BannerDSC_1194-2.jpg" border="0">[/img]
*WARNING: BORING ESSAY. if your eyes hurt, please skip it, and scroll down to the photo section*
EXE + CircuitClub Trackday - Winton Raceway, 23rd May 2009
Been more than 6 month since my last trackday. i was really looking forward for this day! <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" /> working overseas made me miss australia road so bad. in jakarta, it was all the traffic jam, stuck for 2-4 hours daily and driving auto made me miss australia open road and my manual cars (altho recently i have convert my E30 in jakarta to manual)
i borrowed semis from Dmag / Darrin... thx bro... but turned out that the MX5 wheels couldnt fit the 60mm micra's bore.... so i call around and irlan lend me his red Simmons 14x5 which i was worried about fitting the 185 semis on it. on the day, i found that the rear left semis is leaking air from between the tyre sidewall and the wheel lip. pressure was dropped to 18psi, while the other 3 tyres was perfect 29psi cold.
i also did a quick mod on my rear swaybar. i bought another set of stock swaybar last year and i put 2 rear swaybar together with hose clamps (dan tought me) and i cant wait to see it works... *will upload picture later*
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Practice Session
</span>2:06.8500
2:03.5300
2:00.3600
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">1:59.6500</span>
so i press on with 29psi all around except for the leaking one. i put 32psi on it coz i found higher psi leaks slower... i went outside for the first time after a long break with mei as my passenger, and i **** myself on the first bodyroll... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" /> altho i quickly getting used to it after few laps... didnt dare to push yet coz i wanna see how the leaking one held up.... the good thing is, mei seem to like my driving style <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" />
after the session finish i went back to the pit and checked the pressure. all tyres were fine except the one that leaks has dropped to just below 20psi... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_sad.gif" alt="Sad" border="0" /> so i figure that i would loose about 12 psi every session... and then i decided to pump it up to 40psi... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" /> that way i got to pump it up after every session...
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Session 1
</span>2:02.5200
1:58.5100
1:56.8600
1:58.7500
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">1:56.8500</span>
time to start pushing... mei wouldnt stop hanging by the window like monkey with no banana... this session was abit crowded and everyone is getting used to the track... i did a long battle with Johnny OTR driving CrazyRay's Jazz... the micra starting to feel 'normal' to me... i mean i am getting used to the 'leaning tower' condition... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" />
checked the pressure after the session and it dropped to 35psi... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" /> so i leave it at that...
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Session 2
</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">1:55.9400</span>
2:02.8300
1:56.2600
1:57.6400
this session mei and i went out as the first car... because the problem with micra, i really need to get a clear lap, because all i have is cornering speed and with 120kmh top speed on the main straight and 43kw atw, there is almost no possible way for me to overtake anyone in group A on straightline... so i thought being out first will atleast get me a good clean lap... i was wrong... i hit the traffic again after the first lap... LOL... but at least i got the first lap clean... i finally dipped into 1:55 for the first time on the day... my target is at least to get close to my previous 1:54 PB...
check the pressure again and the leaking one drops to 32 psi... so i figured, maybe the problem is fixed <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" /> woohoooo
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Session 3</span>
1:57.8500
1:56.7100
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">1:56.3600</span>
1:58.9300
1:57.2400
this session i asked mei to get out of my car... LOL... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" /> coz she is too heavy (may even be the reason why the rear tyre leaks <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" />)... i thought that i could gain an extra tenth faster... so kicking her out by giving her food to distract her and ran off to the pit and drive off to the grid line... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" /> success!!!
but God wasnt on my side and punish me for leaving Mei behind... and i went slower LOL... well i was stuck behind every car one after another... and when i was about to back out, i saw like 2 cars behind me anyway... and the car starting to feel abit funny...
so i went out and check the pressure again... the leaking one dropped to 18psi... so i pumped it back up to 40psi... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" /> the other 3 are holding nicely at 32psi... this wont affect anything since appearently you only need 3 wheels to go around the track with micra...
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Session 4</span>
1:57.5800
1:56.1200
1:58.1400
1:57.3800
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">1:55.6500</span></span>*Fastest lap for the day*
so i beg for mei forgiveness for leaving her out of the previous session, and ask her back into my car... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" /> and this time i ask drew to drive together! mini battle! <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" />
this is the best session i had as the whole session i this me and drew got a clear lap... it is not because i was fast... but it is because everyone else in the GROUP A has gotten faster so i never can catch up to them LOL...
me and drew start with a mild play and then progressively getting faster and faster... but the pressure from drew making me starting to use 2nd gear on most corner except for turn 1 and 2.... and then it suddenly kicks me... "oh yeah... i think i should've used 2nd gear all along lol"
well the session ended and i got my fastest lap for the day... 1:55.6s, while drew dipped into 1:54s for the first time...
checked the tyres pressure and it has dropped to 20psi again... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_sad.gif" alt="Sad" border="0" /> pumped it back up to 40 psi.
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Session 5</span>
2:01.7000
1:55.8100
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">1:55.6600</span>
im ready to hit the track even harder... i decided to use 2nd gear on all corner this time... and i also told me to lean where i am leaning towards to keep the car balance... lol... but too bad the session had to be cut off early due to red flag. but i managed to hit 1:55 consistently with 2nd gear on all corners... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" /> and i can hear my swaybar at work... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Conclusion:</span>
im getting rusty <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" /> i did <span style="font-weight: bold;">1:54.4650</span> with street tyres back in 2007(
http://silasba.blogspot.com/2007/11/back-from-winton-154s-with-micra.html)... and i couldnt even get close to that with semis... i only manage to do: <span style="font-weight: bold;">1:55.6500</span> with semis... :S but i will be back and i will practice more...
the semis does give benefit on extra grip on the micra, but having the extra grip plus stiffer swaybar (refer to my awesome mod <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0" />) combined with stock suspension from 1995 made the car felt like its on jelly land... *boink boink* this doesnt bother me after few laps...
with the semis, i felt like the car bogs down a little when accelerate out of the corner... and i got lower top speed (didnt even finish the 4th gear unlike when i was using the G Grid streets) this doesnt bother me too as i just changed my driving into flooring the car basically since the entry of the corner till the exit... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" /> and just yank the steering wheels... the micra responded well to it and change direction to wherever i point at... at one stage i felt like my car was on 2 wheels
the doubling up of rear swaybar without the fronts upgrade make the micra taily... i think i had to counter steer on few corner (turn 1 and turn 4 / first hairpin)
MORAL OF THE STORY:
semis is still better than street... u just gotta drive it harder... lol... alot to learn... :S i failed to deliver a PB but at least i had alot of fun... till next trackday... hopefully the zed will be back on track soon <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" />
anyway, here are the photos taken by Sylvester Teoh, THANK YOU!!! he managed to take the tripod action from the bunker on the hairpin... i edited the color and cropped them in photoshop... look how far the rear wheel was off the ground... LOL
<a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/bySyl/?action=view¤t=DSC_0974.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/bySyl/th_DSC_0974.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
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http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/bySyl/th_DSC_1055.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/bySyl/?action=view¤t=DSC_1153.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/bySyl/th_DSC_1153.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/bySyl/?action=view¤t=DSC_1154.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/bySyl/th_DSC_1154.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
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http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/bySyl/th_DSC_1194.jpg" border="0" /></a>
this ones are taken by Anja. i edited and cropped them. nice work anja! and thx... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" />
<a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/?action=view¤t=DSC_3289.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/th_DSC_3289.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
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http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/th_DSC_3289-2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/?action=view¤t=DSC_3267.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
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http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/th_DSC_3266.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
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http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/?action=view¤t=DSC_3264.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/th_DSC_3264.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/?action=view¤t=DSC_3263.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/th_DSC_3263.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/?action=view¤t=DSC_3258.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/th_DSC_3258.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/?action=view¤t=DSC_3243.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/th_DSC_3243.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/?action=view¤t=DSC_3200.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/byAnja/th_DSC_3200.jpg" border="0" /></a>
and this ones were take by famous Matther Mead (matthewmead.net)... <img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" /> hope he dont mind i borrow them for my blog
<a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k...tion=view¤t=3561918317_b5dcae2fd7_o.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/th_3561918317_b5dcae2fd7_o.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k...action=view¤t=3562719266_10113e8cdb.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink"><img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/th_3562719266_10113e8cdb.jpg" border="0" /></a>
she didnt vomit... she didnt cry... she hit her head on the window couple of times and once on the windscreen when i lock my brakes... she didnt even scream for help...
<img src="
http://www.exe-crew.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" />*
<img src="
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/silas_bonar/AHIRU/bySyl/DSC_1055.jpg" border="0" /></span>