guess what I did yesterday...

Sprints at Lakeside!

Lakeside ariel veiw doesn't do the place justice. Its very undulating, and held the fastest average speed for any track in Australia. Absolutely awesome place!


Total Driver had a training day at Lakeside, and got approval last tuesday to incorporate some sprint sessions with it. It was untimed and not a competition, just a chance to get back out on the track for a blast. Strict noise limits were enforced, which was fair enough, and a mate in his 240Z wasn't allowed to run after doing a trial lap judge how loud it was. So if I still had the old carbied 1200, I probably would have been sent packing too. But the GTR is whisper quiet thankfully.

Hit about 210kph before the kink on the front straight, and about 180 under the bridge at the back of the track. By the end of the day i was just rolling off the throttle to turn into the kink and then hard back on the gas. Had to get on the brakes as soon as you straightened up after the kink, back to 2nd gear for the Karousell (sp?). Into the bumpy sweeping RH turn under the bridge at the back I was short shifting into 4th at about 170 and then accellerating all the way through the turn. probaly hit about 190 before braking for Hungry's corner. Just an awesome track!

by about L10 or so on the first session, I ran out of brakes. Boilled the fluid and he pedal went to the floor braking for Hungry's, which was a bit interesting... pumping did nothing, so I downshifted to 3rd and threw it into the turn a bit sideways to wash off speed - all good. just cruised around for the rest of that session to cool everything down as much as possible, but the pedal didn't come back until some time after it sat in the pits...

Perhaps not surprisingly, I cracked a rear disc on the last session of the day. It actually happened in the pits after the last run, standing around talking with some of the other drivers, we heard this loud crack from my car just behind us. The closest guy said it seemed to come from the rear wheel, so i had a look - big crack in the LH rear disc! lucky it didn't happen on the track, and that I only live 10 minutes from Lakeside...

I'm still on a high from yesterday! and it should be the first of many more sprint events at Lakeside in the near future!

i had no idea they reopened lakeside this is awsome news its been on the cards for years, its a great track and it means i dont have to drive 1 1/2 hours to willowbank if they continue with it

Nothing like good brakes Harry...you might need to fork out for some Brembos....I never had probs with brakes in a 1200...dig...dig...

I was there in the Blue MX-5 and I still haven't come down from it, best money I have ever spent, it was great to get back out there.

Most fun I've had on a track in a while!

Harry, it's probably all the LARD wrapped around that engine that is causing the brakes to overheat!! Solution?? Remove all running gear and transplant into 1200 coupe!! Brake problem now solved!! Good to hear Lakeside seeing some action! Has me reminiscing about the V12 Jags I saw running there last time it was running!!

Quote:

at those speeds, i should hope not!

Hi Harry
Thanks for the report.
I was distraught when I couldn't get my car running for Monday. I haven't been around Lakeside in anger since 1994 and ,to be honest, QR really doesn't float my boat. From what I hear everyone behaved themselves so hopefully there will be more opportunities to have a run at this great track.
Regards Matty

Harry,
I remember back in the days of racing the XU1 in South Island Production Saloons there was a chap who had a wickedly fast E49 Charger that used to suffer from cracking discs.
His solution was to either cover the wheels/ tyres with sacks or later simply had plywood inserts that would sit inside the mags and stop the air moving through them so they would cool down very slowly.
Hope this may be of some help.
Cheers
Dave

cheers Dave. It still has the standard cross drilled rears, which are reknowned for cracking, so I'm hoping it won't happen again after I replace them. fingers crossed anyway! but I am having visions of me sitting there at the next track day saying, "I should've listened to Dave..."

Yeah Matt, I recognised your avatar on PF. I'll see you there next time mate!

Ill hopfully be having a run at My Cotton soon Harry. I saw you run there a little while ago but I didn't get a chance to introduce myself.
Are you running in the Morgan Park sprints at all this year?
Matty