2011 Stock Hatch season [Archive] - Performance Nova Group

kbf71

07-04-11, 12:37 AM

Sorry I've not posted on here for a bit, things have been manic getting ready for the new season! The old GTE is back on track, and it still looks a bit [very] worse for wear but now that I've seen it can last 15 mins on a track I can start worrying about everything else.

The season got underway at the weekend at Mallory Park, and I turned up with some ancient beaten-up tyres and still nearly won the thing! Snatched at a gear change and lost the lead, but still an encouraging result. If any of you are interested in getting involved in racing, whether it is Stock Hatch or not, pop down to one of the races this year for a chat and some top racing action! :thumb:

Here are highlights from my onboard camera from the race, I started 2nd on the grid :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPX1GY4RFbU

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207470_10150210001975021_703755020_8719709_2546284 _n.jpg

Connor

07-04-11, 12:44 AM

Love the stock hatch league, went to a msvr event at donny instead this weekend to help spanner for a friend who races in the vag trophy cup.
Would love to compete in this league in a few years, especially in a gsi :p
Watching thew onboard vid now :)

peester

07-04-11, 06:24 AM

nice one mate, good stuff - does look a decent championship

nova ian

07-04-11, 09:32 AM

kbf71

07-04-11, 03:44 PM

Looking good, I'll look forward to watching the video when I'm home from work. I really do like the stock hatch championship, if I had the funds would love to compete. Is it this year that they have bought the 2 classes in so that that the older cars are seperate from the saxos etc?

Yes this is the first season they have separated the older cars from the newer cars. The split is at Jan '92 :)

I'm still not sure if I like it, but the first meeting was pretty good! The fastest of us in the pre-92 class would have been inside the top 20 in the other race, but Mallory isn't a great barometer for it.

If you do want to come to any races, I'm going to keep posting the dates on this thread so as long as you let me know I'll try get you a free ticket on the day :)

The next 2 meetings are Brands Hatch April 17th, and Cadwell Park May 8th.

The first race wasn't quite without incident...
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/206999_10150542934000574_726175573_18195703_678877 3_n.jpg

nova ian

07-04-11, 04:17 PM

Yes this is the first season they have separated the older cars from the newer cars. The split is at Jan '92 :)

I'm still not sure if I like it, but the first meeting was pretty good! The fastest of us in the pre-92 class would have been inside the top 20 in the other race, but Mallory isn't a great barometer for it.

If you do want to come to any races, I'm going to keep posting the dates on this thread so as long as you let me know I'll try get you a free ticket on the day :)

The next 2 meetings are Brands Hatch April 17th, and Cadwell Park May 8th.

I usually get a free ticket through going with my mate, but thanks for the offer :thumb:

He's racing at Brands but unfortunately I'm at work and was unable to get the day off, so gutted to miss the first race of the season, but hey ho!!

We were at Donnington last friday for a test session and so far so good, car went well with no major problems.

As said I'll keep my eye out for you at the meetings i'm at and come over to say hello.

Cheers
Ian

Calamity Josh

07-04-11, 04:23 PM

Good luck for the season mate, i did a while helping out at Ferguson Motorsport on their stockhatch and saxmax cars, and nice nova!

Dan Stanley

07-04-11, 05:41 PM

Forgive me for sounding ignorant.....
But whats a stock hatch? What can it/can't it have done to it?

Calamity Josh

07-04-11, 08:12 PM

There you go dan, hope this helps: http://www.750mc.co.uk/F-stock-hatch.php

kbf71

11-04-11, 04:30 PM

Hey Dan, Stock Hatch is supposedly "stock" 1.6 8v hatchback racing. The inverted commas are because tbh, there is plenty of room to work - just no OBVIOUS racing modifications. Standard pattern pistons (although upto 1mm rebore is now allowed - to make sure old, rare, blown engines can be rebuilt!), standard rods, valves, etc. However aftermarket ECU is allowed, providing you don't have to add any sensors, as adding sensors is not allowed :/

The rules are a minefield, its best to buy an existing car if possible, and race for a bit while getting info from the other drivers about what they are doing.

Infact, PNG could help me here. My car understeers like hell, and I've tried all sorts to improve it. I'm running 320lb springs on the front with koni adjustables, but we've got to use a standard anti-roll bar... so I was wondering if there were various thickness' from the factory? I have an 18mm ARB at the mo that I bought on here (because the ARB was missing when I got the car... methinks the previous owner could have been cheating :P ) and I know it came off a 1.3l. I think the front needs to stiffen up as I've tried big swings at setup with the dampers and tyre pressures (on control tyres) and the ARB is all I can think of now. I'm running a lot of negative camber (3degrees) but it still leans the outside wheel into positive under heavy load.

Any ideas?

P.S. Also the shell is very tired, and it has a lot of obvious flex in it despite the rollcage :/
http://www.mbracephotography.co.uk/gallery/3rd%20April%202011%20-%20Mallory%20Park%20750%20Motor%20Club%20Raceday/images/IMG_5876.jpg
Front end leaning like fook, rear end planted :tard:

MK999

11-04-11, 04:35 PM

run softer springs, and let the ARB do it's job, they're not the best design as they're not really that free to move, try lubricating it everywhere you can.

kbf71

11-04-11, 04:37 PM

Won't softer springs make it roll more? It's already one of the softer cars on the grid.

MK999

11-04-11, 04:54 PM

Won't softer springs make it roll more? It's already one of the softer cars on the grid.

Well there's 2 ways to shift the balance to oversteer, either soften the front end, which tbh with 320lb springs, plus an ARB it's pretty stiff already, or stiffen the rear.

I do know stock hatches sometimes run ridiculously stiff, heard of golf's running up to 1500lb springs all round.

kbf71

11-05-11, 04:04 PM

Sorry for the down-time, been a hectic few weeks!

To update: Round 2 did not go well, as I trekked 200 miles to Brands Hatch to do 3 laps before retiring from 3rd with a fuel pump failure :(

Round 3 at my local, Cadwell Park, went much better - but wasn't without drama. I was initially withdrawn as an entry due to my rollcage not complying with MSA regulations. One way around the MSA rule is to present homologation papers from the cage manufacturer, but I have no such paperwork with my car. So I loaded up onto the trailer and was ready to head home, when I got called back to inspection. I was told that because this had been missed at the first two inspections of the year, I would be allowed to race with special permission - on the proviso that I don't even bother turning up again until my car met all the regulations.
So how did I get on? See for yourselves :)

Cadwell Park 08-05-11 video! (http://youtu.be/Z0IgvEENvJs)

Still not got it handling right though - I've never driven a FWD car that lifts a FRONT wheel in the corners :tard: But with a rollcage to replace, doesn't look like I'll be spending any money on the handling for a while...
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227743_10150173691249080_695914079_6962318_345195_ n.jpg

Danb1987

11-05-11, 04:37 PM

I work with steve ford the chief scrutineer lol he just told me about your bent rollcage ;) lol

kbf71

11-05-11, 04:55 PM

hahaha In fairness he didn't have to let me race at all - but I'm over the moon that he did :) Let him know I already have the car at the fabricators to get it up to scratch ;)

kbf71

18-06-11, 09:00 AM

Rounds 4 and 5 in a neat highlights package!

I got my engine back together less than 24 hours before the races using a piston with a damaged skirt (having used emery paper to rub it back far enough that it didn't mark the bore) and set off to the track. Perhaps it was the sleep deprivation, perhaps it was the stress... but I qualified poorly and raced even worse! Video is still worth it for the laughs though lol

Snetterton 21st-22nd May 2011 Highlights! (http://youtu.be/DQUVy9emzso)

I sustained some fairly heavy damage in race 2, even need to replace sections of the floor :( Kept going for a better finish though - its amazing how much these cars can take!

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/226770_10150186698355566_525740565_7445398_3116107 _n.jpg

Connor

18-06-11, 11:54 AM

What you think of the new snetterton layout, from what i hear its very mix and match responses. And at least there wasn't any damage occurred. Keep the updates coming pal :thumb:

Bubba

18-06-11, 12:03 PM

I have an 18mm ARB at the mo that I bought on here (because the ARB was missing when I got the car... methinks the previous owner could have been cheating :P ) and I know it came off a 1.3l.

i thought gte's came with a 21mm arb.
and that does look like A LOT of fun :p

mk1nova_rich

18-06-11, 12:06 PM

Surely you're allowed to run without an ARB?

kbf71

18-06-11, 03:46 PM

What you think of the new snetterton layout, from what i hear its very mix and match responses

Unfortunately we were on the Snetterton 200 layout, which doesn't use the new infield bit - but does have the modified Sear bend (now a hairpin instead of 90right) and the revised last corner (which used to be an ace chicane and is now a standard left-hander). Not sure what to make of it really, I never much enjoyed Snetterton before but that might be because prior to this season I worked out that on average I would have a breakdown or an accident for every 11 minutes of tracktime there :tard:

i thought gte's came with a 21mm arb.
I have no idea, I didn't have one and I figured I had to have one to be legal! I can promise there is no advantage to having this one on - if you've seen the video you'll realise the handling is miles away :P

For the next race I've shortened the bumpstops on the fronts as I worked out that the car only had 1" of damper travel available with these springs. Hoping it will stop the car bottoming out under braking and cornering!

Mieran

18-06-11, 04:04 PM

In my opinion front ARB is causing the wheel to lift up

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227743_10150173691249080_695914079_6962318_345195_ n.jpg

One more thing, Koni shocks are horrible.

kbf71

19-06-11, 03:23 PM

So what can I do? find a thinner ARB? Or can I just loosen the clamps a little to give it a bit more travel? I'm not sure I can just take it off - and I've seen other Nova's in the championship running with thicker ARB's than mine :/

Angus Closier

19-06-11, 05:09 PM

The gte's are Thicker arb from the factory so I belive. I doubt it will harm to try another arb as they are really not that expensive. I also know that some people like to run without an arb and just set the spring rates to do the job fully without an arb. Might be worth finding out and testing both ways.

Good luck.

garyc

19-06-11, 06:55 PM

I'd ditch the ARB and fit stiffer rear springs. A mate of mine raced SH in a 106 and had to put a stiffer torsion bar in the back to get it to turn in. Phone GAZ and see what springs they can supply.

kbf71

06-08-11, 12:07 PM

Original thread is restored!

Just uploaded the video from Snetterton on the 31st July, a 5th place, a lap record and a win! :D

>>CLICK HERE<< (http://youtu.be/wfzHjLNg6jo) :)

Races went well apart from I am always frustrated by the gearchange in the car. I've checked the rules and there doesn't seem to be any rule against aftermarket linkages... any ideas guys? :)

Nice to meet Nova Ian there too, top man :)

Couple of mishaps along the way...
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/216718_10150259857107129_534812128_7438901_5803752 _n.jpg

EDIT: I'm top of the table (http://www.750mc.co.uk/images/uploaded/Championship%20Points%20Stock%20Hatch%20A%20&%20B%20after%20round%208%202011.pdf) now too :D

kbf71

30-08-11, 07:31 AM

Another race, another podium :)

Nobody was ever going to catch Lee Scott, who dominated qualifying and the race, but starting 2nd and finishing 2nd extended my points lead as the season starts to wind down! The video is worth a watch if only for the lap 4 crash that put me down to 5th when a driver behind got a bit ambitious...

SILVERSTONE VIDEO HERE! (http://youtu.be/pE-RRA5H4YY)

Check it out, let me know what you think!

matt_vaughan

30-08-11, 08:26 AM

Good stuff.

Are you racing at Oulton anytime this end of the season? Its my local when Im at uni in preston so would be a good idea to come down and have a gander. Love stock hatches.

thedjse

30-08-11, 08:57 AM

kbf pm your next few dates, i would love to come down and watch this :)

kbf71

30-08-11, 06:18 PM

We're at Oulton Park on Saturday 10th September!

Next dates are:

Oulton Park - 10th Sept

Pembrey - 24th & 25th Sept (Double Header)

Cadwell Park - 8th & 9th October (Double Header)

Cadwell is my local, so I've already allocated tickets to friends and family, but if anyone fancies a trip to the other tracks I will have 2 tickets to give away at each meeting :)

kbf71

12-09-11, 07:42 AM

Ok, well Oulton didn't quite go as expected...

Qualified 2nd, but happy with that as I was carrying 55kg of success ballast. Nailed the start to lead but could feel a slight vibration already. Assumed it was a wheel bearing or CV joint so decided to carry on and hope it would last. It soon got worse and I dropped down the order until I finally lost the left-front wheel into Druids bend. All the wheel nuts were gone and the threads were all fudged, but I torqued them all myself before the race so I'm assuming I stripped a thread and the others bolts just wound out as the wheel started to vibrate. That or it was a shonky wheel, as that was the first race of the year I have used that rim...

Anyway, not too much damage. Should be ready for Pembrey in 2 weeks :P

OULTON PARK VIDEO HERE (http://youtu.be/Qpro7aCl5Mc)

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/315011_2308052028351_1460831834_2510860_842417477_ n.jpg

Connor

12-09-11, 01:19 PM

brown pants moment or what then lol.
Shame it happened sounds like you were doing well

nova ian

12-09-11, 02:19 PM

Bad times Pip, hope you can get it sorted. I only caught the last few laps of your race wondered why I didn't see you... We were next out so didn't get chance to catch the whole race.

I did pop over to see you on dinner break but you weren't around. We had a disappointing turn out in bike sports, only 5 cars in total :(

Should be at Pembrey all being well if there's a big enough grid for them to run the race, so hopefully catch up then, and fingers crossed your luck improves. :thumb:

kbf71

27-09-11, 07:57 AM

Back on form at Pembrey! :)

I wasn't expecting much from the weekend, having to learn a new track during only the qualifying session - in a hastily repaired car with all fresh brakes that needed bedding in. And just to top that off, it rained after 3 laps so I missed the best of the track time needed to set a decent lap! Qualified 3rd for race 1, 5th for race 2.

PEMBREY VIDEO HERE! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INepogrdgLQ)

Carrying a lot of success ballast didn't matter as the rain negated it's effect and I won the wet race (only the 2nd time I've raced in the wet) and came 3rd in race 2 from my lower grid slot. Let me know what you think of the video! (It is condensed highlights, I only you the good bits!) :)

kbf71

22-10-11, 05:48 PM

Guess who is champion! :D

So happy they moved the finalé to Cadwell Park, home track advantage paid off! Wasn't all according to plan though. I hit the ground running in qualifying but lost 4th gear after just 3 laps - leaving me 11th on the grid for race 1 and 7th for race 2...

A driver called Nick Carter races a Corsa in a different championship on the same program so I asked him if he had a spare. I was very lucky that he did, and that he lived just a few miles away! Got back from Nick's house with an old box from behind his shed and threw it in with help from some friends and got it ready for the race with about 10 mins to spare! And then it rained...

CADWELL RACE 1 VIDEO HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah7gpyIxlYo)

This was the drive of my life! Please watch and leave a comment or a thumbs up :)

Race 2 to follow! I'm waaaaay back in this picture. Big up for Ted Cooper in the blue GSI!

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/303927_289767454385560_100000569231145_1163731_101 3693565_n.jpg

Connor

22-10-11, 05:53 PM

Absolutely brilliant news, congrats, you derserved it with the driving in that video, outclassed the others.

matt_vaughan

22-10-11, 06:05 PM

Just back to the ARB problem (i havent read the whole thread apologies if its been sorted) but I have a lecturer at college who used to run high end rally cars in BRC etc, and he was telling us a story about how they used to use "hollow" anti-roll bars on their Sierras to eradicate as much understeer as possible. I'm not condoning cheating or anything, just providing information ;)

Mieran

22-10-11, 06:10 PM

congrats dude, awesome driving

is there any videos of any of the other cars following you?

Mike

22-10-11, 06:13 PM

That photo up there^ is ace!

kbf71

01-11-11, 12:00 AM

Finally, race 2 video :)

PART 2 HERE! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7EhZCF4qYQ)

I never did solve the ARB riddle, but I did find some benefit from cutting the bumpstops down as I realised the shocks were bottoming out on heavy braking :/

Now accepting speculative offers as I hope to move up the racing ladder next year... ;)

Also, I have made a highlight reel which I will be posting soon!

Mieran

01-11-11, 02:39 PM

thats a mint video, never thought you'd catch the fiesta let alone overtake the 205!

burgo

01-11-11, 09:19 PM

dont quite know how ive missed this thread but will keep track of it from now on. in terms of the suspension what are you allowed to do? i recon stiffening the rear is the way to go as well

kbf71

01-11-11, 09:33 PM

Well The rear runs 640lb springs on hard but non-adjustable dampers. I wanted to raise the rear of the car to shift more weight to the front but I spotted a couple of drivers getting caught at scrutineering using spacer plates on top of the springs so I just left it :P

I think a lot of people just skim past this thread without looking to be honest, but if they do they'll miss THIS...

MY 2011 HIGHLIGHT REEL! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S5QDQHwHPY)

Loads of short clips from the season to really showcase the championship :) I don't include any of the laps where there were no cars infront of me, this is ALL action ;) Leave some feedback if you do watch, I have enough views/videos now that I can receive ad revenue on my videos :d

burgo

01-11-11, 09:39 PM

wow ok they are already quite stiff then lol. so do you have free reign of the suspension or do you have to stick to standard design, in other words could you go for coilovers on the front?

thedjse

01-11-11, 09:50 PM

Brilliant news mate congrats on winning the championship, i know you said your looking to move up the ladder does that mean different car aswell??

kbf71

01-11-11, 09:56 PM

Its got to be standard design suspension, so the rules say single-adjustable dampers and springs. I was running about 42psi in the rear tyres to get the car to turn at all D:

I'm afraid I will be racing something different next year, there's nowhere I can take my Nova that will register on the radar of the higher levels. If I can keep it I will, but realistically I'll probably have to sell it to fund the next car :(

thedjse

01-11-11, 09:59 PM

marc69

01-11-11, 10:56 PM

The highlights video is great. I had my first go on a tracl a month or so again with a standard Nova, scarey but fun. Now looking to get a proper track one for safety. Your video is inspiring.

kbf71

02-11-11, 06:39 PM

Yeah I'll be gutted to see the back of it! It has been my first race car and we've been through a lot together! It's a two-time championship winner too, despite it's slightly tatty look :)

If anyone on here is thinking about going racing, Stock Hatch is about as good as it gets as a proving ground - good mix of experienced and novice drivers, different types of car running competitively, etc. Cheap as it comes too, I don't think it is possible to race anywhere that has as high a standard of driving, closeness of competition, and rules that keep costs down so more drivers can be competitive :)

If anyone on PNG is interested, I'll be advertising the car soon as I shore-up my plans for 2012...