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Autotrader Easter Thunderball 2008 Day One!
By Chris Bray - Posted on March 21st, 2008
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We're here at Santa Pod for the Autotrader Easter Thunderball, the first round of the VWDRC 2008 championships and what a day!
After a bitterly cold night (in a borrowed van, thanks Mark!) we're go for day one! It's cold and blustery here but we've had some track action already, starting with a steady 16.28sec run at 84mph we seem to be down on top speed, although it is VERY windy, good news that the reactions don't seem to dulled by the cold with 0.03 light on this run.
We made an adjustment to the tyre pressures for the second run to see about improving on the 2.4sec 60ft time and scored a 2.2sec 60ft on the second run! Down to 16.05 for the second run, still at 84mph so we're getting closer to the 15's we're aiming for, still consistent on the light with a 0.08 this time.
Overall, a good start to what looks like being a great meeting :)
What's not so good is it's just started raining quite heavily so we're not sure we'll get any more track time today but we're making the best of the down time!
R.I.P Boyd Coddington
By Chris Bray - Posted on February 27th, 2008
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According to this thread on the Jalopy Journal forums the legendary hotrod builder Boyd Coddington passed away this morning.
Whether you loved his work or not he was undenyably talented and innovative as a Hot Rod builder, his work is amongst some of the best in the world. His all-aluminium "Alumatub" is truly a work of art and the TV show American HotRod has been a staple of my viewing for a while.
Rest In Piece Boyd, as a friend just said to me "If I do a 10th of what he did I will go a very happy proud man".
My deepest condolences to those he leaves behind.
First Racing Update of 2008
By Chris Bray - Posted on January 8th, 2008
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I know it's been a long time since I blogged about my racing, that's kinda because it's all been on hold, I've not known what to do about the race Fasty/daily Golf situation.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love the fasty and I will finish it one day, but for now I've gotta concentrate on the daily that gets me to/from work!
Kat's going to be racing with the VWDRC in 2008 so I think I'm going to take a season out, to help her get her feet and all sorted before starting my racing again proper in 2009, the VWDRC are a great bunch and I can't really keep myself away! It should also give me a bit of time to save some cash and get going on the race car. Hopefully I'll be feeling a bit better then after my treatment comes through.
I think I'm going to do Santa Pod's Easter Thunderball and see how I get on, the rest of the season will depend on that... We may even see an appearance racing at Big Bang or Bug Jam depending on how I feel.
I took the Golf to RNJ Motorsport in Northampton for a bit of treatment and for a new MOT and the good news is that it passed, it's on the road for another year, thanks to Rob.
Rob's work is highly recommended by me, he's a great engineer, if you have any retro or classic car and you're looking for a place in the Midlands to take it, RNJ Motorsport are great.
Anyway, that turned into quite a long update post so I'll leave it at that!
See you at the track in 2008!
Want That One
By Chris Bray - Posted on May 18th, 2007
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As reported on VWVortex (http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/vortex_news/article_2007.shtml)
VWVortex wrote:
Well Volkswagen has pulled a fast one (literally) and decided to unveil a W12 powered, rear-wheel-drive, mid-engined GTI at the tuner/drunk/party fest in Austria known as Worthersee.
...
- VW claims a top speed of 202 mph
- 6.0l W12 12-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine mounted in the back seat of the GTI
- 650hp and 553 lb-ft. of torque (!)
- with the flared fenders the car sits over 6 feet wide and only 4.6 feet tall
- 19" wheels with 295 rear rubber and 235 front rubber
- the fenders are flared 3.15" at the rear
How much do I want one! What an absolutely awesome vehicle, proving that VW truly are at the forefront of performance car manufacture.
If you're reading VW, PLEASE put it into production!
There's even a video of the unveiling on YouTube
Here's the VW press release
Quote:
PRESS RELEASE:
Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 650
Showtime at the WörtherseeLeave conventions behind and let ypur passion awake - since the beginning these were the roots of the GTI idea. Until today they got more than 1.67 million drivers into their spell. Long has the Golf GTI been an icon. A mark for itself.
Since 1982 Golf GTI celebrate it annually in the Austrian Land at the Wörthersee. Thousands come.Volkswagen placed a Golf before them: the Golf GTI W12-650 showcar. This sports car is a inclination before the GTI friends at the Wörthersee, people for whom the GTI is a myth.
Stronger, broader, faster
A Golf was never stronger, broader or faster. It seems that the Golf GTI W12-650 comes directly from the racing course. A Golf that runs like the Pace Car of the 24 hours of Le Mans. Its name means: W12-Zylinder, 650 HP (477 KW with 6.000 rpm). A Showcar, not more, not less. Nevertheless it shows what enormous potential the Golf has to offer.3.7 seconds, 325 km/h, 750 Newtonmeters
Its 6,0 Liter Biturbo engine is longitudinal and placed directly behind the driver and the front seat passenger. The Golf GTI W12-650 differentiate itself in this way from the classical central engine car. A 6-speed automatic transmission transfers 750 Newtonmeters (at 4.500 rpm) to the rear axle. It catapults the Golf GTI W12-650 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. With a maximum speed of 325 km/h the Golf GTI W12-650 leaves behind nearly all of the world's supercars.Width 1.88 m, 235er tire in front, 295er tire in the back
Automotive engineers and designers united under Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 650
its 1.88 meters (series: 1.76 meters) spread and 1.42 meters (series: 1.50 meters) flatten body. The chassis components of the Golf GTI W12-650 were adapted directly from supersports cars. The wheels are of course made from a light alloy and because of the gigantic wheel dimensions a specialy engineered tire had to be made.70 millimeters lower, 160 millimeters broader
The goal was clearly defined - despite the partially dramatic technical changes the study should
remain completely clear that this is a Golf GTI. Therefore as much parts as possible were taken from tha classical GTI like: the headlights, the doors, the front hood and the tail lamps. The axles were pushed 70 millimeters into the body.The largest problem was to supply the 6-litre central engine with sufficient air and to produce sufficient drift at the rear axle without watering the silhouette of the Golf GTI W12-650. Therefore the C-columns were re-designed in such a way that they lead air to the engine. The rear side windows run inward, so that two channels develop between the disks and the C-columns on the left and on the right to drive air to the engine.
The Carbon fiber roof is a diffuser
Innovative building of the body also prevented that the lines of the Golf GTI W12-650 to get ruined by a putting on a roof wing. The study carries the wing inward. The roof is part of an enormous diffuser, which provides sufficient drift to the rear axle. It's made from carbon fiber and leads air under the normal tail spoiler.Interior with racing ambitions
The leather is Alcantara. On the middle range of the armatures are Three rows of auxiliary instruments. Transparent "Flip UP" switch guards for central functions like the disconnectible ESP look like taken derectly from the race track.Fire extinguishers are integrated in the place of the glove compartment to also remind us of the race. Because of weight reasons "stripped" the door linings are complete; only lattices are used, which grant a complete view of the interior mechanics of the door.
Oh Nuts
By Chris Bray - Posted on May 11th, 2007
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Oh dear... Just got back from hospital :(
Exactly a year and a day since the last one someone's done it again.
Proper this time, I'm stationary, he's doing 50mph, I lost :(
Cue a trip to A&E for some whiplash, soft tissue damage and concussion, and I still didn't shake the headache or blurred vision!
Shakey Report
By Chris Bray - Posted on May 7th, 2007
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Just got my head together after the weekend, shame we were done for by the weather but I had a great weekend.
Thanks very much to everyone for everything, I look forward to seeing everyone again at Bug Jam :)
Sods Law...
By Chris Bray - Posted on May 6th, 2007
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I've been dialing in 15.1 all weekend to try and match my personal best from last weekend, so far I've managed a grand total of three 15.5's!
Gonna change the dialin to 15.5, what's the betting I run a 15.1 now...
EDIT: 3:21pm ran 15.48 for a breakout... Arse.
Looking forward to Shakey
By Chris Bray - Posted on May 3rd, 2007
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I'm really looking forward to racing this weekend, gonna miss Kat but it's shaping up to be a great "lads" weekend.
It's a shame there's not gonna be much by way of VW Pro but the carnage at Big Bang last weekend took it's toll on gearboxes :(
And that's just two of them :(
I really enjoy Shakey, it's not got the greatest facilities but it's nice and local and there's usually a really good atmosphere.
If you wanna see some great drag racing this weekend come and visit, details at the Shakespere County Raceway website.
