General Hillclimbing and Sprinting the 100hp

[Dan Friel]

First 2014 event entered - Wiscombe on 26th April. Will also do a couple at Castle Combe and one more at Wiscombe.

Need to buy some tyres and will get some Yoko AD08r's at the end of March. Looking forward to getting some performance tyres back on the car - the "all season" ones don't equal fun!

 

[neilwill]

Hey Dan good to see you are sorted!
I am trying to get started this year.
A couple of questions if I may.
Fire extinguishers what are the requirements? I know we aren't going to fully plumbed in but what size hand held?
Towing eyes, any provision?
Did you have to fit a second throttle return spring?
Other than a two layer suit, any other clothing must be flame proof or would "karting" things be excepted.
Apart from that sorting a licence which National B is it hoping non race LEA.

Other than that joining the Shenstone and district, so off I go.

 

[Dan Friel]

Does depend on the car and class. In road going there is no need for an extinguisher at all. Some events insist on towing eyes being fitted - makes sense.

Throttle return spring depends on set up. Not an issue with the panda.

You need nomex overalls AND gloves to the stated spec, plus helmet of course! Check the "blue book" on the MSA website.

Non-race national b licence required. Can be done online.

 

[neilwill]

Cheers Dan, yeah SA class so bog standard all the way, looks like I need gloves too then....

 

[Dan Friel]

For the nomex suit, check eBay. Mine was unused (price label of £350 still on it) for £100. But don't be tempted by second hand helmets..

 

[redlake27]

It would be good to create a list of events where Pandas are competing this year. With a bit of co-ordination we could have a Panda only class

I've never hillclimbed before although I've done a couple of sprints and several years of racing (many years ago). However, I've always longed to have a go at venues like Loton, Shelsley, Prescott and Harewood. I'm not interested in winning (honest....) but want to experience some motorsport venues that I've not competed at before.


I'm going to take a look at the HSA website and pick a couple of events to try this year. It would be good to be at one where there's another Panda.

A couple of years ago I did a 'How Fast' event at Bedford (in a different car) . I can really recommend those events. Very slickly run, an hour of track time (in a track day format) followed by a couple of timed laps. A nice combo of track day and sprint.

 

[Dan Friel]

My calendar is:

26 Apr - Wiscombe
17 May - Wiscombe
26 Jul - Wiscombe or Castle Combe sprint
30 Aug - Castle Combe track day
18 Oct - Castle Combe sprint
05 Dec - Goodwood marshals track day

All subject to change of course!

Have just put some Nankang NS-2R tyres on the car (thought I'd be different!). Interesting first few miles but now after several hundred they are bedding in well.

 

[Dan Friel]

Excellent day down at Wiscombe today. Not perfect weather but much better than expected. Managed to finish 3rd out of 9 in the sub 1400cc class. Beat a couple of very powerful minis that I wasn't expecting to get ahead of.. so very pleased!

Nankang tyres performed very well also, hoping that the May meeting is dry so that I can see the advantage that they should give.

 

[Dan Friel]

Perfect weather at Wiscombe yesterday, managed to beat my personal best by 0.1 sec! Think there's another half second to come..

 

[Dan Friel]

The Panda is getting another run out at Castle Combe on Saturday. Weather looks perfect (so expecting downpours!) and very good entry list.

Not sure how many more events in the Panda there will be, so going to make the most of it...

 

[Gavv8]

Just out of interest how is the car standing up mechanically to this kind of use?

 

[Dan Friel]

Just out of interest how is the car standing up mechanically to this kind of use?

It's been no problem (touch wood...). Each run is pretty short, so it's not spending the whole day being pounded. The car is now on 92k miles, and in my 4.5 yrs of ownership I've only had one failure. A clutch slave cylinder went, and that was on the A303....

 

[Gavv8]

I only twigged this afternoon on the way home from work that i live about five minutes drive from 'Wiscombe' so i think i'm going to have to come and watch the next one.

 

[Dan Friel]

I only twigged this afternoon on the way home from work that i live about five minutes drive from 'Wiscombe' so i think i'm going to have to come and watch the next one.

The Panda won't be back this year, BUT this weekend is the British Hillclimb round. It's a must see. The unlimited single seaters up through the trees is unbelievable, highly recommended. Just be careful where you stand..

 

[Dan Friel]

Bit outgunned at Combe yesterday.. very quick day in steaming conditions.

 

[Dan Friel]

Panda had a track day at Castle Combe today.. and just to prove that it wasn't the slowest car on track:

[ame]http://youtu.be/kaW4UU06JIw[/ame]

 

[Dan Friel]

Off to Castle Combe tomorrow for the last sprint of the year, and likely to be the last ever for the Panda. And in the pouring rain, wish me luck..

 

[Shires]

Good Luck! Have enjoyed your videos in the Panda.

 

[Dan Friel]

A very wet morning at Combe followed by a dry afternoon.. went 0.04 secs quicker than last year!

 

[Dan Friel]

Last track day in the Panda on Friday. Had a great afternoon at Goodwood, highlights below. The car still attracts attention and is always fun. After 5 years and 80k miles, in January it will be time to say "goodbye".