Round One NZ V8 Championship – Pukekohe 7th and 8th Nov 2009
This season we have new format with reduced track time; no running on Friday at all. The “Saver Series” has been set up to reduce costs while the economy comes right! Our team has had one week off since the last round at Hamilton.
We have shifted as much car weight to the rear as we can; about 2.5% in all, to gain some rear traction. Some of the work required to do this was moving every bracket, catch tanks, breathers, power steering reservoirs, water header tank, alternator, fuel lines etc. Then in the cockpit we have computer boxes, fire extinguishers, camera battery packs, in car radios, driver’s seat – all moved. We even fitted the latest seat belts with alloy fittings. In the boot area the placement of the fuel tank and fittings were altered.
Although our car was super quick last season we know the competition never gets easier and quite a few of the other competitors had already biased the car weight rear-ward. The “Saver Series” requires as using fewer tyres and our allocation is only 4 new tyres per weekend; previously it was 6 new and 2 used. With only 4 new and 4 used per round the car balance is more critical than ever.
Mark Pedersen drove our car in the first two test days. When asked if the car was any different the reply was “only the decals are the same”. That small weight shift has allowed us to run different spring’s front and rear and took a bit of time to select the correct springs and shock absorber settings. Mark equalled our best time and carried more RPM than Craig’s pole position lap at Pukekohe last season. All this indicated a better handling package with the emphasis being on making the tyres last longer as the main race is longer now and as said, “Only 4 new tyres”.
We had two test days at Taupo; Mark drove one and Craig the other. We had the fastest time at Taupo.
Qualifying at Pukekohe went okay and getting in the top ten shoot out required only six laps on old tyres. For the top ten single lap, shootout for pole position, we goofed up with our tyre settings and 4th was our best.
Race one; grid 4, a twelve lap affair on Sunday morning started 4th and finished 4th; a sort of “suck it and see” race. Race two at 1.00p.m.; another 12 lapper, and going pretty damn good when Craig comes on the radio saying the car had developed a vibration, and it wasn’t sharp! Soon after, the TV cameras spot smoke from our car. First thought was an engine problem, but in fact it was gearbox trouble.
I have not found the cause yet, but the rear bush in the gearbox seized on to the driveshaft, the bush turned in its housing, flogged out the alloy area immediately in front of the rear seal, that literally fell out. We get gear oil on a red hot exhaust pipe and it smoked like a blow up; but not so.
The team replaces the gearbox and drive shaft for the main event, the reverse grid. We start towards the rear of the grid and after not a very clear first lap we are away to get up front. I remember being 15th at one point, 11th the next lap, thinking that’s good. Then 10 – 8 – 7 – 5 – 4 and 3rd. Our car was pulling the leaders in without too much problem and finished right on their bumpers, recording the highest top speed and lap time.
A super race; excellent exposure. Our car really stands out and as most of the others changed livery, it was difficult to work out who the other cars were.
After the event we get lots of spectators come visit or wind us up as one guy said, “you were killen em mate’ one more lap mate you’d have done it”. Maybe, but there wasn’t one more lap and 3rd was it. Our 6 month rebuild hasn’t made our car much faster on a one lap basis but it is the best “race car” we have ever had. The handling over 22 laps was consistent, the baking simply superb and the best of all the tyres are in good shape and never “went off”. We will use them again.
Ruapuna in Christchurch is less horsepower dependent and we are looking forward to Round two at the end of this month.
Regards
Garry and the team