im feeling nervous ... nissan test track tomorrow

[Walrus]

Its that time of the year again ... "The Wearside Classic Rally 2014" at the nissan test track in washington , tyne and wear

Im feeling rather apprehensive and nervous tonight.... tomorrow is an important event in my motorsport calender with my Z3. Its a fantastic event that relies on accuracy, speed and having complete confidence in your navigator. A real buzz with 16 stages ranging from tight technical stages to fast, balls to the wall stages held in different locations within the massive nissan plant. Some stages are held on the social center car park with most of the others on the nissan test track. Ive spent the day preparing the car. Cleaned, levels checked, wheels loaded onto the passenger seat haha, spill kit and event steering wheel in the boot in readiness for tomorrows action. One mistake all day will severely hinder my chances of a decent result so the pressure is on. The event attracts some top drivers with some very sorted cars so last years 7th o/a and 3rd in class was a real result from 50 competitors. Time will tell whether we can do as well this year.

nissan test track

some videos of last year, tbh i didnt drive as well as i could, my tyres were just too hard and had no grip also had a hydraulic handbrake pipe burst two stages from the end and had no brakes .. had to pump them up and only the fronts were partially working

by this time tomorrow ill either be in a "hero or zero" situation but as long as the car runs all day ill be a happy man.

 

[t-tony]

Good luck. Hope you have a successful day.
Cheers,Tony.

 

[oldcarman]

Good luck, you've done all the prep, relax and enjoy the ride. I was so exhausted watching your tests I had to take it in two sections. JIM

 

[Brian H]

Good luck, be sure to let us know how you get on.

 

[Stormy_be]

Good luck.

 

[oldcarman]

Results in yet?? JIM

 

[Walrus]

Well it was the one that got away today....we were 9th o/a and 3rd in class.from 50 competitors..but lost a massive 50 seconds when my navigator messed up on two stages...with that 50 secs we would have bwen 4th overall and 1st in class...but thats the way it goes..drove out of my skin in the silver turd.. Even more on the edge than last year..was regulally posting 2nd fastest times on stages..had trouble with the car all day though..hydro handbrake locking on thus rear wheels locking..had no feel in the brake pedal and when it wasnt locked the brake bias was firmly to the rears causing the rear wheels to lock under heavy breaking..bit scarey. The fluild wasnt coming back through from the rear calipers after being under pressure when braking hard or using hydro handbrake..The car ran well getting hammered all day and yet again it was a third party part the hydro handbrake that ive installed that proved problematic.. All in all considering the navigators total f**k up on two stages along with the brake situation im happy with class honours this year...roll on next year..videos to follow as i go pro'd every stage...just to bore the living s**t out of most of you haha

 

[t-tony]

Hard luck mate, don't be too hard on your nav. Better luck next year.
Cheers,Tony.

 

[oldcarman]

Too bad but as T- says, don't go too hard on the nav. You start as a team and die as a team. Next year you'll have more experience so "patience will get you where you want to be." Read that on my fortune cookie and thought I'd share it. JIM

 

[badman gee]

Sack your navigator, I wouldn't put up with that.

 

[hard top]

How the hell would you know Bad Boy? You can't even navigate your car out of the garage.

 

[badman gee]

Ok keep your navigator and sack the driver!

 

[Stormy_be]

When I was looking at your first vids I was admiring the work of the navigator.
I have no clue of what he has as documents.
Some stages on the big open space...hard to keep your north.

 

[Walrus]

When I was looking at your first vids I was admiring the work of the navigator.
I have no clue of what he has as documents.
Some stages on the big open space...hard to keep your north.

You get test diagrams but you need good spacial awareness and deliver them to me on time while going at times 90 to 100 mph and doing high and low speed manouvers...its not easy... I used to navigate in rally so i know haha

 

[Walrus]

This is a sample of the notes you get provided at this event ... believe me when your actually there all the cones look the same hahah

Those notes written in ink are my navigators notes ...we go through the notes before the start of the event on the day and agree how i want them called

 

[oldcarman]

Wow! And you say he made a couple of mistakes?? Looking at the diagrams I can't see more than 40-50 chances of that happening!! lol. But you did enjoy yourself? Yes?? Beats sitting in front of a television either way it played out. Next year will be better I'm sure. JIM

 

[Stormy_be]

If would be the only one. Then no problem. But you have 15-20 of these stages.
Some stages at the same location, some with the same layout of cones, some with different cones. And even with the same lay-out of cones, a second time with a different path.
Looks like it's very easy to get confused.
I'm sure others have the same problem.

And, as you say, there is the sense of speed.
And you spinning the car, so sense of direction is even harder (a quick look at the map, but in the mean time you have done two 360's)
And the co-pilot also wants to enjoy himself.

In Belgium we have an official slalom competition (to which I have been looking to enter at some stage with the Z3). But that's only 1 stage.
Maybe 2, as you might need to run it in both directions. It's a little more cones/gates (60-80), lower speed. But it's without co-driver. So you need to have a good memory.