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[BDA]

That's got to feel good! Congratulations! 

[EuropaTC]

Great news, well done that man. A PB in any area is always worth celebrating, so break open a can for me !

Any video yet ?  (don't say you forgot to turn it on !)

Brian 

[Valerio Leone]

Nice!!! Are you using the standard gearset?

[StephenH]

I have video of some of the runs (yes I do still forget to start the camera) including the 3 fastest.
Will post something later this week after getting some chores out of the way.
Attachment is 3 screenshots at the same point showing me getting hungrier with the curb, had a quick look at the data from the VBox last night and this is the point that almost all of the time is coming from.

Edit: Added in some of the data after looking to see where the time came from, basically at the critical corner exit I have found 8kph to carry up the hill.
The screen captures in the secon attachment are from the same point of the circuit but from 2 different runs with the relative speeds shown in the data trace.

Yes, standard gearset in NG3 gearbox, only use 1-3 on this course but almost out of revs in 3rd.
As it happens I was offered a set of close ratio (and straight cut) gears yesterday that came out of a local special using a NG3.

Tempting but have to think it over, the reality is this is a roadcar with some speed, not a racing car.

[StephenH]

Trying something different with video.
A test of split screen using 'RaceRender', same 2 runs as mentioned in earlier post, you can see the effect of carrying the extra speed up the hill.

YouTube video, tell me if it doesn't work

Same video but with VBox data overlay, again, tell me if it doesn't work

[BDA]

They both came out great, Stephen! I especially like the one with the overlay!

[Bainford]

Very Interesting, Stephen. I've been enjoying your race videos. There is much to be gleaned. Cheers.

[StephenH]

I like this image, suspension load is rising as the track transitions uphill sharply and I'm just starting to turn in to the next apex. You can also just make out the marks ahead where the car will scrape.
Wasn't a balls out run, the windows are open

[Rosco5000]

That is a great shot.  It really looks aggressive with that compression in the suspension if only it was practical to drive it all the time that low.    and videos.

[StephenH]

I wouldn't mind a photo taken 2m further up the road so I could see the full compression being applied.

[StephenH]

Not a great day of weather so a day including Europa maintenance wasn't such a bad thing.

Tappet clearances checked, a couple were a bit tight so I will keep and eye on those.
Cylinder head torque checked while the cover was off, all good.
Flushed and lubricated the door latches.
Got rid of a rattle from the radiator ducting.
Fixed the non-functional horn (slip ring and contact set in the wheel/column needed work).
Fixed the backwards reading ammeter (been putting that off for ages given the location up high behind the dash).
Fitted a more obvious 'backup' throttle return spring as a couple of scrutineers can't be convinced it already actually has 3 seperate springs (now it has 4).

Booked the osteopath to fix my back and neck, from fixing the ammeter.

[jbcollier]

I'm sure you actually did it in the correct order but re-torque the head first and then adjust the valves.  Retorquing the head means, one at a time, loosening each head bolt and then torquing back to spec.  I also mark the heads to ensure I at least get back to where I started.

[StephenH]

No problem and correct, it is a list of tasks done, but not in order

Except for the Osteo, I did book him last after I was sure everything that required squeezing under the dash was done!

[StephenH]

Haven't updated anything for a while, so as yesterday became a nice day after the last week of things going wrong (away for work, flights cancelled, flights delayed, food poisoning......).
I flew back in on Saturday from Asia and had an early start Sunday morning for a community fund raising event in rural Victoria.
Third time I have run the Europa here, first time as defending 'champion' and record holder.
Friendly rivalry with my A110 Alpine Renault driving friend resumed and he set the pace from the start, taking out my record in the process.
Came down to this last run after the mark had fallen twice and even with my best ever start to date, I still lagged the French Pest (a friendly term).
Took a big breath and managed to shave a few more tenths at the start and then got the rest of the course right as well, pulling a surprising 0.7sec out of nowhere and being 10kph faster over the finish line.
There is 40 metres of elevation change along the short course and the surface is your typical rural mix of bumps and stones, the useable line is narrow and being so short there is nowhere to make up time.
Smoothest run as well, must have got something right as it looks easy in hindsight.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcWgG1hLEMo

Outright winner on the day was in a 5.7ltr Chev Camaro in period race trim, equalling his own record and 1.9s clear of the little Lotus and it's new class record.
Final good thing for the day was being flagged down by the outright winner to be congratulated on my starts (he was observing as next car in line all day).

Was almost worth the food poisoning........... 

[BDA]

Congratulations, Stephen!  Nicely done!