Well what a weekend I’ve just had! In preparation of the Nissan Sports Car Club (NSCC) Wakefield Park track day, I gave the whole car the once over and intended to install the HELs braided brake lines I had ordered and received to replace the 17 year old rubber brake lines.
But see here for install woes, ended up running OEM rubber lines this time around....
http://forum.silviansw.com/viewtopic.php?t=35081
So with tools and car packed, my dad and I set off to Goulburn, destination Wakefield Park. We made the wise choice of staying down onsite at Wakefield Park accommodation to save the red eye drive from Sydney first thing on the morning of the event.
After catching up with some of the club members for dinner and drinks at the Astor hotel in Goulburn, it was off to bed to try and catch some shut eye for the impending track day.
We woke early to a cool and foggy morning but dry, always a plus!
Once the car went through scrutineering and the drivers briefing was out of the way, the driver sessions began. First session I went out with Sam (SAMB87), I started out fairly soft as since my first and previously only circuit outing at Wakefield in March, the car had undergone a large amount of change and was a different car to drive. The S14 had a substantial increase in torque and a huge gain of 37% in power. The diff and brake setup was also substantially different since my last outing. So I had to adjust my driving to suit.
First session out with a passenger resulted in a 1:14.3. Better my last outing by 1.5 secs. I started to get a feel for the car and its changes and get into the swing of things, only to have a split intercooler pipe put an early end to the session.
Went back to the garage to replace the split rubber joiner between the turbo outlet and hotside intercooler pipe, cleaned up the spark plugs and was eager to get back out there.
Got back out onto the track and although was doing consistent mid to high 1:13’s, the car felt ‘twitchy’ and had some push understeer. I put down the push understeer down to the tight diff, so I had to adjust my driving style, but as for the twitchiness, I checked the tyre pressures and found when hot, all four tyres were reading 42psi. Way to high!
I dropped the pressures to 34 psi hot and front the front end more complient and able to give greater throttle upon passing the corner apex.
Out into the second timed session of the day, the sun had come out at this stage and the track temps rose a couple of degree. This time out, I tried to be smoother and it resulted in a 1:13.10! My aim for the day prior to taking to the track on street rubber was mid 13’s, so I was stoked!
I did find that the car’s temps seemed stable enough, however, the car is losing coolant as it gets hot, it’s pushing the coolant into the overflow bottle and filling up to the brim, then spewing out into the passenger side guard up front.
My guess at this stage, the return line from overflow bottle to the top of the radiator, is either slightly split or not sealing properly and sucking air into the system. Worst case scenario, the head might be lifting from the block and pressurising the cooling system. But one thing at a time.
I topped up the coolant, it took a full litre into the cooling system. Got ready to go back out for the next session. It was a passenger session with no timing, this time around I only had my CMSlap timer to rely upon (which in the previous two NATSOFT timed session were within 100’th of a second). I got strapped in a went back out. This time focusing upon my entrance onto the main straight from turn 10 and only lifting into the kink rather than braking. The car felt good and reeled off a indicated
1:12.9!!! Needless to say, I was happy with my progress, only second time on circuit and on street tyres.
With a 3.5 hour drive ahead of the old man and I, we decided upon one more session and we’d head off. Not abad idea actually as the air temp had dropped and was getting VERY cold!
My last session was fun, without incident and resulted in another 1:13.10.
Hi Kevin...! (Thanks to Patrick Hamilton for the pic...)
I had a ball and met some great like minded people! I’m itching to get back out to Wakefield to better my driving soon enough! I’m hoping to make the June 13th long weekend Circuit Club event if I can manage to budget it. We’ll see.
We really need a motorsport facility on the Central Coast or Newcastle region of NSW. It the 7 hour round trip that’s the downer!
Taking from latest outing, I’m happy with the car as a whole and it’s a whole lot of fun!
But as for us enthusiasts, we can always see areas of potential gains. Regarding the S14, I think it will benefit from the follow:
- Stickier tyres without doubt, as the KU31’s sidewalls simply have too much flex and as they heat up get slippery
- A more aggressive alignment as the car is ‘leaning’ onto the outside shoulders of the tyres and chewing them out
I was hugely impressed with the diff shim modifications, the car on the street skips, hops and clunks. But on the track, increased corner exit grip levels, therefore, speed. One of the best modifications I’ve performed thus far!
With more track driving experience, and smoother lines with more accurate braking points and I feel the car in it’s current state would be capable of mid 12’s in my hands. Aiming for 10’s when I upgrade the tyres and alignment.
Fun fun...