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Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Above it is the PAS pump bracket - I forgot to take photos when I cleaned/prepped/painted and attached it to the block but there it is, looking smart in satin black.
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Racing on Boxing Day - absolutely brilliant and well worth the effort. It was my first race meeting organised by a different club and am pleased to say that the BRSCC did a fantastic job of keeping it all in order.
I left home at 6:30 and got the circuit for just before 8 am. To get to the infield you have to drive part-way around the circuit in the wrong direction which is quite novel. Parked up, unloaded the car and checked the weather forecast - rain, rain, and more rain.
Swapped over the tyres to our full wets and softened the dampers by 6 clicks all round. The mk1 MX5 next to me didn't have a set of wets (not allowed in his championship) so had to run his dry tyres.
Practice - I followed the other MX5 out onto circuit and stayed behind him for a few laps to see if I could keep up with him, the short answer is yes, and after three laps I went past and cruised off into the distance. Managed to set some reasonable lap times and wasn't bottom of the timing charts, so felt pleased. Ended the session fastest of the three MX5s - there was also a Mk2 1.8 VVT - which again, felt awesome.
Spent most of the race trying to stay ahead of Nick Day in his MG Midget and Nick Glover in the Mk2 MX5, the race was red-flagged after 9 laps after a Caterham went off into the barrier - see vid below - he had a stuck throttle cable wide open - oooof.
Needless to say, the pressure got to me and I cocked the start right up. A swarm of cars swallowed me up into a huge mist spray. Bollocks.
Fortunately, and somehow miraculously I made it around T1 intact and was only 2 places behind the red MG. As you can see from the footage below, the weather was horrendous. The GoPro did a great job of accurately showing what the visibility through the windscreen was actually like. I only knew where the other cars were because of their rain lights.
The next 13 laps were the most fun I've ever had in the car. I got to 'race' other cars lights-to-flag, rather than running around at the back as we've pretty much done all year. I spent the whole race chasing down the red MG, whilst being hounded by the Mk2 MX5 directly behind me, one mistake and I'd be overtaken, or one locked brake and I'd rear-end the MG.
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
It would be perfect for your visor too.
Chips are "Plant-based" no matter how you cook them
Donald Trump needs kicking out of a helicopter
I'm personally responsible for all global warming
Good idea, just ordered both Rain-X and Anti-Fog.
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Going back to your earlier questions about getting more top end, have you thought about getting a roof or trying to get the air further over the car body? Convertibles are dreadful for aerodynamics and your roll cage must be creating a lot of turbulence too.
Another, slightly easier approach is going to be your gearbox, for the power tracks chuck in a slightly higher top gear, maybe one tooth less?
Also have you thought about using a smaller capacity battery? Can probably save 2kg, wonder if a lower amp alternator weighs less?
Thanks @Mark_R
When we first started the build I wanted to run a hardtop and a big rear wing, the regs allowed for this but Nick made a very good point - he's 6' 2" tall.
Changing the final drive (Diff ratio) can help gear the car more towards top speed, or the other way towards acceleration.
In 2021 we're moving up to the next class - 180bhp/tonne - so will be a combination of both more power and less weight - whatever is easiest/cheapest.
Thanks @menamestom
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Quite a difficult question to answer because some costs/expenses will be carried over to future years. I will break it down as much as I can though, so you can all see how much we spent in our first year.
Can't go racing with a license, so here's what it cost.
- MSA 'Go Racing Pack' - £104
The Go Racing Pack consists of the application form, a copy of the current Regulations, a DVD, and other bits and pieces. You have to have a Medical examination, my GP offered this for £78 but I found a private firm that charged £48. Essentially it's nothing more than a piss test, eye test, and a few Qs.
The ARDS test is both a Practical and Written examination. I did a half-day course at Mallory Park.
As I was on a certain medication at the time of applying, I had to get a letter from my GP saying he was happy for me to go racing.
PPE
Suit - £264
Gloves - £56
Subtotal £892
Kitbag - £25
Total £1117
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Donor Car - £1500
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Testing
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Rear View Mirror
£50.77
VBOX
£290.00
Parcel Shelf
£27.00
Tools
£67.93
Tuff Jug and Timer
£84.26
Tuff Adapters
£22.98
MAF Clip
£2.00
Caliper Screw and Wheel Bolt
£15.37
Spark Plugs/DOT5.1
£14.51
Caliper, Belt, Coolant
£127.69
Brake Ducts
£162.00
Ducting
£67.38
Pull Cable
£13.10
Ancilliaries
£38.00
Rad and Hoses
£208.94
Exhaust Manifold
£219.90
Track Rod End
£11.37
Fuel Filter
£5.44
Water Pump
£28.00
Coolant
£7.99
Engines/Gearboxes
£50.00
Bonnet
£15.00
Steering Wheel
£43.00
Spark Plugs and Coolant
£16.27
ECU
£504.00
Gearbox
£60.00
Gearbox Oil
£20.00
Bolts
£30.30
Diff Oil
£18.00
Skuzzle Tune
£398.75
Northampton Motorsport
£135.00
Engine Mounts
£85.51
Thermostat and Gasket
£9.58
Wipers
£9.24
Belts
£19.00
Head gasket, bracket, oil filter
£52.06
Oil
£17.99
Coolant
£7.99
Manifold
£40.00
Head Skim
£54.00
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Now obviously that's a big number, but if we work out what are the 2019 only items, we get:
Race Entries - £1865
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Even if you can't get a wind tunnel, it would surely be worth experimenting with homemade sheet metal spoilers riveted to the roof to see if it improves your top speed. Don't ever dismiss aerodynamic drag.
p.s. - what fuel are you using?
Chips are "Plant-based" no matter how you cook them
Donald Trump needs kicking out of a helicopter
I'm personally responsible for all global warming