Page 1 of 2

HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 5:28 am
by BIRDIEMANGO
MORNING CHAPS,

OK ,IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL BE TAKING THE 99 TURBO,AND COMPETING AT 'HAREWOOD' HILLCLIMB, SATURDAY 5TH AUGUST.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LONGEST VENUE'S IN THE UK,SET IN LOVELY YORKSHIRE.....

I MADE THE TRIP A FEW WEEK'S AGO,TO SPECTATE&CHECK OUT THE VENUE ?

THE COURSE STARTS OFF,JUST BEHIND THE BIG TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PHOTO, AND ACTUALLY RUNS DOWN HILL :thumbsup: INTO THE TREELINE.......THEN IT SNAKES BACK UP,THROUGH THE FARMYARD,FINISHING INTO A VERY FAST STEEP HAIRPIN.....

THE TRACK, IS IN THE GROUNDS OF A STATELY HOME....
http://harewood.org/

BUT,THE TRACK IS USED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES IN THE HILLCLIMB SEASON.....

http://www.harewoodhill.com/

WE ARE UP AGAINST PORSCHE 911,944 A COUPLE OF NISSAN 350z AND A TURBOCHARGED MR2.....IN THE ROAD-GOING CLASS,SO CAR MUST BE ROAD LEGAL AND USE ROAD TYRES.....ENGINE TUNING IS ALLOWED.

THE 99 TURBO,HAS THE SMALLEST ENGINE CAPACITY OF ALL THESE OTHER COMPETITORS..... :bawl:

http://www.harewoodhill.com/downloads/p ... 202017.pdf

NISSAN 350Z WEIGHS IN AT 1446 KG, PORSCHE 911 AROUND 1100KG, DEPENDANT ON MODEL YEAR(1970),944 1200-1300KG.......MY SAAB 99 TURBO IS 1140KG.

WEATHER SO FAR,IS LOOKING GOOD FOR THE WEEKEND AHEAD? BUT THAT CAN ALL CHANGE VERY QUICKLY.....?

RAIN,WOULD SUIT US......

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 5:35 am
by BIRDIEMANGO
MORE PICS.....FINGERS CROSSED FOR SATURDAY :thumbsup:

IT'S ALSO A ROUND OF THE 'LOTUS' CHAMPIONSHIP,SO PLENTY OF GOOD 'OL ENGLISH STUFF TO BLOW UP AND BREAK DOWN... :thumbsup:

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:32 am
by BIRDIEMANGO
:crazy: MORNING CHAPS,WELL ON A FRIDAY EARLY AFTERNOON,I SET OFF FOR THE TWO AND HALF HOUR DRIVE,UP INTO YORKSHIRE WITH THE 99 TURBO FULLY LOADED,WITH ALL THE SPARES AND CAMPING GEAR....DRIVING IT?

ON ARRIVAL,THE CAR WAS RATHER WARM UNDER THE BONNET TO SAY THE LEAST,AS THE TRAFFIC WAS GETTING RATHER BUSY,NEAR RUSH HOUR 17.00......EVEN THOUGH WE WERE AROUND 5 MILES AWAY FROM ''LEEDS'' CITY CENTRE......

THE VENUE,IS ATOP THE HILLS,WITH SUNNY,BUT REALLY QUITE WINDY EVENING WEATHER....?

SO FIRST JOB WAS TO CRACK OPEN A CAN OF ALE :thumbsup: ,AND GET CAMP BIRDIEMANGO SET UP......WHILST THE 99T COOLED DOWN

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:38 am
by BIRDIEMANGO
ONCE THE TENT WAS SET UP UNDER THE GAZEBO........

I COULD RELAX A LITTLE,AND TAKE A N EVENING STROLL TO TRY AND 'FAMILIARISE' THE TRACK,WHICH IS THE LONGEST ON THE 'MAINLAND' IN UNITED KINGDOM....VERY FAST,WITH SOME REALLY TECHNICAL SECTIONS,AND THREE HAIRPINS,ALL DIFFERING ANGLES AND GRADIENTS....AND THAT RUN THROUGH THE FARMYARD BUILDINGS...... :huh:

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 2:50 pm
by BIRDIEMANGO
JUST AS I SAUNTERED BACK TO THE TENT,IN THE LATE EVENING SUNSHINE.....? THIS CHAP AND HIS WIFE PULLED UP IN HIS MOTORHOME,WITH A RATHER NICE 911 ON THE TRAILER....

THE 911 WEIGHS JUST 900KG,WITH OVER 210 BHP.......IN LOVELY 'GULF' LIVERY :thumbsup:

WE SOON GOT CHATTING,ABOUT CARS... :thumbsup:

THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME COMPETING AT 'HAREWOOD',AND MANY YEARS SINCE HE(IN THE PORSCHE) HAD BEEN UP THIS WAY.....? HE DISSAPPERED OFF INTO THE SUNSET,TO WALK THE TRACK,RETURNING BY TORCHLIGHT....BEFORE FIRING UP THAT FLAT SIX,UNLOADING....AND THEN OFF TO BED... o_O

IT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE I LAST COMPETED IN THE 99 TURBO ........

A THOUGHT,THAT CROSSED MY MIND BRIEFLY AS THE EYES CLOSED,AND NIGHT FELL....... :huh:

05.00 AM START,SUNRISE WITH 'LEATHERING' DOWN THE 99 TURBO,TO START,THEN KETTLE ON,AND A BREW.........

I HAD ACQUIRED AN ORIGINAL 1980'S 'SAAB' SUIT BAG A FEW WEEKS BEFORE,AS I THOUGHT ME RACE OVERALLS WOULD BE QUITE NICE,STASHED IN THAT THERE BAG...?(PICTURED)

AND OF COURSE(BY NOW) THE SIGNATURE 'IKEA' IGLOO,WAS SOON ERECTED,TO HOUSE ALL THE SPARES AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE DAY,IN THE PADDOCK....?

THEN THE 'SCRUTINEERS' CAME ROUND,TO CHECK THE CAR,AND THE SAFETY GEAR OVER.....BEFORE ISSUING A 'TICKET' TO RACE.......

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 3:09 pm
by BIRDIEMANGO
NOW,THE ONLY MODIFICATION, NEEDED IN THREE YEARS OF THE 99 TURBO SITTING IDLE IN THE GARAGE,WERE THE RENEWAL OF ALL THE ENGINE BAY K-JETRONIC FUEL LINES....?

THE OLD ONES WERE REALLY STARTING TO PERISH AT NEARLY 40 YEARS OLD,SO I ENLISTED THE HELP OF A COMPANY,THAT MANUFACTURES BRAIDED BRAKE LINES FOR THE 'ISLE OF MAN TT' RACING BIKES....



THEY ARE CALLED 'HEL'.......BASED IN THE SOUTHERN UK.

ONE OF THE FUEL LINES THAT EXITS THE FUEL FILTER,AND DIRECTLY FEEDS THE COLD START INJECTOR,HAD TO BE SPECIALLY MADE.......

HOWEVER THE 'KIT' ARRIVED WITH ALL NEW STAINLESS BANJO BOLTS,AND COPPER WASHERS,I SOON HAD IT ALL FITTED IN A DAY....AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,THE WHOLE KIT WAS ONLY £150.... :thumbsup:

I SPECIFIED 'ORANGE' PVC COATING,TO GO WITH THE CLARION COLOUR SCHEME,BUT MANY MORE,INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL BLACK,ARE AVAILABLE?

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 3:44 pm
by BIRDIEMANGO
ANYHOW,IT WAS THE MORNING OF THE EVENT ITSELF.....

SO MUCH CHECKING OF FLUID LEVELS,AND TYRE PRESSURES ETC......

THEN ENSURE,I COULD FIND THE 'LUCKY MASCOTS' SMURFS...... :thumbsup:

INCIDENTALLY,THE SCRIPT ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CENTRE DASH PANEL,IS COPIED FROM STIG'S MUSEUM 99 TURBO,AND TRANSLATES?

''THE MIDDLE PEDAL IS FOR EMERGENCY ONLY'' :yay:

PICTURE WERE SOME OF THE OTHER(TWO) NISSAN 350Z, MR2 TURBO AND PORSCHES 911/944 IN THE 'ROAD GOING CLASS'......OVER 2.0 LITRE(TURBO 99=ENGINE CAPACITY MULTIPLIED BY 1.4)
THEN IT WAS TIME TO GO,FOR THE FIRST PRACTICE RUN........

QUITE UNUSUALLY FOR A 'HILLCLIMB',THE START IS A DOWNHILL ACCESS ROAD,WHEREUPON YOU ALL CONGREGATE,IN QUEUE....UNTIL,IT IS YOUR TURN TO GO...?

THE START,IS ON THE FLAT,BUT THE FIRST BEND,IS A FLOWING 90 RIGHT,WHICH THEN HEADS DOWNHILL,TOWARD'S THE TREES,AND THE 'S' BENDS....

I LINED THE SAAB UP,WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT.......THE MARSHALS 'CHOCKING THE REAR WHEEL'.....

THIS PHOTO,OF THE 99 TURBO,ON THE START LINE WAS TAKEN BY NONE OTHER THAN (SAABRALLY.COM CONTRIBUTOR) '99 EMS'AND BUILDER OF PROJECT 99'' TURBO KILLER'' OVER ON UKSAABS,WHOM HAD TURNED UP IN HIS LOVELY GOLD 1982 900 TURBO,TO GIVE A LITTLE MORAL SUPPORT,WITH HIS WIFE ANGE..... ;)

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 3:48 pm
by BIRDIEMANGO
LOOKING BACK UP THE HILL,FROM THE START LINE......

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 4:40 pm
by BIRDIEMANGO
ANYWAY,HERE IS THE FIRST PRACTICE RUN.......APOLOGIES IF YOU GET BORED,HIT THE FAST FORWARD,AS I WAS ONLY ON DASHCAM.... o_O AND SORT OF WELL,WEN'T OFF....ON JUST THE THIRD BEND :rolleyes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVP7Kbt ... e=youtu.be

BUT WE GOT A RE-RUN OF THE PRACTICE.....

BEARING IN MIND,WE ARE RUNNING A STANDARD 4 SPEED GEARBOX HERE,180 BHP 203LB/FT TORQUE,ON ROAD TYRES(BRIDGESTONES)

THE REMAINING RUNS,I GOT ON THE COCKPIT CAMERA,JUST NEED TO UPLOAD IT ALL...... :dunno:

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 12:22 am
by BIRDIEMANGO
AFTER THE FIRST PRACTICE RUN,I HAD ABOUT 45 MINS,TO RELAX AND WANDER AROUND THE PADDOCK......TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER MACHINERY?

BEARING IN MIND,THIS WAS A ROUND OF THE 'LOTUS' CHAMPIONSHIP..... :thumbsup:

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 12:27 am
by BIRDIEMANGO
SOME OF THE TIN TOPS AS WELL.....

SOME NEEDING ATTENTION....

OTHER'S JUST 'JAW DROPPINGLY' BEAUTIFUL........AND GETTING RACED,WHAT THEY WERE BUILT FOR...?

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 12:36 am
by BIRDIEMANGO
IT WAS GOOD TO WALK AROUND,AND STOP AND HAVE A CHAT TO OTHER DRIVERS,SEE WHAT THEY WERE RUNNING,AND HOW THEY WERE COPING....?

THERE WERE A LOT OF OTHER CHAPS,JUST LIKE ME,WHOM HAD TURNED UP SOLITARY,FOR A DAY'S RACING.....

SOME OF THESE CARS,WOULD RETURN TO THE 'PADDOCK' ON THE END OF A ROPE,BEHIND A LAND ROVER..... :bawl: :thumbsdown:

THE CHAP IN THE NISSAN 350Z NEXT TO THE SAAB,WAS A RETIRED BLOKE,GRANDFATHER IN FACT,AND THE 'GRAND CHILDREN' HAD COME UP,TO WATCH 'GRANDAD' RACING.....?

A SINGLE SEATER VETERAN,IN PREVIOUS YEARS......THE POOR CHAP WAS STRUGGLING TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE BUCKET SEAT IN THE NISSAN,NEVER MIND A LOW SLUNG MACHINE....? HE INDEED, HAD A MID-MORNING NAP,WHILST WAITING FOR THE NEXT PRACTICE RUN,AS INDEED DID I....... o_O

I HAD BEEN UP TILL MIDNIGHT,ALL THE PREVIOUS WEEK,PREPARING THE CAR........... :rolleyes:

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 12:43 am
by BIRDIEMANGO
AS I RETURNED BACK,TO THE LINE-UP FOR CLASS 1C,THE PORSCHES WERE GETTING READY TO GO AGAIN....


THE 911 WAS TUNED WITH SHRICK CAMSHAFTS,AND INDEED THE PORSCHES WERE MAKING OVER HALF A SECONND OFF THE START LINE,OVER THE SAAB o_O

THE MORNING SUNSHINE,WAS HEATING UP ENGINES AND INTERIORS ALIKE,ESPECIALLY ONES OF A BLACK 99 TURBO :ranting:

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 5:47 pm
by BIRDIEMANGO
OK PRACTICE RUN 2, ON IN-CAR FOOTAGE,GETTING TO ASCERTAIN THE LINES,THROUGH THE CORNERS,AND SPEED OF APPROACH,GEAR SELECTION AND EXIT......?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBZGTwB ... e=youtu.be




HILLCLIMBING IS ABOUT BEING VERY NEAT AND TIDY, TO GET A QUICK TIME....

HOWEVER,THIS WAS MY FIRST 'FIX' OF PARTICIPANT MOTORSPORT IN THE 99T,FOR 3 YEARS......AND I WAS LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF BEING BACK IN THE CAR,LEFT FOOT BRAKING,AND SEEING EXACTLY HOW MUCH? I COULD GET AWAY WITH? ON THESE BRIDGESTONES...

BESIDES THIS,THE SPECTATORS.....COME TO SEE SOME ACTION,SO I TRIED TO PROVIDE SOME....?
THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS,PRODUCE A FASTER TIME.... !!:rolleyes:

FIRST PRACTICE RUN 76.24 SECS

SECOND PRACTICE RUN 76.66 SECS

IT WAS BECOMING CLEAR,I COULD TAKE SOME OF THE FASTER CORNERS IN THIRD GEAR(WHICH I WAS USING SECOND),ELIMINATING A GEARCHANGE,WHICH SAVES TIME.....BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT,AND TRY THAT OUT ON THE FIRST TIMED RUN......?

Re: HAREWOOD HILCLIMB

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:44 am
by BIRDIEMANGO
THE 1ST TIMED RUN APPROACHED,JUST BEFORE A LUNCH BREAK,LATE MIDDAY........?

IT WAS TIME TO HUNKER DOWN,AND CHIP AWAY AT THE 'RACING LINES'......GET THAT ALL IMPORTANT, 'TIME' DOWN...?

THERE ARE 5 'SPLIT' TIMES,AS YOU WIND UP THE HILL,WITH A SOPHISTICATED TIMING SYSTEM,WHICH YOU CAN 'PRINT OFF' A LITTLE REPORT,TO SEE HOW YOU ARE DOING.....?

FIRST PICTURE SHOWS THE 2 PRACTICE RUNS,AGAINST THE FIRST 'TIMED' RUN.....JUST WITH THE SAAB 99T.



LISTED P1&P2 ARE PRACTICE RUNS,THEN T1 IS FIRST TIMED RUN,AND THE INDIVIDUAL 'SECTOR' TIMES.....

AL LEAST WE WERE GOING,IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION..... :yay:


THE SECOND TIMED RUN FOLLOWED,YOU CAN 'PRINT OFF' TIMES, AGAINST ONE OF YOUR 'RIVALS',IN YOUR CLASS....

WE WERE JUST IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE NISSAN 350Z,NOT MUCH CHANCE OF CATCHING THAT LOVELY PORSCHE 911 THOUGH....

YOU CAN SEE,HE IS TAKING AT LEAST HALF A SECOND,FORM THE SAAB IN THE FIRST 64 FEET,FROM THE START LINE...IN SECTOR 1 !!!!