Ottog

Hi All,

Winton was another fantastic track day. Well done to Andrew and crew for organising it.

It was good to catch up with some old friends and meet some new faces.

Sad to see Rod, Taka and Andrew having some mechanical problems on the day, I was so looking forward to following the masters around. What can one say that hasn't already been said about the lotus, unbelieveably quick around the corners (I want one, I want one..... in my dreams anyway )

What else was great about the day?

Finally getting to see my son throw his v8 muscle car around the track and having his hands full keeping the power down.

And lastly, the passenger sessions. Young Steffan had a ball and ended the day with a great story to tell his mates at school the next day. It was probably a first for the group as well, 3 generations of the one family on the track.

Lots of photo taken, time permitting, I'll try to post some up by the endof the week.

Cheers..... Otto

MACCAA

Does this now make Taka the American Stig?

Revolver

Steady Taka - you modify that thing much further and you'll run out of excuses!

JAT1

there will always be something else!

takahashi

You know that Dave after you crash on the race track it takes a fair while to get over it. at least I am still outthere and lapping in the ballpark of my old times

timbo

Hey! Let's not all get too precious

auzoom

lmao...go boys go! Fight! Fight! Fight! lol

auzoom

WHere is Rod...I wanna know what happened to his car.

Cronullarx8

Thanks for your concern Andrew,
Got home safely at about 1.30am after leaving the track at 4.45pm. I now have a healthy respect for the powers of Red Bull. No problems at all with the car on the return trip. Have been travelling on business all week and the car is in the drive way still unpacked from the weekend. Needless to say I have not had a chance to diagnose the problem further. Really wierd that the car would only run for two quick laps before cutting out COMPLETELY at three points around the track - all the left handers (go figure). It is related to either a blocked fuel filter or a dodgy fuel pump or more than likely a combination of both. The only way to get even two or so laps out of it was to blow the fueline with compressed air after each run. I am sure people who saw me doing this with the hand pump got some amusement value. In the maintenace manual it says the fuel filter should be changed at the 60,000km service. I know mine was not. Suggest everyone reminds their dealer. I intend to pull it apart on the weekend but a this stage I cannot figure out how to get the fuel pump access cover off. Had quite a few people stumped on the weekend as to how to deal with it. Looks like a screwed on cover but it would not budge.Will be in touch with Mazda for advice.
Tell you what though, after my dramas at the National and again on the weekend I am looking forward to a trouble free run to work on the times.
(Maybe a little less Red on the Sat night may also help hey Len! - great pub though)
Thanks once again to the organisers and in particular Andrew.
Rod
p.s One day I will tell you the real story of how my transponder ended up in the wall!

DavidM

Can anyone shed some light on what engine / mods are in the Elise? It's probably the quickest Elise that I've seen (and I've seen a few).

Thanks.

auzoom

David, good to hear from you. Have been wondering where you are at. As far as I am aware its fairly "stock" engine wise but I could be wrong. I will see if I can get some details.

Rod, from the sounds of it I think next time you boys are down here I will come and stay the night in Benalla. As for how you lost the beacon, having driver with you at Nats a few years ago and watching you fight your car for control at the S Bend and whole back side of the course at Winton I can well imagine. But I can also imagine fuel cutting in and out on that left hander would be a contributor.

Btw, check out https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/does-anyone-know-where-how-reach-fuel-filter-124756/

auzoom

you know I only just got that...having watched the episode a few weeks ago. Now I have some hick banjo music running through my head.

celicajim

Yeh I was expecting to see a 2ZZ in the engine bay but it has the older Rover motor
Must be all that downforce?

Pic of the Elise
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/DSC00355.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w...8/DSC00354.jpg

rotalution

is more like the car's power to weight ratio... the weight itself is much lighter then our cars.. so even it's power to weight ratio is similar to a 8.. bcoz it is lighter and MR it can brake later and carry more speed and load... also good driver's skills.. as well as those hax0r dunlop 03G semis...

Cromax

Just goes to show you that those with ***** bounce back, but those without sit back and have a whinge.

auzoom

Mods for the Elise

DavidM

Brakes Rotors, Pads, Brake lines, Coilovers, Semi Slick Dunlop, Rear Wing, Front Spoiler, Bucket Seat and that's all. Engine is still the Rover with 86kw.

Thanks Andrew. That is pretty amazing then considering that the ~140kW Exige with R-spec tyres and pro driver behind the wheels is good for 1:39.17 at Winton. Elise 111R (again with ~140kW, R-spec tyres, and pro-driver) good for 1:41.12. Quickest Elises (that I was aware off) were the Lotus Trophy race prepped Exiges which were good for 1:37s

So very impressive times from this Elise ... until this one I don't think I've seen a privately owned one get below 1:42s.

Any idea what this Elise has managed at other tracks (ie. Sandown, PI and Calder)? I pressume it'd be quick.

David, good to hear from you. Have been wondering where you are at.

I'll probably be at PI with the WRX club at the end of March ... interested in coming? Besides that I have not been at the track this year (yet). Also am looking for 'suitable' a Winton event in April/May.

How are things at your end ... your cars looking less and less like an RX8 each time I pop in here ;-)

ps. Good to see you guys had a good day at Winton.

timbo

And what do you do?

Revolver

Well, it took him a while but having baited the hook heavily enough he came back swinging. Good one Taka.

Not all of us are obsessed with track times and I think I've demonstrated that I've gotten back on the horse after a very expensive off. I've got nothing to prove because I don't talk myself up.

As for that other annoying little buzzing I'm hearing in the background, well what do you know - straight back on the ignore list.

Revolver

Interesting. I wonder if it is related to the power loss some of us have experienced after the hairpin turn 10 at Wakefield when low on fuel??

Were you running low fuel level at the time Rod?

Keep us posted anyways and I hope you sort it out.

Cronullarx8

Dave,
No it was not related in any way to fuel level. Had the tank full to the brim. Will let you know the outcome.

Revolver

Thanks Rod.

auzoom

hey rod, maybe this would have helped https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...3&postcount=62

enforcer

...egad I hope you can survive a shark attack Dave, because revenge can be sweet!

Proceed at your own risk....

auzoom

ohh forgot about this http://forums.clubitr.com.au/showthread.php?t=3796