B24
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Wakefield 300 2013
Happy to say a MR2 will be taking on everything else out there in the 300km enduro at Wakefield Park. Race is early March.
Last year I drove a MX5 in some of the most difficult wet weather conditions in a car which was seet up for dry weather with dry weather slicks. It was a great experience with 'sweetpete' and another MX5 owner coming down to help out for the weekend.
So in 2013 the lone MR2/Toyota will be there aiming to first finish, then aim for a top 10 finish. My team mate is a long time friend and a experienced driver but not competitive experience. There is a chance Ric Shaw will be the third driver if our fuel consumption will not allow for a one stop race. If its a two stop race, Ric will be on the team. Ric brings a wealth of experience as well as his long time friend and co-driver/team manager to help in the campain. The owner of Adaptronic will also be contacted to see if he will help with data aquisition and tuning between sessions.
I now asking for some volunteers to be part of a team representing the car we all enjoy so much. the following people are required.
Data management: manage the data logger system, remove and analyse data package. If Andy is not there, you will be in charge. If Andy is there, you will learn much from a genius.
All rounder: mechanically able to spot problems, spanner check the car, refueller, tyre change, set mirrors, clean windscreen, etc.
Tyre management: Taking tyre pressures, tyre temps, assist in wheel alignments, check caster settings, raise car, remove wheels for inspection of suspension and braking system.
Media: be great to have someone there taking pic's of us working the pits, shots of the car on track. A media pass can be organised so you can get shots you would not usually access, organise and maintain video camera/camera's.
Catering: Chances are, the wives and girlfriends will look after food and drinks but more hands the merrier. There will be two 10ltr water bottles, sandwiches, maybe a bbq but not decided as yet.
Accomodation is at the track with 6 beds organised. There are 8 tickets available for volunteers.
Parking is available at the rear of the garages.
The MR2 Challenge will be used as a practice for the W300 on the Tuesday afternoon and a chance for people to get an idea of what its all about.
There will be another test in Feb with the race in March.
If you dont want to be part of the crew but would like to see the car race, please organise a cruise to Wakefield on Sunday to line all the MR2's up on the hill and enjoy the racing.
Cheers
Steve
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WIDEMR
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2012/12/30 23:01:30
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B24
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/01/02 21:55:56
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Thankyou, look forward to discussing more at the MTC. I got a mention in a news feed from speedcafe! Does not note all the work I did, but was nice to get recognised for keeping the race alive. http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/01/02/entries-flood-in-for-kumho-tyres-300/ One of the MTC entrants will also be helping out for the weekend. Also have a third person who will be coming along too, so just need one or two more and we are good to go.
post edited by B24 - 2013/01/02 22:15:16
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WIDEMR
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/01/02 22:10:24
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Nice, i read that article but didnt know your last name so didnt take any notice.
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B24
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/02/12 21:27:35
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The race is one month away and the gremlins restricting the car at the Trackday Challenge have been sorted out.
Two drivers have been confirmed with one having 6 starts in the Wakefield 300. He is bringing a crew,radio, fuel rigs and more to make this a solid race for all involved. The other is a good friend of mine who is solid in a car. We are testing in two weeks at Wakefield Park.
The car will have some MR2 Trackday Challenge advertising so would be great to see some MR2's coming along to support us.
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WIDEMR
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/02/21 16:48:39
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Hi Steve,
Did you get my last PM i sent a few days ago?
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Gatesys SW20
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/02/21 17:55:44
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Good luck Steve :)
How did you solve your oil return line melting?
Stainless lines?
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B24
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/02/22 09:54:15
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Thanks Ethan,
All the lines have been replaced with stainless steel lines and additional fittings to aid removal of turbo. It can now be removed in 15 min. Its still not perfect but good enough for now. We are going to Wakefield on Thursday to see if all is OK, then practice on Friday. Saturday is offical practice and qualify with a top ten shoot out in the afternoon.
Sunday has warm up in the morning with the race in the afternoon. Chances are, we will run in the sprint race too. This helps everyone get the eye in for the 300.
Are you coming down?
PM sent WIDEMR
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WIDEMR
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/02/22 13:01:27
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By stainless steel i think he means hardline, not stainless steel braid over rubber hose, as this is what there was originally
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Gatesys SW20
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/02/22 13:13:57
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Excellent work
Hope All is good now and everything goes smoothly
Unfortunately I won't be making it down can't afford the time off work and I've only been here a month and a half so don't want to push my luck haha
Best of luck tho mate
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Gatesys SW20
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/02/22 13:15:39
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Just realised it was on the weekend ahaha
I shall have to see what' I have on over the weekend..
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sweeetpete
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/02/22 19:32:47
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Might come down for the day again and help out where I can.
2001 spoida black, remus exhaust C one spoiler Carbing braces. 01spoida red track car turbo,omp seats,,cusco clutch/lsd C one strut braces. 89 Aw11Sc.
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B24
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/02/22 21:52:33
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Thanks for the offer Pete. We will be in the same garage as last year. Jeff will be there too but he is driving a MX5 Turbo this time round.
No worries Ethan
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B24
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/03/06 18:58:51
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The Wakefield 300 2013 has been run and what a experience it has been .
Very different from the other Wakefield 300's I have competed as I entered my SW20, first time for a Toyota MR2. It was the only Toyota in the field but not the first to compete.
The difference to 'arrive and drive' is very different as you have so much more work to do. It was almost a 'do or die' approach as people were pressuring me to enter the car instead of talking about it so I just pulled out all stops to make it a reality. We were behind the eightball right up to the last hours before the race, but we did start and finish the race which was the number one goal.
There were five crew and two drivers involved who managed pit stops, tyre temps and pressures, fuel stratergy and refuelling, timing and managing the drivers on track. Without these guys, it would not have happened.
The car was unable to run to its full potential over the four days due to a over boost/boost creep problem. We spent 20 hours trying to get this under control but we unable to get it below 1.8bar under full load/rpm(7500) so we decided to manage boost with throttle control where we would change at 4500/1.4 bar/50% throttle. The tune was very good as it didn't blow up but the water injection would not engage as we were below the threshhold of operation so we suffered high intake temps. If I didnt have the head built for extreme punishment we would not have finished the race and the engine would not be in any fit state of operation. The only time I gave it everything was starting the race from pit lane and giving it everything until the braking zone in turn 2. This displayed the power of this engine as it flogged one of the fastest cars in the race from a standing start. The car was a 550hp/1280kg 6.0ltr Chev powered Series 6 RX7. When I can prise the video file from his hands I can show what happened. We both took off, in 3 seconds the MR2 was missing. Unfortunately we could not continue this speed due to high boost concerns so we slowed back down and nursed the car around till the end of the race.
It was not without its ups and downs with many lessons learnt and some very interesting studies on heat management, fuel burn, importance of sound electronics and wiring, turbo characteristics under extended high pressure enviroments, tyre managment, fastening systems and how they react to heat and load, heat expansion of components including manifolds, throttle body, cables, engine cover, brakes, driver erganomics and stress managment, fatigue, managing the team in a positive direction or negative direction.
We finshed 92 laps of a potential 137 laps due to mainly electrics.
The first was the fuel pump switch dropped a wire causing the engine to stop on track. We brought out the safety car, was towed back to the pits where we fixed it, changed drivers and fuel then when back on-track about 7 laps off our class competitors.
10 mins later we had the seconf driver back in running on three cylinders. The wiring to the coil over plug system was getting punished with some abrassive soldering causing shielding to break down causing shorts in the system. This was quickly taped up for the interim, a rouge connector was tidied up and off he went again. Was OK for a few laps then back AGAIN! There was a coil with the mounting tab broken off which failed. So this was removed and the only spare available was fitted. Back of four cylinders, problem solved.
All OK for a while then he was back in the pit with no power. ECU was OK, then I realised it was the same symtoms as my first stop so it had to be the fuel switch. The switch was fine so traced it back to the fuse to find the 30amp fuse was blown. With none in site, I raced out the van and removed the only 30amp fuse on the van, installed it and it was up and running again. There was a short debate to wait till the end of the race so we only did two laps but I said 'no, just get out there and race', so the co-driver(Robert Field) was sent out for the final 12 laps of the race but this was not without incident. With only 10 laps to go, Robert was punted of track though the 130km/h kink that leads onto the back straight! The dorian was lost, the MR2 experienced its first battle scar, I saw it all and laughed and joked at what had just unfolded before my eyes. He managed to get the car back on track, got back up to pace and became the last of the finishers, 34th from 47 starters, first MR2 to start and finish the third longest endurance race in Australia.
 
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fredhoon
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Re:Wakefield 300 2013
2013/03/06 21:42:59
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Solid effort! Sounds like it would be have been a blast to be part of the pit crew, and a great learning experience.
On to the Bathurst 12hr next?
 Go soothingly on the grease mud as there lurks a skid demon.
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