whats my best option for tyres?

Any of the top-brand trackday tyres should do...

Toyo 888
Dunlop DZ03
Yokohama AO48

Bear in mind that the Yokos have soft sidewalls - good for launching, less good for cornering in such a front-heavy car as the Coupe

I have only ever ran Toyo t1r's that's probably why I get rubbish launches

That's strange that you found that, all the information on the web suggests they are the stiffest sidewalled out of all the trackday tyres? How long ago did you use the Yokos?

I certainly haven't found the Yoko A048s wanting in the sidewall department

First used them in 2007, and had them for a couple of years

They were definitely a lot softer sidewalled than the Dunlop DZ02 I also used

In the end, I ran the Dunlops on the front and the Yokos on the back - gave a really good balance

BTW - I have half a tin (about 1/2 litre) of Grip tyre softener left from my last TOTB outing - if any TOTB entrant wants it, I'm happy to donate (although it can't be posted, due to the nature of the substance) - should be enough to do at least a pair of tyres, maybe even a full set

I will take that off you mate should help me out when trying to break leightons record

well, that's two months of the year gone already - can I have an update from anyone that intends to enter, as I will need to be speaking with the organisers pretty soon

Hello?

Anyone there?

We're now more than halfway through March and I can't see any likelihood of someone posting a qualifying time.

Its all very well having the kit, but you still have to qualify. A sub-13 is difficult. Just turning up at Santa Pod with a well set up car and 400+ bhp does not guarantee you'll qualify. When I went from 300bhp to 400, my times were slower for at least half a dozen runs, until I modified my launch technique.

As I mentioned above, I need to be speaking to the organisers and they simply won't accept "we hope to have a couple of cars" - they will need a firm commitment.

So - please let me know if you intend to compete, and how you're going with your prep

Thanks

I predict no Coops this year.

Not trolling, just seems to be following a similar pattern to previous years with posts of interest not backed up - and no Nigel flying the flag this time.

I fear you'll be proven correct

Obviously been away from the forum for a while, but how many coops are there that COULD actually compete right now?

I'd always wanted to give this a go when I had my old one, but no chance i'd be looking at it anytime soon if I got another.

The thing is the 1/4 strips start running again this time of year and I reckon you'll need at least 2 visits to get the best time.

Ross

I've just checked last year's TOTB thread - by mid-March 2010, we had nine people saying they would definitely be there, or would be trying to post a time. In the end, I was the only Coop to turn up, although Leighton had a decent excuse

This year, we have just one remote possibility

I reckon the forum has at least half a dozen cars that are capable of putting on a half-decent show on the straight stuff, and capable of a top-three place in the handling

In all honesty, it's pointless hoping for any kind of a result on the quarter or the top speed run - the Vauxhall and Honda boys have it sewn up due to their prodigious power to weight combination (I doubt if any of them are over a tonne, with most closer to 750kg)

However, for some reason, the Coupe's extra weight doesn't count against it round the handling circuit, resulting in good placings

As I said at the top of this thread, I'm willing to do the organising, but not if there's no interest.

If I don't get any REALLY encouraging noises from interested parties in the next few weeks, I'll be baling out and leaving you to it. Sorry, but I'm not busting a gut chasing people round when there's very little chance of it coming to anything.

Leighton not gonna attempt this year?

Ross

Chaps - this isn't looking very promising

I WILL pull the plug if there's no firm interest soon

I'd plug it, Nobodys really THAT serious at competition level...

Or no one has a car to do it at the moment.

It's a dam shame Nigel.

But sadly it needs to be plugged... Unless some one is going to step up.

But I doubt it,

i am still up for it.. my car is ready to be run in nearly so i will pick it up weekend and have it ready for mapping next week so in 2 to 3 weeks will be ready to try for the sub 13..i will do this as long as my car holds up ..i have kept my osrav fronts and prototype rears which are being fitted along with 24 mm rear arb, solid rear subframe bushses,pollybushed wishbones/droplinks,strut and lower brace,and my compbrake kit..
i am hoping to get some time with someone that can help me get a good set up from this though i know barbz is going to help me get it about right,from there i will have to suss out what works best for me.. as i say with help translating what i want from it to the set up is where i will need someones experience..
remember i have not yet driven on a tarmac track although i raced autograss as a teenager this is all new to me so i wont know a good set up from a bad one at first so need all the help i can get which i will be happy to accept from anyone
i will also possibly need to borrow tyres as i have stripped myself to the bone financially to finnish this and i cant do it all ..i had to sell some of my bits including my track wheels and tyres but i will see if i can buy nearer the time
to me this is just a practice for a serious assualt next year when i know the car better and have it set up as well as possible as well as adding bits to make it better..if the car is all i hope then its possible i can give them a run at the top speed also so if i can post a reasonable quarter you never know a coupe may do well overall one day i will be developing the car with a view to doing just that so any help in any guise will always be welcome

do i need any particular type of seat? seats? is it possible to use folding buckets? (still need to get kids in and out)

No - any kind of seat is permissible - you simply have to have two seats fitted

I'd also suggest that you concentrate on posting a qualifying time - there are only seven RWYB dates available at Santa Pod before the TOTB closing date and I'll be amazed if you manage to post a sub-13 on your first outing - it takes a considerable amount of practice to get the launch right and its the launch that makes the low ETs

As for borrowing tyres - I somehow doubt you'll manage. Drag starts aren't gentle on tyres and the TOTB surface is massively abrasive.

I took four trackday tyres from brand new to the wearbars in just three TOTB visits, plus one trip to Santa Pod. I conservatively estimate that each TOTB event cost me £75 in tyre wear alone.

Put it this way, if I had a set of trackday tyres available with legal tread, I wouldn't lend them to someone doing TOTB, as they will be probably be illegal when they come back. Bear in mind that for two out of the last three TOTB events I've entered, I've done just one quarter and one top speed run. If you want to do several standing starts, you will eat your tyres even faster

i'm sure someone with money to spare like johnny bravo will step in with tyres

KTM - why not just buy a set as your going to use them a lot!!!

marco ! i mentioned in the above post the fact i am struggling a little under the financial strain of it..i had to sell my track set up last week to pay for some of the bits needed to finnish off, then i have another 3 k or so to pay off my bill have the full system built and paid for friday,next week another £600 minimum for mapping plus hundreds for fuel running back and 2 to london on top of about 15k i have spent in the last 8 months...i am doing well just to get to totb especially as my racing season has started and i have just had to pay for my hybrid bike build...so you see i may need to borrow some even if i have to replace later as i can only do so much ..

sorry mate!
didnt mean it any thing bad buy my last comment!!!

i know that mate ..just letting you know why i was posting the fact i may need to borrow..i would have much prefered to say nothing and just buy some.. but i will struggle to do it thats fact and it may come to me using crap or road tyres and just using the day as lesson in what to do next time..it is going to be that to some degree anyway more so without descent tyres..we will have to wait and see though

right - I have decided to step down from organising any FCCUK attendance at this year's Ten of the Best. I was made redundant recently and I start my new job on 3rd May. I will be flat out learning a new role and trying to make a good impression, so I simply cannot afford the distraction.

Only Rob has shown any kind of interest, and despite his enthusiasm, he still needs to post a qualifying time and get his car ready. Time is running out very rapidly (check previous years' TOTB threads to see how preparations had progressed by mid-April, and you'll see that getting ANY Coupes to TOTB this year will require a monumental effort.

Rob - if you still intend to compete, I will put you in touch with the organisers, although I have already linked to the entry form earlier in this thread. I'm not sure if the organisers are still accepting entries - its always been over-subscribed in past years.

Apologies for dropping this, but I simply cannot justify the time and effort for a (possible) single entry.

well i am still in could you just contact them to tell them one car is entering and i will do whats needed

Good to hear you're still up for it - however, you'll still need to prove that you've achieved a 12.99 or better, so I strongly suggest that you concentrate on this ASAP

I'm not doubting your abilities, but I'd be amazed (and genuinely pleased) if you could post a qualifying time on your first visit to a drag strip - it takes a LOT of practice to get the launch right and it gets harder as you get more power. I've seen Coupes with 400bhp struggle to reach the low 13s. In fact, when I went from 300bhp to 400bhp, my times were slower for the next two Santa Pod events, until I worked out how to modify my technique

I can't yet tell the TOTB organisers that you'll be entering, as they'll simply ask for me to confirm that you've posted a qualifying time

When do you intend to try to post a qualifying time?