First outright win with CSCC - at Thruxton

Great race with an exciting last couple of laps.

If you like a slow build, watch the video from the beginning but watch from about 16 mins if you just want the exciting bit

https://youtu.be/UK-QucuqoXQ

Well done mate

Had a flash back of me at Assen in the coupe as Simon will testify the difference being I never got beyond the slow build up

Note to self to try and get down to the CSCC event next year at Oulton as it's only a 20 min drive away.

Fantastic - congratulations Rich!

Thanks, both

Castle Combe with Classic Alfa Challenge on 5th Oct if anyone’s interested.

Nice one MRS - the BM seemed to have the legs on you on the straights but you reined him on the twisty bits? You had to catch a few snaps at different parts of the circuit, presumably, your car was getting light at the rear end over a bump?
Good luck at Castle Combe.

Thanks - yes, apparently that 2002 motor is good for 225bhp whereas you do well to get more than 190bhp from an Alfa Nord (despite what some claim).

My car is light at the rear anyway, the track has some interesting bumps and the tyres on the outside get extremely hot (after quali they were 3psi higher despite starting equal). I was definitely on the ragged edge at some points. I was definitely later braking for the chicane which is why I felt reasonably confident in a side-by-side battle. I was also quicker through the chicane and also around the fast left hander (Coram?) round the back of the circuit.

It was a fun race.

I hope Combe is dry as I struggle on traction verses the Alfettas in the wet.

Good to read your driving insights and learn about the vagaries of different tyre temperatures.
Fingers crossed you get good weather for the 5th.
How do you avoid "cooking" the brakes?

Brilliant footage - thanks for sharing. Certainly gets the adrenaline running i would imagine!

At Thruxton it isn’t a problem: you only brake twice - hard for the chicane and less hard for the complex. Literally don’t touch the pedal any other time.

At other circuits I also don’t have an issue because I have BIG 6-pots, dinner plate ventilated discs and DS3000 pads - the car only weighs 830kg. Others have cooling vents/pipes. It was interesting when I took my Abarth 595 Turismo with Brembo brakes onto Blyton circuit: after one lap of (not even) racing braking, the brakes were totally gone.

Thanks. Ha, yes - I have an “adrenaline hangover” for the next day or two...

My only track experience was at Brands in the Porto on a track day, when I began suffering major fade on my MTEC OEM set up.
As the Porto is a road car, it sort of put me off using it on anything longer than a hillclimb?

Ensuring that you have “race” grade pads is really important - Ferodo DS2500 I think are road legal. Then having enough cooling - drilled/vented discs that are big enough. Some high-temp brake fluid is important too. Or just not go too hard on the braking. At Blyton, I just backed off braking too hard in the Abarth.

Hmmm, I might just try to get to Combe for 5th October... Would love to see you race again. Will depend on whether we have the time though - just so busy at the moment.