Back At Calder

[Matt Holcomb]

Yesterday or today, depending on which hemisphere you live in, I participated in Round 4 of the 2003 WRX Club of Victoria Championship at Calder Park Raceway. While the field was comprised mostly of various incarnations of the Subaru WRX, there was a surprising amount of other marques represented, including a Ferrari F355 Challenge, several 350+bhp Nissan 200SXs, and a cavalcade of R-compound shod MX-5s.










I had five opportunities to improve on my previous best lap time (1:13.250) at Calder, which I cut a few weeks ago. Well, yesterday (or today) I consistently lapped the track in the high 1m 13s while experimenting with gear selection and shock-absorber settings, eventually cutting a time of 1:13.490 in a wheel-to-wheel Super Sprint.

Here's Mike the mechanic adjusting my shock absorbers.



By the fourth session, the track was 1-1.5 seconds slower, and this was reflected in my lap times. By the time the fifth session rolled around, I was determined to leave Calder after achieving my objective for the day: lap the now familiar circuit in under 1m 13s – even on a track that was now 1-1.5 seconds slower than it was in the morning sessions. In the end, I managed to cut a time of 1:13.116 – my quickest tour of Calder so far. On my cooldown lap, I knew I had gone pretty fast – for the first time on R-compound tyres, I was drifting through corners.

So, how much quicker – or slower – was I compared to the guys piloting the other cars? Well, the dude in the Ferrari was lapping in the high 1m 06s. Most of the WRXs with comparable power-to-weight ratios were lapping in the high 1m 09s – 1m 12s. All in all, it was a pretty good result for me and my twenty-nine-year-old charger from Zuffenhausen. I left the track in high spirits, confident that next time I'll be finally able to exploit the full potential of my car, which I'm told is more than capable of lapping Calder in under 1m 10s.

Stay tuned!


Matt Holcomb
MFIWDP
PRVC
BOHICA
1974 911 Carrera 2.7 RoW
1974 Ford Falcon GT coupe
Dedicated Homepage
Engine Rebuild Homepage
Porsche Owners Gallery Profile
Pelican Gallery Profile

[Adam]

That's a great result, Matt.

Talk about some fancy competition!

[CamB]

Excellent! Matt - you're doing a great job of actually getting out on the track (and enjoying your car). How many laps in total did you get in? I'm jealous!!

By the fourth session, the track was 1-1.5 seconds slower,

Was this a weather thing??

Most of the WRXs with comparable power-to-weight ratios were lapping in the high 1m 09s – 1m 12s. All in all, it was a pretty good result for me and my twenty-nine-year-old charger from Zuffenhausen.

Are the WRX's on r-compound tyres? I think this pretty much forever seals the "WRXs are slow" comments - you're car is basically a '73RS and the WRXs are as quick or maybe even quicker...

[Matt Holcomb]

Adam,

In one session I was behind the Ferrari, and I was able to keep him in my sights for a couple of laps, which was cool.


Cam,

I lapped Calder about 25 times on Sunday, including in and out laps.

I'd say 95% of the WRXs were on R-compound tyres.

Why was the track 1-1.5 seconds slower during the final two sessions? I have no idea. It must have been a weather thing, or, a Calder thing.


Matt Holcomb
MFIWDP
PRVC
BOHICA
1974 911 Carrera 2.7 RoW
1974 Ford Falcon GT coupe
Dedicated Homepage
Engine Rebuild Homepage
Porsche Owners Gallery Profile
Pelican Gallery Profile

[Matt Holcomb]

Guys,

Here's an action shot from Sunday.




Matt Holcomb
MFIWDP
PRVC
BOHICA
1974 911 Carrera 2.7 RoW
1974 Ford Falcon GT coupe
Dedicated Homepage
Engine Rebuild Homepage
Porsche Owners Gallery Profile
Pelican Gallery Profile

[hmd]

Matt,

Only the top two classes in the wrx competition are allowed to have r-rated tyres, the rest are on road tyres. So I would say 25% not 95%.
However the Falken Azenis RS is rated as road tyres so you will see many cars with these tyres on.

[stuartj]

Matt
Sounds like you got lots of laps. Sunday was a mild dry day. I cant imagine what would have coasued the track to become a second slower. Did domeone drop oil?

Look forward to Winton on the 8 june. Are you going?

stuart

[Victor]

Good show Matt, echoing Mr Jack: See you at Winton?

It's time you go to a different track!

[Matt Holcomb]

hmd,

The Falken Azenis RS looks uncannily like an R-compound tyre!


Stuart,

Everyone in the paddock was *****ing and moaning about the track being 1-1.5 seconds slower after the fourth session. Calder is a strange place.

The WRX Club are going to be at Sandown on the 8th June. I haven't lapped Winton yet; I'd like to go, but there are two things that might stop me from going:

1. The PCV

2. Sandown


Victor,

I like Calder, but I want my new brakes to last, so I might need to exercise some restraint. We'll see.


Matt Holcomb
MFIWDP
PRVC
BOHICA
1974 911 Carrera 2.7 RoW
1974 Ford Falcon GT coupe
Dedicated Homepage
Engine Rebuild Homepage
Porsche Owners Gallery Profile
Pelican Gallery Profile

[hmd]

Matt,

The Falken Azenis RS looks aggressive but they have very hard compound I have done back to back test at Winton and they are about 1.5 seconds slower than the Bridgestone RE540 (you have) in a stock wrx.

Sandown is also very hard on brake.

[Matt Holcomb]

hmd,

I'm running Dunlop D01s. Sandown is hard on brakes, that's true.


Matt Holcomb
MFIWDP
PRVC
BOHICA
1974 911 Carrera 2.7 RoW
1974 Ford Falcon GT coupe
Dedicated Homepage
Engine Rebuild Homepage
Porsche Owners Gallery Profile
Pelican Gallery Profile

[hmd]

DO1s are even better if you get enough camber, so I have been told. At least -2.5 deg.

Sandown is much better than Calder much more interesting and very close to the city.

[Victor]

Matt,

Brett (DDR964), Stuart (Angry Anderson looking bloke in a purple 3.2)and my good self are confirmed entrants for Winton on June 8th. Have you decided if you will join us or are you still talking your way out of it?

[DDR 964]

Hi Matt,

great result for Calder! The Dog Dick Red beast has not seen a track in anger for more than 2 years so I am approaching Winton very cautiously (although I think it's fairly easy on the cars). It would be great if you could get along. I'm keen to check out the Yellow Peril sounds like some terrific work has been done.

Cheers Brett

[ZAMIRZ]

Matt, that is awesome. Congrats, I know how well it feels to better your personal-best time at a track, very satisfying. If you have any more pictures of your car, post 'em.....I love seeing it. Also, what size fuchs do you have? how about tire sizes?

[stuartj]

Oh, RATHER! Lets make a day of it!

hooray

stuart 87 carrera (we cant be beaten)

[Victor]

StuartJ, do you remember the track "The Butcher and Fast Eddy"?

[stuartj]

Victor
No, never a big fan. But that great big guy (Peter Wells?) the slide player- put out a hell of solo album a few years ago.

Dont forget to amour-all the tyres.

[Victor]

Stuart, not a big fan either. Visions of Angry A in the cardboard batmobile at the GF really sealed the deal for me.

Armour-All? I prefer that foaming action tyre sheen called "SO-EASY". Because it's SO-EASY to reach ABSOLUTELY ALL of the tyre tread. In fact, I keep a can handy in the bracket where the extinguisher used to be for touch ups on the run.

And you will still not be able to catch me! JET FOCKIN' BLACK baby!

[stuartj]

Ah yes. the batmobile.

Poor deluded, misguided fool. My enduring image of you at Winton is you and I staring meaningfully at each other through our respective windscreens as you departed the track in a high velocity, rearwards attitude at T3. Twas like a scene from Kubrick's 2001.

Jet Fockin Black indeed.....you'll always be in the brown....

stuart 87 carrera