Project Polo - 1min10 around Wakefield

[noone]

Whiteline do the bushes as well.

Hopefully you will be back on this soon, interested to see how it goes.

[clubracer]

Hey guys,

Heading down to Wakefield Thursday December 2nd. Should have new front bushes and rear sway bar on so will be interesting to feel the difference.

On a different note AUTOsports has a new website, we're selling a full range of Sparco gear, plus lubricants, data loggers and other race gear. Getting the full catalogue finished at the moment but it's looking awesome!

AUTOsports Australia

Let me know if anyone else can make it...

[jamesatfish]

I'm actually up at Eastern Creek for a Burrows day on the 2nd, so sadly can't drive 2 circuits at once...

Very interested to hear how you go with the new setup.

[seangti]

This is a little off topic, but given that you and James probably have most tracked polo's around, do you get much knock coming back through the steering wheel in your cars. I've noticed an increase in noise transmited from the steering wheel, knocks at say walking pace with some turn? I'm guessing this has been a result of the track time for my car, though has only been to probably 6-8 days so far, just have more planned and am having second thoughts if this is a suitable car for that. (yes it's slow and still a polo, but don't want to ruin an otherwise good car).

[clubracer]

I think most owners of Polos experience knocks and clunks from the front end. I was a little concerned at first but after checking everything out all seems ok. I run coilovers so it's just the spring moving or adjusting itself in it's seat. Nothing to worry about really...

[jamesatfish]

This is a little off topic, but given that you and James probably have most tracked polo's around, do you get much knock coming back through the steering wheel in your cars. I've noticed an increase in noise transmited from the steering wheel, knocks at say walking pace with some turn?

Can't say I've had too many issues with knocking or vibrations back through the wheel - there is certainly some bounce and crash over rough surfaces but I do keep the PSS9s set to full-hard most of the time so it's just as likely to be suspension related.

[clubracer]

About to pick up the car now with the new front bushed. Unfortunately I haven't been able to fit the rear sway bar as it's on back order. The weather is looking pretty suspect so times definitely wont be dropping, but I'll get some good practice in the wet which should be interesting to say the least.

I'll be testing the RaceChrono lap timer with basic logging so am looking forward to a good day and I'll have some video as well as a full wrap up of the day posted up on AUTOsports for anyone who's interested.

Might try and squeeze another day in late December with the sway bar fitted.

The joys of running your own business from home is that you can do track days mid week and not have to worry about the boss!

[Pommie]

I'd be interested to know what times you would go around Eastern Creek in the Polo, my best is 1:47 but that's on a bike - never been in a car!

[bfeboi]

i just recently went around the creek doing a 2'07"5290

its slow but its was hell fun. my car was too stiff in the rear causing me to twitch through every corner. i went sideways going down the hill after the bridge =).

[clubracer]

Hey guys I've just got back from Wakefield. It pissed down with rain the whole way down but we got there and it wasn't raining which was great. Even better was that my brother (Clio Sport 197 F1) and I were the only sedans. Not bad!

The track was horrendous. There was mud and puddles everywhere and all the rubber had been washed away. It was cold so I kept the tyre pressures 32 all round for the first session. I have never been in a front wheel drive car that has gone sideways on every corner. To the point where is was actually scary. I was backing the car into turn 2 lap after lap due to a river running across the road. The new Race-Chrono lap timer/logger was working an absolute treat though. I will recommend these to everyone.

As the day went on the track improved (to put it into perspective my pb in the Polo is 1:15.4 (my brother went 14. and the first session my best time was a 21 dead. There was no grip anywhere.

As we did laps the track cleaned up. A Formula Ford was out there helping us too and by the afternoon (2pm) the track was feeling ok. The best time for the day was 1.16 dead although my brother in the Clio did a 16.2 (I think his car would be faster but it was our first outing with it so learning the limits).

The Polo was turning in much better and some of the corner exit understeer was reduced. I got the tyre pressures spot on and generally the car felt faster. My 'new' ****ty brakes pads were rubbish. They took a hammering and I'm definitely going bigger brakes asap...

Some guys turned up in a Civic a bit after lunch and we got chatting. Their times were 3 secs off their normal pace so my 16 dead ended up being a pretty good achievement. I think the car would be good for a low 14, possibly even a high 13.

Next time round I'll have the rear sway bar, I'm going to drop the ride height all round a touch and play with the dampers just to try and tune it.

I'll get a video up tonight for all to see. My brother in the Clio following (and not being able to catch!)