VIC Haunted Hills Hill Climb 27/9/09

**Peter Jones** · 26-08-2009, 11:22 AM

Another question that always arises is the need for supplementary bonnet retraints. CAMs Schedule B refers

extract.

1. fitted with two separate fasteners on any front opening panel;

In practice for most of us this just means having a backup to the bonnet catch. Solutions vary. Bonnet pins, belts and catches are often seen on race cars but for track days I've seen a lot of improvised solutions.

I run two short lengths of chain with snap fasteners inside the bonnet.
WaterBoy has a similar setup with a single short length of steel wire cable.
There's just enough length to get your hand in there and latch the clip with the bonnet ajar.

Often Nylon belts or straps are used too. These can be temporarily looped through some part of the bonnet and tied down to the tow point.

Although I can't find the reference the scrutineers use the term "non extensible" meaning that a bungee cord is NOT acceptable.

Use your common sense. The idea is that if your bonnet catch fails (perhaps in the case of a collision) your bonnet doesn't flip up over the windscreen - so it needs to be strong. Bear in mind too that marshals might need to open the bonnet trackside so locking it shut with a padlock wouldn't be a great idea either.

Pete

**GreyWagon** · 06-09-2009, 09:19 PM

I would encourage you to get to haunted hills if you can. I was there in my MkV R32 in the pouring rain a few saturdays ago and had a ball

It would also be a good place for early forays on the track. Although it's a very difficult circuit, low speeds and the fact that hillclimbs are run as 1 car on the track at a time make it a good place to start. On the way home at 110 on the freeway I pondered that I'd be running around all day with the helmet on, fire extinguisher, etc and only hit 95 on the track. Would probably top out at more like 110 in the dry.

As tips for prepping the car, for anyone with a MkV all I do is:

Fire extinguisher - Simply mounted it to a steel plate in which I cut out 2 bolt slots. The slots line up with the seat rail bolts on the passenger seat, so to fit it I simply loosen those bolts, put the mount in and tighten them back up. The spline socket to undo the seat bolts cost me about as much as the extinguisher!

Bonnet latch - a nylon strap with buckle (ie simple tiedown strap). I thread this through the bonnet latch u-bolt on the bottom of the bonnet, then out through either side of the grill and strap it down in front of the grill. A bit of gaffer tape tacks care of the loose ends.

Tow hooks - some events will require you to have tow hooks fitted front and rear. Unfortunately the tow hooks on late model VWs are screw in hooks and they only come with one hook, which can be mounted front or rear. Thankfully I own two late model VWs so I have 2 tow hooks, otherwise if the regs for the event require front and rear hooks to be fitted, you may need to purchase another from spare parts.

It's not that fiddly and once you have the gear you are set for the life of your car.

**adzy** · 09-09-2009, 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by GreyWagon

Bonnet latch - a nylon strap with buckle (ie simple tiedown strap). I thread this through the bonnet latch u-bolt on the bottom of the bonnet, then out through either side of the grill and strap it down in front of the grill. A bit of gaffer tape tacks care of the loose ends.

It's not that fiddly and once you have the gear you are set for the life of your car.

Thanks for the tips bro

Dont know if I understand fully....So for the bonnet strap, you can get away with the grill being the only means of tied down support for the bonnet? I thought they would require it to be strapped to something more solid and secure (front tow hook)? But if they are happpy with that then it sounds good

**Peter Jones** · 16-09-2009, 12:15 PM

Posted off my entry form today!

Pete

**Peter Jones** · 26-09-2009, 07:39 PM

All packed up and ready to roll! Any one else coming along tomorrow?

Pete

**gldgti** · 26-09-2009, 09:39 PM

good luck pete

have loads of fun

**GoLfMan** · 27-09-2009, 10:29 AM

Id be coming along if i didnt have to sort out my mk1 for daily duties, thanks to Sooty being crunched.

good luck matey

**Peter Jones** · 27-09-2009, 05:53 PM

Insane weather today! Horizontal rain, Gale force winds, Sleet.

I'm back at home now drying out, I'll pop up some pics after I've unloaded.

There's not a lot of pictures, conditions were apalling. Jodie managed to snap a few shots from the comfort of the Bora.

The track is awesome, even in the wet. I think my best time was 78.17 I'll post the official results when they're up.

I was probably about mid-field in the results, a lot of people were having adhesion issues

I managed to spin out on my 7th pass but kept it on the track with nil damage. 8 runs all up.

Must go again in the dry.

Pete