Catch up...

Been a while since I posted anything on here. The Team Aardvark RX7 is now running a Reliance Automotive Services prepared 13B PP - and this is the real deal with MFR housings etc. Unfortunately only a loaner until Jon finds a new home for it, but I am definitely enjoying it while I can. Phenomonal engine!

The PP plus the purchase of some second hand soft compound 205/50R15 DZ03Gs (thanks to Bruce Power) have combined to give me a new PB of 48.08 at the last event of 2012. So close to a 47! Still chasing the class record of 47.56 - so still a bit of work to do.

Having experimented with some medium compound 225/50R15 A050s on the rear of the car (thanks to Bernie Wilson) I think a move to the same tyres in soft compound may just get me there... Need a sponsor!

Last hillclimb was the first event of this year, held last Sunday. There was a fair bit of rain during the day, but at least 2 "dry" runs - the last of which netted me a best time of 48.24, enough to give me first in class and 5th outright (looped the car on the other...whoops!) and I can claim that I beat a Nissan R35 GTR on the day. :)

Some photos from the event taken by Tyrie Starrs are here.

New PB

Managed a new PB of 48.73 at the SDMA Hillclimb on the 21st of October. Mostly due to the weapon grade motor on loan from JW of Reliance - a 13B PP. That motor is a monster! JW and I enjoyed throwing the RX7 around the track, but more grip is required.

Of course JW was faster with a best of 48.24.

The most surprising thing was how effective the Racing Beat exhaust was - the PP was probably no noisier than my Bridgeport with the old exhaust system - but the note was so much deeper and less tinny. And before the anoraks comment - yes, I ordered the system with extractors for a standard 13B for my engine, but the PP was fitted with RB extractors for a PP that JW had.

Some in car footage from my fastest run.

So much fun!

A bit of bling

A Racing Beat Street Port Exhaust system. Posted from the USA on a Saturday, arrived in Canberra on the Wednesday. Big thanks to JW at Reliance for organising. Great way to quieten down a noisy engine - or allow a noisier one?

Incar footage from 27th May Hillclimb

Some incar from last Sunday's hillclimb - this is from my best run (49.05). Still off the throttle too much. And apologies for camera angle - had some cable ties trying to stop shake and they pulled the camera up... YouTube linkage

Photo of the 7

I really like this photo my Dad took of the RX7 at the NSW Hillclimb round earlier this year - think the photo was taken on my fastest lap too.

Incar footage from HeartKids Hillclimb

Start of the month ran in the HeartKids Hillclimb - what a fun event. Was a great day - particularly enjoyed the "parade" laps, especially with my son in the car.

Ended up with a 85.84 - coming second in class to JoJo who got a 85.55.

After watching this incar footage of my run I can see why - off the throttle far too much!

YouTube linkage

New PB

Last Sunday was the first SDMA event of the year, a round of the NSW Hillclimb championship. Despite the dire forecasts of rain for a change it didn't - was almost perfect hillclimb weather. PB was sitting at 49.58 after Novembers event - first run of the day was a 49.49 - a good start. Second was a 49.50. Played with tyre pressures following some advice and next run was...a 48.87! Woot! Don't know where I pulled that from. Next couple of runs weren't quite that good, but still low 49s. A great day.

Post racing slump

In post race slump mode at the moment. Ran in the local hillclimb on Sunday, had a blast but seemed to be a bit off the pace. Managed a best of 49.94 (pb is 49.75).

Got beaten in my class by an AE86 and a KE25 both running turbo 4AGEs - and both good drivers.

Good vid of Joe's best run in the AE86 on YouTube.

Next meet (last of the year) is 20th November - hopefully the new front adj struts and adj lower control arms are in by then - might get rid of the pesky understeer through the top hairpin.

Photos from June Hillclimb

Ran the June SDMA Hillclimb a couple of weeks back - didn't manage a PB but wasn't far off with a time of 49.85 (PB is 49.75). Had a load of fun though and was happy with the results - even though I lost to Joe's turbo AE86.

Some good photos others took of the RX7.



Mat S took the above - a great photo. Just goes to show with skill you can make anything look good.



An action shot taken by Lora I think.

Looking forward to the 2 lap event in August.

No real progress on the Spitfire - some parts purchased, and I've tracked down a spray gun to fish oil the inside of the chassis - so just need to do that and then start on reassembly.

Event report - New engine and new PB at hillclimb

A little late on the update, but at the last SDMA Hillclimb on the 20th of Feb my S1 RX7 debuted its new 13B Bridgeport built by Reliance. It was a last minute thrash but the car was ready (and quietened down with a revised exhaust) to race on the day (actually it was ready days before the race). My previous pb was a 50.76 set earlier last year. On my second run of the day I lowered my PB to a 50.52 so I was pretty happy. On the third run of the day it felt pretty good. I knew when long time rival Teppo walked over and shook my hand something special had happened - and when I found out I had finally cracked a 49 I was stoked, especially when I found out I had dropped my pb to a 49.75. All down to the engine.

Thanks to Mark Neal for the photo.

So a great result for Team Aardvark - never a bad thing when you beat a Porsche and a Lotus. Jon definitely builds a great engine - and the sound of a bridgeport never gets old.

Updates on the 7

I kinda broke it at the last hillclimb (still haven't beat my PB) - now locks in 3rd gear. Gearbag very tired, so a new "special" closer ratio gearset being borrowed and fitted before next event on the 8th of August. And my 4.3 LSD (as opposed to the currently fitted borrowed 4.3 LSD) is being tightened up to be more race friendly.

Next event is a 2 lapper so that should be much fun - and somebody with a clue about cars and driving is going to have a drive of it as well so looking forward to the feedback and time comparisons.

...and more "Speaking of Reliance"...

I now have a harness installed and a button clutch installed courtesy of Reliance. All second hand bits (thanks to Buzz for harness and Jon for clutch) but very much in keeping with the nature of the car/build. The RX7 is looking and feeling more like a race car all the time. I'll try to take some photos on the weekend - hillclimb on Sunday as long as it doesn't pour with rain (which is forecast)...

What is Team Aardvark?

I hillclimb a Series 1 RX7 with the local club (http://www.sdmahillclimb.com/) - too much fun.

So why Team Aardvark? Kids names start with T and A, was trying to come up with a racing logo (for car and shirts) that incorporated their names. Have always joked with the kids about aardvarks (eg: if they ask where I've been I say I've been walking the aardvark) - dunno why aardvarks (guess because it's just a funny sounding name) but it's become a running joke. So Team Aardvark sprung to mind. Always had a soft spot for skull and cross bones (I'm just a bogan at heart) and quite like a lot of the japanese drift logos so sat down and sketched the logo one day. Played with it a fair bit and have a few combinations. I have one version that is on the car now.



And I've made a stencil - tested it on the workshop door