Tiger Tales

Yesterday I had the Tiger on track at Brands Hatch. It was a track day organised by Focused Events. Although it was very hot, the car was impeccably behaved and the event very well organised and run. It was a ‘sessioned’ evening (as opposed to an open pit lane), however, this was probably a good thing as limiting drivers (and their cars) to 20 minutes of track time at a go was very sensible in the heat. As is often the case, it was an eclectic mix of cars – a couple of TVRs, a Porsche GT3, several 7-type cars (including a guy in his brand new Caterham, and someone in a yellow Tiger), a Radical, and a few racing saloons. A good mix, and plenty to talk about in the pit garages. We were on track right after the Formula BMW series cars had completed testing, so they were also around to chat to.

The marshals at Brands Hatch are excellent, but last night there were several novice drivers who seemed totally oblivious to the correct racing line, or other cars behind them trying to get past. In these circumstances, drivers need to be extremely patient and not take any risks trying to overtake. The marshals could have helped the more experienced drivers in the faster cars by using the blue overtaking flag a little more often. I only saw it being waved once.

Other than that, it was a great evening.

Tiger Update

After being towed ignominiously off the track at Brands Hatch a few weeks ago, the Tiger now has a complete new ignition system – Megajolt, a re-mappable 3D system – which will enable the ignition to be set up to take advantage of the power of the Pinto engine. The system is plugged into a computer whilst on a rolling road and then tailored to get the best from the engine. The rolling road session is booked with Sanspeed in Bexleyheath and the car should be fully set up in time for the next tack day on 21st October. I have also now fitted a four leg and cross-braced roll bar which will be much stronger than the single loop bar it previously had and will provide much better protection in the event of a mishap!

Tiger on Track

This week I had another opportunity to take the Tiger on the track. Once again at Brands Hatch, but this time with the Toyo R888 track tyres fitted. What a difference they made. Handling was superb, such that we were cornering round the tight hairpin at Druids at between 50 and 60mph. Another interesting selection of cars made an appearance, although not many were faster than the Tiger. One that was though, was Tiff Needell giving hot rides in aid of charity in a Radical. There were a couple of incidents, including a MGF which turned over in the gravel at Paddock Hill bend. No serious damage to car or driver fortunately.

Our track time was uneventful until the very end of the session when (on the last lap) the car lost all power coming down the hill from Druids. We pulled onto the grass and had to be recovered by the marshalls. Further investigation suggested an electrical fault, which will give me a job for the weekend tracking it down and fixing it. The car has Lumenition Optronic electronic ignition and there are a series of tests that can be run to determine which component might be at fault. Sod’s Law will of course mean that it is the most expensive part (the power module) which has blown. That part is about £70. Other than that, the Tiger took a long hard session in its stride.

On track at Brands Hatch

Tiger on Track

Yesterday I took the Tiger for its first track outing. An evening track day at my local circuit – Brands Hatch. The event was on the short Indy circuit, which at 1.2 miles packs in the legendary Paddock Hill bend, plus the hairpin at Druids and the long right-hander, Clearways. Unlike many modern motor racing tracks, Brands Hatch has been built around the contours of a natural amphitheatre, and one of the reasons Paddock Hill bend is such a test is because it turns into a very steep down hill before bottoming out into the charge back up to Druids. It’s quite an experience. I have driven the course a few times before, but this was the first time in my own car.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. What would the other drivers be like? Would the car behave? Would I be embarrassingly slow? The event was well organised by MSV people – registration was quick and easy and then the car was noise tested. The new silencer came out at 97dB. Spot on. All the drivers then assembled for a briefing, which covered track safety rules as well as driving technique. It quickly became clear that we were a mix of experienced drivers and rookie track drivers. Looking round the pit garages, there was a wide range of machinery as well. Several 7-type cars like mine, a few full-on race cars that had been trailered to the event, as well as some road going saloons, such as BMW and Toyota. There was also some exotica on show such as an Arial Atom, Ferrari and Noble. Top car was a AC Cobra replica which the owner had just completed after a 4 years build. Stunning car, and a brave owner for taking it on the track.

After a couple of mandatory sighting laps behind the safety car, we were then let out on the track. The first few laps I used to warm the car up. In particular, the brakes and tyres don’t reach proper operating temperature until they’re hot. I soon realised that the Tiger is quick. Very quick. I was a little nervous about speed round the corners as I was running on road tyres (still waiting for the new wheels and track tyres to arrive), however, the handling was impeccable and after half an hour or so I really started to get a feel for the car. That made all the difference. For the first few laps I was being overtaken. However, after I’d got some idea of how the car handled, I started overtaking back. Realistically, only the other 7-type cars and a Fisher Fury could stick with it round corners, although some of the larger cars had more power down the straight. Timing wasn’t permitted so I don’t know what the lap times were. However, I don’t think we went below 60mph anywhere except Druids and on the start/finish straight (according to my passenger) we reached 115mph. And it’s only a short straight at Brands Hatch before you arrive at the fearsome Paddock Hill so I’m pretty pleased with that.

About an hour in, the car started to misfire when the throttles were fully open, which seemed odd. So we pulled in to the pits and discovered that one of the socks (air filters) which cover the carburetta trumpets had started to disintegrate and had been sucked through the engine. The socks were quickly removed and we carried on without any misfire. Unfortunately, towards the end of the evening a red light on the dashboard flickered on. The car had stopped charging. I suspected the alternator as these are notorious for failing on Tigers. Two reasons. Firstly it is located very close to one of the exhaust manifold down pipes, which means it gets very hot. And secondly, they are often running at over the maximum revs they were designed for, which inevitably takes its toll. Realistically, that meant the end of the evening as I couldn’t risk not having enough battery power to get me home. There was a plus side though, as on driving out of the circuit I realised that the fuel tank was completely empty. There would have nothing more embarrassing than running out of fuel and having to be recovered from the circuit. The alternator problem coincided with a Subara Impreza deciding to visit the gravel trap at Clearways, which resulted in the circuit being closed whilst it was recovered. All in all, I think we only lost about 15 minutes of track time.

The car made it home without any problems, and seems none the worse for being driven so hard. It used hardly any oil, and apart from the alternator problem and a small damp patch on one of the hoses which needs investigating, it lived up to – in fact exceeded – my expectations.

Now, all I need to do is book the next track day.

Tiger Update

The Tiger is now prepped and ready for its first track day. The oil and filter have been changed – it now has Valvoline Racing Oil - and there are new socks on the carburetta trumpets. I’ve also finished making the aeroscreen, which is just as well as I broke the windscreen trying to remove it. Doh! Tomorrow morning the new (quieter) and re-packable exhaust is being made and fitted, which will hopefully make me legal for the evening track day at Brands Hatch later this week which I shall be using as a test session to work out further needs to be done.

Track Days

I’ve booked myself and the Tiger on an evening track day at Brands Hatch on 17^th July. Quite a few things to do before then, although I’ve found out the new lighter wheels are having to be made and may not be ready in time. I also need to get the new Green Stuff brake pads fitted soon as they’ll need at least 100 bedding down miles before going out onto the track. I’ll be using 17^th July as a testing day prior to a full day session in August, by which time hopefully the car will be fully set up. I've also decided not to bother messing with the exhaust to get it within noise limits for tracks day, but to have one custom made to my specification. I've specified a 97db limit, polished stainless and re-packable so that I can make it louder, or quieter, as I need to. Powerspeed will be doing the work and it's being fitted a couple of days before the first track day.

New Toy 2

I've had the car a week now and not had much chance to get it out and play - largely due to the rain. However, I do have a list of jobs to do before it'll be ready for track days. I think the car is fast enough already (almost 168 bhp in a very light car), so I want to make sure it goes round the corners, stops and is safe. First will be a new roll bar - one with four legs and a cross brace to replace the standard Tiger offering which I think might just fold in the event of a heavy accident. Having seen this I think that's the minimum standard. Next will be four new wheels fitted with Toyo R888 road legal race tyres. Then an aeroscreen in place of the standard windscreen which will be reserved for road use only. I'll probably fabricate that myself using perspex and modified screen supports. And some green stuff brake pads to make sure the car stops as quickly as it accelerates. The car already has full harnesses, so once strapped in, you stay in. The Tiger is being rolling road tuned in a few days time, following which it'll be down to Brands Hatch to get the noise level checked to make sure it is within the track maximum. Fingers crossed as if it's not, that'll mean a new exhaust with a larger silencer.

Brands Hatch Track Day

Many thanks to Vauxhall for organising an awesome track day at Brands Hatch. For £95 we got a very nice lunch, did some auto tests – including as a passenger in an Astra driven on two wheels by the legendary Paul Swift – and then spent the rest of the afternoon thrashing the entire Vauxhall VXR range round the fabulous Brands Hatch Indy circuit. My favourite cars were the Astra and the Corsa – both with really willing engines and handling to match. Well equipped and good looking too – although the Corsa is a little ‘boy-racer’, but then I guess that’s its market.

Highlight of the day for me was the couple of hot laps with Paul O’Neil. Amazing. Scary. And I still can’t believe he was driving the same Astra as the rest of us.

Thanks Vauxhall for a thoroughly enjoyable, superbly organised afternoon. I’m not looking for a new family car, but if I were it would probably be an Astra VXR.