Funny noises

The new pads worked just fine. They squeal a bit when you use them half-heartedly, but then - why would you? Once they're warmed up they're very strong indeed, and before then they'll still do the trick on the road.

The last trackday on the 1st of December was a strange one. Despite thinking I had better lines than last time, I didn't really go much faster. In fact, I never managed to get into the 1:07s all day. But then, I apparently did a low 1:08 in the middle of a bunch of traffic in the first session, and then 1:10s with clear air in front and behind in the second session. Since I didn't really make a mistake, we all concluded that the timing must have been off. Going back to the video footage, the other guys also reckon the "official times" aren't worth the paper they're written on. Very frustrating, but that just gives me a direction for the next upgrade - some sort of stopwatch setup that will allow me to time myself without taking the eyes off the road. Might just involve more racing tape. :p

Unlike the old brakes, coming back from the track that day they performed just fine, even on a very exciting maneuvre on just out the gates from QR. The biggest pot hole I have ever seen just appeared in front of me, and I managed to break and drive around it despite having been a bit quick and having seen it too late.

The front tyres looked very shot the days after, but the various ripped and molten pieces of rubber have worn off by now, so they don't look too bad now. Still, once I can get a few dollars together, I'll go buy real ones. I'm thinking the new Bridgestone Adrenalins, they seem quite cheap for the performance. Evo Magazine ranked them pretty well. That might also help my lap times. I may lack both talent and experience, but lack of front grip could be playing just as big a part in my slow lap times.

Here's an illustration. This is me, going around Turn 3. You can see that one wheel has *just* left the ground, which I'm very proud of. ;)
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Psycho84/Sprints%2001-12-07/IMG_0063.jpg

This is Psycho going around the same corner. Granted, he's running semis and it's not a 172 but a 182 Cup, but the difference in the stance is obvious. That's why he's doing 1:03s and I'm doing 1:08s.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Psycho84/Sprints%2001-12-07/IMG_0090.jpg

Unfortunately, there's something else that needs sorting first. On the way back from the track, I noticed that the car sounded a bit coarse, and there was a vibration through the pedal as I drove along. It only shows at 3000rpm, but not below. It now seems like it only happens when I'm in gear, but that I'm not down on power. Since it happens regardless of the speed I'm going at, that points towards the transmission - perhaps one of the mounts or other piece to hold it in place has gotten a bit loose. It may have had something to do with a missed gearshift into second too, but I rather hope it's nothing internal.

Anyways, after lots of experiments (going backwards - hard to tell, drive-by - you can just hear the exhaust, etc) I've come to the conclusion that I have no idea what's going on, so I'll have to get a mechanic to try it and see what he can do for me. It's the first actual issue with the car, and it's really more likely to be my fault than anything else (not least because any car is going to have a hard time around a race track). Let's hope for the best and a quick resolution, because the concept of lift-off oversteer has really begun to intrigue me and warrants some further hands-on research...