Things Wight and Raptorous

[mcb666]

No small engine for Greame Wight Junior next year, it's the howling V10 again.
No Judd for Willem, just the twin turbo again.
Groves / Ranson have a more tastefull yellow.
Durling / Pitt / Howell have 2.8 instead of 2.65.
Junior, Groves/Ranson, Moran have onboards at thier disposal.

Richard

[blackx]

Why the change of plan for Junior ?(not that I'm complaining)

Is it the same v10 or one made by another manufacturer ?

[wight jr]

Its the same engine. We were planing to fit the V6 but after looking into it we found that it was not worth the money and time for a engine we only intended to use for a year or 2, so were having another go with the V10 and see how the year goes then decide from there what we do for the next year.

[blackx]

Originally Posted by wight jr

Its the same engine. We were planing to fit the V6 but after looking into it we found that it was not worth the money and time for a engine we only intended to use for a year or 2, so were having another go with the V10 and see how the year goes then decide from there what we do for the next year.

You have made a lot of people very happy

I truely hope it works for you....God knows you deserve some good fortune..

Will you be at Loton for the season opener ?

[Pistonbroke]

Originally Posted by wight jr

Its the same engine. We were planing to fit the V6 but after looking into it we found that it was not worth the money and time for a engine we only intended to use for a year or 2, so were having another go with the V10 and see how the year goes then decide from there what we do for the next year.

Hallelujah!

[blackx]

Originally Posted by Pistonbroke

Hallelujah!

I was gonna say that....








Just couldnt spell it

[b1ackcr0w]

Woohoo!

(Can't spell Hallelujah..... oh..)

[Woolley]

*Makes mental note to time a meet and greet wander to coincide with jr passing Ess Approach.*

Fantastic, really hope the problems are behind you.

What's with the change of engine for the Durling and Pitt combinations? Especially since Simon really seemed to be enjoying the configuration last year. Are they the same engines modified, or is this something new?

[wight jr]

Same engines, just bigger cc, should give them a little more grunt.

[devon kev]

Should us marshals be worried

[blackx]

Originally Posted by devon kev

Should us marshals be worried

In the case of Simon no.....

[b1ackcr0w]

Seriously, Simon Durling in a chassis that clearly suits his driving style, with a bit more grunt, should seriously worry Deano and Roger Moran. In tricky conditions or the more technical tracks, he's going to mop up if the top three or four aren't absolutely on top of their game. I was there for one of his wins last year, and heard about the other. There's no doubt about it, there are places where he doesn't need the weather to be a serious contender for 10 or 20 points.

[blackx]

Originally Posted by b1ackcr0w

Seriously, Simon Durling in a chassis that clearly suits his driving style, with a bit more grunt, should seriously worry Deano and Roger Moran. In tricky conditions or the more technical tracks, he's going to mop up if the top three or four aren't absolutely on top of their game. I was there for one of his wins last year, and heard about the other. There's no doubt about it, there are places where he doesn't need the weather to be a serious contender for 10 or 20 points.

Indeed....

Less is more for the very nice Mr Durling....

*not saying Basil isnt very nice just dont know him thats all :-) *

[J Stockley]

Originally Posted by wight jr

Its the same engine. We were planing to fit the V6 but after looking into it we found that it was not worth the money and time for a engine we only intended to use for a year or 2, so were having another go with the V10 and see how the year goes then decide from there what we do for the next year.

Graeme,

Do you think your any closer to solving the (electrical?) problems which dogged the Predator throughout 2005? By the end of that season you seemed to have made some real progress, but do you think you will have enough reliability this year to put in some fast times? If you can make it work, I believe your car may well represent the beginning of the next big evolution in hillclimb technology.

[wight jr]

Most of the electical problems were down to a few things, gearbox for 1 but we have onto a gear leaver and that got fixed, the other problems were down to the engine coming back with a fuel system that was trying to get 13bar out of a 10bar pump, that fried 2 alternators and 3 regulators.
there was lots of mapping probblems aswell. start line problems were down to fuel pressure dips when the engine went from free reving to load.
That first year was such a big disapointment for me, 1 got very little miles out of the car so i`m very behind on the developement of the chassis.
The last round we did with the car was better but it was still a pig to get started and off the line, and it makes it hard when you cant consentrate on the driving for thinking is it going to start or how much times is it going to stall before i get off the line.
So the big question, yes i hope so, we will have the engine back soon and the people(Engine Developements) (Judd) that are in charge of the engine and systems now should be able to give me a engine in a race ready condition.
So this year will be for developing the chassis, like what the first year should have been, and we shall see how it goes from there.

[Steve Wilkinson]

I'm so glad that you have got the engine sorted Graeme. I am looking forward to Barbon already!

All the best for 2007.

[devon kev]

A Big V10 came down from the Glen
Hopefully please the crowd at Loton
The Orange men hide in their sheds
When the Outright Record is broken.

Welcome back Graeme

[Pistonbroke]

Is that a Guernsey haiku Kev?

[wight jr]

I was going to quote something fae oor Rabbie Burns but i find spelling in English hard anuffff

[Brian Mac]

Graeme,
As they say over here in Belfast " Keep er lit big lad! "
Or where ever you happen to find a pub near Craigantlet.
Maybe you can make it this year.

Will we Hopefully see you at Doune in April?
I will be there helping the lads from Lakefield Restorations.

Good Luck anyway.

The Big Tigger!!!!!!!! in the orange suit?

P.S. Moose dont panic? if your at Doune i wont be jumping out in front of you on the hill? i saw the inboard of that incident at Craigantlet, could have been a lot worse?
Later.

[Brian Mac]

Sorry Moose,
just after i posted last i read your unfortunate news.

I hope the sight of my big ass? didnt put you off competing mate.

your car howling up our hill was magic!

Good luck for the future.

[anorack]

Does any one now how much power and torque the new 2.8 NME V6's pumping out? The small version seems the in thing lately.

So glad Predators still a V10. Yhe V6 with the extra weight of an unstressed engine, higher rear centre of gravity, altered weight split..........ok, and less noise just wouldn't have been the same machine. Just keep the faith, she will work, and victory will be all the sweeter.

[anorack]

Quick after thought. There was a great article in Race Engine technology on the TWR 1030 engine a while back as built by Pride. Makes an interesting read if your into that sort of thing.......................

[wight jr]

So glad Predators still a V10. Yhe V6 with the extra weight of an unstressed engine, higher rear centre of gravity, altered weight split..........ok, and less noise just wouldn't have been the same machine. Just keep the faith, she will work, and victory will be all the sweeter.[/QUOTE]

The V6 is about 30 kg lighter than the V10, but as you said most of that is added back on with the engine frames. The gear box was 1 of the problems, too big and heavy for that little engine and i cant go to the point of redoing the hole rear end. The V6 would make a great car if done from scratch, although the Predator is very light, it is designed to take upto 700bhp, so V6 car could be lighter.

[anorack]

Interesting concept. I've heard that the gr55b runs at around 420-430kg with the nme v8, and thats quite a heavy lump at just under 120kg, so with a V6 at around 90kg you could build one of these to about 390-400 kg easily, and possibly loose more weight due to predators much lower and lighter tub. The engine instillation in the Dallara of allan warburton would be my choice rather than the tube froam in the old gr51. It looks stiffer.
The thing is, with an 80kg driver the v6 would give about 1025 bhp/ton as against the v10 cars 1300bhp/ton, although admittedly it wouldn't be quite as traction limited at low speed. It could well be a great car, and the engines pretty well known, but the higher crankline would definatly handicap handling, although not as much as the nme v8, that's running 115mm crankheight and the entire car could be built with a much lower c of g if a different engine was used, ala Rob Turnbull. his car should be lighter, lower, and more powerfull, although with less torque than the nme.
The point is a predator v6 could be a really, really nice package, but the v10 has far greater potential. Either way, the Gould can be beaten due to the excessive c of g height. I can't wait to see her back in action again, and once she's sorted you should scare the front runners. By the way, i know your not 80KG, but if I'm crunching the numbers I'm using my weight!
If I keep dreaming of racecars like this I may have to get help...............