Team member of the week - Suzie Sue

In the first of a selection of articles on the MAD-Racing Team we are focusing our attention on Suzie Sue!

For the next few days the MAD-Racing website is a mini homage to Suzie Sue by way of thanks for how she has been looking after the boys and particularly their empty stomachs over the last few months!

Suzie Sue has been in charge of Catering at the MAD-Racing Technology Centre (which looks a bit like Mike & Suzie Sue’s Garage). Each night the team turn up to work on the car, the ever cheerful Suize Sue pops her head around the door, offers us coffee and cake, and then magically produces a slap up meal to keep the teams hunger at bay, and the team motivated!

Not only this, but we also keep finding a rouge tin containing freshly baked food stuffs in the MAD-Racing Motor Home (Al’s Car), sometimes carrot cake, sometimes blueberry muffins, sometimes cookies! We can only assume this is another example of Suzie Sue’s unrivalled hospitality!

So, as a team, we salute you Suzie Sue!

Tyred? – you will be...

So, there seemed nothing better to do on an April Tuesday than a cheeky trackday at Cadwell Park Long Circuit. So with that, JB & Al set off from Uncle Mike’s at 1930 on Monday evening - destination Cadwell Park, with the plan to collect Des from Peterborough on route. Did we mention tyres? Well, between the towcar, racecar, trailer & spares (some for each) we had a total of 23 tyres….On arrival at Peterborough, it became apparent that we had only 21 tyres….somewhat of a problem, esp given that the two that were missing were brand new unused Yokohamas. Despite a relatively thorough search of the recently travelled roads, they were nowhere to be seen and we soon concluded that we had to accept that they were lost and not going to be retrieved. I felt particularly gutted to know that a simple change in strapping strategy would have kept them firmly in place, oh well, mistake learnt, not to be repeated again. And – Arse.

Anyway, after that little misdemeanour and successful collection of the Des, we were soon at Cadwell, and nestled in our chic tent and ready for sleep by about 0030. Morning was soon upon us, would you believe that some *!$*£s with whipper snippers were out strimming the verges at sometime before 6am – rudely interrupting what had been a very nice and welcome kip. So, with that the team sprang into action, well actually clambered out and begrudgingly woke up!! We were blessed with a real Lincolnshire treat, the weather was fantastic, bright sunshine and clear skys. First thing was a noise test which proved to be a bit of a challenge with an initial reading of 111dB. It’s amazing how the engine noise changes once warmed….

Morning testing went well, Des and JB made many changes to the car, but would not tell me anything, they only requested feedback on improvement or otherwise. By the end of the morning, the car was performing well compared with last years race times, but still had room for improvement in terms of handling – it still lacked front end grip - it’s overriding tendancy was mid corner understeer. Must make a mention here for Dave Smith, a good friend of mine who lives not far from Cadwell, little did Dave know that he would be roped in to general jobs helping to keep the car running. Thanks Dave for all your help – top work and great to see you!

Briefest of stops for lunch, then back out again.

The lads made what they told me was a significant change, and that I should approach with care. Eek, they still wouldn’t tell me, so off I went a little more cautious than before. The change was a real improvement, some might say “Night and Day”!! The front end grip was better…I later found out that the front springs had been changed, and were now a lot softer. Soon afterwards, we went softer on the rear too, and the car was now a handling legend. After a few laps settling in, I was able to get a clear lap and put in a lap time to contend with the Kit Car class C record. Things bode well!!

The remainder of the afternoon was spent making some smaller changes, which left plenty of time for good solid track time. By the end of the day, the car is pretty damn perfect, very able to adjust throttle and/or steering mid corner without concern. I can’t quite describe how well the car now handles, but can liken it to our Locost’ handling that took some 4 years to perfect, and of course with Kermit all the action happens a lot faster thanks to a more powerful engine and grippier tyres. It is now a handling masterpiece….

Huge thanks to Des and JB for taking time out to come help (ala run, organise, manage) the track day for me, leaving me to turn the wheel and squirt the throttle pedal. Roll on Sunday 11th May, when I will be racing at Cadwell proper stylee…. Big Al out

P.s. Check Dave's video collage here "link to Dave's collage video"

P.p.s Check dave's photos here

Cheeky Track Day planned - 29th April

Well it'd be rude not to! Circuit days have an open pit track day at Cadwell Park ( Long circuit) on Tuesday 29th April. I've decided to give it a whirl, and see what the car handles like on one of the countries most varied circuits (it's known as the Mini-Nürburgring, just to set the scene!). Seriously though, it has to be one of the best too, we like it and are pleased it's the long circuit (i.e. Mountain section is included).

Watch this space for updates, we're planning in-car footage from the TD....Big Al

P.s. Almost forgot, Des has promised to load a photie of his anti-tank weapon that he is preparing for Kermit to adorn!!

Videos from Lydden

Check the links section (RHS), where you can find links to some videos from Lydden. Revel at our miraculous Tent!!!!

Roll on Cadwell...

Highs and Lows at Lydden Hill

The weather was always threatening to make its presence felt from early last week in the lead up to the Lydden Hill race weekend, with heavy rain forecast on Saturday and heavy snow to follow on Sunday. As you can see from the photos the forecast was 50% correct (not bad for the met office).

So it was a welcome sight on Saturday morning; waking up to sunshine and dry roads. After packing up the Galaxy and trailer, and trundling down to the Kent circuit for a very leisurely 11.00 scrutineering, my nerves starting increasing. Thoughts that were troubling me included having never made a race start in this car before and returning it in one piece for the rest of the team to have their first race in our new car. After scrutineering, I soon had to push these thoughts behind me as it was very quickly time for practice. As I rolled out onto the circuit for the first time, the car immediately felt great. I started off fairly gently to get my three laps in and soon started picking up the pace. After finding some clear track with which to set some hot lap times, I ended up qualifying 9th fastest overall for both races (5th fastest in class C) with a fastest lap of 47.70 seconds.

The race wasn't scheduled until 5.30 so there was plenty of time to make a couple of changes to the car before forming up for the main event. My grid slot had me positioned on the dirty side of the track which added to my concerns on the start line. I guessed at how best to launch and when the red lights went out, I was off (slowly as I had bogged down too much). Still, I got a second chance as there was a red flag before the end of even the first lap. My second start wasn't much better at all and I had lost a couple of places by the first corner.

As the race progressed, I started going quicker and quicker, but the majority of the cars in front carried on pulling away little by little! I spent most of the 20 minute race circulating on my own, a few seconds behind the cars in front but did get back past a couple of cars. There were a couple of heart-in-mouth moments, not least when a car spun in front of me on Paddock Bend, but I managed to keep my nose clean and came across the finish line in one piece. My fastest lap was 46.92 seconds - a good deal quicker than in qualifying.

It was only when the race was over that I realised I had actually finished in 7th place overall. But better than that, I had finished 2nd in class! At last, I had finally won a trophy (I've still a long-way to go to catch up with the trophy count of Des and Al though) on my first race outing in our new car. I was absolutely ecstatic. Des, Al and JB had prepped the car in their normal expert manner and everything had clicked seamlessly into place.

So it was off to my mum and dad's house (Mick and Carol) for all of the team for the night where a feast had been laid on in my mum's usual banquet-like style. Many thanks for the great hospitality from all of us.

Sunday morrning arrived with a very different outlook, with snow falling heavily. Des, Al and JB left for the circuit before lunch and reported back that our car-tent had collapsed under the weight of snow that had accumulated on it over-night. It wasn't looking good for racing. News came through however that the snow was melting, the circuit itself was free of settled snow and that the racing was to go ahead as normal. Myself, Suzanne, mum and dad arrived at about 3pm in time to watch the locost final, at which point the snow started falling heavier still. My race wasn't due to start until 5.05. The racing still carried on but the snow had started settling again. At 4pm racing was halted to see if the snow would ease and clear. Unfortunately it didn't and the rest of the meeting had to be abandoned. Not quite what we had hoped for in only having one race but I couldn't have expected to have finished 2nd in class on our first outing. A great result. Incidentally that places myself and MAD-racing 2nd in class in the championship!

Many thanks to all who supported us over the weekend. Apologies for the appalling weather....

The next MAD-racing outing will see Al in action at Cadwell Park on Sunday May 11th.

Houston we have a problem - it seems to be snowing

Lydden double header weekend starts well, then turns a little cold, with a substantial snowstorm. Mike's full report to follow on Monday....Al

Link to all Lydden Photos...

Go Uncle Mike!

Only a couple of days to go before Uncle Mike takes the heml for our first race of 2008! GO MIKE!!!!!!

Check back on Monday for the full report.

Lydden Hill 5th/6th April 2008 - Schedule of Events

Kermit (aka Mike Wazowski)'s first race outing with Uncle Mike at the wheel this weekend at Lydden Hill, Kent, CT4 6RX

Saturday 5th April
Practice: 1200
Race 1: 1730

Sunday 6th April
Race 2: 1705

Please note that the organisers can bring forward any event by 1/2 hour, so arrive in plenty of time!

Photos from Mike's Test Day at Snetterton 27th March 2008

Check the photos at the following location:-

Al's photos
Mike Snett Test Day 270308 Photos Al

JB's photos
Mike Snett Test Day 270308 Photos JB

Snetterton does Wet-again

It was to be Mike's first outing in Kermit and the weather was predicted to be rainy. And for once, unfortunately, the weather service was spot-on. As Mike arrived to bag a garage at 7.30, it was still raining and there was standing water around the circuit. Nerve racking to say the least when the car has near-slick tyres and the very fast right-hand Coram bend has just 15 metres of wet grass seperating the track from the barrier. Des, Al and JB arrived at 8.30 after not a lot of sleep at all, having constructed a tyre and jerry can rack for the trailer and got the car ready for its outing the previous night (and well into the early hours).

It was very quickly time for Mike to squeeze himself into the cockpit and take to the sodden track. With people spinning off due to the tricky conditions, there were red flags aplenty which punctuated the morning session. Mike did well to keep the car on the track after reporting the wheels spinning up when changing up from third to fourth gear on the straight! Loads of power...... and not a lot of grip. As the morning progressed, the track started to dry-out and Mike could finally start to experience what the car could offer in dry conditions, which is lots of speed and loats of grip.

With Des, Al and JB having continued to ensure the car was running sweetly throughout the day, the afternoon started dry and Mike got quicker and quicker round the circuit. This enabled a couple of tweeks to be made to the car, including the trial of a new under-skin, fabricated with precision and a tweek to the front spring rate. Then a short sharp shower mid-afternoon returned the track conditions to being somewhat tricky again. Still, Mike had experienced the car in all the conditions that an English spring could possibly throw at it which is great practice for his first race on April 5th and 6th at Lydden Hill in Kent. Hopefully Mad-racing will see you there.

Snetterton. Again.

Another day, another trip to Snetterton. Tomorrow is our third trip to Snet in a month. This time it is Uncle Mike's turn to drive and get familiar with the car.

We have of course made a few key performance upgrades since the last outing:

* More stickers - Aero change, promotes early separation of the laminar boundry layer
* Moved E-Cut - Reduces polar moment of inertia, and improves turn in.
* Front underskin - adds weight to prevent car blowing away in the wind at Snetterton.
* Wheel Rack - Increases trailer centre of gravity, and promotes roll.
* Bump steer curve - No idea, but we did it twice to make sure we were sure.

So with all these changes, how will it go? Big Al set Uncle Mike a high bar of a gnats whisker under 1:20 in the dry, so what can Uncle Mike manage? Tune in on Friday to find out....

Back to work now........

Mad-Racing - the next google?

Ever wondered how many people view the Mad-Racing website? Well i'll tell you...... Its a frankly awsome 4 or 5 people per day! Eat that Google.

Our record ocured on the 17th March 2008 when barely believeable 20 people pointed their browser at the hallowed homepage of Mad-Racing.

Snetterton Weather

JB uses the medium of dance to describe his feelings about the weather at Snetterton......

Stormy Snetterton – Sunday 16th March

Varying weather reports through the week, had kept us guessing about what the 1st race day might bring…it’s been changing from sunshine, to wind, to rain, and back to sunshine again.

In terms of preparation, there have been a huge number of man hours thrown at the car since the last event (trackday on 1st March, only 2 weeks ago). The engine and gearbox have been out, gearbox rebuilt (thanks to Dave at Thames Transmissions), the front suspension has been stripped and fatigued parts replaced along with new bushes fitted, transponder has been fitted, headrest fabricated and fitted, the list is endless. On top of jobs relating to Kermit the Kitcar (or Mike Wizowsky as the northerner famous for allocating nicknames calls him), the trailer has needed work too, a new spare wheel, a puncture…..

Anywhoo, the team finally snuck into bed about midnight on Saturday, in preparation for a rude 5am alarm. Arriving at Snett on time, at a cool 0730, we pitched the new team tent – something of a challenge in the Force 5-6 gusting winds and rain and unpacked. Kermit flew through 0820 scrutineering, Des re-fueled the team with a healthy bacon and egg buttie, and things were looking good and ready to go for practice at 0915.

A phone call from Jo (Wife) to say that she, along with son Oliver would be leaving for Snetterton shortly with the aim of arriving for the race after lunch. Oliver, having obviously decided to cause some havoc had hidden Jo’s car and house keys, so that Jo had no option but to pass all her stuff for the day through the front window to friends, Mel, Lorraine and Liz and then having to climb out of the window as her only available exit!!! All the girls and Oliver arrived at Snetterton shortly after NCT friends Michael, Anthea and Elliott also arrived for the day’s activities.

So to the racing, well actually there wasn’t any. There was so much water at the bombhole, that it was deemed unsafe. Boo-hoo, so we all packed up, found ourselves a very nice and relaxed pub & traditional sunday lunch and then trundled all the way back to Essex, and the car didn’t turn a wheel in anger…

Roll on the 27th March for Uncle Mike’s track day at.....Snetterton (we're praying for better weather)...

Thanks to all that came along to support, and sorry for the poor track drainage at Snett circuit....it is the first time for us in 7 years of racing that an event has been cancelled due to weather, so hopefully no more cancellations for another 7 yrs.

Anyway, off to bed now, Al

Big Day Tomorrow!

Good Luck to Big Al tomorrow, as the whole team head for Snetterton for the first race of the season.

The forecast is rain, but, back in his Locosting days, Big Al was a bit of a legend in the rain, but then again he has 70% more bhp to worry about this time.....

Check back tomorrow evening to see how we got on!

Stop Press - We've got no nipple covers...

How will life go on I hear you ask.....with no nipple covers, is it really safe to race on Sunday at Snetterton @ 1300?

Fortunately, the nipple covers referred to are only for the bleed screws on the front brakes, and so not a critical item in the scheme of things. We did feel the need to share this with you all - it made us laugh hysterically (like hyenas actually) at midnight last night, during our last minute preparations (actually car rebuild) for Sunday's race!! We've done loads, but there is still a healthy TTD list....

Those that are coming, see you Sunday, those that aren't - check the blog on Monday....

Cheers for now, Al

Next event - Snetterton --16th March – Big Al driving…

Al takes on Snetterton on Sunday 16th March. We’ve drawn the short straw and are first into scrutineering and practice (0820 and 0900 respectively). Al’s race will be the 2nd race after lunch and is planned for 1300. Note that races can be brought forward, so leave some spare time in your travel plans. Map/Directions can be found at:- Snetterton Weather so far for Sunday looks ok and is not predicted to be as windy as on previous visits (fingers crossed). There are another 16 kit cars entered at the moment, with a good number being from the same class ”C” category, so competition should be strong.

After a good few hours of blood, sweat and tears, (re-building the gearbox, throttle assemblies, front suspension to mention a few of the bigger jobs) -- the car seems to be about ready to go!

I look forward to seeing some of you at the racetrack at Snetterton on Sunday, and will post the outcome to the website as soon as possible after the event. Remember to bring your picnics, and a windproof just in case!

Thanks in advance for your support, Al

MAD-Racing sponsored by Signs Express

Ever wondered why our new car look so much better than the old Locost? Well, we owe it all to

Signs Express. Following almost days and days of negotiation we have finally sealed a very exciting "Free Stickers" deal with Signs Express. The word in the paddock is that this deal breaks entirely new ground in the realms of motorsport sponsorship, and is almost certainly better than that Honda Earth Car rubbish.

So watch out for the Signs Express logos on our car, and should you ever meet any of the Signs Express team, please extend your thanks to them that the MAD-Racing car is so easy on the eye!

http://www.signsexpress.co.uk/

Lap time vote results

Okay, okay, okay, you have heard from Big Al what the car was like on our test day, but what you really want to know is the result of the "how fast will it go" vote.

While only 12% of you got it right, 50% of you got it very nearly right!

Big Al's best laptime was a 1:19.9

Now you can vote for our qualifying position on the 16th of March!

Snetterton Track Day – Damn that thing’s fast

Saturday 1st March saw the team travel to Snet, the first outing for any of us with Big Al behind the wheel of Kermit for an MSV trackday. Gale force winds through the night were of slight concern, but an arrival to Snet it wasn’t too bad, though we were all glad of a garage for shelter…
Kermit is fast, and not just a little bit fast, a lot fast! Heading into the first bend (Riches) off the start finish straight, everything goes into a bit of blur – the speed that you’re passing your surroundings, the G-force on your neck as the tyres literally bite into tarmac, and the strain on your eyes as you wait in anticipation to see if you have made your apex & then apex – quite a feeling – what a buzz!! The car is reaching 7200-7300rom in 5th heading into the Esses, we don’t know the speed yet, but is likely to be ~135mph (or maybe even higher) before diving onto the brakes for ~50mph chicane!!!
The car ran perfectly all morning, and the team (Mike, Des and JB) did a fantastic job of keeping Kermit ready for action, slipping in a few geometry changes to optimise the setup. A change to new tyres mid-morning gave a surprise as the wheels spun up in 3rd gear leaving the pits!! The release agent soon departed and back to normal grip levels again – Phew.
After lunch we saw a few gremlins appear, that slowed progress. Nevertheless, as the afternoon progressed, there were less and less cars, so the opportunity for some really clear and hopefully fast laps…data to be analysed....and shared if legendary!
From what we can tell, the car has performed really well compared to last years qualifying times at Snett, and so bodes well for 2 weeks time, when Al enters his first Kit car race at Snett on the Sunday 16th March.
Big thanks to the team for making the day such a success, especially given that the feedback I was giving on the changes to car set-up were the complete opposite of expectation!!!
Special thanks to JB for bringing his Swedish mate ovlov to Snett, without whom life would have been impossible!
Oh, I couldn't possibly forget to mention our new livery, check the stickers (and my cheeky race number) in the attached photo links - great job on the sticker design and attachment - they look great.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ajullie2/MADRacing02