The good people over at Greenpower have put together a nice video of this years final. A short snippet can be seen below but to buy the full version head over to the shop section of the Greenpower website. If you look carefully you can see myself, Mr Lloyd-King and Mr. Crawley as well as our pit board made by our illustrious ally, Mat Arney.
Tuesday 22 November 2011
Monday 17 October 2011
RLR1 at the National Final 2011
We have returned after an long and incredibly tiring weekend and once again the team has done superbly.
A nice, leisurely 9am start on Saturday began our journey to West Sussex for the Formula 24 National Final at its regular home of Glorious Goodwood. With our trusty trailer, on free loan from Tyrone Snell, we were on our way. We had been given permission to sign write the trailer so we had spent all day Friday pimping her up and we were pretty proud of how we would roll.
This would be our third trip to the historic circuit, the second with the current car, and we were determined to right the disappointment of the previous year where an hour out of the race with electrical problems put us near the back of the field. We were also once again up against our local rivals and fellow Truronians, Penair School with their car, Blue Raptor, and after the 'racing incident' between us earlier in the season we were determined to finish ahead of them this time.
Before race day on Sunday we had a treat planned for the team. Andy Clarke, husband of our own TA, Emma Clarke, had got us permission to tour the composites factory where he works, Global Technologies Racing. A fantastic opportunity for the team, they got to see first hand the sort of technologies that go into Formula 1 and Le Mans cars as well as getting their hands on a few beautifully crafted carbon and glass fibre components due to be on the track in the near future.
For the first time we had forsaken the camping for the luxury of a Travelodge and the extra comfort, as well as the Olympic breakfast from the little chef next door, meant the team were ready to perform at their best on race day. With the team fed and watered we got cracking on to Goodwood. With the well practiced efficiency we have come to expect from the team we were setup and ready for practice in no time, even after some time out for team photos.
We decided to go to practice with the highest gearing we could theoretically achieve to see if it was practical but the lap times proved to be on the slow side so the team pulled the car in and changed the gear by a single tooth on the lay-shaft and sent the car out for another run but with time enough for only a single flying lap, results were inconclusive. We decided to play safe and change the gearing again before the race but without testing, would it get us to the end of the race? We sent the team out for the parade and to line up on the grid.
With Jacca behind the wheel in for the first stint we were confident of a good start and after all the cars had settled into a groove we were cruising along in 23rd position. Our rivals from Penair School unfortunately pulled out after only four laps with technical problems, a sad way to end a race and not the way we wanted to beat them, but with that goal resolved we focused on our own race.Our pace was consistent and the team were in control but an uncharacteristic lapse in concentration meant that the pit board was missed and the car stayed out for an extra lap before the changeover. Calculations were made, plans rewritten and Ben was put in for the second stint. Driving with the consistency he is known for, Ben crept past a car or two, clocking up the miles and pushing us up to 20th at the end of his run.
With Harrison in for stint three, we were looking for some places to fall but despite some great driving and a few on track incidents to avoid we ended the long stint having only taken one place but he lap times remained consistent and the race was still going to plan. Going into the last third of the race, Gareth took over the driving duties, keen to get the laps he missed out on after the technical problems of the previous year. The counter ticked away and eventually so did the lap times, passably as a result of the missed pit earlier in the day so the team decided to pull him in but a second missed pit board lead to an awfully slow lap as the batteries began to fail. Gareth did well to nurse the car home and it was then time for Becky to finish the race and chase down a few more cars before the chequered flag.
In typical fashion for a Formula 24 race, positions changed and cars swapped places frequently in the last half hour as strategy and consistency begin to pay off for those teams that manage their cars well. Our earlier control of the cars speed was now paying off and we kept the pace consistent as other cars began to run out of juice. As the flag fell at the end of the race, we had fought our way up to 17th place in a field of 75 cars and another PB of 93.6 miles. The team had also impressed the judges with their professional demeanour and knowledge of the car and were presented with the IOM3 'Innovative Use of Materials' Award.
With a fantastic final race completed, the season has now come to a close and we will be saying goodbye to some legendary year 11s from the team. It has been an epic journey and they can all be proud of what they have achieved during their time in the team. The remaining members of the team have some big shoes to fill and with the addition of some new face in the next few months we are keen to get started on some modifications for next year and maybe even start work on a new car...
A nice, leisurely 9am start on Saturday began our journey to West Sussex for the Formula 24 National Final at its regular home of Glorious Goodwood. With our trusty trailer, on free loan from Tyrone Snell, we were on our way. We had been given permission to sign write the trailer so we had spent all day Friday pimping her up and we were pretty proud of how we would roll.
This would be our third trip to the historic circuit, the second with the current car, and we were determined to right the disappointment of the previous year where an hour out of the race with electrical problems put us near the back of the field. We were also once again up against our local rivals and fellow Truronians, Penair School with their car, Blue Raptor, and after the 'racing incident' between us earlier in the season we were determined to finish ahead of them this time.
Before race day on Sunday we had a treat planned for the team. Andy Clarke, husband of our own TA, Emma Clarke, had got us permission to tour the composites factory where he works, Global Technologies Racing. A fantastic opportunity for the team, they got to see first hand the sort of technologies that go into Formula 1 and Le Mans cars as well as getting their hands on a few beautifully crafted carbon and glass fibre components due to be on the track in the near future.
For the first time we had forsaken the camping for the luxury of a Travelodge and the extra comfort, as well as the Olympic breakfast from the little chef next door, meant the team were ready to perform at their best on race day. With the team fed and watered we got cracking on to Goodwood. With the well practiced efficiency we have come to expect from the team we were setup and ready for practice in no time, even after some time out for team photos.
We decided to go to practice with the highest gearing we could theoretically achieve to see if it was practical but the lap times proved to be on the slow side so the team pulled the car in and changed the gear by a single tooth on the lay-shaft and sent the car out for another run but with time enough for only a single flying lap, results were inconclusive. We decided to play safe and change the gearing again before the race but without testing, would it get us to the end of the race? We sent the team out for the parade and to line up on the grid.
With Jacca behind the wheel in for the first stint we were confident of a good start and after all the cars had settled into a groove we were cruising along in 23rd position. Our rivals from Penair School unfortunately pulled out after only four laps with technical problems, a sad way to end a race and not the way we wanted to beat them, but with that goal resolved we focused on our own race.Our pace was consistent and the team were in control but an uncharacteristic lapse in concentration meant that the pit board was missed and the car stayed out for an extra lap before the changeover. Calculations were made, plans rewritten and Ben was put in for the second stint. Driving with the consistency he is known for, Ben crept past a car or two, clocking up the miles and pushing us up to 20th at the end of his run.
With Harrison in for stint three, we were looking for some places to fall but despite some great driving and a few on track incidents to avoid we ended the long stint having only taken one place but he lap times remained consistent and the race was still going to plan. Going into the last third of the race, Gareth took over the driving duties, keen to get the laps he missed out on after the technical problems of the previous year. The counter ticked away and eventually so did the lap times, passably as a result of the missed pit earlier in the day so the team decided to pull him in but a second missed pit board lead to an awfully slow lap as the batteries began to fail. Gareth did well to nurse the car home and it was then time for Becky to finish the race and chase down a few more cars before the chequered flag.
In typical fashion for a Formula 24 race, positions changed and cars swapped places frequently in the last half hour as strategy and consistency begin to pay off for those teams that manage their cars well. Our earlier control of the cars speed was now paying off and we kept the pace consistent as other cars began to run out of juice. As the flag fell at the end of the race, we had fought our way up to 17th place in a field of 75 cars and another PB of 93.6 miles. The team had also impressed the judges with their professional demeanour and knowledge of the car and were presented with the IOM3 'Innovative Use of Materials' Award.
With a fantastic final race completed, the season has now come to a close and we will be saying goodbye to some legendary year 11s from the team. It has been an epic journey and they can all be proud of what they have achieved during their time in the team. The remaining members of the team have some big shoes to fill and with the addition of some new face in the next few months we are keen to get started on some modifications for next year and maybe even start work on a new car...
Monday 10 October 2011
Live Timing for the Final
With manic, last-minute preparations going on at RLR HQ there is just enough time for a quick post to mention the live timing for the final this weekend:
http://www.bbk-online.net/gpt/race56.htm
We are now car number 16, which makes us the highest seeded Cornish team, so keep an eye on us online if you can't make the trip to Goodwood with us.
http://www.bbk-online.net/gpt/race56.htm
We are now car number 16, which makes us the highest seeded Cornish team, so keep an eye on us online if you can't make the trip to Goodwood with us.
Sunday 9 October 2011
The Final 2011
This is it. After 9 regional heats and 179 entries the final lineup has been decided. The top 75 cars can now advance to the National Final, at Glorious Goodwood as always, ready to fight for the chequered flag. For a full list click HERE.
This will be our third final and things have never looked better for us. We are now car 16, sitting on the third row of the grid, shoulder to shoulder with such illustrious competition as last year's champions, Zebedee, and our perennial nemesis, Megazord. Our target for the race will be Corporate Challenge qualification which requires us to finish in the top 15 but being so close to the front of the pack makes us think we can do even better, maybe even break the 100 mile barrier, a feat managed by only 4 cars this year.
The arrangements for the day will be the same as for Castle Combe but for those of you who need it, here is the schedule:
0730 - Teams arrive and sign on
0815 - Scrutineering opens
0900 - Team briefing 1
0930 to 1030 - Practice
1040 - Team briefing 2
1100 to 1230 - F24+ race
1300 to 1700 - F24 race
1730 - Prize giving
We will be travelling up to West Sussex on Saturday, taking advantage of early scrutineering at the Greenpower Centre so we can crack on with practice and get the car up to speed as soon as possible. We have also been working on sprucing up the aesthetics of the team, we won the award for 'Best Presented Team' at last years final and we are determined to take it again. Time to get the vinyl cutter out I think. And the spray paint. and the texiprint. and the... ok, this may take some time!
This will be our third final and things have never looked better for us. We are now car 16, sitting on the third row of the grid, shoulder to shoulder with such illustrious competition as last year's champions, Zebedee, and our perennial nemesis, Megazord. Our target for the race will be Corporate Challenge qualification which requires us to finish in the top 15 but being so close to the front of the pack makes us think we can do even better, maybe even break the 100 mile barrier, a feat managed by only 4 cars this year.
The arrangements for the day will be the same as for Castle Combe but for those of you who need it, here is the schedule:
0730 - Teams arrive and sign on
0815 - Scrutineering opens
0900 - Team briefing 1
0930 to 1030 - Practice
1040 - Team briefing 2
1100 to 1230 - F24+ race
1300 to 1700 - F24 race
1730 - Prize giving
We will be travelling up to West Sussex on Saturday, taking advantage of early scrutineering at the Greenpower Centre so we can crack on with practice and get the car up to speed as soon as possible. We have also been working on sprucing up the aesthetics of the team, we won the award for 'Best Presented Team' at last years final and we are determined to take it again. Time to get the vinyl cutter out I think. And the spray paint. and the texiprint. and the... ok, this may take some time!
Monday 3 October 2011
RLR1 at the Western Heat 2011
Sunday saw another early start for Richard Lander Racing as we made the journey up to Castle Combe for the Formula 24 Western Regional Heat. These early starts and long journeys have been surprisingly good for morale, nothing bonds a team better than shared adversity! A great appreciation goes to Mr. Beech who is doing all the minibus driving, but is it worth the singing?!
With several races done now the team are running like clockwork, flying through scrutineering and getting out to practice nice and early, myself and the other adults just setup our seating and let the team crack on. After a few pace laps from Harrison it was time to debut one of our new drivers, Jack, to take the wheel. As one of the two kids to have attended every race we have done, Jack is finally old enough to get out on the track.
With practice over it was time for the race to begin, Jacca lining up the car for RLR. The starting grid for regionals is a first come first served affair but with the team working so smoothly we managed to get ourselves right on the front row of the grid with such esteemed competitors as Rotary Racer and BY-Pod. The sun was beating down and track temperature rising, this would be a tough race for the drivers.
An swollen field of 49 competitors with a few former champions thrown in for good measure would make this a difficult race, even getting into the top fifteen would be a challenge but that's the target we set ourselves
Our strategy for this race was to increase our gearing to try and find our limit before the final so Jacca knew that he had to pace the car for the long race ahead keeping consistent laps (but still managing to sneak in our fastest lap of the race). by the end of Jacca's stint we were sitting in 18th place.
Next up was Ben to chase down some of those cars who had edged ahead of us and get into that top 15 bracket. With the determination and consistency Ben has shown all season those last few cars were picked off one by one and by the end of his run we were comfortably inside our target in 13th position, but with two thirds of the race to go, could we hold on? Could we do even better?
Time for the long stint, this time it was Harrison. Battling hard for those extra places and holding off the cars chasing us down, at the halfway point Harrison had taken us up to 10th, revealing a frustratingly familiar sight, the back of Megazord! The team from Bristol has finished one place ahead of us at both our previous heats and the team were determined to not let it happen again. As teams rose up and fell away, positions changed regularly but we still couldn't pass Megazord, although we were slowly gaining lap after lap. With ourselves in 9th, Megazord in 8th and Piranha in 7th it was time to start changing batteries. Megazord and Piranha came in first, allowing us to take both positions but we still had to pit ourselves on the next lap. When our time came, the team pulled off annother great pit stop, getting Gareth in and an exhausted Harrison out, and we were out and we settled around the timing board to see if we could beat Megazord and Piranha out, but it was mixed results, ahead of Piranha but still behind Megazord, leaving us in 8th place.
Gareth spent a few laps eating away at 'zords lead, but it wasn't to last, lap times were dropping off, the batteries were failing! Euan made the decision to bring him in a lap earlier than schedule, getting Becky in with the last set of batteries to run for the flag, but with an extra few minutes to run, would she make it?
Becky put in some great laps, tailing 'zord the whole way, putting the pressure on the whole time when completely out of the blue Superformance overtook us both, pushing Megazord and ourselves down to 8th and 9th. With only 12 minutes of the four hour race to go we got our chance, Meagazord's early pace had left them short on juice and they needed a battery change, and we finally overtook with just 8 minutes left on the clock, all we had to do was finish our last lap. As they disappeared up the Avon Rise, RLR1 was ahead with Megazord perilously close behind, the team took up a position on the pit wall to see the cars cross the line. For us the race was down to two cars, the other forty something competitors didn't matter now, only the red of RLR1 and the blue of Megazord, which one would come around first and claim 8th place?
It was blue.
Becky's batteries just couldn't keep up the pace for that extra lap. They had pipped us again!
9th place was our final position, well within our top 15 target and with mileage of 92.5, we continue to improve race after race. We are now 15th on the grid for the final, looking on target for a good result at Goodwood in a fortnights time, we may even beat Megazord one day!
With several races done now the team are running like clockwork, flying through scrutineering and getting out to practice nice and early, myself and the other adults just setup our seating and let the team crack on. After a few pace laps from Harrison it was time to debut one of our new drivers, Jack, to take the wheel. As one of the two kids to have attended every race we have done, Jack is finally old enough to get out on the track.
With practice over it was time for the race to begin, Jacca lining up the car for RLR. The starting grid for regionals is a first come first served affair but with the team working so smoothly we managed to get ourselves right on the front row of the grid with such esteemed competitors as Rotary Racer and BY-Pod. The sun was beating down and track temperature rising, this would be a tough race for the drivers.
An swollen field of 49 competitors with a few former champions thrown in for good measure would make this a difficult race, even getting into the top fifteen would be a challenge but that's the target we set ourselves
Our strategy for this race was to increase our gearing to try and find our limit before the final so Jacca knew that he had to pace the car for the long race ahead keeping consistent laps (but still managing to sneak in our fastest lap of the race). by the end of Jacca's stint we were sitting in 18th place.
Next up was Ben to chase down some of those cars who had edged ahead of us and get into that top 15 bracket. With the determination and consistency Ben has shown all season those last few cars were picked off one by one and by the end of his run we were comfortably inside our target in 13th position, but with two thirds of the race to go, could we hold on? Could we do even better?
Time for the long stint, this time it was Harrison. Battling hard for those extra places and holding off the cars chasing us down, at the halfway point Harrison had taken us up to 10th, revealing a frustratingly familiar sight, the back of Megazord! The team from Bristol has finished one place ahead of us at both our previous heats and the team were determined to not let it happen again. As teams rose up and fell away, positions changed regularly but we still couldn't pass Megazord, although we were slowly gaining lap after lap. With ourselves in 9th, Megazord in 8th and Piranha in 7th it was time to start changing batteries. Megazord and Piranha came in first, allowing us to take both positions but we still had to pit ourselves on the next lap. When our time came, the team pulled off annother great pit stop, getting Gareth in and an exhausted Harrison out, and we were out and we settled around the timing board to see if we could beat Megazord and Piranha out, but it was mixed results, ahead of Piranha but still behind Megazord, leaving us in 8th place.
Becky put in some great laps, tailing 'zord the whole way, putting the pressure on the whole time when completely out of the blue Superformance overtook us both, pushing Megazord and ourselves down to 8th and 9th. With only 12 minutes of the four hour race to go we got our chance, Meagazord's early pace had left them short on juice and they needed a battery change, and we finally overtook with just 8 minutes left on the clock, all we had to do was finish our last lap. As they disappeared up the Avon Rise, RLR1 was ahead with Megazord perilously close behind, the team took up a position on the pit wall to see the cars cross the line. For us the race was down to two cars, the other forty something competitors didn't matter now, only the red of RLR1 and the blue of Megazord, which one would come around first and claim 8th place?
It was blue.
Becky's batteries just couldn't keep up the pace for that extra lap. They had pipped us again!
9th place was our final position, well within our top 15 target and with mileage of 92.5, we continue to improve race after race. We are now 15th on the grid for the final, looking on target for a good result at Goodwood in a fortnights time, we may even beat Megazord one day!
Wednesday 28 September 2011
Western Heat Timing
As always there will be live timing at Castle Combe this weekend, the link is below as is the QR for technophiles:
http://bbk-online.net/gpt/race53.htm
A new feature which is being trialed by Greenpower is a live, interactive news feed from the track side. To check it out follow the link:
http://greenpower.coverpage.coveritlive.com/
There is also a Formula 24+ race before ours which features two fellow Cornish teams, GDS and Launceston College who we wish the best luck.
http://bbk-online.net/gpt/race53.htm
http://greenpower.coverpage.coveritlive.com/
There is also a Formula 24+ race before ours which features two fellow Cornish teams, GDS and Launceston College who we wish the best luck.
Sunday 25 September 2011
Western Heat Arrangements
Next Sunday (2nd October) sees us traveling up to Castle Combe for the Western Regional Heat. With a decent grid place under our belt from Merryfield, we will be using Castle Combe as a bit of a gamble, pushing our gearing a bit further. We will definatly go faster but there is a real risk of coming up short and draining the batteries too quickly. A lot more emphasis will be on the drivers to take smooth lines and efficiently avoid traffic but I am confident they can manage it.
For those of you who want to join us, Castle Combe is just off the M4 between Bath and Chippenham and is well signposted from Junction 17. The schedule for the day is as follows:
0730 - Teams arrive and sign on
0815 - Scrutineering opens
0900 - Team briefing 1
0930 to 1030 - Practice
1040 - Team briefing 2
1100 to 1230 - F24+ race
1300 to 1700 - F24 race
11730 - Prize giving
This is the last chance for teams to qualify so the field will be packed with cars desperate to put some great milages in, 57 cars have signed up for the race, including Megazord, the team that has finished one place ahead of us in both our heats this year. Also competing is Brian, the teams favourate car (after RLR1 of course!)
For those of you who want to join us, Castle Combe is just off the M4 between Bath and Chippenham and is well signposted from Junction 17. The schedule for the day is as follows:
0730 - Teams arrive and sign on
0815 - Scrutineering opens
0900 - Team briefing 1
0930 to 1030 - Practice
1040 - Team briefing 2
1100 to 1230 - F24+ race
1300 to 1700 - F24 race
11730 - Prize giving
This is the last chance for teams to qualify so the field will be packed with cars desperate to put some great milages in, 57 cars have signed up for the race, including Megazord, the team that has finished one place ahead of us in both our heats this year. Also competing is Brian, the teams favourate car (after RLR1 of course!)
Friday 23 September 2011
Merryfield Gallery
There is now a gallery for the Somerset Heat up there in the galleries section or you can click HERE.
Much thanks needs to go to Mr. Crawley who took most of the pictures, there are some excellent ones in there and you can really get a feel for the changeable conditions on the day.
I also wanted to congratulate the team on how well they handled the open evening last night. With all three adults in the team otherwise engaged they were pretty much left to their own devices and in doing so demonstrated what a professional and independent group they really are. Well done team!
Much thanks needs to go to Mr. Crawley who took most of the pictures, there are some excellent ones in there and you can really get a feel for the changeable conditions on the day.
I also wanted to congratulate the team on how well they handled the open evening last night. With all three adults in the team otherwise engaged they were pretty much left to their own devices and in doing so demonstrated what a professional and independent group they really are. Well done team!
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Richard Lander School Open Evening 2011
This Thursday (22nd) is the school's open evening. There will be members of the team on hand all evening to talk about the car and our successes this season as well as our plans for future development.
Doors open at 5 and stay open til 8. Feel free to drop in and see us, the car and team will be in room Mr. Beech's workshop, room 115.
Doors open at 5 and stay open til 8. Feel free to drop in and see us, the car and team will be in room Mr. Beech's workshop, room 115.
Sunday 18 September 2011
RLR1 at Somerset Heat 2011
Our races just keep getting more exciting! A superb effort from the team secured our second podium of the season, bringing home a well earned bronze with the silver so tantalisingly close.
Spirits were high at 5 in the morning as the team met to make the trip up to RNAS Merryfield. With qualification for the guaranteed from our performance at Newquay, this race was all about grid position, a good performance here would move us closer to the front of the grid. We were unfortunately missing Mr Lloyd-King who is expecting a baby any time now.
After making good time on the journey, we arrived with plenty of time to set up our paddock at a leisurely pace, giving us plenty of time to walk the track, get some data and get focused for the days racing ahead of us.
With setup and practice out of the way, it was time to get settled on the grid. We were starting from the 3rd row in a race with 31 competitors, the quality of the other cars was daunting, including the current provisional pole position car, Rotary Racer. Gareth was in the driver's seat for the start, a strong driver and more than capable for the hazards of traffic that comes at the start of the race. After gaining us several places, 40 minutes later, Gareth's time was up and we were 6th.
Next up was Ben for another 40 minutes. The quality of the cars at this end of the race were proving difficult to contend with, but Ben was more than a match for them putting in our fastest lap and taking us to 4th during his run, despite the odd light shower.
With Ben's time up it was time for the long, 80 minute stint, this time going to Becky. She soon settled into a groove, keeping pace with the cars in front, slowly eating away at their lead. It was during Becky's run that the sky really opened up, the downpours were mercifully short but heavy when they came. some of the cars began to struggle with the conditions and the front runners began to bunch up (except Rotary Racer which was ahead of the pack by a country mile) but with our wide track and cool headed driver, our lap times were barely affected.
A cold and wet Becky was finally swapped out for Jacca to continue the chase for 3rd place. Our consistency paid off eventually as MPH put in a few dodgy laps allowing both Megazord and ourselves to pass, we finally had a podium place but we were closely followed by a familiar team, Hummingbird from Plymouth Girls' School.
As the race was entering the final stages, success or failure would depend on how well the teams had managed their batteries throughout the race and Megazord was struggling. At only half a lap ahead of us they made their pit stop, allowing us to take the silver medal position but we had to stop ourselves and it had to be quick if we wanted to keep the position. Unfortunatly some dodgy pit lane marshaling lead to a blocked pit lane and our hopes for 2nd were slipping away as the car stood stationary some distance from our pit crew. We finally got the car in and the team did a great pit stop but it wasn't enough and we emerged back in 3rd place by some way, Lucky for us it was Harrison behind the wheel and if anyone could catch up it was him. After putting some distance between himself and the 4th place car, sights were set on Megazord once again. With only 20 minutes or so their lead was shrinking, we were catching them! As the last few minutes of the race ebbed away we were back to within half a lap and Megazord's batteries were failing, but sadly the checkered flag came down before we could get them, all we needed was a few more seconds as they ended up crawling across the line but it was not meant to be.
The team continues to go from strength to strength and this has been our best result ever with a race distance of 85.5 miles we have jumped from 59th to 20th on the final grid. We also brought home the IMechE 'Best Engineered Car' award to add to our impressive trophy collection.
Spirits were high at 5 in the morning as the team met to make the trip up to RNAS Merryfield. With qualification for the guaranteed from our performance at Newquay, this race was all about grid position, a good performance here would move us closer to the front of the grid. We were unfortunately missing Mr Lloyd-King who is expecting a baby any time now.
After making good time on the journey, we arrived with plenty of time to set up our paddock at a leisurely pace, giving us plenty of time to walk the track, get some data and get focused for the days racing ahead of us.
With setup and practice out of the way, it was time to get settled on the grid. We were starting from the 3rd row in a race with 31 competitors, the quality of the other cars was daunting, including the current provisional pole position car, Rotary Racer. Gareth was in the driver's seat for the start, a strong driver and more than capable for the hazards of traffic that comes at the start of the race. After gaining us several places, 40 minutes later, Gareth's time was up and we were 6th.
Next up was Ben for another 40 minutes. The quality of the cars at this end of the race were proving difficult to contend with, but Ben was more than a match for them putting in our fastest lap and taking us to 4th during his run, despite the odd light shower.
With Ben's time up it was time for the long, 80 minute stint, this time going to Becky. She soon settled into a groove, keeping pace with the cars in front, slowly eating away at their lead. It was during Becky's run that the sky really opened up, the downpours were mercifully short but heavy when they came. some of the cars began to struggle with the conditions and the front runners began to bunch up (except Rotary Racer which was ahead of the pack by a country mile) but with our wide track and cool headed driver, our lap times were barely affected.
A cold and wet Becky was finally swapped out for Jacca to continue the chase for 3rd place. Our consistency paid off eventually as MPH put in a few dodgy laps allowing both Megazord and ourselves to pass, we finally had a podium place but we were closely followed by a familiar team, Hummingbird from Plymouth Girls' School.
As the race was entering the final stages, success or failure would depend on how well the teams had managed their batteries throughout the race and Megazord was struggling. At only half a lap ahead of us they made their pit stop, allowing us to take the silver medal position but we had to stop ourselves and it had to be quick if we wanted to keep the position. Unfortunatly some dodgy pit lane marshaling lead to a blocked pit lane and our hopes for 2nd were slipping away as the car stood stationary some distance from our pit crew. We finally got the car in and the team did a great pit stop but it wasn't enough and we emerged back in 3rd place by some way, Lucky for us it was Harrison behind the wheel and if anyone could catch up it was him. After putting some distance between himself and the 4th place car, sights were set on Megazord once again. With only 20 minutes or so their lead was shrinking, we were catching them! As the last few minutes of the race ebbed away we were back to within half a lap and Megazord's batteries were failing, but sadly the checkered flag came down before we could get them, all we needed was a few more seconds as they ended up crawling across the line but it was not meant to be.
The team continues to go from strength to strength and this has been our best result ever with a race distance of 85.5 miles we have jumped from 59th to 20th on the final grid. We also brought home the IMechE 'Best Engineered Car' award to add to our impressive trophy collection.
Wednesday 14 September 2011
Future Funding
Fourth blog post this week, its certainly been as busy start to the term!
A massive congratulations has to go to some of the more senior members of our team (if 15/16 can be called senior!) who have done a great job pitching our project to the Head.
Since our inception in 2007 we have run as a completely self financing project with very little funding from the school, we have only been able to run thanks to the generosity of local businesses. This has left us a bit short this year, without the necessary funding for the coming season, putting all our hard work in jeopardy.
This is when Euan, Spencer and Gemma stepped up and approached the head directly and made a Dragons' Den style pitch to secure some school funding for coming season. Inspired by the initiative of these exemplary members of the team the Head has agreed to an epic contribution of several thousand pounds over the next few years, a fantastic result that secures our project well into the future.
These 3 students are all Year 11s so they will unfortunately be leaving the team after the final in October so they will not get to enjoy the fruits of their labours, making their achievement even more impressive. Working hard for the benefit of others fits very well with the ethos of Richard Lander School and these students are fine examples of this.
Well done guys!
A massive congratulations has to go to some of the more senior members of our team (if 15/16 can be called senior!) who have done a great job pitching our project to the Head.
Since our inception in 2007 we have run as a completely self financing project with very little funding from the school, we have only been able to run thanks to the generosity of local businesses. This has left us a bit short this year, without the necessary funding for the coming season, putting all our hard work in jeopardy.
This is when Euan, Spencer and Gemma stepped up and approached the head directly and made a Dragons' Den style pitch to secure some school funding for coming season. Inspired by the initiative of these exemplary members of the team the Head has agreed to an epic contribution of several thousand pounds over the next few years, a fantastic result that secures our project well into the future.
These 3 students are all Year 11s so they will unfortunately be leaving the team after the final in October so they will not get to enjoy the fruits of their labours, making their achievement even more impressive. Working hard for the benefit of others fits very well with the ethos of Richard Lander School and these students are fine examples of this.
Well done guys!
Tuesday 13 September 2011
New Website
The Greenpower website has had a major revamp and it's looking pretty sweet. Not so sure about the yellow text on white though...
Anyway, head over to www.greenpower.co.uk to check it out!
Anyway, head over to www.greenpower.co.uk to check it out!
Monday 12 September 2011
Somerset Timing
With less than a week to go until our next race the team are getting very excited. With another regional heat run last weekend we have dropped further down the grid to 53rd and will almost certainly drop further after the northwest heat on the 15th. The weekend at Somerset however is our chance to address this and gain pack those slipped places.
If you want to join us and cheer us on directions and schedules can be found in a previous post HERE.
If you can't make it but want to keep track of our progress the live timing can be found at the following link:
http://bbk-online.net/gpt/race50.htm
If you have a smart phone or something similar here's the QR:
We are expecting a great performance at Somerset, the car has never been more ready and the team and the prepared, everything is in place for a good result.
If you want to join us and cheer us on directions and schedules can be found in a previous post HERE.
If you can't make it but want to keep track of our progress the live timing can be found at the following link:
http://bbk-online.net/gpt/race50.htm
If you have a smart phone or something similar here's the QR:
Friday 9 September 2011
Preparations for Somerset
After the long summer break we are finally back in the workshop again for some last minute fettling ahead of the next race at RNAS Merryfield in two weekends time. We have finished fitting the new 6 point harness as well as replacing the side impact foam which was looking a bit tatty. All that's left now is to set up the camber and tracking and we are ready.
For those of you who want to accompany us and cheer us on, the race schedule is as follows:
0830hrs – Teams Arrive and Sign On
0900hrs – Scrutineering Opens
0930hrs – Team Briefing 1
1030hrs – 1130hrs – Practice
1140hrs – Team Briefing 2
1200hrs – 1600hrs – Formula 24 Regional Heat
1630hrs – Prize Giving
We will be running this as a long day trip, leaving from school at 5:00 in the morning and getting back between 8 and 9 depending on how quickly the team pack up!
If you want to make your own way up head for the M5 and take junction 25 onto the A358, heading for Illminster. After about 8 miles take the left turn, sign posted for Ilton. Once on this road, follow the signs for 'Buisness Park'. RNAS Merryfield is a short distance beyond the business park. To check out the route yourself click HERE.
For those of you who want to accompany us and cheer us on, the race schedule is as follows:
0830hrs – Teams Arrive and Sign On
0900hrs – Scrutineering Opens
0930hrs – Team Briefing 1
1030hrs – 1130hrs – Practice
1140hrs – Team Briefing 2
1200hrs – 1600hrs – Formula 24 Regional Heat
1630hrs – Prize Giving
We will be running this as a long day trip, leaving from school at 5:00 in the morning and getting back between 8 and 9 depending on how quickly the team pack up!
If you want to make your own way up head for the M5 and take junction 25 onto the A358, heading for Illminster. After about 8 miles take the left turn, sign posted for Ilton. Once on this road, follow the signs for 'Buisness Park'. RNAS Merryfield is a short distance beyond the business park. To check out the route yourself click HERE.
Sunday 14 August 2011
Greenpower Article
Maurice Hamilton of Grandprix.com has written an article about Greenpower and the Season Opener from back in May. If you want to check it out hit the jump:
http://www.grandprix.com/columns/maurice-hamilton/the-next-newey.html
http://www.grandprix.com/columns/maurice-hamilton/the-next-newey.html
Friday 15 July 2011
Midseason Update
With the summer break fast approaching, I thought i would give an update of how things stand and what we will be expecting from the rest of the season. With seven of the eleven regional heats complete the qualification ladder is starting to show which cars are the ones to beat. 150 cars have competed so far and leading the table is Rotary Racer from Chipping Sodbury, 2009 champions and one of only four cars to break the 100 mile threshold so far this season. Last years most dominant car, Zebedee, has had a slow start, struggling with the new batteries perhaps, but have since shown their colours and put in a big mileage at Rockingham to put them comfortably back in the top ten.
As for us, we are guaranteed our place at this years final after our podium finish but with only the relatively slow circuit of RAF St Mawgan under our belts we are languishing down in 50th position at the moment. However, with RNAS Merryfield and Castle Combe yet to come, we hope to improve upon this massively. RLR 1 still has a lot more to give, there was plenty left in the batteries after the Newquay heat so we will give it a bit more welly at the next race in September.
Our goal for this season, as determined by team captain, Euan, is Corporate Challenge qualification. To achieve this we will have to finish in the top 15 at the National Final @ Goodwood, an ambitious target but one we think the team can really pull out of the bag. The current team is working magnificently and the recent modifications to the car have released so much of her previously unused potential, the future looks bright, the future is Richard Lander Racing!
As for us, we are guaranteed our place at this years final after our podium finish but with only the relatively slow circuit of RAF St Mawgan under our belts we are languishing down in 50th position at the moment. However, with RNAS Merryfield and Castle Combe yet to come, we hope to improve upon this massively. RLR 1 still has a lot more to give, there was plenty left in the batteries after the Newquay heat so we will give it a bit more welly at the next race in September.
Our goal for this season, as determined by team captain, Euan, is Corporate Challenge qualification. To achieve this we will have to finish in the top 15 at the National Final @ Goodwood, an ambitious target but one we think the team can really pull out of the bag. The current team is working magnificently and the recent modifications to the car have released so much of her previously unused potential, the future looks bright, the future is Richard Lander Racing!
Friday 1 July 2011
Qualification Ladder 2011
Over on the Greenpower website they have just published the qualification ladder for this year. With several regional heats yet to race this list will change over the next few months but it can be found here:
http://www.greenpower.co.uk/uploads/Qualification_Table_30.6.11.pdf
The top 3 teams from each heat qualify automatically and the remaining places are made up by sorting the cars in order of distance covered. We are currently sitting in 30th position but hope to climb up the rankings by putting in some big milages at the more open tracks in the autumn. The position in this table also becomes the grid position in the final so getting high in the list is now our priority now that our qualification is guaranteed.
http://www.greenpower.co.uk/uploads/Qualification_Table_30.6.11.pdf
The top 3 teams from each heat qualify automatically and the remaining places are made up by sorting the cars in order of distance covered. We are currently sitting in 30th position but hope to climb up the rankings by putting in some big milages at the more open tracks in the autumn. The position in this table also becomes the grid position in the final so getting high in the list is now our priority now that our qualification is guaranteed.
Tuesday 28 June 2011
Back in the Workshop
Now that the car is back in the workshop we can finally survey the damage from the race last Thursday.
Most of the damage has come from the collision with the Penair car, both right hand wheels are buckled and will have to be trued, right brake disc is coated in a melted layer of solar film and the left hand front axle is bent from where it was forced into the cones.
There are also a few bumps and scrapes which will need attention as well, the rear cowling needs a touch up where it hit the road after flying off mid-race as well as a new fixing system! The seat back also has a crack in it which we will replace before it has a chance to fail.
Our next race will be The Somerset Heat @ RNAS Merryfield on the 17th September 2011, this sounds like its a long way off but it only works out to be four weeks of school time so we had better get to work!
On a more recreational note, the team will be going karting next week as a well done for their awesome performance at the heat last week. The level of professionalism and Independence shown by the team is one of the reasons that Richard Lander Racing is such a great flagship project for the school.
Most of the damage has come from the collision with the Penair car, both right hand wheels are buckled and will have to be trued, right brake disc is coated in a melted layer of solar film and the left hand front axle is bent from where it was forced into the cones.
There are also a few bumps and scrapes which will need attention as well, the rear cowling needs a touch up where it hit the road after flying off mid-race as well as a new fixing system! The seat back also has a crack in it which we will replace before it has a chance to fail.
Our next race will be The Somerset Heat @ RNAS Merryfield on the 17th September 2011, this sounds like its a long way off but it only works out to be four weeks of school time so we had better get to work!
On a more recreational note, the team will be going karting next week as a well done for their awesome performance at the heat last week. The level of professionalism and Independence shown by the team is one of the reasons that Richard Lander Racing is such a great flagship project for the school.
Thursday 23 June 2011
Southwest Heat 2011
This years heat has got to have been the most exciting race we have driven in. The three top teams, Penair's Blue Raptor, Bristol Grammar's Megazord and our own RLR1, were so evenly matched that the race could have been any body's. The day started off with scrutineering, now made so much simpler with the new MOT system which we passed with ease, allowing plenty of time for practice. Mr Lloyd-King's gear prediction turned out to be right on the money, but some issues with chain tension and some significant play in the steering meant a super quick fettling session before the race itself began.
First in the driving seat was Gareth, one of our best (but maybe not the luckiest!) drivers to set the pace. It soon became clear who the top contenders were and at the end of Gareth's run the team pulled out an excellent pit stop to keep us in with the front runners.
Next up was our newest driver, Becky, who had better lap times round our astroturf than any of the boys! With open track in front of her she was lighting quick. Her inexperience lead to some hesitation around traffic in her first few laps and a penalty for aggressive driving but she soon got into a groove and stayed hot on the heals of the leaders.
Our battery strategy meant the next stint would be a long one so it had to be Harrison to take us to the half way point and beyond. RLR1 is built for speed and not comfort so and extended driving stint is a bit of an ordeal but Harrison put in some excellent, consistent laps, despite loosing the rear cowling along the way, gaining the lead as the two front runners pitted.
To keep the position, the team now had to pit in record time. Harrison was replaced by Ben, the batteries were changed and the car was back out in the premier spot by a hair's breadth. The top three cars, with ourselves in the lead all went diving into the second corner which was already crowded with slower cars. As Ben tried to take the inside line, he was cut up by the Penair car, forcing him off the track and causing some spectacular wheel damage, putting us out for a good 9-10 laps while we repaired the wheel and brake caliper. From defending first place we had dropped down to third and Plymouth School's Hummingbird was right behind us, trying hard to deny us our qualifying place.
After Ben saw out the last of his time, the car had one last pit stop and Jacca finally got behind the wheel. After a bit of a ropey start, he finally got the car going and did enough to see off the challenge from Plymouth School, bringing the car home safely in third place and guaranteeing our place at Goodwood in October.
The team has gone from strength to strength this season and once again they can be extremely proud of their performance. Their tenacity and determination is exemplary, when it looked like our race was over and our chance had gone they got the car back out there and earned their qualifying place. The staff at Greenpower also recognised this, awarding us the Spirit of Greenpower award.
Well done team!
First in the driving seat was Gareth, one of our best (but maybe not the luckiest!) drivers to set the pace. It soon became clear who the top contenders were and at the end of Gareth's run the team pulled out an excellent pit stop to keep us in with the front runners.
Next up was our newest driver, Becky, who had better lap times round our astroturf than any of the boys! With open track in front of her she was lighting quick. Her inexperience lead to some hesitation around traffic in her first few laps and a penalty for aggressive driving but she soon got into a groove and stayed hot on the heals of the leaders.
Our battery strategy meant the next stint would be a long one so it had to be Harrison to take us to the half way point and beyond. RLR1 is built for speed and not comfort so and extended driving stint is a bit of an ordeal but Harrison put in some excellent, consistent laps, despite loosing the rear cowling along the way, gaining the lead as the two front runners pitted.
To keep the position, the team now had to pit in record time. Harrison was replaced by Ben, the batteries were changed and the car was back out in the premier spot by a hair's breadth. The top three cars, with ourselves in the lead all went diving into the second corner which was already crowded with slower cars. As Ben tried to take the inside line, he was cut up by the Penair car, forcing him off the track and causing some spectacular wheel damage, putting us out for a good 9-10 laps while we repaired the wheel and brake caliper. From defending first place we had dropped down to third and Plymouth School's Hummingbird was right behind us, trying hard to deny us our qualifying place.
After Ben saw out the last of his time, the car had one last pit stop and Jacca finally got behind the wheel. After a bit of a ropey start, he finally got the car going and did enough to see off the challenge from Plymouth School, bringing the car home safely in third place and guaranteeing our place at Goodwood in October.
The team has gone from strength to strength this season and once again they can be extremely proud of their performance. Their tenacity and determination is exemplary, when it looked like our race was over and our chance had gone they got the car back out there and earned their qualifying place. The staff at Greenpower also recognised this, awarding us the Spirit of Greenpower award.
Well done team!
Monday 20 June 2011
Live Timing
For all those who can't make it on Thursday you can still keep up with our progress on the Greenpower live timing website. The address is www.bbk-online.net/gpt/race28.htm and is updated in real time as the race progresses.
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Back on the Road, Well Almost!
With the Southwest Regional Heat approaching fast (23rd June, be there!) the car is almost back together after the major overhaul that's been going on since we got back from Silverstone. The most striking new feature is the new slimline look,
This has been done to save both weight and rolling resistance and with a track of over 600mm should have a minimal practical effect on stability. Other weight/resistance savings have been made in the drive train. We have switched from two cantilevered axles to a single transaxle at the rear which has let us get rid of two bearings and their supports. We have also simplified our drive train by removing the CVT gearbox, replacing it with just a regular cassette hub to act as a lay shaft. This has saved us loads of weight and resistance but we do lose out on flexibility on the the track with only a single gear.
The brakes are now mounted on the front wheels. The regulations demand two wheels be independently braked so we have had to mount them up front. This means we take a bit of an aerodynamic hit but this is more than made up for by the weight savings at the back.
The car has also had an aesthetic spruce up with a new coat of paint and brand new decals, just to finish her off properly. There are still a few more tweaks and nudges left to do this afternoon but she should be ready for a pre-race shake down at the end of the day.
This has been done to save both weight and rolling resistance and with a track of over 600mm should have a minimal practical effect on stability. Other weight/resistance savings have been made in the drive train. We have switched from two cantilevered axles to a single transaxle at the rear which has let us get rid of two bearings and their supports. We have also simplified our drive train by removing the CVT gearbox, replacing it with just a regular cassette hub to act as a lay shaft. This has saved us loads of weight and resistance but we do lose out on flexibility on the the track with only a single gear.
The brakes are now mounted on the front wheels. The regulations demand two wheels be independently braked so we have had to mount them up front. This means we take a bit of an aerodynamic hit but this is more than made up for by the weight savings at the back.
The car has also had an aesthetic spruce up with a new coat of paint and brand new decals, just to finish her off properly. There are still a few more tweaks and nudges left to do this afternoon but she should be ready for a pre-race shake down at the end of the day.
Sunday 12 June 2011
Details for Newquay 2011
The Southwest Regional Heat is now less than a fortnight away and the team are cracking on well with preparations to the car which have included some pretty hefty modifications, I will give some more details in the next post but for now I will pass on the schedule for the day at RAF St Mawgan on the 23rd June:
0900 - Teams arrive and sign on
0930 - Scrutineering opens
1000 - Team briefing
1030 to 1130 - Practice
1200 to 1600 - Race
1630 - Prize giving
This is an open event so anyone can come and spectate. For those who need them, here are the directions, please note that there is no access through the main gates at RAF St Mawgan, we use one of the side entrances:
0900 - Teams arrive and sign on
0930 - Scrutineering opens
1000 - Team briefing
1030 to 1130 - Practice
1200 to 1600 - Race
1630 - Prize giving
This is an open event so anyone can come and spectate. For those who need them, here are the directions, please note that there is no access through the main gates at RAF St Mawgan, we use one of the side entrances:
- From A30 at St Dennis roundabout join A39
- At the second roundabout take the first exit on the A3059
- Continue on the A3059 for approximately 5 miles then turn right, following signs for RAF St Mawgan
- Go straight past the main gates to RAF St Mawgan, the crash gates are a short distance further along the road. Marshals will be on hand to direct you from the crash gates.
Friday 10 June 2011
New Sponsors
Thanks to the networking prowess of Gareth's Dad we now have several new sponsors to add to our growing family. Both Brandon Tool Hire and Cornwall Feature Developments have provided us with financial assistance, our team is wholly funded by the generosity of local businesses and individuals so we are always extremely grateful for the help we receive, it really does keep our team running.
Friday 20 May 2011
More Modifications
With the experience of the Season Opener under our belts and now knowing how we will be affected by the battery change, the team have been making some modifications to the car to improve the performance ahead of our local qualifying race in June.
One of the major changes, due to the overall reduction in speed is that aerodynamics has become slightly less important but weight has become more important. With this in mind we have put the car on a crash diet. We have removed as much material as possable from the rear sub frame without compromising its strength. This includes the replacement of the cantilevered drive shafts with a single through axle.
This allows us to remove two bearing blocks and theirssupports from the frame but it does mean moving the braking system to the front wheels. One of our kind sponsors, Teagle, have offered to make our new steering assemblies which will now include the necessary mounting points for the brake calipers and also give us much more control over the precise geometry of the steering system.
While the car has been stripped down the team have also been working on the surface finish. We are trying to get a perfectly smooth finish to reduce turbulence as the air flows over the surface. With only a few weeks left until our next race we will have to get cracking to get all these mods completed but we will be working every lunchtime until the car is back on its wheels once more.
One of the major changes, due to the overall reduction in speed is that aerodynamics has become slightly less important but weight has become more important. With this in mind we have put the car on a crash diet. We have removed as much material as possable from the rear sub frame without compromising its strength. This includes the replacement of the cantilevered drive shafts with a single through axle.
This allows us to remove two bearing blocks and theirssupports from the frame but it does mean moving the braking system to the front wheels. One of our kind sponsors, Teagle, have offered to make our new steering assemblies which will now include the necessary mounting points for the brake calipers and also give us much more control over the precise geometry of the steering system.
While the car has been stripped down the team have also been working on the surface finish. We are trying to get a perfectly smooth finish to reduce turbulence as the air flows over the surface. With only a few weeks left until our next race we will have to get cracking to get all these mods completed but we will be working every lunchtime until the car is back on its wheels once more.
Monday 2 May 2011
Season Opener 2011
This weekend saw another great event for the team here at Richard Lander Racing. What a great opportunity it was to be racing at the home of British motorsport, Silverstone.
After some last minute fettling on Saturday we were finally on the road and managed to get to the track in good time, time enough in fact to watch the last laps of day from some awesome sports cars, a great education for the drivers on what lines they should be taking when it was their turn the following day.
Sunday morning began with the now traditional egg and bacon breakfast and then it was on the track. The pits were a much more professional affair than we are used to, we had an enormous garage all to ourselves but we quickly made it feel like home with our flags and banners.
After a nerve-wracking time at scrutineering (the new system is certainly thorough!) and Jacca taking the car out for some practice time, it was on to the race. First out was Harrison, our own version of the Stig, who put in some very consistant lap times around the 5:30 region, almost exactly as predicted. A driver change at the half hour mark got Ben out on the track but no sooner had he made it out he was called back in by the marshals. A problem with the car's transponder cost us a couple of laps but the team handled it brilliantly, they stayed calm, took control and got the car back out as soon as the yellow coats stopped faffing around with the only part of they car they are responsible for!
A few more laps from Ben and it was then Gareth's turn to see out the last few joules from the batteries. With very little left in them, speed was way down but we had our most consistant driver in to make the most of it. A recurring issue with the drive shaft saw our batts empty 10 minutes early but we had done enough to claim 28th place from a field of 45, a great result for the first race with the uncertainty of the new batteries.
The team can be proud of their performance and they have shown a level of independence that we have not seen before from any of our greenpower teams. This team and this car certainly have a great future ahead of them and we will see what they come up with at our next race at RAF St Mawgan in June.
After some last minute fettling on Saturday we were finally on the road and managed to get to the track in good time, time enough in fact to watch the last laps of day from some awesome sports cars, a great education for the drivers on what lines they should be taking when it was their turn the following day.
Sunday morning began with the now traditional egg and bacon breakfast and then it was on the track. The pits were a much more professional affair than we are used to, we had an enormous garage all to ourselves but we quickly made it feel like home with our flags and banners.
After a nerve-wracking time at scrutineering (the new system is certainly thorough!) and Jacca taking the car out for some practice time, it was on to the race. First out was Harrison, our own version of the Stig, who put in some very consistant lap times around the 5:30 region, almost exactly as predicted. A driver change at the half hour mark got Ben out on the track but no sooner had he made it out he was called back in by the marshals. A problem with the car's transponder cost us a couple of laps but the team handled it brilliantly, they stayed calm, took control and got the car back out as soon as the yellow coats stopped faffing around with the only part of they car they are responsible for!
A few more laps from Ben and it was then Gareth's turn to see out the last few joules from the batteries. With very little left in them, speed was way down but we had our most consistant driver in to make the most of it. A recurring issue with the drive shaft saw our batts empty 10 minutes early but we had done enough to claim 28th place from a field of 45, a great result for the first race with the uncertainty of the new batteries.
The team can be proud of their performance and they have shown a level of independence that we have not seen before from any of our greenpower teams. This team and this car certainly have a great future ahead of them and we will see what they come up with at our next race at RAF St Mawgan in June.
Saturday 2 April 2011
Preparations for Silverstone
The first race of the season is only a few weeks away and things are starting to get a little tense here at Richard Lander Racing! Our new gear hubs have arrived, thanks to the immense generosity of the guys at Fallbrook, and have been fitted and the datalogging system is pretty much complete also. there should even be time for a quick test session over at RAF Portreath after the Easter holiday just to bed everything in and get the drivers a few more hours behind the wheel.
The Season Opener is on 1st May and will be the first Greenpower event to be held at Silverstone. With the Corporate challenge being held on the same day it will be a great weekend of racing. Entry for spectators is free so feel free to make your own way up or join us in convoy on Saturday morning. We will be leaving from school at 9:00 and camping at Silverstone on the Saturday night. Make sure you bring an inflatable or camp bed as Silverstone doesn't have the best camping facilities!
The schedule for race day is then as follows:
The Season Opener is on 1st May and will be the first Greenpower event to be held at Silverstone. With the Corporate challenge being held on the same day it will be a great weekend of racing. Entry for spectators is free so feel free to make your own way up or join us in convoy on Saturday morning. We will be leaving from school at 9:00 and camping at Silverstone on the Saturday night. Make sure you bring an inflatable or camp bed as Silverstone doesn't have the best camping facilities!
The schedule for race day is then as follows:
- 0730 - Teams sign in
- 0815 - Scrutineering
- 0845 - Team briefing 1
- 0930 to 1030 - Practice
- 1040 - Team briefing 2
- 1110 to 1230 - Season Opener Race
- 1330 to 1730 - Corporate Challenge Race
- 1800 - Awards ceremonies
Thursday 17 March 2011
Good, then bad, then AWESOME!
The Good - It's been a busy week at Richard Lander Racing. We have finished work on the electrics, the bodywork, the datalogger, the steering and we have even built a rolling road type test rig. With all this complete we got the car up and running on the rig with all the cowlings removed. This however exposed a major problem...
The Bad - as Mr Arney was inspecting the drive chain during testing he suddenly noticed he was getting splattered by some sort of fluid. This turned out to be the transmission fluid from the NuVinci hub. Turns out we may have been spinning it too fast and fluid has been escaping from the seals. The fluid turns out to a custom component and therefore irreplaceable. It was looking like we were about to take a massive financial hit...
The AWESOME - Mr Lloyd-King got to it and made contact with Fallbrook in the USA, the manufacturers of the NuVinci hubs, and told them about our problem hoping they would give us some advice on how to repair it. Their response totally blew us away, they were so interested in the whole project that they are sending us out not one but two replacements! America really is the home of customer service. Thanks to this amazing level of generosity we will be back on the road with minimal downtime. For those who want to know more about Fallbrook and the great piece of engineering that is the NuVinci hub click HERE.
The Bad - as Mr Arney was inspecting the drive chain during testing he suddenly noticed he was getting splattered by some sort of fluid. This turned out to be the transmission fluid from the NuVinci hub. Turns out we may have been spinning it too fast and fluid has been escaping from the seals. The fluid turns out to a custom component and therefore irreplaceable. It was looking like we were about to take a massive financial hit...
The AWESOME - Mr Lloyd-King got to it and made contact with Fallbrook in the USA, the manufacturers of the NuVinci hubs, and told them about our problem hoping they would give us some advice on how to repair it. Their response totally blew us away, they were so interested in the whole project that they are sending us out not one but two replacements! America really is the home of customer service. Thanks to this amazing level of generosity we will be back on the road with minimal downtime. For those who want to know more about Fallbrook and the great piece of engineering that is the NuVinci hub click HERE.
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Nearly There...
The car is so close to being ready to test, the team has been working hard on several parts of the car at the same time in an attempt to get the car fully functional again and ready for testing after half term. The new electronics system is almost complete, the speed controller being replaced by a more simple relay, although I'm still trying to change the teams mind on this! We have also upgraded to more heavy duty cable which is important due to our long cable run.
At the same time, some of the team have been working on the steering column and tie rods. This too has had some tweaks, the column length has lost about an inch and the whole assembly has been moved forward to meet the new solid bulkhead. This will give us a much more ergonomically positioned steering wheel as well as giving more room to get larger drivers in and out.
The car had picked up a few war wounds in its maiden season and some of the team had been working on this as well. The most damaged parts were the foam sections, the nose cone and the rear cowling picking up plenty of dings between them. A few hours with some surfboard repair paste and a fair bit of sanding and they are both ready for a fresh lick of paint and new vinyl graphics.
At the same time, some of the team have been working on the steering column and tie rods. This too has had some tweaks, the column length has lost about an inch and the whole assembly has been moved forward to meet the new solid bulkhead. This will give us a much more ergonomically positioned steering wheel as well as giving more room to get larger drivers in and out.
The car had picked up a few war wounds in its maiden season and some of the team had been working on this as well. The most damaged parts were the foam sections, the nose cone and the rear cowling picking up plenty of dings between them. A few hours with some surfboard repair paste and a fair bit of sanding and they are both ready for a fresh lick of paint and new vinyl graphics.
Tuesday 18 January 2011
The New Bulkhead Is In
The team got to grips with the new battery bulkhead today, having glued on the cedar fillets last week they fitted it to the car this evening. We used the animal glue again, just as we did with the original bulkheads, which has been a great oppertunity to introduce the new members of the team to the 'unique' smell of molten hooves!
We are hoping to get the front axle in place by Thursday evening so that the car looks roughly car shaped for the Year 9 options evening, an ambitious task, but I'm pretty sure the guys are up for it. At this rate we should get all the mods done by half term, leaving us shedloads of time to catch up with our friends over at our test spot at RAF Portreath.
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