8/6/06 Donington on new springs.

Changing front springs on an XJ-S is the stuff of legends. I removed the sports springs from the 3.6 car by unbolting the lower spring pan whilst it was held up on a jack (the first method recommended on the forums). THis is near lethal and there is no way you can replace a spring this way without damaging threads. I fitted said springs to the racer by undoing the upper ball joint and allowing the lower wishbone to hinge down fully (the second method recommended on the forums). This is also near lethal and getting the spring in is a 'non-trivial matter' involving long levers and swearing. But in the end it worked.

I also finally got round to tunneling through the layers of metal behind the headlights to get the cold air intake piped up, its amazing what you can achieve with a chisel and a really big hammer. At the moment i have only got 2 inch pipes (heater ducting left over from stripping the interior), at some point the metal may be further excavated for bigger pipes.

Donington is just superb. The circuit seemed to really suit the car and with the new front springs in and a working gearbox i had a lot more confidence. The only problem was camping at the track under the take off flight path from East Midlands airport!

As usual the club members made a very helpful and friendly atmosphere, we set up between the Ulph camp and Bruce Cologne-Brooks who is a fellow devonian. Which is a good thing.

Qualifying went well, i took it easy for a few laps then pressed on whilst i was alone, it wasn't long before i was being lapped but it seemed a bit slippery and several people spun off. At one point as i came out of redgate drifting nicely there was a thick dust cloud left by someone's off roading, i couldn't see through it so i accelerated hard on the off chance that it was clear. Which it was.

The race was equally eventful and about mid distance a car spun right in front of me as we turned into the Esses. I had a bad start an was last into the first corner but managed to get past a couple of cars by half time (I am rubbish at overtaking), however the gap between me and the next chap was about half a lap so i didn't get any further. Looking at pictures afterwards it seems that i am still driving very conservatively and using about 80% of the track. So lots of work to be done there. Having said that i have completely melted the front left tyre.

All in all it was an excellent event and the feeling you get going flat out through the Crainer curves is awesome. Like a supercharged roller coaster with a V12 soundtrack. I am hooked.

I still haven't changed the diff, i hope to get this sorted for Brands and also fit a rear anti roll bar.

For all the people who came up to say hello, thanks and i hope to see you at the next event.