You had some real competition there, very respectable performance!
Re clutch, it sounds like you're at the limit, probably time to step up to the race clutch. I've also found that some of the new stock pressure plates don't have the same pressure as the OEM, ie lighter.
Yes the race clutch is a "switch" but nowheres as bad as folks make it out to be. I wouldn't be concerned too much about shock loads on the driveline but the idling around in the paddock, downtown parades, loading on the trailer are valid concerns cuz you don't have as much modulation.
You would get used to it in no time though.
Glen
Thanks, Glen - it was fun for a while but the finish looks better on paper. I was gridded third, and Jim Dolan in the Group 44 GT6 and Tony Drews (TR4) and I were having a phenomenal race for third. Tony is great at braking really late and diving into the turns, and I also feel great that an old SCCA club car that I maintain can run with the group 44 GT6. There were a number of place changes and I was biding my time waiting for someone to make a mistake - then on about lap 7, I did a 3-4 shift and watched the tach rev more quickly than normal. After that, I couldn't apply full power on the 2-3 or 3-4 shifts as the clutch slipped every time. I held 5th place, as there was a good gap between us and the rest of the pack, but my lap times went up about 5 seconds.
I run a stock diaphragm and a heavy duty disc. I think the new engine build this year has found the next weak link, and more power necessitates a better clutch. I haven't pulled it apart yet, but there's no oil leakage on the bell housing and I suspect it's just a power issue.
Question for you - I would consider going to a quartermaster or similar steel flywheel, smaller clutch, etc, but am concerned that a true racing clutch with a solid center disc is going to be more of an on-off switch, and I worry about the jolt to the differential, which fails every 3-4 years anyway. That, plus as you know the typical vintage event requires poking around the paddock through pedestrians - hard enough with the close ratio gears and I'm slipping it a fair amount below 20-25 mph anyway in 1st.
Suggestions? Can I make a racing clutch work? Will I burn it out quickly with slippage? I like the idea of the lower rotating mass,(though I do run an aluminum flywheel, I think one of these would still cut it down), but am worried about other consequences.
Scott
It looks like you got a well-deserved 5th overall in the K-Cup & had a great race, and some tough competition!
Glen
The Kastner Cup race is at the Pittsburgh Vintage race weekend at Pittrace next weekend - great track north of Pittsburgh. Looks like we will have over 30 Triumphs racing, and the Western Pa Triumph Association turns out a great crowd of street cars. Lots of other good racing too. Weather is looking good. Check out the racer list. scroll down for the Kastner Cup list, which includes a Group 44 GT6 and a Kastner GT6 - fantastic GT6 turnout. http://www.pvgp.org/2018-historics-race-entries/
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