Down to 2 choices

Yokohama A048 VS Bridgestone RE55s

Some driver of a Lotus Exege in Japan written a wonderful blog on it. I grab the best part of it

５５Ｓの秘めたるパワーとは・・・それは縦方向のグリップ力である。技術論については情報不足でご免なさいなのであるが、０４８は縦横どちらかといえば横方向のグリップ力に勝り、５５Ｓは縦方向へのグリップ力に勝ると言われる。

サーキットとすてきなクルマ＆仲間たち - HAL ! 【 みんカラ 】 ブログ

That translate to the 55S secret is on its power related,... as the longitudinal forces/grip is far more superior. And the 048 has a better balance on transverse and longitudinal grip but the transverse grip is far superior.

Then I interpret it as that....

• A048 has more transverse grip, faster corner speed.
• But RE55s may have better stopping power.
• Putting power is combination of both directions of grip so I think they may be the same.
• So if I have new pads than it is ok right? Also I will be racing in Winton for the Nats, which the new slicks are for.
• Winton is far easy on brakes than another other track I have ever been.  

I think I am very much leaning towards A048.... decision decision!

Choosing my S-tyre

S tyre (aka R-spec tyre, semi slicks) is my vital part of the circuit time attack. I have been using the Bridgeston RE55S in 245/40-18, SR2 version. This S tyre is rated from time attack (short or long) to league racing. So the SR compound hit up quick but last very long, which is an all round tyre.

It is criticial to choose the tyre I am going to run at the National, and I found now the compound I am going to use too. It must last long, since I have to make it last the whole 2 days. So soft compound is out and there will be too much testing to do. There is a big group of A048 fan in Japan, and most of the trackkies in Japan are running A048, and not much are running Bridgestone. I really do not know why.

The choice for trackkies in Victoria is very clear. Most people are running Bridgestone or Toyo. It merely because Bridgestone (RE55S) is 2/3 of the price of the Dunlop D03G and Yokohama A048. But I do not find any evidence of the Dunlop and Yoko being a superior tyre. Japanese have in their blog saying that A048 does not last as long as the RE55S. Would that because they chose the wrong tyre?

I will track back to this thread once I have more info but so far I have the official site only.

Bridgestone RE55S, Dunlop D03G, and Yokohama A048. I am leaning on Dunlop at this stage.

Two track day for the price of one

We went to Broadford motorcycle complex to have a track day with driverdynamics. It is a well run day. Kevin brought the rain with them in the morning and we have quite a good sliding run. Then the sun dried the track completely to have the best run of the day for me. I did a 1"09.83 which is 0.57 up from my best last time. I, in fact, did 2 laps of 1.09 which is amazing. There are improvement to be make... like putting a tubro kit in. (just kidding)

Design your own money!

Yes it is plastic money. It is a major sucker for someone like us, isn't it? Putting your beautiful machine on the card. I am tempted to put myself on it actually.

 
www.designmycard.com.au

Does it give more incentive to use the card? Or it will be too precious to be used in the C/C machine?

The new bumper guard put on and glued (笑)

The tape is in and black silicon has to put in from the back to let it set for 24-48 hours. The gap will never be perfect since the edge of the middle has changed shape from the heat. We can only do the best we can. Should not have pull the melted plastic out and we have have a chance to remould it (淚).

Once I took it off the guard is glued well to the middle portion and the lower bumper. But you can still see considerable gap in the bottom part.

Who said Shelly No More Gaps is useful ... liar
 

A retrospect embarrassment

I don't like to speak of my stupidity on the day. This happened about 3 weeks ago before the EXE track day. I just want to change the parker light, thinking it is easy done since I have done it so many times. Here I go and pop, the socket holding the parking bulb (a W5W or 194) came out nicely. The trouble was the bulb is lost.... in the casing! In an attempt to save my embarrassment, I try to get it via a stick, a chopstick and even put the Bluetek into the socket, trying to stick it out. And GUESS WHAT! The bluetek went in as well. Shit .

\

 

I use a lot of instruments, even those from my lab does not work. I knew I had to go to Nelson for it. He uses a flexible pick up tool to get it and take it out within a minute... fuk.

I swear if these LED go too soon, I will go back to Bluevision.

RX-8 Engine (13B-MSP) Miniature model

 

I just brought this recently. It is very well made and has a clear exhaust port to tell people what MSP stands for. It is a 6 port engine with one housing. You prob has to buy 2 to make an RX-8 haha. But it turns and have 2 fake but clear marked spark plug (*leading - L and trailing - T).