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Welcome to Dallara398.com

Welcome!  We compete in the UK’s Monoposto Championship, which is intended to allow older single seater race cars to be used by ordinary people with sensible budgets. In 2007 we began our single seater racing career with a 1998 Reynard 883 Formula 3 car, and learnt very quickly that it’s not easy to be competitive. Championship wins followed in 2008 (Reynard), 2010 and 2011 (Dallara F398), and our next challenge awaits.

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Standings

1Tristan CLIFFE175 (186)
2Malcolm SCOTT118
3Anthony BISHOP65
4Antonio IMPIERI64
5Richard PURCELL52
6Graham READ40
7Steve PATANIA34
8Tony COTTON34

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Racing at Brands Hatch Indy

Brands Hatch Indy, Rounds 4/5 – May 2011

I’ll expand on this brief report shortly.

Saturday

Leading the pack

Qualified on pole by a clear second on a very warm day. Track temperatures were so high that conventional tyre pressures were too much, altering the handling later in the session. Richard Purcell was 2nd, Tony Bishop was 3rd in the other Omicron car.

In the race I had a clear run into the first corner, and was able to control the pace of the race and win comfortably by 8 seconds. Kourosh Khani in the Samier Formula Renault proved that a reasonable driver can make the Renault go quickly, surely putting to rest any arguments about car parity, by finishing 2nd. Malcolm Scott improved his Dallara to be 3rd, whilst Richard Purcell failed to finish after a misfire left him down on power.

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Replay XD Series Brochure 2011 Page_1

New HD Bullet Camera (updated)

Stable Imaging Solutions have released their latest additions to the bullet camera market, with two HD cameras joining forces with their existing SD camera. All three are small, lightweight, cylindrical and metal bodied, which should allow for easier mounting without wobbles and vibration. The 1080p version has an HDMI output for live viewing on a TV screen (or playback), and both new models will have a data interface to allow some dataloggers to control it, or the use of a remote on/off control. I think they look wonderful and far superior to the ContourHD and GoPro HD alternatives… The 1080 version will sell for US$299.99.  We have two on pre-order, and can’t wait to fit them to our Monoposto cars.

Replay XD Series Brochure 2011 Page_1 Replay XD Series Brochure 2011 Page_2

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Autosport Log

Autosport Golden Helmet

At the time of writing, and according to the 14th April 2011 edition of Autosport magazine, I am ninth in the Golden Helmet award – this is a table of winners from club racing. The rules require a minimum of 6 starters in the class, and outright wins take precedence over class wins in the event of a tie.  Adam Sharpe is currently top, in a BMW M3, with four outright wins. I’m 9th with 2 outright wins and one class win.  Still, not bad to have some more recognition!!!

Golden Helmet Table, April 14th 2011

Autosport magazine, April 14th 2011

onboard

Donington Video – Qualifying on Pole

This is a short video of my pole position qualifying lap at Donington on Sunday 3rd April 2011. It is quite easily my best lap in a racing car, though it was far from perfect. Only Anglesey 2010, when I managed to muscle a misfiring car around like a go-kart to pole position comes close.  Do enjoy it.  And if anyone has videos or datalogging they want me to look at for my two-pennies worth of advice, then get in touch, I’ll be happy to help if I can.

 

Omicron Motorsport's 2011 Line Up

So much to catch up on…

Apologies to those that actually visit this site in the vain hope that I’ll write something. I’ve been meaning to for months, but never actually finished writing a post. I have several drafts, but by the time I get anywhere near finishing it it’s out of date. So the quietness has continued. Hopefully until now (if I finish this!).

Tony's tub in primerThe last time I wrote about the cars we were just reassembling the new car for Tony Bishop. Well, that car is now complete, and has been raced at the last two meetings of the 2011 championship.

Once the car was finished, and seats were made, and engines were dyno’d and mapped etcetera, Tony had a test day at Snetterton on the 2nd March. Most things seemed to work quite well, despite old tyres and being new to H-pattern gear changes, and Tony's car nearing completionTony was getting more and more comfortable in the car. A few things that weren’t good enough we’re noted to be fixed, one of which was the gear change that Tony was finding very awkward. Alas, during the penultimate session of the day, Tony accidentally shifted from 4th to 3rd rather than 5th; the revs jumped to 8500rpm, the valves touch the pistons, and an overhaul was needed.

In the two weeks between that test and the first race the engine was fixed, and more stuff was done to the car, partly to improve stuff that was discovered in the test, and partly to implement stuff that we didn’t have time to do properly during the proper rebuild. But we finished the car, and arrived at Snetterton for the first meeting of the year.

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Snetterton 300

Snetterton 300 Corner Names

 

MotorSportVision have, today, published the new names for the Snetterton 300 circuit after the massive winter upgrades.  I don’t like them. I think they chose the office moron to pick from a list of names supplied by the public (well known for being collectively stupid).  Hamilton corner? What’s he done, other than not win championships and annoy people? And in preference to British greats such as Moss, Hunt, Mansell, Clark, Courage etc etc?  I think not.  I also didn’t like the two names at the Esses, or the choice of names for the new hairpin at Sear, the new bend instead of Russell Chicane etc.

So I spent 4 minutes (and I’m sure better names could be thought of in about an hour) renaming the corners I took offence to.

I’m aware I need to write some more news on here, but I’ve been so busy getting two cars ready over the winter that I simply haven’t had time… Sorry.

Edit: Whilst I was and am aware that Russells should be called Russell, I’ve always thought the old official name was Russell Chicane. Not being a chicane anymore, I thought it sounded better as Russells. But a friend has informed me that the official name was always Russell Bend, and so it should be. So ignore where I’ve called it Russells.

MSV's Names for Snetterton 300 corners
MSV’s Names
My Names for Snetterton 300's corners
My Version

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