Had an absolute blast yesterday, took the AllPaw Monaro out to the Collingrove Hillclimb come and try day. (you tube it for some pretty good vids of the track) It is a narrow winding 700 meter run up a small hill, and what a blast it was. Could finally push the car and find its limits that you would never really be able to on the street. Was able to induce some understeer when the car was pushed to its limit, but not something you would ever get close to on the street.
Now for the times, but a bit of background. I have never run this track before, hell I have never even done a track day before. I was up against a HSV GTO 6 litre auto, Mafless tune with slicks. He has run the course on at least 5 occasions with 6 runs each time, so safe to say he knows the track. His best time was a 39.1. Also had a 2003 CV8 that was manual, sticky tyres, also had run the course a few times. His previous best was a mid 39.
So then it was my go, we did the reccy run with all 90 cars doing a slow run to see what the track was like...... Either way there was decent run off if I did venture off the track, so it was decided, hold it flat and steer and minimal brakes. I was actually shitting my pants.
First run I got scared and used the brakes. 40.21 But thought it would be pretty easy to drop into the 39's.
Next run was less brakes and more pushing, but the damn traction control put the brakes on the fun. But still managed a 39.61. Stoked.
Third run it was decided to not brake at the first corner at all, seems only pussies brake into that, seems I am a pussy, just couldnt stop the brain from dabbing the brakes, but this time with traction off and locking it back to 1st for the S's I was able to squeeze a 38.98. YAY, happy dance. 14th fastest out of 90 runners, with some dedicated hillclimb cars........... Very Happy.
Next run I was fully prepared, traction off, knew where to drag it back to first, but still had to dab the brakes into the first turn, I know the car can do it flat, but I get scared, still dont think the dab does anything to slow the car but it makes my brain feel better. The result being a 38.64. WOW, never thought that I could have pulled that out. But it equalled an unhappy GTO owner. LOL But that was the best run of the day. Rest turned to crap when a GoPro was fitted to the car and I got confused trying to start it and forgot to turn traction off. Then last run was (or felt) blisteringly fast, but dropped 2 wheels in the dirt and that was enough to slow it to a 38.91.
But I would say that with someone that actually knows how to steer this thing, there would be a good second left in it, I can see a low 37.
Getting it off the line quick was an issue, tried everything to get it off the line quick, but I think the only way would be to upgrade the convertor, so there are some gains to be had there too. Plus a new convertor certainly would not hurt its street performance either.
But overall, very very impressed with this thing. I had a blast all day. But I am sure that with my steering ability and a stock CV8 I would have been in the 40's.