Competing in My Cosworth Powered RS2000 X-pack

[2quick4u]

I thought I would add a thread in here about my x-pack, it's been around a while but is now getting used regularly in competition

I originally built this as a fun/trackday and drift car when I was in the UK, I used it for a while and was all set to enter the UKD1 series when my Australian Immigration Visa finally arrived, so I packed it in a comtainer (along with a few other toys) and headed South.

Various posts about the car over the past few years, and pics of the build and subsequent modifications can be found (http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?t=75621)by clicking here (http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?t=75621)

Unfortunately the area I moved to originally was not quite right for us, and was very quiet, as a result the car mostly sat in the garage doing bugger all for the next 2 and a half years with the exception of a few fun outings), until I moved to Queensland, and to an area just 25 minutes from a great little hillclimb circuit :cool:.

Since I have been here I have been out for a couple of events at the local track, with different clubs, and have now entered in an annual championship, The MGCCQ Tighe Cams Hillclimb Series.

Unfortunately I can't make all rounds, so doubt I will be winning much this year, but I have been getting quicker and running near the front in my class, I have picked up 1 3rd place trophy at my first go which put a big smile on my face.

I am planning to do as many rounds as possible this year, and possibly some other sprints and speed events, so will keep this thread updated with any results, pictures and videos I have along the way.

[2quick4u]

So here is my first report

Just spent a great weekend at Noosa competing in a hillclimb there, was a lovely windy track with 100ft+ drop offs one side and big trees or banks to hit on the other side.

I had been hoping for a good result, but just couldn't get the power down well in my car, spending way too much time with the rear wheels getting off the ground, but I still had a good battle, and really enjoyed myself, I also seemed to get a good reaction from the spectators so I must have at least looked like I was going fast (or looked like I was about to crash LOL)

I ended up 5th in class, and fairly close to the next 2 cars time wise, so wasn't very dissapointed for my first outing there, I think it may be time to 6 link the rear end though.

Here are a couple of in-car vids from my 3rd and 4th runs

YouTube - MK2 Escort RS2000 X-pack, Cosworth Turbo at Noosa Hillclimb


YouTube - MK2 Escort RS2000 X-pack, Cosworth Turbo at Noosa Hillclimb

[Kieron]

Its great to see it out and being used, looks like the move was a good one and there is more for you to do now. :)

[Retromotorsport]

Great to see this thread Mark, and good luck in getting a 1st .. won't be long i'm sure :thumb:

[popuptoaster]

nice one Mark, good to see it you and the car having fun still. :)

[4parajon]

Great post, do like seeing your car being used Mark:clap:

[2quick4u]

Thanks for the comments :thumb:

I am definitely settling in much better up here in sunny Qld, have found a good bunch of like minded nutters who I get on really well with.

Some pictures here taken by Gary (owner of the orange MK1 Improved Production car in the pics)

First one was breakfast stop on the way there.

http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613115004578garys_digital_pics_122_972_x_648_314.jpg

Then we took over a corner of the paddock area, and attracted a few more Escort owners.

http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613134281006noosatighe14608_033small_136.jpg
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613133522034noosatighe14608_034small_168.jpg
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613135637818noosatighe14608_035web_680.jpg
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613134226990noosatighe14608_036web_176.jpg
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613139040528noosatighe14608_038web_684.jpg


As our groups were running in different orders, Gary managed to get a couple of action shots of my car and Mark in the yellow RS2000

http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613153382264noosatighe14608_050web_110.jpg
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613159465333noosatighe14608_063web_147.jpg
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613159238587noosatighe14608_069web_388.jpg
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613156867066noosatighe14608_094web_108.jpg
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2008/6/2008061613153840027noosatighe14608_101web_126.jpg


Thats all for now, will post more if I find any

[Med]

good luck on any challenge~

can i see interior picz?

[2quick4u]

good luck on any challenge~

can i see interior picz?

Med,

Just click on the blue link in the first post, there are pics from every angle in there :thumb:

[Clint]

What a great post, nice to see you busy out there m8, glad everything worked out for Last Minute Mororsport once more :banana:

[tom burgess]

Glad to see youre dong well out there Mark:clap::clap:lets see you get a first soon:pray:

[danny m]

He even got beaten by a 1996cc N/A YB Mk2


Danny

[2quick4u]

Hey Danny,

Have you been told yet today? :door:

I thought it was a 2001cc YB :liar::liar::liar:

Just so people here know, Danny owns the white forest arched MK2 in the pics :thumb:

It's very very quick, but I reckon his crankshaft or shocks probably cost more than my whole car :D

[danny m]

No I haven't been told today but it had to happen!
Shocks maybe but I got a good deal on the two billet cranks, Oh yeah I forgot to tell you I have a new spare sitting in the garage that needs it's final grind to size!!
Oh yeah I have a 80mm range dial gauge turning up tomorrow as I masured the stroke today with digital verniers and it was worth ordering the gauge to shut them up!!!!!
And whats the big deal mines just a N/A YB without all the garbage and bullshit of the greeks!!!!



Danny

[2quick4u]

Got sent a phone vid of a couple of corners, from our crazy mate on the Gold Coast

Thought I would add it

YouTube - MK2 Escort RS2000 X-pack Cosworth Turbo Noosa Hillclimb

[gen mk 1 rs2000]

crazy mate from the gold coast huh ??
you have only seen a vid of me driving a boat , you havnt seen me in an escort yet . :woohoo:

[2quick4u]

crazy mate from the gold coast huh ??
you have only seen a vid of me driving a boat , you havnt seen me in an escort yet . :woohoo:

LOL
I have seen your boat antics, and read your late night forum posts, plus I know about your fishing bait :clint:
you will always be Crazy to us, even Paula knows you as "Steve the crazy guy from the Gold Coast" :D:D

Can't wait to see you and your Escort in action mate, hopefully soon :thumb:

[2quick4u]

Yesterday was round 3 of the Tighe Cams Hillclimb series, which was back at Mount Cotton (the usual venue).

The day started out fairly wet, and everyone was well off of their usual times, but it did get drier as the day went on.

Car was a bit of a handful, but I do love driving it in the wet :thumb:

I managed to get within 0.09 of my personal best, which got me second in class, was still a good second short of the class winner though, so need to try a bit harder yet, I either need more grip or bigger balls :D

I got a couple of in-car videos, one of the first run of the day, and the second is my 3rd and fastest run.

YouTube - Escort RS2000 X-pack Cosworth, Mt Cotton Hillclimb run1

YouTube - Escort RS2000 X-pack Cosworth, Mt Cotton Hillclimb run3

[2quick4u]

One of the guys I race with kindly posted an outside vid of my last run, this was a couple of tenths slower than my best of the day.

(Thanks Jeff if you are looking in)

YouTube - red cosworth escort mt cotton july 2008

[Retromotorsport]

Mark the car thats quicker ... is it turboed too ???

If not back off the power for a run ,, see if your quicker then i can congratulate you on a first ,..but well done on the 2nd :clap: :clap:

[2quick4u]

Gary,

No the car that beat me is a 5.5l V8 Commodore, and the driver is pretty handy too.
A couple of the other guys would normally be quicker too, but a lot were slower than their best times because of the conditions, I didn't mind the slippy track so much though :D

I will get it there, I am starting to pedal quicker, but still feel I am not giving it my best yet, I am still braking too early, and can't seem to get a quick start
but I have got to the stage that the cars limits are showing, I keep lifting the inside rear wheel, or hopping round corners as the back end is binding up
I can see a 6 link coming later this year :D and will start trying to improve the car.
Danny here had some nice chassis mount Watts Linkage pivots made up (V8 super car style) so will use that, and get a 4 link kit in (could do with a sponsor to pay for some of it though, will have to get Paula's boss drunk)

Not sure if my 3.2:1 diff is really that good for this either :D still I only have to use 2 gears LOL

[Retromotorsport]

using the low RC rear end will improve your traction .. that old saying " its quicker if your corner on 3 wheels " was penned by journos.. and you know what they are like :D

may feel strange at first, but your'll soon get used to the car not cocking the unloaded wheels in the air.

:thumb:

[2quick4u]

Round 5 of the Tighe Cams hillclimb series today, and it was a lovely sunny Spring day in Queensland.

I got off to a good start with my first run being very close to my previous personal best at 49.35.
The car was running great, but I was wondering if I was ever going to get under 49 seconds.

Run 2 I suddenly grew some bigger testicles, and took the blind off camber turn (Lovers leap) much faster than I had ever done before
I got a new personal best time of 48.56, :woohoo::woohoo:
this put me into equal second place with Jeffs SR20 Turbo powered Datsun (we always have great battles)

I was pleased with the run, and the new best time, but I knew I had lost a few tenths by getting it very sideways through the hairpin, and driving out of it like Bo and Luke Duke :rolleyes:

So confidence was now high, and my balls felt bigger than normal, run 3 and I felt I could improve a bit more.
Grit the teeth, concentrate, go.
It felt really good, still slid around a bit too much in a couple of turns, but braked much later, and got a great run through the leap, the time was 48.18 :woohoo::woohoo:

I was now starting to feel like I was getting the hang of this track, and suddenly I was fastest in class, for all of about 3 minutes, when I was beaten by Craig's Commodore doing a 47.8 :doh::doh:

4th run I was starting to wonder if I could get in the 47's today, :thinking:
but I tried a bit too hard in my new favourite corner and had a bit of a slide to contend with, I went slower with a time of 48.36, and also watched Jeff pull out a 48.08 in his Datto, forcing me into 3rd place again :rolleyes::rolleyes: ah well, there is always the next round to try again
I packed my stuff away, loaded the trailer and got changed, only for them to announce there would be a 5th timed run, Bugger!! I couldn't be bothered to try and get out for another one so left it at that.



Overall I had a great fun day out with a good group of friends, Beat my personal best, and got some serious redneck sunburn, still not got a win yet, but I am very happy :thumb:

Will stick some pics up later

[trig]

Good man :clap: :clap: :clap:

[david_white]

Well done Mark, great write up. :clap:

Sure this car will get better and better, sounds like you need a new diff ratio though nearer to a 4.1 or so :thinking:

Always gonna be hard to beat the N/A cars on these hillclimbs due to their instant throttle response but by the looks of it you are not far from winning anyway, a few chassis tweaks and you'll be there. :dance:

Are there any pics of the holden thats winning, must be quite big for hillclimbing, but obviously has shed loads of V8 grunt :rolleyes:

[2quick4u]

Thanks Trig, David,

Yeah some mods are coming to the car at some point, I am definitely reaching the limits of it's current suspension setup, I may also look at going to a Hilux axle/diff later too, they are super tough and have a good selection of ratios, and can get good LSD units for them :thumb:
But for the moment I will keep pedalling as hard as I can and see whether I can go quicker without mods.

The Holden that blows us all away in our class is quite an unassuming looking thing, it is in full road trim, with 2 tone blue over silver paint, and velour seats
just sticky tyres and some suspension work (dunno what exactly) and whatever mods may be done to the engine
I will try and find a piccy,
I am sure it has plenty of grunt, and it does get it's power down well, but also there is no denying that the driver is very very good :clap:

[Retromotorsport]

Well done mark, :clap: :clap:


shhh you have PM