Donnington 2009-18th,19th April

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

I'm tempted to fly over for the day but i went last year and was dissapointed by the lack of "classic" representation both in cars and parts.

Will it be better this year do you think?

Cheers
Jon

I would expect it to be better in that respect, due to Stonliegh not happening & Club Lotus have sort of promised more stands.
The new, later, date for Donington will also encourage more drivers to take their older cars out for a run.
John

[dusty]

If you could only go for one day would you choose Saturday or Sunday? Oh and what time do the gates open / close?

[Coupe]

If you could only go for one day would you choose Saturday or Sunday? Oh and what time do the gates open / close?

Open Saturday 10.00 - 4.30 and Sunday 10.00 - 4.00.
?9.00 on the gate and ?8.00 for Club Lotus members in advance (worthwhile for easy access)
Aways gone on a Saturday but it will be different this year as race meeting on both days on track featuring Lotus Elise racing so probably Sunday could be busy.

[dusty]

Cheers, flight and hire car booked, will be going on the Saturday, how do I buy the advance ticket (I'm a club member)

Cheers
Jon

[bcmc33]

John,

I know I'm probably being boorishly pedantic, but Quaife don?t make a LSD. (To the best of my knowledge, that is ? as my knowledge is about three years out of date).

Quaife make a range of ATB diffs. And they are significantly different from LSD?s.

I?ll explain it in more detail when I see you at Donnington ? that?s if we can still remember this ?conversation?.

[john.p.clegg]

Brian

Hate to split hairs but

" Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing Helical LSD differential

The world-renowned Quaife differential is available for over 250 applications. Many thousands of helcical LSD differentials are already in use, including having been fitted as original equipment on various Ford, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler models. "....from their site.....http://www.quaife.co.uk/Motorsport

See you there
John

[msd1107]

Hey, you guys are both right!

Conventionally, a LSD uses some mechanism to lock the differential when a certain inside/outside speed difference occurrs.

An Automatic Torque Biasing differential (Quaife, Torsen) uses specially formed gears that inhibit the speed difference between wheels.

David
1968 36/7988

[bcmc33]

David,

WADR both of us cannot be right. Technically an ATB cannot slip, and without slip an LSD does not work.

For those of us with experience of LS and ATB know the difference. I expect some of us geriatrics still remember the LSD in the likes of Cortinas and Escorts (probably Salisbury units) and that you always knew when they were operating because you felt it coming in and out. With the Quaife/Torsen you only know its worked when your still on the road and not in the ditch.

Perhaps I?m expecting too much, but I always felt that this forum had a much more informed standard of membership than some of the boy-racer forums I occasionally come across. I expect some of the boy-racer forums to percieve LSD and ATB to be the same thing due to an immature knowledge base. However, having said that the OEM?s appear to me to have the same intelectual capabilities, and an example of which is my old master (Chrysler) calling the ATB diff they were buying a LSD.
With this in mind, it is worth noting that the original Mazda MX5/Miata had a genuine LSD that was replaced by a Torsen at the first opportunity due to the unreliability/warranty concerns. But Mazda appears to be no different to other OEM?s as their brochures still say that the car has a LSD.

So in conclusion, it appears that perception rules the day, and precise technical descriptions mean diddley-squat.

[msd1107]

Brian

Interesting comment re "informed standard of membership". It is true many forums seem to lack any technical expertise. And some of those that try, publish incorrect information.

But our Lotus community has a wide range of technical sophistication, from design engineers on down.

But the thrust of the post was to highlight the commonality between the disparate technologies, i.e. the end result is that the wheel with reduced traction continues to furnish thrust.

Those with sensitivity about the nuances of the different technologies can parse the language with a fine tooth comb. For others, it does not matter.

And to be a little argumentative, an ATB is a form of LSD, taking LSD (Limited Slip Differential) at its face value. ie wheel slip is limited. It doesn't make a hill of beans difference!

David
1968 36/7988

[john.p.clegg]

Brian

I stand corrected and bow to your superior knowledge....

John (friend)

[dusty]

Got my ticket in the post today. Looking forward to it now

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

It seems likely that there will be no race meeting on that weekend because at the moment the MSA are refusing the track a licence.
Apparently the work being done to widen the Tunnel for the F1 Circus has affected the run off areas on both sides of the track.
Unless the MSA relents it will mean that there will be no races held at Donington for some while.
This is a great pity as a lot of HSCC; VSCC etc. events will have to be cancelled.
Does anyone have any more recent information?

Cheers
John

[marklowe]

Hi all
I called in at Paul Mattys today to pick up a few parts for the rebuild, I was very surprised to be told that they would not be attending Donnington this year. I did not get a definitive reason why, just that Paul hade made the decision possibly due to the current financial climate.

Mark

[elansprint71]

It seems likely that there will be no race meeting on that weekend because at the moment the MSA are refusing the track a licence.
Apparently the work being done to widen the Tunnel for the F1 Circus has affected the run off areas on both sides of the track.
Unless the MSA relents it will mean that there will be no races held at Donington for some while.
This is a great pity as a lot of HSCC; VSCC etc. events will have to be cancelled.
Does anyone have any more recent information?

Cheers
John

I heard today that the HSCC meeting has been granted a temporary licence but part of each lap (quite a part, actually) will be run under yellow flags! Sounds pretty daft to me and will flag marshalls be given free physio sessions after waving their arms about all day?
I don't know if the Elise race days have a similar arrangement.

EDIT: Just been informed that only about 200 yds will be run under yellow; still not sure how that will pan out, with fast cars becoming trapped behind slow cars (possibly).

[Old English White]

Hi all
I called in at Paul Mattys today to pick up a few parts for the rebuild, I was very surprised to be told that they would not be attending Donnington this year. I did not get a definitive reason why, just that Paul hade made the decision possibly due to the current financial climate.

Mark

That's sound like a bad news ...
Does one of you known about the list of our favorite merchants on Donington this year !?!
Christian.