Minutes of Meeting
Circuit Excel Management Committee
27th September 2017
Meeting started at 8:02pm (AEST)
Roll call
Chair David Shaw Present
SA Andrew Young Present
Vic Peter Avard Present
Qld Richard Chaseling Present
WA Brad McNess Present
Tas Aaron Creed Absent
NSW Mike Ridings Present
CAMS Brenden McLean Present
Guest David Burn Present
Agenda items
Minutes of General meeting held on August 31st 2017 were accepted.
Guest Speaker: David Burn
In the process of gathering information regarding a controlled suspension, David was invited to speak about his experience with setting up Circuit Excels. He explained it's all about the tyres, maximising grip and managing tyre wear. To achieve this there are 3 priorities, in order of importance.
1. Kinematics & compliance; the changes in geometry through movement (i.e. bump steer, camber gain, total suspension travel) both loaded and unloaded. Provides the foundation of what is able to be tuned with springs/dampers.
2. Spring rates; mass distribution, having the right spring rate for the corner weights. Circuit Excels have 60-65% mass weight in the front and 35-40% at the rear. Other considerations matching (1) Spring rate (2) sway bar. All of the current approved suspensions are similar spring rates at the front of 350lbs, but the rear spring rates vary from 250lbs to 350lbs. Springs determine suspension natural frequency and total displacement for a given load (e.g. cornering force).
- Shock design; dampening with in the range for the weight of the car. Control dynamic weight transfer and the time the suspension takes to reach it's ultimate displacement. Fine tuning of handling, shouldn't be used to compensate for poor kinematics or spring choice.
Important considerations in a controlled suspension package;
1. Technical specifications; Spring rate, shock travel & dampening characteristics (range of adjustment available). Do the parts perform 'out of the box' or do they require significant adjustment to make work?
2. Quality / reliability; Consistency of performance ensuring everyone has a similar starting point and durability of parts (leaking, internal failures, camber movement).
3. Cost; Purchase price has to be reasonable but lifetime costs should be considered (how much does it cost for the parts, the setup work involved and replacement parts if required)
To sum up, Davids 'ideal' control suspension would look like this:
· Shock travel of 100-150mm between full rebound and bump stop engagement. Allows >50mm bump or rebound travel.
· Starting spring rates of 350lb front & rear as a starting point with 300lb and 400lb options at rear.
· Front sway bar standard (21mm) as there are no off the shelf front bars available in smaller diameter.
· Rear sway bar allow max of 18mm. The rear spring rate options will address the need to go to larger sway bar at the rear.
- 'Reasonable' adjustment range in the shocks, should be able to tune handling characteristics from understeer to oversteer within the range of shock adjustment.
Next guest speaker to be approached will be Greg Nolan.
Circuit Excel Nationals 2017
Enteries will open via Meecams on 02/10/17.
46 expressions of interest received.
Brenden working on the final revision of the sporting regulations.
Driving Standards Officer will be Colin Osbourne.
Negotiations continuing for a naming rights sponsor.
Circuit Excel Nationals 2018
No new information from Jeff McDonald.
Concerns raised regarding the amount of track time sharing with Improved Production and Saloon Car Nationals in October.
Bathurst 6 Hour Support Race 2018
02/03/18 is the closing date for entries.
Entry fee of $1200 payable to Mike Riding, final payment date yet to be confirmed.
Final race details will not be available until 4-6 weeks prior to event.
Dorian Timer Location
Final details passed to Brenden to add to 2018 regulations.
Review of Brake Rotor regulations
Delegates support the addition to the 2018 regulations as an 'option' to the standard front brakes, the front stub axle assembly, including rotor and caliper from a Hyundai Lantra J2. Richard will forward suggested wording for inclusion into regulations.
Control Tyre Tender 2019
Andrew James, Exclusive Tyre Distributers, still working to to formalise an agreement to ensure supply in 2018 to all states at the same cost.
MRF Tyres have suggested they could supply a bar coded tyre, with 050 grip level at the cost of a Federal.
Also offering competitors a 25% discount on any other tyre.
Engine Sealing 2018
Engine sealers in most states are charging between $100-150 to seal rebuilt engines.
Wrecker engines will need the rocker cover to be sealed and recorded in 'change of details' page of log book.
Tas, WA and NSW yet to appoint engine sealers.
Circuit Excel National Junior Development Program
Brenden to explore how a partnership can be developed with Riccardos Racers and a National Circuit Excel Junior Development Program.
CAMS Update
All regulation updates to be sent to Brenden asap
Clarify appointed Engine Sealers
Around the States / other business
Qld / Richard
September round was a success with some very quick cars.
4 new young drivers, one from Northern NSW.
NSW / Mike
Next round will be held this week end.
Membership steady with some leaving as others join.
Vic / Peter
Next round, Philip Island has 45 entries.
Membership level good.
SA / Andrew
Round 4 will be held over two days, November 4th and 5th.
A few from SA will be heading to the Nationals
Australian Hillclimb Championship at Collingrove October 27-29th
WA / Brad
Last round of Championship will be in October.
Will have a 100km race in November.
2018 calendar finalised with 9 rounds (2 @ Collie Motorplex and 7 @ Barbagallo Raceway)
10 Car Transporter organised for the trip to Bathurst 2018.
Still looking for Engine Sealer and Eligibility Officer.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 18th October 2017
Meeting closed 9.45pm AEST