Speedscene, May/June 2020 – If cars could talk

As the SBD Dallara, I am always having bits changed on me, both my bodywork and the engine, Steve is always developing something new! Last winter I spent a lot of time away from SBD having a nice holiday, firstly at University of Wales, who had been doing a lot of aerodynamic work for me over the 2019 season, I had to have lots of bits of wool stuck on my wings, side pods, and engine cover. Then when I was flying round the track, Kim took lots of photos so they could see which way the wool was pointing so they could find out what the air flow was doing. This resulted in changes to the wing flaps during the season, but in anticipation of more changes to be made during the winter rest. Artic 3d also scanned me whilst I was at the university ready for some new bits of bodywork to keep me on the ground when Steve and Matt are flying round the circuit (always nice to make sure I stay on the black stuff!). 

 

After that I had a long trip up to John Hansell at Fibre Lyte, who has been making the new aerodynamic parts, that Steve & Matt decided I really needed. While I was there, John made me a new engine cover to keep me looking smart and make me more aerodynamic, although it was made in carbon and looked very good like that, Steve got it vinyl wrapped to match the rest of my bodywork with days to spare before we were supposed to be going down to the Great Western Sprint.

 

Steve built me a new 2.0L XE engine over the winter break and it was tested in December at DTW Engines to make sure all was working properly, he is always coming up with new components for me to test and I expect the coming year will be no exception, although I am not sure when I will be able to test them for him. My brain (not Steve’s, that gets taken out when he drives me!), my MBE9A9 ECU also has constant changes to test software before they can let SBD’s customers use it. Steve usually lets Matt drive me first during the practice run at the events, because he is more sensible at testing the changes they make.

 

I was really looking forward to trying out everything at Castle Combe, Steve had even cleaned my trailer & tow car, so I was going to look extra smart arriving at the track. 

 

My friend, SBD Westfield is keeping me company, but she is still having alterations made to her (as usual). She was also on holiday all winter, but at Alicool having a new cooling system designed. This has now been done but because of that, she has to have some new bodywork made (got to keep her decent!), so Steve has been spending a lot of time making her a new bonnet and nose cone. Her 1.6L EcoBoost engine has been upgraded with more horsepower, she now has 376bhp and 341lbft torque (to be honest I am a bit jealous, but she can’t go around the corners as fast as me). She is very disappointed that she can’t go out and try it at the Great Western Sprint because she just loves the long straight, her driver, Zoe is also disappointed. They were even entering the British Sprint Championship this year, to see how they fared against the big boys and girls. 

 

Such as shame that this Covid19 stuck, but at least I can’t catch it so I am not in isolation but keeping the SBD Westfield company while we can’t go out and do our favourite thing on the track — go faster! We are keeping our wheels crossed that we can come out and play this year.