Trial by Fire...

spoons · 2nd April 2011, 14:47

Well today I was invited to a Rolling Road Shootout at Power Station in Tewkesbury.

Total Vauxhall Magazine were there also taking notes and pictures for a future magazine feature.

I was a little bit nervous due to the lottery of rolling road results, but Courtenay Sport has done me proud with my Stage III.

Power Station Result = 326.8 BHP
Courtenay Sport = 328.6 BHP

Difference of 1.8 BHP (which in my opinion is bang on the nose to what I was expecting).

But the big difference was the torque

Power Station Result = 431.5 Lbft
Courtenay Sport = 412.2 Lbft

Difference of 19.3 Lbft more powerful.... I think its because the map has settled down and accepted the boost levels maybe?

Anyways, delighted and it was the most powerful Vectra there

The operator ran it twice to show me the boost levels and commented how well the two runs mirrored each other exactly !!... so no loss in power with heat buildup (so the water radiator is doing its job brilliantly as well)

Very very happy right now... thats great

**Big Sig** · 2nd April 2011, 15:00

Hopefully their operators are better than they used to be, a few years back they ran my old RST there, I told them NOT to hit the rev limiter as they were known to bend the rods with big boost. What did the fool do???

(actually that may have been 7 years ago! I'd imagine they have changed since then!)

Good results though!

spoons · 2nd April 2011, 15:08

Originally Posted by Big Sig

Hopefully their operators are better than they used to be, a few years back they ran my old RST there, I told them NOT to hit the rev limiter as they were known to bend the rods with big boost. What did the fool do???

(actually that may have been 7 years ago! I'd imagine they have changed since then!)

Good results though!

Thanks

They seemed ok and in fact they didn't rev mine anywhere near the limiter as you can see in the graph. Just got max BHP and then backed off which is fair enough

I suppose thats all they needed for the Power Shootout charts

I wont be doing any more Rolling Roads though as I've varified my figures from Courtenay Sport now so thats enough.

Going to Stratford Raceway tomorrow for some 1/4 mile runs... thats the next part of the weekend

**Big Sig** · 2nd April 2011, 15:10

Just looked at some pics, it was 9 years ago!

Although how can they e sure it was the max bhp if they didn't use the whole range? Or does it tail off fairly low in the rev range?

spoons · 2nd April 2011, 15:18

Originally Posted by Big Sig

Just looked at some pics, it was 9 years ago!

Although how can they e sure it was the max bhp if they didn't use the whole range? Or does it tail off fairly low in the rev range?

Yeah, the Vectra VXR tails off mid way through the range. They all do it.

The operator said to me that he thought the car made good power, but the power tailed off around 4500 rpm which was very early (in his opinion).

I have never seen a Vectra VXR 2.8 engine keep producing more and more power to the red line (like the other cars seem to do).

The operator then said my car would be great for overtaking, but not racing on a track.

I asked him what I would need to do to get the higher figures and he couldnt give me an answer?!!

Anyways, I'm happy with it and the car drives great on the road so no worries

**Big Sig** · 2nd April 2011, 15:23

Originally Posted by spoons

Yeah, the Vectra VXR tails off mid way through the range. They all do it.

The operator said to me that he thought the car made good power, but the power tailed off around 4500 rpm which was very early (in his opinion).

I have never seen a Vectra VXR 2.8 engine keep producing more and more power to the red line (like the other cars seem to do).

The operator then said my car would be great for overtaking, but not racing on a track.

I asked him what I would need to do to get the higher figures and he couldnt give me an answer?!!

Anyways, I'm happy with it and the car drives great on the road so no worries

Thats what I was wondering as i thought the same as you. Still if they all do it

spoons · 2nd April 2011, 15:36

On the way home I swapped cars with Fil4822 (Phil).

Just so I could see what mine looks like on the move, and what it sounds like from another vehicle at full chat.

Was a fun drive

and Phil's 2.0 BSR Turbo is very very nice to drive

**FIL 4822** · 2nd April 2011, 19:08

Well my BHP was a little less than last time out

The ECU decided that at 4865 rpm, it wasn't getting enough fuel, so played safe. Operater thinks its down to the bigger diameter induction pipe that Forge made for it and the BSR stg.1 couldn't match it with the extra fuel ! Never mind, i'm still enjoying it !

So my figures.....

223.7 bhp at the flywheel. (down from 243 bhp)
162.7 bhp at the wheels.
256.1 lb/ft torque. (which is an increase of 20.6 lb/ft from the last power run i had done.

Steve's car is just bl00dy mental ! Sounds like a spitfire !

spoons · 2nd April 2011, 19:14

Originally Posted by FIL 4822

Steve's car is just bl00dy mental ! Sounds like a spitfire !

Tally Ho.....

**bangty 1** · 2nd April 2011, 19:17

cant wait to here these cars do spoons car spit flames like a spitfire lol get it spit fire ok ill get my coat nice power tho and mite have to go james bond style to beat you lot tomo