Rexy's Really Ready.

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Rexy is now complete and ready to race at Snetterton this coming Saturday 4th April. A few minor jobs remain like swapping the road wheels/tyres over for racing the racing items and when we're actually at the circuit we'll also remove the number plates. Otherwise, all we need is a decent slug of super-unleaded and it's ready to get stuck into the Nippon Challenge/Subaru Cup!

It's going to be really interesting to see how such a standard car compares against some of the other machines out for the Nippon Challenge. This is going to be great...


XSpec to the Rescue!

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XSpec Motorsport came to Karen's rescue by removing Rexy's engine and replacing the head gaskets. It seems the previous gaskets fitted were faulty. Both were leaking with the turbo side of the engine suffering worst.


Graham and Alix had some help where possible from Darren and Richard. The engine was removed and the gaskets were replaced, but this time with metal cometic type ones. Richard replaced the intercooler core with a better condition item and also replaced some boost pipes with SFS Silicon versions. Everything was then reassembled and the engine was slotted back in. The oil was replaced and the coolant topped up carefully. It fired up without problem and soon settled down to a steady idle.

Richard tried the car on the local roads and then it was given a power run on the rolling road whilst Graham listened carefully for any sign of detonation. No problems were encountered and Rexy made a healthy 186bhp at the wheels!


Karen would like to thank Graham and Alix for all their hard work and generosity. Here's hoping there will be no more problems with the engine and Karen will have a trouble free start to the season at Snetterton on the 4th April.


Silverstone Test Day 27/02/09

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Karen had her first chance to try Rexy on the Silverstone FTZ type RR controlled tyres on a practice day at the Silverstone circuit. (Oooh, spooky!). As the tyres were being fitted on the wheels there and then, she went out on the first session on some road tyres.


Unfortunately, within a handful of laps, the car was spitting out its coolant again. Otherwise, Karen was happy with the performance despite the old tyres and road specification brake pads. She comfortably managed some lap times in the 1:17 bracket.


The next session saw her using a set of the Silverstone tyres. Tentatively at first, she built up confidence in them to post 1:16 times. Whilst still being very mindful of the coolant and brakes issues.

During the lunch break, Graham Poultney of XSpec suggested lowering the boost to see if that prevented coolant loss. He did a quick swap-over with some boost hosing and Karen went back out in the afternoon only having 0.6 Bar of boost instead of a peak of 1.1 Bar. The coolant was still coming out, but her lap times were still consistently in the 1:16's.


It looks like Rexy's engine is going to have to come out for an inspection of the Head Gaskets to probably replace them and figure out a root cause for the problems we're having. Here's hoping it's resolved in time for the first race meeting at Snetterton... On a lighter note, it looks like Karen's getting more at home with Rexy and a healthy engine, XSpec brake pads and further practice will see her being very competitive in the Subaru Cup!


About Karen Phillips

  • Karen races her Impreza WRX in the Classic and Sports Car Club (CSCC) Modern Classics series, with her husband Richard as a 2nd Driver. The races are mini-endurance events involving a driver-swap. Karen has previously raced in the Nippon Challenge, a race series for Japanese and Asian cars. Karen has been racing since 2006, having started in the MR2 Challenge.
  • Please check this site regularly for updates on Karen's progress through the season and developments with her race car.

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