Hill climbs - we have a local hill Shelsley Walsh and for a consideration I can take my XK8 up in a non timed and non competitive environment.

Has anyone ever done this and have any advice?

I assume at least on the first couple of runs (of four) having traction control on is sensible.

I assume sport mode but do you just boot it from the get go or are you more subtle? Or do I just learn on the day?

I assume my only real risk is lack of control otherwise it's driving as fast as I feel comfortable up a short hill with some bends he says over simplifying everything.

The actual risk is a red mist descending, I am surprisingly competitive and once committed to something I tend to go for it although balancing that I have a keen sense of self preservation. I have done some motor sport before albeit 4x4 trials at very low speed so I know I do commit.

At the moment I'm being ***** and thinking I'll wait for next year but it's next Saturday and there are spaces ...

 

I don't know about the XK8 but with my XKR you can't really floor it from a standstill until about 40mph otherwise you just spin the rear tyres. It's generally pretty funny. There is a guy on YouTube who has some videos of his manual conversion XJS V12 doing hillclimbs which look very fun.

 

You need better tires. My XKR used to spin the tires just like you say. Then I switched to 200 tw summer tires, and it can at most chirp the tires from standstill but not spin them. Takes off faster too as a result. If wet, I am spinning all the way to 60.

 

Well we are talking a much lower powered XK8 with somewhat crappy rear tyres. I think I shall try a few rapid starts.

Hmm, I think caution is settling in here.

Also there was an XJS could have been a 12 there on Sunday, all in white but I didn't see it run.

 

Make sure your cooling system, suspension, and brakes are in tip top shape.

 

I just looked up Shelsey Walsh and it looks paved so I say give er. I regularly drive my '97 XK8 through the windy mountain roads around here at speed and the car performs great. Corners and handles much better then you would expect from a 26 year old car. If you're like me you know when to pin it and what 's an acceptable risk so if I were you I'd be first in line. Looks like a blast.

 

Your biggest problem is bending it ..no insurance ..not much damage for a write off.
See if you could get a ride with someone before you have a go .
If you set your phone to video mode then you can time it later.
Brown trousers required.

 

Thanks for the various bits of advice!

In reverse order: I have always regarded the car as expendable it only cost £2,000 and all work done on it is hobby not investment so bending it I would be unhappy but philosophical about.

I think going as passenger would be good if I can find a willing driver!

I possess brown trousers.

The hill is a blast, only 2/3 mile long and the record is around 22 seconds in a tiny space frame car. People compete in standard road going cars, tweaked a bit but it's a competitive class as it's a cheap way in. They aim for the 45 second mark I think in well set up hot hatches. I've seen XJ8 saloons go up and very serene it looks too. It's the S bend that kills times I think. They can exit at well over 100mph on the finish line. I have also seen an Austin A30 go up and be competitive in his class. I have no idea what the times were like. Electric cars are interesting, I think they have too much interfering software to be really fast as the computer does not possess brown trousers.

As for bits and pieces being in tip top condition - it's only 2/3 mile and I'm not competing but yes I'd make sure they were all more than serviceable.

However, I may be off the hook this year as my wife would like to passenger and she's busy performing at a concert al day Saturday. Then again ...

 

Make sure you gag her first.
Dont want to loose concentration.

 

I'm more concerned about the survival of the seat as she tends to grip it when she feels I go too fast which of course I never do.

 

Pilot Sport 4S, I don't think I can get much better then that. Might also be because I need to get new springs, shocks and shock mounts. Geometry is out on the rear.

 

Yeah, that shouldn't be happening with those tires. I'm not sure how much of an effect bad suspension will have on that. Check the build date of the tires. Perhaps the rubber has hardened? Or perhaps you're making more power than I am?

 

They aren't that old I think 3 years old or 4 maybe. I might be making a little more power then standard with the Adamesh Stage 1 and 2 exhaust. I also have an upgraded intercooler pump the Bosch 010 pump which likely also means the charge is a bit cooler then standard so may also be making more power. If it's a little damp the rear tyres will loose grip pretty easily at junctionsand that esspecially if there is a bit of loose gravel. I haven't floored it from low speeds in a while but it pulls pretty hard from any speed really.