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Tramonto
Racing
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Reports
Tramonto Racing 2012
May 2012
MSLS race 2 at Sviestad, May 12th
Second race of the year. Lasse decided to stay in South Africa this weekend, so Niclas, Sven and Tomas had to form a three man strong team in this race. The three gathered at Sviestad on Friday afternoon for the test session. All three drivers had a couple of test laps each and except for a failure on the fuel gauge everything else worked very well.
Sven was the starter of the race on Saturday morning and initially he performed very well. From a starting position quite far behind the pole position he advanced quickly up to a second position in class 4 just behind Team Yellow.
However, after 50 minutes racing, Sven reported that the gear gear box control lever had broked off again. Tomas and Niclas immediately prepared for a temporary repair and when Sven entered into the mechanical pit box the gear box control lever repair started immediately but nevertheless it took almost 30 minutes to fix it.
Niclas continued the race and from last position, after the mechanical pit box visit, he made overtaking of two team in class 4.
When Niclas handed over to Tomas it was raining a lot. Tomas kept the 5th position in class 4 during his first driving session. So did also Sven in his second session for the day.
When Niclas entered into the car for the second time the rain was rather heavy, but Niclas managed to keep the 5th position in class 4.
Tomas did his best to improve the position, but still he was in the 5th position behind Team Yellow, Green Light Event, Celebrity Racing and Heda Racing, when he handed over to Sven for the last driving session of the race.
With 45 minutes remaining of the race, Sven reported heavy white smoke out from the car. He was directed to drive to the mechanical pit box immediately for inspection of the problem. It was found that the cooling water tank was totally empty and the engine temperature was really high. The initial diagnosis of the problem was a broken cylinder head gasket, so the team decided to park the car for the rest of the race.
Later on it was found that the mechanical failure was much worse than the assumed broken cylinder head gasket. When the engine was demounted a crack in the cylinder head was discovered and thus a major engine repair was awaiting.
You are also welcome to read our live report from the race, including comments, in:
http://livemsls212.tramontoracing.se
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| Full pace | The engine with a broken cylinder head |
April 2012
MSLS race 1 at Mantorp Park, April 14th
First race of the year. Lasse (who has traveled all the way from South Africa for this race), Niclas and Sven gathered at Mantorp Park Friday afternoon for the test session. Tomas was on his way back from skiing vacation in the Swedish mountains.
The test went out well and specifically the new tires was great.
Saturday morning and race day. A little bit wet track due to the rain during Friday afternoon, but still very good racing conditions.
Sven was appointed to take care of the start. He managed that very well and we had the leading position in class 4 when he handed over to Lasse.
Lasse continued in the same way a couple of laps but suddenly he reported that the third gear was out of order. After a quick discussion by the rest of the team he was told to continue on second, fourth and fifth gear. A minute later Lasse reported that he has lost all gears, at least almost, because some gear still forced the car forward. The directive from the pit lane was now to continue straight to the mechanical bit box.
The car was lifted up and a couple of mechanical problems were quickly realized. The gear stick was totally broken off, the heavy engine beam was totally loosened in the back end. Luckily, the team had a spare gear stick to assemble and even more luckily two old and rejected bolts to the engine beam was found in the spare part box. So, after half an hour repair time, Lasse was out again on the track. We were now hopelessly last in class 4.
Niclas took over from Lasse and made a good job during his session and he was able to advance a couple of positions in the result list, but just before he had to change to Tomas he reported gear box problems again.
Even though, Niclas switched over to Tomas, but Tomas was not able to perform one lap before he realized the gear box problems. The gearbox did not respond to the gear stick manoeuvres at all, so back to the mechanical gear box again.
This time it was found that the gear box control lever was loosened and damaged. This was temporarily repaired by a plastic stripe which fixed the gear box control lever in a way that gear number four and five was able to use, in best case also gear number three.
Tomas continued a couple of laps, but the plastic stripe was broken again. Back to the mechanical pit box again, and now the gear box control lever was fixed with a couple of extra plastic stripes. This worked out very well and Tomas started to gain distance to the competitors in front of us.
Sven continued in the same way and advanced one or two positions in the result list as well as Lasse and Niclas who followed after Sven.
When Tomas entered the car for the last hour this race we were only three laps from a podium position in class 4. Unfortunately, the three team in front of us continued with high pace and Tomas was not able to reach them.
So, rather lot of mechanical problems during this race forced Tramonto Racing Team out from the podium, to a final fourth place in class 4 result list. But we were able to catch the checkers flag and with that also valuable finish points.
You are also welcome to read our live report from the race, including comments, in:
http://livemsls112.tramontoracing.se
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| The start | The broken gear stick |
March 2012
Racing car roll out 2012, March 3rd
After many hours in the garage and a lot of work with the racing car - repairs, modifications, upgrades, etc. - during the winter period, it was finally time for the racing car roll out 2012 on Saturday, March 3rd.
Since we have made a lot of operations within the entire care, it was a bit nervous atmosphere in the garage when the car was pushed out, for the first time this year, into the fabulous nice spring weather this Saturday. Would the engine start? Would the gearbox work?
However, Sven turned the ignition key and the engine started immediately. The engine sound was wonderful. He put the car in first gear, took off the clutch pedal and the car moved forward. Second gear, third gear and the car behaved prodigiously.
So, everything seems to work exactly as it should. Only some fine tuning as well as the mandatory car inspection remains and it is still more than a month until the first race take place.
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| Roll out from the garage | Test on the parking |
Tramonto Racing 2011
October 2011
MSLS 2011 Victory banquet at Blommenhof Hotel, October 14th
On Friday evening, October 14th, the
magnificent MSLS 2011 victory banquet took place at Blommenhof Hotel in
Nyköping.
Tramonto Racing Team was of course
represented almost with the entire team. Sven, Niclas and Tomas arrived from
Linköping and our extra driver Kalle connected direct from Nyköping. Unfortunately,
Lasse did not managed to catch a flight from Centurion this evening.
Together with many people from a lot of other
MSLS racing team, we enjoyed a delicious three-course menu with flavorsome wine
and tasty beer. After dinner the revelries continued with
the prize ceremony where the medalists in each class of the total MSLS series
2011 were honored.
The continuation of the evening was characterized by great festivity and glamour and everyone was satisfied and happy with the performance achieved over the past racing season.
Finally, to summarize the successful 2011 racing season, Tramonto Racing Team made the following results:
- Victory in race number 1 at Mantorp Park.
- Second place in race number 2 at Sviestad.
- Victory in race number 3 at Sviestad.
- Second place in race number 4 at Mantorp Park.
- Fourth place in race number 5 at Sviestad.
- Second place in the grand final at Mantorp Park.
Which ultimately meant that:
THE 2011 MSLS CLASS 4 CHAMPIONS ARE TRAMONTO RACING TEAM.
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| A mix of the trophy cup, the laurel wreath and the team | Team victory pose |
Finally it was time for the Grand Finale of the MSLS
championship 2011. The complete team, i.e. Sven, Niclas, Tomas and also Lasse
who had traveled all the way from Centurion, South Africa, was gathering for
the test and training session Friday afternoon.
Lasse
was of course eager to test the car before his first race this season
and he was really happy with the performance of the car during the
training session. Also Sven who had a couple of test laps was satisfied
with the car. So, except for some fine tuning the team concluded the
test rather early.
The pre-requisites for the grand finale race was as follows. Tramonto Racing Team was in leading position in the total class 4 series, 33 points/laps ahead of Green Light Event in second place. This meant that it was almost impossible for Green Light Event to catch up these 33 laps by driving faster than us within the 8 hours of the final race, but nonetheless we could not afford to mess up something at all, like mechanical problems, ditch running or similar.
Saturday morning and the grand final race day. Sven was offered to take care of the start and he made it very good in the middle of all 51 cars who lined up. However, after a couple of laps a rather tight situation, with several cars close to each other, occurred in the entrance of the first curve and suddenly a car bumped into the left side of Sven. Even that the punch was fairly hard, Sven reported back to the rest of the team that the car seemed to have escaped the accident without any major damages.
Our position was number three in class 4 when Sven changed over to Niclas, just behind Retards on Tour and ÅMK 2010. Niclas drove very balanced and passed by Retards on Tour as well ÅMK 2010, but at the same time Green Light Event climbed to the first position followed by Team Yellow.Lasse was next in turn and he managed to perform an even fight with Retards on Tour about the third position close behind the to team in the top, Green Light Event and Team Yellow.
Then Tomas took over and in the same way as Lasse he managed to drive quite even with all the top three team and before it was time to handle over to Sven he managed to climb up to the third place just behind Team Yellow and only three laps behind Green Light Event in leading position. During this race session Tomas was adjudged a 5 minutes penalty, but since the penalty a few minutes later was assessed as incorrect the referee, gave back part of, two laps, the penalty.
Sven continued the hunt for the second place and after around 20 minutes driving he passed by Team Yellow. Despite five hours racing reached so far, it was still a lot of cars out on the track, only a few team had given up the race. For the second time of the day Sven was again involved in a race accident. This accident occurred in the last curve of the track when a car totally out of control forced into the left back corner of our car so hard that Sven was thrown totally around, 360 degrees, and at the same time pushed out from the track. Although, Sven managed to continue the race again almost immediately and the car was not so badly affected.
When Niclas took over from Sven he made his best in order to keep the second position and at the same time keep the distance to Green Light Event as constant as possible. He managed to carry out his mission in a very good way and when he switched over to Lasse the distance to Green Light Event was adequate and still safe.
Lasse felt of course very peckish to race since it was his first race of the season. He was so hot and hungry that he succeeded to reach the best lap time of the team this race, 1:40.188. Of course, this meant that he further strengthened the second place and also kept the distance to Green Light Event safe enough.
When Tomas then entered into the car for the last time this season, our main competitor, about the victory of the total MSLS cup 2011, Green Light Event had a lead of around 7 laps, so we still had a rather comfortable margin of 26 laps. However, it was necessary to reach the checkers flag in order to obtain the "finish the race" points, otherwise we would loose the total cup. But, after about 15 minutes, with 50 minutes remaining race, a fairly noisy rasp sound appeared in the left front wheel area of the car in every right bend. Tomas slowed down the pace to reduce the load in every right curve. The noisy rasp sound grew and vibrations occurred more and more for each performed lap. It was quite obvious that the left front wheel bearing was about to collapse. So, despite that the other team members in the pit box called on the radio to drive faster, Tomas slowed down the pace even more in order to reach the checkers flag before the wheel bearing would collapse totally. Fortunately, Tomas managed to bring the car all the way to the finish and Tramonto Racing Team finally succeeded and took the total victory of the season and also the second place in this race behind Green Light Event. Congratulations to Green Light Event to the race victory and thanks for all tough but fair competitions during the 2011 racing season.
So, we made it. TRAMONTO RACING TEAM are now CHAMPIONS OF MSLS 2011 CLASS 4.
You are also welcome to read our live report from the race, including comments, in:
http://livemsls611.tramontoracing.se
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| MSLS 2011 class 4 victory and success | The Champions |
September 2011
MSLS race 5 at Sviestad, September 10th
Time for the fifth MSLS race 2011 and
Tramonto Racing Team gathered as usual on Friday afternoon at Sviestad for car
inspection and
test and settings race session.
Tomas and Niclas used the time for a couple
of test laps each, while Sven contended himself with supporting activities.
These three drivers will be the team in this race since Lasse has chosen to
travel to
No mayor events appeared during the test session, so the team shut up pretty early in order to mentally prepare for the race next day.
Nevertheless, despite the problems during the race, Tramonto Racing Team managed to fix it all in a rather good way and thereto advanced up to fourth position in class 4 before we captured the checkers flag.
Anyway, it will be an unbearably exciting
fight between Tramonto Racing Team and Green Light Event about the MSLS 2011
class 4 series victory in the final race 8th of October at Mantorp
Park.
You are also welcome to read our live report from the race, including comments, in:
http://livemsls511.tramontoracing.se
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| Tight right turn | Checkers flag |
August 2011
MSLS race 4 at Mantorp Park, August 20th
As usual, the entire team gathered at
The team in this race was composed by Sven, Niclas, Tomas and our guest driver, for the second time this season, Kalle.
The track was a bit wet and slippery during the test session and some team, including Tramonto Racing, visited the green
part outside the track, but aside from that everything was well-functioning.
The driver sequence in this race was decided to be Sven – Kalle – Tomas – Niclas.
So, Saturday morning, Sven made a brilliant start and managed to keep the leading position in class 4, until he changed
over to Kalle.
Kalle tried to keep Green Light Event behind, but in the end of his first session Green Light Event passed by.
Tomas then started to hunt for the leading position again, but despite an offensive effort he handed over to Niclas, after
the first refueling, in second position.
A huge oil leak from G3 Racing Team broken oil cooler around the track meant oil decontamination almost 50 minutes,
i.e. the entire session for Niclas.
Then Sven took over and continued the hunt for the leading position, but without success and Kalle was not able to
reduce the distance to Green Light Event either in his last session.
The distance to the leading team was almost the same during Tomas last session and when he handed over to Niclas
for the last session of the race Green Light Event was still in the lead a couple of laps in front of us and then followed
by Team Yellow in third place, Driving Event Team Volvo in fourth place, ÅMK in fifth place and finally Örby Gummi
Team RP in sixth place.
Niclas performed as well as he was able to do but it was not enough to reach the top position of the podium in this race.
Tramonto Racing ended up in second place behind Green Light Event and with Team Yellow in third place.
You are also welcome to read our live report from the race, including comments, in:
http://livemsls411.tramontoracing.se
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| Parc fermé inspection. | The podium |
June 2011
MSLS race 3 at Sviestad, June 4th
On Friday afternoon, 3rd of June, all four of the drivers in the team in this race come together for the test and training session at Sviestad. It was, as usual, Sven, Niclas and Tomas but also Kalle who was our guest driver in this race, while Lasse did not managed to travel home from South Africa this weekend either.
All four drivers were able to made a couple of test laps. Everybody seemed to be happy with the performance of the car and before ending up the test session the new front wheels were assembled and Niclas tried them out for another couple of laps.
Saturday morning and the team was gathering again. The weather forecast indicated sunny and warm, almost hot (up to 29 degrees Celsius), weather for the entire day.
The driver sequence in this race was set as follows, Niclas, Kalle, Tomas and finally Sven.
Niclas lined up for the start and managed the start session well, without any close contacts with any other cars. VT Racing, one of our fast competitors in class 4, ran into mechanical problems already after a couple of laps and gave up the race with that.
After around 40 minutes racing also KF Racing had to visit the mechanical pit lane in order to exchange a broken wheel bearing. So, when Niclas handed over to Kalle after one hour, we were in third place in class 4 with Team Yellow Racing in leading position followed by Green Light Event in second place.
Kalle managed to pass by Green Light Event rather quick and started the hunt for Team Yellow Racing, but Tomas had to continue the hunt for the leading position when he took over from Kalle. In the end of Tomas first driving session Tomas managed to pass by also Team Yellow Racing and with that Tramonto Racing was in the leading position for the first time of this race.
In the end of Tomas first session a really bad accident happened on the track. Two cars hooked in each other and one of these cars forced straight into a barrier. So, Tomas was directed into the pit lane a little bit earlier than planned for driver exchange, just before the race was stopped in order to clean the track of damaged cars and for the medical staff to take care of one of the drivers.
After refueling, Sven re-started the race after a 25 minute long break due to the accident. Sven began with a comfortable lead in front of Green Light Event and Team Yellow in second and third place, but Sven kept pace and increased the lead even more.
When Sven switched over to Niclas, both Green Light Event and Team Yellow had each a visit in the mechanical pit lane with some minor mechanical problems and with that KF Racing was back in second position in class 4, but around 27 laps behind us.
When Kalle then entered into the car we decided to slow down the pace a little bit due to our huge lead. The same tactics was valid also for Tomas last session. However, when Tomas entered the track he experienced a throb noise in every turning manoeuvre. So, due to that unrecognized throb noise Tomas slowed down the pace even more in order to hopefully being able to take the car all the way to the checkers flag.
Sven continued in the same way in the last session of the race, even if he temporary increased the speed in connection to some fight with KF Racing. Nevertheless, despite the unrecognized throb noise during the last two hours of the race, Sven managed to bring the car all the way to the checkers flag and to another victory in class 4. The distance to KF Racing in second place became 24 laps and 42 laps before Green Light Event in third place. In the total result list we ended up in 12th place.
The entire team was of course more than happy with this superior victory in class 4. With that Tramonto Racing Team went for summer holiday with a proper lead in the total class 4 MSLS cup list after these first three races and also with a respectable 5th place in the total MSLS cup result list (including all classes).
You are also welcome to read our live report from the race, including comments, in:
http://livemsls311.tramontoracing.se
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| The podium. | Driver exchange |
May 2011
MSLS race 2 at Sviestad, May 14th
On Friday afternoon Sven, Niclas and Tomas gathered at Sviestad for the test and training session. After the mandatory inspection of the car Niclas started the test with a couple of laps. Niclas complained about the brakes, which were not as distinct as they should be. Tomas and Sven continued with a couple of test laps each and both felt almost the same as Niclas about the brakes. Back in the mechanical pit lane some new brake fluid was filled and the brake system was emptied by air. This measure seemed to fix the brake problem.
Saturday morning and time for race. Tomas was appointed to take the start and lined up together with 27 other team. The start flow rather smooth without any major incidents. After around 30 minutes Tomas was trying an overtaking of Team Örby Gummi Team RP, when the other car totally missed a turning, ended up in the grass and up on the track again. In this maneuver they forced Tomas out of the track and with that we loose a couple of positions.
A few minutes later a hook on the hood above the engine come loose and Tomas was forced to the mechanical pit lane in order to tighten the hook.
Despite this problems Tomas handed over to Sven as number 4 in class 4, very close to the three team in front of us. Sven almost immediately advanced up to place number 3 and then to 2nd place and despite two minor visits outside the track in the Torpa curve he also advanced up to leading position before he handed over to Niclas.
Our first refueling, between Sven and Niclas sessions, meant that we were down in third place again but Niclas was overtaking the second place again rather quick. However, it was continuously a hard fight about the first three positions in class 4.
Tomas then continued in the same way as well as Sven did thereafter, thus still a hard fight with Team Yellow and Green Light Event about the podium positions, since VT Racing, ÅMK Racing as well as Örby Gummi Team RP one after the other ran into mechanical problems.
Team Yellow seemed to have a really good day this race, because slowly but surely they increased the distance in the leading position and Niclas had mainly to focus on the fight against Green Light Event about the second place in class 4. However Green Light Event was affected of some minor mechanical problem and was forced to a short visit in the mechanical pit lane. This meant that they lost several laps in the fight against us.
When Tomas entered the car for the last race it was noted that one of our front tyre was almost totally worned-out on the outer side of the tyre. So, while Team Yellow was around 4 laps ahead of us and Green Light Event several laps behind, Tomas slowed down the pace in the last hour of the race and guarded our second place in class 4. Around 15 minutes before checkers flag a nastily noise occurred somewhere in the car. So with a very bad front tyre and the creepy noise in the car, Tomas slowed down even more in order to, as safely as possible, take the car to checkers flag and he made it.
We ended up as number two after Team Yellow, congratulations to them, and Green Light Event as number three in class 4. In the total result list of the race we reached position number 10, really good.
With that Tramonto Racing Team strengthen the leading position further in the total class 4 MSLS cup list further and also in the total MSLS cup list (all classes) where we now are in place number four, just two laps behind the team in third position.
You are also welcome to read our live report from the race, including comments, in:
http://livemsls211.tramontoracing.se
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| Checkers flag. | Second on the podium |
April 2011
MSLS race 1 at Mantorp Park, April 16th
In Friday afternoon the team, at this race composed of Sven, Niclas, Tomas and our guest driver Björn Thorblad (while Lasse was not able to appear due to business duties in South Africa), was gathering at Mantorp Park for the test and training session before the first race of the year.
The test and training session was carried out without any major mishaps, except some disquieting smoke from the car by way of introduction of the test. The smoke was quickly located to appear as consequence of a leakage of oil from the gear box. This defect was however attended rather easy and all four drivers had the opportunity to test the car a couple of laps each.
The driver sequence for this race was agreed to be Sven, Björn, Niclas and Tomas. Sven lined up in the tenth position of the total 40 cars on the grid. The start proceeded comparatively smooth and calm without any major incident.
It was obvious already from the beginning of the race that our Volvo S40 Challenge was faster than ever before. The lap time was below 1:39 already in the 7th lap and in lap number thirty Sven performed 1:38.279, our lap time record, which was far below our previous experiences at
Sven easily kept the leading position in class 4 until the first driver exchange. Björn entered into the car and started the hunt for Green Light Event who overtaken our leading position during the driver exchange moment. Björn performed very well in his first driving session in Tramonto Racing Team and closed the gap to Green Light Event quickly.
Then around 10:30, after one and a half hours racing, a series of incidents occurred, almost at the same time, on the track and due to this several racing cars needed assistance back to the pit lane as well as necessity of oil decontamination of the track. This meant that the Safety Car entered the track and slowed down the pace.
Niclas took over from Björn and the Safety Car withdraws from the track. Niclas carried on fast from the beginning and showed his paces setting his lap time record, 1:41.180 in the end of his first session.
Our first refueling worked out very well and Niclas switched over to Tomas who entered the track a bit behind VT Racing who was in the lead in class 4. Tomas approached VT Racing and was just behind them when it was time for driver exchange to Sven.
Sven continued in the same way and passed by VT Racing after a while. Tramonto Racing was in leading position in class 4 again. However, Sven kept the speed and handed over to Björn.
Björn performed even better now and he set his lap record, 1:41.266 in the end of his driving session. The most exciting issue at that time was “will the refueling scheme works”. When Björn finally was instructed to go for refueling it was probably only a few centiliters fuel remaining in the car.
Just before Niclas entered the track, VT Racing ran into problem and they were forced into the mechanical pit box. Niclas second session on the track was going smoothly with fast and even lap times. Due to VT Racings problems, Niclas was, after a while, 13 laps ahead of the team in second place, which now was Örby Gummi Team RP and 21 laps ahead of the team in third place, Green Light Event.
When Tomas took care of the steering wheel for the final session of this race he already had a comfortable leading position in class 4. However, Tomas continued to keep the pace up and performed his lap time record, 1:41.023, a couple of laps before the checkers flag. In addition to that Tomas also increased the leading to 17 laps ahead of Örby Gummi Team RP and to 22 laps ahead of Green Light Event before the checkers flag appeared.
This race was really an amazing success for Tramonto Racing Team. A victory by a wide margin of 17 laps ahead of the second team in class 4 and 12th position in the total result list. The team proudly climbed up at the top position on the podium to receive the winners cups.
Thanks to Björn for the super effort as guest driver in this race. After such great experience, the team eagerly look forward to next MSLS race at Sviestad 14th of May.
You are also welcome to read our live report from the race, including comments, in:
http://livemsls111.tramontoracing.se
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| The top of the podium. Class 4 victory. | Speedy view in the chicane |
First test 2011 at Sviestad, April 4th
The first test of the car after the winter period was performed at Sviestad 4th of April.
It was in eager expectation the team, today consisting of Sven, Niclas, Tomas and also accompanied by our guest driver Björn Thorblad, went to the racing track for the first test of the car following the considerable modifications performed during the winter. It was of specifically interest to get to know the affect of the new gearbox.
Sven was first out on the track, followed by Niclas and Tomas. Unfortunately Björn had to monitor the test from the side of the track since his racing license for the year was delayed and had not appeared.
After a couple of test laps each by Sven, Niclas and Tomas, all three drivers were contented with the shape of the car in general and particularly satisfied with the new gear box which exceeded all expectations.
All four drivers agreed that the car now was in the right condition to bring Tramonto Racing Team to a winning team in the coming racing season.
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| Roll out 2011. | Preparation by Sven and Niclas |
Tramonto Racing 2010
September 2010MSLS race 6 at Mantorp Park, September 25th
These was the conditions before the race: In the total result list of class 4, Tramonto Racing Team was in third place with totally 1500 points (laps), 164 points respectively 104 points behind the team in front of us. From behind, Driving Event Team Volvo was hunting, only 19 points behind. In the total result list (all three classes), we were in the 9th place.
In Friday afternoon Sven, Niclas and Tomas arrived to Mantorp Park followed by Lasse a bit later, excused due his rather long journey from Centurion, South Africa. All four drivers tested out the car for a couple of laps each on the short part of the track. The only problem was the left back brakes which seemed to be continuously attached. Assembling of new brake pads and some lubrication would hopefully solve the problem and the team was with that ready for racing.
The driver sequence for the race was the following. Tomas to take care of the start followed by Lasse, Niclas and finally Sven.
The track was a bit wet in the beginning of the race but Tomas finalized his first session in a good way as number two in class 4 just behind KF Racing. Lasse continued in the same way on an almost dry track and kept the second place. KF Racing performed an early first refueling stop but Röjmon Racing passed us during our driver exchange stop so we were still number two, but Niclas was soon in the lead. Our first refueling stop this race was unfortunately not the best refueling we had made and Sven was out on the track in the third place.
In Tomas second session of the race everything was well-functioning, but suddenly the third gear broke down completely. Tomas had to continue on only the second, fourth and fifth gear but it worked out rather well. When Lasse took over from Tomas the team was still in second place in class 4, only one and a half lap behind KF Racing. However, Röjmon Racing and Driving Event Team Volvo was hunting from behind.
After a few laps in Lasses last session, around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the car began to behave strange. After another lap the car stopped completely in the chicane and was not able to move. The breakdown lorry loaded and transported the car to the mechanical pit box. It was immediately found that the big center screw nut on the left front wheel had come loose and disappeared and the left front wheel bearing was broken down. What a mess! From an absolutely sure podium position with a good chance to win class 4 the team fell down like a heavy stone in the result list.
Just before 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the car was temporary (very temporary) repaired and Sven tried to drive the car. However, the temporary assembled screw nut needed to be tightened in the mechanical pit box around every fourth lap and it was only possible to drive the car fairly slowly.
Nevertheless, Sven was in fact able to drive the car all the way to the checkers flag and despite all troubles during the afternoon part of the race, we finally took the fifth place in class 4. Unfortunately, we lost the third place in the total MSLS 2010 result list, but it will soon be spring again and the team already looks forward to MSLS 2011.
You are also welcome to read our live report from the race, including comments, in:
http://livemsls610.tramontoracing.se.
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| Tramonto Racing in action | Mechanical pit stop |
MSLS race 5 at Sviestad, September 4th
While Lasse was taking things easy at home in South Africa this weekend, the team was limited to the three drivers, Sven, Niclas and Tomas.
Sven and Niclas performed a couple of laps each in the training and test session on Friday afternoon, 3rd of September. The ABS was working well and the car behaved good, so only some minor fine tuning was needed.
Unfortunately, the entire team suffered from more or less cold symptoms so the preparation before the race was not fully desirable. Nevertheless, the team decided to divide the race scheme in seven race sessions this time. Niclas was most successful in the lottery of the odd seventh race session.
Saturday morning was a bit cold, but dry. The weather forecast indicated sunny weather and no rain. The driver sequence list was as follows: Niclas, Tomas, Sven, Niclas, Tomas, Sven, Niclas.
Niclas carried out the start smoothly and kept up the pace well. Initially everything seemed to work fine. But already after 20 minutes Niclas reported back to Sven and Tomas that the brakes behaved strange. He still had brake power but the brake pedal was forced the whole way to the floor every time he put brake on.
It was obvious that it had occurred some sort of failure in the brake system, so Niclas was instructed to drive into the mechanical pit box for further investigations.
The failure was found immediately. The left front caliper hose was leaking. Most probably the hose had slightly rubbered towards the wheel rims and the counter weights have with that damaged the hose. Such failure had easily been fixed if we have had another caliper hose available. Unfortunately, all the recently exchanged old, but still functionally, brake tubes were left back in the garage.
Tomas dashed straight into his car and drove back to the garage, fortunately there were no police speed controls between Sviestad and Linköping this early time of the day, and picked up the spare caliper hoses. When Tomas arrived back a spare hose was quickly assembled and Niclas went out on the track again. While the entire repair procedure, including the journey by car to Linköping, took 34 minutes and Tramonto Racing Team was now hopelessly last, in place number 29, in the race.
Niclas switched over to Tomas who began to hunt the team in front of us. The car behaved very well and we started to gain position after position in the result list. Unfortunately Tomas was rather heavily hit in the right side of the car by a BMW in one sharp right bend, but even if the right side did not look good at all, the car was still well-functioning.
After the first refueling, excellent performed by Niclas and Kalle (thanks to Kalle for his assistance to the team during the race), Sven took over from Tomas and drove in a furious pace as usual and set the best lap time of the day , 1:11:163.
After three hours racing we were still last in class 4 but we had now climbed up to position number 24 in the total result list. Niclas was next to continue the hunt followed by Tomas and Sven for their second race sessions of the day.
Slowly but surely the team gained position after position in the result list and when Niclas climbed into the car for the last race session of the day Tramonto Racing team was in 4th place in class 4, 12 laps behind Driving Event Team Volvo in third place, and in 17th position in the total result list.
12 laps was however to much lead to recover but Niclas made his best and gained another 2 laps compared to Driving Event Team Volvo, but Tramonto Racing Team finally ended up in 4th place in class 4 and in 16th place in the total result list.
Despite the bad place in the result list of this race, Tramonto Racing Team is still in the 9th place in the total result list of the season and in third place in class 4, 19 points in front of Driving Event Team Volvo in fourth place. It might be an exciting ending in the final race at Mantorp Park the 25th of September.
At this race we had a first trial with a live report direct from the race. You can read the live report including comments in: http://livemsls510.tramontoracing.se.
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| Line up | Niclas after checkers flag |
August 2010
MSLS race 4 at Mantorp Park, August 21st
Owning to the fact that Lasse has emigrated to South Africa (however, he will hopefully return to Sweden now and then), Kalle Stangeryd, our former team manager, made a temporary come back in the team in this race.
By way of introduction of the test session on Friday afternoon the 20th of August, the ABS system seemed to work correctly, but after a couple of laps Sven reported that the ABS system failured again. The team continued the test session and Kalle complained, initially, about the fact that the car turned right when the brakes was applied. Tomas followed on and reported also that the car turned heavily right when the brakes was applied but that this phenomenon disappeared when the temperature raised in the brakes. Finally Niclas observed the same effect.
After the test session it was found that both ABS sensors were really muddy and therefore cleaned and again the ABS system seemed to be all right again.
Saturday morning and race day. Niclas was appointed to take care of his first start since he joined the team. Due to some rain during the night the track was initially a bit wet. Unfortunately, already on his way out to line-up the ABS system broke down again and remained out of order the entire race. Niclas appeared to be calm and collected as he set to work and made a good job in a varying weather condition, sunshine mixed with rain showers.
Kalle, who was next, had to continue during the same mixed weather conditions. When Tomas entered into the car the track was almost dry again and the sun was shining. Also Sven performed his first session on the track in good conditions.
Half way through the race, Tramonto Racing Team hovered between position 4 and 6 in class 4, but the team in front was in a reachable distance.
Niclas tried to push even harder in his second session, but after a few minutes a heavy rain shower slowed down all racing cars on the track substantially. The track was still wet when Kalle took over again, but it became dry rather quick. The team was now in a fourth position in class 4, close to a podium position.
Tomas succeeded in the overtaking of Driving Event Team Volvo up to the third position but just behind, Team Röjmon Racing was intensively hunting. Tomas kept in check and when Sven took over the steering wheel he had one lap and 10 seconds lead over Team Röjmon Racing in fourth place.
This distance to Team Röjmon Racing was comfortable and the podium position was rather safe. Then suddenly, a completely unpredictable thing happened. The gear stick was cut off (!!!). The gear stick fell into the right side of the floor unable to reach. The gearbox was in neutral position. What a mess! Team Röjmon Racing was approaching from behind! Sven wiggled the car and the gear stick rolled a bit to the left towards Sven. With only one fingertip Sven was able to push the gear stick a bit more to the left and grabbed hold of the gear stick. Then he tried to use the gear stick as a tool to force in some gear and luckily he succeeded to squeeze in the third gear.
Then he throw the gear stick away and continued for about 25 minutes, with the engine continuously at top revs, only driving on the third gear, to the end of the race. Team Röjmon Racing came closer and closer but Sven managed to keep the third position in class 4, just a few seconds in front of Team Röjmon Racing when the checkers flag finally appeared.
After this terribly exciting last half-hour of the race the entire Tramonto Racing Team was very satisfied to enter the podium again.
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| The podium | Sven with the broken gear stick |
June 2010
MSLS race 3 at Sviestad, June 5th
All four drivers recognized an unusual behavior of the car, especially in tight bends. The investigation showed that one of the left back brake pads was assembled in a crooked way and therefore pressed on the brake disk continuously. A new brake pad was quickly assembled and the car was in good condition again.
The Saturday morning weather was really nice. Rather warm, sunny and almost no wind at all. This race, Lasse had the great honour to take care of the start. Following the two transponder test laps and the last refueling before the race, Lasse lined up together with 28 other racing cars.
While the referee was not happy with the formation of the cars i pole position in the first start attempt, everybody had to go around for another formation lap before the start succeeded. Lasse made a good job in the start and kept pace with all other team in class 4. After an hour Niclas took over and continued in the same way as well as Tomas and Sven who followed after Niclas.
Around half way through the race, when Lasse entered into the car for his second session, Tramonto Racing team had an even fight with Tools Momentum Racing about the second position in class 4, just a few laps behind the leader of class 4, Team Röjmon Racing. The chance of winning was definitely within reach and Lasse was well aware of that. Due to that Lasse pushed even harder than in his morning session and performed really well out there on the track.
Then suddenly, the brake warning light appeared. Unfortunately, the brake warning was not a false alarm. The car was loosing brake power and Lasse run into difficult problems, specially when applying the brakes after the long straight before the 90 degree right curve into the carousel (fortunately the asphalt continues when missing that bend). We were of course at the point of no return. Without brake power it was not possible to continue.
Immediately, when Lasse entered into the mechanical pit box, the brake power problem was identified. The left front brake rubber tube was leaking. Unfortunately, we were lacking in brake rubber tube spare parts and therefore we had to solve the problem either by finding out a way to repair the tube or to looking for an open spare part shop. It was decided to go for both alternatives in parallel. Lasse went away towards an open car spare part shop and Tomas, Sven and Niclas tried to find out a feasible repair solution. The repair approach turned out to be the quickest alternative. The tube was cut and the damaged part was thrown away. Then the fresh part of the tube was squeezed back into the metal peg and assembled to the brake caliper again.
Niclas prepared to be ready to jump into the car during the time Sven and Tomas made the last assembly work. Despite the intensive and hard work in the mechanical pit box, the team lost 31 minutes of racing time owing to this mechanical failure. The team dropped from a safe podium position, with a significant chance to win class 4, down to a fifth position during the repair period.
Niclas did his best to improve the position and so did also Tomas who followed after Niclas. In the last session of the race Sven tried to catch the last straw to advance but without success. Sven was also involved in a fierce fight with the Teknikens Värld team which resulted in a rather hard contact between the two cars and the left side of the car became a bit crumpled. The team finally ended up in fifth place in class 4 and in a total 15th position.
Everything worked very well in four and a half hour, then a small rubber tube failure crushed our hopes to reach a top podium position.
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| Parc fermé | Racing damages |
May 2010
MSLS race 2 at Sviestad, May 15th
Lasse, who was not present during the race test 3rd of May was given the task to test out the car. Almost everything seemed to work well except that the fifth gear was almost impossible to force in position. However, Tomas used his sensitive fingertips and turned the thin-plate, which limit the right end of the gear lever stop, to an appropriate position and the fifth gear was possible to push in again.
The night between Friday and Saturday was really rainy but the weather forecast said that the rain should stop in the morning and that Saturday should be rather warm and sunny.
Sven lined up as being the starter this race. Charged and enthusiastic for the task, Sven opened up the race in a furious pace. On the wet track he gained position after position in the field of cars in front of us. In the end of this first session we was in a shared leading position in class 4 together with Tools Momentum Racing.
Lasse was next and he retained the tempo very well as well as Niclas who took over the steering wheel after Lasse. In this second appearance by Niclas in the team, he seemed to be more and more familiarized with the racing car which was visible in the good lap times he achieved. While the race was very even in class 4 the three-four first team exchanged position with each other again and again.
Then when Niclas had changed over to Tomas it was time for the first refueling of the car. Unfortunately, Sven hooked up his sweater sleeve in the fuel tube connection and unintentionally broke it up. Consequently a lot of petrol flowed out and spilled over Sven and Lasse outside the car. This "accident" also required the asphalt to be decontaminated before Tomas was allowed to start up from the refueling station.
Tramonto Racing Team was now down in the fifth place in the class 4 result list some laps behind the team in front of us. Tomas began the hunting for a better position and Sven continued in the same way in his second round this race. During this session Sven performed our best lap time this race, 1 minute and 11.837 seconds.
Due to the fact that all team in front of us performed very well it was rather hard to gain ground. When Lasse had taken over from Sven, two of our main competitors, Röjmon Racing and Ansa Racing, hooked in each other in the end of the long straight stretch and both of them ended up in the grass and gravel part just beside the track for a short while. However, both of them were quickly on the race track again.
Slowly but surely we were approaching the team in top three, but then we should carry out our second refueling after the exchange of driver from Lasse to Niclas. Then again, the refueling procedure acted contrary. After about 30 liters filled, a back pressure from the tank occurred and petrol flowed out from the car with decontamination requirement as a consequence again before Niclas was allowed to continue the race.
Again, Niclas performed a strong racing session, his second this race. The very even class 4 result list meant that we were fluctuating between second, third and fourth place and when Tomas took over the steering wheel for the final session this race we occupied the third place.
Still, we were not more than about one lap from the two team in the leading position, but at the same time eager hunted by two team close on our heels just behind. One of this two team behind ran into some minor problem the last hour and was no longer close to beat us, but the other team, VT Racing, behind us was constituting a threat the whole way to the checkers flag.
The two team in first and second place where not reachable, but Tomas was able to keep VT Racing behind and this meant that Tramonto Racing Team finally succeeded to enter the podium as being third, just beaten by Ansa Racing and Röjmon Racing by one lap.
The entire team, Sven, Lasse, Niclas and Tomas were all satisfied and happy with the third place and a really enjoyable racing day in great, even and very exciting racing conditions.
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| Line up for MSLS 2. Sven ready for the start | Tramonto Racing Team on the podium again |
Gearbox clutch repair and racing test at Sviestad, May 3rd
During some evenings and a weekend afternoon, the gearbox was de-assembled, the clutch was exchanged and the gearbox was assembled again. Then the racing car was ready to be tested out again.
Monday evening, May 3rd, Sven, Niclas and Tomas brought the car from the garage to the race track at Sviestad. Lasse was abroad, visiting his new home country from June and the coming two years, South Africa.
Niclas opened up the test session. Already after a few laps, Niclas reported from the car that the clutch was very well-functioning and also that the scratch sound when changing to the third and second gear had disappeared. The gearbox-clutch-mechanism has been afflicted with this third and second gear scratch sound in the two last race. Niclas continued the test for another couple of laps. The only remark Niclas finally reported was a "clonk"-sound from right back side of the car in heavy brake applying manoeuvres.
Sven and Tomas went on for each a test run and both of them confirmed the already reported status of the car. Since the race track has been slightly widened in some of the curves, the race track seemed to be a bit faster then before. Specially the broadening of the exit of the Torpar-curve resulted in a higher exit speed of the curve and as a consequence of that a clearly noticeable higher maximum speed in the end of the long straight stretch.
The racing test was summarized to be very successful and common feeling was that the car behaved better then ever before. So, it looks very promising for the next race, MSLS race number 2 at Sviestad, May 15th.
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| Lasse in the wheel house | The S-curve Sviestad, May 3rd |
April 2010
MSLS race 1 at Mantorp Park, April 17th
Sven opened the test session on the short track before the long track was opened up. Then Niclas entered the car for the first time and he was followed by Lasse and Tomas for a couple of laps each. Except some crawling behavior of the car in heavy apply of the brakes, which was easy to fix owing to some loose wheel bolts, the car behaved very well.
After a cold night Saturday morning was rather cloudy and windy, but no rain. 44 racing team lined up and Tomas was appointed to take care of the start this race. An impressive experience as usual and Tomas managed his job well and handed over to Sven in the second session. After half of this second race session Sven occupied the first place in class four.
A few minutes before Sven should change over to Lasse, EDE Racing lost all gearbox oil almost all around the entire racing circuit and the referee ordered the red flag, which means that the race should be stopped temporarily. Sven dived into the pit lane and handed over the car to Lasse. Unfortunately, this manoeuvre was not allowed when the red flag had appeared so Lasse was immediately adjudged a five minutes penalty. This five minutes penalty meant that the team fall down several positions in the result list.
However, Lasse start the hunt on the competitors in front of us again and after Lasse, Niclas continued to gain ground. Niclas made a really good job in his first racing session. Afterwards, Niclas seemed to be rather satisfied with his racing debut in the team.
Tomas followed by Sven continued in the same way in their second racing sessions. When Lasse then took over the steering wheels after almost six hours racing performed the team was in a dead certain second position in class four just behind the team in the lead.
Then suddenly, one hour and thirty minutes before the checkers flag, the gearbox clutch broke down and the team was unfortunately forced to terminate the race. The symptom was exactly the same as in the race two years ago when the splined hub in the clutch friction disk was broken. Sven made a last try to get the car around the track one last lap in order to reach the checkers flag but this resulted in a totally broke down gear box clutch.
This meant of course that Tramonto Racing Team fell from a certain second place in class four down to the marshy bottom in the result list.
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| Racing view in MSLS 1 at Mantorp Park | Beside the track with a broken clutch |
January to March 2010
Racing team activities, January to March 2010
Our former team manager and driver Kalle Stangeryd has put his racing suit on the shelf and retired from the team.
However, simultaneously Niclas Eriksson has entered into the team as driver and team part owner.
Lars, Sven and Tomas would welcome Niclas into the team and concurrently send many thanks to Kalle for his former participation in the team.
The racing car has also been moved from the garage in Malmskogen to a central location in the ÖSK garage in Tannefors, Linköping.
After some modifications during the winter period, the racing car is now ready for the 2010 racing season.
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| Niclas, Rookie 2010 | Kalle, Retired 2010 |
Tramonto Racing 2009
October 2009MSLS race 6 at Mantorp Park, October 3rd
Friday afternoon, training and test session at Mantorp Park, nice weather but rather cold. Tomas and Sven was, as they always are, alert for some test laps. New tyres, new brakes and some other fine tunings fixed since last race was tested and everything was in working order except that the clutch could worked a bit better. The clutch function was quickly fixed by removing some air from the clutch system.
Race day, Saturday morning cloudy and even colder than the day before. The weather forecast indicated rain and probably heavy rain in the afternoon. Due to the weather forecast it felt good to put the new Michelin tyres on the car. 45 racing team lined up on the grid and Lasse was our starter this race.
The start and the first lap was fairly tough this time, close and tight between many cars on the track but already at lap number three JW TKS racing had a engine blow out which resulted in a heavy oil spillage in the entrance of the chicane. Safety car entered the track during the oil decontamination.
When the race went on, without safety car, again a couple of laps later Lasse had a really tight fight with Driving Event Team Volvo which resulted in direct contact between the two cars and an involuntary 360 degrees turnaround skid in the grass area left of the track. However, Lasse was immediately on track again and performed a good race session, with our best lap time of this race.
He gave the steering wheel to Kalle who also carried out a good first race session as well as Tomas who followed after Kalle. The only problem was that the clutch still was not in the best condition, despite our preventive measures the day before. Every gear change resulted in a gearbox graze, so it was obvious that the gearbox would have a painful day. In the end of Tomas first race session the first rain drops appeared and the track began to be a bit slippery.
It was then time for the first refueling and this refuel stop was not the most successful in our racing career. First it was a huge leakage between the can and the connected rubber tube so a cascade of fuel ended up on the ground with decontamination activities as a consequence, then the new rubber tube was pleated which initially resulted in no torrent of fuel at all, but finally the fuel tank was filled up.
Then Sven took over from Tomas and began a rain soaking race session. We were not far too sad about the rain because our car behave very well on wet tracks and Sven gained of course benefits from that.
When Sven handed over to Lasse again around half way through the race we occupied the fifth place in class four, but only two laps behind Team Röjmon Racing and Tools Momentum Racing and one lap in front of JL M-Sports. Lasse made another good second race session in the increasing rain and gained in distance compared to our competitors.
Kalle was next and he performed exemplary elegant racing on the very wet track at this time of the race and closed the gap further to the team in front of us. After our second refueling stop, Tomas continued the hunt for the podium place, still in heavy rain. When Book Racing, in second place, ran into some sort of problem we were suddenly up in the fourth place in class 4, less then a lap behind Tools Momentum in place number three and around one and a half laps behind Team Röjmon Racing.
Then Sven jumped in the car for the last session of the race. When he entered the track we were around thirtyfive seconds behind Tools Momentum Racing, in place number three and still one and a half lap behind Team Röjmon Racing, in place number two. But, Team Röjmon Racing still had to perform their last driver exchange.
Sven gained between one and two seconds per lap on Tools Momentum Racing. After Team Röjmon Racings last driver exchange we were around forty seconds behind them.
Unfortunately, the radio contact with Sven was broken, so we were not able to support Sven in a verbal way over the radio. Instead we tried to give him written messages from the pit lane that he had to overtake Tools Momentum Racing at any price, failure was not an option.
Lap after lap he continuously gained one to two seconds on Tools Momentum Racing and even more on Team Röjmon Racing who still occupied the second place. Three minutes before the end of the race Sven was even with Tools Momentum Racing, just behind them, after a tremendous race hunting. But, should he be able to pass by them?
We all trusted Sven and believe it or not, in the second last lap Sven chose a long outer track in the Pariser curve and managed to drive by Tools Momentum Racing outside in a spectacular overtake.
After this heroic effort Sven had a firm grip of the third place until the checkers flag appeared one and a half laps later. In fact we were only 11,6 seconds behind Team Röjmon Racing, in second place, in the finish, but most important, we were 1,1 second in front of Tools Momentum Racing.
We made it, in an unbelievable manner, the goal of the racing season was fulfilled again, same procedure as last year, and the year before that, in the very last moments of the racing season. We grabbed three podium places during the entire racing season 2009.
Tramonto Racing Team was more then satisfied with this final race as well as the whole racing season and proudly entered the podium to receive the cups.
Congratulations to the winner of the race KF-Racing and to Team Röjmon Racing in second place and thanks a lot also to Tools Momentum Racing for a marvelous tight fight about the third place this race.
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September 2009
MSLS race 5 at Sviestad, September 12th
On Friday afternoon the training and test session was used to check the recently performed repairs and upgrades of the car. New wheel bearings as well as new brake calipers have been assembled on both sides in the back of the car.
The car was sensational silent inside now due to the exchange of the crashed wheel bearing, from last race, on the right back side of the car. Tomas and Sven performed a couple of laps each and both of them were satisfied with the performance except that the brakes behaved a bit soft. The soft brakes were attended to at once by removing some air from the brake system.
Saturday morning was a bit cold but the weather forecast indicated nice and sunny weather during the day. In the last check of the car just before the transponder test Sven found a broken cable in the engine bay. However, it was no time to find out the function of the broken cable and everything seemed to work normally.
Today Sven lined up together with 29 other team for the start. The first hour of the competition was rather material consuming while Röjmon Racing gathered a broken drive shaft, Teknikens Värld an engine break down and Driving Event Team Porsche had a heavy oil leak from the engine. First safety car already five minutes after the start and second safety car 35 minutes later.
The top of the result list was quite even when Sven handed over to Lasse. Tramonto Racing was in fifth place in class 4 but within one lap distance from the first team.
Also the second hour of the race offered several safety car sessions depending, amongst others, upon that Team Stenab stopped with a broken gear box and some other car failures on the track. Lasse still kept the fifth place in class 4 just behind the four teams in front of us.
Kalle was next driver also affected by several safety car sessions due to oil decontamination of the track. Also Kalle retained the fifth place and Tomas was next to take care of the car and surprisingly, no safety car at all disturbed his first race session.
Tomas gained one position in the result list and Tramonto Racing was just a couple of seconds behind JL M-Sports in the third place when Tomas handed over to Sven for his last session of the day.
Sven performed very good and gained another position, up to the third place in class 4 before Lasse went in the car for the second time this race. Lasse increased the gap to the hunting cars behind and he also closed the gap to KF-Racing in second place.
Kalle tried as much as he could to narrow the distance to KF-Racing in his last race session of the day but KF-Racing performed very good racing too. In the last hour of the race Tomas made his best to reach the second place but even that he came closer to KF-Racing he was not able to beat them.
Nevertheless, Tomas took the checkers flag and Tramonto Racing team succeeded also this race to enter the podium as third team in class 4 and a very good ninth place in the total result list. Congratulations to Book Racing in first place and KF-Racing in second place in class 4. In summary, another successful racing day for Tramonto Racing Team.
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August 2009
MSLS race 4 at Mantorp Park, August 22nd
The training session on Friday afternoon was carried out smoothly. Lasse and Tomas performed a couple of laps each. The car behaved well but both of them noted that the whining noise from the right back wheel bearing probably was louder than it has been before. However, the wheel bearing noise was not a new appearance so it was to be hoped that it should not cause problems.
Heaven offered heavy rain over Mantorp Park area the entire night between Friday and Saturday so the race track was wet and a bit slippery by the way of introduction of the race on Saturday. However Saturday morning was sunny and nice.
Tomas was lucky to line up at the grid for the start of the race. A great experience to be one of the 44 team on the track. Tomas made a good job the first hour and handed over to Sven being less than one lap after the leading team in class 4.
Sven continued in the same way and after half an hour he was entering the class 4 first place for a while. It was a tight fight with KF-Racing about the first place and when Lasse began his first race session Tramonto Racing was just behind KF-Racing.
The first place fight continued and also JL MSports and Driving Event Team Volvo was close behind. Time for the first fuel stop and driver exchange to Kalle. Tramonto Racing was still in second place and Kalle continued with fast driving and managed to closed the gap to KF-Racing in the first place a bit.
Then Tomas entered the car for his second session. The fight with KF-Racing became even harder and the distance between the two first team was now shorter than one lap. It was indescribable exciting. Sven took over the wheel and retained the competition. Tramonto Racing and KF-Racing took turns of the first place and the distance to JL MSports in the third place increased.
After the second and last fuel stop Lasse jumped into the car for his second session of the day and he continued the hunt for the first place. KF-Racing was about a lap in front of Tramonto Racing. During Lasses two last laps he reported that something appeared strange in the right back side of the car which meant that the care behaved unstable.
During the last driver exchange the team established the fact that something was broken or very close on the way to break down and it was assumed that it was something wrong with the right back wheel suspension, the trailing arm for example. However, it was not time for further investigations so Kalle entered the race track but almost immediately he reported back that the car behaved really unstable and also that the whining noise from the right back side had increased.
Unfortunately we had to give up the fight with KF-Racing regarding the first place because of our trouble and Kalle was instructed to slow down in order not to risk a full break down of the car and instead guard our second place. Team Röjmon Racing had taken over the third place and was approaching from behind. Kalle reported that the car wriggled like a snake in each brake moment and the whining noise was now almost unbearable.
Nevertheless, Kalle managed to drive the car until the checkers flag appeared. Owing to the circumstances the last one and a half hours of the race the entire team was very satisfied and happy to enter the podium second place this exciting race day. In the total result list Tramonto Racing Team took the 16th place.
Congratulations to KF-Racing and thanks for an exciting fight about the first place. A special thanks also to Magnus who assisted the team exemplary the whole day.
Finally, it turned out that our assumed wheel suspension problem in the right back of the car actually was a completely worn out wheel bearing.
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June 2009
MSLS race 3 at Sviestad, June 27th
Friday afternoon training and everything is quite in order. However, after a couple of training laps a troublesome clink from the left front of the car has been noted by all drivers. The investigation showed rather quick that a metal disk in the bottom of the left front shock absorber was broken.
While the metal disk was a special designed conical disk the team first tried to find one within some other team but without success, so Sven and Lasse went back to the garage and constructed an interim solution disk. In a couple of hours the new interim metal disk was assembled and the car was ready for race again.
On Saturday, 27th of July, a really sunny and warm day, the third MSLS race took place. Today Kalle was was elected to take the start and performed a calm and self-possessed first session on the track. Being four laps behind the leader in class 4 he handed over to Tomas, who continued the race trying to catch up the five teams in front of Tramonto Racing.
Tomas was able to improve the position two places up to a fourth place in class 4. Sven was next in turn and as usual he drove fast and furious and made even more improvement, up to second place in class 4 for a while. However, except from VT-Racing who was a couple of laps ahead, there were four teams within a distance less then a lap in position 2 to 5.
After the first fuel stop Lasse went on in the same way with very good racing. Also VVV-Racing in second place had now received a couple of laps distance in front of Tramonto Racing which occupied the third place for the moment, but from behind within less then one lap distance there were three team, Team Röjmon Racing, KF-Racing and Driving Event Team Volvo, eagerly hunting for a podium position.
The last round of racing sessions starting with Kalle, followed by Tomas, Sven and finally Lasse was a incredible even competition by four team fighting strenuous about the second and third place. Tramonto Racing changed continuously places between second and fifth place the last four hours of the race.
Unfortunately, Tramonto Racing finally came off worst from this fight, behind VT-Racing, 369 laps, VVV-Racing, 356 laps, Team Röjmon Racing, 355 laps, KF-Racing, 354 laps and Tramonto Racing also 354 laps in fifth place only two laps from second place and one lap from third place. In the total result list Tramonto Racing finally took the 12th place.
In summary, an exciting race day with a bit bad luck in the end this time but Tramonto Racing will of course come back and make a new attempt to reach the podium next race in August at Mantorp Park.
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May 2009
MSLS race 2 at Sviestad, May 23rd
It was obvious that he was excited by being back in the racing car seat because it was almost impossible to get him back into the pit box again. The car behaved really well and the only thing Kalle mentioned was some minor jerks at high speed, but it was assumed that this was caused by the heavy rain.
Saturday morning, the race day, a bit cloudy and a forecast which indicated some showers mixed with sunshine during the day. The team this race was composed by Lasse, Kalle, Tomas and Sven.
When Lasse was appointed to be take care of the start he was also granted to deal with the transponder test laps. Already after the first test lap Lasse reported ignition disturbance and these ignition disturbances increased during the following test laps.
The rest of the team prepared for ignition failure tests in the pit box and when Lasse arrived they found immediately the problem, partly corrosive attacked sparking plugs, and the problem was of course easily solved by assembling new plugs just in time for line up.
Lasse carried out the start in a good way but already in the second bend of the first S-curve a huge cloud of smoke appeared around the car. Lasse continued the race but in every right bend the huge cloud of smoke appeared. Lasse was requested to check the water and oil temperatures but these values was within the limits and the car still behaved good.
After five laps the referee showed the technical failure flag and he was with that forced to break the race, at least temporary. Back in the pit box a pool of gearbox oil mixed with gear box differential wheel parts covered the ground. The gearbox was completely blown out via a three inch diameter big hole in the bottom of the gearbox.
While there was a lack of another gearbox in the service vehicle, Lasse was tasked to collect a new gearbox in the garage. Meanwhile, Kalle, Tomas and Sven started to de-assamble the broken gearbox. Kalle and Sven took away one drive shaft each and a lot of other stuff in order to get hold of the gearbox and Tomas dived into the pool of oil under the car and began to release the gearbox.
The torn gearbox was rather easy to take out. Lasse arrived with the new gearbox. It was a bit tricky to cross the race track with a heavy gearbox, but Tomas made a powerful effort and lifted it and run across the track. Lasse joined Tomas in the pool of oil under the car and Kalle and Sven handled the stuff from the upper side and the new gearbox was quickly assembled.
The entire repair session was a display of excellent team work. Soon after 12 o'clock Lasse was out on the track again and from the very last position in the result list Tramonto Racing slowly but surely advanced in the result list. Lasse was followed by Kalle, Tomas and Sven in a first 40 minutes round each before the fuel stop.
Rain shower mixed with sunshine characterized the afternoon weather as foreseen in the forecast. In the last 2 hours of the race each of the drivers performed a 30 minutes round and finally Tramonto Racing Team ended up in a well-earned 6th position in class 4 and 23rd position in the total result list.
Despite the gearbox exchange in the beginning of the race, the whole team was very satisfied with the performed day work this early summer day.
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April 2009
MSLS race 1 at Mantorp Park, April 18th
The race day, Saturday, 18th of April, began in an excellent way. Blue heaven and sun shine, a bit cold but really delightful.
Sven was lucky to take care of the start. An impressive feeling, 47 racing cars on the grid. Sven operated the racing car fast and stable as the skilled driver he is. Some minor problems with the 3rd and 4th gear initially, but these problems seemed to amend after some laps. After an hour Lasse took over the wheel and went on the racing in the same way. Lasse advanced a couple of places in the result list.
Then Magnus entered the car and carried out his first competition racing laps for more one and a half year. Magnus made a brilliant come back session. Following a couple of hours waiting, Tomas took control of the car and manouevered the car safe and graceful. Halfway through the race Tramonto Racing Team had advanced up to a fourth position in class 4 and to position 25 in the total result list.
In Svens second round the first real mishap occurred. An extensive part of rubber from the left front wheel come loose and the car became almost impossible to drive. The left wheel was of course exchanged and Sven could continue again. In Lasses second round the next mishap appeared. Slowly but surely the clutch became worse and worse and finally it was almost impossible to change gear at all. Another visit to the pit box.
Fortunately, this clutch problem was solved by adding some oil to the clutch system. Magnus second round of the day could have wind up in a bad way since he was surprised by a big pool of oil in the entrance of the start and finish curve. Fortunately this adventure ended up only in a 180 degrees quick unprepared turn around and Magnus was soon again up on the track again.
Tramonto Racing team was now in the 20th position in the total result list and still in the fourth position in class 4 but with some possibilities to reach the third place. Of course Tomas took, in his last round of the day, sight on the third place and carried on rather well for around 40 minutes.
Then suddenly, without any earlier indications, when he but the brakes on just before the entrance into the Mjölby corner, at the highest speed on the entire race track, the brake effect appeared to be almost zero. Despite repeated brake pedal pump the brake effect remained zero.
Tomas tried to turn the car right into the curve but discovered immediately that the speed was to high, so the only chance to manage the situation in a fairly way was to right up the car and continue out in the course sand box.
It became a long distance trip out in the sand box before the car stopped deep in the sand and the race was unfortunately terminated.
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First racing training session
2009, Sviestad, April 10th
It was a much longed-for return to the race track again after the winter break. It was also great to welcome Magnus back to the team again after a one year endurance racing break.
Sven, Tomas, Lasse and Magnus tried out the car and the race track for a couple of laps each and all of them were, after some minor adjustments, satisfied with the performance of the car.
In summary, the training session, performed in wonderful sunshine, was successful and Tramonto Racing Team look forward to the first race of the year with great enthusiasm.
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January to March 2009
Racing car upgrade and modification activities, January to March 2009
During the winter season the racing car has been upgraded and modified in several areas. New plastic hood and plastic trunk has been assembled. Both drive shafts have been exchanged as well as all wheel bearings.
The ABS brake system and the oil pan has been repaired and the exhaust manifold as well as the clutch slave cylinder has been exchanged.
A lot of other modifications have also been performed and in the end the entire car was striped in Tramonto Racing Team white-green-red color shape.
With that the racing car was completely ready for a new racing season again.
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Tramonto Racing 2008
October 2008MSLS grand final race 6, Mantorp Park, October 4th
The morning of MSLS 2008 grand final day at Mantorp Park, a bit raw and chilly, some morning dew, almost calm, i.e. perfect racing conditions. The Volvo S40 Challenge racing car with all settings exactly fine tuned to match the challenging race track at Mantorp Park.
Four terribly race hungry Tramonto Racing Team drivers. Fortyseven (47!) racing cars ready for race at the grid. The team goal for the 2008 racing season, "to achieve a podium result in one of the MSLS race competitions of the year", still not reached yet.
Tomas was entrusted with the task to take care of the start. An impressive feeling to step on it surrounded by fortysix other racing teams, all eager to fight. Apart from some initial clutch skid, which self-healed gradually, the car behaved really good. Kalle took the wheel safe and effective the second distance and Sven increased the speed further in the third distance.
Just before the first refuel stop, Sven was heavily bumped into by another racing car in the fast Mjölby curve. This collision resulted in an immediate flat tyre on the right front wheel. Sven was however able to carry on to the pit and the punctured wheel was exchanged quick as lightning. After the following refuel stop Lasse kept up the pace in a good manner in the fourth distance.
Tomas entered into the car again and managed the fifth distance reliable, despite some leaked oil on the track. Kalle continued in the same way and was forced to fight with even more pools of leaked oil on the track.
Continuously, through the entire race, Tramonto Racing Team slowly but surely improved the position in the result list and after around six hours racing performed the team had advanced to a fifth (almost fourth) position in class 5 and the podium position was definitely within a reachable distance.
The last refueling was performed and Sven was well aware of his mission in his last race session of the day, improve the position to a podium place. When Sven handed over the racing car to Lasse for the last distance Tramonto Racing Team occupied the third podium position. Lasse was now expected to manage the tough job to defend the podium position the last 67 minutes of the race. The rest of the team followed the exciting fight of seconds against number 21 Matex Racing in fourth position.
Lasse was presented status reports minute by minute via the radio and he made exactly what he was expected to do. Safe, cool and self-possessed he guarded the podium position the whole way to the checkers flag.
Believe it or not, but we made it, the goal of the racing season was fulfilled again, same procedure as last year, in the very last moments of the racing season.
Tramonto Racing Team was more then satisfied with this final race and proudly entered the podium to receive the eagerly awaited cups.
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September 2008
MSLS race 5, Sviestad, September 6th
Following
a three months period of racing car repair caused by the steel barrier
crash during the spring, Tramonto Racing is now back on the racing
track again. The last settings in the engine was performed just before
the training session in Friday afternoon.
Unfortunately the gearbox was damaged (3rd gear out of order) during the training session but a gearbox exchange was performed the night between Friday and Saturday.
The fifth MSLS race competition 2008 at Sviestad began in slightly rain and the car behaved excellent on the wet track. From the 24th starting position Tramonto Racing advanced continuously in the result list in the same rate as the rain increased.
In the afternoon some brake system problem occurred and the brake effect decreased substantially. These brake problems in combination with subsided rain and dry race track brought Tramonto Racing slightly backwards in the result list.
However, 10th place in class 5 and 21st place in the total result list was good enough in this come back competition. The team was satisfied with the car performance and happy to be able to carry out all eight hours racing.
So, count on an expectant and charged Tramonto Racing team, well prepared for the final MSLS race competition at Mantorp Park in beginning of October.
Unfortunately the gearbox was damaged (3rd gear out of order) during the training session but a gearbox exchange was performed the night between Friday and Saturday.
The fifth MSLS race competition 2008 at Sviestad began in slightly rain and the car behaved excellent on the wet track. From the 24th starting position Tramonto Racing advanced continuously in the result list in the same rate as the rain increased.
In the afternoon some brake system problem occurred and the brake effect decreased substantially. These brake problems in combination with subsided rain and dry race track brought Tramonto Racing slightly backwards in the result list.
However, 10th place in class 5 and 21st place in the total result list was good enough in this come back competition. The team was satisfied with the car performance and happy to be able to carry out all eight hours racing.
So, count on an expectant and charged Tramonto Racing team, well prepared for the final MSLS race competition at Mantorp Park in beginning of October.
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June to August 2008
Racing car repair period
Report will come up soon.
May 2008
MSLS race 2, Sviestad, May 10th
The second MSLS race competition 2008 at Sviestad began in an excellent way
for Tramonto Racing Team. The racing car was in a brilliant shape,
faster than ever.
From the 28th starting position Tramonto Racing advanced continuously up to the 8th position in the result list in the first 2 hours and 50 minutes of the race.
Then, after 116 laps, the race suddenly terminated in a fierce crash into the steel barrier just after the chicane.
From the 28th starting position Tramonto Racing advanced continuously up to the 8th position in the result list in the first 2 hours and 50 minutes of the race.
Then, after 116 laps, the race suddenly terminated in a fierce crash into the steel barrier just after the chicane.
MSLS race 1, Mantorp Park, April 14th
Following the entire winter period waiting the racing season finally appeared on Friday afternoon 13th of April. Already at lunch time the long row of pit boxes was filled up by racing cars and their belonging racing teams. Around half past three in the afternoon the first racing car entered the race track, and all others followed close behind, for a two hour long training session.
In Tramonto Racing Team, Kalle was first out on the track, followed by Sven and then Lars. All these three drivers were complaining about the bad brake effect, after their training sessions. Just before Tomas entrance in the car the team noticed that the rear left brake caliper had completely come loose.
Fortunately, even though the bolts had disappeared the brake caliper was in place hanging solely in the brake rubber tube. The rest of the training session was hence used looking for spares and brake caliper repair.
Saturday morning was cold and the forecast indicated risk for snow. 40 racing team was lining up at the grid and the rolling start was passed rather smoothly. Our S40 racing car seemed to be faster than ever on the race track and Lasse who was appointed to take care of the start performed really good racing. The rest of the team was a bit impressed when Lasse, as a matter of fact, also drove by some class 6 racing cars.
But then suddenly, on the 18th lap, the driving force in the S40 disappeared and the car was not possible to move forward. Lasse tried all gears but the car remained completely stationary. The breakdown lorry brought the car back to the pit box and the investigation about the reason for the loss of driving force began.
The gear box seemed to be still well-functioning but nevertheless no power was transferred through the driving axles to the powered wheels. So the main suspicion fall on the clutch mechanism.
Due to the bad winter weather conditions around the pit box and the time consuming activities to de-assemble and assemble the gearbox and the clutch mechanism the team decided to abandon the race.
Back in the garage the de-assembling of the gearbox and the clutch mechanism resulted in the findings that the splined hub in the clutch friction disk was broken. Still the gearbox seem to be functioning but further investigations will clarify this.
With that Tramonto Racing Team performed the worst racing result ever, 39th place of totally 40 participating team. But Tramonto Racing Team will come back again.
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| MSLS racing in winter conditions | The broken clutch friction disk |
March 2008
Tramonto Racing Car Roll Out 2008, March 21st
Three weeks prior to the first MSLS race 2008, following around five months of hard work in the garage during the winter period, the Tramonto Racing Team Volvo S40 Challenge racing car was finally ready for Roll Out 2008.
In the afternoon of Good Friday, the ignition of the racing car was turned on and the beautiful engine sound appeared in the garage. Even though the recently appeared winter still had a firm grip of the surroundings outside the garage, the racing car reverse gear was turned in and the racing car was backed out for the first time since October 2007.
The racing car has gone through a huge upgrade and modification restore, but finally the car was fully assembled again, crowded with magnificent performance.
All team members could now celebrate Easter holiday in peace and quiet and look forward to the first race performance of the year, MSLS race number 1 at Mantorp Park, Saturday 12th of April.
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| Five months winter work completed | Racing car roll out 2008 |
February 2008
Continuing racing car upgrade and modification activities, February 14th
In February the preparatory work before the 2008 racing season went on absolutely according to plan.
All new light weight material parts was delivered to the garage as offered and the assembling work was initiated. In parallel also other adjustments and changes in the car were worked out.
Another pleasant event was noticed, videlicet that Tramonto Racing was confirmed to be one of the maximum thirty racing team's which was accepted as series team in the 2008 MSLS racing series.
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| Sven modify the doors | Kalle deep into the electrical system |
January 2008
Racing car upgrade and modification activities, January 29th
During January the preparation activities before the 2008 racing season was intensified. The planned upgrades and modifications regarding the S40 racing car has been going on quite seriously.
The car has been undressed with respect to doors, trunk door, hood, bumper and glass. After this disintegration, the car is now soon ready to be assembled again but with a lot of heavy metal and glass material replaced by light weight materials.
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| The undressed racing car | Sven fully concentrated inside the car |
Tramonto Racing 2007
December 2007Increased ownership in Tramonto Racing team, December 31st
In New Year's Eve 2007 the ownership of the Tramonto Racing team Volvo S40 racing car was changed. Previously, Kalle and Sven have had a 50% share each in the car but from now also Tomas and Lasse are part owners.
With that, the new ownership conditions are that Kalle, Sven, Tomas and Lasse now have a 25% share each in the car.
In association with the new partnership agreement the team owners also decided to upgrade the car before the next racing season concerning release of weight of the car, new brake system, better communication system and some other measures.
The new ownership relationship in the team does however not effect the team composition compared to the previous racing season, which means that the team still consists of the five drivers Kalle, Sven, Lasse, Tomas, Magnus and the mechanic Håkan also in the forthcoming racing season.
The only difference is probably that Tramonto Racing Team enter the 2008 racing season even stronger and more charged than before.
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| The excellent racing car | Additional team part owners |
November 2007
Tramonto Racing season completion event or "The ultimate team contest", November 10th
Saturday November 10th, was the day for the completion of the 2007 racing season for Tramonto Racing Team. After this successful endurance racing season it was time for the important internal team contest, a competition loaded with prestige filled to the brim.
The asphalt race way and the endurance race car was exchanged to a gravel way and rally cars in combination with a bumpy grass track and 4-wheel motorcycles.
The
competition began with a rally race qualification and continued with a
4-wheel motorcycle race qualification followed by another rally race
qualification. However, this qualification sections of the contest was
only used to prepare the priority of the starting list sequence in the
one and only big rally race final in the end.
The first rally race qualification round was rather even, all team members seemed to make use of the opportunity to check the cars, the gravel way and to work out a good track line.
In the 4-wheel motorcycle qualification race a bit more energy appeared. Kalle made the best run, but the most exciting event was the fight between Håkan, our mechanics, and Sven which resulted in an overwhelming victory for Håkan. In the last rally race qualification round even more passion and commitments appeared.
Sven felt peckish of
revenge after the ignominious defeat in the 4-wheel motorcycle race
against Håkan. Magnus drove in a furious pace. Kalle noticeable
stepped on it, strengthened by the successful 4-wheel motorcycle
qualification results.
The qualification was now carried out and accomplished and everybody
realized the gravity of the situation. The big final was the only event
which remained. An atmosphere of foreboding attended.
Håkan began the final race, but he drove into the ditch and was unfortunately out of the running. Lasse seemed to perform a really good race without any mistakes and he appeared like a dark horse. Kalle looked agile, but was he fast enough?
Tomas performed a greatly
controlled race, tight and efficient. Sven looked, as always,
very resolute and fervent. Magnus appeared to go for a more safe race
compared to his earlier qualification runs.
Finally, our host Jan Bonnevier presented the final result list as
follows. 6th place Håkan, 5th place Kalle, 4th place Magnus and
the podium was occupied by Sven in the 3rd place, Lasse in the 2nd
place and the winner of the ultimate team contest 2007 became Tomas.
In the afternoon and evening the team carried on to the garage where Sven and Kalle had built up a raceway and the racing, in small format, continued for another couple of hours.
Then the sandwich layer cake was put on the table and everybody enjoyed the delicious meal together with tasty beverages and simultaneously discussed the plans for the next racing season.
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| Tramonto Racing rally contest | The final podium |
October 2007
MSLS race 6, Mantorp Park,
October 6th
Friday October 5th, Tramonto Racing Team arrived in the late afternoon to Mantorp Park in order to prepare for the sixth and final MSLS race competition of the 2007 racing season next day. A lot of racing team had already showed up and the row of pit boxes was really crowded. The safety inspection of the car was smoothly carried out.
Since there was no training session announced, as in
normal cases
the evening before a race, the team improvised an alternative
preparatory
session containing a meal of sandwiches, gâteau and hot
beverages which was
enjoyed in the beautiful autumn evening sunset in the pit lane.
Early Saturday morning October 6th, the team arrived to Mantorp Park terribly well prepared for the final race competition of the year. The common team objective for the 2007 racing season, which was set in the beginning of the year, to end up on the podium in the total class 5 result list in the end of the racing season was of course the main thing in all team members mind this morning.
Lasse, Tomas and Sven took advantage of the occasion to use the 30 minutes long transponder test session a few laps each to check the race track, the new Michelin tyres and the car settings. Everything was well-functioning and in an excellent shape. In this race Lasse was elected to take care of the start. An impressive number of totally 41 racing cars lined up on the grid.
The start of the race was really powerful. Lasse made a good effort in the first laps but already in the third lap Lasse noticed that something broke down in the left back part of the car and the car begun to behave really strange. The upper left back trailing arm was completely broken off.
All present S40 teams’ spare part stocks were immediately fine-combed in the hunt for a trailing arm but no one was found. Kalle began a high speed journey via the E4 to Linköping for a round trip among a number of car repair shops in order to obtain a new trailing arm.
Sven and Håkan quickly brought two different welding set, one electrical and one gas, from the team repair shop and began to weld the two pieces of the broken trailing arm together. Even the iron-bar lever come into use in order to force the arm back again.
Within half an hour the trailing arm was repaired and assembled to the car and Lasse was out on the race track again. What an impressive and brilliant mechanic effort. Now we had to start our promotion from the very last place in the competition. However, still more than seven hours remained so the team was still full of expectation for the forthcoming part of the race. Tomas took over from Lasse and thereafter Magnus, Kalle and Sven continued.
The car was faster then ever, the new Michelin tyres was wonderful and the team climbed slowly but surely continuously in the result list. When Forema Racing, around noon, were forced to throw in the towel after an unfortunate and regrettable engine fire incident, even a podium place in the total class 5 result list appeared possible to reach again.
The main focus in the afternoon part of the race was concentrated to keep our main competitor for our class 5 podium goal, Team Viking Racing, within an adequate distance in order to secure that we would pursue to retain them behind us in the total result list.
Lasse performed an extraordinary fantastic second run, Tomas followed on with exceptional good racing, Magnus driving was entirely excellent, Kalle literally owned the race track and finally Sven was completely outstanding and carried out the best lap time in the very last lap of the race.
Tramonto Racing Team succeeded again and fulfilled our own objectives and expectations. Finally, we took the bronze medal in MSLS class 5 racing series 2007.
Congratulations also to TBR-Racing to the victory and KF-Racing to the second place in class 5.
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| From a broken car and despair ... | ... to a great success !!! |
September
2007
MSLS race 5, Sviestad, September
15th
On Friday afternoon, September 14th, the training session was performed as planned.
Saturday morning, September 15th, was really windy, a bit cloudy, some drizzle mixed with some sunbeams.
Tomas was elected to take care of the start, which was fairly tight owing to the fact that as many as 32 team showed up on the grid.
However, the start was carried out smooth and Lasse, Magnus, Sven and Kalle continued in the same way.
Furthermore the car was in an excellent shape so the team had a placid morning and solely enjoyed exquisite homemade baguettes and biscuits in the warm trailer.
Even in the afternoon the team went on with the racing activities in the same manner as in the morning without any incidents, mishaps or penalties. The team advanced continuously in the result list during the entire afternoon.
The only troublespot was the fear that the brake pads on the front wheels should not cope with the strain the entire race, but they did even if they were completely worned out in the end of the race. Tramonto Racing performed a brilliant race and ended up in the 7th place in the total result list and in the 4th place in the class 5 result list.
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| Tomas ready for the start | Full speed on the long straight stretch |
August 2007
MSLS race 4, Sviestad, August 11th
On Friday afternoon, August 10th, when the car should be loaded for transportation to the training session at Sviestad, the car appeared completely dead. A massive electricity failure investigation began. Battery capacity was good, no visible weak links were found, gauges were applied to different nodes in the electrical system and professional expertise was consulted.
Following alternative fault theories and measurements around in the system the villain of the piece was found, the electrical master switch outside the car was out of order. A new master switch was obtained and quickly assembled. Some hour late, the team arrived to Sviestad and after the mandatory car inspection it was still time for a couple of training laps.
On Saturday morning, August 11th, 25 racing team appeared on the grid. The weather was a bit changeable in the early morning and the forecast indicated a certain risk for rain showers during the day, however the weather gradually changed to clear sky and sun in the afternoon.
Lars was appointed to take the starting run. From the fifth line position on the grid he performed well and handed over to Tomas for the second run. In the second lap of Tomas run the first incident of the day occurred. In the entrance of the Torpa curve another car bumped into the right side of the car. Fortunately the incident resulted in limited damages. After another lap team number 9 ran in to engine problems which resulted in oil spread over a long distance of the track and the safety car appeared on the track for more than half an hour during the oil decontamination.
Magnus took over for the third run and Kalle followed in the fourth run. In the fifth run Sven first hit the pile of tyre with the right side of the car in the exit of the chicane which resulted in the first stop-and-go penalty of the day and then an additional incident occurred when another car bumped into the right side of the car in the Torpa curve again.
In Lars second run of the day another incident took place, again in the exit of the chicane where Lars was forced into the pile of tyre which hit the right side of the car and then he continued out in the grass on the other side of the track. Afresh, this resulted in the second stop-and-go penalty of the day.
Due to the fact that the car had, already from the start, behaved slightly twisting when the brakes were applied in the entrances of the curves the team decided to take the car in to the machine pit lane for inspection of the brakes. The reason to the twisting behavior was a completely crooked worn out brake pad on the left back wheel.
The crooked brake pad was exchanged and Tomas was soon out on the track again. Tomas was close to hit the pile of tyre in the chicane in one lap but escaped instead with a slippery visit in the grass area on the opposite side of the chicane. Also Magnus had a slight touch in the pile of tyre in the chicane.
However, this touch did not resulted in any penalty. Kalles last run of the day passed safe and smoothly. Even in the last run of the day Sven hit the pile of tyre, in the right side of the car again, and got his second, and the team's third, stop-and-go penalty of the day.
Despite this last penalty he succeeded to improve the place in the result list when he beat team number 52 in the last laps which resulted in the sixth place in class 5 and the thirteenth place in the total result list after 320 laps performed.
For the first time of the season Tramonto Racing climbed to podium position, place number 3, in the class 5 total series result list so far. A nice completion of an eventful, warm and sunny race day.
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| Preparation activities | Tough race for the right side of the car |
June 2007
MSLS race 3, Sviestad,
June 9th
As usual, this race weekend began with a training session on Friday afternoon, June 8th. All drivers in the team had showed up. Håkan, the team mecanic, was however missing due to overtime ordered by his employer!
The training session was mainly used for all drivers to get accustomed with the new gearbox. Except from a minor problem with a missing ABS electrical outlet assembly the training session was performed smoothly.
Next day, Saturday , June 9th, the race day was an extremely warm day and probably all the 28 gathered team feared the consequences of clear sky, intensive shining sun and high temperature during eight hours of racing.
Magnus took care of the starting run and Lasse drove the second one. Already after this second run the team realized that the brakes and maybe also the tyres could be a problem during the day if we did not handle them carefully.
The brakes were almost burning when Tomas entered the car for the third driving session. However, allowing the brakes to be sufficient cooled between each brake occasion the brakes served really well. Sven drove the forth run and Kalle the fifth. Half way during the race we established the fact that the brakes as well as the tyres would most probably cope with the hard heat for another four hours racing if we continued almost in the same way as we performed the first four hours.
Half way to the checker flag it was also obvious that rather many of our competitors already had fallen victims for the current hard racing circumstances, stationary parked in the pit area.
The afternoon racing round passed in an excellent manner starting with Magnus and continued with Lasse followed by Tomas, Sven and finally Kalle who took the white and black checker flag again after 325 laps totally performed. All five drivers in the team were really tired and dripped with sweat after each driving session, but still the team performed the whole race without any mishaps or technical hitches and achieved a fairly good result.
In the 'Gallery' sub web page you will find some pictures from the Friday training session and the Saturday race competition. A short film from the start and finish straight stretch is now also included in the end of the race 3 gallery or click here to watch the film.
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| Cooling on the grid | Racing view |
May 2007
MSLS race 2, Sviestad, May 19th
Friday afternoon, May 18th, the team was gathered together again, all except Lasse. Lasse had, for some incomprehensible reason, travelled abroad, to Island, this weekend. What a ranking in order of priority! However, all other drivers in the team had turned up as expected, well prepared for the training session this evening.
After some preparation activities Sven was ready to enter the race track first, but unfortunately the first hour of the training session were disturbed by an undesirable interference with a supermotard training session.
However, despite some supermotard interruptions, all four Tramonto Racing Team drivers performed around 10-12 training laps each, with good results. When the training session was accomplished the car was loaded and conveyed back to the garage again in order to fix some planned preventive measures before the race next day.
Saturday morning, May 19th, and it was race day again. Sviestad was filled up with a great racing atmosphere. 30 racing team (which, in fact, is the maximum number of racing cars allowed at Sviestad race track) have turned up this early morning. Tramonto Racing team was well prepared with new brakes and new tyres assembled on the car and all team members really fit for fight.
Magnus was appointed to take care of the start, a tough task bearing in mind the large number of racing cars on the grid. However, Magnus managed the start and the first hour of racing excellent, fast, rhythmic and cool. He handed over to Tomas who continued in the same way for the second hour.
Sven opened the third hour in his ordinary way, i.e. in a really high speed and again he put the best lap time of the team already within a quarter of driving. But, after half an hour of driving, Sven was unfortunately bumped into by another car and in direct conjunction to this collision the gearbox was damaged, which resulted in the fact that the third gear was completely out of order.
Nevertheless, Sven continued by using only the second and the fourth gear and so did also Kalle in the fourth hour of racing. Magnus took over again but after around 40 minutes driving he lost also the fourth and the fifth gear.
Our mechanic, Håkan, immediately tried to find out some solution of our gearbox problem from the underside of the car supported by Tomas within the car, bending the stickshift.
Believe it or not, suddenly Håkan found a drive shaft position which made it possible for Tomas to squeeze in the fourth gear again and Magnus was soon out on the race track again.
Tomas continued the race by using only the fourth gear and Sven found it possible to change between the second and fourth gear again in his second race session for the day. Sven also proved that it was possible to perform really good lap times even without the third gear.
Finally, Kalle made a hero performance in the last hour of the race where he improved our place in the result list with really good racing despite the gearbox problem.
Again, Tramonto Racing Team had made a great contribution on the race track and showed an excellent cooperativeness and willingness to support each other. All team members were really happy with the effort performed this race weekend. In the 'Gallery' sub web page you will find pictures from the Friday training session and the Saturday race competition
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| Line up on the grid | Tight racing effects |
April 2007
MSLS race 1, Mantorp Park, April
15th
The first MSLS race arrangement 2007 began at Saturday afternoon and evening with an official training session at Mantorp Park. The Tramonto Racing Team, together with quite a lot of other racing teams, was of course present and ready when the training session was opened.
All five drivers in the team took the chance to check the car performance and behaviour, try track alternatives and test some different settings in a couple of laps each. Everything was well-functioning. The only tricky thing this evening was to achive a joint decision about which type of tyres to be used in the race the next day. But, even such a thing was solved in concensus before the sunset.
The Sunday, the race day, appeared as a completely marvelous warm and sunny day. 27 racing teams were gathered and tremendously prepared for the competition.
Sven was appointed to take the start for Tramonto Racing. He increased the speed almost immediately and put the best Tramonto Racing Team lap time in this race already in the tenth lap. Magnus followed by Lasse, Tomas and Kalle continued with excellent racing the first team round.
The S40 was in a really good shape, well-balanced, fast and furious. The second team round in the afternoon carried on in the same way first with Sven, followed by Magnus. However, Magnus had the first indication of slightly degraded brake effect on the front wheels.
Lasse continued and made a good run but in the end of his spell of work he realized that the front wheel brake pads were completely worned out. We were at the point of no return, so we had to exchange the brake pads on both sides in the front.
The mecanic team led by Håkan made an extraordinarily and fast brake pads exchange job and Tomas was out on the race track again within a quarter. Inevitable, this stop resulted in a five places drop in the result list, but Tomas and Kalle were able to recover one place in their last runs and Tramonto Racing Team finally ended up in the 5th place in Class 5 and 13th place in the total result list.
Nevertheless, summarized, it had been a great day and a great race and the whole team were properly satisfied with their effort in this first race of the season. In the 'Gallery' sub web page you will find pictures from the Saturday training session and the Sunday race competition.
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| Ready to start | Tramonto Racing in action |
First racing training session
2007, Sviestad
Early Easter Saturday morning the whole Tramonto Racing Team entered Sviestad racing track for the first training session 2007. The recently team re-striped racing car appeared as a perfect beauty in the enjoyable early morning sun.
After an initial minor electrical fault, a fuse blown, Sven began the race training session with an impressive driving. Magnus, Lars and Tomas followed up with a bit rusty, but still well-behaved driving. Kalle was a bit inert in his first laps but then suddenly he found the accelerator pedal and a well balanced rythm in an orderly manner and it became almost impossible to get him out of the track into the pit.
Sven, Magnus, Lars and Tomas then drove another few laps each before the black and white checked flag was shown. To sum up, this first training session for the season was a really successful start of the 2007 racing season. In the 'Gallery' sub web page you will find some additional nice pictures from this training session.
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| Right turn to the racing track | Start and finish straight, third gear, step on it |
Tramonto
Racing Team car color stripe conversion
In the beginning of April the Volvo S40 Challenge turned into the real Tramonto Racing appearance when it was striped into the beautiful and charming team color scheme, wide green and thin red applied on the white foundation.
In the 'Gallery' sub web page you will find some further pictures from the demanding striping activities, which was performed by the Tramonto Racing team precision task force supervised by the finicky dog.
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| Tramonto Racing striped front | Tramonto Racing striped back |
March 2007
Modifications, improvements and
racing vehicle safety inspection.
During February and March some modifications and improvements - like battery move to the back, master switch installations, installation of a new SBF approved catalytic converter and some other things - have been performed on the car.
Then finally, in the end of March, the Volvo S40 Challenge satisfactorily passed the mandatory racing vehicle safety inspection. This approval of the racing car was of course an important and significant milestone in the Tramonto Racing Team racing career.
You will find some pictures which shows the performed modifications and improvements of the car in the 'Gallery' sub web page.
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| Under the hood | In the garage |
February 2007
Volvo S40 Challenge deal and delivery.
In the end of January, our two team managers went to the southern part of Sweden comissioned to purchase a new forceful racing car to the Tramonto Racing team.
They found an excelent specimen of a Volvo S40 Challenge racing car and the deal was quickly completed. A couple of days later, in beginning of February, our team mechanic loaded the car on the truck and conveyed the car to Linköping.
October 10th, The final race of the 2006 racing season in MSLS. Heavy rain during the entire night before the race made the asphalt really slippery in the beginning of the race.
Lots of the participating racing cars ended up in the terrain outside the track already in the first lap.
Appart from one minor visit in the marshy ground, close to a barrier, the car was running well (even if we wanted the car to be faster) for all eight hours and the team carried out a comparatively good race and ended up in the 20th place of totally 30 participating teams.
In the end of January, our two team managers went to the southern part of Sweden comissioned to purchase a new forceful racing car to the Tramonto Racing team.
They found an excelent specimen of a Volvo S40 Challenge racing car and the deal was quickly completed. A couple of days later, in beginning of February, our team mechanic loaded the car on the truck and conveyed the car to Linköping.
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| Volvo S40 Challenge "pick up" | Volvo S40 Challenge "signed, sealed and delivered" |
Tramonto Racing 2006
October 2006
Tramonto
Racing in MSLS endurance race 6, Mantorp Park.
October 10th, The final race of the 2006 racing season in MSLS. Heavy rain during the entire night before the race made the asphalt really slippery in the beginning of the race.
Lots of the participating racing cars ended up in the terrain outside the track already in the first lap.
Appart from one minor visit in the marshy ground, close to a barrier, the car was running well (even if we wanted the car to be faster) for all eight hours and the team carried out a comparatively good race and ended up in the 20th place of totally 30 participating teams.
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| Preparation for the race | Ready |
September 2006
Tramonto
Racing in MSLS endurance race 5, Sviestad.
September 6th, Tramonto Racing made its debut in MSLS. The Start and the first laps were fairly well carried out but then some mechanical problems arose.
These problems, which originated from the fuel system, took the mecanic team several hours to find out and reapair. However, in the afternoon the car entered the race again and the team performed a rather good completion of the race.
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| Line up | Fuel problems |