Back for another crack

READY FOR ACTION: After a quiet 2020, Dan Day is keen to tackle the Valley Lakes course and claim his fifth straight Legend of the Lake hill climb at the end of the month. Picture: TREVOR JACKSON

By Trevor Jackson

AS the Legend of the Lakes hill climb fast approaches, a big field has been assembled to attack the Valley Lakes course from October 30 to November 1.

The fastest driver up the hill for the last four years has been Adelaide’s Dan Day in his modified Subaru WRX.

Day has driven the 750-plus horsepower beast to the current record of 49.89 seconds and this year he hopes to lower that benchmark.

He also has the chance to equal Peter Gazzard’s record of five wins in a row, on his way to the Mount Gambier driver’s overall total of seven victories.

In recent years Day has faced plenty of stiff opposition, not just from Gazzard, but also Kevin Mackrell in a crowd-favourite V8 Datsun 260z.

Unfortunately due to the covid-19 pandemic it appears Mackrell will not be in attendance, unless some drastic changes come through very soon regarding border restrictions.

While nothing is a given, Day is in the box seat to claim his fifth straight victory and could well lower the record if the weather gods play their part.

He told The Border Watch this week his plan was quite simple.

“We are only going there to win,“ Day said.

“The car is still the same as last year – we haven’t touched it.

“The track conditions last year didn’t really allow us to break the track record again so we will just see how we go this time.“

Day said his car has improved a lot since his record run in 2017 and he hopes to unleash its power this year.

He said the minor changes to the road surface may have an effect on the final time, but considers the conditions the most important aspect.

Due to the coronavirus restrictions Day said he has not even sat in the car since the Willunga hill climb last year, but does not consider that to be of any concern.

“The only other events I have done in that car anyway have been time attacks and things like that,“ he said.

“Year to year nothing has really changed.

“It will take a few runs to get my eye in again and we will go from there.“

It is no secret there are a few more than 750 horses lurking under the bonnet of the WRX.

Day has the luxury to turn up the power if he feels it can be of benefit.

Around 850 horsepower can be achieved, but he said that is often more of a hinderance than a help and the terminal speed at the top of the hill is hardly noticeable.

“If you go too much the car is a bit undriveable out of corners and it torque steers,“ Day said.

“You have to find that balance between being able to drive committed and have full control over it.

“We find it really good on the low boost mostly, but if the track is right on and we think the grip is there we can turn it up and have a real good crack.“

Day rates the final corner as one of the most challenging for him and one where he feels he could make up a couple of 10ths to possibly give the record a shake.

“I am always getting a bit of understeer going into the last corner and when you do that you ruin the exit,“ he said.

“Getting out of that corner is really important but it is tricky because with the gearing in our car it is a bit doughy out of there.

“The rest of the track is quite flowing all the way up to the bus stop and that is a matter of getting in there quickly and getting out.

“I think there is a couple of 10ths in that last corner alone.“

Apart from the obvious buzz of driving so fast in a controlled manner, Day said the way the Legend of the Lakes is organised makes it a pleasure to attend, along with the course itself.

“I think the piece of road we are able to drive on is my favourite bit,“ he said.

“You don’t get to drive roads like that at full speed normally and it is a pleasure to do so.“