Alex's 2ZZ Swapped MR2 Roadster

[Roj]

Good effort, looked like you had a decent time despite the weather... and be prepared for that any time of the year, October or not!

Also interested to hear what tyres you were running, it all looked pretty progressive and controllable.

[1979scotte]

Its hilarious to think there are track days going on when only last week people around here were sitting in Mile long queues for fuel.

[Alex Knight]

Yesterday marked the my first trackday since moving to Scotland, and indeed my first visit to Knockhill.

As you'd expect for a track situated on the top of a hill in Scotland in October, it was wet. Very wet.

This was a bit of a shame, as I was really looking forward to putting the new CarboTech pads through their paces with some very high loads, but it wasn't to be.

The car was, as I've come to expect now, completely faultless.
Honestly, I really can't say enough good things about this little machine. I just love it. What a great car.

The balance was this:

Low speed - some mid-corner understeer

High speed - lots of oversteer!

I honestly had a great time, and the car was moving about a lot underneath me.

I'm looking forward to trying the circuit in the dry as I think the MR2 would be mega.

Here's a video summing up the day's action:

Car seems nicely balanced and controllable in the wet, What where your tyres, chassis, suspension, geo settings? Mine is a pig in the wet! To stiff, to aggressive geo and a right bloody handful, its not fun at all. I just cant bring myself to dial it back though as when its dry its unbelievably balanced and fast!

Thanks.

Running the following:

AD08RS. 195/50/R15 Front. 205/50/R15 Rear. Pressures for this wet day were set to 24psi front, 26psi rear.

Tein Superstreet with EDFC. Started out full stiff on the front, full soft on the rear. Ended up full soft all round.

Fully polybushed front and rear. Every bushing.

Zero toe all round.

1.5Deg negative camber front.

1.0Deg negative camber rear.

[Alex Knight]

Been sent some media from the last trackday at Knockhill:

(Unsuccessfully) trying to chase a track prepped M3 - too early for WOT at last corner exit:

A few statics:







A little dorifto sequence:





These last four are from a very nice chap called Marcel I met, who takes some pretty amazing photos of Scotland.










He's apparently a regular (amateur) at Knockhill. You can find his website and IG here:

My Saturday Drive - Website

My Saturday Drive - Instagram

[Chilli Girl]

Brilliant pics @Alex Knight - I did Knockhill some years ago now in a little blue MGF and Ford 1.6 racing car and the circuit was wet that day too but great fun.  It was one of those Gift vouchers days, brilliant fun.

[JB21]

I'd be selling the MR2 and buying something AWD if knockhill was my local track, it never stops bloody raining there.

[AJRFulton]

I'd be selling the MR2 and buying something AWD if knockhill was my local track, it never stops bloody raining there.

It's east coast, the wet Scotland reputation comes from the west coast. I won't claim it a dry track, as it gets plenty rain but of the more northern tracks Anglesey and probably Oulton Park will probably see more wet days than Knockhill.

However given the tracks location, high on a hill, when it rains it can rain lots - and it's always cold!

[Alex Knight]

I'd be selling the MR2 and buying something AWD if knockhill was my local track, it never stops bloody raining there.

I'm turning the negative into a positive, it's helping improve my car control skills.

[JB21]

I'd be selling the MR2 and buying something AWD if knockhill was my local track, it never stops bloody raining there.

I'm turning the negative into a positive, it's helping improve my car control skills.

True, I just hate not being able to really push on wet days. I'm looking at road legal full wets for mine. MFR do them.

[AJRFulton]

I'd be selling the MR2 and buying something AWD if knockhill was my local track, it never stops bloody raining there.

I'm turning the negative into a positive, it's helping improve my car control skills.

True, I just hate not being able to really push on wet days. I'm looking at road legal full wets for mine. MFR do them.

Do you know if they will be on the 1a/b/c list?

It's a market I'm surprised has never really been catered for. Toyo did the R1R which was probably considered a damp tyre, but it got discontinued.

You get plenty choice with dry track tyres, but little in the way of dedicated wet. Rainsports and the like do a job, but you see a car with full wets on and realise they aren't that good.

In terms of competition it's hard to compete against the FWD cars in a full wet session in the MR2, so would be interested in any tyre that can help.

[JB21]

I'd be selling the MR2 and buying something AWD if knockhill was my local track, it never stops bloody raining there.

I'm turning the negative into a positive, it's helping improve my car control skills.

True, I just hate not being able to really push on wet days. I'm looking at road legal full wets for mine. MFR do them.

Do you know if they will be on the 1a/b/c list?

It's a market I'm surprised has never really been catered for. Toyo did the R1R which was probably considered a damp tyre, but it got discontinued.

You get plenty choice with dry track tyres, but little in the way of dedicated wet. Rainsports and the like do a job, but you see a car with full wets on and realise they aren't that good.

In terms of competition it's hard to compete against the FWD cars in a full wet session in the MR2, so would be interested in any tyre that can help.

Not sure if on the list.

Extreme also do a full road legal wet.

MRF option:

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/mrf-motorsport-tyres-ztw5-intermediate-wet-race-tyre-2011482/

Extreme option:

https://www.extremetyresuk.com/project/extreme-vr3/

[Joesson]

@JB21 referred to "Extreme" tyres. I notice that they claim:

"EXTREME PERFORMANCE TYRES IS A SPECIAL COMPANY AMONG OTHERS PRODUCING RETREADED SPORTS TYRES. ONLY THE BEST CASING, "

Is that a common practice for track tyres?
Fifty years or so ago I bought a set of retreads on the recommendation of the supplier and within less than 10 road miles the casing split. That was on a Hillman Imp.
I do hope the technology has moved on a lot today.

[AJRFulton]

@JB21 referred to "Extreme" tyres. I notice that they claim:

"EXTREME PERFORMANCE TYRES IS A SPECIAL COMPANY AMONG OTHERS PRODUCING RETREADED SPORTS TYRES. ONLY THE BEST CASING, "

Is that a common practice for track tyres?
Fifty years or so ago I bought a set of retreads on the recommendation of the supplier and within less than 10 road miles the casing split. That was on a Hillman Imp.
I do hope the technology has moved on a lot today.

Some of the cheaper brands do retreads. I know Maxxsport RB4 tyres were.

Most of the established track tyres are not.

I can't see either as e-marked though, are they road legal?

[BahnStormer]

6th gear is for motorway cruising only... I'd be AMAZED if anybody goes anywhere near it on track, especially with a 2ZZ!

Even with a 1ZZ, I'd love a LONGER 6th.... motorway cruising should be 70mpg = 2200rpm-2500rpm.... the 3250rpm-3500rpm just feels annoying after a bit.

40mpg is standard for going anywhere near a motorway, even for ~140-150kph cruising for those on the autobahns.... I'm not suggesting it's pleasant doing a high speed dual carriageway haul in a MR2, but it's still good on fuel.

[Alex Knight]

I had a Corolla T-Sport 6th gear before I swapped it for an MR2 6th gear. It was silly short. Circa 3,700RPM at 70MPH.

Its much better on fuel with the MR2 6th gear now. I got 40MPG on the run from Bristol to Scotland, even with a 2ZZ.

Agreed on not seeing 6th gear on track too.

I have seen the rev limiter of 5th gear, and the speedo was reading circa 135 MPH. Can't think of a track in the UK where you'd get near that. Closest I've been is Bedford Autodrome GT, which was circa 130MPH on the back straight in 5th.

[Chilli Girl]

My old MR-S box in 5th was reading about the same at 70mph, too noisy for me but then I knew that it wasn't a motorway vehicle when I brought it!

[Roj]

I'd be selling the MR2 and buying something AWD if knockhill was my local track, it never stops bloody raining there.

I'm turning the negative into a positive, it's helping improve my car control skills.

True, I just hate not being able to really push on wet days. I'm looking at road legal full wets for mine. MFR do them.

Do you know if they will be on the 1a/b/c list?

It's a market I'm surprised has never really been catered for. Toyo did the R1R which was probably considered a damp tyre, but it got discontinued.

You get plenty choice with dry track tyres, but little in the way of dedicated wet. Rainsports and the like do a job, but you see a car with full wets on and realise they aren't that good.

In terms of competition it's hard to compete against the FWD cars in a full wet session in the MR2, so would be interested in any tyre that can help.

Not sure if on the list.

Extreme also do a full road legal wet.

MRF option:

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/mrf-motorsport-tyres-ztw5-intermediate-wet-race-tyre-2011482/

Extreme option:

https://www.extremetyresuk.com/project/extreme-vr3/

Funny thing with road legal tyres is that's its illegal to sell a non-E-marked tyre for road use, but it's not illegal to use them. As long as the tyre meets the 1.6mm tread depth across 3/4 of the width, it's legal to use on the road. A full wet will technically be legal to use on the road.

[JB21]

@JB21 referred to "Extreme" tyres. I notice that they claim:

"EXTREME PERFORMANCE TYRES IS A SPECIAL COMPANY AMONG OTHERS PRODUCING RETREADED SPORTS TYRES. ONLY THE BEST CASING, "

Is that a common practice for track tyres?
Fifty years or so ago I bought a set of retreads on the recommendation of the supplier and within less than 10 road miles the casing split. That was on a Hillman Imp.
I do hope the technology has moved on a lot today.

Some of the cheaper brands do retreads. I know Maxxsport RB4 tyres were.

Most of the established track tyres are not.

I can't see either as e-marked though, are they road legal?

I can now confirm the MRF ZTW5 wets are indeed road legal. Received mine today.

[Alex Knight]

MOT day today - passed without advisories 😁

I've covered 1,709 miles since last MOT, which included a 400+ mile move to Scotland. I really must book more trackdays next year.

[1979scotte]

MOT day today - passed without advisories 😁

I've covered 1,709 miles since last MOT, which included a 400+ mile move to Scotland. I really must book more trackdays next year.

Agreed

[Alex Knight]

Our outside tap crapped out a while ago, and I've only just been able to fix it.

As a result, the MR2 has not been cleaned in a little while.

I used my lunch break to rectify that. I honestly don't remember it ever being so dirty!

Here's the before:







And after a quick wash (only had an hour including getting everything out and packing it away etc):



Makes me feel sooooo much better.
I couldn't resist one last look back as I was walking back to the house - surely a sign of a car that's really gotten under your skin 😁

[Joesson]

Scrub's up well!

[Chilli Girl]

Very smart @Alex Knight - could do with new lights like yours

[Alex Knight]

Very smart @Alex Knight - could do with new lights like yours

It's actually not that expensive!

I bought a new pair for £290, and sold my old ones on eBay for £80, which means the net cost to me was about £210. No brainier to me. Really freshens up the front end.

[Topdownman]

It is amazing how new headlights lift the look of a car!