The Track Tortoise

[Stifler]

Hey all,

Introducing my 3rd Roadster which I have named the tortoise (owing to its slow driver).

I picked it up from a family friend and tbh it was a little rough.  It had sat around for a while and was generally just looking a bit tired.  Here she is on collection day (it actually looks okay in the pictures but it was scruffy!):







I made a list of parts and added the following:

AD08Rs
HEL braided hoses
New OEM discs and pads all round
Painted callipers (2 were silver, 2 were blue!)
TEIN S springs
Toyosport manifold with OEM gaskets
Nathan's gear bushing kit
Refurbed wheels
4 wheel geo
MOMO tuner 320mm wheel
New battery
Added OEM toolkit
Detailed the body a bit (still looks poor!)

After all that she now looks like this (again, the pictures look better than real life!):








I had her on track this Saturday but tbh I was over driving and the car still needs a lot of work.  There is too much lateral and longitudinal movement under braking, I don't think the stock pads and discs are really up for it.  In May of this year I was doing 62 second laps at Knockhill in the Elise, I got the 2 down to a 68.  Still a lot of room for improvement however.

Some pics and a quick video from Saturday (yes I am a Sally and had the camera too low!):










[youtube:33hgi1lw]0hPe9Yggx0Q[/youtube:33hgi1lw]

Last track day is this Saturday so well see how the tortoise goes!

Cheers?

-Mark.

[barry1783]

certainly looks great in the photos  s:) s:) . What sort of geometry set up did you go for?

[Stifler]

Thanks  s:) s:)

I just went for factory standard geo for now as I'm still getting used to the car.  Once I've figured out what it's doing and where I need to improve I'll look to perhaps go a little more aggressive in the spring.

I had it back on track (in the wet this time) and it felt a lot better than the dry - mostly as other people value their cars too much to really push in the wet - so i was able to make a little time relative to them!  s:D s:D

[youtube:1vsvj6c1]9hPJt-VE1fA[/youtube:1vsvj6c1]

[Stifler]

Just remembered that I am on track this saturday and haven't really done anything to the car over winter  s:( s:(

Fitted a markiii pipe at the weekend and gave it a wash today, I also changed out the O2 sensors as a cel came on.

Discovered today on a test run that it's pulling to the left under heavy braking.   Will throw it into a garage to make sure the calipers are working okay.

I'll put up some pictures and video after the track day  s:) s:)

[1979scotte]

Hope its sorted for your track day.
Best of luck

[Stifler]

The thing that is REALLY annoying me is I can't find my keyhole covers!  Ordered them about 6 months ago and have turned the house upside down tonight trying to find them!

With the aero benefit they provide it would be worth about 2 seconds a lap  s;) s;)

[hachiroku]

Good to see another '2 being used on track, nice work so far.

Would love to get to Knockhill one day, look forward to seeing more pics and vids.

[Stifler]

Thanks mate, just been through your thread, very jealous!

Your Car looks spot on, puts mine to shame  s:( s:(

[Stifler]

Well, the weather was glorious for the first day of the season.  However, I have decided I really need to get back into a Lotus so I've put the little tortoise up for sale.  It was probably the last trackday I'll do in her but she's acquitted herself admirably!






Ignore the 'NEMISIS' shout 5 minutes in, it's a running joke with a friend and I about not being able to pass cars on straights but staying with them in corners  s;) s;)

[youtube:1oli5gik]E_ZB3VSEADU[/youtube:1oli5gik]

[PhilMC]

Hi, it was myself who spoke to you in the paddock as you were topping up your oil with a bottle neck.
Shame to see you moving on again, but as it's back to another Lotus I'm sure most will be quite jealous of you.
Shame my 2zz wasn't on track last Saturday as that might have helped reinforce how good these cheap little cars can be with a bit of fettling in the right areas.

[Stifler]

Good to meet you!  They are great fun, I'm just such a fan of lotus I miss not having one.  My next one will be my 6th  s:| :| s:|

[PhilMC]

I'll definitely be along to other SIDC/Lotus trackdays with the Roadster this year, so look forward to seeing what you rock up in next time!

[Stifler]

I meant to update the thread but I ended up buying a Europa S.  Will be at Sidc in September with it so hopefully see you there  s:) s:)