MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: Rowland on January 14, 2009, 20:27

Title: My Race Car Build
Post by: Rowland on January 14, 2009, 20:27
Hi all,

As many of you may know I'll be racing a mk3 Roadster in the MR2 Championship this year.
Within this thread I will be keeping a regular update on how progression goes with the transformation from road to race car.
I will be doing some of the work, Rogue Motorsport in Coventry will be doing the majority though.

So,

Having won a bargain of an eBay auction early December I travelled up to Middlesborough to pick up a silver 2004 MR2 Roadster with some n/s accident damage with 30,000 miles on the clock.
It was a bit of a gamble buying blind but at £2,150.00 I felt pretty good about it.


eBay pics:

(http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/001/1f/b3/a147_1.JPG)
(http://i16.ebayimg.com/04/i/001/1f/b3/ad71_1.JPG)
(http://i1.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/1f/b3/b58b_1.JPG)
(http://i23.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/1f/b3/bd56_1.JPG)
(http://i13.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/1f/b3/c4dd_1.JPG)
(http://i12.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/1f/b3/cca9_1.JPG)
(http://i8.ebayimg.com/04/i/001/1f/b3/d905_1.JPG)





So, on a cold December morning I took a trundle up the M1 to Middlesborough trailer in tow to go and bring back what I'd committed to buy.
The company was a one man band salvage yard, who in fairness was surprisingly helpful and took an interest in what was to be the cars fate - Racing!
The car was loaded on to the trailer and at a brief glance looked flippin good, far better than I'd expected.
A quick cup of tea and a bacon roll and I was off back to the midlands. Next stop Rogue.

What feels like hours later I arrive back and had a chance to inspect what I'd purchased.




(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0411024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0421024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0451024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0491024x768.jpg)



It was tidy, VERY tidy.
Clearly a lady owner, the inside was mint, the roof looked like new and all the plastics well they were mint too!
Body work, with the exception of the n/s front damage was excellent.
A turn of the key and the engine sprang to life, all sounded spot on. It was too good to believe.
Hello, what's this? Hardtop fitting kit already on the car - This just gets better and better!

An inspection of the damage revealed one bent over chassis rail, it would have to be cut off and a new chassis rail welded in place.
Some new inner wing parts would need to be bought, as well as bumper, wing and bonnet cross member etc ect
To subside this however I took a look over the 'pimpables'.

Mint seats and door cards
Set of wheels with good tyres
New looking roof
Some interior trim parts

At worst there was £600 worth or parts to sell on!
Feeling pleased with myself I left the car with Patrick at Rogue.


For the repair work I decided to use Glossy Car Coats of Kenilworth.  m http://www.glossycarcoats.co.uk/ (http://www.glossycarcoats.co.uk/) m

A. It was local and handy to Rogue
B. They would collect and return the car
C. They had experience in repairing MR2's
D. They undertook insurance work also so carried the necessary credentials for doing a good job.

The car was collected and the work was priced up.
As this wasn't to be a road car there were many items not required as part of the repair work.
Air bags, seat belts, air-con rad for instance.
More luck came my way later that week as I managed to pick up a *2005* spec silver bumper, n/s bumper, bonnet and headlight for £200 from Birmingham - This was working out superbly!
This in-turn cut the bill down dramatically.
The only thing I hadn't factored in was that I'd need a new windscreen. Since the car wasn't insured or had MOT I forked out £250 for a replacement.

So, having ordered the necessary parts from Toyota and commissioned Glossy Car Coats to carry out the work I left it with them.



Work was completed Tuesday the 6th of Jan and the car was delivered to Rogue. GCC had kindly refitted the rad, replaced the coolant to allow the vehicle to drive.
The bill.
I paid GCC £800 for carrying out the work and Toyota £500 for parts. And of course a windscreen replacement too.
I was happy with that.
As a man of detail I looked over the car with an air of cynicism but was pleasantly surprised. The work looked very good indeed!

Then came the call to say that Rogue were short of a mk3 for Autosport at the NEC due to a delay by the company producing the mk3 roll cages.
They needed my car to 'look' like a race car by Wednesday night and represent the mk3 MR2's.
A tall order indeed as it looked every bit as ordinary as a mundane road going Roadster!
As you can see:



(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000861024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000951024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000961024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000971024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000981024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000991024x768.jpg)



Right, the plan.
I had a TRD kitted black MR-S (minus front lip) with cream crackered 1ZZ, we'd whip the sides and rear valance and fit it and go with the two-tone effect.
Fit some Tein lowering springs as it looked like a scared 4x4
Add some 15" wheels sprayed matt black with Toyo R888's
Strip out the interior hardcore style
Give it race numbers and one or two graphics to bring it to life
After a matter of hours things were really happening.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000871024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000881024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000891024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000921024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG000941024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001001024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001011024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001021024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001041024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001051024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001061024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001081024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001091024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001101024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001111024x768.jpg)



And then to add a little more life graphics were added when the car was positioned on the stand at the NEC.



(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001251024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001271024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001361024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/IMG001381024x768.jpg)

Add obligatory dolly bird...

  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/n506257419_1219549_1874.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/n1020581175_30077192_8426.jpg)


With the NEC over the car returned to Rogue and at my request pre cats were removed and also a Kakimoto exhaust was taken from my black MR-S and swapped over.
The car has now come home and I plan to replace the brake discs and pads in the next week or so.
Really I'm waiting on a roll cage. Once that's in, the rest of the safety items can be fitted.

Todays pics, my favourites so far:


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0031024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0041024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0051024x768-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0061024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0081024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0101024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0111024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0121024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0131024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0141024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0151024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0161024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0171024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0181024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0201024x768.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/0251024x768.jpg)


I'm off to collect a hardtop I won on eBay tomorrow night so that'll go straight on.
Really feeling the silver/black thing right now.
More update posts to follow but that's where I am as of today.

Rowland

  s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Peter Wright on January 14, 2009, 20:38
Hope you will be at Snetterton in March, will make the effort to come and see you race
Pete
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Kool PT on January 14, 2009, 20:43
you were fairly lucky with the price but hats off to you for getting everything sorted out yourself. car looks great, what's next once the hard top's fitted?
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: ex-member on January 14, 2009, 21:00
Wow mate, what a bargain! granted some work involed, but still! Good work!
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Rowland on January 14, 2009, 21:39
Quote from: "Peter Wright"Hope you will be at Snetterton in March, will make the effort to come and see you race
Pete


Will defo be there Pete, wild horses wouldn't stop me!

  s:D :D s:D  





Quote from: "Kool PT"you were fairly lucky with the price but hats off to you for getting everything sorted out yourself. car looks great, what's next once the hard top's fitted?


Well the hard top isn't my first choice in colour as it's pre face lift silver.
I'll fit it for the meantime and bide my time until a black one comes up OR get it resprayed.

Next I'd like to get the car road legal, which means insurance, MOT, V5 as it's a cat c and road tax.
Need to sort out a seat belt as the pyrotechnic things had gone off in mine so they were fit for then bin.
Gonna see if I can make a mk2 seat belt fit as it's only for the MOT.
So once it's road legal I'll actually be able to drive it!

I also need to replace the lambder sensor as it's not in the best shape.
Best sort that soon really.
Then the plan is to fit new discs and Carbotech Pads which I'll do, then install my race seat.
By then the cages will be ready and it'll be off to Rogue again.

  s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Kool PT on January 14, 2009, 21:41
does the class permit mods? if so, any planned?
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Ilogik on January 14, 2009, 22:14
looked great when I seen it, infact almost to clean to use as a race car.  

Why didn't you get the dolly bird by the car when I was talking to you, doubt the gf would of been ti impressed. Hats off wish I could do something like this.
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Rowland on January 14, 2009, 22:14
Quote from: "Kool PT"does the class permit mods? if so, any planned?


The Ethos of the series is 'affordable motorsport'
To enable the focus to be more about driver ability rather than who has the biggest wallet, modifications are very limited.
Off the top of my head

Suspension - Yes but non adjustable
Wheels - Stock sizes only
Tyres - Control item, stock size R888's
Exhaust - Free
Cat - No but pre cats can go
LSD - OEM only
Bodykit - Only if fitted by Toyota i.e TRD stage 1 kit
Spoilers - As above
Brakes - OEM discs but Pads are free
Strut Braces - OEM only
Chassis Bracing - As above
Air Filter - Free
Engine mods including Chipping etc - NO
ARB's - Yes (I think)

  s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Innocent on January 14, 2009, 23:01
Appreciate you're trying to save weight but either the small trd spoiler or tte lip spoiler in black would look awesome on that!
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Rowland on January 14, 2009, 23:32
Quote from: "Innocent"Appreciate you're trying to save weight but either the small trd spoiler or tte lip spoiler in black would look awesome on that!


Most definitely,

I tried to remove the rear spoiler from my black MR-S to fit on the race car but after realising it would leave several unsightly holes behind AND that it was fastened with the worlds strongest adhesive, I gave up.

This one:


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/MR-S%20Turbo/MR-S/DSC014231024x768.jpg)

TRD?
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Kool PT on January 14, 2009, 23:48
that's the tte I think...TRD is like a little wing. if you ever fancy selling that on gimme a shout   s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Innocent on January 15, 2009, 12:58
Can't see the pick at work but the TTE lip is modeled on the white car in Mark Thorpes project thread, the TRD is on Roger & FGRobs cars amongst others. You can get good copies of the TRD from the states i think...
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: roger on January 15, 2009, 13:32
All looking good. Hope to see one or two of the races if I can (Silverstone is very close!), might pop in to say hello if I can get access.

About TRD spoiler, you can only buy knock-offs now, so not sure if that's allowed, but I am not sure if it isn't just cosmetic rather than performance enhancing.
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Kool PT on January 15, 2009, 14:20
Quote from: "Rowland"(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/n506257419_1219549_1874.jpg)

Wouldn't mind ripping out her interior...
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: alancdavis on January 15, 2009, 23:23
Nice car,,,,shame about the Blonde   s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: steveybmr2-173 on January 16, 2009, 09:21
Looking good Rowland, a good find for race car use! a few people I know that went to Autosports mentioned seeing your car, I'm looking forward to watching Roadsters race in the championship, I'm hoping we can get a bit about the mk3s in MR2 Only Magazine this issue... Good luck this season mate, will be at a few meets watching and cheering you on!
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Liz on January 16, 2009, 16:56
Snetterton is only up the road for me - will probably pop along.  Interesting thread.
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Rowland on January 17, 2009, 01:30
Quote from: "steveybmr2-173"Looking good Rowland, a good find for race car use! a few people I know that went to Autosports mentioned seeing your car, I'm looking forward to watching Roadsters race in the championship, I'm hoping we can get a bit about the mk3s in MR2 Only Magazine this issue... Good luck this season mate, will be at a few meets watching and cheering you on!



Cheers Steve,  if I can help out in anyway with the magazine drop me an email.
Quite surprised to see the car featured in Autosport magazine this week on page 86
  s:D :D s:D  
And also a nice big-up here of the mk3 too:

 m http://www.race.tv/ (http://www.race.tv/) m

Select the non-edited version or 'high quality' on the right (Standard quality is MR2-less!)
Approximately five and a half minutes in.

  s8) 8) s8)  




  s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Peter Wright on March 13, 2009, 16:36
Quote from: "Rowland"
Quote from: "Peter Wright"Hope you will be at Snetterton in March, will make the effort to come and see you race
Pete


Will defo be there Pete, wild horses wouldn't stop me!
  s:D :D s:D  
Are you still on for Snetterton this Sunday
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Rowland on March 13, 2009, 17:39
Quote from: "Peter Wright"
Quote from: "Rowland"
Quote from: "Peter Wright"Hope you will be at Snetterton in March, will make the effort to come and see you race
Pete


Will defo be there Pete, wild horses wouldn't stop me!
  s:D :D s:D  
Are you still on for Snetterton this Sunday


Hi Pete - Sorry I've been meaning to update this thread for a few weeks now but life right now is beyond manic.

To answer your question YES I will be racing at Snetterton this Sunday.
I'll be one of two mk3's that'll be racing.
The car is very near completetion and looking damn fine. Handover from Rogue is due this evening all being well.

You coming along? - I have one spare ticket left if you want it?
Regards,
Rowland

  s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: philster_d on March 14, 2009, 01:03
Yeah i saw the car wednesday. Good luck on sunday.

Philster.
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: northernalex on March 14, 2009, 12:56
Just came across this, nice work there.. will be interesting to see how you do in the races, good luck!

Alex
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Peter Wright on March 16, 2009, 19:39
Had to work on Sunday so, just popped over in my dinner hour, unfortunately missed both your races
How did you get on ?
I noticed Patrick had a garland in his footwell ! did he win one of his races ?
Your car had about 10 mechanics around it trying to figure out why the brake lights were not working ! did you get them fixed ?
Pete
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Rowland on March 17, 2009, 01:54
Well, despite best intentions I've struggled to update the thread so I'll continue on albeit slightly later than anticipated.


So after Autosport in January I set about making the car road legal so I could generally get a feel for the car on the road before whisking it off to Rogue to be prepped for the race season.
After hitting a problem with obtaining and marrying up an OEM seatbelt with corresponding anchors the car eventually sailed through it's MOT and was taxed the same day.
No time in the drivers seat whatsoever as the clock was ticking and Rogue needed the car asap and it HAD to be ready for early March.
I picked up a few goodies in the meantime though.

A Hardtop was bought in silver from eBay for £275.00

A 2006 front bumper in primer with the desirable extension pieces on eBay, £45 buy it now - Bargain central!

(http://i19.ebayimg.com/05/i/001/28/02/91ed_1.JPG)

(http://i20.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/28/02/ab71_1.JPG)

The bumper was set aside as a spare whilst I had the lower extension pieces sprayed by my local friendly bodyshop for just £30
A really good job they did too!
Their website  m http://www.body-wrx.co.uk/ (http://www.body-wrx.co.uk/) m

A New 6-point Race Harness from Demon Tweeks was purchased along with a LED rain light too.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/128.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/129.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/132.jpg)


A set of the dogs dangly bits Carbotech XP8 brake pads at £160+ per axel (Yep that isn't a typo either!)
Some new brake discs were later bought too.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/134.jpg)


Whilst changing over the exhaust it seemed that one of the Lambder sensors was slightly duff so a new one was bought from Toyota.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/138.jpg)

Markiii sold my a set of stock wheels so with a little TLC and some Satin Black spray paint they came up a treat!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/005.jpg)


I was now simply waiting for the Roll Cages to be supplied and to come into stock at Rogue, time continued to tick and knowing Rogue had three mk3's to prep including mine I started to get a bit of a sweat on.
Eventually the cages came in (March 1st?) and what a great piece of design and engineering.
They really are the business and offer maximum protection without compromise.
The cage went in and prep continued with all the safety stuff including ignition cut-offs, extinguisher and piping, fluids changed throughout, aluminium custom hardtop brackets, seat rails the list just goes on and on.
Whilst the car was at Rogue they discovered the car wasn't a UK Roadster, it was infact a JDM model clever disguised/badged.
On the upside it was VERY clean underneath, and nice for the guys to work on.
On the down side no UK style LSD...

And then, on Saturday the 14th....it was READY.
24 hours to go until it's debut race and I took it home for a short but spirited drive home before dashing to attend a wedding in Hemel Hempstead.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Rowland_W/Race%20car%202009/019.jpg)

First impression was good.
Plenty of mid range, nice and nimble that short steering rack felt the business after the long rack of the mk2.
Ride isn't too hard but holy mother of god these brakes are simply astounding!! 60mph to standstill in what....a second and a half...? Maybe not even that!
R888's are grippy not even chirping when cornering briskly.
Those brakes though...jeeez.... I want to marry you Mr Carbotech!!!

lol

The car was prepped to a very high standard, but I'd of expected no less from Rogue.
The attention to detail and level of workmanship far surpassed my expectations.

So on to race day, Sunday the 15th.
Venue Snetterton, number of mk3's, two.
Sadly Patrick didn't have his ready to go in time having prioritised the other two build so it was just me and Alric in his nearly identical looking mk3. Patrick joined us however in a matt black mk1, so all was not lost.
So with no time in the race seat it was all a little unknown to be honest.
Yes I'd raced at Snetteron but in a mk2 and neither myself or Alric had driven or track tested the mk3 either.
Scruitenering first, it sailed through without a single issue.
Whilst I'm there I popped the car on the weighing scales I needed to be above 1000kgs including my 90kg weight once kitted out in helmet, suit boots gloves etc.
1049kg with a third of a tank of fuel, bit on the heavy side. 30kgs to lose at least.

Qualifying started with mk1's mk2's and the two mk3's all out at the same time.
My personal best was a 1.27.15 last season in a mk2 but Snet has the biggest straight in the UK and is considered to be a power circuit. Surely the mk2's would own us down the straight with their extra grunt?
Turn one is a long right hander and the car is really wallowing over, I'm regretting not fitting uprated ARB's already.
Braking for turn two a sharp right hander before the huge straight. I'm loving these brakes but know already the suspension setup isn't as it should be.
On to the straight 3rd 4th and into 5th I slip stream a mk2 and whip by - I'm holding my own here, I'm surprised.
Late braking into a left then right, no LSD on this JDM version so I grimace as I hear a wheel spin up.
A few twists and turns with camber and a chicane just after, it really seems just replacing the springs with Tein S-Techs isn't giving the suspension it's much needed solid feel. I should be flat in these corners and I'm feathering the throttle gently as the body roll is massive.
On to the start finish straight and my lap timer reads 1.30.55

A few more laps and I'm into low 1.29's.
More time out on the circuit and that would have come down.
Alric was into the 1.27's helped by his own admission by his LSD and anti roll bars. Two areas I'd highlighted after the first lap.
Race 1 was mk1's and mk3's.
Me, I was still taking time to find my feet with the car and move away from trying to drive a mk3 as I would a mk2.
Alric obliterated the field and won convincingly, with me 4th but with confidence in the car growing bit by bit.

Race 2 was mk1's mk2's and mk3's.
Sadly after a superb launch the car in front but one to me selected 3rd rather than 1st from the off so I lost ~9 places to avoid needing that primered front bumper from earlier!
Chasing through the pack I made up all my places I'd lost and lap time were consistently falling to 1.28.1
Alric sadly retired after his throttle cable detached somehow from the peddle. This was later refitted back in the paddock.

So in all a lot was learned.
A LSD box was worth maybe a second or possibly more a lap and that uprated ARB's were a must as are uprated dampers.
The mk2 boys at the very top were setting new records as times fell to an astounding 1.24.55!
My guess is the mk3 chassis is still the best, add coilovers (with a regulation tweek for mk3's) ARB's and an LSD, reduce weight to 1010-1020kgs and we're there.
Snetterton is one circuit that I'd personally highlighted as one that wouldn't really favour the mk3 over the mk2.
A technical circuit such as Cadwell and things could be very different indeed.

I only took a few pics although I'm expecting some action shots via email very soon so I'll add these to the thread very soon.
Thanks for reading!

Rowland

  s:) :) s:)


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Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Rowland on March 17, 2009, 07:24
Quote from: "Peter Wright"Had to work on Sunday so, just popped over in my dinner hour, unfortunately missed both your races
How did you get on ?
I noticed Patrick had a garland in his footwell ! did he win one of his races ?
Your car had about 10 mechanics around it trying to figure out why the brake lights were not working ! did you get them fixed ?
Pete


Hi Peter - Sorry I missed you on Sunday.

Patrick finished behind me in both races in a mk1, maybe you misstook the other mk3 that came first in the mk1 and mk3 race?
The brake lights worked fine in the morning and then during the race apparantly ceased to work.
The guys checked all the fuses carried out tests, it had to be something obvious didn't it?
Eventually we discovered in the drivers footwell there were numberous wires and connector blocks, one of those wasn't propperly connected.
With a click back together it was all sorted.

  s:) :) s:)
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Innocent on March 17, 2009, 14:20
The car looked good Rowland! I had a great day in the sun watching most of the races, got down there about 11.30. I'm getting desperate to have a go now! A mate and I are targeting 2010, but probably in Mk2's as we should be able to find some good value ones second hand.

I think you're right about the extra bits needed. The Mk2's looked so much flatter through the turns, and it was there that they were making up time rather than on the straight, I was expecting it to be the other way round but I guess the power to weight balance works quite well. watching the 1st race from the long straight, the Mk3's had about as much pull on the Mk1's on the straights as the Mk2's did on youtube vids, and the 2's and 3's were pretty much level on the pit straight where I watched race 3.

What suspension set up did the other Mk3 have? It didn't look much flatter than yours to be honest, though the LSD was definately helping it out of the corners. Interestingly it's front left was just lifting of the tarmac on the exit to the chicane. By my logic thats a strong ARB with too soft dampers or springs, don't know if i'm right though! I recon that with the suspension sorted to corner quicker you should be able to out-brake the Mk2's down the inside and carry the advantage no probem.

Ps, i've got a good pic of you taking the chicane, i'll get it up here as soon as i find my cable to plug the phone into the computer!!
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: philster_d on March 17, 2009, 21:18
Good work.

Phil
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Rowland on March 17, 2009, 21:33
The thing is virtually all of the mk2's and the mk1's in the field are modified as far as the reguations will allow.
That means adjustable ARB's, Yellow Billies, upratded springs, camber bolts etc etc.
The mk3's can potentially have all that too plus the LSD and I reckon it should put the mk3 right up there, especially at the more technical circuits.
Alrics mk3 had the same Tein springs as mine but with Whiteline ARB's - that's it.

If you've got an action pic I'd be interested to see it, so far none has surfaced as yet.
Thanks for popping along, roll on Brands Hatch!

  s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: kentsmudger on March 18, 2009, 06:38
Quote from: "Rowland"If you've got an action pic I'd be interested to see it, so far none has surfaced as yet.
Thanks for popping along, roll on Brands Hatch!

  s:D :D s:D

What's the date for the next Brands race? I only live round the corner. Hope to be there with my camera!
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Rowland on March 18, 2009, 07:04
Quote from: "kentsmudger"What's the date for the next Brands race? I only live round the corner. Hope to be there with my camera!

Saturday April the 25th off the top of my head.

  s:D :D s:D  

(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5931/img002481024x768.jpg)
Title: Re: My Race Car Build
Post by: Captain Vimes on March 22, 2009, 23:02
Good work Rowland - I'm looking forward to hearing how the cars compete when they're on equal terms.