Can you get addicted to modifying your track day car?
Discussion
I think you can very much get addicted to it. I certainly am
i drive what is considered by most as a s
t fwd hatch back, an audi A3, but it's mine, and I love it.
I know an E36 M3 would have been better in almost every way, and most likely cheaper over all also, but I love the fact that I've taken a hugely boring car from 1300kg / 150bhp to 1100kg and 350bhp with all manner of fancy kit, and it's all DIY built at home.
that to me is far more enjoyable than handing over an m3 to a tuner and a cheque book and getting back a perfect car that you didn't build.
v8 bloke: 1:15.5 around Combe is fast!
I've not been back since my engine build, but last time I was at combe almost 2 years ago I was doing 1:20's with 200bhp and a far more basic car than i run now, I'd like to think 1:17-1:18's would be possible now.
I hope we'll be seeing the DRS MGB at the Forge Action day this year!
All the best, top work!
Nick
i drive what is considered by most as a s
t fwd hatch back, an audi A3, but it's mine, and I love it.I know an E36 M3 would have been better in almost every way, and most likely cheaper over all also, but I love the fact that I've taken a hugely boring car from 1300kg / 150bhp to 1100kg and 350bhp with all manner of fancy kit, and it's all DIY built at home.
that to me is far more enjoyable than handing over an m3 to a tuner and a cheque book and getting back a perfect car that you didn't build.
v8 bloke: 1:15.5 around Combe is fast!
I've not been back since my engine build, but last time I was at combe almost 2 years ago I was doing 1:20's with 200bhp and a far more basic car than i run now, I'd like to think 1:17-1:18's would be possible now.
I hope we'll be seeing the DRS MGB at the Forge Action day this year!
All the best, top work!
Nick
Thanks guys. Visually the wing takes a bit of getting used to. I definitely wont be taking it off though.
Here is a better view of it in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04h0mHtPfJk
Here is a better view of it in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04h0mHtPfJk
Well it seems I just cant leave the car alone.
Since last post have fitted jenvey downdraught throttle bodies, canems ECU, TA performance heads, completely re hashed the rear suspension with trailing links, coilovers and my version of a Mumford linkage. Custom ally fuel tank, Trans-x diff (replacing the ATB). 429bhp on rollers.
maybe I should just drive it now!
Since last post have fitted jenvey downdraught throttle bodies, canems ECU, TA performance heads, completely re hashed the rear suspension with trailing links, coilovers and my version of a Mumford linkage. Custom ally fuel tank, Trans-x diff (replacing the ATB). 429bhp on rollers.
maybe I should just drive it now!
I just found this thread, thanks for bumping it. I like the wing, it reminds me of the wacky stuff they used to do in CanAm etc before everything was homogenised and legislated.
Regarding modding - I try to avoid it this days, simply because I have a limited budget and I prefer to spend it on track time rather than new parts. If money was no object I could quite happily spend all way inventing things in the garage and track-testing them at the weekend though!
Keep up the good work, will come and say hi if I spot you at the track this summer
Regarding modding - I try to avoid it this days, simply because I have a limited budget and I prefer to spend it on track time rather than new parts. If money was no object I could quite happily spend all way inventing things in the garage and track-testing them at the weekend though!
Keep up the good work, will come and say hi if I spot you at the track this summer
I suppose some can get addicted but I feel that it's difficult to ascertain without knowing the circumstances.
Addicted = Are you suffering as a result, is your family suffering as a result. Is this always on your mind above all else. If yes, then you can perhaps consider that you are addicted and perhaps do need help.
Hobby = Are you doing it because it gives you enjoyment in your spare time. Are you doing it because you can afford it without negatively affecting other aspects of life. Can you stop and can it if was crippling you financially. If yes, then it's just a hobby because a) you can afford it, b) it gives you enjoyment above doing something else with your spare time instead.
Credit for the development though, the old MG's looks pretty trick.
I'm not sure I understand your strategy behind doing the DRS/VDS however. Is the car geared for 180+ and are you struggling to reach the limits in top gear with the wing in a fixed position? If you did it just because you wanted to see if it can be done, then you have satisfied your DIY engineering capability, and props to you for that.
However, I speculate that the gain will be marginal if not negative, assuming the car does not go beyond 150-160 very often. What you might loose in DF between 100-150 vs. what you gain for the time you spend above those speeds arguably will work in favour of the former over a lap. Acceleration gains not factored in, but you aren't exactly lacking in the power to weight ratio with that gnarly V8 lump up front
From the vids, it's clear that on fast corners your DF is reduced above 100, whether at entry, mid or exit. I don't know how that feels in the car as it is being driven, or if it's even noticeable, but I would speculate that running through the same corners with a fixed wing at the top setting the car would be more planted and you can possibly carry more speed, subject to overall car aero balance of course as that is the area that is being affected most.
Humour
Addicted = Are you suffering as a result, is your family suffering as a result. Is this always on your mind above all else. If yes, then you can perhaps consider that you are addicted and perhaps do need help.
Hobby = Are you doing it because it gives you enjoyment in your spare time. Are you doing it because you can afford it without negatively affecting other aspects of life. Can you stop and can it if was crippling you financially. If yes, then it's just a hobby
because a) you can afford it, b) it gives you enjoyment above doing something else with your spare time instead.Credit for the development though, the old MG's looks pretty trick.
I'm not sure I understand your strategy behind doing the DRS/VDS however. Is the car geared for 180+ and are you struggling to reach the limits in top gear with the wing in a fixed position? If you did it just because you wanted to see if it can be done, then you have satisfied your DIY engineering capability, and props to you for that.
However, I speculate that the gain will be marginal if not negative, assuming the car does not go beyond 150-160 very often. What you might loose in DF between 100-150 vs. what you gain for the time you spend above those speeds arguably will work in favour of the former over a lap. Acceleration gains not factored in, but you aren't exactly lacking in the power to weight ratio with that gnarly V8 lump up front
From the vids, it's clear that on fast corners your DF is reduced above 100, whether at entry, mid or exit. I don't know how that feels in the car as it is being driven, or if it's even noticeable, but I would speculate that running through the same corners with a fixed wing at the top setting the car would be more planted and you can possibly carry more speed, subject to overall car aero balance of course as that is the area that is being affected most.
Humour
Thanks for the reply's.
I am Planning to do more track days this year starting at Castle Combe on 24th with lotus on track and then if all goes well at the action day on 25th.
Yes the (so called) DRS probably makes little difference but I enjoyed the challenge of trying to make it work.
its all just a bit of fun really.
The fact that the car is quite fast and goes round corners fairly well is very rewarding.
hopefully should make some interesting vids this year.
Cheers
Mark
I am Planning to do more track days this year starting at Castle Combe on 24th with lotus on track and then if all goes well at the action day on 25th.
Yes the (so called) DRS probably makes little difference but I enjoyed the challenge of trying to make it work.
its all just a bit of fun really.
The fact that the car is quite fast and goes round corners fairly well is very rewarding.
hopefully should make some interesting vids this year.
Cheers
Mark
I actually think that adjustable wing is not only an extremely impressive piece of work, but also very advantageous.
On most road-based cars, it's very easy to generate an excess of rear downforce with a huge wing but balancing it correctly is difficult - without a very low front and a flat floor, producing meaningful front downforce is a challenge. From the photos on the last page, the splitter must help but taking a very approximate by-eye look, it seems likely to have a very rearwards aero bias. In low-speed corners you'd generally want more rear end on a car with such a huge power-to-weight ratio, so it's fine, but at high speed the wing is likely to bring you a lot of aero understeer. Stalling the wing at high speed not only reduces drag dramatically but I imagine it improves the balance in high-speed corners too
Have you got damper pots on the car? If so, you can find how much downforce the wing is generating in each position, hence its lift coefficients, and work from there to a rough estimate of the drag coefficient in each position. That would be really interesting data.
On most road-based cars, it's very easy to generate an excess of rear downforce with a huge wing but balancing it correctly is difficult - without a very low front and a flat floor, producing meaningful front downforce is a challenge. From the photos on the last page, the splitter must help but taking a very approximate by-eye look, it seems likely to have a very rearwards aero bias. In low-speed corners you'd generally want more rear end on a car with such a huge power-to-weight ratio, so it's fine, but at high speed the wing is likely to bring you a lot of aero understeer. Stalling the wing at high speed not only reduces drag dramatically but I imagine it improves the balance in high-speed corners too
Have you got damper pots on the car? If so, you can find how much downforce the wing is generating in each position, hence its lift coefficients, and work from there to a rough estimate of the drag coefficient in each position. That would be really interesting data.
I think I might be inclined (no pun intended!) to find a 'compromise position' for the rear wing and just fix it there. On the other hand I'm as much in awe of your engineering prowess as anybody else!
Looking forward to seeing you at the Action Day this coming Saturday (well for a couple of milliseconds as you shoot past me anyway).
Looking forward to seeing you at the Action Day this coming Saturday (well for a couple of milliseconds as you shoot past me anyway).
Fantastic car, love the way it looks to have been progressively modified to go faster and faster. The rear wing especially, very clever.
A couple of points (from a recovered addict), round off the corners on the brackets for the wing, a small detail and also try some wool tuft testing on the rear window/hatch and below that. If not separating cleanly, be worthwhile putting a small lip/spoiler on the end of the hatch lid.
The other possible thing, I can't see under the rear, where the lower panel is, but if the panel comes down lower than the floor, cut it out or otherwise vent it, to let the hot, trapped, air out. Reduces drag and rear lift.
More photos and specs please
A couple of points (from a recovered addict), round off the corners on the brackets for the wing, a small detail and also try some wool tuft testing on the rear window/hatch and below that. If not separating cleanly, be worthwhile putting a small lip/spoiler on the end of the hatch lid.
The other possible thing, I can't see under the rear, where the lower panel is, but if the panel comes down lower than the floor, cut it out or otherwise vent it, to let the hot, trapped, air out. Reduces drag and rear lift.
More photos and specs please
I wouldn't say I'm addicted but I know where you're coming from. I have a clio 172 cup which I've taken from a base car to a quite well specced track car. The clio is maintained better than any other car I've owned!! I first did it for safety (roll cage, buckets etc) but now I guess I do it to try to get the car feeling as I want it handling wise, plus it's not my every day driver so I like to personalise it so everytime I drive it it feels like more of an event. Plus parts for the clio are cheap as chips so it doesn't compromise my living at all. I've just bought a RS2 inlet plus cams to give it a bit more oomph :-)
At the end of the day if it's something you like doing and you can justify the expense then why not. You only get one shot at this life.
At the end of the day if it's something you like doing and you can justify the expense then why not. You only get one shot at this life.
Oh Behave said:
At the end of the day if it's something you like doing and you can justify the expense then why not. You only get one shot at this life.
Have to agree with your take on life. It's the only way. I fitted my track car with a sequential dog box and flatshift. I know, it's only a track car. But I wanted the to feel the occasion inside the car. These modifications probably are over the top. But, life can be too short. You only have one life, if it's what you want and you can afford it. Live it to the full.Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff