The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T(Vol XVIII)

[zippyonline]

Managed to just about fit into the evening a two bucket wash (tried out my new Gtechniq washmit!), and waxed all body panels with some BH auto-balm. This photo is taken mid-way through, not yet done the front bumper or sills yet, and haven't even touched the glass or the wheels. Thanks for the machine polish before she went Matt, the wax is doing it's thing well now.
She scrubs up well for 182k miles.

p.s. I also wish you'd done 7 more miles before passing her onto me. The Odo was at 181,811 when I collected her!


BMW E91 330i M Sport by Chris Reeves, on Flickr

On, and there's surface dressing stuck between the twin exhaust exit - I blinkin hate that stuff.

[MattOz]

Good man! Great to know it's gone to a good home!

[barchetta_boy]

Looks fantastic. I bought its ancestor, an E46 330i Sport with 160k on the clock and it was a great steer for some years.

Not sure what darklines are but if they're wheels, please don't change them! They look great and a nice antidote to modern bling.

Joel

[Cheburator mk2]

In other news, Joel, Mr Bogan (google Bogan first before you think that is his real name another friend who is not on PH) and yours truly paid a visit to Bedford GT yesterday. The initial plan was for Joel to bring his Elise, Mr Bogan to bring a lightly tweaked E46 M3 SMG and for me to try and sneak in the GT3 through the noise Nazis.

But as they say, even the best plans are likely to hit a glitch, almost always right at very end, where there is no time to react. A slight complication during a clutch change on the M3 on Friday gone meant that Mr Bogan was carless, and that the GT3 was being pressed into service for real. No "ifs", no "buts". Saturday I had a front wheel bearing done, changed the ATE Super Blue brake fluid to Motul RBF660, fitted new Pagid RS29s at the front, engine oil and filter, gearbox/diff oil and filter, geo check as well as a thorough inspection of all the spherical bearings, checked the spark plugs etc. With a clean bill of health I was praying for a miracle - Sally is loud, I really mean loud. If Satan has a trumpeter in his Jazz band, he is probably playing on Sally's MM Exhausts.

So we rocked up at Bedford and somehow, maybe Dr.-Ing. h.c. F. Porsche had a word with the noise man himself, but God smiled upon us and we passed with 0.5dB to spare on the 2nd attempt. Joel soon joined us - ever the country squire avec le flat chapeau in fetching tartan. Certainly a curio mix of Norfolk, Scotland and Kent/West Sussex borders Briefing done, we parked up in the pits. Curious and nice mix of cars - smattering of Caterhams, an Atom, 3 Elises, yes, THREE, Elise 160 Sports, and Joel was always telling us how rare they were, lots of new M3s and M4s, M2, Exiges old and new, a 997.2 GT3RS, E46 M3s, Clio race cars and one of my favourite cars of all time - an SLS AMG.

We did our sighting laps - only then I realized they have reconfigured the hairpin before the start of the back straight. I think I like it more now as it has become a bit more technical. Lights went green and I exercised my right foot. All was good, until on lap 2 I was shown the "NOISE" board. Brilliant work by MSV - instead of giving me the boot right away, they warned me and gave me a 2nd chance. I fitted some baffles which I had borrowed off my brother's Viper. Things went quieter for a while and I could really unleash Hell on the rears, which were due anyway. After quite some enjoyable laps I started getting into the groove - my main aim for the day was to get this trail braking malarkey right. I must say that initially it felt like it was an easy thing - the chassis talks to you so much through your hands and bum, but it is also very difficult to get right as the margin for error is almost non existent. And when Sally bites you, she bites hard.

It was time for a break, so I took the opportunity to jump in Joel's car. Well, jump is what I would do if it was a Charger, Dukes of Hazard style... Being an Elise, it was more a case of carefully forming a human origami of myself in the passenger seat. Out we went and what a revelation! First, the Jenvey ITBs and intake sound brilliant. Almost S14 like. Second - you can give a car enormous grip via fat tyres and clever ECUs, what you cannot give is lightness. And the Elise has plenty of these. Third - the brakes - I thought my car stopped well, but Joel's Elise is easily on par and that's without ABS. Fourth - the driver. It was great to feel the car dance - what an Elise was designed to do from the start.

I went for some solo laps and then disaster struck - Joel's car was towed back into the pits. Apparently it had emitted a load of blue smoke and the undertray, and engine block were covered in oil. Will spare you the details but I had to remove the airbox and few other things to realize that a breather pipe had dislodged itself and that the engine had been overfilled with oil during its recent service. So much for specialist, eh?

Given that I fixed it, the Elise keys were given to me, while Mr Bogan jumped into Sally for his second solo stint. The GT3 passed us on the main straight and I must say, it felt great to see the iconic shape, bathed in soft afternoon light pulling away accompanied by a manically wailing flat six. This was the first time I was driving an Elise - had done a track day at the Nring in mate's Exige 260, but for all intents and purposes, I would say they are different cars. Anyway, loved everything - the precise steering, the rev happy K-Series, the amazing brakes, the super adjustable chassis. My only gripe - it is simply too small for me. 6'4" and Elises don't mix well.

Joel also had a stint in the GT3 and came out of it impressed with the grunt and the way it just goes wherever you point it at. The latter is understandable, the former surprised me - in his garage Joel also has a tame MC12. But I am not going to turn down a compliment on my pride and joy, am I?

By the time my keys were given back to me, it was time to call it a day. It worked brilliantly as it stopped me from doing the "one last Banzai lap and we will call it a day..." as we all know how they could end. We all had a great time, and all cars ended in one piece. Some great "dogfights" with a new Exige and a Caterham, some great banter and also experiencing other cars. What more can you ask for?

I let other people drive the GT3 with me not being present on purpose. You would think I am crazy I guess? But then, if I don't trust them enough, they should not be my friends. Also, if something unexpected happens - me being there wouldn't stop a tyre failure, would it? And lastly, my presence would always "intimidate" the driver - the whole point of allowing them to drive it, was to discover it for themselves. I am glad to report the experiment worked very well. And no, the offer is not open to the thread population, sorry

Roll on next Tuesday, Brands Hatch evening where we will be giving the 500bhp 928 race car its first outing on a new brake set up...

P.S. Car of the day goes to the SLS - it just lapped and lapped and lapped and lapped... Glorious!

[Cheburator mk2]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Lol, yeah... Btw, the offer for you to drive it still stands...

[MattOz]

Old and New side by side. Amazing how much bigger the F31 is in reality. A decade separating the two designs.

[braddo]

Great write-up.

[TheRocket]

Nice write up Cheb, I am impressed you managed to get your GT3 through the noise limits at Bedford. I went to Snetterton on Friday in my Honda SC Elise (having just repacked the exhaust) it passed the static noise test at 103 db, but got black flagged on the 5th lap as drive by was 94db (limit 92) and told make it quieter or it's game over, that was with Javelin I've heard MSV are a bit more helpful.

Up to that point the car was flying (saw 140mph down the Bentley straight) and balance was good, it is really more at home on the track than the road but noise is going to be an ongoing issue so back to the drawing board I think. I've heard Brands is also pretty strict these days so won't even attempt that one, flipping NIMBY noise police

Has anyone on here used decibel devil ? http://www.decibeldevil.co.uk/ Any good ?

[Cheburator mk2]

TheRocket said:

Nice write up Cheb, I am impressed you managed to get your GT3 through the noise limits at Bedford. I went to Snetterton on Friday in my Honda SC Elise (having just repacked the exhaust) it passed the static noise test at 103 db, but got black flagged on the 5th lap as drive by was 94db (limit 92) and told make it quieter or it's game over, that was with Javelin I've heard MSV are a bit more helpful.

Up to that point the car was flying (saw 140mph down the Bentley straight) and balance was good, it is really more at home on the track than the road but noise is going to be an ongoing issue so back to the drawing board I think. I've heard Brands is also pretty strict these days so won't even attempt that one, flipping NIMBY noise police

Has anyone on here used decibel devil ? http://www.decibeldevil.co.uk/ Any good ?

Been to BH three times in the GT3, got black flagged three times... And I live 15mins on a bad day, 10 on a good day away... If you test it properly at 2/3 of max revs (5500rpm) it reads 101db static. The problem is under load I pinged BH at 110db, which is a lot of noise...

Don't get me started on the NIMBYs...

[Cheburator mk2]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I had a very open chat with the BH/Bedford people. Believe me, they are on our side. The councils though want them shut. MSV now runs ANPR cameras, which are linked to the council. They record the cars that ping their noise meters. Under their agreement with the council MSV has to boot you off the day. The councils have been known to operate "mystery shoppers" - random checks have been conducted at the track for cars that are supposed to be off, but are not. If found to be breaching their agreement, MSV would be in a lot of hot water. Additionally, they are only allowed a certain number of breaches per month/season/year.

Of course they could be telling me porkies, but having dealt with Bromley Council over a planning application, I am very inclined to believe MSV's version.

I am genuinely surprised that the car magazines/websites (including this one!) are too busy writing stuff about the latest and greatest car, but no one is looking into the ever increasing threat of the noise Nazis...

[Fresh Prince]

I was at Bedford a couple of weeks ago, and they really are on our side, with things like letting us know where the trackside monitors are. Also, they didn't give instant black flags for noise, but they'd give you at least one chance to try and modify your driving style before flagging you. Some of our number got round it by shifting up early at strategic points, but come the late afternoon where brakefade was starting to become an issue, and increased engine braking being used to compensate, there were a flurry of noise warnings then. They do try though.

[L100NYY]

Great write-up Cheb......although I admit to getting over excited at the thought of Joel having an MC12! Then realised you meant MP4-12C, not that that's any great hardship

With ref noise regs; I had similar years ago in a very tweaked/sorted Europa at Bedford. It was the hairpin in 2nd where the issue was iirc so the 'black flag marshalls' said just use 3rd and you'll be fine

[Cheburator mk2]

L100NYY said:

Great write-up Cheb......although I admit to getting over excited at the thought of Joel having an MC12! Then realised you meant MP4-12C, not that that's any great hardship

With ref noise regs; I had similar years ago in a very tweaked/sorted Europa at Bedford. It was the hairpin in 2nd where the issue was iirc so the 'black flag marshalls' said just use 3rd and you'll be fine

Yeah, an Enzo in drag in his garage would have been cool... Some companies have a great nomenclature of names - think of Bora, Ghibli, Khamsin, Shamal, Scirocco, Viper, Hellcat, Challenger, Chevelle, Corvette, Diablo, Countach, Islero, Griffo, Elan, Éclat, Elise etc. Granted, some of these were a bit st too, but how can they name a great car MP4-12C??? What were they thinking?

Imagine Giselle Bundchen being called Stoyanka Petrova.... Does not have the same ring, does it?

[L100NYY]

Cheburator mk2 said:

L100NYY said:

Great write-up Cheb......although I admit to getting over excited at the thought of Joel having an MC12! Then realised you meant MP4-12C, not that that's any great hardship

With ref noise regs; I had similar years ago in a very tweaked/sorted Europa at Bedford. It was the hairpin in 2nd where the issue was iirc so the 'black flag marshalls' said just use 3rd and you'll be fine

Yeah, an Enzo in drag in his garage would have been cool... Some companies have a great nomenclature of names - think of Bora, Ghibli, Khamsin, Shamal, Scirocco, Viper, Hellcat, Challenger, Chevelle, Corvette, Diablo, Countach, Islero, Griffo, Elan, Éclat, Elise etc. Granted, some of these were a bit st too, but how can they name a great car MP4-12C??? What were they thinking?

Imagine Giselle Bundchen being called Stoyanka Petrova.... Does not have the same ring, does it?

Indeed, the 'names' are so much better than thr 'codes' aren't they. Although a 427 S/C bas a nice ring to it.

[jeremyc]

Cheburator mk2 said:

... but how can they name a great car MP4-12C??? What were they thinking?

Says the man with a Geh Teh Drei.

[Cheburator mk2]

jeremyc said:

ays the man with a Geh Teh Drei.

Oi, you were part of the secret sect too... At least mine is named after a great racing class, where it actually competed... What is the M124578560=-2149=-3021=3m 4C named after?

[tenfour]

L100NYY said:

Cheburator mk2 said:

L100NYY said:

Great write-up Cheb......although I admit to getting over excited at the thought of Joel having an MC12! Then realised you meant MP4-12C, not that that's any great hardship

With ref noise regs; I had similar years ago in a very tweaked/sorted Europa at Bedford. It was the hairpin in 2nd where the issue was iirc so the 'black flag marshalls' said just use 3rd and you'll be fine

Yeah, an Enzo in drag in his garage would have been cool... Some companies have a great nomenclature of names - think of Bora, Ghibli, Khamsin, Shamal, Scirocco, Viper, Hellcat, Challenger, Chevelle, Corvette, Diablo, Countach, Islero, Griffo, Elan, Éclat, Elise etc. Granted, some of these were a bit st too, but how can they name a great car MP4-12C??? What were they thinking?

Imagine Giselle Bundchen being called Stoyanka Petrova.... Does not have the same ring, does it?

Indeed, the 'names' are so much better than thr 'codes' aren't they. Although a 427 S/C bas a nice ring to it.

How about 'Raptor'? Sounds like something I might find in my wife's bedside drawer...

[jeremyc]

Cheburator mk2 said:

What is the M124578560=-2149=-3021=3m 4C named after?

T'interweb said:

The name's former prefix 'MP4' has been the chassis designation for all McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981. 'MP4' stands for McLaren Project 4 as a result of the merger between Ron Dennis' Project 4 organisation with McLaren. The '12' refers to McLaren's internal Vehicle Performance Index through which it rates key performance criteria both for competitors and for its own cars. The criteria combine power, weight, emissions, and aerodynamic efficiency. The coalition of all these values delivers an overall performance index that has been used as a benchmark throughout the car's development. The 'C' refers to Carbon, highlighting the application of carbon fibre technology to the future range of McLaren sports cars.

MP4-12C shares its name with the MP4/12 Formula 1 car that raced in the 1997 season. This car featured a second brake pedal discovered by photographers to counter understeer on the exit of the corners by selecting the inside rear wheel, similar to the computer controlled "brake steer" system of the MP4-12C.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I had one of these in exactly these colours. This seems cheap doesn't it?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C782940

[Pulse]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I had one of these in exactly these colours. This seems cheap doesn't it?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C782940

It's cheap in the current market, definitely. Cheapest I saw earlier in the year was around the £7,500 mark I think (as in, for one which was actually worth looking at).

That's really quite tempting... A fantastic colour combo (and when I was younger I hated BRG - funny how tastes change). How do these fair doing only about 1,000 miles a year?