Driving CarreraLightweightRacing's 996 'CLR' (briefly)

[hot66]

ignore those who don't like the style ... I think it looks great

Very inspiring car

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Diesel Meister said:

braddo said:

I'm not an engineer, so a quick skim read at lunch, , have another read this eve, ... I'll never understand the calcs underlying the work but I find it really fascinating how seemingly small changes to suspension geometry can yield wildly different results. So the ARB influences how much the steering loads up in corners. That sounds obvious reading it back but I've not thought about it before. Big castor and body roll pull the ARB into work, which then acts to pull the wheels straight (hence steering weight loading up dramatically)? But somehow, changing the drop links fixes it.
How the fk does one figure stuff like this out.

It certainly highlights to me how far removed from and more evolved than anything else out there your CLR is.

Thanks for saving me the typing braddo

Glad you approve fella's

hot66 said:

ignore those who don't like the style ... I think it looks great

Very inspiring car

You are too kind Mr.Hot
You may like the pics below.

Been doing a bit of performance testing the last couple of days. It appears the following are where I currently stands on the base OEM map:

0-60mph: just under 4 sec
0-100mph: 9 sec
0-200km/h (124)mph: just under 13.5sec

By my reckoning this puts the car at around 996Turbo performance. I'm hoping the VGS-Motorsport remap will improve things a little further but the headline straight-line figures are looking quite respectable for a lowly 996.1 C2
These numbers are far from the pièce de résistance of the design. But should give some indication of the overall performance. The handling, ride and braking are obviously where the car really shines. I'm just happy it also has the shove to match.

A few recent pics:

[EGTE]

That looks absolutely fantastic to me.

[Slippydiff]

Evening Rich, looking superb, sounds sprightly too
I hope all those pop rivets in the door are aluminium or Ti ....

[BrotherMouzone]

The performance figures are quite something!

Love your work.

[Steve Rance]

Looking very nice Richard. Do you have any plans for preventing oil surge for track work?

[Mintbird]

M96 engine is not a track engine imo.
its never going to be a good application for it.

[edc]

Mintbird said:

M96 engine is not a track engine imo.
its never going to be a good application for it.

My understanding is that this car isn't meant to be a track car, but a much more focussed road car, which wouldn't shame itself on a track.

[Steve Rance]

Yep, it will need to be track capable and with it's set up and light mass, oil surge will be a potential problem

[Sine Metu]

I think the ductail works really well for me. The rear of a 996 is one of the nicest 911 rear ends so the smaller style spoiler doesn't ruin the lines like other larger rear spoilers tend to. I like the Fuch style wheels as well. Regardless of the historical link, they just look cool. But they have a particular relevence on a special car like this which is a modified passion project. I wouldn't necessarily stick them on any C2. The modifications lend authenticity to the wheel choice. Maybe the pictures don't do the car justice but the red bumpers aren't working for me. I just see replacement bumpers awaiting a paint job. I think something much more subtle would be better and more classy. The red line running over the roof is more in line with what I'd prefer personally. Little details that you discover, maybe two or three little red nuances in not so obvious place (e.g. around the air intake in the front bumer), exhaust tips, under the ductail - food for thought. Something that could then reflect back on your company logo or brand ID.

Edited by Sine Metu on Wednesday 12th April 11:52

[ForzaGilles]

Steve Rance said:

Yep, it will need to be track capable and with it's set up and light mass, oil surge will be a potential problem

The X51 style baffled sump from FVD helps with oil surge doesn't it?

[ATM]

ForzaGilles said:

Steve Rance said:

Yep, it will need to be track capable and with it's set up and light mass, oil surge will be a potential problem

The X51 style baffled sump from FVD helps with oil surge doesn't it?

I was told my 996 has an X51 sump. Is it easy to check it's true?

[ATM]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Sump

[bgunn]

ATM said:

I was told my 996 has an X51 sump. Is it easy to check it's true?

Unbolt it and remove it! It's just a different anti surge baffle with metal doors instead of rubber.

[ATM]

Only just noticed how close the front tyre is to the arch here - that's tight

[Budflicker]

Love this project, can i just put my name down as 1st on the list for a set of these carbon CLR exhaust tips when they go to market. Mmmmmmm lovely;

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

EGTE said:

That looks absolutely fantastic to me.

Slippydiff said:

Evening Rich, looking superb, sounds sprightly too
I hope all those pop rivets in the door are aluminium or Ti ....

BrotherMouzone said:

The performance figures are quite something!

Love your work.

Steve Rance said:

Looking very nice Richard. Do you have any plans for preventing oil surge for track work?

Wow wee, thanks for the kind words guys Rivets are indeed Al H Trouble is some of the heads popped off during installation so I now have an annoying rattle inside the door (Door cards were also riveted on then painted). I will removed them again and sort this out when I get a chance )

edc said:

Mintbird said:

M96 engine is not a track engine imo.
its never going to be a good application for it.

My understanding is that this car isn't meant to be a track car, but a much more focussed road car, which wouldn't shame itself on a track.

Exactly right edc, never intended as an out an out track car. If someone wanted a track based version adding accusump or a baffled extra capacity sump would be a simple solution. Attention would also need to be given to cooling. The M96 has some well documented issues but Hartech have been racing the M96 lump for research purposes for some time now and have some simple solutions to alleviate the concerns.

I'd say many will be shocked by the engine in this car. It has throttle response and builds revs which leaves you scratching your head. Very addictive I don't think I'd be far out by saying it goes from idle to 7000rpm and back to idle in probably half the time of a stock car; it completely changes the character of the car.

Sine Metu said:

I think the ducktail works really well for me. The rear of a 996 is one of the nicest 911 rear ends so the smaller style spoiler doesn't ruin the lines like other larger rear spoilers tend to. I like the Fuchs style wheels as well. Regardless of the historical link, they just look cool. But they have a particular relevance on a special car like this which is a modified passion project. I wouldn't necessarily stick them on any C2. The modifications lend authenticity to the wheel choice. Maybe the pictures don't do the car justice but the red bumpers aren't working for me. I just see replacement bumpers awaiting a paint job. I think something much more subtle would be better and more classy. The red line running over the roof is more in line with what I'd prefer personally. Little details that you discover, maybe two or three little red nuances in not so obvious place (e.g. around the air intake in the front bumper), exhaust tips, under the ducktail - food for thought. Something that could then reflect back on your company logo or brand ID.

Thanks SM, very good feedback With a customer car I agree less may be more and I have a few ideas in mind. I think though having gone a bit OTT will give the car instantly recognisable identity which may help commercially. I'm not sure though as I have no real experience in marketing/sales... This car is first and foremost my interpretation of 911 driving perfection built for me, whether I turn it into a business is yet to be seen and a secondary concern; well a bit of a afterthought during the build process rather than the aim from the start.

ATM said:

Only just noticed how close the front tyre is to the arch here - that's tight

ATM I have adjusted the suspension probably over 10 times in the last month, replaced components, had 4 geo's... I am going to raise the front by 3 turns (4.5mm) make an adjust to the lower ARB drop links, have it re-geo'd again then that should be it. I have not tried any rebound settings yet (only mid point, 10 clicks, which is a road/track setting). For me it has ridden beautifully in this setting so have not felt the urge to try anything else just yet.

Budflicker said:

Love this project, can i just put my name down as 1st on the list for a set of these carbon CLR exhaust tips when they go to market. Mmmmmmm lovely;

Agreed Peter, they are beautifully made and were worth the wait and trouble getting them manufactured. Whether I go down the aftermarket parts route or 'Singer' full car resto only route, is still to be decided... So I can't promise anything. If you want the whole CLR shebang I'll gladly put you top of the list as it would be an honour to work on your beautiful car I'll see you at Dinslaken in a couple of weeks if you are making your way over again. If not hopefully you'll be at 'Simply Porsche' in June

[Budflicker]

Hi Richard, I'm not going to make Dinslaken this year as I'm taking the wife and kids to Cornwall for the week, but have got tickets booked for Simply Porsche in June and will most likely be driving down with Terry and the Kent mob.

Look forward to seeing both you and the car at the show.

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Budflicker said:

Hi Richard, I'm not going to make Dinslaken this year as I'm taking the wife and kids to Cornwall for the week, but have got tickets booked for Simply Porsche in June and will most likely be driving down with Terry and the Kent mob.

Look forward to seeing both you and the car at the show.

You missed out mate, it was a lovely little tour up to Dinslaken (see below ) but I'll be coming over to the Beaulieu event so I'll see you there. Hope you all had a great time in Cornwall

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Happy to report the car has now had its first independent review. Lucky that the editor of the magazine was very enthusiastic about seeing the project for himself so he has also added a few words.


I've heard some WH Smiths have already ran out of stock, so if you're interested I think it is still possible to order a copy here. I had my copy arrive today

Edited by CarreraLightweightRacing on Thursday 13th July 17:11