MG trackday Z-car dilemma

[Wicker Man]

fast eddys said:

Plenty of other oportunities to have a play. Woodbridge with Javelin on the 19th.Eddy

For some reason I thought Woodbridge was a sprint venue. I now see that its a really twisty circuit and that would suit a light and nimble ZR... (with bugger all torque!)

I was just about to book, then remembered that I've got an important reunion tomorrow, so an early start on saturday might be 'logistically difficult'.

[fast eddys]

Wicker Man said:

For some reason I thought Woodbridge was a sprint venue. I now see that its a really twisty circuit and that would suit a light and nimble ZR... (with bugger all torque!)

I was just about to book, then remembered that I've got an important reunion tomorrow, so an early start on saturday might be 'logistically difficult'.

You have mail

[Wicker Man]

Well, the ZR 160 had its first trackday outing at last! The venue was a warm and dry Woodbridge airfield in Suffolk. Javelin has once again set up an excellent circuit. Plenty of challenging twisties but still enough straights for the more powerful cars to get by. The high speed chicane leading into a sweeping 180 at the end of the runway was fun, as was the very complex complex just before the exit.

In the end; preparation consisted of: oil change, check over, bucket seats and harnesses, new disks and pads, four wheel alignment, Mot, and the removal of 'loose articles' - ie mats, parcel shelf, rear seats etc. I arrived with four good tyre albeit the random rubbish the car came with - three different makes, none of which I'd heard of!

Having clocked 130 track miles, mostly in 2nd and 3rd gear and at 5-6000rpm, I'm pleased to say that the car ran faultlessly. (Others in the paddock were less fortunate - wheel bearing failure, broken drive-shaft, overheating/HGF?, engine mounts probs, etc)

The verdict on the ZR 160 in a word: Brilliant! The sheer chuckabilty of the car meant that by the afternoon I was circulating at a respectable rate and even passing other cars. (Last year in my ZS180, I was usually the slowest car on track } Being able to carry speed through the corners certainly compensates for modest power – I can certainly see the merit of adding lightness.

So the ZR 160 has passed its' trackday audition with flying colours. The next outing is Marham on 18th August. With its two Vmax straights the ZR might be found wanting for more power, so I'll not put the Tomcat in the classiieds just yet. And in case the VVC objects to spending another day at high rpm, the ZS is on standby.

Here's what the tyres looked like at the end of the day:



To be continued...