Discussion
Decided life's too short and have decided to sod the OEM look and go for a slightly smaller aftermarket wheel with a decent dish on it. Together with the extra reach added by the boss that should have more or less the same effect as the OEM wheel with the spacer in place.
I'll sell the retrimmed steering wheel and the spacer, nothing wrong with either of them, I just made a decision based on no knowledge whatsoever and it didn't quite work out.
Story of my motoring life, that is
I'll sell the retrimmed steering wheel and the spacer, nothing wrong with either of them, I just made a decision based on no knowledge whatsoever and it didn't quite work out.
Story of my motoring life, that is
Brilliant day out at Bedford today, new steering wheel gives a really good driving position. After a bit of a slow start I was lapping reasonably respectably by the end of the day, even though my rear tyres were overheating badly. Seems the Eagle F1 asymmetric is just as cack on track as the original F1s were.
The car didn't miss a beat the whole day. I think I probably need a new set of front pads sooner rather than later as the pedal is noticeably longer than it was and I need to replace the (almost brand new
) rear tyres with something a bit more suited to track use, but other than that all good
The car didn't miss a beat the whole day. I think I probably need a new set of front pads sooner rather than later as the pedal is noticeably longer than it was and I need to replace the (almost brand new
) rear tyres with something a bit more suited to track use, but other than that all good 
Front Conti Sport Contacts were absolutely fine, rear Eagle F1s looked like this after about four stints, probably 20 laps in total. I tried to carry on but I was only getting one decent lap before having to cool them down again so they'll definitely be being changed.
This is the new steering wheel. I really, really wish I'd fitted this rather than going the route of keeping the car OEM. Because it's smaller than the standard wheel it gives the car even more of a go-kart feel but it's not so small that it's twitchy on the road. The combination of the boss and having a dished wheel gives a really good driving position.
I'm actually still on a bit of a high from yesterday. More trackdays please
Got to have cruise control 
Bodge-tastic......
Also managed to upload some trackday video from Bedford - http://youtu.be/uly6knuJIho
Still really hoping I can get another day booked this year, maybe at Brands, but in reality don't think I can afford it.
Bodge-tastic......
Also managed to upload some trackday video from Bedford - http://youtu.be/uly6knuJIho
Still really hoping I can get another day booked this year, maybe at Brands, but in reality don't think I can afford it.
haha i felt exactly the same after my first track day at Bedford on the 6th of Oct, i also fitted a very similar steering wheel to my 306 Gti and it has had a profound impact on my driving position too...
Interestingly my car runs Toyo Proxes and they also went to pot by lunchtime, I pressed on the for afternoon and they completely fell apart (to the point where i was sideways all over the place), are you thinking track tyres or conti's?
Interestingly my car runs Toyo Proxes and they also went to pot by lunchtime, I pressed on the for afternoon and they completely fell apart (to the point where i was sideways all over the place), are you thinking track tyres or conti's?
I'm really not sure what to do with the tyres. Trackday rubber is probably overkill at this point, I'm still the weak link far more than the car is.
I'm keeping an eye on the classifieds on a few forums to see what turns up, if nothing suitable turns up in the next week or two then £160 for a couple of new Conti Sport Contacts and sell the F1's on seems like the best option.
I'm keeping an eye on the classifieds on a few forums to see what turns up, if nothing suitable turns up in the next week or two then £160 for a couple of new Conti Sport Contacts and sell the F1's on seems like the best option.
charltjr said:
I'm really not sure what to do with the tyres. Trackday rubber is probably overkill at this point, I'm still the weak link far more than the car is.
I'm keeping an eye on the classifieds on a few forums to see what turns up, if nothing suitable turns up in the next week or two then £160 for a couple of new Conti Sport Contacts and sell the F1's on seems like the best option.
What happened to all the PS3's buddy? Sounds good on the videoI'm keeping an eye on the classifieds on a few forums to see what turns up, if nothing suitable turns up in the next week or two then £160 for a couple of new Conti Sport Contacts and sell the F1's on seems like the best option.
I managed to get a set of Yokohama A048 tyres for track on 15 inch wheels. The difference in size plus the sticky rubber makes SO much difference! Mine are 195/50/15 which coincidently is the same size you get on an Elise and there seem to be loads of part worn A048's on ebay as a result, especially at this time of year
I hate Conti's myself. Mine wore funny on the edges and hummed which drove me absolutely nuts!
I hate Conti's myself. Mine wore funny on the edges and hummed which drove me absolutely nuts!
If I can pick up a set of wheels cheaply enough I think I'll go for a set of 15" wheels purely for track use rather than swap out the rear tyres.
The current tyres are great for road use and it seems a shame to take a big hit on the cost of the F1's when I can get the use out of them on the road and also make a big improvement to track day grip by having another set of wheels. Brand new track day rubber is pretty reasonable at 15" sizes.
That said, it's MoT time next week so probably best to get it through that before spending money on wheels and tyres. Probably.
I certainly shouldn't be pricing up a bunch of suspension upgrades either. I'm doomed.
The current tyres are great for road use and it seems a shame to take a big hit on the cost of the F1's when I can get the use out of them on the road and also make a big improvement to track day grip by having another set of wheels. Brand new track day rubber is pretty reasonable at 15" sizes.
That said, it's MoT time next week so probably best to get it through that before spending money on wheels and tyres. Probably.
I certainly shouldn't be pricing up a bunch of suspension upgrades either. I'm doomed.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 29th October 12:31
I got my cheap alloys! I f
ked up! 
A table of Renault wheels I found on the interweb told me they would be 6.5J, but they are actually 5J. The only track day tyre I can find to suit is an R888 in 165/50 R15 and they actually cost more than the stock 16" size. Um.... No.
Luckily the wheels are in good condition with legal tyres so I should be able to sell them on easily, maybe even for a profit too given I paid next to nothing for them.
MoT day tomorrow. That could hurt........
ked up! A table of Renault wheels I found on the interweb told me they would be 6.5J, but they are actually 5J. The only track day tyre I can find to suit is an R888 in 165/50 R15 and they actually cost more than the stock 16" size. Um.... No.
Luckily the wheels are in good condition with legal tyres so I should be able to sell them on easily, maybe even for a profit too given I paid next to nothing for them.
MoT day tomorrow. That could hurt........
Yeah, proper dodgy geezer
Well it turns out the cheap alloys may not have been such a disaster. Yokohama do the AD08R in the right size and they're reasonably priced too. Think I'll give them a shot along with some better front pads and a whiteline rear ARB.
Won't be for a while though, I'm a bit skint!
Well it turns out the cheap alloys may not have been such a disaster. Yokohama do the AD08R in the right size and they're reasonably priced too. Think I'll give them a shot along with some better front pads and a whiteline rear ARB.
Won't be for a while though, I'm a bit skint!
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