My new Toy (1997 MR2)
Discussion
I don't think any F1 teams will be knocking at my door any time soon, but thought I'd share a video of one of my laps. Not my quickest, but the only one where I'm not yabbering away to my passenger 
Youtube - A lap of Brands Hatch
Youtube - A lap of Brands Hatch
LukeSi said:
Here is the video I promised.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNgm7yh1lZs
Good car control there Luke and glad to see you're treating the MR2 as your should! Is there only one car on track at a time at Curborough? How long do you have to wait between runs?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNgm7yh1lZs
Synchromesh said:
LukeSi said:
Here is the video I promised.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNgm7yh1lZs
Good car control there Luke and glad to see you're treating the MR2 as your should! Is there only one car on track at a time at Curborough? How long do you have to wait between runs?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNgm7yh1lZs
Was also out on this track day, fist lap after the sightings and this happened in front of me >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJPB8ngokzM
Squeaky bum time !
I watched the vid with the black wagon in, noticed my mate Dan in his track prepped 1.8t Golf Fly by, that is a monster, just hard to get full traction in the conditions on the day, is was nasty out there !
Squeaky bum time !
I watched the vid with the black wagon in, noticed my mate Dan in his track prepped 1.8t Golf Fly by, that is a monster, just hard to get full traction in the conditions on the day, is was nasty out there !
carinaman said:
That was a lot of fun! (I was in the passenger seat) 
rossi1 said:
Was also out on this track day, fist lap after the sightings and this happened in front of me >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJPB8ngokzM
Squeaky bum time !
I remember that! Was walking up to Druids and saw that out the corner of my eye! IIRC the TT had a little front end damage to the rad grille, not sure about the Z3?Squeaky bum time !
Synchromesh said:
The torque curve dipped between 2,500 and 3,500 rpm was designed in by Mr. Toyota. No idea why they do that other than to make driving in town smoother when changing gears. The torque curve in the original brochure showed even more of a dipped between 2.5 and 3.5k. Same with the 4A-GE twin-cam 16v engined Corolla we had in the family back in the 90s. I find driving in town I only use up to c. 2,500 rpm to make use of the torque curve as you don't get much more acceleration going to 3,000 and a bit - just more noise and more fuel.
The curve change between 4,500 and 5,500 rpm is the opening of the variable inlet. I would check the rod for opening the inlet is smooth as the actuating rod is exposed in the engine bay and can "gunk", giving a not smooth delivery.
Let's compare notes with my Red Rev 3 at one of the drive day!
hygt2 said:
Let's compare notes with my Red Rev 3 at one of the drive day!
Hi Garrison, didn't know you hung around here too! Looking forward to comparing notes and hopefully we can drive together on the 11th. I'm sharing the MR2 so there won't be huge scope for you to have a play but I'm staying local the night before so if you decide to do likewise we'll go for a dawn raid.When with a passenger, does anyone have any ideas on how to carry two tyres? One in the front boot and one on the engine cover/bootlid?
)I took PEL for an evening session at Cadwell Park on Tuesday. Another track I've been meaning to do for a while, a warm and dry evening at the "mini-Nurburgring" was a good opportunity to push the car in more favourable conditions. Not much to report, but the car performed faultlessly, although my paranoia about wrecking my brakes meant I didn't do stints over 15 mins.
A bit of footage from the day...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SGXBpceGRw
A bit of footage from the day...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SGXBpceGRw
It seems like it's been more than a month since I last updated this thread, but quite a bit's been going on...
After numerous red flags on the Brands evening, MSV kindly gave me a small credit towards my next day with them, and this was all the excuse I needed to go ahead and book something. But fancying something a bit different, and wanting to get my hands dirty with some proper car control in the MR2, I settled on the drift day at Oulton Park. And given the proximity, it would've been rude not to come back though Wales, so me and my co-driving friend made a weekend of the trip by following up the drift day with a good blast down to place I can't stop returning to - the Brecon Beacons.
The drift day proved great fun - to begin with I was surprised at how difficult it was to get the back unstuck considering the low grip and wetted surface, although having superior tyres on the rear was no blessing in this respect. Gradually I started to get it and by lunch time it was all coming together. For every good drift there was a spin, luckily only one resulting in an, er, interface with a tyre wall. The was damage limited to a few chips on the bumper and a displaced indicator cluster, but with it pushed happily back into place the fun continued. It was also good to meet another young MR2 owning PHer who popped over to say hello, even if he managed to spin my car backwards into some tyres and then snap the handbrake cable. Luckily for him, the former barely scuffed the diffuser, and the latter was hardly his fault! As admirably as the car stood up to our abuse on the drift circuit, it proved sharp and involving on Wales' twisties.
MR2 at Oulton Park by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
MR2 twins 3 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
MR2 in Wales 2 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
MR2 in Wales 3 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
Other than this, PEL's been taken to plenty of road driving events, impromptu hoons, a Sunday Service and even an Ace Cafe meet, where I was quietly heartened (and surprised) to be directed to the front car park amongst some much more special machinery. But when not fulfilling its primary role as a general toy and play thing, the old Toyota is having to work for its affection, transporting items like computers, TVs even a full size piano keyboard, as well as munching an inordinate number of motorway miles. In all honesty neither of these roles are its fortes, and after a three hour schlep at 4000 revs, I do find myself pining for something slightly longer legged!
IMG_0736 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
IMG_0752 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
I may also have had an sudden bout of chavitus. Luckily it was acute rather than chronic, but lasted long enough for the primer and gold paint to be bought, and my wheels to be put back on in a somewhat more vivid hue. Actually, the 'Ford Solar Gold' doesn't look as vulgar as it sounds, although asking myself whether it pulls off the look as well as a fast Scooby or Williams Clio, the answer's probably no. Once either the novelty or the paint itself wears off (whichever come first!), I think they'll go back to a more subtle shade. For the time being though, it's a bit of fun - I just hope those who don't know me realise that too...
IMG_0754 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
_MG_4650-Edit.jpg by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
In terms of expenses this month it's been a collection of niggles rather than any standout big bills. With the miles I've been doing (2000 in the last month alone!) she's drunk a bit of oil, while the the mishap at Oulton meant a new handbrake cable was in order. I've also replaced the wipers with some that actually work and tidied up the back end with a new plain rear numberplate. Finally, a rattle from the front nearside was diagnosed by an ex-MR2 owning friend as a drop link and has been duly replaced.
In all, a hectic month for the Toy and things aren't going to get much easier for it any time soon. I hope it's not too early to say but I think I've gone and bought a good'un.
After numerous red flags on the Brands evening, MSV kindly gave me a small credit towards my next day with them, and this was all the excuse I needed to go ahead and book something. But fancying something a bit different, and wanting to get my hands dirty with some proper car control in the MR2, I settled on the drift day at Oulton Park. And given the proximity, it would've been rude not to come back though Wales, so me and my co-driving friend made a weekend of the trip by following up the drift day with a good blast down to place I can't stop returning to - the Brecon Beacons.
The drift day proved great fun - to begin with I was surprised at how difficult it was to get the back unstuck considering the low grip and wetted surface, although having superior tyres on the rear was no blessing in this respect. Gradually I started to get it and by lunch time it was all coming together. For every good drift there was a spin, luckily only one resulting in an, er, interface with a tyre wall. The was damage limited to a few chips on the bumper and a displaced indicator cluster, but with it pushed happily back into place the fun continued. It was also good to meet another young MR2 owning PHer who popped over to say hello, even if he managed to spin my car backwards into some tyres and then snap the handbrake cable. Luckily for him, the former barely scuffed the diffuser, and the latter was hardly his fault! As admirably as the car stood up to our abuse on the drift circuit, it proved sharp and involving on Wales' twisties.
MR2 at Oulton Park by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
MR2 twins 3 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
MR2 in Wales 2 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
MR2 in Wales 3 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
Other than this, PEL's been taken to plenty of road driving events, impromptu hoons, a Sunday Service and even an Ace Cafe meet, where I was quietly heartened (and surprised) to be directed to the front car park amongst some much more special machinery. But when not fulfilling its primary role as a general toy and play thing, the old Toyota is having to work for its affection, transporting items like computers, TVs even a full size piano keyboard, as well as munching an inordinate number of motorway miles. In all honesty neither of these roles are its fortes, and after a three hour schlep at 4000 revs, I do find myself pining for something slightly longer legged!
IMG_0736 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
IMG_0752 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
I may also have had an sudden bout of chavitus. Luckily it was acute rather than chronic, but lasted long enough for the primer and gold paint to be bought, and my wheels to be put back on in a somewhat more vivid hue. Actually, the 'Ford Solar Gold' doesn't look as vulgar as it sounds, although asking myself whether it pulls off the look as well as a fast Scooby or Williams Clio, the answer's probably no. Once either the novelty or the paint itself wears off (whichever come first!), I think they'll go back to a more subtle shade. For the time being though, it's a bit of fun - I just hope those who don't know me realise that too...
IMG_0754 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
_MG_4650-Edit.jpg by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
In terms of expenses this month it's been a collection of niggles rather than any standout big bills. With the miles I've been doing (2000 in the last month alone!) she's drunk a bit of oil, while the the mishap at Oulton meant a new handbrake cable was in order. I've also replaced the wipers with some that actually work and tidied up the back end with a new plain rear numberplate. Finally, a rattle from the front nearside was diagnosed by an ex-MR2 owning friend as a drop link and has been duly replaced.
In all, a hectic month for the Toy and things aren't going to get much easier for it any time soon. I hope it's not too early to say but I think I've gone and bought a good'un.
. Looking at my odometer as I got into my car this morning, I realised it's probably about time I updated this thread. The figure read well over 157,000 miles, meaning I've covered 9k in the last six months. I'm still not sure exactly how, given the car isn't used for commuting and doesn't do much 'running about'. I suppose when I do take it out for a drive, it's rare for me less than 100 miles, and often it's many times more.
Since the last update I've only had one real issue - a strange and unidentifiable noise resulted in a trip a garage, where it was discovered two wheel studs had sheared, needing to be drilled out and replaced. Other expenses were limited to petrol and a new tax disc.
June saw an opportunity to head up to RAF Alconbury to get more of a feel for the car on the limit. Using the controlled environment to practice exercises like a slalom, brake-and-avoid, and motorway-speed emergency lane change refined some important skills for the driving toolbox - I just hope never to have to deploy them in anger.
July involved over 1500 miles in a week as I took the car over to Europe and visited the Nurburgring, but you can read more about that here.
More recently, a friend and PHer Dalto123 mentioned his autotesting exploits, so along with PHer Geekman we went over to Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent to tear up a field. The event consisted of six coned out courses, with the aim on each being to complete the route between the gates in the shortest possible time. The fast guys were using light FWD hatches as in this sport manoeuvrability is everything, but I didn't let this hold me back. Dalto123 started by showed us how it was done with some precise car control. I was off the pace but spent most of the evening sideways with a big grin on my face, and it was noted by the officials that if style points were to be awarded... And Geekman mainly got lost in his Volvo.
At the 'Ring
MR2 on Nurburgring 2 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
Left to right: Dalto123, Synchromesh, Geekman
Since the last update I've only had one real issue - a strange and unidentifiable noise resulted in a trip a garage, where it was discovered two wheel studs had sheared, needing to be drilled out and replaced. Other expenses were limited to petrol and a new tax disc.
June saw an opportunity to head up to RAF Alconbury to get more of a feel for the car on the limit. Using the controlled environment to practice exercises like a slalom, brake-and-avoid, and motorway-speed emergency lane change refined some important skills for the driving toolbox - I just hope never to have to deploy them in anger.
July involved over 1500 miles in a week as I took the car over to Europe and visited the Nurburgring, but you can read more about that here.
More recently, a friend and PHer Dalto123 mentioned his autotesting exploits, so along with PHer Geekman we went over to Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent to tear up a field. The event consisted of six coned out courses, with the aim on each being to complete the route between the gates in the shortest possible time. The fast guys were using light FWD hatches as in this sport manoeuvrability is everything, but I didn't let this hold me back. Dalto123 started by showed us how it was done with some precise car control. I was off the pace but spent most of the evening sideways with a big grin on my face, and it was noted by the officials that if style points were to be awarded... And Geekman mainly got lost in his Volvo.
At the 'Ring
MR2 on Nurburgring 2 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
Left to right: Dalto123, Synchromesh, Geekman
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