The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T(Vol XIX)
Discussion
Crook said:
That sounds like a very good day.
'Twas indeed. 
The mix was different to the few Goodwood days I've done before, with fewer classics but more Porsches than I've ever seen at a track day. Probably more than half the paddock was Porsche including several GT3s (incl a 992) and new GT3 RSs, plus Carreras, 944s.
But also McLarens, AMG GTs, a 620R 7 (mental), Nissan GTRs, a track prepped 360 Ferrari (not a Strad), 500+hp WRX, a couple of TVRs which are rare on track days these days... A sole Megane R26.R was about the only hot hatch. One really nicely modded MX5, an Ultima with a Bentley V8 (!!), a modded V12 E-type coupe, Lotus Cortina, a wee little Hillman Imp. And then the stuff that just turns up to hang out in the paddock.
braddo said:
'Twas indeed.
The mix was different to the few Goodwood days I've done before, with fewer classics but more Porsches than I've ever seen at a track day. Probably more than half the paddock was Porsche including several GT3s (incl a 992) and new GT3 RSs, plus Carreras, 944s.
But also McLarens, AMG GTs, a 620R 7 (mental), Nissan GTRs, a track prepped 360 Ferrari (not a Strad), 500+hp WRX, a couple of TVRs which are rare on track days these days... A sole Megane R26.R was about the only hot hatch. One really nicely modded MX5, an Ultima with a Bentley V8 (!!), a modded V12 E-type coupe, Lotus Cortina, a wee little Hillman Imp. And then the stuff that just turns up to hang out in the paddock.
That is quite a selection!!!The mix was different to the few Goodwood days I've done before, with fewer classics but more Porsches than I've ever seen at a track day. Probably more than half the paddock was Porsche including several GT3s (incl a 992) and new GT3 RSs, plus Carreras, 944s.
But also McLarens, AMG GTs, a 620R 7 (mental), Nissan GTRs, a track prepped 360 Ferrari (not a Strad), 500+hp WRX, a couple of TVRs which are rare on track days these days... A sole Megane R26.R was about the only hot hatch. One really nicely modded MX5, an Ultima with a Bentley V8 (!!), a modded V12 E-type coupe, Lotus Cortina, a wee little Hillman Imp. And then the stuff that just turns up to hang out in the paddock.
I've never managed to do a TD there. I had an invite to one earlier this year but couldn't make it which was a real pain. I am definitely going to try harder next year all things permitting.
Talking of 7 related things, the 2023 circuits have been announced for the CGRC and Spa is on there! That's the priority over everything else.
braddo said:
The 620R owner had traded up from a Superlight R.
Racing at Spa would be amazing.
And yes, if I only get to do one event this year it's got to be that.
Hey peeps 
Just checking in. Hope y'all are well.
I'm four months and 5k miles deep into the twelver. I won't lie; chasing the steering wheel wobble and being nearly stranded by the ABC pump were initial low points, but after a shaky start it has otherwise been as good as gold (ABC pump turned out to be a blocked filter).
Future attention items include, front wheel bearings, steering arms and the still nonfunctional seat bladders; otherwise, all is well with the über groß Sonderklasse. It even has a working fridge!
If it blows up, you'll be the first to know!
Just checking in. Hope y'all are well.
I'm four months and 5k miles deep into the twelver. I won't lie; chasing the steering wheel wobble and being nearly stranded by the ABC pump were initial low points, but after a shaky start it has otherwise been as good as gold (ABC pump turned out to be a blocked filter).
Future attention items include, front wheel bearings, steering arms and the still nonfunctional seat bladders; otherwise, all is well with the über groß Sonderklasse. It even has a working fridge!
If it blows up, you'll be the first to know!
On a whatsapp group I'm on a mate posted a couple of pictures of a MK1 Cavalier and its wonderful red velour interior. It got me reminiscing about my first road legal car which was a 2l Ascona of the same vintage.
Off to the internet to see whether any are available and I found one, very similar in fact to an Ascona I'd had many years before...
Not Tamiya
Compared to Escorts and other contemporary rally machines it doesn't seem outrageously expensive.
Off to the internet to see whether any are available and I found one, very similar in fact to an Ascona I'd had many years before...
Not Tamiya
Compared to Escorts and other contemporary rally machines it doesn't seem outrageously expensive.
Meanwhile, sparked by that E30 estate a few pages back and what other options exist for a compact, light, 4-seat car that can take some track day fun I've been wasting time obsessing about modifying a 190E into something suitable and a de facto sleeper. Steering won't be as nice as the BM but much more sophisticated rear suspension helps compensate.
Internet say a basic 190 only weighs around 1160kg. The late 90s 2.3 kompressor engine basically drops into the engine bay on factory engine mounts and bolts up to the existing gearbox (or can maybe use the 6-speed that goes with the 230K engine). Add intercooler, change crank pulley and a remap and the engine can be 240hp-ish = 200hp/ton region.
LSD from a Cossie Merc, uprated brakes from the Merc parts bin (4-pots and ventilated discs), suspension kit from KW and Ohlins available. Keep ride height reasonable and have 2 sets of wheels - standard 15 inch with wheel trims like my old 190, plus a nice pair of 16/17 wheels with sticky tyres. Might have to stick in a driver's bucket seat for track days and of course a non-bus steering wheel.
Internet say a basic 190 only weighs around 1160kg. The late 90s 2.3 kompressor engine basically drops into the engine bay on factory engine mounts and bolts up to the existing gearbox (or can maybe use the 6-speed that goes with the 230K engine). Add intercooler, change crank pulley and a remap and the engine can be 240hp-ish = 200hp/ton region.
LSD from a Cossie Merc, uprated brakes from the Merc parts bin (4-pots and ventilated discs), suspension kit from KW and Ohlins available. Keep ride height reasonable and have 2 sets of wheels - standard 15 inch with wheel trims like my old 190, plus a nice pair of 16/17 wheels with sticky tyres. Might have to stick in a driver's bucket seat for track days and of course a non-bus steering wheel.
Great idea!
I had a similar-ish thought process a while ago on the back of one of the episodes of Best Motoring where they take out a Hakosuka Skyline and the in-car sound of the straight six is amazing.
Which then had me thinking of getting an E24 (this was when these were cheap but still frilly) and going full track-day Bathurst then in some sort of rational thought process of a lighter shell that needed no repair work doing a striped out caged E36 Compact with the S50 engine.
However the reality is I would never have got round to doing any of it.
You sound like you've already started the sums...
Talking of stripped out BMWs with great straight sixes, Flangio, is yours likely to make a return to the track next year?
I had a similar-ish thought process a while ago on the back of one of the episodes of Best Motoring where they take out a Hakosuka Skyline and the in-car sound of the straight six is amazing.
Which then had me thinking of getting an E24 (this was when these were cheap but still frilly) and going full track-day Bathurst then in some sort of rational thought process of a lighter shell that needed no repair work doing a striped out caged E36 Compact with the S50 engine.
However the reality is I would never have got round to doing any of it.
You sound like you've already started the sums...
Talking of stripped out BMWs with great straight sixes, Flangio, is yours likely to make a return to the track next year?
Crook said:
Great idea!
I had a similar-ish thought process a while ago on the back of one of the episodes of Best Motoring where they take out a Hakosuka Skyline and the in-car sound of the straight six is amazing.
Which then had me thinking of getting an E24 (this was when these were cheap but still frilly) and going full track-day Bathurst then in some sort of rational thought process of a lighter shell that needed no repair work doing a striped out caged E36 Compact with the S50 engine.
However the reality is I would never have got round to doing any of it.
You sound like you've already started the sums...
Talking of stripped out BMWs with great straight sixes, Flangio, is yours likely to make a return to the track next year?
I had a similar-ish thought process a while ago on the back of one of the episodes of Best Motoring where they take out a Hakosuka Skyline and the in-car sound of the straight six is amazing.
Which then had me thinking of getting an E24 (this was when these were cheap but still frilly) and going full track-day Bathurst then in some sort of rational thought process of a lighter shell that needed no repair work doing a striped out caged E36 Compact with the S50 engine.
However the reality is I would never have got round to doing any of it.
You sound like you've already started the sums...
Talking of stripped out BMWs with great straight sixes, Flangio, is yours likely to make a return to the track next year?
E24 you say...Excellent! you won't even need to respray it - just get the spanners out
This was what I had in mind
This was what I had in mind
Crook said:
On a whatsapp group I'm on a mate posted a couple of pictures of a MK1 Cavalier and its wonderful red velour interior. It got me reminiscing about my first road legal car which was a 2l Ascona of the same vintage.
Off to the internet to see whether any are available and I found one, very similar in fact to an Ascona I'd had many years before...
Not Tamiya
Compared to Escorts and other contemporary rally machines it doesn't seem outrageously expensive.
Snap - my first car was an Ascona B 2.0S in ochre yellow - like this...Off to the internet to see whether any are available and I found one, very similar in fact to an Ascona I'd had many years before...
Not Tamiya
Compared to Escorts and other contemporary rally machines it doesn't seem outrageously expensive.
braddo said:
Meanwhile, sparked by that E30 estate a few pages back and what other options exist for a compact, light, 4-seat car that can take some track day fun I've been wasting time obsessing about modifying a 190E into something suitable and a de facto sleeper. Steering won't be as nice as the BM but much more sophisticated rear suspension helps compensate.
Internet say a basic 190 only weighs around 1160kg. The late 90s 2.3 kompressor engine basically drops into the engine bay on factory engine mounts and bolts up to the existing gearbox (or can maybe use the 6-speed that goes with the 230K engine). Add intercooler, change crank pulley and a remap and the engine can be 240hp-ish = 200hp/ton region.
LSD from a Cossie Merc, uprated brakes from the Merc parts bin (4-pots and ventilated discs), suspension kit from KW and Ohlins available. Keep ride height reasonable and have 2 sets of wheels - standard 15 inch with wheel trims like my old 190, plus a nice pair of 16/17 wheels with sticky tyres. Might have to stick in a driver's bucket seat for track days and of course a non-bus steering wheel.
The 190 does seem to be a bit of an outlier when you look at prices relative to E30s etc. And it does have some Motorsport heritage.Internet say a basic 190 only weighs around 1160kg. The late 90s 2.3 kompressor engine basically drops into the engine bay on factory engine mounts and bolts up to the existing gearbox (or can maybe use the 6-speed that goes with the 230K engine). Add intercooler, change crank pulley and a remap and the engine can be 240hp-ish = 200hp/ton region.
LSD from a Cossie Merc, uprated brakes from the Merc parts bin (4-pots and ventilated discs), suspension kit from KW and Ohlins available. Keep ride height reasonable and have 2 sets of wheels - standard 15 inch with wheel trims like my old 190, plus a nice pair of 16/17 wheels with sticky tyres. Might have to stick in a driver's bucket seat for track days and of course a non-bus steering wheel.
The engine swap route seems fairly simple on the face of of it. I've seen a few with 300 engines fitted which is really appealing. I think they make a great sleeper.
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