Not Your Everyday Race Car - The Mighty Citroen

[Mark Benson]

Long time no update - I've been a bit busy, working overseas and going through the process of selection for a new job so work on the car has been sporadic but I've had a good run recently so here's the latest.

The car went to the welders just before I left for Paris, when I drove it back it was comically poor handling, with a standard front end but race suspension on the rear and a hugely stiffened body shell (see pic below) - damp roundabouts became oversteer, mash the throttle, avoid obstacles, apologise to other road users. I felt like a complete hooligan even at low speeds. Not particularly relaxing but I think once on track and set up, it's going to be a fun little car.

So, pictures:

Muchly stiffened body now, the whole side comes up on the jack:



and nice neat welds (though a terrible picture):



But a problem. The welder attached the harness plates to the inside of the car:



they should be on the outside so that the plate pulls 'through' the body if you get my meaning, but he took the car straight back and corrected his mistake (or my failure to convey what I wanted) FOC so we were all good.

I then set about trimming the dash top to go round the cage:



And blocking off the vents I'd just cut off so all the air is directed towards the screen:



Before refitting the dash top:



I've still to tidy up around the dash ends, probably with some ally plate and satin black spray, but if time I might do something fancy with the removed vents as they're quite funky.

I then went off to France for a few weeks for work:



(yes, they're snails. Better than you'd imagine but not something I'd go out of my way to order)

Back from France and cracking on.....

We can use an AIM Solo lap timer (no other timing/logging permitted) so I'm going to mount it on the shelf above the radio and use the 12v supply for the cigar lighter that I removed to fit the panel holding the electrical cut-off and extinguisher pull:



I've made up an ally bracket that I've painted to match the rest of the car, I should be fitting that this week.

Other jobs done are the rear tow straps - remove bumper, realise how rusty the crash structure is underneath, wire brush/flapper off the rust, prime, paint and reattach bumper with suitable holes cut out::





So while I had the paint out I gave the floor in the front of the car a blow over (there was only a mist coat there from the factory as it's usually covered by carpet):



and finally fitted the seat:



Hopefully I'll get a bit more time on the car as I'm due some time at home now, so the updates might be a bit more frequent.

Edited by Mark Benson on Tuesday 4th April 16:49

[Krikkit]

Looking good, has the "to-do" list got to < 2 pages yet? When's the first outing targeted for?

[Mark Benson]

There is one big job (front suspension and extended driveshafts) and a few smaller ones left to do.
I seem to remember Rich saying he'd booked a trackday at Croft (5 miles from me) on Good Friday so I really need to get the suspension done by then and get it aligned etc. I have a tracking gauge so I can do that here.
It could also really do with a clutch before then (definitely before racing) but I may well cheat and pay a local mechanic to do it on his ramps, I'm getting too old and lazy I think
Then there's pads/shoes, fluid and bleeding, the front spots, tank guard to fit, fitting the extinguisher and a few other odds and ends.

The end's in sight, and like I say, I should get a bit more time with the car this month.

[IroningMan]

Cracking thread, cracking idea for a race series.

[skeggysteve]

Mark Benson said:

...
I seem to remember Rich saying he'd booked a trackday at Croft...

I've just had a look and you're on the list but not Rich and not with the C1 - does he not have any faith in your ability to get the car ready?

Let me know nearer the time if you are taking the C1 and I'll get cover and throw a few spanners (and a hammer ) in the car and come and help out.

[Mark Benson]

skeggysteve said:

Mark Benson said:

...
I seem to remember Rich saying he'd booked a trackday at Croft...

I've just had a look and you're on the list but not Rich and not with the C1 - does he not have any faith in your ability to get the car ready?

Let me know nearer the time if you are taking the C1 and I'll get cover and throw a few spanners (and a hammer ) in the car and come and help out.

Looks like we're doing the test day on the 28th Steve. Also, it's a different Rich to the one you know - he's off this year renting a seat in Fun Cup.

[Dakkon]

This is quite an inspiring thread, probably would not be able to race this year, but would interested in taking part in 2018

[Mark-t]

Did you fit the rev counter? Only I can't see it in previous photographs and wondered if I bought one for mine, does it just simply plug in?.

[eglf]

Mark-t said:

Did you fit the rev counter? Only I can't see it in previous photographs and wondered if I bought one for mine, does it just simply plug in?.

Yes that's right, the bracket to bolt the rev counter on to and wiring plug are standard fit. I retro fitted one to my daughters 107.

Edited by eglf on Friday 7th April 07:11

[Dakkon]

Is there a consensus about the Nitrons, it was suggested in an earlier post that they don't offer much extra, seems a way to save £465?

[geeks]

Your tow loops are the wrong colour! You will get st at scrutineering about them being the same colour as the car, they are supposed to be in a contrasting colour (yes I am aware they have big orange ties on them)

[Mark Benson]

Rev counter - yes, I bought one from a breaker assuming the loom would be there for it - it was (most cars come wired for all possible accessories these days, it makes sense at the factory not to have different looms for differently optioned cars).

Tow loops - bugger, hadn't thought of that. We'll take our chances for now. Stupid rule - you'd have to be blind not to notice them, with or without the orange ribbon.

[Munter]

Mark Benson said:

Rev counter - yes, I bought one from a breaker assuming the loom would be there for it - it was (most cars come wired for all possible accessories these days, it makes sense at the factory not to have different looms for differently optioned cars).

Tow loops - bugger, hadn't thought of that. We'll take our chances for now. Stupid rule - you'd have to be blind not to notice them, with or without the orange ribbon.

I presume one could just "wrap" them in coloured insulation tape.

[geeks]

Munter said:

Mark Benson said:

Rev counter - yes, I bought one from a breaker assuming the loom would be there for it - it was (most cars come wired for all possible accessories these days, it makes sense at the factory not to have different looms for differently optioned cars).

Tow loops - bugger, hadn't thought of that. We'll take our chances for now. Stupid rule - you'd have to be blind not to notice them, with or without the orange ribbon.

I presume one could just "wrap" them in coloured insulation tape.

Probably as a one off they would be ok with that, take it to scrutinering with you just in case, we always take tape and cable ties with us just incase

[ribiero]

Mark Benson said:

Tow loops - bugger, hadn't thought of that. We'll take our chances for now. Stupid rule - you'd have to be blind not to notice them, with or without the orange ribbon.

beg swap's with someone who has a red car when you get to circuit

[Mark Benson]

geeks said:

Munter said:

Mark Benson said:

Rev counter - yes, I bought one from a breaker assuming the loom would be there for it - it was (most cars come wired for all possible accessories these days, it makes sense at the factory not to have different looms for differently optioned cars).

Tow loops - bugger, hadn't thought of that. We'll take our chances for now. Stupid rule - you'd have to be blind not to notice them, with or without the orange ribbon.

I presume one could just "wrap" them in coloured insulation tape.

Probably as a one off they would be ok with that, take it to scrutinering with you just in case, we always take tape and cable ties with us just incase

Cable ties, tape and a determination to remain good humoured whatever the scrut finds.....

[flyer0]

For anyone that's interested you can follow another C1 in the build at the Facebook page for
Fast Eddys Performance Car Services

[andy97]

Any view on the number of prep hours required to fit the cage, and separately to do the rest of the prep?

I'm just trying to work out how much this may cost if we get some of the work done by a professional!

[fast eddys]

flyer0 said:

For anyone that's interested you can follow another C1 in the build at the Facebook page for
Fast Eddys Performance Car Services

https://www.facebook.com/FastEddysPerformanceCarServices/?ref=bookmarks

[fast eddys]

andy97 said:

Any view on the number of prep hours required to fit the cage, and separately to do the rest of the prep?

I'm just trying to work out how much this may cost if we get some of the work done by a professional!

Well the BTG guys said it took a week with 2-4 guys working 12-14 hrs I think so circa 300 man hours!

I am doing cage, seat, harness, suspension, guards, alignment and some other bits and looking at spending around 80h man hrs with 1-2 people and the customer is doing the rest