Back to the Shed!
Discussion
The big day is finally upon us, our first track day in the Seicento.
Today was spent spanner checking, fluid, tyre pressures etc... and adding a mount for a tablet too to act as a digital display for things like rev counter, engine temp etc. This is all run from the OBD port.
I'll report back tomorrow with how we get on.
Today was spent spanner checking, fluid, tyre pressures etc... and adding a mount for a tablet too to act as a digital display for things like rev counter, engine temp etc. This is all run from the OBD port.
I'll report back tomorrow with how we get on.
Well readers, I have to say that today was a Stirling success!
The track day started off wet and cold, by lunch the track was almost dry, but unfortunately it rained again over lunch and never really let off.
We got a few overtakes in, mostly on small stuff like 2CVs, Citroen C1s etc. We did manage to carry better corner speed than many other cars, including a Nissan GTR. Fast on the straights but the driver wasnt quick on the corners.
Just before the sighting laps...
Overall, it was a good day, and good fun. Few minor issues, found out we blew a shock. Also once we were down to a quarter of a tank we were getting really bad fuel starvation.
However, we managed to carry good corner speed. Getting around 80mph round Gerards isn't bad for a totally stock crapbox. Used the sidewalls a bit too!
So next for the Seicento will be new springs and dampers, full service again, and look at some kind of external swirlpot.
The track day started off wet and cold, by lunch the track was almost dry, but unfortunately it rained again over lunch and never really let off.
We got a few overtakes in, mostly on small stuff like 2CVs, Citroen C1s etc. We did manage to carry better corner speed than many other cars, including a Nissan GTR. Fast on the straights but the driver wasnt quick on the corners.
Just before the sighting laps...
Overall, it was a good day, and good fun. Few minor issues, found out we blew a shock. Also once we were down to a quarter of a tank we were getting really bad fuel starvation.
However, we managed to carry good corner speed. Getting around 80mph round Gerards isn't bad for a totally stock crapbox. Used the sidewalls a bit too!
So next for the Seicento will be new springs and dampers, full service again, and look at some kind of external swirlpot.
Short youtube video of coming down the back straight into the Lakes Esses. Flat out. We put some fresh fuel in late morning and she started pulling better too.
https://youtu.be/omACruW9-lo
https://youtu.be/omACruW9-lo
Quick update on some of the cars!
The Blue Herald 13/60 has gone to a new home. I sold it to a local classic car dealer who flipped it on 48 hours after he bought it from me, but I was happy with what I got for it, and as he nearly doubled his money I imagine he is to! I sold it for a low price to get it shifted quickly.
Cliopatra SHOULD have gone to a new home, but the winning bidder on eBay from Cleveland was an absolute prick and won't pay for it, or even acknowledge that they are the winning bidder. I probably shouldn't name him as tempting as it is. So after 3 failed sales shes now been shoved at the back of a barn for winter, and I'll pull her out next spring and try again.
We also have done more prep work on the Seicento track car too, she is now sitting 60mm lower all round! We used proper lowering springs, and we also have replaced the dampers with new Sachs items. Hopefully the working dampers and stiffer, lower springs will negate some of the understeer we suffered before. We're next out at Mallory with Javelin track days on the 14th November.
The Blue Herald 13/60 has gone to a new home. I sold it to a local classic car dealer who flipped it on 48 hours after he bought it from me, but I was happy with what I got for it, and as he nearly doubled his money I imagine he is to! I sold it for a low price to get it shifted quickly.
Cliopatra SHOULD have gone to a new home, but the winning bidder on eBay from Cleveland was an absolute prick and won't pay for it, or even acknowledge that they are the winning bidder. I probably shouldn't name him as tempting as it is. So after 3 failed sales shes now been shoved at the back of a barn for winter, and I'll pull her out next spring and try again.
We also have done more prep work on the Seicento track car too, she is now sitting 60mm lower all round! We used proper lowering springs, and we also have replaced the dampers with new Sachs items. Hopefully the working dampers and stiffer, lower springs will negate some of the understeer we suffered before. We're next out at Mallory with Javelin track days on the 14th November.
Another track you might enjoy if you can carry speed through the corners is Cadwell Park.
14 corners in 2.1 miles, only three shortish straights.
But it's very much uphill and downhill, built into the sides of a valley in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
If you can really carry speed well you will have a great time.
It's just over 100 miles from you.
Here's what it looks like - I'm the guy in front, missing his apexes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAZCOXpZCWY
14 corners in 2.1 miles, only three shortish straights.
But it's very much uphill and downhill, built into the sides of a valley in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
If you can really carry speed well you will have a great time.
It's just over 100 miles from you.
Here's what it looks like - I'm the guy in front, missing his apexes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAZCOXpZCWY
I don't care much about clipping apexes perfectly etc, track days are about having fun and not worrying about plod round the corner with his magic hair-dryer.
We have thought about going to Cadwell and Oulton etc, but the elevation changes would really hurt us in this under-powered crap-box. We might be going to an engine from a Panda 100HP over winter, or at least when we blow the current engine up. For the time being we'll just be going to Mallory as it's about 45 minutes from us, and the track days there are cheap.
Having said that Cadwell would still be fun as it's so tight. I think if we went to Silverstone we'd be bored s
tless as we'd be pinned 100%.
A mate took his fast Mondeo to Cadwell a few years ago, and his brother took his breathed on Accord Type R. My mate drove back to Cov with steel to steel contact on all his brakes he'd cooked them that much! I think he dropped it in at a local garage on his way to work the next morning to get new discs and pads fitted!
We have thought about going to Cadwell and Oulton etc, but the elevation changes would really hurt us in this under-powered crap-box. We might be going to an engine from a Panda 100HP over winter, or at least when we blow the current engine up. For the time being we'll just be going to Mallory as it's about 45 minutes from us, and the track days there are cheap.
Having said that Cadwell would still be fun as it's so tight. I think if we went to Silverstone we'd be bored s
tless as we'd be pinned 100%.A mate took his fast Mondeo to Cadwell a few years ago, and his brother took his breathed on Accord Type R. My mate drove back to Cov with steel to steel contact on all his brakes he'd cooked them that much! I think he dropped it in at a local garage on his way to work the next morning to get new discs and pads fitted!
Update time!
As you may have guessed the track day at Mallory on the 14th was cancelled, so we didn't get to try out our upgraded suspension. We're now weighing up stripping the whole car down over winter and doing the build work we intended or wait until something fails and causes us to pull it apart. The strip down work will entail;
- Remove all suspension and subframes
- Blast and paint as appropriate, possibly weld in some strengthening plates too
- Powerflex bushes where available
- Drop fuel tank, clean as appropriate
- Clean, repair and paint under floor as appropriate
- Replace fuel and brake lines for peace of mind
- Remove dashboard, gut out for further weight saving
- Add pins to bonnet and tailgate
- Fabricate and install rollcage - minimum of 6 point
- Fabricate and install strutbraces for front of car
- Remove airbag and steering wheel, fit OMP race wheel
- Engine work may involve a race cam etc, or possibly just 'big block' it (yeah right) with a 1.4 TJET etc
We also picked up another set of alloys for it too as we found one of the old ones was out of round and was rubbing on the strut body!
In terms of other cars I've decided to keep the Disco Commercial, so I've ordered a load of parts to get that through it's MOT. I will then find somewhere dry to park it over winter with the windscreen out so I can repair the roof etc where it's leaking. I've got a few weeks off over Christmas, and as travel plans look curtailed I guess I'll have time to crack on with the projects.
Frank stara the Suzuki Vitara finally made it home to me a few weeks ago after languishing in a field for another 8 months. However, all the arches are rotten, and really he's just not worth saving, so I'm breaking him for parts.
Also, finally made a start on breaking the green 530 V8. Got someone after the seats and door cars, so I'll be breaking it from the inside out.
However, I've promised myself I will not buy any more cars until next year now... we'll see if I stick to it. Although I still have a few I've not yet put up on here!...
As you may have guessed the track day at Mallory on the 14th was cancelled, so we didn't get to try out our upgraded suspension. We're now weighing up stripping the whole car down over winter and doing the build work we intended or wait until something fails and causes us to pull it apart. The strip down work will entail;
- Remove all suspension and subframes
- Blast and paint as appropriate, possibly weld in some strengthening plates too
- Powerflex bushes where available
- Drop fuel tank, clean as appropriate
- Clean, repair and paint under floor as appropriate
- Replace fuel and brake lines for peace of mind
- Remove dashboard, gut out for further weight saving
- Add pins to bonnet and tailgate
- Fabricate and install rollcage - minimum of 6 point
- Fabricate and install strutbraces for front of car
- Remove airbag and steering wheel, fit OMP race wheel
- Engine work may involve a race cam etc, or possibly just 'big block' it (yeah right) with a 1.4 TJET etc
We also picked up another set of alloys for it too as we found one of the old ones was out of round and was rubbing on the strut body!
In terms of other cars I've decided to keep the Disco Commercial, so I've ordered a load of parts to get that through it's MOT. I will then find somewhere dry to park it over winter with the windscreen out so I can repair the roof etc where it's leaking. I've got a few weeks off over Christmas, and as travel plans look curtailed I guess I'll have time to crack on with the projects.
Frank s
tara the Suzuki Vitara finally made it home to me a few weeks ago after languishing in a field for another 8 months. However, all the arches are rotten, and really he's just not worth saving, so I'm breaking him for parts.Also, finally made a start on breaking the green 530 V8. Got someone after the seats and door cars, so I'll be breaking it from the inside out.
However, I've promised myself I will not buy any more cars until next year now... we'll see if I stick to it. Although I still have a few I've not yet put up on here!...
Well, I didn't manage to stick to my self-imposed rule of not buying any more cars until the new year... but i can kind of get away with it as this is an MPV.
Utterly horrible, the sort of car you want to Pit Manoeuvre off the road when you see it to put people out of their misery.... but it's saving grace is it has a 1.4 16V version of the FIRE engine, so will be the perfect donor car for our Seicento!
250 pictures of the Queen bought this fine piece of Italian ste. Seems a shame to pull it apart, as it's actually pretty damn tidy! But needs must!
Utterly horrible, the sort of car you want to Pit Manoeuvre off the road when you see it to put people out of their misery.... but it's saving grace is it has a 1.4 16V version of the FIRE engine, so will be the perfect donor car for our Seicento!
250 pictures of the Queen bought this fine piece of Italian s
te. Seems a shame to pull it apart, as it's actually pretty damn tidy! But needs must!Once again the lure of eBay was calling me... flush with about 40p after selling some bits off my Vitara I went shopping again, and found this absolute beast of a sports car for sale, all of 100 yards from my brothers house!
It was a reasonable price for a mini project, advertised at £350 firm, but in need of minor work, that being;
Offside front brake caliper is sticking
Therefore offside front pads have worn to nothing.
And the offside front disc is now warped etc.
The rear beam bushes need replacing.
And the passenger side door handle doesn't open, but this is a common fault on a Ka...
Oh yes everyone, I've bought a Ka!
I might fix it up for the missus to use, or fix and sell in early summer when convertibles are at a premium.
This is the winter pack version though with a removable hard top, heated seats etc.
It was a reasonable price for a mini project, advertised at £350 firm, but in need of minor work, that being;
Offside front brake caliper is sticking
Therefore offside front pads have worn to nothing.
And the offside front disc is now warped etc.
The rear beam bushes need replacing.
And the passenger side door handle doesn't open, but this is a common fault on a Ka...
Oh yes everyone, I've bought a Ka!
I might fix it up for the missus to use, or fix and sell in early summer when convertibles are at a premium.
This is the winter pack version though with a removable hard top, heated seats etc.
Mother in law has a winter pack StreetKa which now lives in Cyprus for when does too. I used to use it when she was away
Really enjoyed ringing its neck, keep the revs up and gear changes swift and it gets down the road well!
Gets a bit lairy the other side or 70, and will easily handbrake turn on the move too 😂
Really enjoyed ringing its neck, keep the revs up and gear changes swift and it gets down the road well!
Gets a bit lairy the other side or 70, and will easily handbrake turn on the move too 😂
I've gone and done it again, and bought another crapper of a car!
This time a Moss Roadster - a Triumph Herald based kit car that looks a BIT like a Morgan - ish... if you squint and it's dark.
Anyway, it needs a new engine dropping in as the current one is seized up.
Grand total of £650 including delivery. Photos to follow!
This time a Moss Roadster - a Triumph Herald based kit car that looks a BIT like a Morgan - ish... if you squint and it's dark.
Anyway, it needs a new engine dropping in as the current one is seized up.
Grand total of £650 including delivery. Photos to follow!
An update for the sheds;
Frank stara is nearly off to the great car park in the sky. The engine sold last week, and hopefully someone is after the gearbox this week.
Has anyone ever seen a car where the gearbox is nearly half the length of the overall vehicle? Mental.
That is a fairly beefy trolley jack behind it for scale.
I'm thinning out the sheds a bit, so once the Vitara body is scrapped, I'll get the StreetKa over to my barn to do the repair work it needs, then that can be moved on too!
Frank s
tara is nearly off to the great car park in the sky. The engine sold last week, and hopefully someone is after the gearbox this week.Has anyone ever seen a car where the gearbox is nearly half the length of the overall vehicle? Mental.
That is a fairly beefy trolley jack behind it for scale.
I'm thinning out the sheds a bit, so once the Vitara body is scrapped, I'll get the StreetKa over to my barn to do the repair work it needs, then that can be moved on too!
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