Well about time we were due an update I guess, it's been a while.
To date we have completed 8 track days in the car including Croft, Donington, Oulton, Rockingham, Anglesey and Aintree.

Recent modifications include finally a LSD which we really needed after Rockingham, it just pointed out how necessary it was. We have also dumped the rubbish tyres and moved to R888s.

We were out at Oulton yesterday for the first run with the new tyres and diff. What a difference, the grip and ability to get the power down out of the bends makes a massive difference. The day was organised by Focused Events and there were 80 odd cars out. More of a free for all than an organised day, and there were more cars/people in the paddock than for some national events. We also saw some of the worst driving we have witnessed on the track. The day was cheap and attracted the wrong type, so lesson learnt there. We were just glad to get there we cracked the baffled sump in the week and had a hasty replacement of the original so had to keep our eyes on any oil starvation yesterday, thankfully nothing bad happened. The sump is off to be welded and we will swap it back.

Still no cage but thats on the list as it replacing the current seats to use the purpose designed e30 runners we now have. So we need a cheap set of GRP framed side mount seats if anyone knows of any....

We also getting a bit more mechanically minded. Through necessity as we seem to be going through pads rapidly and listening to the brakes on the way home last night I suspect discs too.

One big change though. We have probably (read certainly just need to pick up) bought a trailer. It was becoming more important. The car is now awful to drive on the road and just impractical as it's hot, noisy and we have to carry more and more stuff. This will allow us to carry fuel, extra wheels/tyres and tools without having them rattling in the boot.

Total spec to date:
* Stripped and all obvious unecessary weight removed.
* EBC Groved and Drilled discs front only std discs on rear
* EBC Yellow stuff front pads - to be replaced shortly. Std on rear
* Goodridge braided hoses front only rears std
* Polybushed all round
* Z3 Gear selector
* Bucket seats and harnesses - Both to be replaced with FIA spec and in date items in time
* 60/40mm drop f/r
* Spax PSX adjustable shocks
* 3.61 Std BMW LSD
* Toyo Proxes R888
* Sun roof removed and panel stuck back in

Still to do:
* Remove bonnet mechanism and replace with pins
* Remove weight from front and rear bumpers, remount with pins for easy removal
* Replace boot mech with pins
* Remove sound deadening from inside car
* Replace battery with race spec item
* Install battery cut off
* Install new seats and harnesses
* Acquire/install cage
* Fit sun strip
* Sticker it up
* Reinstall baffled sump
* Replace fuel tank with boot mounted alloy job with swirl pot to prevent fuel starvation

Ironically the car passed it's MOT a few back needed a bit more welding and to think on page 1 we thought it was sound. We have spent a small fortune on welding! but found a good local welder/mechanic who used to work on racing lotuses in the past.

We've had it for 12 months now and come a long way. It's been a learning experience and at times an expensive one. We are just getting to the point were its now cheaper than hiring a BAT cat. All costs have been tracked which allows us to see total cost and breakout fuel, consumables and track days.

Blurter came out for a few laps yesterday and was surprised like most that it isn't as slow as it looks

 

Must get some new pics....

 

Lee, Nige - many thanks for the ride yesterday; great fun, loved it

Here's a few pics we took

GTR - looked fantastic, sounded even better




Some other intersting stuff - probably my 2nd favorite car of the day


TR7 ish


Mental Mini powered by Yamaha bike engine


Budget trackday fun


Now then, my favorite car of the day, obviously (pax lap with Lee)


Off to join the madness


Thanks again chaps

 

Excellent project chaps, I applaud you for doing things 'the hard way'.

There will be huge benefits in the long term

I think I asked in another thread, any plans for competing in it yet?

Dave - great photos, you've certainly got an eye for the interesting stuff

 

SUPERB! I'm jealous as hell; I've been trying to talk a mate of mine into doing just this as he has the garage/drive.

Great choice of car too chaps; I'd also be looking at an E30; In fact I've had my eye on the 320is (the LHD stealthy E30 M3 that the Italians and Portugeezers got ); either that or a 325i

What's your itinery for this year then; I'd love to come along and take a look at some point.

 

I looked into these, it's just got the engine IIRC, not the real deal

If it was the other way round i.e. it had the chassis and not the engine it would be prefect.

 

Yup; S14 shorter stroked engine/Getrag Dogleg Gearbox same as M3 (great for lower speed circuits with lots of 2nd-3rd)

http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=10

It's not an M3 but they're to be had cheaper (or were when I was looking some years ago, perhaps not any longer) and it's stealthier than the more costly M3 which I liked the idea of back then as I would have been parking it on the street.

When I was looking there was a fella from down the country who specialised in bringing in good rust free examples from Italy\Portugal and then swapping them to the M3 suspensions, 'German Cars' or sommet; Cant remember his name but he appeared in an article in CCC magazine (that was a great magazine, used to get oily hands just reading it )

 

I used to read CCC too, great mag. Completely void of the pretentious you get in Evo and the like.

My Talbot Sunbeam Ti was featured in it just before I bought it

 

Yup; CCC was great; Evo was, and still is, just car p**n (LOL it wont let me print '$$$$$$' ).

I foolishly subscribed to Evo many many years ago and every week without fail it was stuffed to the gills with Evo Vs Scoob; lots of glossy pictures . Coffee table rubbish. I very quickly cancelled the sub after the year was up and switched to CCC. Real cars for real people. shame it went out of publication and Evo is still going strong; what does that say about your average 'petrol head'

Sorry; sidetracking the real deal here with this; More info and tales of fun from the OP's please

 

Yes - in our heads (as with most of our ideas)

"If" we can get it caged, swap seats and harnesses and get our licences before the end of the season, then yes-we will be going for the Toyo Tyres saloon car championship.

Also (see below for some of the reasons) we'd like to be able to do some test days.