Upgrades and Brands Hatch - June 2020
Since Silvertsone in February, I'd not used my Clio or had much done to it excluding a paintless dent removal chap who I would highly recommend however I'd accumulated a loads of parts over the past year, I therefore got it booked in with Alex at AW Motorworks for the following:
- Oil change (Millers Oil CFS Competition Oil)
- Gearbox Oil Change (Redline MTL)
- Brake Fluid Change (Motul RBF660)
- Coolant Change (Renault Type D)
- Fit Pro-Am Racing Roll Centre Correction Kit
- Fit PMS Nut & Stud (75mm all around)
- Fit PMS 10mm Front Spacers
- Resolve ABS warning light (ABS Ring & Sensor)
- Fit Rear Beam Bushes
As always and as mentioned many a time on here, Alex is one of very few people I would now let touch my Clio (excluding mates!). He is always a pleasure to deal with, honest and reliable. On top of all this he's a nice bloke. The car is booked back in with Alex to sort the corroded rear brake lines and also fit some new rear shims.
As soon as I got the car back from Alex I had a brand new set of Yoko A048's fitted and I was then ready for my first track outing at Brands Hatch, this was the first time I was totally comfortable in the car since my broken hip and I think it was safe to say it showed. The car felt amazing and I gradually got quicker and quicker throughout the course of the night.
I had my Vbox fitted (but unable to see the times while driving) and I believe my quickest lap of the evening was 59.36 with the car offering far more. I was still loosing a lot of time at Paddock Hill (kept using 3rd, need to use 4th) and I think I could easily get down to 56's.
Here a quick video of me following my Friend in his X85 Clio Cup (this was his first outing in the car since it was built back to what it is today and he was also short shifting at 5k rpm) however following a such a good driver really helps.
The Pro-Am Racing Roll Centre Correct Kit made a huge improvement to the turn-in, its up there with the diff as best modification. The PMS Studs also helped massively as I'd lost confidence in my bolts, literally came loose at every trackway and I would only ever do a few laps before coming in to check them. I literally torqued them up before going out. Did a quick 15 mins stint came back in, they were a little loose but after re-torquing them, they didn't move all night, and I did some long sessions (was out for 40 mins at one point).
Here are some pics from the evening:
Below is a pic of my two Friends X85's Clio Cup Cars:
I've got two more track day's currently booked 1st July at Snetterton and then 22nd July at Brands again and I can't wait to get back out. There are only two items I need to change in the car IMO:
- Fit my roll cage door bars (a few friends are going to help with this as we need to adjust due to the XL seat).
- Lower my seat. Currently as low as it can go without changing the OEM cross members (requires some research).
- Lower my steering column.
The above aside, the Clio, in my eyes is "finished" I will literally maintain it (including sorting any rust this winter) and use it as much as life allows, I've got some DN credit to use as my Nurburgring Track day was cancelled which was due in May. A few friends are going in September which I hope to join (house move is making it hard to commit) but I'll use the Clio as much as possible during the second part of this year until the track days stop and then get it off the road for a good tidy up (Powder coat all suspension parts, remove any rust & make like new).
I'm sure I've missed stuff off but I've got a s**t load of work todo!
Tom