Now starts the tale of my newly acquired Clio 172. It will be used primarily for Autosolos, Sprints, Hillclimbs and smooth Targa Rallies.
This isn't new to the Clio - the car won the National BTRDA Autosolo Championship in 2015,plus the Cotswold and Welsh Autosolo Autosolo Championships.
Likewise, Motorsport isn't new to me, my first competitive event was in 1979 and I've won various stage rally championships as a driver and navigator. Competing on Rally GB in 1995 when Colin McRae won the event and the WRC was a really special event for me. I've won the Association of South West Motor Clubs (ASWMC) Autosolo Championship for the last two years plus have been at least in the top four overall of BTRDA, Welsh and Cotswold Autosolo Championships for the last few years. My kids (23, 21 and 19) have all won National Championships, in fact my daughter (19) has won the BTRDA U25 Autosolo Challenge and Allrounders Championships in 2015.
We've been using a 1275 Micra prepared beautifully by Humphris of Oxford for the last two years. The car handles superbly but still has its standard 134k old engine with 75bhp when new. I was looking at ways to improve the Micra, but the Clio was the most obvious, cost effective route, especially as it's been looked after so well in the past.
This year,as well as Autosolos, I'll also be out on Targa rallies, historic rallies, grass autotests and Classic tours. I may even try a track day which has always left me cold in the past - I'd much rather be competing or flying between the trees. Going round and round a race track, knowing where the road goes, no navigation involved, just hasn't appealed, but I know many on here love it. I'll have to find out myself, I have loads of tarmac tyres to use up.
I have a variety of other cars for these events - Lotus Elise, 1969 Mini Cooper S, 1275 Micra, Rover 214 (don't laugh, this is fully stage prepared and has won many, many events). I'm also looking for an early 205 GTi - I used to rally an ex-works 205 and still have loads of parts to run a 205 on historic rallies. Anybody know of any early 205 GTis wich could be for sale?
I'll have owned the Clio for a week tomorrow. No major problems to sort out - radio now working, correct size wipers fitted, non-return valves to stop water leaking from headlamp washers ordered. Seats not folding properly and the most infuriating - driver open light stays on and I can't find an obvious fault. Still, the car seems to go well.
The Clio is just so comfortable, I'll be able to do events a lot further away. Even though the air con adds weight, it'll maintain my performance. I really like the pedal set up, but need to wear narrow shoes (I do anyway in competition). The space to the left of the clutch pedal is great, giving me more space to brace myself in turns (probably indicates I need a better seat).
I now need to start setiing the car up for myself. The steering wheel is first - it's a flat Momo Race wheel and I don't like it. I'm borowing steering wheels from my other cars to find the right set up but I'm pretty sure I'll end up with my old favourite - 350mm, 90mm dish. The Momo wheel will be for sale soon. Likewise the carbon rear strut brace - it feels too flimsy to do anything and gets in the way in the boot.
After that it's a cam belt and dephaser change for reliability-sake. I'll leave this to the experts, any great deals out there?
Futiure areas to look at - the gear change isn't as positive as I'd like. Maybe play with front and rear camber. I'll see what the standard seat is like in competition but a decent bucket seat is likely.
What else should I be looking at? The car has standard damping and slightly lowered Eibach springs. I don't want to go too low so I can use the car on a variety of surfaces. Compared to my Micra, the Clio's suspension feels a little "wooly".
I have nine 172 wheels but a few more would be useful. Condition (as long as they're round and straiight) and colour doesn't matter as long as they're cheap, what do you have?
PS3 (or PE2) tyres in 195/45 16 seem to be the best choice.If you have any which are low/on the wear marks then they would be perfect for me. Please throw them in my direction.
I have four 15" Storm wheels but I'm after more 15" alloys to use up my 15" tyres and give me more options on lower traction surfaces. Anybody selling any suitable wheels?
Upcoming events - VCRR Winter Classic Rally starting in Hungerford on 2nd January. I'm looking forward to a good thrash over the gravel roads of Salisbury Plain. The CSMA New Year's Run on 3rd January where I'll probably use the Clio, or the Lotus if the weather is good (in January!). First Autosolo of the year and first ASWMC round on 9th Jan at Smeatharpe. Demo drives on the Thursday and Friday of the Autospport Show the week after (I need your old tyres). Come along for a free ride. The two days should be ideal to learn the car better.
I'll post updates of any modifications made for competition on here, plus results of the mods and event results. If any organisation wants me to test anything then let me know.
This isn't new to the Clio - the car won the National BTRDA Autosolo Championship in 2015,plus the Cotswold and Welsh Autosolo Autosolo Championships.
Likewise, Motorsport isn't new to me, my first competitive event was in 1979 and I've won various stage rally championships as a driver and navigator. Competing on Rally GB in 1995 when Colin McRae won the event and the WRC was a really special event for me. I've won the Association of South West Motor Clubs (ASWMC) Autosolo Championship for the last two years plus have been at least in the top four overall of BTRDA, Welsh and Cotswold Autosolo Championships for the last few years. My kids (23, 21 and 19) have all won National Championships, in fact my daughter (19) has won the BTRDA U25 Autosolo Challenge and Allrounders Championships in 2015.
We've been using a 1275 Micra prepared beautifully by Humphris of Oxford for the last two years. The car handles superbly but still has its standard 134k old engine with 75bhp when new. I was looking at ways to improve the Micra, but the Clio was the most obvious, cost effective route, especially as it's been looked after so well in the past.
This year,as well as Autosolos, I'll also be out on Targa rallies, historic rallies, grass autotests and Classic tours. I may even try a track day which has always left me cold in the past - I'd much rather be competing or flying between the trees. Going round and round a race track, knowing where the road goes, no navigation involved, just hasn't appealed, but I know many on here love it. I'll have to find out myself, I have loads of tarmac tyres to use up.
I have a variety of other cars for these events - Lotus Elise, 1969 Mini Cooper S, 1275 Micra, Rover 214 (don't laugh, this is fully stage prepared and has won many, many events). I'm also looking for an early 205 GTi - I used to rally an ex-works 205 and still have loads of parts to run a 205 on historic rallies. Anybody know of any early 205 GTis wich could be for sale?
I'll have owned the Clio for a week tomorrow. No major problems to sort out - radio now working, correct size wipers fitted, non-return valves to stop water leaking from headlamp washers ordered. Seats not folding properly and the most infuriating - driver open light stays on and I can't find an obvious fault. Still, the car seems to go well.
The Clio is just so comfortable, I'll be able to do events a lot further away. Even though the air con adds weight, it'll maintain my performance. I really like the pedal set up, but need to wear narrow shoes (I do anyway in competition). The space to the left of the clutch pedal is great, giving me more space to brace myself in turns (probably indicates I need a better seat).
I now need to start setiing the car up for myself. The steering wheel is first - it's a flat Momo Race wheel and I don't like it. I'm borowing steering wheels from my other cars to find the right set up but I'm pretty sure I'll end up with my old favourite - 350mm, 90mm dish. The Momo wheel will be for sale soon. Likewise the carbon rear strut brace - it feels too flimsy to do anything and gets in the way in the boot.
After that it's a cam belt and dephaser change for reliability-sake. I'll leave this to the experts, any great deals out there?
Futiure areas to look at - the gear change isn't as positive as I'd like. Maybe play with front and rear camber. I'll see what the standard seat is like in competition but a decent bucket seat is likely.
What else should I be looking at? The car has standard damping and slightly lowered Eibach springs. I don't want to go too low so I can use the car on a variety of surfaces. Compared to my Micra, the Clio's suspension feels a little "wooly".
I have nine 172 wheels but a few more would be useful. Condition (as long as they're round and straiight) and colour doesn't matter as long as they're cheap, what do you have?
PS3 (or PE2) tyres in 195/45 16 seem to be the best choice.If you have any which are low/on the wear marks then they would be perfect for me. Please throw them in my direction.
I have four 15" Storm wheels but I'm after more 15" alloys to use up my 15" tyres and give me more options on lower traction surfaces. Anybody selling any suitable wheels?
Upcoming events - VCRR Winter Classic Rally starting in Hungerford on 2nd January. I'm looking forward to a good thrash over the gravel roads of Salisbury Plain. The CSMA New Year's Run on 3rd January where I'll probably use the Clio, or the Lotus if the weather is good (in January!). First Autosolo of the year and first ASWMC round on 9th Jan at Smeatharpe. Demo drives on the Thursday and Friday of the Autospport Show the week after (I need your old tyres). Come along for a free ride. The two days should be ideal to learn the car better.
I'll post updates of any modifications made for competition on here, plus results of the mods and event results. If any organisation wants me to test anything then let me know.
I'm at Smeatharpe on 9th Jan doing the first Autosolo of the year, and the first time driving the Clio on an event, a steep learning curve. If it's not far for you and you're free then do drop by. BTW are the wheels alloys or steels?
