Claude The Ultimate Trophy. BTM, Potato Works Development Beast.

[Sam@NP]

Hi all this is my project thread for my Renault Clio Trophy #077. I bought car in august last year with 58k and coming up to the dreaded cambelt service, it had full Renault service history and Renault extended warranty.

Once home I took to Renault because the Dampers needed refurbing, as expected they tried to charge me £2200 for a pair of front dampers at which point I pointed out the extended warranty. After a few calls to Renault U.K my car was booked in to have them changed free or charge

In September I started the second year of my degree so was back in England and decided to get it booked in at BTM for a full cambelt service and general check up. I got talking to Fred and the lovely bloke offered me a job.

After owning the car for a couple of months I have found a few areas Id like to improve and taking a little bit of inspiration from such cars as the R26.R and Cooper S GP. Light strippage, stiffer suspension and a tad more power.


Then I produced a list of things that would make the car just that little bit better.
• Whiteline ARB (bought)
• Camber bolts and shims (bought)
• New exhaust (yozza)
• Remap
• Cams (421 plus custom mapping)
• Better springs
• Unpin the Sashs Dampers (done)
• Towing eyes (done)
• 4 pots
• Matched inlets + pipercross filter and sumco pipe. (done)
• Skoda Splitter

In feb this year I purchased some track wheels and a whiteline ARB, I also unpinned the Sashs Dampers. The amount of adjust-ability of them is fantastic and can really change the handling characteristics of the car. Fred also announced that my car will be the test mule for his suspension upgrade package.

I also matched my inlets but I cant find the pictures.

March.

Went to Donnington park with a load of people from ClioSport. Had a ball and had chance to play with my damper settings and tyre pressures.

Today.

I will be having a go at detailing the car tomorrow and than Ill get the camber bolts and shims fitted.

 

[Gray]

I shall look forward to seeing the updates.... which, with Fred's input I expect nothing less than brilliant

 

[maynard]

Nice car Sam, think that's the first time I've seen it!

Coming along great

 

[Riad]

Nice but pics of the other car?

 

[Sir_Dave]

Lovely!!

Good to see another Trophy being used properly

 

[Naith]

i think my naming skills should be recognised by RUK.

your handy, I'll give you that.

 

[jamie.91]

More pics/progress needed

 

[Sam@NP]

Pics of the other car.

Its a KTM XBOW GT4 and is raced in British GT and GT Cup.


Big trophy progress to come soon.

 

[maynard]

You racing the KTM again this year?

 

[Will.]

I look forward to seeing the outcome of this. Although aren't you on the lookout for a cup?

 

[Sam@NP]

Yeah I am but I am slowly falling back in love with it and Fred needs a Cup chassis 182 to play with as well. lol we will see.

 

[Keith185]

Awesome plans, can't wait to see this progress

 

[Silent_Scone]

love it


Nice touch on the dampers too!

 

[Tony Hunter]

Done our car yet?

 

[Sam@NP]

Done our car yet?

Dunno, Im in the Isle of Man.

 

[Tony Hunter]

Left the old boy on his own.

 

[Rob Clark]

Ahh so your Fred's engineer he was on about with the trophy then Nice motor
Interested in unpinning the dampers though, not heard of that before and also due at Donington on track next month, could be worth playing with settings.

 

[Sam@NP]

Yes I am and thanks. There is a guide on Trophy.co.uk but its really simple to do. You just have to be careful not to round the grub screw off.

I am in the process of buying a Carbon Bonnet :evil: hope it comes off!!!!!

 

[Gray]

Yes I am and thanks. There is a guide on Trophy.co.uk but its really simple to do. You just have to be careful not to round the grub screw off.

I am in the process of buying a Carbon Bonnet :evil: hope it comes off!!!!!

Wouldn't that damage your windscreen?

 

[Rob Clark]

lol depends how fast you were going ! Kieron - courtesy car.... explain ?

 

[Sam@NP]

Update:

When I was at Donington Park I noticed a few little bits of surface rusts on the rear beam. So being bored today I stuck Claude in the garage, jacked it up and set to work.

Removed the rear wheels and set about sanding down the surface rust and 5 years of muck and dirt.

I than cleaned the beam with turps and set about painting it. I used Hammerite Gloss Paint for this.

I did the entire beam and various bits of my Whiteline ARB.

Cheers
Sam

 

[koi]

That's some size of garage, you sleep there too!?!

 

[Fred@BTM]

I will be having a go at detailing the car tomorrow

take this as your written warning, we don't do "detailing" at BTM (unless its for mechanical purposes)

if you're planning on using a bucket and a sponge then you WILL be cleaning the workshop for the next month

oh and

more pics of boobs please

thanks bye

 

[Riad]

more pics of boobs please

Just post them on CS. They will be a great addition to your progress thread

 

[Meek_racing]

Still needing a half cage to go in the back?

 

[Sam@NP]

Still needing a half cage to go in the back?

Yes please

 

[Meek_racing]

Haha, then just hold out a bit more. I'm looking to get a cheap 172/182 with a mate and make it just for track days so will turn mine back to standard'ish. If/when we get the car then i'll give you first dibbs on the cage

 

[Sam@NP]

Haha, then just hold out a bit more. I'm looking to get a cheap 172/182 with a mate and make it just for track days so will turn mine back to standard'ish. If/when we get the car then i'll give you first dibbs on the cage

Cheers, Im in no rush. What make is it? Its very nice.

 

[Meek_racing]

Custom cages, even Fred said he likes it... That shocked me! lol

 

[marcushookdale]

love the garage/workshop with the bunkbed next to the T , bit of work on the T , then 40 winks, perfect my kind of workshop, just need a wood burner in there too,

 

[Sam@NP]

love the garage/workshop with the bunkbed next to the T , bit of work on the T , then 40 winks, perfect my kind of workshop, just need a wood burner in there too,

Its how I roll. The garage has underfloor heating so nice a toasty for working in.

 

[Sam@NP]

UPDATE!!!!


Well as mentioned in the thread title this car will be used by BTM Performance to develop new products and fine tune them before we put them on sale. With my racing experience and Fred’s engineering knowledge we are confident we can come up with some fantastic stuff.

Today we fitted the first prototype suspension to Claude, not giving away to much just yet but custom springs, adjustable platforms to help us fine tune it to get some good results.

The car has had a subtle drop as you can see from the picture, in person it looks wicked no more giant arch gap and a slight nose down stance. It can be lowered about another 20mm but we will see how it goes. The handling is nice, with a sharper turn-in less body roll and the ability to carry more speed into corners. The back end it more playful now too, not snappy but very controllable and predictable. The ride is a little more jiggly but it has lost the crashing over pot holes which the standard car suffers from.

Claude and the new suspension will be put through its paces properly on the 27th around Donington park circuit. A little more camber, and the de-pinned adjustable dampers and roll bar should mean we can find a great handling balance.

I will try and get some better pictures up tomorrow if we get a space 10minutes.

 

[Tony Hunter]

I've got your shims off now,can give them back at Donny.

 

[Whiteley]

Good stuff, see you at Donington

 

[TimR26]

The ride height looks much better now.

 

[Stu_350z]

Looks nice mate

Will have a nose when im up at BTM next sat if your there

 

[aucky]

Interested to hear mroe about the 'prototype suspension'

 

[Gally]

Immense mate, super jealous.

I'll keep my eye on this thread for updates.

Will there be Potato decals soon?

 

[Sir_Dave]

This suspension update contains a serious amount of awesomeness.

 

[Sam_K]

Very interested in the suspension development....will keep an eye on this