Clio 172 cup rally/race/track car

[Nathan Evans]

Few clips of both cars from Saturday

 

[Nathan Evans]

I’ve sorted the epas issue out with a different control box. I did 20 road miles with the new box and it was faultless

On the test drive though I blew the fuse that controls the dash lights and rear left tail light. I found the wiring for this pretty much burnt out. The plastic coating has melted off. Not sure why or how but it will be getting sorted of the next week or so.

I’ve put an entry in for The Jack Neal Memorial at Blyton on the 9th of feb. Hopefully get a finish on the board.

Few more pictures from Anglesey

 

[Nathan Evans]

And my brother has bought a new car

Civic Type R
225bhp
Hondata ecu
Kaaz diff with low final drive
3 way proflex all round ???
Which came second in the group N Northern Ireland rally championship last year

Hopefully settle the Civic vs Clio debate

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Sure I saw an ad for that Civic somewhere. Be interesting to see how they compare. Seems to be plenty of bits out there for them. Any idea on the weight?

 

[Nathan Evans]

Yeah it was on Facebook for sale. Surprised it didn’t sell straight away actually. The front proflex need servicing though.

Not sure on weight but I don’t think it weighs that much more than the Clio. Seems to pull very well though. Haven’t had the chance yet to have a little drag race

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

That sounds like a good excuse for a video! Out of the two, the Clio has always appealed to me more, as it's smaller and, I would assume, easier to get it lighter. More parts about for the Civic though I suppose. Engine and box are probably better too. Both are better than my car regardless lol.

 

[Nathan Evans]

We’ll do one once the suspension is back from cornering force in a couple of weeks.

See I’ve never really liked the Clio. Just fell into the first shell I bought because it was cheap and been there ever since. I did have a ep3 myself when I was 21 and loved it.

It’s a hard one for what’s quicker on the stages as power to weight I would of thought wouldn’t be that different. It’s just he’s on £7k suspension and I’m on £600 bilsteins. I’ve been trying to get a guy to post me some grp N 3 way ohlins for mine but he doesn’t want to post to the uk.

 

[bloke]

where are the ohlins? got a link for them?

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

We’ll do one once the suspension is back from cornering force in a couple of weeks.

See I’ve never really liked the Clio. Just fell into the first shell I bought because it was cheap and been there ever since. I did have a ep3 myself when I was 21 and loved it.

It’s a hard one for what’s quicker on the stages as power to weight I would of thought wouldn’t be that different. It’s just he’s on £7k suspension and I’m on £600 bilsteins. I’ve been trying to get a guy to post me some grp N 3 way ohlins for mine but he doesn’t want to post to the uk.

Look forward to it ?

And nobody is perfect I guess ?

Interesting stuff. I always imagine the Civic to be quite a heavy thing, but I suppose there might not be loads in it, and it's more cost effective to get power from the K20 it seems.

Will be very interesting to see the comparison.

 

[Nathan Evans]

where are the ohlins? got a link for them?

On Facebook one one of the french Clio rally pages. They’re used not new. But optimism access would be able to get new. They can supply everything Clio N3

 

[bloke]

tag me, know a couple of people out there so might be able to sort something to get them over here.

i'm also off to see someone about suspension over next week or so that could be interesting, be custom built stuff, nothing off the shelf ?

 

[Nathan Evans]

New front set of pbs pads in today. The rears have still got a bit of life so will change then after the next rally. I got some stickers and a t shirt off them but still no sponsorship, Even though both cars run they’re pads.

Bedded them in tonight. They feel even better than the other set I had. The first set were the older style that came in a flame style box. These newer ones are definitely better.

But my little test down the industrial estate was cut short. The shitty old dmacks decided to come off the rim. God knows how as I’d only gone round a couple of roundabouts at speed

I also managed to find the little random misfire

Cheap eBay lead the culprit

With the tyre coming of the rim. It was rubbing on my shock. So now I need a new cover for it as it’s rubbed off and dropped right down

In other news I’ve got an entry in for the agbo stages, so a new tyre order was needed.
Got some new kumhos coming this week and I’ve took a gamble on 2 of the new wrc style dmacks. These ones are meant to be pretty decent and unlike the old Chinese made ones I’ve got at the minute. I didn’t pay a lot for them as they’re in 16”. Thanks why I’m after some turinis

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Do hear very mixed reviews on Dmacks. I bought a set for my car but my tyre guy couldn't even get them onto the rim. The sidewalls were so rock hard, that they wouldn't seat on the rim properly, so I just sold them on again. Got a mix of Hankook and Dunlops for now, so will see how they go.

 

[Nathan Evans]

The old style ones that I’ve got are the worst tyre I’ve ever had which are the Chinese ones. The wrc ones are made by Avon. JD tyres said these ones are pretty good. If I don’t get on with them I’m sure I’ll be able to sell them for what I paid for them anyway. Only paid £70 a tyre. They’re £190 each at demon tweeks. Kumhos are my favourite by far out of any of the ones I’ve used.
At Anglesey in December I tried loads of tyres back to back. All in soft compound

Chinese dmacks - shocking
New style hankooks - average
Older hankooks - good
Kumhos - best of the lot

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Interesting to note. My friend uses Kumhos on his Escort Maxi and seems to rate them quite highly. Have definitely heard that the early Dmacks were poor, but the new ones are supposed to be better.

I've got mostly Hankooks for now. Full set of soft Z209s and a set of Z210s for the wet, plus some med/hard Dunlops. Will see how I get on. Maybe I'll be rich enough for Michelins one day lol

 

[Twingo 1??]

I just have 2 sets of sliverstones left and pair of dunlops left from running the Puma so just going to see how they go! Interested to hear how the Clio goes with the different makes as I would imagine the Twingo would be good on similar.

 

[Nathan Evans]

Interesting to note. My friend uses Kumhos on his Escort Maxi and seems to rate them quite highly. Have definitely heard that the early Dmacks were poor, but the new ones are supposed to be better.

I've got mostly Hankooks for now. Full set of soft Z209s and a set of Z210s for the wet, plus some med/hard Dunlops. Will see how I get on. Maybe I'll be rich enough for Michelins one day lol

Yeah the Z209s are the better on the hankook slicks. I’ve never tried the wets but I’ve heard they’re good too.

I did toy with the idea of buying some Michelin’s for Blyton as I want to see if I can get close to a class win there but at £270 a tyre I couldn’t see the point. Even though they’re meant to last 3 times longer than anything else. Meaning in the long run it’s better value for money.
I’ve still got a load of new Michelin wets so I’m hoping it rains

I just have 2 sets of sliverstones left and pair of dunlops left from running the Puma so just going to see how they go! Interested to hear how the Clio goes with the different makes as I would imagine the Twingo would be good on similar.

Yeah can’t got wrong with the hankooks or Kumhos. I prefer the Kumho because the side wall is square unlike the hankooks which is rounded and goes off fairly quickly. You’ll see loads of hankooks on the fwd cars with bumps in the outer edge of the tyre. Don’t get that with the Kumho

 

[robzracing]

I just have 2 sets of sliverstones left and pair of dunlops left from running the Puma so just going to see how they go! Interested to hear how the Clio goes with the different makes as I would imagine the Twingo would be good on similar.

Silverstones have been removed from the Blue Book list now haven't they?

 

[Nathan Evans]

Silverstones have been removed from the Blue Book list now haven't they?

Not really such thing as bluebook list with rallying. Tyres are meant to be fia list but that’s only the modern wrc stuff. Can use Msa list tyres but none of them will be any good for rallying

 

[robzracing]

Not really such thing as bluebook list with rallying. Tyres are meant to be fia list but that’s only the modern wrc stuff. Can use Msa list tyres but none of them will be any good for rallying

Fair enough. I assumed you'd have to comply to MSA rules just like circuit racing. They do have lists for off road but I guess that is the WRC stuff like you say.

 

[Nathan Evans]

Yeah Msa have an of road list but rallying you should be on fia list tyres supposedly.

What I run and @massivewangers hankooks aren’t on the list. People still use 10 year old Dunlop’s that don’t appear on any list either
I don’t think anyone can explain the rally tyre rule. Only thing you can’t use is “for racing purpose only” tyres.

But I think for the new closed road rally’s in the uk you have to have fia list tyres.

Fia list for anyone wondering what’s on it
https://www.fia.com/file/73133/download/9274

Funnily Toyo r888r are on it.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Yeah the tyre rules do seem a bit odd for rallying. There is a list for forest stuff. I emailed the MSA about my Dunlops and just got a really cryptic, non-committal response. Probably wouldn't buy anymore, but they were cheap, so will just kill them off.

It's interesting how a lot of the FIA tarmac tyres are now going towards the mixed-condition approach with a lot of tread pattern, rather than the more traditional slicks.

 

[Nathan Evans]

It’s very odd. According to the rules 90% of the crews you’ll see on single venues will be using rally tyres that are not on any list.
I’ve noticed a lot of them are now E marked too. Where as the older stuff wasn’t

 

[Nathan Evans]

So as usual like any week before a rally it’s a mad rush to sort everything and tie up some loose ends

I’ve had a little issue with the plug in number 2 coming loose. Put a new set in with new leads and so far so good. Did 30 road miles yesterday with no issues.

I’ve also fitted a new Pipercross filter as the jenvey one was looking a bit tired.

I’ve ordered a cup racer rear gearbox mount. It’s meant to fit the sadev but I’m pretty sure it will fit the jc5. Loads better design and will get rid of the shitty dog bone

The other little peice of the puzzle is this.

The jenvey kit I have doesn’t have this bracket. And how it’s like at the minute it’s bound to snap the cambelt side mount as it is

Still waiting for my tyres too as no couriers have been able to collect them due to the snow. Hopefully they get here before Friday

 

[bloke]

mount does look like it's for a sadev so may not be able to get it to fit, also they were angled differently to the shadard engine/box set up to run more clearance over the subframe.

 

[Chambers_RS]

Looks fun this ??
Would PMS not sell there gearbox dog bone separately? As you know that would defo fit the jc5.

 

[Nathan Evans]

Looks fun this ??
Would PMS not sell there gearbox dog bone separately? As you know that would defo fit the jc5.

Yeah I could buy the pms one but it’s not the strongest on the dogbone piece. It’s got bits cut out the middle to reduce weight. A friend of mine snapped his.

optimiz access do a solid dog bone, but with anything holomagated rally it’s not cheap

I’ve also ordered this which I know you’d like too ?

 

[neil a]

Where did you get the side piece for the jenvey inlet, would be handy to fill in the gap into the belt

Here are a couple of pics showing that rear mount fitted.

 

[Nathan Evans]

It’s from pms off there throttle body kit.

I think it will work. Only one way to find out.

If it doesn’t I’ve already got one mount for when I eventually buy a sadev myself.
Or buy a ph1 mount. As it’s similar

 

[Nathan Evans]

Fitted the little pms bracket for the throttle bodies tonight. Even though their kit is jenvey I had to grind a little notch out to get it to fit around my manifold.

Very fiddly job as it gets spaced with washers behind the bracket to manifold. So trying to get them in, then the bolt without dropping them took a few go’s as there isn’t much room

My tyres came today. So fitted them. I’m trying out some 16’s. I couldn’t find any turinis. So standard wheels had to do.
Bedded them in with the 15” kumhos too. And even on the road the kumho is the superior tyre.

Also dusted the bonnet pod off and fitted that for scrutineering as stages are meant to run into darkness

Michelin wets fitted, I’ve never been to Blyton before but I’m secretly hopping for rain

 

[Nathan Evans]

Yesterday at The Jack Neal Memorial Rally couldn’t of gone better. 1st in class and 10th overall against some very competitive cars worth a hell of a lot more than the Clio. Fair play to @NorthloopCup for the gearbox build. It’s now done a full day at Anglesey testing and a whole rally with no issues. The quick rack was amazing too. Hardly have to turn the wheel though the tight stuff

The rally wasn’t without problems though. Ss1 we had a misfire for half a stage but the stage time wasn’t bad. Still 3rd in class.

Ss4 we had a misfire to the first corner and cleared after we went around it.
We found that one of the injector seals wasn’t seated properly. A cable tie around the clip sorted it.
The other issue we had was the bottom ball joint. Brand new before the event and it lasted 4 stages. Genuine ball joints too.


We were properly on it all day. Having my brother on the notes who is a fair driver and I trust with my life helped. We clipped so many cones and bales ?. The car will need a re wrap next year if we have a few more events like this

I’ve got a load of onboards to upload over the next couple of days

Ss10 catching and passing spark developments 197. Lovely looking car with itb’s and sequential.
Still give it a good push even though we only need to get through the stage with a reasonable time to finish in the top 10 and 1st in class

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Fantastic result that. You must have been going some!

 

[Nathan Evans]

Fantastic result that. You must have been going some!

Thanks John, I’ve just edited that post with a link to one of the stages. We were pushing mind.
If you look Peter Smiths escort which is one of the ultimate escorts in the country wasn’t much quicker on each stage and that’s almost a £100k car

 

[Nathan Evans]

Ss4

This is where we had a misfire going into the first corner but cleared on the way out

 

[Nathan Evans]

 

[Twingo 1??]

Looking good Nathan! Looks like the Clio shifts now. Well done on the result.

 

[Nathan Evans]

Looking good Nathan! Looks like the Clio shifts now. Well done on the result.

Thanks mate. Feel like I’ve got to grips with it now. I know what it’s going to do when I put it into a corner. The quick rack has definitely helped too

 

[Nathan Evans]

SS6 of The Jack Neal Memorial

One of the best stage times of the day. 9th fastest overall with a joint time with the overall Class 4 winner and 6 seconds quicker than the competition in our class

 

[Nathan Evans]

Link to all the stages. Missing 2 as I forgot to turn the camera on on stage 1 and stage 5 it took 3500 photos instead of recording

 

[Nathan Evans]

Been a little quiet on here since the last rally as the car hasn’t t really needed anything but a check over.

After my class win last time out I managed to get in Pacenotes Rally Magazine

So it’s The Agbo Stages at Weston Park tomorrow.
Trying out a new set of hoosiers as these are getting rave reviews. And if the quick guys are running them they must be good.

Both cars cleaned and loaded ready for tomorrow.
Two brothers completing in the same class is going to be fun ?