My new racecar project (Icemans old shell)

[Russ Rallye]

Had an ‘Interesting’ weekend shall we say!

Weather couldn’t make its mind up all day Saturday and quali started damp and got wetter and included a safety car for good measure. Fairly sure there was some oil down in quali and I just couldn’t get the car stopped for hizzy’s meaning I ran through the chicane twice, couldn’t stop at Tower on my fastest lap either so ended up gravel tracking. Ended up with 2 flying laps before the weather got too wet. 5th overall was the position, inside of the grid though so not too upset. Sector times showed we were as quick as anything else in the wet.
Start of the race and got a great start and passed all 4 cars in front before the first corner. Lead for the first 10 laps and car felt good apart from struggling with 3rd gear, would later start to jump out of 3rd and 4th.

Bit of a scruffy pit stop bought us out in 4th but with sight of 3rd and 2nd place cars. Managed to chase them down and passed Martin Addison’s 106 before druids, Russell Hird made it tricky in the Dc5 but he gave the place away eventually when he couldn’t stop for Hizzy’s. Held P2 comfortably to the end of the race, The Simpson guys in P1 too fast and too far up the road. Provisional result P2 overall and class B winner with fastest lap.
However we got hit with a 2 lap penalty for missing the mandatory pit window by 45 seconds! Official result was 22nd I think. Very disappointing after working so hard but race was fun, gearbox needs some tlc now so not sure when we’ll be back out, possibly Silverstone with TARC.
Russ
[video]

 

[Russ Rallye]

Gearbox is out, decided to drop the subframe and take it out from underneath for a change, I normally just pull the full lot out of the top but I find it a bit fiddly refitting with the pure mounts now. It’s certainly fiddly from underneath and took 2.5 hours, I can pull the whole lot out from above in a similar time.
Anyway.

Dropped it off on Tuesday night and my man stripped it on Wednesday.

Needs a 3rd gear, 3rd/4th synchro hub and 3rd gear synchro ring. Everything else is fine apparently. Ordered the bits from Nick @pure-motorsport today and are due tomorrow so hopefully be all built back up next week and ready in plenty of time for Silverstone TARC meeting on 29th July.
It’s Rockingham TARC meeting this weekend and I’ll be there to support (read take the p1ss out of) the guys racing, @Tony Hunter, @Josh @Ash-b-84 and the rest.
Russ

 

[Ash-b-84]

?

 

[Russ Rallye]

Bit of a late update from the weekends TARC meeting at Silverstone. We missed Rockingham a few weeks back due to a broken gearbox after CSCC at Oulton.
The weekend was dictated by the weather pretty much, horrendous rain and wind for most of it.
Quali was full wet and with 40 cars on track difficult to get a clear run. We managed to get out first but caught the pack after 1 flying lap anyway so had to pick through spray and traffic for a time. Managed to end up 4th overall and 2nd French car behind Will’s 106.
Race 1 was still full wet, got a decent start up to 3rd overall until Chris bassets 205 came storming past like he was in the dry! Didn’t have the pace to stay with the 2 Peugeot’s at the front and ended up battling with Rich Hockleys Civic and Danny Cassar’s dc5. Ended up 4th overall and 3rd in Tricolore.
Race 2 we started in 4th overall again on the inside and it was now drying on the racing line at least, made a choice for soft dry tires and got a great start up to 3rd again, after Rich did a 180 at brooklands we were in 2nd and able to stick with Wills 106 for a couple of laps until Rich nipped past again. We battled until the end with Danny Cassar getting close in the last couple of laps as I was suffering with fuel surge out of the final corner. Held on for 3rd overall and 2nd in Tricolore.

Unfortunately a faulty battery put paid to any race video but I’ve attached the quali vid do you can see the conditions. Missing Snetterton in a couple of weeks, back at Mallory in September.
[video]

q

 

[Russ Rallye]

All quiet before the storm, racing next weekend at Mallory Park with TARC so got to prep Nicolevthis week ready for Sunday.
In other news been busy on a mini project for the boy, bought a non running tatty Suzuki LT50 quad.

It was cheap but it’s ruined me getting it to where I want it.
Stripped to the frame and individual components and all blasted and powder coated

Exhaust blasted and paint with vht paint, tank powder coated, new graphics, new tyres and tubes.

Various stages of the rebuild with all new bits, rear axle carrier and bearings, new steering arms, bushes, chain and sprockets, grips, handle bar pad, complete bodywork and various fixings inc

nuts/bolts.

 

[Russ Rallye]

CONT.....

In other news I’m about to be very busy as we’ve just had planning passed our new house! Lots of stuff to sort out and hard work to do but will be worth it once done.

 

[Russ Rallye]

CONT.....
That’s the existing cottage and plot. Planning granted to demolish the cottage and plan was to keep the existing ‘forge’ as my garage but it’s too far gone so is coming down too and will be rebuilt roughly the same only slightly wider/longer. Gotta keep @shiftspark happy until I built my proper workshop!
Below are the plans for anyone interested, sorry for the poor quality.
Russ

 

[shiftspark]

Looks very nice @Russ Rallye how long will it take to build and will you be doing a building thread ?

 

[Russ Rallye]

Looks very nice @Russ Rallye how long will it take to build and will you be doing a building thread ?

Not sure on timescales yet mate, it’s unlikeky I’ll get much done this year now but hopefully next year it’ll be well on. Might do a build thread or may just post in here as I see fit.
Russ

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Love that quad. Rode those on a few occasions as a kid, such amazing fun.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Love that quad. Rode those on a few occasions as a kid, such amazing fun.

 

[Russ Rallye]

Love that quad. Rode those on a few occasions as a kid, such amazing fun.

I never had the chance as a kid really, the boy enjoys it though, just gradually winding the throttle restrictor out as he gets used to it!
Russ

 

[sonny172cup]

Looks lovely that, will be nice when done. looks like the ultimate place to live...away from the cretins

 

[neil a]

Wow Russ love the look of the new house and also the LT resto looks nicely done.

 

[Russ Rallye]

Mallory last Sunday then with the Track Attack Race Club Tricolore series again.
Weather was warm again so already a better start than Silverstone a few weeks ago! Qualified 3rd overall and and 2nd in Tricolore behind rich hockleys k20 Ek civic and Nick Gwynetts pure motorsport powered Clio. Felt there was more in the car so not too disappointed.
Race 1.
Total farce at the start as they changed their mind regarding the starting procedure meaning nobody knew whether to go at the start! I saw the lights and knew we were racing and managed to get in front of nick and rich but found myself behind don Hughes in his 306. Had some good racing and lead for a few laps before rick and nick got past and I couldn’t stick with them. Finished where we started 3rd overall and 2nd in Tricolore.
Race 2.
Lined up on the same grid spot for race 2 with nick and rich in front. Rich got out in front with nick and I behind. We pulled out a good gap from the rest of the pack before Rich’s engine let go. That brought out the safety car and for the first time all weekend I thought I had a chance to take the win so stick close to nick on the restart and pushed hard. We were having fuel surge issues onto the back straight so when I passed nick into the first corner I expected him to pass me again but he didn’t. He gradually dropped back with a misfire and we were a decent way in front of everyone else so cruised to the finish, overall winner. Wasn’t the best showing of me/car but reliable again all weekend with great results. Videos to follow. Hopefully at donington in a few weeks.
Russ

 

[Russ Rallye]

Race 1 vid.
[video]

Race 2 vid.
[video]

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Great results Russ, nice job!

 

[JamesBryan]

Nice bit of driving!

Couple of excursions to the grass in race 1 ?

 

[Russ Rallye]

Nice bit of driving!

Couple of excursions to the grass in race 1 ?

Maybe! If in doubt flat out!
Russ

 

[Russ Rallye]

So that’s it for the season really, not doing Donny now, going to concentrate getting the car ready for next year early. Engine and box to come out this week, gearbox and gripper to be rebuilt first of all. Engine has done me proud all year and will be making way for a new engine for next year, just need to pull by finger out and get it built.

In other news I’ve sold the Transporter. Took a deposit within an hour of putting it on eBay.

Decided after Silverstone it’s too small for racing weekends really so I’m going to get a truck instead! Just a 7.5 ton box truck but with big awning and proper bed to make it more habitable. I also need 4 seats now as the Mrs is expecting our 2nd so again the Transporter isn’t practical as a ‘do it all’ anyway, on the lookout for a nice X5 to do that job.
Full season review coming soon and winter progress but in the meantime if anyone is interested in any engine bits, billet flywheel and helix clutch etc etc let me know
Russ

 

[DCELEC 182]

Still keep an eye on all your updates Russ, such a cracking race Clio yours! All the right bits, not the usual rough round the edges race car and looks great in the videos......reliability is definitely key!!
What are you going for engine/spec wise for next year out of interest?
I keep thinking about doing an engine build of sorts to my track car now it’s got all the right handling mods, n/a of course but needs to be reliable and capable of pounding round at trackdays, if such a thing exists?!

 

[Russ Rallye]

Still keep an eye on all your updates Russ, such a cracking race Clio yours! All the right bits, not the usual rough round the edges race car and looks great in the videos......reliability is definitely key!!
What are you going for engine/spec wise for next year out of interest?
I keep thinking about doing an engine build of sorts to my track car now it’s got all the right handling mods, n/a of course but needs to be reliable and capable of pounding round at trackdays, if such a thing exists?!

Thanks mate, she’s looking a bit tatty in places and I’d like to have some bits painted before next year. Engine wise, there’s nothing wrong with what I’ve got now so new engine will be very similar only reason for doing it is I’ve got all the bits I want sat here that I’ve collected to do a build. This engine was only supposed to be a spare or do the first round until
I’d built my other but it went so well I’ve not taken it out!
Russ

 

[Russ Rallye]

Sorry I’ve been AWOL, Managed to pick up the Class A winners trophy for the second time, at the TARC awards dinner, with x3 1st places x4 2nd places and x1 3rd place this year. Been a great 1st season back since rebuilding the car with some super close racing. Here’s to going faster next year!
Russ

 

[Russ Rallye]

Fear not we’re busy stripping and rebuilding Nicole for the upcoming season, whether that’s with TARC or elsewhere, more on that in a minute.
Being technically homeless and having the cars in a damp barn 20+ miles away has been a pain over the last year so I’ve moved to a temporary new workshop and got settled and it fitted out good enough to work comfortably out of. Not massive so trailer and my Clio Trophy are still housed elsewhere for now.

Nicole is in bits now anyway,

I’m Awaiting the new motor coming back and the gearbox and diff are getting rebuilt as we speak. Exhaust manifold is looking a bit tatty so if I can’t clean it up properly it’ll be going away to be ceramic coated too.

Main winter upgrade is fuel system improvements after suffering fuel surge last season really got the first time since I built the car. I really wanted to put an atl tank in but I can’t mount it where I want so until I can come up with something else then I’m keeping the standard tank. Albeit with a new return system with external AEM regulator, 1.5L swirl pot under the boot floor, Bosch 044 external pump and filter and Ph1 172 sender unit/pump. All re-piped in Teflon lined braided hose.

 

[Russ Rallye]

Cont.

Upgrade wise that’s probably it, got a few maintenance bits to sort though, I’m not going to have the time or money to cosmetically tidy her up for now so will get a proper job done next winter.
I need new front rotors so gives me an excuse to sort the front bells out that I done a trial fit with 5 years ago with the plan to remake them properly instead of using a spacer behind to bring them out to the correct offset for the calipers they’ve worked well but I’ve drawn up a set in autocad seen as I can actually use it now.

My workshop is attached to my mates who does industrial machining, cnc work etc so comes in handy!
All the suspension is stripped front and rear and all bearings checked, surprisingly all good this time, could do with a set of rear discs/bearings as they’re rusty not worn!

That’s pretty much it for Nicole for now but I’m looking at trying my luck in the 750MC hot hatch series this season as they’re tweaked the (provisional) regs to level the playing field a bit. If I can find the time I have just enough bits here to build another car from a spare 182 shell I’ve got, plan is to use a Ph1 172 front end as I prefer the look and build it to Tricolore trophy class E production + regs and maybe use it myself, keep it as a spare or hire it out and run it for someone if necessary. I also need to sort my truck out before the season starts, more on that soon when it’s at the workshop!
Russ

 

[robzracing]

My Clio was never eligible for the Hot Hatch series although its probably 3 years since I raced in it. The only one I could enter in 750MC was Roadsports. What have they changed?

 

[robzracing]

My Clio was never eligible for the Hot Hatch series although its probably 3 years since I raced in it. The only one I could enter in 750MC was Roadsports. What have they changed?

Just had a look at the regs. It's completely changed since I last raced with them! As has Roadsports. Hot Hatch used to be basically just Saxos and Fiestas. Looks quite interesting now, although potentially up against rearwheel drive BMs as well.

 

[Russ Rallye]

Just had a look at the regs. It's completely changed since I last raced with them! As has Roadsports. Hot Hatch used to be basically just Saxos and Fiestas. Looks quite interesting now, although potentially up against rearwheel drive BMs as well.

Sure you’re not thinking of stock hatch? Used to be mostly Saxo’s as you say 1.6 8v’s with limited modifications alowed, normally a crash fest with 16/17 year olds! They used to run hot hatch years ago when I first started racing, used to know people running ex btcc 306’s and stuff in it then it died out and they re-launched it 2/3years ago but it’s been ruled by mega power fiestas and Ben rushworths dc2 but as I say they’ve tweaked the regs to outlaw the more extreme stuff and keep the racing closer I assume.
Russ

 

[robzracing]

Sure you’re not thinking of stock hatch? Used to be mostly Saxo’s as you say 1.6 8v’s with limited modifications alowed, normally a crash fest with 16/17 year olds! They used to run hot hatch years ago when I first started racing, used to know people running ex btcc 306’s and stuff in it then it died out and they re-launched it 2/3years ago but it’s been ruled by mega power fiestas and Ben rushworths dc2 but as I say they’ve tweaked the regs to outlaw the more extreme stuff and keep the racing closer I assume.
Russ

Ah yes you're right, Stock Hatch. They must have introduced Hot Hatch since I last looked. You're going to sit comfortably in Class B by the looks of it. Possibly with a bit of ballast?

 

[Russ Rallye]

Lol only if I was cheating! Obviously the figures quoted are the max for the class so upto 245/tonne for class A. Going to be right on the 245bhp/tonne limit of class A with 235bhp and 950kg with driver. Last year was up to 265bhp/tonne for class A so come down a little.
Russ

Ah yes you're right, Stock Hatch. They must have introduced Hot Hatch since I last looked. You're going to sit comfortably in Class B by the looks of it. Possibly with a bit of ballast?

 

[robzracing]

Lol only if I was cheating! Obviously the figures quoted are the max for the class so upto 245/tonne for class A. Going to be right on the 245bhp/tonne limit of class A with 235bhp and 950kg with driver. Last year was up to 265bhp/tonne for class A so come down a little.
Russ

Of course. I was looking at Roadsports regs!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nafoff]

Feel your pain with not having somewhere to work on your car. Glad you sorted it as I know how much hassle it can be.The brake bells look good and keen to see what you do with the fuel set-up. Good update mate.

 

[Russ Rallye]

We’re making progress, gearbox is back after being checked over and rebuilt. Gripper LSD has been rebuilt/replated too.

Been getting the fuel system pushed on, got everything mounted under the boot floor.

Started piping everything up with ptfe lined braided hose and associated fittings. Managed to get them over the tank and to the original pump and into the car. Got some proper clips to fit once it’s all piped.

Got the tank, exhaust and beam refitted so pretty much done underneath. Got the new fittings on the oe pump fittings too. Not cheap but should do the job.

Need to get the external reg mounted and get the lines run under the bonnet. Obviously got the wiring to run yet too.
Russ

 

[robzracing]

I tried those torques fittings on my pump and they would not engage properly. Did you find they clipped in on?


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[Russ Rallye]

I tried those torques fittings on my pump and they would not engage properly. Did you find they clipped in on?

The ‘standard’ ones don’t fit, already tried those and returned them! These ones are the ‘compact’ ones and do fit as you can see.
Russ

 

[Russ Rallye]

Didn’t want to fit a new set of discs even though I’ve got a spare set! (Tight!) so cleaned my others up at the weekend while doing a couple of other bits.
Before

After

Gave me an excuse to strip the rear brakes anyway.
Not done a lot else apart from build the manifold back up.

I’m not going to ceramic coat it now on the advice of Nick @pure-motorsport so will leave it as it is for now.

Been busy doing a few jobs on the cup too getting it back to a nice oe+ road car mostly refurbishing bits, wheels are off at the minute hence the race car wets on it! Going to powder coat all the suspension bits and clean it up underneath.

I’m other news need To decided what to do with this

Either build as a spare Racecar potentially for hire or sell to make space for something else.
Russ

 

[Russ Rallye]

Been busy but seem to be getting nowhere fast. Last weekend was spent mostly doing little bits on the truck.

Still got a load of work to do, making a proper living area with seoerat ‘garage’ and enclosing all the taillift so it looks a little more finished.

Been trying to get the fuel system finished, it’s 90% done but waiting for x2 fittings which are out of stock everywhere and need to do the last couple of hoses with the engine in.

They’re all finished from the back through the interior into the engine bay, just need to finish the wiring at the fuse box too.

Seat and harness back in.

Needed to get it back on it’s wheels as I’m running out of space, tidied the silver shell up and too some pics to sell it so Nicole was pushed outside.

 

[Russ Rallye]

In other insignificant news...........
The new engine is back!

Got it mostly built up but waiting on a few bits and pieces before I can drop it in, gearbox etc all on.

Hopefully be able to get it dropped in and all sorted this week and next providingbthe bits turn up.
Russ
Ps anyone after a 182 shell let me know so I can build an E36 race car!

 

[green]

Good to see she’s getting built back up
Do you run with the heat shield for the starter motor? And have you got much further with your bell and rotor setup?.. I can’t remember what size wheels you run. I’ve been running a bell and rotor setup near on two years now under a 15” wheel and looking for new bells.
Also just posted so I don’t miss an update of yours

 

[Russ Rallye]

Good to see she’s getting built back up
Do you run with the heat shield for the starter motor? And have you got much further with your bell and rotor setup?.. I can’t remember what size wheels you run. I’ve been running a bell and rotor setup near on two years now under a 15” wheel and looking for new bells.
Also just posted so I don’t miss an update of yours

I don’t run the heat sheild no, I find them a pain to remove if you need to get at the starter, the wires are heatsheilded that go to it though.
Bell and disc wise I run 295 x 28mm discs with Alcon calipers under 15’s, just remaking the bells properly as I used some ones for ap calipers originally and used a spacer behind the bell to correct the offset.
Russ