paul-h's PH2 172 Motorsport project

[paul-h]

Hi folks,

Fairly new here! Recently bought a 172 ph2 non cup in Monaco Blue!

Seen the car on Facebook marketplace and made the trip to somewhere near Morpeth from Glasgow to pick it up! Took my trolley jack and some basic tools along just in case. When we go there I jacked it up and noticed play in both tie rods and the rear arched have been repaired at some point with a bit of rust coming back through so bartered a bit on the price and got it for £700. No MOT but brought it up the road and went to a pre booked MOT where it failed on a ball joint, emissions from a hole in the backbox at the mounting bracket, a bald tyre on very inside edge and the dreaded numberplate light issues!

I rectified this all on the street outside the garage, luckilly the spare was a continental with full tread. There was a motor factors around the corner so got and fitted 2 ball joints and sorted the bulb and pasted the exhaust blow. PASS!

Since then I've washed it, cleaned the inside (disgustingly dirty) got some lowering springs and shocks fitted (for now) as I had a feeling the front springs might have been standard Clio items... Still have the inner tie rods, gaiters and track rod ends to fit when I get home from this work trip.

Plans for this car is to do some sprints and hillclimbs in the road going series production car class and develop the car as I go along. My background is rallying so may build the car in a way that doing stage rallies is a possibility also.

Very good to read through this forum and see what others have done as there is some decent work on here.

Anyway I'll update when I can, usually have quite a busy summer with co-driving or servicing for friends and with a wedding coming up I wont be able to go mad with the funds.

Cheers

 

[Typhoon]

Welcome along Paul. Proper bargain that, considering all the repairs to pass could be done roadside.

Get some photos up and keep us updated on the progress.

 

[paul-h]

Welcome along Paul. Proper bargain that, considering all the repairs to pass could be done roadside.

Get some photos up and keep us updated on the progress.

Thanks!

It should be driving a bit better this weekend coming if I can get the inner track rods out.

I should say it does have a ClioSport sticker so it may be recognised on the forum!

This was a pit stop on the way home for fuel and snacks!

Quickly gave the headlights a rub down and polish, may need to do this again as I didn't have 3000 grit paper so still have some sanding marks.

As it sits now with the lowering springs. Really looking forward to getting it driving as it should!

 

[Twingo 1??]

Looks good. Just turn it straight into a rally car. Sprints and hillclimbs are just not the same buzz. Few guys got rally cars on here so plenty of advice on building a Clio rally car.

 

[paul-h]

Looks good. Just turn it straight into a rally car. Sprints and hillclimbs are just not the same buzz. Few guys got rally cars on here so plenty of advice on building a Clio rally car.

I do enough rallying in the silly seat for now! Done Mull 4 times in the silly seat. Among some other events! I may go back to rallying at some stage but right now it’s madly expensive.

I know when you work it out per mile it isn’t but I’d be probably £3k before I could even look at a stage rally at the minute where as I can be competing in sprints and climbs the way it sits and develop it as I go.

 

[Twingo 1??]

I do enough rallying in the silly seat for now! Done Mull 4 times in the silly seat. Among some other events! I may go back to rallying at some stage but right now it’s madly expensive.

I know when you work it out per mile it isn’t but I’d be probably £3k before I could even look at a stage rally at the minute where as I can be competing in sprints and climbs the way it sits and develop it as I go.

It is expensive especially Mull but worth every penny lol. Hopefully it runs in 2019 as I have only missed going up 4 years out of 36 and I would like to take the new car up. Taga rallys are fun and cheap also. Plenty of people in the know on the forum for building any type of Clio.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Nice to see another rally type here. Look forward to seeing what you do with this.

 

[paul-h]

Cheers folks! A lot of good info on here and I’ve a shopping list as big as my arm but I’ll get there!

 

[Nathan Evans]

From someone who rally’s a Clio don’t bother ?? all joking aside, good to have more members with rallying background on here

 

[paul-h]

From someone who rally’s a Clio don’t bother ?? all joking aside, good to have more members with rallying background on here

They wont be the most competitive in class compared to the escorts with 300bhp but I'd like to do Mull and the Clark so that's the long term goal providing we get through the current consultation!

Yeah I've done a fair bit over the years but nothing too special, mostly co-driving! Think I've seen your thread, gearboxes seem to be the weak link!

 

[paul-h]

Update,

New inner tie rods in, new track rod ends and tracking done by string method but I’m not convinced. Going by the string there is quite a bit of rear toe in? Doing a longer drive tomorrow so I’ll see for sure then.

P.s those rack boots are a total nightmare to fit while on the car! ?

 

[paul-h]

Some progress since last posting.

Sparco seat in on a Jon Foz mount (bolts to be changed to cap screws of 12.9 flavour)
6 point harness fitted
Harness bar welded in
Sparco wheel with MOMO boss fitted (resistors fitted also)
Now on 182 wheels with rain sport 3 on the front and ditchfinder's on the rear (will order 2 more rainsports as a wet setup)

Exhaust is badly needing replaced as its blowing at the centre section and back box now.

Ideally I'll have a set of 15's with some extreme VR2's before my first event with the car in April but now co-driving on the North West stages so that has taken a good chunk of my budget...

 

[paul-h]

Wee update, bought a set of 15’s with worn out federal RSR’s, it was really just the wheels I was after.

Also bought a set of part worn Extreme VR2’s to try out before I get a full new set.

Then I bought a set of OZ F1 in 15” with Nankang NS2’s which will be no use to me for hillclimbing so May use them up on a track day or whatever. Got a screw in one right on the shoulder and was dreading taking it out but it was literally the shortest screw I’ve ever seen and only went in to the tread block! Lucky

Also got some rear Gaz GHA coilovers and fitted those.

Stickers for tow point and ignition added to satisfy the Regs

Timing strut sorted out also.

Took it to an autosolo and managed to come 7th out of 25+ and managed a joint fastest test time on the day also! All that with a pretty nasty migraine! ?

Still looking for front Gaz GHA as I’m still on Eibach and standard struts! ?

I’ll add a few pictures below!

 

[Twingo 1??]

Good progress and looks like you are having fun in that last picture

 

[paul-h]

Good progress and looks like you are having fun in that last picture

Thank you! Believe it or not, I had just clipped a bucket which was a 5s penalty so it was more of a grimace! ?

 

[Twingo 1??]

Ah how can you not miss a big yellow bucket lol. At least your out there doing stuff all good seat time.

 

[paul-h]

Ah how can you not miss a big yellow bucket lol. At least your out there doing stuff all good seat time.

Small matter of coming off tarmac onto sand with track tyres on! ? back end literally touched it an no more! ??

 

[paul-h]

Some more progress on the old dog! Ordered some brand new GHA on 475lb springs for the front. Set up the camber and done a quick string alignment, going to revisit that today and double check all is as it should be. Got my extreme VR2’s fitted into my Traklite wheels. Got a stud and nut kit to fit today also. Just need to wrap my battery negative in Yellow tape and for my rear helper springs into the original spring location to satisfy the MUK Blue Book regulations so I’m hoping they arrive today.

Here’s a couple of pictures

Hillclimb at Doune next weekend so very much looking forward to that!

 

[Twingo 1??]

Good progress Paul and good luck at Doune. I used to go to Doune as a kid to see the hill climb and visit the motor museum when I lived in Oban.

 

[paul-h]

Good progress Paul and good luck at Doune. I used to go to Doune as a kid to see the hill climb and visit the motor museum when I lived in Oban.

Thanks mate! Its a pretty cool place is Doune! I work just outside Oban, small world!

 

[Twingo 1??]

Thanks mate! Its a pretty cool place is Doune! I work just outside Oban, small world!

Where abouts do you work mate? I lived in Oban for a few years then down on the Isle of Seil.

 

[paul-h]

Where abouts do you work mate? I lived in Oban for a few years then down on the Isle of Seil.

I’m at Glensanda quarry! Seil is lovely! I stayed in Lochgilphead for 10 years.

 

[Twingo 1??]

Do you know Keith McLean who worked on the boat running everything over to the quarry?

 

[AdamCup]

What wheels are they ?

 

[paul-h]

Do you know Keith McLean who worked on the boat running everything over to the quarry?

Name doesn't ring any bells, could have been before my time haha!

 

[paul-h]

What wheels are they ?

Traklite Drive I'm led to believe. Very lightweight.

 

[paul-h]

Small update on this, got a last minute slot to test on Sunday at Forrestburn Hillclimb on a track day. Final alignment was done on the Saturday and I was all set! Headed over to the venue on Sunday (40 mins from my house) and it was wet. Very wet. Perfect test for the Extreme VR2’s which for a predominantly slick tyre performed way above my expectations. The car ran well and I got a base wet setup that I think I can rely upon as fairly safe on wet events. I had a few wee moments caused by me pushing over the limits to learn how the VR2’s react but nothing too major.

Got the car home on Sunday and set about re-preparing it for this weekend as I am away at work all week. On the way home I felt a bit of front end wandering which was investigated on the re-prep and found to be a worn ball joint. Less than 1000 miles on it. These were replaced on Monday before work with some Lemforder ones. Just got the geo to check again as the wheel was off centre on the test drive after fitting so that’s friday mornings job.

My i30N as service vehicle! ? and my mates Mk1 RS.

Cleaned up after it’s test

 

[paul-h]

Post Doune Hillclimb update,

Having only driven the hill on one other event this was my second competitive visit to the venue. Saturday started off well with beating my previous PB by exactly a second with a 55.01. Albeit that time was set in a 1400 Metro GTi in full rally trim!

First competitive run on Saturday saw me across the line in 54.08 which I was absolutely delighted with! On further investigation the in car showed there was a lot of time lost being in the wrong place on the track.

Sunday came and first practice was all about putting the things I had learned from the in car to use and I toodled up the hill in a lowly 56.21 but more importantly I was in the right place on track more often than I had been on Saturday.

Second practice went well and I cracked the 53 second barrier with a time of 53.74!! ? Cue lots of shouting in the car as I was seriously happy with the time!

First timed run saw my fastest time of the entire weekend with a 53.51and my second timed run being a 53.59! Again absolutely delighted!



I was in a class with some seriously well built and developed Clios running lots more power and less weight for context the fastest Clio did a 51.21 so still miles away but there’s so much weight to come out of my car as it still has all of the AC system plumbed in!

As for the Extremes! What a tyre! I did pretty much finish off the front tyres which were only just above the wear block indicators before I started so I’ll need to order more!

Next event looks to be back at Doune in June but we will see what happens between now and then!

Couple of pictures from the event!

Cheers

 

[paul-h]

Quick update, AC, pipework and condenser all gone, now in the process of converting to EPAS which obviously means no pump, lines and tank. Had a PAS leak from the dreaded NLA high pressure line so it made sense to get rid of it.

Hope to finish at the weekend and get it tested to see how it works!

Also managed to get passenger and driver side OMP seat base mounts of which I only need the passenger so the drivers is up for sale! PM if interested!

 

[paul-h]

Bit of an update as I have since done 2 events in the car!

June Doune hillclimb,

New Extreme VR2 R5 tyres fitted, heavy passenger seat and airbag removed and replaced with another Sparco Evo. Cup alternator setup fitted and an EPAS column and controller fitted also. Two days hillclimbing with 4 practice on the Saturday and 2 timed on the Sunday. The car was being double driven with a friend which when the alternator decided to pack in on the first run wasn't ideal...

Charging the car from my road car between runs was very frustrating. However, we had a very varied day with rain coming and going. Best practice time of 53.87 was achieved which was only 2 tenths or so slower than my previous run done in the bone dry!

Sunday meant timed runs of which there was 2 of, firstly I managed a 53.02, a full half second quicker than my PB with which I was obviously delighted! Second timed run I managed to do a 52.49!! Chopping that amount of time off means I can probably get down there or below again should the conditions on the day be good. This was enough to put me 3rd in class against some very quick drivers and cars. 1st in class was a Lotus 2Eleven and 2nd was a Subaru Impreza!! Due to it being a british championship round this meant that all roadgoing cars complying with S11 were in the same class and i managed to get 3rd Fastest Time of the Day which I was obviously over the moon with.


June Forrestburn Hillclimb

Another hillclimb at a venue I had tested at before. Although this time completely dry... Total re-learn of the hill was required and off I went.

Fastest time on Saturdays timed runs - 52.20


Just could not replicate this on the Sunday with a time of 52.37 fighting hard with the class leader who managed a 51.77 in a seriously well specced 182.

Next event TBC but looking likely I'll be back at Forrestburn in August

Cheers

 

[Asher172]

This car looks mega. Seems to go well aswell. 2 questions though,

-the hillclimb events you attend, are they free for any public vehicles? Or do you need certain specs and a race license?
- Whats the bracket for near your front number plate?

 

[paul-h]

This car looks mega. Seems to go well aswell. 2 questions though,

-the hillclimb events you attend, are they free for any public vehicles? Or do you need certain specs and a race license?
- Whats the bracket for near your front number plate?

Thank you and great questions!

Any non commercial vehicle that fits into the class structure yes. Non race National B license required which is £40-ish and just requires applied for. Helmet, gloves and overalls and you are pretty much set to go!

The bracket is also something you'd need to go hillclimbing/sprinting. This is a timing strut and is used to break the timing beam to start and finish the clocks timing your run.

Cheers

 

[Djw Dave]

Spotted you up at Forrestburn testing on Wednesday there. Looks a tricky little course.

 

[paul-h]

Spotted you up at Forrestburn testing on Wednesday there. Looks a tricky little course.

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Ahhh I did see a Clio in the car park! Yeah its a great hill, very technical! Did you not fancy a wee go?

Thanks for the pics and videos!

 

[Djw Dave]

Ahhh I did see a Clio in the car park! Yeah its a great hill, very technical! Did you not fancy a wee go?

Thanks for the pics and videos!

I did fancy a wee shot but i didn't come equipped with my helmet ETC.
I took a sign on sheet and will likely have a shot at one of them later in the year. September i think the lady said was the next one.

 

[paul-h]

I did fancy a wee shot but i didn't come equipped with my helmet ETC.
I took a sign on sheet and will likely have a shot at one of them later in the year. September i think the lady said was the next one.

Yeah last one is September its an all day affair. Are you a member of the club or was that what the sheet was for?

 

[David Stuart]

Yeah last one is September its an all day affair. Are you a member of the club or was that what the sheet was for?

You should get along John. Not as much track time as you would get at knockhill but it’s a bit more challenging to go fast on.

Competition this Saturday and Sunday if you fancy coming along. Free to spectate, I’ll be competing Sunday only.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Djw Dave]

Yeah last one is September its an all day affair. Are you a member of the club or was that what the sheet was for?

I'm not a member no so would have to register. But looks like good fun.
How do you go about timing?

 

[Djw Dave]

You should get along John. Not as much track time as you would get at knockhill but it’s a bit more challenging to go fast on.

Competition this Saturday and Sunday if you fancy coming along. Free to spectate, I’ll be competing Sunday only.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Might pop by for a bet, fairly local to me.

 

[paul-h]

Yeah we will be here this weekend. About 4-5 clios too. I just used my gopro and edited the video to length from start and finish and took the time from the info.