Its all been a bit quiet in here because I am far to busy/lazy to update the thread.. however I thought I better add some photos.
So I took the car out to the ring in April, after months of me getting the car ready and planning for the trip it ran perfectly. All apart from two of the lower arm fixings coming loose which I fixed on the euro tunnel and a wire coming loose causing the fuel pump not to prime on the morning we left to come back home.
Massive thanks to @
Fletcher & @
TimR26 for coming on the trip we had a good laugh and hopefully we can get the numbers up for the next trip.
Mine and Fetch's car almost set to leave, I fitted a new offside drive shaft to the 172... shame the nearside decided to give up on the way there!!
We finally arrived at our accommodation.
Once unpacked and showered we decided to go find some food and a beer!
The following day we decided to head over to the circuit to watch the VLN race, the grid was massive with awesome mix of cars. Not to mention you could spectate and actually see something, unlike the UK full of fencing and s**t views.
After watching the racing for a bit we decided to grab some food and have a drive about. It was at this point the knocking on Fletch's 172 got worse, I took it for a spin and confirmed that the nearside outer CV joint was buggered!
After lunch we headed back to the house to take a look at the 172, Fletch and Tim went off to RSR and got some CV grease, I filled the joint back up and put the gator back on with cable ties.
After checking the cars we then headed over the circuit to do a few laps. Fletch jumped in with Tim, the circuit got closed after 30 minutes because of some plumb in his 3 series decided to stuff it.
I completed 2 laps before the track closed, I felt confident in the car and was looking forward to the Sunday to push on and have a good day. That evening we headed to the steak house, the food was brilliant. the Mood however wasn't Fletch was one minute selling the 172 and the next keeping it..... and then undecided if he would actually do anytime out on circuit.
Finally Sunday arrived, we all woke to find it damp and decided to hold off, Fletcher had got up early and completed a lap which was a relief and was happy to continue for the rest of the day. The weather cleared up and I completed 7 laps in total before calling it a day knowing we had to drive home the next morning.
After completing all my laps with a passenger I decided to out for the last time alone, I went as passenger with Tim which made me realise I could go quicker in a few places. Tim was pushing on hard, its amazing how capable the megane's are.
That evening we headed back and then out for some pizza which was amazing and so cheap. Tim also decided to decorate my car for me.... ever so kind!
Monday morning we prepared for the drive home .. which dragged! I will be taking the car on a trailer next I go as its just to noisy and uncomfortable, it will also allow me to take some spares and not worry to much about crashing it!
The following weekend, I was out competing in a local sprint. After gaining some more confidence in the car I was excited to get out and compete. I spanner checked the car in the week and made sure we where ready, I also added the timing strut and the correct stickers as per the MSA Regs.
The day started really well, the car sailed through scrutineering, I learnt my competition had plowed so much money in to their 205's running the same engines, one seat, cut slicks and a whole load of other bits and bobs. I however still had s**t in the door cards from the ring trip, two seats, t1-rs and really wasn't bothered!
I got my two practice runs out of the way, the surface was rather mixed and very greasy early on. I was struggling to get any heat what so ever in to the tyres or brakes but I managed two times in practice that I was happy with. The circuit was a mile loop and technical with high kerbs, and a quite a few tight corners. I sat in 3rd in class all day until the last runs where I got shoved to 4th in class and 22nd overall with less than a second between myself and the top of my class.
The car since then hasn't done much, as I have been working but I am out at Goodwood in August for a round of the Sprint circuit championship and then an evening at Brandshatch a week later to get some seat time in the car.
I am planing on making some changes to car in the following month or so which including some weight saving and also getting some new seats. Once the final sprint of the year is over in October I will be putting the car on another winter diet and fitting some cams and management.
