Tarticmonkey’s Clio 197 CUP Track Car

[Tarticmonkey]

So after being a bit of a lurker and mainly post on clio197.net. I thought I’d post a few photos as a bit of a thread here to show off my 197 that I’ve had for a little while now.

I bought the car in Ocotober 2022 as a completely standard car with the exception of a Miltek Resonated Cat Back. The car was on eBay with an awful advert but after speaking with the seller it was clear that the car was a good base for a project to get me back on track days after having an R53 mini that decided it enjoyed going through engines more than I would like it to!

The goal when I got the car was to smarten it up a bit and repair the rust bubble on the boot ready for a ring trip in may 23. With the idea being that this car could be a simple seat time stallion for me that could be left fairly standard and be enjoyable on track (famous last words).

Belts were done in November 22 by a local specialist and in December 22 it did its first track day at blyton park with me!

First time I’ve done a trackday in a car with standard seats and well used suspension and that decided it needed to change.

So with a budget that had been self imposed due to being an adult and buying a house; i opted for a set of k-tec budget coilovers and some Mirco seats to be used with standard seat belts. For now.

The car looked miles better lower and handles better too, as I opted to put silverproject adjustable top mounts on. but it came became clear after a trackdays at Cadwell and bylton that this was going to be way too soft for my use.

During this time I also picked up some X85 speedlines that I wrapped in some MRF track rubber too. White on white for the full cup car look.

Before I knew it. The may ring trip was upon us. The car handled it like a trooper and did everything I asked of it and more. I think over a weekend of TF I amassed a total of fifteen laps. The car never missed a beat. Drove too and from without issue and averaged 34 mpg when I was driving like a dick.

Only wobble it had was throwing a knock sensor code coming off of the chunnel and not liking some 99 octane from the esso in folkstone. (Might be placebo but didn’t seem to run as nice)

Parked next to my mates 200T as we both just went sub 9 btg. The best time for me from the trip was an 8:51. Which for my experience with the car and track I’m happy with!

I did one more trackday in 2023 at Croft before parking the car due to the house move.

I also picked up some more standard 197 wheels that were in better condition than the original wheels that came with some ad08s. So decided to kill them at Croft as they were old.

I will do another post later in the week for what’s happened with the car since. As a fair bit has changed since summer 23.

 

[JimF]

Good writeup! Looking forward to reading the rest (and passing you next time at Blyton!)

 

[Tarticmonkey]

Good writeup! Looking forward to reading the rest (and passing you next time at Blyton!)

Cheers boss and thanks for reminding me I need to follow up on this! Will post up in a bit

Got a day booked on Saturday the 26th of October for one of my mates birthdays at Blyton as I can't get time off work currently. You should book on! My mate in his 200 is going and another in yet to be determined car. Could either be TT QS or 2.7 987 Cayman.

 

[imprezaworks]

Look great 👍

 

[JimF]

Cheers boss and thanks for reminding me I need to follow up on this! Will post up in a bit

Got a day booked on Saturday the 26th of October for one of my mates birthdays at Blyton as I can't get time off work currently. You should book on! My mate in his 200 is going and another in yet to be determined car. Could either be TT QS or 2.7 987 Cayman.

I'm tempted but all my free cash is going on the Merc at the minute and the Clio isn't sorted yet.

 

[Tarticmonkey]

I'm tempted but all my free cash is going on the Merc at the minute and the Clio isn't sorted yet.

Be reyt. Send Merc around on two wheels everywhere

 

[JimF]

It did cross my mind to track it for a laugh!

 

[Tarticmonkey]

Reyt then. Winter 23 upgrades.

With the clio parked and awaiting an imminent house move pending. I did what any sane person would do and began looking at parts I wanted to buy and fit to the car over winter. It is worth noting that with moving house I was leaving having to work on cars on my parents driveway and would be gaining a garage with a pit. Meaning that I can could leave projects half way through if I was getting stressed, fancied a break etc. So to me this mean that I could go full r****d with the car.

The first purchased I made for the car was an extra rear beam; this was then subsequently modified to be a PMS rear beam with their strengthening kit. I also sourced poly bushes for the car and decided to get power flex black series engine mounts. I also went for full braided lines beam back on tjhe car and replaced some of the hard lines as well.

I also got a bit of a bonus from work and put that towards Gaz Golds for the car too.

The clio residing in it is new humble abode.

Rear beam getting remvoed / changed to the PMS Beam.

A shot of the car without a beam and a shot down into the pit of despair.

I also stumbled upon a part I forgot I had on the car if I am completely honest a wheel motorsport radiator support.

All the above work was done between me and my friends over the xmas break. Due to me not thinking straight I don't really have many more photos that I am able to share other than the above. All the work was fairly straight forward to do.

The car did sadly fail an MOT due to corrosion and loose swivel hubs. All of which were sorted and the cars now has a good MOT.

Looking into 2024, I had decided that the car needed a cage. At the time I didn't just want something that was off the shelf and got introdcued to fabricator based in Docnaster called Parkin Race Developments and decided to use him for the cage. At the time I put the cage into the car I was convinced that I was going to be still street driving the car and didn't want the hassle of hitting my head on a roll cage or looking like a complete tool when running to Morrisons in the car after a blast. So I opted to go for a welded in half cage.

Prior to the cage going in the car was fully stripped and I decided to cut out as many useless brackets as possible to counter act the weight of the cage that was going in.

The cage takced into place.

I painted the cage myself using rattle cans, this photo is taken part way through from memory. The finish is OKAY but I'm not overly happy with it as you'll see in some later photos as the down tubes look a tw@. SO the plan is to get the interior painted porperly at some point in the not too distant future.

Some of the finish I'm not overly happy with featuring my reflection. I really think this lets the car down as other than the stone chips you get on the car from using it on track it looks pretty good and gleams as my old man would say.

SO this is how the car sits now. I still have a blackline diff to go into it but I'm procrastinating and telling myself I am waiting for the crunch to come before I fit it. I also have an upgraded manifold for the car too but again procrastination and enjoying the car has stopped me fitting it.

As the car drives I couldn't be happier. Once the cage is tidied up I will be very happy man.

I've done a few more track days with the car this year and I'm dead chuffed with how it performed. I'm really fighting the urge for an e92 M3 currently but there is something special about chasing things you shouldn't in a Baguette.

 

[Tarticmonkey]

Saturday Shenanigans:

So this Saturday has been very car oriented (as per usual I suppose). Started the day attending the Steel City Porsche Cars and coffee at Porsche Sheff.

Good turn out as per! Though this eg was definitely my highlight!

Always wanted one of these. Best looking civic shape in my humble opinion! Spoke to the owner and the B18 revs to 9.5k with a capability to go to 11 if he wanted.

After that it was a garage day with my friend Bean working on both our cars In preparation for Blyton in a couple of weeks.

First job was a new OMP wheel for me.

Fairly straight forward job to do that I think most active members of the forum have done so won’t bother with a write up fully of doing the swap but will say putting the standard wheel through 180 degrees so the air bag release mech is facing upwards makes the job far easier.

That’s the wheel fitted. Need to tidy up the wiring and sort the horn but very happy. After a little test drive it feels miles better than the dinging of the standard wheel.

I’ve also got a wheeler motorsport wheel lowering kit to go on but being blunt I couldn’t be arsed with the faf today so that will be done next weekend.

We also serviced both cars inclusive of gearbox oil changes!

Here’s the patented (bodged) gear box oil filler we came up with!

We even had a visit from my mates dog! So all in all the days been a winner.