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Back from Colerne
Cars Modifications Aspects of car modifications (tuning, styling) (uk.rec.cars.modifications)
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#11
 
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Re: Back from Colerne -
05-21-2007
, 05:03 PM
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Vamp wrote: "Chet" <usenet (AT) retro-renault (DOT) com> wrote in message news:V9n4i.19796$j7.373727 (AT) news (DOT) indigo.ie... SteveH wrote: SteveH <steve (AT) italiancar (DOT) co.uk> wrote: Well, that was...... exciting. Bad form and all that, but the pro shots are in: http://www.photodirectuk.com/MSE07/1...20Alfa%20Romeo /index.htm Quite disappointed that he failed to get any footage of anyone sideways with plumes of smoke. I have to say, its looking tidy. There was a white 2.0 up for the same money as the saab when i got it but the saab was much nicer, the 75 was a dog. I seen a black 2.0 up for 1200 last night, chaps selling cos he got a v6. The brother was on a track day a week or so ago http://www.retro-renault.com/fq400 Not his first time out but the first time he bothered to get the pics nice track toy he has there :-P His track toy is something else, thats stock  |
#12
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Well, that was...... exciting. Arrived at Colerne in plenty of time before the briefing, had a cuppa and a wander around the paddock. Worryingly, there were loads of Caterhams, some Elises, a couple of VX220s and a handful of TVRs along with a few 911s, a couple of Caymans and a 4x4 Sapphire Cossie. I felt a bit more comfortable when a Clio Williams appeared, followed by a MkIII Golf VR6 and a ratty MkI Golf - badged as a CL, but obviously wasn't, 'cos he came prepared with race tyres and tyre warmers. Anyway, got things underway at 10am-ish with an instructor for the first session. He spent most of the time telling me to brake later and harder than I've ever done before. Until we cooked my brakes and had to come in to let them cool. The rest of the morning was spent hammering the brakes until they died before coming in for them to cool..... After lunch, I did another 3 sessions, this time taking a bit more care of my brakes. Unfortunately, this meant that my tyres took a bit more of a hammering, as I spent a lot of time on opposite lock with smoke pouring from the rears. Lovely. Things I discovered. A 75 TSpark is a much better track car than a Golf VR6. The owner of which came to look at what was under the bonnet as he couldn't catch me on the track. Caterhams and Elises / VX220s carry an immense amount of corner speed, but the 75 was able to pull away through fast sweepers. Most people in Porkers spent all afternoon holding me up 'cos I didn't have the power to get them on the straights and overtaking is banned in the braking zones and corners. My video footage is mostly shite, 'cos I didn't get the angle right on the camera. I'm awaiting the pro. shots of the day, 'cos a couple of people commented on the graceful 4-wheel drift the 75 demonstrated through the last bend. Can't wait 'till the next one - but I need to sort the brakes first. Are the brakes completely standard? A cheap initial upgrade is Mintex M1144 |
That's always served me well in the past! New discs will make a good
difference too if your current one's are a bit worn. Also is there anyway
of making some air ducts from front bumper - getting a bit more air to the
brakes via the fog light holes *seemed* to help brake efficiency on the
Volvo, as did using more open alloys - I notice the ones on the 75 dont look
like they allow much air through to the brakes. Time for some revolutions
After that I guess you get into big money upgrades, which I know nothing
about coz I'm to tight to pay for them
#13
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"SteveH" <steve (AT) italiancar (DOT) co.uk> wrote in message news:1hyh8ct.1vy6nmtzfgj3rN%steve (AT) italiancar (DOT) co.uk... Well, that was...... exciting. Arrived at Colerne in plenty of time before the briefing, had a cuppa and a wander around the paddock. Worryingly, there were loads of Caterhams, some Elises, a couple of VX220s and a handful of TVRs along with a few 911s, a couple of Caymans and a 4x4 Sapphire Cossie. I felt a bit more comfortable when a Clio Williams appeared, followed by a MkIII Golf VR6 and a ratty MkI Golf - badged as a CL, but obviously wasn't, 'cos he came prepared with race tyres and tyre warmers. Anyway, got things underway at 10am-ish with an instructor for the first session. He spent most of the time telling me to brake later and harder than I've ever done before. Until we cooked my brakes and had to come in to let them cool. The rest of the morning was spent hammering the brakes until they died before coming in for them to cool..... After lunch, I did another 3 sessions, this time taking a bit more care of my brakes. Unfortunately, this meant that my tyres took a bit more of a hammering, as I spent a lot of time on opposite lock with smoke pouring from the rears. Lovely. Things I discovered. A 75 TSpark is a much better track car than a Golf VR6. The owner of which came to look at what was under the bonnet as he couldn't catch me on the track. Caterhams and Elises / VX220s carry an immense amount of corner speed, but the 75 was able to pull away through fast sweepers. Most people in Porkers spent all afternoon holding me up 'cos I didn't have the power to get them on the straights and overtaking is banned in the braking zones and corners. My video footage is mostly shite, 'cos I didn't get the angle right on the camera. I'm awaiting the pro. shots of the day, 'cos a couple of people commented on the graceful 4-wheel drift the 75 demonstrated through the last bend. Can't wait 'till the next one - but I need to sort the brakes first. Are the brakes completely standard? A cheap initial upgrade is Mintex M1144 (or even M1155) pads, or whatever they're called now, and dot 5.1 fluid. That's always served me well in the past! New discs will make a good difference too if your current one's are a bit worn. Also is there anyway of making some air ducts from front bumper - getting a bit more air to the brakes via the fog light holes *seemed* to help brake efficiency on the Volvo, as did using more open alloys - I notice the ones on the 75 dont look like they allow much air through to the brakes. Time for some revolutions After that I guess you get into big money upgrades, which I know nothing about coz I'm to tight to pay for them Oh, and I'm loving the 240 GLT!! |
#14
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Can't wait 'till the next one - but I need to sort the brakes first. Are the brakes completely standard? A cheap initial upgrade is Mintex M1144 (or even M1155) pads, or whatever they're called now, and dot 5.1 fluid. That's always served me well in the past! New discs will make a good difference too if your current one's are a bit worn. Also is there anyway of making some air ducts from front bumper - getting a bit more air to the brakes via the fog light holes *seemed* to help brake efficiency on the Volvo, as did using more open alloys - I notice the ones on the 75 dont look like they allow much air through to the brakes. Time for some revolutions |
a new pair of fancy discs.
I shouldn't need do anything more expensive than that - 'cos it has
Brembo twin-pot calipers on the front as standard.
Rears..... well, they're being left well alone, 'cos they're a complete
PITA to uprate, and a bit pointless, given how little work they do on a
75.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
#15
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Carl Gibbs <cagmeister (AT) yahoo (DOT) co.uk> wrote: Can't wait 'till the next one - but I need to sort the brakes first. Are the brakes completely standard? A cheap initial upgrade is Mintex M1144 (or even M1155) pads, or whatever they're called now, and dot 5.1 fluid. That's always served me well in the past! New discs will make a good difference too if your current one's are a bit worn. Also is there anyway of making some air ducts from front bumper - getting a bit more air to the brakes via the fog light holes *seemed* to help brake efficiency on the Volvo, as did using more open alloys - I notice the ones on the 75 dont look like they allow much air through to the brakes. Time for some revolutions I'll try the DOT5.1, uprated pads and some ducting before going mad with a new pair of fancy discs. I shouldn't need do anything more expensive than that - 'cos it has Brembo twin-pot calipers on the front as standard. |
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Rears..... well, they're being left well alone, 'cos they're a complete PITA to uprate, and a bit pointless, given how little work they do on a 75. As long as the rear brakes are well adjusted I've almost always found |
#16
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I'll try the DOT5.1, uprated pads and some ducting before going mad with a new pair of fancy discs. |
lights (saves 3 kg) and get flexible, aluminium ducting as used in
kitchens. You'll have to cut a hole (around 80mm) inside the plastic
fairing. Aim the duct at the caliper.
AR had inlethorns which snuggled in the place reserved for the foglights
but those parts are not findable any more.
Quote:
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I shouldn't need do anything more expensive than that - 'cos it has Brembo twin-pot calipers on the front as standard. Rears..... well, they're being left well alone, 'cos they're a complete PITA to uprate, and a bit pointless, given how little work they do on a 75. |
transaxle very good. Remember how the 75 sails through where VR6's
understeer like crazy? That implies that rear brakes still do quite a
job (because there is weight on them). The heat goes for a major part
into the gearbox and LSD which is twice bad news. Putting the brakes to
the wheels can be done and while essential on a trackcar it is without
use on a streetcar.
Another 75-update with good results, it only takes an afternoon and a
friend with a lathe: replace the rubber of the shockabsorbers and the
Watt-linkage by erthalon of nylon bushings (cost close to nothing).
All vageness will be eliminated and steering becomes very precise
increasing confidence. The geometry of the car must be checked. At
cornering forces around 0.9G that preciseness will determine if you
crash out or make the corner.
Another major thing: fit a bucket seat. Race seats out of homologation
can be found for peanuts and on track they make a hell of a difference.
Building one in and out (after the first time) is a matter of minutes.
My 75 has a significant lightened (by 4 kg) flywheel (again be friends
with a lathe owner). That gives major differances in lower gears and
while getting out of corners and that counts on all circuits except
ovals.
Tom De Moor
#17
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Rears..... well, they're being left well alone, 'cos they're a complete PITA to uprate, and a bit pointless, given how little work they do on a 75. That's where you are wrong. The balance of the 75 is due to the transaxle very good. Remember how the 75 sails through where VR6's understeer like crazy? That implies that rear brakes still do quite a job (because there is weight on them). |
rears locked up before the fronts, meaning there's little point in
upgrading them.
Maybe if you've got a more stiffly suspended car there would be a point,
but I'm leaving mine more or less standard as far as suspension goes, so
get a fair bit of weight transfer to the front end under heavy braking.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
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