2001 Saxo VTS track toy - Page 3 - Saxperience

simonsaunders · 5th August 2014, 19:22

So that to do list... Empty! Car is all clean, packed and good to go for Goodwood on Saturday Literately just have a few batteries on charge for the video camera, fill it up and drive to Goodwood.

The next list will be post Goodwood and hopefully not too long! But the list might include 'fit cage' if all goes to plan as I have a lead on a rally car being broken for spares...

To do:
Nothing for now!

Live with it for now:
Look at electric mirror switch (prob needs replacing, can adjust mirror externally anyway)
Coolant flush

Completed & status:
Take a look at the front discs. Done. They are like new
Remove spare wheel and carrier from under the car. Done - sort of. Unless the car is on ramps, or you cut it, you can't get the carrier off. Spare removed and hanger safely secured.
Give the tyres a proper once over. Done. Rear passenger is legal, but might not be after Goodwood! Rest all lovely.
Source and fit new wing mirror
Refit door trim
Source and fit new arch trim
Buy some new clips for the arch trim
Oil change - done
Find radio code - done
Sort out a means for mounting a camera - made one
Drill some ventilation holes behind the plate. Done.
Order and fit some EBC Yellowstuff front pads
Order and fit washer bottle cap
Reset service indicator
Sort CV boot. Done.
Order and fit new wheel boot. Done.
Brake fluid flush.
Clean it. Done.
Paint camera mounts. Done.
Adjust door mech (thanks to Gareth's good advice)

simonsaunders · 11th August 2014, 14:22

So I left Goodwood with 3 clear instructions from Gareth, my mechanic friend and the organiser of the private track day at Goodwood:

1. Get that steering wheel on there (Gareth gifted me a rather hideous Momo steering wheel that he found when clearing up his yard - apparently it is just the thing for a Saxo... Whatever is he suggesting?)
2. Get that cage in there (a mutual friend is breaking a road-rally 106 that I'm going to plunder for parts).
3. I want to see this on 2 wheels everywhere.

Anyway, that was the end of the day. Let's start at the start - which was more like the day before.

So I finally got insurance sorted out over Friday lunchtime. Bargain £150 TPFT. Decided to take this to the shops... Flat battery. Stuck it on the Optimate and it all looked good, but I wouldn't really know until Saturday morning.

Got up at 6am for Goodwood and the car started first time, perfect. The 100 miles to Goodwood from Kent was the first time that I had really driven it since purchase. All seemed good! Although the radio reception isn't great and there is nowhere to stick my phone / nav. Must get a cradle sorted for the phone / nav.

I was hoping to bed in the brakes on the way down, but the roads were too wet, so I decided to do that on track.

So... on to track. As I lined up for the first session, I dawned on me that (a) I'm really rusty on track and (b) the car was a complete unknown entity. As a result, my pace started very slow and slowly picked up as I knocked some rust off my driving and built up some faith in the car. Come the final couple of sessions I was happy to abuse it a bit more with the confidence that it wasn't going to fall apart.

Issues? The check engine light came on during the second session. Double checked everything and carried on - everything seemed fine and so it proved over the next 80-odd track miles. My seating position isn't ideal either, with my helmet skimming the roof. There was a slight vibration at an indicated 110mph but it wasn't too obtrusive and felt like a wheel balancing issue. I just didn't brain it down Lavant and this wasn't an issue.

Straight line performance is OK, braking OK, handling seems neutral, gear change is very sloppy (but I didn't miss a gear), steering feels a little sloppy. Tried it with and without the bumper ventilation holes open - they definitely helped keep oil and water temps down (the car has factory gauges for both), which was helpful as oil temp nudged up to 3/4 on the later sessions.

Immediate plans? Will keep it at least until the MOT expires in Feb 2015. Will pick up some additions as we go along - like the cage, some seat mounts, a steering boss, etc. Might need a new rear tyre too - will check that soon.

I'm also going to invest in having Gareth give it a good once over - just to make sure that nothing critical is in the process of failing.

Will book myself into Brands in December on the Mazda on Track day and probably something for October. I quite fancy Rockingham, but I'll see what cheapies are around!

Getting busy:

Getting warm:

Getting ready:

I purchased the pro photos, so might stick up a few more in due course.

Oh, and the only thing that I would have done differently is having Gareth give the car a good once over before Goodwood. Probably would have gone harder, sooner if I had the extra confidence of his seal of approval!

Ross^p · 11th August 2014, 14:37

looks like you're having a lot of fun - I'm genuinely quite envious!

If you plan on tracking it a lot, a 13 row oil cooler will be a sound investment. As will decent pads and a brake fluid change lol

simonsaunders · 11th August 2014, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross

looks like you're having a lot of fun - I'm genuinely quite envious!

If you plan on tracking it a lot, a 13 row oil cooler will be a sound investment. As will decent pads and a brake fluid change lol

I did a change to some cheap 5.1 and Yellowstuff, and it didn't cook the fluid or anything. They just felt a bit average all day. Once these pads are done, I'll probably move onto the 306 / 307 option with braided lines, revised master cylinder, etc. but for now, good enough but not brilliant.

Oil temps aren't really an issue yet - I'd sooner spend that money on something else. Plus, I think that oil coolers are best left until absolutely required - just something else to go wrong! A hotter day (although yesterday was low 20s) and longer, harder runs will be the acid test on that one.

D4MJT · 11th August 2014, 16:24

bin the yellowstuff, I wouldn't put EBC pads on my pushbike they're fucking shocking. DS2500's and it'll be like night and day. Seriously.

simonsaunders · 11th August 2014, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by D4MJT

bin the yellowstuff, I wouldn't put EBC pads on my pushbike they're fucking shocking. DS2500's and it'll be like night and day. Seriously.

When did you last try Yellowstuff? They revised their compounds a short time ago and they have had good reviews since. They were adequate, but not hanging on the seat-belt brutal. We'll run them until they are shot and then go from there.

D4MJT · 11th August 2014, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonsaunders

When did you last try Yellowstuff? They revised their compounds a short time ago and they have had good reviews since. They were adequate, but not hanging on the seat-belt brutal. We'll run them until they are shot and then go from there.

About 18 months ago was the last time I tried them, I burnt the pads running them in. If they've changed them recently I haven't tried them, but my previous experience of them is simply that they're a pretty colour, but absolutely terrible at stopping a car. Even worse if you want to stop it again and again.

simonsaunders · 11th August 2014, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by D4MJT

About 18 months ago was the last time I tried them, I burnt the pads running them in. If they've changed them recently I haven't tried them, but my previous experience of them is simply that they're a pretty colour, but absolutely terrible at stopping a car. Even worse if you want to stop it again and again.

Fair enough! I've not used Yellowstuff before myself, but they are a popular choice on other cars for this kinda use. I know of someone who races a GTI-6 on standard callipers to good success, so I'll probably just copy his set-up if I go that way. I'm sure he has tried everything over the years!

If I stick with the standard stoppers, I'll go braided lines and probably try another pad - likely DS2500 based on your recommendation. Cheers.

Ross^p · 11th August 2014, 17:13

also worth a chat to Kev @ Kam Racing reference the CL5+ and CL6 pads. Mega stoppers.

D4MJT · 11th August 2014, 18:13

As Ross says, good money, CL5 etc.

You can bolt up the GTi-6 calipers and 283mm discs to a saxo easily, but they weigh a tonne in unsprung weight, you can rock 266's and DS2500's and it will really stop the car on it's nose and weigh less. Worth a shout. I had 283's previously, I've reverted to 266's, the 283 calipers and discs weighed in at 25kg!

simonsaunders · 11th August 2014, 20:59

Could you feel that difference in unsprung weight? I can definitely see the value of keeping it down.

D4MJT · 11th August 2014, 21:06

I made so many changes to mine at the same time I honestly couldn't tell you, I just know that the rule of thumb is that unsprung weight losses are by far and away the best, and I know that the 266's weigh a lot less and definitely stop the car well

josh11490 · 11th August 2014, 21:28

Never used 283s but my 266s haven't had a problem stopping my vtr yet, can't see the need to upgrade to anything bigger unless it's for looks lol

simonsaunders · 12th August 2014, 21:12

Things have been arriving and it is only a couple of days after Goodwood. Looks like it is staying for a bit.

Picked up the cage from a mate earlier today - it came out of a road rally car that is being scrapped. Just a basic 4-pointer (6, if you include the seatbelt mounts) but it looks well made and robust... But had clearly been part of something bigger at some stage, with some evidence of some front bars being removed.

Some appalling shots of it in the old car...

And what is this... Lombard rally stickers?

Clearly has some history! Not sure if that is good or bad though!

Anyway, I know that half cages are often knocked, but it is only ever going to make things better and for £50, I'm not going to argue.

Oh, but the BIG news is this:

Gareth my mechanic made me have it. Apparently it was crying out for a Saxo. Now to pick up a cheap boss. And probably a better steering wheel.

hard_corejoeboy · 17th August 2014, 21:50

You need to go more hardcore.. "nigguh"

SGregg · 18th August 2014, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonsaunders

And what is this... Lombard rally stickers?

Clearly has some history! Not sure if that is good or bad though!

Lombard Revival Rally was an endurance rally for up 1400 cars with basic modifications. There still is an endurance championship, but the revival rally is no more AFAIK

simonsaunders · 19th August 2014, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGregg

Lombard Revival Rally was an endurance rally for up 1400 cars with basic modifications. There still is an endurance championship, but the revival rally is no more AFAIK

That makes sense - it was pulled out of a 1400 road rally car! Thanks!

simonsaunders · 19th August 2014, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by hard_corejoeboy

You need to go more hardcore.. "nigguh"

Hello Joe. Wondered if our paths would cross on here.

hard_corejoeboy · 19th August 2014, 11:59

I rarely come on here to be honest 106owners is much better. Like what you are doing with the car by the way! See I told everyone on NL these cars are awesome! Now if only mine was closer to being finished.

simonsaunders · 27th September 2014, 18:41

Finally had a few hours for the car today. I've had different parts arriving for it, all picked up nice and cheap on an as and when basis. I'll organise those into another to do list shortly. However today was really all about preparation for the cage.

Having dumped the car at the back of the house after Goodwood all those months ago, it started on the button. No messing.

Then, to the sounds of the Greatest Hits of Brice Springsteen, this happened.

Everything came out really easily actually. I was kinda dreading some stuck-on sound deadening nightmare (a background in BMs), but only a tiny bit on the arches was stuck down. Even that cleaned up with a plastic scraper, heat gun and white spirit in about 30 mins. Everything else just unbolted and / or lifted out. It looks a bit rusty round the edges in the photos - that it just dust! It all looks pretty damn solid.

All the interior panels are being saved for the minute, as well as all the metal odds and sods that I pulled out. The big bag of sound deadening is already at the tip. For anyone interested, it mostly weighed **** all. I'd be very surprised if even 10kg came out.

Finally got the spare wheel cage off too.

Oh, and this happened:

It feels better than it looks (and it looks pretty horrid, but it was free) and will be in place until I find a dished wheel. I have disproportionately short arms and the wheel is still a stretch, but better than stock. Yes, you can make tyrannosaurus rex jokes.

Gave it a good razzing around the country lanes near me for good measure too. It remains on good form.

I need to book in with Gareth to get the cage in, but I also need my current work project to finish so that I can make the time.