Clio has had some more work done recently and a trip out!
We fitted the intercom which we'd been meaning to get round to for ages, knowing that the car is so loud inside spending the day in it would make us deaf and with croaky voices from shouting. So much better - I remember from my 106 days what a boon it is to be able to talk at a perfectly normal volume despite the chaos around. Lovely!
Next up was another set of wheels - this time super light weight 15's. We've shod these in 595RSR's again as they're a bloody awesome tyre frankly. However, slight schoolboy error is that of course we're running the car on trackdays through the winter, so we could do with some full wets really. I'm investigating wet tyre options as we speak - rainsports most likely. Will get the tyres swapped over when they arrive.
We've also had the car setup for track use by Ktec - all suspension geometry, ride height, etc. Wasn't especially cheap but we're really happy with it even on the road - turn in is incredibly sharp now, and it's like it's on rails.
Brakes are bedded in - the RC6's squeal like a burning cat at slow speed but at high speed are just unreal - I've never felt anything as strong as those and they keep on giving - no fade yet and we've pushed them on track (more to follow about that). Very very pleased.
So - onto it's outing.
Bedford Autodrome GT circuit Saturday 12th November 2015.
Packed pretty much every tool I own into the Mazda, and after Steve arrived at mine in the clio (at 6am with a straight through decatted exhaust and CL6 squealy brakes!) we set off. In the rain
Arrived at the track for 07:30, still dark of course. Signed on, got settled in, had the obligatory bacon sandwich (although Bedford has gone all posh now so it's a fucking panini or chibatta or some italian thing but it still had pig in it so that was ok).
We've got the help of Michael Moyers from JC Weldfab for the morning. Michael part-owns JC Weldfab who did our cage and exhaust, and the Audi etc, but in a past life he was a full time ARDS instructor for 4 years working out of Silverstone. Now he races in single seaters/Formula Ford. He knows his shit, and is a mega nice chap to boot.
We started slowly and the track is terrifying - I've never driven on such a slippery surface. We had brand new 595RSR's on still not scrubbed in, and the track was especially greasy we were told. Michael coaxed/coached us into improving, and we were doing about 6 laps each, then coming in to swap drivers. We drove like that solidly until 12:30 lunch, other than once when the track was closed for recovery of a crash. Michael did a few laps and it's staggering how the car went in the right hands - nothing came past, and we're overtaking everything that gets in the way - including all the quattro/4wd stuff that was blitzing everything all day. He can really peddle!
After lunch Michael had to go, so left us to our own devices. We didn't do timed laps or anything, and the afternoon did have periods where the rain stopped and it got a little grippier so we were able to push harder. I think we made some dramatic improvements - certainly less seemed to be passing us!
Michael commented before going that he thinks the car is incredibly well set up, and in the dry will be a real weapon. Whilst we cant agree yet due to inexperience, I can say it's one of the best car's handling wise I've driven in a long time - we're able to power out of corners much earlier than I would ever have expected, the cars handling is predictable and reliable, smooth and progressive with no nasty surprises yet. Will be different in the full dry I'm sure, but I'm growing in confidence with it.
The whole day went past with no problems whatsoever. There was a glitch with the key/alarm at one point but that took 10 minutes to fix but other than that the car was flawless. It took a beating for a complete day without breaking a sweat - only stopping for lunch and fuel in the afternoon. It was literally driven continuously other than that and behaved incredibly well!
We've now booked Nurburgring for March '16 (easter) already so we're looking forward to that and planning / preparing, starting with the next session at Bedford which is already booked for Jan 16th. Hopefully it's dry but we should have the wet tyres by then if not either way.
Overall it's staggeringly good fun and cheap really too. We're over the moon!
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