Well, heres the update:
A while ago Nic and I decided that I should get some insurance sorted either on the Saxo, or buy something cheap and cheerful to run about in that would be able to build up some no-claims bonus. We decided this due to me leaving Chubb and at the time I considered setting up my own firm, When I looked into insurance on a van, I was quite disheartened, so, I got in touch with the guys at Sky Insurance, just out of curiosity to see what sort of price some of the modified car friendly companies could offer. The guys came back with an amazing price and also took into account the letter I had got from Chubb stating that i'd been driving a company car for 7 years with no accidents etc.
The car was now insured and I had the money sorted for my road fund licence (tax disc) so all I had to do was get it MOT'd. Now, as this is a track car that I'm using on the road, I decided that I wanted to get it looked at by some professionals that I knew I could trust not to rip me off and to make sure it was safe. I thought about a few local places but finally settled for my Uncle down in Bedford... After all, if something goes wrong due to his workmanship, He's going to get a beating off my Mum (his big sister!!!) lol. So I thought it was a safe bet as he has my safety in his interests!
I rented a trailer off 106Maxi and got my mate to see if we could use his works van for the weekend. His boss is that cool that he actually put me on his insurance for the weekend so I could drive it with the trailer. Friday came and we loaded the car onto the trailer ready for an early start on Saturday morning.
0630hrs on Saturday, Keo turned up in the van, we hitched up the trailer and set off to Bedfordshire. It wasn't long before hunger kicked in and a loo break was requested from "captain weak-bladder" so a stop at the services was made. I went for the food while Keo sprinted for the toilet. He told me to get us both a breakfast from Burger King... I have never been to BK in the morning and would normally go for the golden arches but in their absence thought it's worth a try. Nearly 10 minutes and £18 later we emerged from the services into the growing daylight with possibly one of the best breakfasts I've ever had from a fast food chain! No more maccies for me!!! We hit the M6 with full bellies and empty bladders!
A few hours later we arrived at Whitley Garage in Bedford, well, Kempston to be exact! We got the car unloaded and got the kettle on. The car was put onto the 4 poster and the inspections began... Oh dear....
I had noticed the last time I had jacked up the car that I could hear the un-mistakable sound of crunching rust so we knew a little welding was going to be needed... We didn't realise just how much though!!!
The side skirts were removed and the full extent of the damage was immediately apparent. All 4 corners needed work! a LOT of work!! Both rear sills needed about 7-8 inches chopping out and rebuilding and the fronts needed a good 6 inches sorting along with the ends of the chassis rails! On top of all that, the cage feet needed welding in place, the seat needed fitting and then everything else needed checking for the MOT!!! My cousin Michael said it was going to be close to get the car done for the following weekend!
After a lot of head scratching and looking around, I was ready for loading the car back onto the trailer and coming home and stripping the shell and looking for a new shell to build into. The guys both said that the damage was all repairable so it would be worth doing even if it only means I get a few more years out of the shell. I thought what the hell and we decided what needed to be done, in what order of importance and roughly how long it would take.
We left the car with them and headed home with the slight feeling that it was the last time I was going to see the shell in one piece!
As soon as I got home the updates started to come in from my cousin, he couldn't wait to get the grinder out and start chopping bits off the car. By Monday morning he already had one corner rebuilt!! I thought that if he kept up that speed of work he'd have it all done by Friday! Each night more pictures of the work came in and more got done... The back complete, the focus moved onto the front. After a bit of talking back and too, it was clear we needed to put a big plate in each floor pan then add the cage feet on top of them just for more strength if nothing else!
With all the welding done we decided that Nic, the baby and I would head down to my uncles on Saturday, stop the night then finish the car off on Sunday morning, put it through the MOT and then drive it home. We got to Bedford a bit late on Saturday evening and after a few beers and some natering headed to bed. In the morning we headed over to the garage to finish off. The MOT had already been done after the welding was finished and the car had gone through with no issues! WELL chuffed!!! We just had to fit the cage and head home
A few hours, a lot of bashing and a bit of welding later we emerged from the garage with a fully set up car!
To say I was impressed is an under-statement!!!
The welding isn't the prettiest but it's solid! everything works as it should and apart from me realising i'd fitted the wiper arms on the wrong sides the drive home was fault free!
The following few days, I had planned to get out for a spin in the car each evening but as normal, the baby sensed something was needing doing so she screamed the place down which meant I had to look after her while Nic sorted tea etc.
Tuesday evening came and I loaded the car up with my tools, spare wheels, Jack, axle stand and a few other bits and bobs ready for the trackday the next day.
Wednesday morning came too quickly and I ended up getting up a bit late. I jumped in the car and headed out. My route up to Oulton Park took me past one of my favourite butty vans so naturally, my first pit stop of the day was their! I got to Oulton Park and met up with Sam and Rich84. We got the cars into the garage and set off to get signed on. After sign on we had the safety briefing then headed back to the garage.
We had a bit of a wander around and saw 106Maxi in his race spec rallye along with his mate in his red Rallye. their were a couple of lads in other french tins, a few clio's and few megs and a couple of saxo's with mikeanics stickers on. The day was a little damp for the sighting laps but it soon dried out. Their were a few sprinklings of light rain through the morning but nothing serious. I had 2 sessions in the morning both went pretty well and the car felt a little squirmy under braking. The brake pedal felt like it was quite low too so in between my sessions i sorted that out by adjusting the balance bar. With the brakes sorted I had a good second session and I felt really happy with the way the car went.
After lunch we got another session in and I had a really good go. We all managed to get out on the track at the same time and I quickly caught up Rich and sam. I held back from Sam a bit as I thought it would be good to get some video of him. a lap and a bit later I got the bug and headed past him, I forgot to do the same for Rich and shot past him too. We had a good play for the next lap the headed in for a brew (Nic had arrived with the kettle and some lunch stuff) The rain then started coming down and I decided I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to drive on the track in the rain! I was very surprised at how much grip their is in the wet! I managed 2 laps before it really started pissing down and I thought it safer to come in.
That marked the end of the day and as we packed up I pondered over a few bits to sort out on the car. I have come away from Oulton park wih a lot more knowledge and ideas than I thought I would do.
Firstly, I now know that the car weight 850kg's!!! I took it on the scales after lunch, that was with half a tank of fuel and nothing else in the car.
I need to lower my tyre pressures before heading out on track!!! the reason it was a bit squirmy was when I checked, I had 35odd psi in each tire... cold!!
I want to get some stiffer rear wishbone mounts fitted, some solid top mounts and get the geometry set up a bit better.
I want to know what power the car is making and then I want to fit the passenger seat and get a harness for it.
I also need to figure out what to do with these wheels and yoko's. The spacers I ordered are the wrong inner bore diameter so do I get them machined out to the correct size OR sell them on and fit the tyres to my vtr wheels for on track.
Any way, thats enough waffling from me, here are some pictures from over the past month or so.
Floor painted:
Dash fitted:
0630, Car loaded:
Breakfast pit-stop:
On the four poster:
I thought the dash needed cutting to get the cage in properly:
Rust repair pics:
Photo's from Oulton Park:
Just need to get some decent sleep and get up at the correct time!
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