HummuH

Welcome any time mate, let me know if you need tickets. We'll also likely be down at Croft, Oulton and Cadwell and possibly others at some point next year. My knees and back are still killing me but quite a sense of satisfaction when it's all off!

A few more goodies have arrived from across the pond! :D

So, with the nights drawing in I thought we'd make a start on the hard stuff. First task I wanted to tackle was removing the heater matrix, blower, fan controls etc. So, dash was coming out. Having a full cage didn't help but we got it out and were presented with the usual array of nightmares lurking behind. After we had removed the matrix and pulled off as much of the foamy insulation sound deadening type stuff this is what we were left with: Mmmmm, nice. So, I got some tunes on and set about the worst job ever. The heat gun and I were now good friends. Foamy stuff gone, bitumen sound deadening gone, quick lick of paint and just the glue to remove, which would prove to be the most annoying part of the job. With the heater matrix gone, I was left with the problem of how to de-mist the windscreen. I wanted to keep that function but ditch the weight of the full matrix. I found a very neat solution from T7 Design which was basically a radiator and high flow fan that you would normally find in a PC, with 2.5" outlet mounted to a bracket to allow fixing to the bulkhead. When we removed the matrix, we had to fabricate an aluminium panel to fill the hole in the bulkhead and to also fix the step down coolant pipe fitting, again, T7 Design provided that solution: Looking at the fan, I was a bit dubious about the volume of airflow so we hooked it all up, fired the car up and let it get up to running temp. After a few mins of putting the system to high pressure to check for leaks all was good so we fired up the fan. Really impressed with the output. We retained the OEM dash windscreen vent ducting and sealed a length of 2.5" duct into it. I would guess the airflow would be comparable to somewhere between setting 3 and 4 on the OEM Corrado set up but obviously only blows hot air. Quite a neat and very light solution: Next step is to lighten dash, paint and reinstall. We will find out at that stage exactly how much weight we have saved by doing this.

Can't do doors unfortunately but if I could I would. Roof skin and bumpers would be done as well, bit of weight there too. Think you can get them down to around 910kg with all the bits done, maybe less if you go full carbon.

Ok, started the winter strip last night. First thing to do was put the old girl on to the scales: So, 1016kg with about 15l of fuel in there so as I thought, prob bang on a tonne dry. That's roughly a 66:34 F/R split, would ideally like to have that down to roughly 60:40 with corner weighting to tweak. So, in preparation for various bits arriving we started removing bits from the car that we knew were heavy to get an idea of what each component weighed. By the end of the night, this is what the scales were saying: 922.5kg. Bits removed were: Bonnet: 13.5kg (was already partially butchered - 14.5kg with hinges, bolts washers etc) Tailgate: 17.5kg (with Lexan) Pass Door: 22kg (with Lexan) Drivers door: 23kg (with Lexan) Seat and Mounts: 15kg The doors were the biggest surprise, can't believe how heavy they were but quite a bit to butcher so can hopefully get them down a bit. Next step is the heater matrix and all other useless gubbins behind dash before the interior gets a tart up. Hoping that will cut c. 10kg but will see when complete. Gonna be a busy winter :) Please excuse the sharty pictures, lighting wasn't helping!

Dropped you a PM mate. Thanks.

Raced the Corrado for three years now, so feels like home now. Really does take a few years to learn get the most out of the car and there's always more time in yourself. I've got it set up to suit how I drive which is slightly more biased to under-steer. Maybe not the fastest set-up but works well over the course of a 15 to 20 min race.

Hehe, had an E36 M3 up my rear before the pass, put some distance once I got past the white 'Rado. Wheel was my fault, used a Snap-On cordless gun to tighten wheel nuts not realising they torqued to 400nm, oops. Car started shaking on the final lap. Wheel bolt threads stretched and popped the nuts one by one and shagged the hub/drive flange. I now realise why you should be very careful about wheel nut torquing.

Race 2 - Knockhill October Last race of the year so put a bit more into the start, got away pretty well. Kept ahead of the Corrado, M3 and Impreza and had a good tussle with the Gingernetta G50 on last few laps. Class win. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOtnAY23nSA=24

Race 1 - Knockhill October - Corrado v's Corrado On the grid knowing I had a bent drive shaft and worn CV's, gulp, whole car was vibrating. Went easy on the start, paid the price, lost places to a BMW M3, a Subaru Impreza and Chris in the other Corrado 20vT shot off into the distance. Got it together and had passed the Impreza and M3 by end of 1st lap. Closed in on the other Corrado and although he was out gunning me in a straight line, got past after a couple of laps. Went on to take Class win. Wheel fell off returning to paddock. Oops. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IryIr8ORBRo=24

Need a set of G60 drive shafts, must be straight and in good condition. Thanks.

Was the last race meeting for us in the Scottish Sports & Saloons and the season finished with an awesome finale. Managed to bag two Class wins which was not bad at all given the issues we had throughout the weekend. We had some very special cars out with us, see below. The Corrado getting some two wheel air action at the chicane: Battling with another Corrado 20vT. The obligatory woopsie moment: We had a great field out with us, 27 cars lined up on the grid for race 1: Phil Dryburgh's Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 car, you cannot begin to imagine the sound this thing made, fully de-restricted: Also, Stewart Whyte brought his Honda Accord BTCC car out to play: Finlay Crocker brought his spanking new Seat Leon Eurocup car along, what a piece of kit this is: Really looking forward to getting to grips with the car over the winter and coming out lighter and faster next season.

To fit 17x8 ET20 with 235/45/16 on my race car I'm having custom arches built, not quite as wide as "berg Cup" arches, but not far off it. Depends if you want form over function. I intend to get moulds made up of the arches so I can produce a GRP arch that would be a direct fit for the Corrado, perfect for situations like this.

And so it begins.... First of about 20 packages has arrived, this one from VW Heritage. I'm like a kid in a sweety shop. This is how she currently sits: Major overhaul this winter. Wanted to get a year under my belt with the new engine before thinking about going bonkers. JabbaSport have built a truly awesome unit so not too much fannying about required under the bonnet. Summary of winter 2014 plans: * Body - fit Berg Cup arches, LWS GRP bonnet, custom side skirts, new front splitter and rear diffuser to be fabricated and installed. Remove sunroof and re-skin. * Full respray - L041 Black. * Weight loss - delete heater matrix/blower, trim loom, butcher doors, remove any internal/underside non-structural metal etc. * Internal - full paint job inc. cage, new switch panels, fit LWS GRP door panels, install new seat. * Front end - lower 10mm to 15mm, fit SCCH ball joint and Track Rod assemblies. Full hub and wishbone refurbishment. New drive shafts, bearings and CV's. New gaiters on everything. * Rear end - lower 10mm to 15mm, refurbish rear beam. * Brakes - Install new front AP Racing kit (4 pot - 305mm/330mm, AP Racing brake bias unit, new lines throughout. * Gearbox - install longer 2nd gear. * Wheels - Pro Race 1.2 17x8, 4x100, ET20 running 235/40/17 Kumho V70. * Setup - corner weight. * Engine - JabbaSport health check, install push-to-pass button. Last race is 5th October and can't wait to get cracking ASAP after that. Will do my best to keep updated with progress.

Ta. Yeah, the wee Mini can be quite defensive!

Thanks. The most fundamental piece of advice I can offer is the get the ride height right and get properly matched dampers and spring rates to suit the weight of the car. makes a huge difference. Also, Kumho V70's :)

SMRC Knockhill - 14th September 2014 Race 2 With Robert Drummond's Cossie falling to a broken drive shaft I had an open gap in front of me on the grid. Got a good start and got ahead of my nemesis, Andrew M in the Seat Leon Supercopa. Spent the whole race defending my position as you'll see from the lines I was taking. Had an interesting moment with some MX5 back markers (5.45 in video) and then made a stupid mistake and missed 3rd gear coming out of the hairpin when approaching the last lap board (10.45 in video). This allowed Andrew M to draw up beside me and hold the faster outside line into Duffus. Almost lost it at the hairpin on last lap when braking a bit too late.

SMRC Knockhill - 14th September 2014 Race 1 Qualified 6th with a 57.86, delighted, new PB. Poor start to the race allowed Andrew M in the Supercopa to get a bit of a lead which I kept constant and couldn't peg it back. Got down to 57.67 in the race and finished 6th.

NSSCC - Cadwell Park 30th/31st August Race 2 Started 6th again in 2nd race. Good start and got into 3rd after the Metro failed to show for the start. Held 3rd place fighting off the fastest Citreon Saxo in the world and a 4x4 Sierra Cosworth. Saxo got me at Mountain after I went a bit wide. Then this happened: Got very sideways going into Park when braking from 130mph chasing the Saxo. Just held it and went on to the grass. 10 seconds into the "is my car broken" phase, left the door open for the Cossie to go through. Had a good tussle with him for the last couple of laps which included me rear ending him when he missed a gear going into the final corner. Finished 5th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geZOkv7p5aQ=24 Great weekend, great track, great weather and great company. Well worth the trek down and probably just pips Oulton for my favourite away track so far.

A couple of updates, first one from Cadwell Park: NSSCC - Cadwell Park 30th/31st August 2014 - Race 1 A few of the Scottish Saloons regulars made our way down to Cadwell to race with the DDMC Northern Sports & Saloons at the British Karting GP at the wekend. We were joined by a few other SMRC cars and NSSCC regulars, Paul Brydon's M3, Andrew Morrison's Supercopa and Colin Simpson's Marcos. Had a good start and got to 3rd but red flag reset the grid and a Metro filled the open space ahead of me on the restart. Another good start but had to back off due to car in front. Finished 4th after a good race keeping a 4x4 Sierra Cosworth behind. This was about to cause a bit of a brown pant moment: Race 1 Video: [video=youtube;PBnQmPy-Js0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBnQmPy-Js0=24

Very useful info mate. FWIW, I run the OEM GKN CV's and drive shafts on my 20VT running fairly big power and torque and, touch wood, to date they have stood up fine.

Yeah, been following Manfred's car for quite some time, if I can get mine half as good as his I'll be over the moon!

No, no plans to go all aero on it. If I did, I'd have to change the class that I race in which would mean moving to slicks, composite panels etc. No point and personally I feel a better set up is worth more time than any aero on a saloon at Knockhill. Plan is to "Berg Cup" the car this winter which will allow me to increase the track at the same time as some further weight reduction and engine enhancements.

Wee pic from the weekend keeping the Supercopa at bay:

Thanks. I'm running 205/45/16 on 7 inch ET20 with 5mm spacers front and 10mm rear. AST coilovers. On slicks. Thanks, check out the channel there's loads on there.