Metro goes to Kames

I took the Metro to Kames for a wee end of season test today. The weather was great so I got a good idea of how the car performs. I ran with the Kuhmo V70 hard compound tyres all round to start and then changed the rears to the soft compound for the later runs. The tyres grip really well but the passenger front tyre takes a real pounding - even the hard compound was suffering after a few runs.

I was managing clockwise runs in the 104-105 sec range so its not far off the old MX-5 but a good 10 secs slower than the VX220. Still, with some developments that I am mulling over, it should be well competitive in the Scottish and Wigton championship classes. I'm starting to look forward to 2011.....

I grabbed some in car so you can hear the great sound of a straight racing exhaust.....

The new car and Doune

Ok, the news is out. I will be competing in grandma's shopping car next season.

I've replaced the fine VX220 with a 1993 Rover Metro GTi. Yes, a Metro. But it is a GTi MPi so it has a whopping 103bhp! Woo Hoo!

It's a bit rough around the edges but seems solid enough and is quite well set up with lowered and stiffened suspension (it uses the good old Hydragas system), a straight through racing exhaust and a really natty shift light!

I've got a pile of spares with the car - I've got a full 6-point cage to fit and I plan to strip the carpets, fit a kirkey seat and see where I can save a wee bit of weight. I've already bought some new alloys and Kuhmo V70 tyres but I'll be getting it through an MOT before I spend any serious money ortime on it.

I took it to Doune at the weekend for its shakedown an was quite impressed by the handling although it will demand a completely different driving style from what I am used to. I need to get used to the understeer and I need to push it hard to see what happens when the back end does go.

On the Saturday, I managed to get into the 61 secs (not far off my VX time) and had it stayed dry, I would certainly have got under 60sec but the Sunday was very wet and whilst I got a semi-dry final run, the best I could do was a high 62 secs.

Peter Locke caught some video off the startline:



I'm off to Kames on Sunday for a wee test - I'll try and get some video so I can see what sort of times I can expect.

The car takes me into a new class - class A1 in the Scottish championships and class R1 in the Wigton championship. It should be quite competitive and the previous owner had a few class wins and holds some class records so no pressure then.

I'll probably be a bit quiet for a few weeks since my wife is due to give birth again next week.........

Ready for Doune

Still not had time to take any pics of the new car but I've managed to get an entry for Doune this weekend. I've bought some re-furbed alloys and put some new Kuhmo V70s on - hopefully they'll be ok for Doune.

I'm not going to spend any more on this car though. Its a wee bit rough round the edges and I'm really set on getting another MX-5 at some point.

The season's NOT over yet!

Ok, I couldn't stay away. All that cash was burning a hole in my pocket. I just had to buy another car.

I had my eye on a nicely specced turbocharged MX-5 with a claimed 250bhp but I decided I wanted a complete change of tack and I've bought a wee FWD tin-top instead. I'm off to pick it up tonight so I'll have some pics later..........

Hopefully I've got a late entry for Doune in a couple of weeks so we'll see how I cope with FWD and a roof.......

End of the season

With the impending arrival of my third child in a few weeks, I decided to hang up my helmet a bit early this year and Forrestburn was my last event.

I also decided I was going to do something different next year so I put the VX up for sale. 1 day later, it was gone!

So, my bank balance is a bit healthier but I'm now carless..........