Motorsport is expensive* - Hillclimb done 07/06/26

[320touring]

Got this over to the unit on Wednesday for a proper check over.

First up was a good hoover and clean of the interior.

Then some light* cosmetics..

The car has suffered from a leak in the passenger footwells (sorted by @The Moog). Unfortunately, the passenger front carpet had to die.

However, I had some "carpet in a can"

It's MAT(t) Black, geddit?

Anyways...

Factory fresh*

 

The interior has come up well, think the only two things to sort are 

1. Get the hot air functional/at a lower temp

2. Some method of choonz.

[320touring]

Next up was doing an inspection key areas of focus:

Tyre condition

Brake friction condition

Brake hydraulic condition 

Suspension condition 

@davidfowler2000 was a good help here!

As an aside, the wheel bolts and studs were  pretty manky, so they were treated to a good cleaning in penetrating oil

As you can see, some manky was to be had

The front was up first.

Both fronts tyres in great condition, with plenty tread.

Both fronts discs I. Good condition, no lips, or obvious damage. 

The pads were in great condition - so much so, I'll likely just order a spare set as a back up.

The brake lines and hoses were in good condition, and unions not rusty.

The bleed nipples were cleaned with a soft wire brush then treated to a good skoosh of remonstrating fluid.

They would not yield to an 11mm socket on a 1/4" drive ratchet, and I was worried we could round them off or snap them.

They felt like they would come loose if I could get a "shock" into them...

At this point, a cunning plan was hatched

(Apologies for the screen grab - @davidfowler2000 thought this was worth recording for posterity...)

Top tip, a wee (3/8th drive) impact gun on loosen with a gentle trigger finger is ideal for shocking 11mm bleed nipples free.

Follow me for more potentially calamitous approaches to motorses

 

Subsequently, both nipples freed up a treat, and were happy to pass slightly ropey fluid through (with fresh being added into the reservoir)

End result? Fresh fluid, and a good pedal.

The front suspension was in good order and the double wishbone suspension looks a good design, with none of the squeaks I remember from Alfa 156 ownership!

 

After a mandated tea break, it was time to move onto the rear..

After visual inspection it was decided that the rear lines were in good order, and, as the brake pedal was sharp with no "dead" section at the top of the travel, then discretion was sthe better part of valour with regards to the rear bleed nipples.

The drums had shiny new retaining screws - likely connected to the strip down and replacement of the handbrake sections of the backing plates done in the last couple of years.

The handbrake operates smoothly and consistently on both sides.

The rear suspension is in good condition, and the exhaust showed no faults/leaks.

All that was left were the tyres.

I knew both rears were relatively low on tread, but upon inspection, I think they both need replaced.

The drivers rear has some shoulder wear, and is at the wear markers

 

The passenger rear is cracked

And on the wear markers 

Part worns are cheap enough, so happy with that being the only "big ticket" items needed.

Most of the scotoshite lot were (pleasantly!) surprised at how solid and good condition the car was, and I have to say I am pretty pleased.

@davehedgehog31 was complimentary after a shot, high praise indeed from a man who turned up in a Porsche!

Have had fun doing this so far - helping me get my car mojo back!

 

Last thing to do was a quick wash to get it presentable

[320touring]

ADDITIONAL SUCCESS!

 

dug an old stereo out the shed, fitted it, and it all works - ideal for long drives to track days.

Front left speaker doesn't workz but I'm sure i'll cope

[High Jetter]

22 hours ago, 320touring said:

Top tip, a wee (3/8th drive) impact gun on loosen with a gentle trigger finger is ideal for shocking 11mm bleed nipples free.

Is that guaranteed to be better than thumping a 3.5" ratchet with your fist?

[vaughant]

That Ford ib5 box is probably better than the pug one which I think I had in my Berlingo that shit itself after being ran low on oil. They used to take plenty of abuse in pumas and the like.

Guy who used to run our unit share had a 25 with the 1.4 and it was pretty competitive in it's class as they're a smashing little engine.

I can recall him putting offset pins into the cam pulleys to give it more lift? A few sneaky tricks to get more power unnoticed.

 

[320touring]

45 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Is that guaranteed to be better than thumping a 3.5" ratchet with your fist?

Absolutely not, but I couldn't be fucked to walk to the toolbox to get the 3/8th ratchet and socket😂

I found that the inertia of the gun made holding it straight easier, and the Milwaukee gun has a good gradient on the trigger - I was just slightly past the "nut run up" setting.

[hairnet]

Good to see @davidfowler2000helping with care in the community 😛

[320touring]

Been to see if I could get some tyres locally -

1st place - 1x 12 year old Meteor and 1x 10 year old Landsail 

2nd place - "that's an auld size, no got any"

 

I'll need to do some thinking

[320touring]

I came up trumps on Facebook marketplace.

4x Mini 15" steel wheels. 4x100, 56.1mm centre bore. £40, and 30mins drive. Tyres tre 175/65/15 so about 2% different from the 185/65/14.

When I got there they looked ok, so I got the £40 out my wallet. Guy gave me a £10 back for my petrol 😂

Trying to figure out whether I just put the best ones on the car, or run the full set and keep the 2 decent 14" tyres for spares..

Also, @jaypee generously donated his Bluetooth to FM adaptor with built in usb charging and battery voltage monitor.

Tuned in and tested working, voltage monitor says 14.3v at idle.

 

Think the only thing left to do now is get the heater to stop only being hot.

[catsinthewelder]

It's not a heater only being hot......

 

 

 

Its an HGF defeat device 😛

[beko1987]

Can you just get some pond pump/vacuum cleaner hose and extend the heater air tube to out the back of the car through a handily made hole? 

Or force it cold for this* summer

[beko1987]

6 minutes ago, catsinthewelder said:

It's not a heater only being hot......

 

 

 

Its an HGF defeat device 😛

Or a coolant level sensor. 

Cold - No coolant or HGF

Warm - enough coolant or hgf

Really hot - probably hgf, sudden lack of coolant

 

[hairnet]

how is pale sctsch gonna cope with many degrees in southern parts of the country

 

[beko1987]

28 minutes ago, hairnet said:

how is pale sctsch gonna cope with many degrees in southern parts of the country

 

I think the car will get further than the scotch, especially today/tomorrow

[yes oui si]

22 hours ago, 320touring said:

Trying to figure out whether I just put the best ones on the car, or run the full set and keep the 2 decent 14" tyres for spares..

 

Put them all on for now, take the decent 14s with you in the boot and fit them on the front at the track?

[beko1987]

18 minutes ago, yes oui si said:

Put them all on for now, take the decent 14s with you in the boot and fit them on the front at the track?

Agreed, one would be annoyed getting a nail in the good tyres driving to the track 😂😬 

Plus when you make them illegal during the day you can swap over and drive home

[320touring]

As I am rapidly approaching Monday 1st June and the first event at Teeside Autodrome, let's take a look at costs so far...

Bearing in mind the target is £500 max spend for 3events including paying for the events

To date

Car £200

Tyres £40

Spare brake pads £17.44

Booking for Teeside £45

Booking for Hillclimbs track day £40

 

Expected costs for Teeside

Fuel (estimating 35mpg average - 500 miles covered and £1.589/litre) £103.20

Running total so far

£445.64

 

Still got fuel for hillclimbs and Crail drag racing, plus Crail costs...

[hairnet]

bring galoshes have ya seen the wither

i was planning on shit before and the trackday and shit after but cos of weather im not now

 

[320touring]

Unfortunately, the dream of creating a BINI 45 has died a death.. 

I went out this morning to fit the wheels - and discovered some things:

1. The tyres were not much better than those on the car

2. Despite having the correct centre bore and PCD and offset, the MINI steels didn't allow for enough thread engagement on the nuts

MINI steels

Original 

 

The reason for this was simple - where the nuts seat is more raised on the MINI wheels..

Vs the rover ones.

 

I was pretty concerned that they may not remain attached, so opted for the sensible choice and got 2x 185/65/14 part worns fitted locally for £40.

 

I've updated the cost sheet above.

Now to book Monday and brim the tank

[Brigsy]

👀

https://www.tyretek.co.uk/products/dunlop-direzza-dz03g-185-55-14-trackday-tyres-set-of-4

Low tread ones on the rear and send it

[320touring]

Just now, Brigsy said:

👀

https://www.tyretek.co.uk/products/dunlop-direzza-dz03g-185-55-14-trackday-tyres-set-of-4

Low tread ones on the rear and send it

That's more than half the cost of the car😂

£40 for 2 PW much more palatable.

 

Anyways, all that would happen with sticky tyres is I'd tear the bushes to shreds 😂

[Brigsy]

Bushes be fine, get your money out, only £20 a pair more😆

In all seriousness, road tyres wont last long. Definitely not at Teesside anyway from experience. 

[320touring]

Just now, Brigsy said:

Bushes be fine, get your money out, only £20 a pair more😆

In all seriousness, road tyres wont last long. Definitely not at Teesside anyway from experience. 

Agreed but bearing in mind I need to get 200 miles home afterwards, I'll likely not be going 11/10ths. Been a while since I have been on track anyways.

 

All sorted

[Zelandeth]

On 21/05/2026 at 23:23, High Jetter said:

Is that guaranteed to be better than thumping a 3.5" ratchet with your fist?

Honestly, yes.  I've only relatively recently upgraded to such things and have been staggered by the ability of impact tools to shock things loose without breaking anything.

[Andyrew]

Impact guns on bleed nipples, now we're talking!

I go with a sharp wack or two of a hammer on stuck bleed nipples, then a blast with the impact gun. 

 

 

[Brigsy]

2 hours ago, 320touring said:

Agreed but bearing in mind I need to get 200 miles home afterwards, I'll likely not be going 11/10ths. Been a while since I have been on track anyways.

 

All sorted

Full send, be fine😁

I used to live right near Teesside Karting,They do the track evenings too 3 hours for basically nothing and used to do them quite often. Once i borrowed the mrs megane 225 and took it on, ended up getting carried away and sending it chasing my mate round all night on 3 wheels. Knackered the tyres and cracked the front discs, mrs was not happy as it was her daily driver at the time😆

 

[Zelandeth]

1 hour ago, Andyrew said:

Impact guns on bleed nipples, now we're talking!

I go with a sharp wack or two of a hammer on stuck bleed nipples, then a blast with the impact gun. 

 

 

And if they break then, they were going to no matter what method you were trying!

[gm]

ah yes, bleed nipples….

only 75% of the mazda has fresh fluid into its brakes but it still drives fine - we shall see what monday brings 

[320touring]

15 minutes ago, gm said:

ah yes, bleed nipples….

only 75% of the mazda has fresh fluid into its brakes but it still drives fine - we shall see what monday brings 

Pisser like. happy to help when down on Monday if needed

[gm]

i’ll see if mazdadudes have one available, they’re pretty much on the way to the track anyway. or i could rob one off the exo. or just take the exo. or just not worry about it.  plenty of options