Motorsport is expensive* - THE EVE OF GREATNESS...31/05/26

[320touring]

Last year, I paid the £25 for my hillclimb club membership, and failed completely to do a single track day. This year I resolved to do better.

Hence starting working on the 320i, though it is still some way off an MOT.

There's a hillclimb trackday on 7th June, so I started casting about for a car. 

It arrives this morning. It has a thorough Motorsport pedigree.

Current plan is to try and do 3 separate track based activities before it runs out of MOT.. 

[DSdriver]

We  NEED pictures so we can vicariously enjoy your pain. 😁

[tooSavvy]

3dr MM1000..... *ladder bars, obvz 😋🔧

OLLI 😶‍🌫️

🚙💨

[320touring]

28 minutes ago, DSdriver said:

We  NEED pictures so we can vicariously enjoy your pain. 😁

 

[320touring]

What causes such consternation?

This!

Many thanks to @The Moog and his Mrs for dropping it off. 

And the Motorsport pedigree?

[cort16]

This already betters your £200 mk1 megane 1.6 track car 

[320touring]

Now this car is significantly better than I expected, as usual @The Moog has been overly critical, top seller would recommend!

Anyeway, was time for for the fun bit - a leaf through the "poly pocket of doom"...

What did we find?

A v5.

A handbook (useful)

And an astonishing amount of history from 2023 to now ..

Get a load of this- 

Starts out easy with a drive belt in July 2023

Escalates with a service kit on the same day

Then, a DAY later, £605 is dropped on a cat, cambelt and water pump..

Still in July 23, and it's time for an inlet gasket

June 2024, and it's time for a big refresh! £860!!

 in Sept 24 it gets two tyres

End Nov 24 and it's time for an alternator 

Then June 25 and we get an MOT.. 

Total spent?

£1792

[320touring]

8 minutes ago, cort16 said:

This already betters your £200 mk1 megane 1.6 track car 

That came from the same vendor...

[cort16]

12 minutes ago, 320touring said:

That came from the same vendor...

Purveyor of quality track vehicles . Is it a 1.8?

[320touring]

So, to summarise what we now know about the car:

It's had a timing belt in 2023

It had a water pump and fresh antifreeze in 2023

2024 saw rear arm bushes, some welding and front discs and pads, plus handbrake repairs, an alternator and two tyres.

2026 - @The Moog fitted new pads before @NorthernMonkey gave it a good hammering round knock hill!

Hopefully it's a good starting point. Will aim to give it a good coat of looking over at the unit this week.

 

[320touring]

Just now, cort16 said:

Purveyor of quality track vehicles . Is it a 1.8?

1.4 16v of powah

[hairnet]

nae brekkie fae you at a trackday so you go quicker?

[320touring]

Had a (very) initial look over it just now, and am pleasantly surprised. Tyres seem decent, though I may swap the spare on depending on tread levels on the rear. Fronts are good.

Look at this luxury - full size spare and a factory jack. The jack handle is in the back footwells.

The accommodation looks decent, but I'll likely give it a clean

All the weight reduction has been done already 

Marvel at the powerhouse

It's also got £4576 of fuel in it, and no lights on

[hairnet]

above all its a rover

[DSdriver]

Tis a shame that jack storage is never set up so that the jack is just right for putting under the jacking point, yuo have to wind it all the way up and then all the way back when the job is done.

I have however put a socket attachment on mine so I can wind it up with the uggadugga.

[Supernaut]

Jeezo, that service history!

Now I certainly regret passing on this.

However, its life with me would have just been boring, with no motorsports.

I'm interested to see what you get up to with it.

[chaseracer]

What level of weight reduction are you aiming for?  And the car...? 😉

<runs, hides...> 😁

[320touring]

10 minutes ago, chaseracer said:

What level of weight reduction are you aiming for?  And the car...? 😉

<runs, hides...> 😁

I'll hae a shite like...

 

Not going to do any stripping for weight as driving to Teeside in a stripped car would be rubbish 🤣

[big_al_granvia]

so kames, doune, forrestburn. big bugger for autotesting.. road car class, you will need full apparel 

[320touring]

26 minutes ago, big_al_granvia said:

so kames, doune, forrestburn. big bugger for autotesting.. road car class, you will need full apparel 

No, No, Yes, yes, no,no.

Will explain all later

[The Moog]

Easy to sell to.  Wil look forward to passing on other shoddy track weapons! 

Forgot about the megane.  I can't remember who I got it off from here , but it was pretty much sitting in a hedge.  Dragged it out.  Drive it to Knockhill, left it with @320touring. 

I never even looked at Rover 45 paperwork. 

In my hands it has done two autotests and a Knockhill trackday.  Engine is a peach and revs nicely. Brakes seems to be spot on and sips fuel.  

Good luck and I shall be following your progress ! 

[320touring]

Right, you've seen the chariot, let me explain the races...

Firstly "Motorsport" is a bit strong.. best to read it as GLF on track where possible. So Helmet and long sleeves is the gig.

I love being on track, and didn't manage it at all last year - something I realised I missed, so this is a (relatively) cheap way to force myself to do it - tight timescales and budget.

The idea:

Buy a car

Do any work needed

Do 3x track events prior to the MOT running out.

Include petrol costs in budget.

 

The budget : £500

 

The track based activities:

1st June - Teeside Autodrome Track evening (hopefully with @gm)

7th June - hillclimb trackday at Forrestburn

14th June - Drag racing at Crail Raceway

 

Expected Mileage 

Teeside autodrome - 390 miles + track miles

Forrestburn - 50 miles + track miles

Crail Raceway - 156 miles + track miles

[320touring]

So how do I plan to do it?

1. Get car

2. Check over car

3. ????

4. Profit GLF

 

I'll start by giving it a once over on Wednesday when at the unit - focusing on tyres/brakes and suspension.

On the basis of the results of a good coat of looking at, I'll get stuff needed ordered up - as long as they are not too big jobs/excessively expensive.

Then after any work is carried out it's hopefully a case of booking events and driving.

[320touring]

As this forum has it's fair share of Rover/MG lickers - does anyone have any advice re specific things to look out for when I am giving the car a once over?

@RoverFolkUs?

[cort16]

Werthers  originals jammed under the brake pedal?

[jim89]

6 minutes ago, cort16 said:

Werthers  originals jammed under the brake pedal?

Dogging cushions & man* size tissues on parcel shelf?

[gm]

2 hours ago, 320touring said:

1st June - Teeside Autodrome Track evening (hopefully with @gm)

just waiting to see if i’ve got the day off work 

[The Moog]

Only thing I did was make sure I had spare wheels and tyres that fit - I have got a set of wheels that fitted both cars.

Fairly easy to get a puncture / flat/ destroy all the tread on them - which isn't gr8 when got to drive home. 

That plus a selection of tools, ensuring oil was fill to brim for corner g forces and topping up screen wash (for post dogging cleaning) 

[Supernaut]

Oh, I'd be interested in seeing this go down Crail drag strip / having a catch up.

[Brigsy]

Perfect vehicle for teesside. Stick some decent brake fluid and pads in up front as its heavy on the brakes.