[luke_h97]

Not for me looks dirty

 

[ab54666]

Known many a race car having the dash etc flocked. Only advice is keep it out of the sun as much as possible or it does start to brush off after a while.

 

[Barr_end]

Good to see all the new updates coming. Car is looking great!
I'm sure I remember a while back you fitted heated seat pads to your bucket seats. If you did, do you have any pictures of when you completed this process?

Thank you very much
I did indeed fit pads into the previous Corbeaus - I don't have hae any photos but I do have some advice. In a word - Don't 😅 but I'll explain below and make your own choice..

I used a mix and match at the start to test. I am more than happy to dig out the most important part you'll need - certain rating thermistor to make it all work
But on passengers side I used 'aftermarket' pads (other half of the kit I used from my daily), drivers I used a genuine, used, mk1 TT pad.
Passengers never seem to ever warm up enough to make any difference when using the seat, but you could feel it was on with you hand/not sat in it.
Drivers side worked mint, would get nice and hot and seemed all good. Until the first time I removed the pads to clean the seat fully - the element of the mk1 pad had burnt the material on the underside of the seat cushion, exposing the foam, which also seemed a little chard.
So from my experiences above - it's either pointless or a fire hazard!
However, do appreciate it could just be my luck - passengers pad may of just been a shit brand/quality & drivers was used and again questionable quality
I may try it again at some point with some other aftermarket options, but in all honesty it was more I have the bits lets try it, most the time it's being used, I'm not overly cold from driving it properly🤣

The dash is looking great

Thank you very much sir!

Is that the CAE ultra shifter? Could you fit a boot around it if you wanted? Compared to the stock shifter, which I think shifts nicely what are the main differences?

It's not a CAE - but a coolerworx so very similar concept!
In my experience, better/nicer on the shift - also a lot cheaper as they use the OE shifter cables
If you take a look back in the thread, where it was installed - I posted a fair few photos with/without the gaiter. I personally think it looks alot better without
I never really ran a stock shifter system, if you look at the spec list.
Just talking the tower itself, think it specs for itself really - it lists how much % shorter than OE tower is & raises the position for a much comfortable/closer to wheel hand movement.

Not for me looks dirty

Good to know, guessing you didn't read the post 🤣

Known many a race car having the dash etc flocked. Only advice is keep it out of the sun as much as possible or it does start to brush off after a while.

Thank you for that sir!
As it lives outside I may have to look into way of covering it, neatly when it's not being driven
Neil did give me a pretty decen run down of do/don't do's but nothing on sunlight - maybe things have improved with the technology?
Either way certainly isn't a bad idea to look at some options

 

[jimojameso]

Thanks for the info on the seat heating. Sounds a lot of hassle and to be honest, the car isn't my daily so will probably give the seat heating a miss then. I don't want to set my lovely new seats on fire ha ha! 😂

 

[Barr_end]

Track day! Brands - what a day
I will throw a full write up when I can type it all out

TTS finally had some small mechanical issues - it was it's turn out of the circle of friends and the amount of abuse it has
At first thought, first fault seemed as if it was fully catastrophic - but with a bit more of a look, was track side fixed
Both looks like I have already sorted now, once it got home:
-One wasn't massive issue, just created a right mess and was just a concern on the cause
-Other one did stop play, I could of removed it and gone out but I was happy with the day - Actually wasn't much of an issue at all - took less than 60 seconds when I had spares to replace

Drove home just fine also fully under its own steam and hopefully all sorted already - small amount of further testing will confirm

Even with this, managed to get 50+ laps in and have a great laugh with my mates, what it is all about

2 photos from the day now too with the brief summary:

• One about the half that most people wouldn't want highlighting
• Other zoom in and see the look on my face 😅

 

[ab54666]

Looks like a great day.

Track time always puts more pressure on parts and will show up weaknesses, hopefully nothing too major.

 

[Barr_end]

Looks like a great day.

Track time always puts more pressure on parts and will show up weaknesses, hopefully nothing too major.

They do indeed - with this being the 5-6th? I am such a Dory I loose count. Knew it was bound to happen at some point
Nothing major at all really!




So Brands, how can I word all this in the least about of waffling possible
We got so lucky with the day - temperature was slightly on the chilly side, but it's December! But even in the morning, only really clearways was damp/greasy and soon enough that was gone and entire track was dry - all day!

Also this time Alexs clio was the car that behaved and he finally got a full day of sending it about at last!
What was not so lucky....
Billy 328 E36 managed 2?-3? sessions, before it showed it's age. Upper rad hose exploded along the pit straight - lucky he's not a wally, no coolant clean up needed and managed to be 'fixed' by end of the day but no more track time

TTS also after the first session we realised there was an issue. As it was no longer parked where it was before from the drive up
ALOT of oil on the floor 😅

Now the gearbox casing has been very minorly weeping from the top on the seam for some time now - only when it gets very hot - like on track.
That's where we all pointed fingers and was like, it's dead. But after some investigation sniffing and finger dipping it couldn't possibly be gearbox oil, wasn't making you heave 🤔
Was nice combustion smelling oil - engine oil, further looking. Coming out of my front breather tubing
I haven't been running a PCV system for a very long time and had no issue, but all of a sudden there now was - with a fucking lot of mess

However there had been a change to this system, and recently and not really tested... That nice new shiny rocker cover 🤦‍♂️ Will update on this not in the track post
So track side ' bodge' to not be spraying oil out everywhere ruining everyone's day and out we went again - DIY catch can to the rescue!

4 more sessions in, right at the end of the pit straight at highest speed & hardest braking point.
Pretty much the last place you want to have any sort of failure with paddock hills gravel in front, right... Ting, ting, ting noise and very shortly followed by a huge amount of scraping
Splitter was suddenly making plenty of contact with the tarmac - instant indicator, cool down lap and back into the pits.
Where we discovered that both my furthest forward splitter retaining bolts - which mount into the support bars from the crash bar had decided to leave the chat 😅
These are M10 x 30mm bolts & had 50mm diameter washers - not your average off shelf & oh hello can I borrow some spares

So at that point my day was done - car totally usable at normal road speeds and that's why could drive it home with no issues
But the speed entering paddock breaking zone 125-130ish and then onto the brakes - was just going to take chunks out the floor and I had had my fun!

I think there is even a few photos you can see the 'upper' washer where it has come out from under the splitter dam and is chilling on the side/top & another that can see on of the bolt/washers loose/hanging down 🤦‍♂️ Seems like I need to get the FT torque spec out for them, and check them - although had been touched recently. I just haven't updated the thread as to why!

So the good
- Brakes were unreal - they felt good on the road, but hadn't really seen any benefit from these over the RS set up in terms of stopping power or pedal feel, they were just different.
However on track with some heat in them. Jesus - they are honestly insane!
Confidence in them and just how much stopping power they had. Properly impressed
- Grip - the Goodyears surprised me this time around - as can be seen above, in the morning, at the coldest temps & sections of slightly damp. I actually managed the fastest time on.
End of that session they had definitely got hot and were showing signs of it, but did more than I had expected and didn't wear badly at all!
Not overly sure why it was slightly faster, as other sessions on the AD08R's felt better/smoother/faster - once they were at the scrubbed in & at the correct temperature 😅
But that's not the point of track day, it was all fun! The blind (in glove box) not known timing just to give rough idea of how was getting on
- Everything else on the car acted exactly as expected:
'meth' was keeping the intake temps pretty much at freezing 0-5 degrees when I was glancing as the ambient was so cool
Power felt spot on as ever, I really don't feel the need to have more, even when there are a few cars that certainly had more straight line speed than me
With the Haldex controller this time being cold rather than 30+C when last out at Lydden Hill - really noticed how much it worked in the damp bits - traction has to be off, well as much as computers allow and with the Goodyears first thing and the AD08's with 5 more psi in them hot there was a fair few all wheel slides sideways

And most importantly we all had fun! Was a mint day out
Want to book another already, nothing beats flying around a circuit with your pals
But the bank balance at this time of year is questioning just how broken I am 🤣

Can't post too many more photos before hit the annoying 10 limit the 'new' forum layout has.
But there will be plenty more coming through to spam!

 

[ab54666]

Looks like a great day, times not too shabby either.

Been a few years since I did brands on a track day, here's a video in my old 968 before it had the suspension (KW's) and the engine rebuilt, so was putting out about 230bhp.

 

[MT-V6]

Looks like you had a good day regardless of issues. Agreed the end of the pit straight is not where you want issues on that track! I have a warped front disk I think, been getting worse but only when hot, so trackdays or sometimes when braking on motorway slip roads. Still stops well but made me nervous so took it easy on that corner especially, though I found the TT pretty grippy around there. Wanting to book a GP day there next year if I can. I managed 104 mines of track time in Nov so I guess about 85 laps [emoji16]

 

[ab54666]

I've done the GP a few times, a very different track! Also very expensive, last time I did was probably 5-6 years ago and was £500.

 

[Barr_end]

Looks like a great day, times not too shabby either.
Been a few years since I did brands on a track day, here's a video in my old 968 before it had the suspension (KW's) and the engine rebuilt, so was putting out about 230bhp.

Car definitely has more in it - Feel like car should be able to do 57s maybe better but I reckon with some more practise I could get closer to it 😅 Maybe a high 58 in me 🤣
Nothing compares to more seat time! Lydden for example managed to get top of the app times somehow but was closer to what the car could do I feel

Took a look at the date... Well impressed with the quality of that video! Nice to have some info overlayed onto it too, have a bit more of an idea of what's going on
Look like you were lapping fairly consistently too but mainly I bet you was having a right laugh?

Looks like you had a good day regardless of issues. Agreed the end of the pit straight is not where you want issues on that track! I have a warped front disk I think, been getting worse but only when hot, so trackdays or sometimes when braking on motorway slip roads. Still stops well but made me nervous so took it easy on that corner especially, though I found the TT pretty grippy around there. Wanting to book a GP day there next year if I can. I managed 104 mines of track time in Nov so I guess about 85 laps [emoji16]

I did indeed, definitely the best thing you can do with a car!
Were you suffering with the shakes under braking? You are 100% thought, last place you want it is paddock & really with the brakes 😅
You did far few more miles than I did, but it did spend good 1-2 hours in the pits in the AM and 2ish is when the splitter bolts decided to leave the chat, so got my £120 worth still easy!

I've done the GP a few times, a very different track! Also very expensive, last time I did was probably 5-6 years ago and was £500.

Replying to both of you...
Funnily enough, as soon as we were home at Alexs we were looking to book something up and all agreed want to do the GP circuit.
Believe it was trackdays.co.uk website as MSV havent published dates late enough into next year - but first one we found in April/May? I think was £620 or £680!
Understand the rarity of being able to run it, due to noise limits & needing more marshals for the extra length of track, but it's a seriously savage price to pay
Unfortunately too much of a stretch for me unless the financials have a switch up, but I would love to run round the GP

 

[Barr_end]

Track day after care & a post before

So with the 2 small issues to sort and with it still sitting on the 'track' AD08R's - did try work on it the following evening. Got wheels done fairly fast
Splitter bolts I managed to sort some spares and whilst swapping the wheels over had them back in and back to normal in less that 30 seconds

Believe this issue has come about from a job pre brands, the only real job I wanted to get done in the build up. Which I doubt anyone spotted from the photos...
Finally made the splitter air dam how I wanted it. 1.2mm Ali at over 2m long wasn't the easiest to source, but been sitting on this a long while.
Sized it up, cut it to shape & fitted it all at Alexs wrapping unit in the end - as he was going to wrap it anyways.
I'm guessing I didn't fully tighten these bolts once I had fitted the new dam as I had to loosen them to get access without removing the entire splitter and this was cause of the track issue? 🤔

Pretty sure Alex has filmed this and might capture it on youtube somewhere/sometime
I stupidly/forgetfully as always didn't take a single photo at the time - but found some in the phone after. It's probably still hard to spot in the photos but so much better in person.
Only the entire splitter to remake yet 😅

So that was the easier of the 2 faults to fix
Moving back to the heavy breathing of the crankcase pressure and pushing oil out the front breather
As stated before, the only change to the system is that lovely new shiny rocker cover

Taking a look of online photos, guessed the small opening into the AN10 breather - wasn't comparable to the OEM plastic covers holes and 25mm rear take off
So plan was going to be take this off and get the drill out 😅
However, on removal discovered something - the AN10 bulkhead fitting which had come prefitted, was nothing like I had seen before once I had wound it out

Basically long story short, its a very long fitting and it looks like it was probably sat on the internal baffle plates I was going to send some extra holes in. So wasn't acting as a breather at all!
School boy error not to check it I guess when I got it, but just tightened down what I could see once it was on top of the engine and away I had went.

So now had a fairly obvious cause & certainly seems better! Just need to do a little more testing with a new clear bottle to see the amount of oil that shouldn't being breathed!
If there is still some, unlike the set up before, will probably make up a custom 3 port catch can - doesn't look like a hard internal design to fabricate. But no point if it's not actually needed

Additionally wanted to check the engine had seen no harm & there wasn't the underlying issue that also could of caused the high crankcase pressure
The piston rings! Grabbed a comp tester from a friend and gave it a check once the cover was re-installed
Obviously actual peak reading varies from each tool - but always stated is all 4 want to be 'the same' - within 10% of one another was general rule of thumb and what was always quoted in TFSI related posted I found
Pleased and not overly surprised to report that mine still falls into that tolerance even with all the abuse and 140K miles 😅 160 being the lowest, 170 highest and other 2 in-between

With all the boring bits out the way
Have another track jobby

 

[MT-V6]

Were you suffering with the shakes under braking?

Yep sure was, have a video to upload of me, my dad and my friend in their BMW's, both with more power but was more of a fun session lapping around together rather than anything serious, but you see the camera vibrating 😅

You did far few more miles than I did, but it did spend good 1-2 hours in the pits in the AM and 2ish is when the splitter bolts decided to leave the chat, so got my £120 worth still easy!

Definitely, I just kept getting carried away and then the brakes made me aware I needed to stop. No fade though so got pads, fluid, cooling etc setup nicely for my needs. Going to upgrade the calipers though rather than just swap the disks

I think was £620 or £680!
Understand the rarity of being able to run it, due to noise limits & needing more marshals for the extra length of track, but it's a seriously savage price to pay

Wow yes that is expensive, even more so that Goodwood! Even in GP layout it is shorter than Bedford and others so hard to justify that, definitely cashing in on the rarity like you say. Not booked via them before so maybe they are more "exclusive" than MSV, Javelin?

 

[ab54666]

Car definitely has more in it - Feel like car should be able to do 57s maybe better but I reckon with some more practise I could get closer to it 😅 Maybe a high 58 in me 🤣
Nothing compares to more seat time! Lydden for example managed to get top of the app times somehow but was closer to what the car could do I feel

Took a look at the date... Well impressed with the quality of that video! Nice to have some info overlayed onto it too, have a bit more of an idea of what's going on
Look like you were lapping fairly consistently too but mainly I bet you was having a right laugh?


Replying to both of you...
Funnily enough, as soon as we were home at Alexs we were looking to book something up and all agreed want to do the GP circuit.
Believe it was trackdays.co.uk website as MSV havent published dates late enough into next year - but first one we found in April/May? I think was £620 or £680!
Understand the rarity of being able to run it, due to noise limits & needing more marshals for the extra length of track, but it's a seriously savage price to pay
Unfortunately too much of a stretch for me unless the financials have a switch up, but I would love to run round the GP

The camera is quite old now, it was a Roadhawk HD which I don't think is available anymore, then the free software to edit it and all all the info together, Race Render. You're welcome to borrow it. Suckers to the windscreen then a couple of cable ties around the rear view mirror so that it's within their rules.

It is really good to see what was going on, what speeds etc.

I had a guy beside me who was doing his first track day, so was trying to talk him around the track, yes fairly consistent laps. Track days aren't about the fastest lap, I've seen too many grown men cry when they push to hard and hit the barriers. There's always a quicker driver or car around.

Coaching is a must, ideally someone who knows the car you are driving. I was very lucky that I know a guy who raced for years in the Porsche Club Championship, winning it in a 968. So he knew exactly the capabilities of the car, the track and very quickly my limitations!

Not knowing how your car handles, corners in particular but my guess would be you should certainly be able to get down to about 55ish seconds as suspect you get towards 130 by the start finish line. There's always a lot more speed than you think when you come down the Cooper straight and Surtees. I was never quite brave enough, about 80-85 down the straight and Surtees at about 70, the instructor I mentioned would get to about 95 and barely back off at Surtees! Same for clark corner, never quite enough balls but there's a lot more grip there, especially the outer line, than you think.

Have a watch of this, race cars for sure so nice and light but the 968's are running 240bhp maximum.

 

[Wolvez]

How did you get rid off the annoying air bag light?

 

[Barr_end]

Yep sure was, have a video to upload of me, my dad and my friend in their BMW's, both with more power but was more of a fun session lapping around together rather than anything serious, but you see the camera vibrating 😅

Definitely, I just kept getting carried away and then the brakes made me aware I needed to stop. No fade though so got pads, fluid, cooling etc setup nicely for my needs. Going to upgrade the calipers though rather than just swap the disks

Wow yes that is expensive, even more so that Goodwood! Even in GP layout it is shorter than Bedford and others so hard to justify that, definitely cashing in on the rarity like you say. Not booked via them before so maybe they are more "exclusive" than MSV, Javelin?

Certainly interested to see this footage!
Little bit of shame on the brakes, but least it was a minor issue, like you've said, everything in terms of efficiency works!
Sop my question now is, why the swap? But more importantly.. What to??

I know right, silly money for just the one day and I totally agree, does seem like there's some additional money making going on, but not with that site
They just show you the organisers who are running the days, I've compared before and there is no mark up added

The camera is quite old now, it was a Roadhawk HD which I don't think is available anymore, then the free software to edit it and all all the info together, Race Render. You're welcome to borrow it. Suckers to the windscreen then a couple of cable ties around the rear view mirror so that it's within their rules.

It is really good to see what was going on, what speeds etc.

I had a guy beside me who was doing his first track day, so was trying to talk him around the track, yes fairly consistent laps. Track days aren't about the fastest lap, I've seen too many grown men cry when they push to hard and hit the barriers. There's always a quicker driver or car around.

Coaching is a must, ideally someone who knows the car you are driving. I was very lucky that I know a guy who raced for years in the Porsche Club Championship, winning it in a 968. So he knew exactly the capabilities of the car, the track and very quickly my limitations!

Not knowing how your car handles, corners in particular but my guess would be you should certainly be able to get down to about 55ish seconds as suspect you get towards 130 by the start finish line. There's always a lot more speed than you think when you come down the Cooper straight and Surtees. I was never quite brave enough, about 80-85 down the straight and Surtees at about 70, the instructor I mentioned would get to about 95 and barely back off at Surtees! Same for clark corner, never quite enough balls but there's a lot more grip there, especially the outer line, than you think.

Have a watch of this, race cars for sure so nice and light but the 968's are running 240bhp maximum.

I'm impressed man, not a go pro and certainly seems to work very well!
Thank you also for the offer, probably won't be needed, but much appreciated.
I'll have to send that software name over to Alex - see if he can get it to work with all his bits!

100% road or track, always be someone faster - just roll at what is comfortable
I did tutoring on my first evening of driving at brands, even with a few off parts, like single seater line through druids... It was soooo worth while! Made a huge difference
I think in hands of someone who doesn't give a monkeys and knows what they are doing, probably 56 maybe as you said 55 in it. With me I would be happy to touch the 58's at my skill. Under 1 minute was good enough!
Was around 120-125mph, lap dependant before hitting brakes at paddock - Can't say I looked at the speedo at all to be fair that's just peak recorded on app

That video is certainly a good watch!

How did you get rid off the annoying air bag light?

Assuming you mean the red warning in the cluster? After removing airbags / seat belt retensioners?
All done on vagcom through coding if so

 

[Barr_end]

Managed to convince Ryan - Revcheckphotography to take day off from the real work and enjoy the track day with us - Didn't even need to ask and he bought the camera equipment 💪
He was in the car for 2 of the 6-7 session of flying around so all these bar 1, were from the morning/road tyre sessions and mainly the one location as car was maybe on a jack in the pits whilst he made his way around circuit 😅
But never the less, still done a mint job as ever and pleased to have even more photos of flying around 📷🏁

 

[ab54666]

Can't beat a track day, once I finish my house refurb I'll probably get another track car.

 

[IPG3.6]

Managed to convince Ryan - Revcheckphotography to take day off from the real work and enjoy the track day with us - Didn't even need to ask and he bought the camera equipment 💪
He was in the car for 2 of the 6-7 session of flying around so all these bar 1, were from the morning/road tyre sessions and mainly the one location as car was maybe on a jack in the pits whilst he made his way around circuit 😅
But never the less, still done a mint job as ever and pleased to have even more photos of flying around 📷🏁


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Looks like you had an awesome day!!! Great pics too! Check out that front mount - no hidden secrets there

 

[Barr_end]

Can't beat a track day, once I finish my house refurb I'll probably get another track car.

This is 100% accurate

Looks like you had an awesome day!!! Great pics too! Check out that front mount - no hidden secrets there

Track days are always good days, even with issues! Need to get another booked already 😅
What do you mean... Total stealth mode on that 😇



Not overly much to report since track day - breathing issue is 100% fixed and confirmed which is nice to know
- Just need to put that back as it was / should be
- Fit another rocker gasket when I change the bolts
- Had some items made up to complete the splitter for when it gets remade on a fresh piece of wood
Not sure I put it in the Track post but actually broke bonnet handle first pull gave it 🤦‍♂️
Have no idea if it was when removing/fitting dash it's been disturbed, its always been fine and lubed - have done that some more and have a new handle to fit but been without the lower trim/handle and using a screw driver this entire time 🤣

Just need to have better / warmer weather which seems like maybe as of today and then some time for fiddling

I have tried to use a different bonnet vent - bought, fit it in the hole, hated it 🤦‍♂️🤣
So old one is back in just not exactly same as it was but you get the idea

However did take some pretty nice photos on Dads drive when had to house/dog sitting