Preparing for next race

After the last race it was clear that I needed to get some parts to try and make myself more competitive, so I ordered some EBC Yellow Stuff pads and some Toyo R888 track day tyres.

Today I fitted all the new pads and flushed the brake and clutch fluid. We also fitted the harnesses in.. most of the time was spent tightening the straps! MR2s dont need much length.

The only major thing left for me to do now is to find out why I have loose steering, I dont think its wheel bearing, the trackrod ends seem ok, so it could be bush wear? not sure.. might have to take it somewhere.

Vinyls

I decided to get some vinyls on my car.. Alan from AEW Graphics designed, supplied and fitted them. Looks like a race car now!

First Race Rockingham

Round 1 at Rockingham

First ever competitive track race had the nerves on edge, I was mostly anxious about scrutineering, as I had built everything on my car myself. 
The car has been sat in the garage for almost 2 years whilst I paid for a wedding and house etc. Its been on a couple of track days and Santapod, but nothing serious.

As soon as I turned up (I was actually looking for McDonalds after the 5:30am start) I joined the other cars and gravitated to the other white MR2s;I knew the Chris owned the CTC one, and he has been chatting to me on this forum.

It was soon apparent that my car was not really in the same league in terms of track-readyness, as I still had road tyres, standard brakes and just some trd lower springs... only ever doing drag racing before.

My car failed the noise test, but with help from Baz and Adrian (THANK YOU!!!), and some encouraging advice from other drivers we got the sticker... putting my baffle in, moving my car away from the wall and VERY smoothly getting my engine up to revs I manage to get the 102db (105db originally). Funnily enough, my car was much quieter on track than most, as I still have an internal waste gate etc.

By this time I really was thinking that my car was completely in the wrong class... but class rules really had me firmly in A2 Pro... I have a AFC Neo piggyback controller, and front and rear splitter / diffusers. 

Time for the laps!

I really enjoyed the track, nice power track. 

My times started falling a little as I gained confidence, but I soon reached the limit of my tyres and brakes, and had to recover a couple of tank slappers. (no cones hit though!)

my best time was a 1.38, which im sure i could have improved on, but a few slides towards the wall was threatening to change the colour of my new seat.

seats in

just need to get the harnesses mounted now. I was going to do it myself, but i don't fancy drilling through the weld spots on the firewall. Hopefully i will have time to take the car to Fensport to see if they can do it for me.

The seat and rail seem really good. The seat is really snug on the hips, could do with a little more upper side support, but feels really nice. The rail slides nicely, my only problem is that it doesn't go back as far as i would like, but seems to go forwards an awful lot. luckily the furthest setting back is just right,

seat and rail delivery

My seat and frame arrived today. I went for a Bride seat rail that has a slide rail and side mount adapters. The seat is a Bimarco Expert FIA approved seat.

I think I might find out if I can find some wear pads to make it last a little longer, as the velour looks a bit thin.



Seat

I just won a new Bimarco Expert seat off ebay, should be here in a couple of days! lets hope it fits the Bride frame and my MR2

Toyota Sprint

Its been a long time since I have done anything to my MR2, its been held up in my garage for almost a year whilst I have been working on saving money and finishing my MG B project.

New year and financially a little better, I have joined the Toyota Sprint Series with the hope of actually using my car. Towards the end of last year I was contemplating joining the MR2 Super GT Series, but I would need to get my car and myself MSA approved.. and that required roll cages etc.. expensive.

I was not content with the idea of just doing a couple of track days, and the sprint series really shone out.

Technically all I need to compete will be a helmet, as I hoping to qualify for the A2 Pro category. I have bought a Bride seat frame, and am currently looking at composite seats to go on top. Other things I need are

• Helmet (blue sticker)
• Bolt in my harness
• Bolt in my fire extinguisher
• EBC Yellow stuff brake pads
• Livery for the car
• Toyo Proxies R888s 
• Momo steering boss to replace the random thing that's currently in there.