Game over man, game over

Well, it was fun whilst it lasted, but emigration forced the sale of my MR2. I got enough for it in the current market.

I will be working some more on my MG B GT http://3dluke-mgb.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Good bye

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.

I have had some more ideas rattling around about what i want for my car

• Anti-Lag system
• Hybrid Turbo with RB shaft
• Up-rated Cams
• Dry sump
• electric water pump
• external oil cooler
• up-rated fuel lines and pump

Nitrous Anti-Lag

For a while now, I have been thinking about making my own NOS system to reduce lag time on my turbo. Most of my friends have been thinking that this is a weird idea and that I should use a more conventional version. I recently stumbled on this advert for the very kit that I wish to make myself.

Basically it activates the Nitrous upon full throttle and shuts down as soon as the turbo reaches pressure. And seeing as it will never exert more stress on the engine than the turbo ever does, I see no problems with killing the engine.

MR2 Drift

Well you can drift an MR2...

Long time

Its been a long time since i have posted on here, but that's mostly because its been a long time since i have done anything with my car. Well tomorrow i am taking it to a DWYB (Drift What You Brung) at Santa Pod tomorrow... i know that MR2s are not the first thing people think of when thinking about drifting, and potentially not the last either, the mid engined layout does not lend its self to a good drift car. However, i don't really want to become a drift racing star, but i would like to know how to handle a slide if i get into one. I really want to do the Toyota Sprint Series, and its all tight and twisty, so if i start sliding id like to know how to keep control. Also if i went on a track day id feel bad about trying to find my limits and spinning out in front of people... but on a drift day, its almost expected.

Future Plans

Right now i have a few things floating around in my head of what i would like to do to my car in the future.

Exterior

• Kei Office – Sideskirts
• Border Vent extentions
• Border Spats
• Tarting up, removing stone chips etc

Interior

• FIA racing seat(s)
• 4 point harness
• Weight saving

Engine

• Nitrous Anti-lag system
• Lightened flywheel
• Uprated clutch
• Uprated fuel pump

Most of this will be done as and when parts become available for the right price.

New Bulbs and Lenses

i have added chrome bulbs to all the front indicators so that they dont look like fried eggs, and fitted clear lenses to the side indicators.

(ha ha, although this picture still has the amber bulb in)

For Sale

took the viper stripes off, need to give it a clean... but i also need to flat the paint anway

moved the indiacators to the bumper, i think its looks ok. just need to buy some clear lenses

Bumper 3

More Bumper

Well, i think i am done filling and sanding, so i did a trial fit, and its not good, i havent changed anything, but the bolts dont seem to line up very well. some are well off, not my fault, i think the bumper was just made badly...

I also got the new wing mirrors that are going to replace the indicators, i think they look ok, just need to make sure that the glass is at the right angle to get all the possible coverage i need.

still lots to do, but its getting closer.

I also cut the under tray out, i just need to work out how to stop it from flexing in the wind, i have a bad feeling that it might

Bumper

Well, you may remember me saying when i got the car that i needed to either fix the bumper or buy a new one. well the other week i hit a speed bump and smashed it even more, so, money being tight i have decided to fix it myself.





i have been trying to find Ferrari style mesh for a long time now, but can not seem to find it in metal or in large enough sheets. I was looking to get Lambo style mesh (hex) but that ended up going no where either. so i have just used some mesh that i had bought a while ago. i have painted it black and lacquered it, so it should do the trick.

I have actually beveled the edge of the mesh out from the bumper like a speaker grill, i think it adds a little more to the look.

The pattern is the wrong way around on one piece, so i had to remake it :(

Its been a while

Well, its been a long time since i last posted anything on this blog, mainly because i havent done anything to my car. But since the spring i have taken the car on holiday..

To Le Mans! it was a great drive down with the cars all stickered up, plenty of burnouts and donuts, and a speeding ticket too :)