Rob
ClioSport Moderator
Fixed the DP for you. Car looks great on those wheels! Love the cheapo geo option too.
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Saving another 172.
- Thread starter Alastair.
- Start date
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
Thanks chap!
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
Trackday success!
I left work early on Monday and initially it wasn’t looking good. At 12:30 it was glorious sunshine, 13:00 it was smatterings of rain, and 14:00 it was torrential snow (if there’s such a thing?). Brands is only about 30/40 minutes from me on the Costa del Essex so the changing conditions followed me on my journey, but on arrival the clouds seemed to part and the sun shine returned.
I’d invited my dad along as he’d never done any trackdays as such, and he never got the chance to come along to the drift days in the R34 so he kind of missed out. Part of my plan with the Clio is not only to make it a daily which is nice and capable on track, but also make it accessible so people with little experience like him, my Mrs, other family members can come along and have a crack at some fast driving.
We got checked in, noise tested and had a bite to eat while we waited for the day session to finish. I did some minor alignment tweaks, swapped the front & rear tyres (fronts had been scrubbed in through the week) and sorted the pressures.
Although he’d driven Brands on experience days approximately 800 years ago, my dad hadn’t really been on a busy track session before, so I put him in the hot seat for the sighting laps and gave him some pointers as he went round. Once the sighting laps were done, we came in to check pressures and toe again briefly while the initial mad 15 mins kicked off on track.
I jumped in for a quick couple of laps, then came in to pick up my passenger and go for a rip.
I have to say, I was mighty impressed with the little Clio.
The BC DS coilovers felt decent, the car was nice and flat for the most part and very progressive and predictable. I think having 9k front springs rather than the usual 7k (I think?) was a good choice as it seemed to keep the lift off oversteer really minimised unless really deliberately provoked. This was a huge benefit for my novice co driver through Paddock Hill Bend this is somewhere that the rear of most cars goes very light, and it’s easy to carry too much speed and lift/brake yourself into a slide if you overcook it.
The stiffer front meant ol’ papa was able to learn the limits without ending up upside down, and I was able to carry more speed than I think I ever have mid corner with some lovely delicate oversteer. Very confidence inspiring.
I carried on fettling dampers to just manage the compression at the bottom of Paddock Hill Bend as we had some minor rubbing with two of us in the car, and we were having a blast.
I had a monster session where I got warmed up and was around 3/4 of a lap behind a new Cayman 718 2.5 Turbo thing, not all that clued up on them I’m afraid but it was on a bit of a rip so I made it my mission to catch up to him. The track was nice and clear and we managed to reel him in over the course of about 10 or 12 flat out laps, losing distance on the straight and gaining through mainly turns 1, 3 and 4 where we could commit harder and carry more speed. A very rewarding session and the car took it in its stride, we were chuffed at the pace of the little baguette
Having caught up to our target I slowed up for a cool down before coming in, the NS2Rs had gone very jelly as I’d overworked them a little and although I had no real fade, the brakes absolutely stank. That, and I think we both needed a rest, OEM seats are hard work 😂
We had a break, a cup of tea and gave the car a good 20 mins to cool off, then as the light went down I sent my dad out on his own for the first time to finish the session off. It was cool to see the car corner from the outside and make notes in my head as to what I can see, versus how I felt driving it.
All in all, a good day. We packed up about 7:45 and I was home by 8:30, the car was absolutely faultless, and we had a blast. That’s what it’s all about!
I left work early on Monday and initially it wasn’t looking good. At 12:30 it was glorious sunshine, 13:00 it was smatterings of rain, and 14:00 it was torrential snow (if there’s such a thing?). Brands is only about 30/40 minutes from me on the Costa del Essex so the changing conditions followed me on my journey, but on arrival the clouds seemed to part and the sun shine returned.
I’d invited my dad along as he’d never done any trackdays as such, and he never got the chance to come along to the drift days in the R34 so he kind of missed out. Part of my plan with the Clio is not only to make it a daily which is nice and capable on track, but also make it accessible so people with little experience like him, my Mrs, other family members can come along and have a crack at some fast driving.
We got checked in, noise tested and had a bite to eat while we waited for the day session to finish. I did some minor alignment tweaks, swapped the front & rear tyres (fronts had been scrubbed in through the week) and sorted the pressures.
Although he’d driven Brands on experience days approximately 800 years ago, my dad hadn’t really been on a busy track session before, so I put him in the hot seat for the sighting laps and gave him some pointers as he went round. Once the sighting laps were done, we came in to check pressures and toe again briefly while the initial mad 15 mins kicked off on track.
I jumped in for a quick couple of laps, then came in to pick up my passenger and go for a rip.
I have to say, I was mighty impressed with the little Clio.
The BC DS coilovers felt decent, the car was nice and flat for the most part and very progressive and predictable. I think having 9k front springs rather than the usual 7k (I think?) was a good choice as it seemed to keep the lift off oversteer really minimised unless really deliberately provoked. This was a huge benefit for my novice co driver through Paddock Hill Bend this is somewhere that the rear of most cars goes very light, and it’s easy to carry too much speed and lift/brake yourself into a slide if you overcook it.
The stiffer front meant ol’ papa was able to learn the limits without ending up upside down, and I was able to carry more speed than I think I ever have mid corner with some lovely delicate oversteer. Very confidence inspiring.
I carried on fettling dampers to just manage the compression at the bottom of Paddock Hill Bend as we had some minor rubbing with two of us in the car, and we were having a blast.
I had a monster session where I got warmed up and was around 3/4 of a lap behind a new Cayman 718 2.5 Turbo thing, not all that clued up on them I’m afraid but it was on a bit of a rip so I made it my mission to catch up to him. The track was nice and clear and we managed to reel him in over the course of about 10 or 12 flat out laps, losing distance on the straight and gaining through mainly turns 1, 3 and 4 where we could commit harder and carry more speed. A very rewarding session and the car took it in its stride, we were chuffed at the pace of the little baguette
Having caught up to our target I slowed up for a cool down before coming in, the NS2Rs had gone very jelly as I’d overworked them a little and although I had no real fade, the brakes absolutely stank. That, and I think we both needed a rest, OEM seats are hard work 😂
We had a break, a cup of tea and gave the car a good 20 mins to cool off, then as the light went down I sent my dad out on his own for the first time to finish the session off. It was cool to see the car corner from the outside and make notes in my head as to what I can see, versus how I felt driving it.
All in all, a good day. We packed up about 7:45 and I was home by 8:30, the car was absolutely faultless, and we had a blast. That’s what it’s all about!
Rob
ClioSport Moderator
It’s because it’s currently featured.
@Jossman great little track write up, looks like the car performed really well. You’ve made me realise how much I miss heading up to brands for a pint in the evening session, and also that I really need to buy a track car and have a bit of fun.
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
Would have been a terrible shame to have ended up on a scrapheap!
Clio 200 / Elise S1
Jossman, please can my sister have her Joyce Sims CD back please!! 😂
Alastair it looks really good. Glad it continued on its life to be honest, when I could have quite easily scrapped it.
Love Renault Sports so couldn't do that, after having owned a 16V, 172 and my current Albi Blue 200.
I was about to send you on some more bills I found if you're interested Jossman.
It was actually about 11 months old when I bought it, so was in the family for 18 years from 2003 from memory. It was an import, when it was the rage to do that yourself. Original owner was in Lakeside.
I'll say it was slightly better looked after by me rather than my sister!!
Unfortunately I didn't have the time or knowledge to restore it, but looks like it just needed a jetwash, although Alastair may disagree!! 😂🤦♂️🤦♂️😂
Is it now back in Essex?
My sister is gathering funds to buy it back apparently! 😂
Brands Hatch is just down the road from me as I'm in Orpington.
Good luck Steve
Alastair it looks really good. Glad it continued on its life to be honest, when I could have quite easily scrapped it.
Love Renault Sports so couldn't do that, after having owned a 16V, 172 and my current Albi Blue 200.
I was about to send you on some more bills I found if you're interested Jossman.
It was actually about 11 months old when I bought it, so was in the family for 18 years from 2003 from memory. It was an import, when it was the rage to do that yourself. Original owner was in Lakeside.
I'll say it was slightly better looked after by me rather than my sister!!
Unfortunately I didn't have the time or knowledge to restore it, but looks like it just needed a jetwash, although Alastair may disagree!! 😂🤦♂️🤦♂️😂
Is it now back in Essex?
My sister is gathering funds to buy it back apparently! 😂
Brands Hatch is just down the road from me as I'm in Orpington.
Good luck Steve
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
Clio 200 / Elise S1
Yeah think we might make a family trip down to see the old girl.
Let me know the date when you're there, and I'll bring the paperwork with me.
Clio 200 / Elise S1
Yeah think she is!! 😂😂
Crayola
ClioSport Club Member
Car looks wicked, even more so with the spacers on it now! Glad to see someone not only save a nice 172, but then go and use it properly
f**k knows why people buy these to stick in a garage somewhere, Clio's were designed and built to be absolutely flogged and abused 😂
f**k knows why people buy these to stick in a garage somewhere, Clio's were designed and built to be absolutely flogged and abused 😂
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
Thanks pal.
I was chuffed with how it looked on the spacers, but I took them off a week later as the car drives like shite with them on.
Having said that, I took it out Sunday morning for a country road run and it still doesn't feel happy, I was constantly fighting to keep it on the road into and out of the bends (on application of brakes and throttle basically).
I've since realised that I adjusted the front coilovers a few MM when fitting the spacers so I've probably just been a numpty and left it with too much toe out and the car is more sensitive to poor alignment than I was expecting, so I'll tweak it at the weekend and perhaps do a back to back with/without spacers.
Got a long list of little niggly jobs to do but now the weather has improved and there's less Kung-Flu floating about it's been hard to find the time to get anything done between work and entertaining the Mrs.
-Alignment (again)
-Expansion bottle replacement & coolant flush
-Horn relocation and carbon canister removal in order to fit...
-...Corvette ZO6 Brake Ducts
-Oil service
-Paint Correction (its desperate)
-Might try a basic/noob ceramic coating?
There's plenty I've missed.
I've got a steering wheel on order through work, and I've also just placed an order for double the car's value through another one of our suppliers but I've not heard back yet so I won't say too much yet incase it falls through. Essentially though once they've arrived and been fitted, I'll call the car done and my wallet can have a rest finally. 😅
I was chuffed with how it looked on the spacers, but I took them off a week later as the car drives like shite with them on.
Having said that, I took it out Sunday morning for a country road run and it still doesn't feel happy, I was constantly fighting to keep it on the road into and out of the bends (on application of brakes and throttle basically).
I've since realised that I adjusted the front coilovers a few MM when fitting the spacers so I've probably just been a numpty and left it with too much toe out and the car is more sensitive to poor alignment than I was expecting, so I'll tweak it at the weekend and perhaps do a back to back with/without spacers.
Got a long list of little niggly jobs to do but now the weather has improved and there's less Kung-Flu floating about it's been hard to find the time to get anything done between work and entertaining the Mrs.
-Alignment (again)
-Expansion bottle replacement & coolant flush
-Horn relocation and carbon canister removal in order to fit...
-...Corvette ZO6 Brake Ducts
-Oil service
-Paint Correction (its desperate)
-Might try a basic/noob ceramic coating?
There's plenty I've missed.
I've got a steering wheel on order through work, and I've also just placed an order for double the car's value through another one of our suppliers but I've not heard back yet so I won't say too much yet incase it falls through. Essentially though once they've arrived and been fitted, I'll call the car done and my wallet can have a rest finally. 😅
Crayola
ClioSport Club Member
Was gonna say spacers did make mine feel slightly more stable when proper pushing on. The best thing for a car is a good alignment, when I first got mine together it drove like poo but then I had a few degrees of camber dialled in and wow!
NS2R are pretty good, the soft compound ones stick like s**t to an old bedsheet.
And my guess is a diff👀
NS2R are pretty good, the soft compound ones stick like s**t to an old bedsheet.
And my guess is a diff👀
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
So - in an unexpected twist - I received this pair of new Recaro Pole Positions this week which will find a home in the little red turd.
I wanted to resolve the seating situation in the car ahead of the next trackday (June, not long!) but had reservations about spending money on seats that I didn’t particularly want. I’d been wanting a pair of pole positions for a long time now but the cost was something that put me off, especially for two.
I’m fortunate enough to work in the outskirts of motorsport so one of the guys at work managed to secure me a really good deal on a pair that I couldn’t say no to. Especially as I’d heard so many people complaining about the lead times being quoted for them.
Just waiting on some rails from the man himself Jon Foz and they’ll go in.
I also picked up a Momo Monte Carlo through work at an equally ridiculously low price so that’ll go in at the same time for a nice clubsport feel.
(Not my photo)
Did you align the clockspring/angle sensor?
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
I kept everything exactly where it was when I took the OEM wheel off, but probably not 😂
Crayola
ClioSport Club Member
Get them turned off properly with CLIP or an RS Tuner, faffing about with resistors is a pain mate
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
Sorted - my car doesn’t have traction control as it’s an early 172, so no steering angle sensor to worry about by the looks of things.
Just had the wrong resistor in for the airbag.
I’m 6 pints in and just been in the garage to sort it so if I get up tomorrow morning for work and I’ve still got lights on the dash I blame everyone but myself.
Just had the wrong resistor in for the airbag.
I’m 6 pints in and just been in the garage to sort it so if I get up tomorrow morning for work and I’ve still got lights on the dash I blame everyone but myself.
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
Prepping for Brands Hatch on Monday..
Quick alignment, and fitted the Corvette ZO6 brake ducts. Took some massaging to get around the canister in the drivers arch but the passenger side was easy peasy. Need some fog light ducts to tidy them up but I’m pleased.
Seats are all buttoned up now and should hopefully make Monday much less of a fight to stay upright in the car 😂
Coolant bottle changed too, as you can see it was desperately needed.
Quick alignment, and fitted the Corvette ZO6 brake ducts. Took some massaging to get around the canister in the drivers arch but the passenger side was easy peasy. Need some fog light ducts to tidy them up but I’m pleased.
Seats are all buttoned up now and should hopefully make Monday much less of a fight to stay upright in the car 😂
Coolant bottle changed too, as you can see it was desperately needed.
That’s how they are mounted as standard isn’t it? Buckle to the seat frame and webbed end to the seat belt mount??
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
Thats essentially how they’re attached from factory so I’m sure I’ll live.
If I die you have permission to say I told you so.
The fixing is holding the seat in so if it fails the seatbelt is the last of my worries, given that the seat will be going through the windscreen with me.
Interested to know why? If hes crashing and the seat becomes disconnected there hes probably already deaded.
Crayola
ClioSport Club Member
Mine are bolted through the floor, 20 stone plus inertia needs something hefty🤣
Ph2 172, R34 Skyline
In the interest of steering the thread - I’ve just finished packing up for tomorrow’s track day. Just need to wash the car but the heat here is unbearable at the moment so I’ll get it done tonight.
This will be the second track day on the NS2Rs which I have to say have been pretty good for the money. They’ve done a few thousand road miles too, although they’re not great on the road without some decent heat in them - pull out of a junction with a bit of right foot and they don’t even try to hold on.
I’m probably going to wait and see how the NS2Rs are after tomorrow (they’ll take a battering in this heat I expect) and see out the summer, get some 15” F1s with rainsports or something on for the winter and then throw something a bit more upmarket on the SSRs come next spring.
Crayola
ClioSport Club Member
NS2R 120 compound were f**king mint, mine have 1 more trackday in them and ill be sad to see them go. AR1 are the most similar to them for a similar price
People slate NS2R but the 120 ones stick like s**t to an old bedsheet! I run 180 on road and theyre decent when you get them warmed up
People slate NS2R but the 120 ones stick like s**t to an old bedsheet! I run 180 on road and theyre decent when you get them warmed up
Crayola
ClioSport Club Member
R888R are pretty much the same as AR-1 but a tad pricier
A mate of mine ran some Giti GT2RS for road on his high boost 182 and they were great, you can pick up part worn sets with 5mm tread for £100-150
Crayola
ClioSport Club Member
Aye for the price you cant go wrong at all
Forgot to say I still love the SSR's too, they look mint
Forgot to say I still love the SSR's too, they look mint
