Special K

Congrats (also moved thread to the right section, you're no longer a newbie, we own you now!)

Nigel - it was even worse as a spectator !
 
The most popular place in the paddock was Maz's marquee... many thanks to Maz for bringing it and his helpers for keeping it groundside in the wind..
 
Rich - car looked good and Paula as usual looked better..
 
Spec K

A blinding performance, Mike !
 
You were, I think, the only car to get below two minutes on an 'orribly wet and blowy track which saw everyone else slipping and sliding all over the place.. you looked particularly neat, you were driving superbly..
 
.... so Lauren got the 'Hard Charger', did she? Well done, Lauren... your off was spectacular looking, they say a mudpack is good for the complexion...
 
It's a great shame you won't be a Blyton, Mike, but we'll  have a go at yer at Woodbridge!
 
Spec K

Alas, it's not just the box, Graham.... it's re-mapping the autotrans ECU settings. There is zero knowledge out there other than Kris Gagnon in the States and his upgrades... but they're not ECU -changing, just beefed-up internals to the existing.
 
Spec K

yep, he just doesn't know it yet. Keith there are two pints in it for you, unless you want something stronger next we meet

Whaaat!
 
I am not a celebrity chef. Nor a skivvy in a toff's mansion.
 
Hence I don't do pudding-stirring... it's menial work and unbecoming for a scion of my dynasty..
 

 
Spec K

I have our RRG panel stickers with me ,and the Red Noses for the front of the cars

I was hoping you wouldn't mind holding one for me Nige
 

Whaaat!
 
I am not a celebrity chef. Nor a skivvy in a toff's mansion.
 
Hence I don't do pudding-stirring... it's menial work and unbecoming for a scion of my dynasty..
 

 
Spec K

Guys I'm spending Saturday afternoon on the Eye airfield runway doing large circles in both direction and working out how far I can push the car before it either breaks away or less likely understeers. Then trying throttle lift offs to see How the car responds, then I might try the odd drag run....

Then a drive over my usual test route, 4 or 5 times.

So all being well I should have 200 miles driving experience with the beastie before Sunday.

I'm applying for number 83
 
Soixante-neuf plus VAT....
 
Spec K

I'm applying for number 83
 
Soixante-neuf plus VAT....
 
Spec K

... and, more importantly, the first Cossie s/c in the Sprint Series..!!   I am really looking forward to seeing the 'Cosmike Express' at Snet...
 
You've got a bit of competition but I'm sure you'll keep your cool.. if you're collecting the car Sat morning I'd recommend you spend a bit of time on Adrian's road course feeling the throttle over bumps, out of the bends, check your braking distances.
 
Fortunately Snet 100 is a safe environment, just watch the left hander onto the Sprint finish straight by making sure you don't go in too fast and make sure you nail your exit line as you boot it out...
 
(... aaargh... bites fist in frustration...)
 
Spec K

Good oh!
 
A word of advice? - Fercrissake take it easy, she will bite your bum if you're programmed into standard GT86 throttle pedal into/out of corners...
 
Use this 'sprint' as a learner, just take your time to gradually and gently feel for the new car/self limits. If we get free track time after the runs don't be backwards in grabbing a seat in someone else's car and - importantly - get someone experienced to sit in with you..
 
(I have suggested to the TSS organisers we could limit the event to six timed runs plus tracktime afterwards.... this is, I understand, being considered..)
 
Spec K

Yes, to be fair a sprint environment is a safe place to get a taster. Don't worry about smashing the experienced driver's times in your class, just get a feel for it and go at a speed you are comfortable at. You don't have to take any risks after all.
 
Take a relaxed attitude to it, learn from what others are doing, there's always plenty of tips floating around. If at the end of the day we finish early you can do passenger rides with other competitors which will doubtless teach you a lot. 

Now in my possession, really like the Bluetooth music, auto lights and seating position

Yes, Quball - this is a 'must follow' thread, like Nigel's...
 
Tweed... we Gt86ers are individuals, probably more so than any other freeky group on the car Forum front.. the knowledgeable members herein can give advice based on personal experiences/desires on what we need from our hormone transplant..
 
(... oh - didn't the dealer tell you that, when you first sit in a demo GT86, this secret needle injects you...??)
 
At the end of the day that's where it's at. Are your hormones track or road focussed? Is it blinging for style or blatting for ego - or a combination of both? Rims? Tyres? Brakes? Suspension? Boost? Mapping? Tattoos? Body mods? Prince Alberts?
 
You don't win a war by winning the first battle (unless you're Lewis Hamilton last Sunday, haha..). So my suggestion would be to fine tune your ultimate needs - post them on this Forum - evaluate the replies and ask your questions - then make your buying decisions.
 
Spec K

So I thought it was time to post up a new project thread for the next step in my car journey. 

Current Spec

Factory
Pearl White
Sat Nav
Manual
2.0 NA boxer engine

Engine
Red Textured Engine Trim
MU brake fluid reservoir cover
Scorpion decatted front pipe with resonator - to be fitted
Scorpion over pipe - to be fitted
Borla UEL - to be fitted

Wheels and Tyres
18x8 et33 BBS RSii's in a custom gold finish with chrome lips, centre caps and red BBS logos
Vredestein Sessanta tyres 225 40 18

Suspension
Tein Street Flex Z
Beatrush Master cylinder brace

Exterior
BRZ Side vents
Satin black front lip
Laminx yellow fog lights
Silvertec bulbs all round
Debadged boot lid

Interior
P3 Vent gauge and code reader
Retro-fitted alcantara interior

The hunt for my next car
For the last 7 year, ignoring a 6 month Qashqai blip, I have owned modified MINI's which has been great and I have met some amazing people along the way but I have always had an inch to scratch in terms of a japanese car right from day 1 as I was on the look out for a DC5 to replace my Seicento and ended up with my first MINI.  When I saw the initial concepts for the Subaru BRZ a few years ago I was really excited, but when it was actually released I was a little disappointed in terms of the headline performance figures.  It had the looks but on paper at least it didn't have enough power especially when compared to MINI's I had owned. 
 
However after watching numerous reviews on the BRZ/GT86, especially Jeremy Clarkson and Chris Harris' ones as well as speaking to a number of owners I had to have one.  It seems this car is bags of fun with stock power, but when the powered is increased via a turbo/supercharger the great chassis comes into its own.  I have spent the last 6 months researching them while I parted out my clubman and pulled the money together to buy one. Weighing up the minor differences between the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT86 I settled on the Toyota as I prefer the front bumper and interior trim. 
 
The Test Drive
Before purchasing a test drive was a must.  I drove one about a month ago which removed any fears I had about it being slow in stock form and since then I have been looking for a used example which would be a great base car to modify.  The biggest learns for me on the test drive was this car has drama out of the box which my clubby couldn't offer without mods and it needs to be rev'd to get the most out of it.

Stumbling block
I was in the process of writing a new project thread a couple of weeks ago however even though I had placed a deposit with a dealership close to me for a GT86 in the morning morning, the dealerships up north where the car was located, decided to ignore this and sell it to someone else in the afternoon.  As you can expect, I was not very happy and there is an ongoing complaint but the dealership I placed the deposit with have been great in handling the complaint.
 
Locating the right one
Before I had the money in place there were tonnes of these available over the winter and a great price, however come the day I am ready to pull the trigger, there are none.  Requirements were pretty simple as they come fully loaded from the factory so they don't have many options.  Must haves were manual, white or orange and low mileage.  I had given 5 dealerships my details to watch out for cars coming in.  Its took a lot of patience and not just buying one in the wrong colour just so I could have one.  Many times I have considered buying one of the many black or red ones that keep coming up but I had my heart set on white/orange, so I stuck to my guns.  I had many false starts but finally after the one I mentioned above fell through, straight away probably luck on their part, they managed to locate for me a second GT86 matching my requirements:
 
-Pearl white
-Manual
-13 plate
-9k on the clock
-Sat nav which is a bonus
 
It was a little over my price range but due to the complaint I managed to negotiate a decent price on it, knocking off a further £700.  Funny thing is I have placed a deposit on the car and I am collecting it hopefully next monday with the clubman going in as a trade in, yet they haven't seen my car and I haven't seen theirs.  However if the car isn't as described then I am fully entitled to a refund of the deposit so no real concern there.  That works the same for my trade in, but at least they have seen photos of that.
So hopefully on 23rd March I can report back with lots of photos of the car after collecting it. 

Previous Car History
- Fiat Seicento Sporting 1.1 NA 54bhp in Yellow
- MINI Cooper S 1.6 Supercharged 170bhp tuned up to 265bhp in Dark Silver - http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f273/tweedbeans-r53-mcs-18403/
- MINI JCW 1.6 Turbo 215bhp in Laser Blue - http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f272/tweedbeans-r56-fjcw-25319/
- Nissan Qashqai Tekna 2.0 NA 139bhp in Silver
- MINI Clubman JCW 1.6 Turbo tuned to 270 bhp/236.9 whp and peak torque of 283.1lb/ft. In Laser Blue http://www.minifoo.com/forum/index.php?threads/tweedbeans-clubaru.58/
 
Car History by tweedbean, on Flickr

The Grim Reaper camce for me last night and I beat him off with the vacuum cleaner. Talk about Dyson with death...
 
My daughter asked me for a pet spider for her birthday, so  to the local pet shop and they were £70 !! Blow this, I thought, I can get one cheaper off the web..
 
I was at an ATM yesterday when a little old lady asked if I could check her balance, so I pushed her over..
 
I start a new job in Seoul next week. I thought it was a good Korea move..
 
Statistically 6 out of seven dwarfs are not Happy.
 
My neighbour knocked on my door at 2.30 this morning. Can you believe it - 2.30am!! Luckily I was still up playing my bagpipes..
 
Paddy says "Mick, I'm t'inking of buying a Labrador". "Blow dat" says Mick "have you seen how many of dere owners go blind?"
 
The wife was counting all the 5ps and 10ps out on the kitchen table when she suddenly got very angry and started shouting and crying for no reason. I thought to myself "she's going through the change.."
 
When I was in the pub I heard a couple of plonkers saying that thety wouldn't feel safe on an aircraft if they knew the pilkot was a woman. What a pair of sexists - I mean, it's not as if she'd have to reverse the thing...
 
Murphy says to Paddy "What'ya talking into an envelope for?"  "I'm sending a voicemail, ya thick eejit!"
 
Just got back from my mate's funeral - he died after being hit on the head with a tennis ball. It was a lovely service..
 
Finally...
 
A teddy bear is working on a building site, comes back from his tea break to find that his pick has been stolen. The bear is angry and reports the theft to the foreman. The foreman grins at the bear and says "oh, I forgot to tell you..
 
"... today's the day the teddy bears have their picks nicked.."

I am looking forward to it! She screams now the exhaust is fully fettled with, so it will be good to add a bit of extra poke to it too  

The Grim Reaper camce for me last night and I beat him off with the vacuum cleaner. Talk about Dyson with death...
 
My daughter asked me for a pet spider for her birthday, so  to the local pet shop and they were £70 !! Blow this, I thought, I can get one cheaper off the web..
 
I was at an ATM yesterday when a little old lady asked if I could check her balance, so I pushed her over..
 
I start a new job in Seoul next week. I thought it was a good Korea move..
 
Statistically 6 out of seven dwarfs are not Happy.
 
My neighbour knocked on my door at 2.30 this morning. Can you believe it - 2.30am!! Luckily I was still up playing my bagpipes..
 
Paddy says "Mick, I'm t'inking of buying a Labrador". "Blow dat" says Mick "have you seen how many of dere owners go blind?"
 
The wife was counting all the 5ps and 10ps out on the kitchen table when she suddenly got very angry and started shouting and crying for no reason. I thought to myself "she's going through the change.."
 
When I was in the pub I heard a couple of plonkers saying that thety wouldn't feel safe on an aircraft if they knew the pilkot was a woman. What a pair of sexists - I mean, it's not as if she'd have to reverse the thing...
 
Murphy says to Paddy "What'ya talking into an envelope for?"  "I'm sending a voicemail, ya thick eejit!"
 
Just got back from my mate's funeral - he died after being hit on the head with a tennis ball. It was a lovely service..
 
Finally...
 
A teddy bear is working on a building site, comes back from his tea break to find that his pick has been stolen. The bear is angry and reports the theft to the foreman. The foreman grins at the bear and says "oh, I forgot to tell you..
 
"... today's the day the teddy bears have their picks nicked.."

A silly old s*d called McBride
fell into a cesspit and died
 
A day later his brother,
same thing.. - silly b*gger.
 
So now they're interred side by side
 
 
:rolleyes:

What? You still have a budget after what you've done to your GT86?

Great project Nige.

Must be good if Pitman is cowtowing

Baby's in intensive care.  She was five weeks premature and even though she weighed 5lb 8oz her lungs are underdeveloped - it's the sort of situation that hospitals are well used to dealing with (and Faith would handle in her stride...) so we're not too phased by it..
 
Just bought cakes for the whole firm.. Gawd, if I taste another gooey muffin/doughnut in a month I'll throw up.... I need a decent g&t to take the taste away..
 
Spec K