Special K

Got back yesterday afternoon following a really great week in Malta.
 
First time there... a petrolhead paradise where the 420,000 locals own 380,000 cars between them! First words a baby learns is not 'Mama/Papa' but 'where's my car?'
 
A taxi driver told me he used an MX5, I asked him about spares and he told me he had three of 'em to plunder... classic MGB's, Corvettes and the like, in beautiful condition, can regularly be seen on the roads..
 
True to his word Andrew met me at the airport and ferried me to my hotel in his GT86. The roads are appalling - potholes that eat Transit vans - but that didn't deter him from drifting his rear end about like a demented Lauren... the driver/car combo is good which is more than can be said for their petrol at 87octane.. he has to load 30 Euros-worth of octane booster into each tank of fuel every 2-3days... ouch! A positive step is to go water/meth injection, should get rid of the need for accelerator.
 
Like me, Andrew and his gorgeous girlfriend Julia (who has not passed her driving test yet but already owns an immaculate ex-UK WRX STI) are  food gourmets, so we had a number of superb meals. When left to my own devices I did the touristy stuff - the Cathedral in Valetta is a fantasic example of Baroque architecture, I spent over two hours there and the walled city of Mdina is amazing with an a-v presentation of its history and that of the Knights of Malta - fifty minutes of fascinating history for 12 Euros. If you're a beach bum there's loads of places to get your kit off and roast yourself but beware, the UV factor there is amongst the highest in the world...
 
There were two especial 'treats' - I chartered a 37ft yacht for the three of us for a day (with a skipper) and we cruised up to Comino and back with a swim at the lunch stop, with Julia pushing a reluctant Andrew off the bathing platform... tsk, tsk, who's idea was that..?
 
Shame there was not a trace of wind so we couldn't hoists the rags but had to donk everywhere - turned out that Adrian our skipper was into IT so he and Andrew were having techy conversations whilst Julia and I engaged in convivial imbibation... I got sunburned to blazes, it was so damn hot..
 
Second treat was Thursday evenings trip to the drag strip. This is the only spot for 'motorsport' on the island, if you want to track your car you have to ferry to Sicily..  Met up with all of Andrew's chums - including Kim who has a Ninja GT86 and thus two-thirds of the island's GT86 owners were present.
 
This is real manicville - just join the queue and blast up the strip whenever you like. Run what you brung.. music at 120 decibels, food and booze on call, it was so laid back it was horizontal..
 
The friendliness and goodwill these guys have towards each other is amazing  and I was made so welcome amongst them it was like being at a TSS round... I was also given a special treat as passenger for a run in Andrew's car as we logged some data for Adrian (Fensport) to tweak a bit.. Andrew's friend with a Skyline insisted on drifting it around the paddock and finally blew a rear tyre, stopping inches from the rear of a Golf... quick wheel change and no harm done.. and Andrew beat the Skyline over their run together.. respect!
 
Finally met up with Andrew as I prepared to leave yesterday morning - he was in total awe of his new map from Fensport and it was a shame I did not have time to experience it. He hopes to drive up to the UK some time in October and I have offered to show him around and see if we can get some track time / social meets organised. This is one seriously committed Forum member, as can be seen from his detailed postings on HKS s/c installation, but in addition he is a bloody nice guy who went out of his way to make my visit memorable. And is sure was.
 
Spec K
 
 
 
 
 
 

Got back yesterday afternoon following a really great week in Malta.
 
First time there... a petrolhead paradise where the 420,000 locals own 380,000 cars between them! First words a baby learns is not 'Mama/Papa' but 'where's my car?'
 
A taxi driver told me he used an MX5, I asked him about spares and he told me he had three of 'em to plunder... classic MGB's, Corvettes and the like, in beautiful condition, can regularly be seen on the roads..
 
True to his word Andrew met me at the airport and ferried me to my hotel in his GT86. The roads are appalling - potholes that eat Transit vans - but that didn't deter him from drifting his rear end about like a demented Lauren... the driver/car combo is good which is more than can be said for their petrol at 87octane.. he has to load 30 Euros-worth of octane booster into each tank of fuel every 2-3days... ouch! A positive step is to go water/meth injection, should get rid of the need for accelerator.
 
Like me, Andrew and his gorgeous girlfriend Julia (who has not passed her driving test yet but already owns an immaculate ex-UK WRX STI) are  food gourmets, so we had a number of superb meals. When left to my own devices I did the touristy stuff - the Cathedral in Valetta is a fantasic example of Baroque architecture, I spent over two hours there and the walled city of Mdina is amazing with an a-v presentation of its history and that of the Knights of Malta - fifty minutes of fascinating history for 12 Euros. If you're a beach bum there's loads of places to get your kit off and roast yourself but beware, the UV factor there is amongst the highest in the world...
 
There were two especial 'treats' - I chartered a 37ft yacht for the three of us for a day (with a skipper) and we cruised up to Comino and back with a swim at the lunch stop, with Julia pushing a reluctant Andrew off the bathing platform... tsk, tsk, who's idea was that..?
 
Shame there was not a trace of wind so we couldn't hoists the rags but had to donk everywhere - turned out that Adrian our skipper was into IT so he and Andrew were having techy conversations whilst Julia and I engaged in convivial imbibation... I got sunburned to blazes, it was so damn hot..
 
Second treat was Thursday evenings trip to the drag strip. This is the only spot for 'motorsport' on the island, if you want to track your car you have to ferry to Sicily..  Met up with all of Andrew's chums - including Kim who has a Ninja GT86 and thus two-thirds of the island's GT86 owners were present.
 
This is real manicville - just join the queue and blast up the strip whenever you like. Run what you brung.. music at 120 decibels, food and booze on call, it was so laid back it was horizontal..
 
The friendliness and goodwill these guys have towards each other is amazing  and I was made so welcome amongst them it was like being at a TSS round... I was also given a special treat as passenger for a run in Andrew's car as we logged some data for Adrian (Fensport) to tweak a bit.. Andrew's friend with a Skyline insisted on drifting it around the paddock and finally blew a rear tyre, stopping inches from the rear of a Golf... quick wheel change and no harm done.. and Andrew beat the Skyline over their run together.. respect!
 
Finally met up with Andrew as I prepared to leave yesterday morning - he was in total awe of his new map from Fensport and it was a shame I did not have time to experience it. He hopes to drive up to the UK some time in October and I have offered to show him around and see if we can get some track time / social meets organised. This is one seriously committed Forum member, as can be seen from his detailed postings on HKS s/c installation, but in addition he is a bloody nice guy who went out of his way to make my visit memorable. And is sure was.
 
Spec K
 
 
 
 
 
 

Got back yesterday afternoon following a really great week in Malta.
 
First time there... a petrolhead paradise where the 420,000 locals own 380,000 cars between them! First words a baby learns is not 'Mama/Papa' but 'where's my car?'
 
A taxi driver told me he used an MX5, I asked him about spares and he told me he had three of 'em to plunder... classic MGB's, Corvettes and the like, in beautiful condition, can regularly be seen on the roads..
 
True to his word Andrew met me at the airport and ferried me to my hotel in his GT86. The roads are appalling - potholes that eat Transit vans - but that didn't deter him from drifting his rear end about like a demented Lauren... the driver/car combo is good which is more than can be said for their petrol at 87octane.. he has to load 30 Euros-worth of octane booster into each tank of fuel every 2-3days... ouch! A positive step is to go water/meth injection, should get rid of the need for accelerator.
 
Like me, Andrew and his gorgeous girlfriend Julia (who has not passed her driving test yet but already owns an immaculate ex-UK WRX STI) are  food gourmets, so we had a number of superb meals. When left to my own devices I did the touristy stuff - the Cathedral in Valetta is a fantasic example of Baroque architecture, I spent over two hours there and the walled city of Mdina is amazing with an a-v presentation of its history and that of the Knights of Malta - fifty minutes of fascinating history for 12 Euros. If you're a beach bum there's loads of places to get your kit off and roast yourself but beware, the UV factor there is amongst the highest in the world...
 
There were two especial 'treats' - I chartered a 37ft yacht for the three of us for a day (with a skipper) and we cruised up to Comino and back with a swim at the lunch stop, with Julia pushing a reluctant Andrew off the bathing platform... tsk, tsk, who's idea was that..?
 
Shame there was not a trace of wind so we couldn't hoists the rags but had to donk everywhere - turned out that Adrian our skipper was into IT so he and Andrew were having techy conversations whilst Julia and I engaged in convivial imbibation... I got sunburned to blazes, it was so damn hot..
 
Second treat was Thursday evenings trip to the drag strip. This is the only spot for 'motorsport' on the island, if you want to track your car you have to ferry to Sicily..  Met up with all of Andrew's chums - including Kim who has a Ninja GT86 and thus two-thirds of the island's GT86 owners were present.
 
This is real manicville - just join the queue and blast up the strip whenever you like. Run what you brung.. music at 120 decibels, food and booze on call, it was so laid back it was horizontal..
 
The friendliness and goodwill these guys have towards each other is amazing  and I was made so welcome amongst them it was like being at a TSS round... I was also given a special treat as passenger for a run in Andrew's car as we logged some data for Adrian (Fensport) to tweak a bit.. Andrew's friend with a Skyline insisted on drifting it around the paddock and finally blew a rear tyre, stopping inches from the rear of a Golf... quick wheel change and no harm done.. and Andrew beat the Skyline over their run together.. respect!
 
Finally met up with Andrew as I prepared to leave yesterday morning - he was in total awe of his new map from Fensport and it was a shame I did not have time to experience it. He hopes to drive up to the UK some time in October and I have offered to show him around and see if we can get some track time / social meets organised. This is one seriously committed Forum member, as can be seen from his detailed postings on HKS s/c installation, but in addition he is a bloody nice guy who went out of his way to make my visit memorable. And is sure was.
 
Spec K
 
 
 
 
 
 

*acquired taste


_____________________________________
www.im-tuned.uk

Wait for the phone to ring for the ansaphone message.
 
This is the actual message from the Maroochydore High School in Queensland, Australia..
 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwghabw4N80?rel=0
 
Spec K

I collected my Stage 3 AVO car yesterday from Fensport, complete with HKS forged internals.
 
I shall be writing up my blog this morning with first impressions. Mind you, I've only done 70-odd miles so far - the first test will be next Saturday at Woodbridge followed by Sunday's TSS round.
 
I can admit I am in awe. This is, without shadow of a doubt, the most powerful car I have ever driven. The acceleration is unbelievable..
 
Spec K

I collected my Stage 3 AVO car yesterday from Fensport, complete with HKS forged internals.
 
I shall be writing up my blog this morning with first impressions. Mind you, I've only done 70-odd miles so far - the first test will be next Saturday at Woodbridge followed by Sunday's TSS round.
 
I can admit I am in awe. This is, without shadow of a doubt, the most powerful car I have ever driven. The acceleration is unbelievable..
 
Spec K

Jay being banned from the other forum is badge of honour mate 
 
The active members of the GT86 community know you weren't out to shaft anybody, all that's happened is you allowed yourself to over commit trying to keep everyone happy.
 
There's no reason for you to worry about attending meets and it seems a bit OTT to start thinking about getting rid of your car now you've just got the HKS fitted.
 
I think a suggestion for anyone else who finds themselves in a similar situation, don't overcommit, agree a small batch at a time and don't take any more orders until you are happy you want to do some more.
 
You just ended up putting yourself under intense pressure when all you were trying to do was help
 
Alec

NB - passenger side guages are Defi fitted into a Blitz panel - boost guage, oil temp and oil pressure. It does require surgery, as beneath the fascia is metal and this needs hacksawing out to get the guages in..
 
The guage in drivers air vent (also Defi) is transmission oil temp, taken off trans sump.. both running at 90 degrees after a blast up M11 and around M25 to clean up the brake rotors .. on the dashboard I have a switch, which turns on the (electric) transmission oil pump and fan and is on permanently when I'm on trackdays. I probably won't need it at Sprint but it gives me the opportunity to leave it running when ignition is off...
 
Wheels are Team Dynamics Motorsport 17" x 9.5" ET35  (they only do one 'style' for 17" rims).  Fitted Contisport Contact 5 (235 x 45 x 17Y). I've run on Goodyear F1 Eagles, Michelin Sport Pro thingies and these are my latest set. ( Might look at a change before year end, now that I'm back on the 4.1:1 std rear axle ratio..)
 
When new the Conti's are fantastic in the wet, better than the other two makes but I've not tried them in the damp now they are part worn... and they are likely to get a bl**dy sight 'worner' next weekend at Woodbridge !
 
So I'm taking my Rota Blitz rims with the F1 Eagles on as spares for Sunday, if my mate brings my battle wagon up as promised.. (oh, I do wish that the F1-S class could use MSA 1b listed tyres... hint, Adrian...)
 
Spec K

got enough gauges? haha, looks good Spec K

I am treating my mean machine to a full set of new Stoptech calipers and rotors ('cos AP don't make what I want and Brembo's are mighty money) so I am selling my current kit.
 
These are not the  big ones (330mm?) - these fit within my existing Rota/TDR 17" ET32 rims but OEM wheels would require spacers.
 
K-Sport 8 pot front calipers, standard rear calipers, both fitted Ferodo DS2500 pads. Blue/white K-Sport writing on fronts. Rears are painted blue (I found a really good colour match, Dulux Weathershield, haha..)
 
Front 2-piece/rear single rotors are Stoptech. Because the car has been laid up the rotors are rusty but they were new less than six months ago and I'm breaking them in. If my Stoptech's don't arrive by the weekend, I will run them at the Woodbridge TSS with 100% confidence - they are superb for a n/a car and will fill any driver with total confidence.. it's your crap tyres which will let you down, not the brakes...
 
If you want to view them, go to the Fensport website. That will tell you the size etc. The DS2500 pads are awesome - absolutely no fade and no squeal. I'd recommend you buy a set of braided hoses if you are replacing the standard stuff.
 
Pedal feel is exemplary - if you're clumsy with your heel/toe you'll stand your car on its nose... with the right suspension setup you can stop on a sixpence..
 
Front calipers have done about 10k miles, I reckon. Rears from new, so they've done 33k. Rotors have done less than 3k miles.
 
Whole lot cost in excess of £1,500 without the OEM stuff, so I'm asking £700. Carriage extra if we don't meet up. No offers, guys - I need my head examining to give 'em away at this price...
 
Spec K
 
 
 
 

Wait for the phone to ring for the ansaphone message.
 
This is the actual message from the Maroochydore High School in Queensland, Australia..
 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwghabw4N80?rel=0
 
Spec K

Sub-standard  thongs.
 
I blame Anne Summers...
 
Spec K

Count me in, Rob.  We can always use the marquee if peeps want a group sleepover.
 
But we're missing the main star.... where's Faith?
 
Spec K

Wait for the phone to ring for the ansaphone message.
 
This is the actual message from the Maroochydore High School in Queensland, Australia..
 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwghabw4N80?rel=0
 
Spec K

I have received your PM and have just printed a postage label. Will be dropping it off on Monday. 
 
Please could you PM me a link to the photo you mentioned earlier regarding my Twitter as I am concerned by this and am concerned about what is put out on the web about me. I've had a quick look and can see no photos from my bedroom window. Especially none around the time I was away.
 
I won't leave the forum, I'll always hang around and keep an eye on the forum. Met some great friends and people i'd always stay in contact with. I know a few won't see it the same way though and they'll always be negativity around this subject. 

Dude, please don't leave over this bad experience, there's still plenty of us who enjoy your company and your input in the community.

Now I can understand those who don't know Jay to assume the worse and that he's trying to pull the wool over your eyes but I've known Jay for a couple of years now and he is a real genuine sound guy who is always willing to help those out. As he has mentioned before, he went out of his way to help make some camera kits for the community to use since for some strange reason Toyota still refuse to fit one from factory. These few suddenly blew way out of hand for him so it's not suprising some have gone missing or some bad communication developed.

I can understand the frustration this may cause you, especially when you aren't being told what's going on but like Jay has mentioned, besides being banned and not being able to respond, you must understand how dismotivating being hownded and verbally abused can make someone what to just shut themselves away and not want to visit these forums anymore. I've definielty seen how Jay hasn't been as proactive on the forum as of late, and I'm sure it's partially down to this issue as well as other persoanl/family issues.

All I ask is for those still waiting to be just a little more patient and persistent with trying to contact and regain communications with Jay to sort out your cameras.

Spec K, we carry Super Pro steering rack bushes in stock.

What does it say?
 
"... you fecking eedjit..!" is what is says...
 
(.. it thinks you're a skip....)
 
 

 
Spec K

Will know next week, running decat manifold, sport cat front pipe and ARK system. Will update you all.

Expect a bit of labour as its a lengthy process installing the edfc. But ultimately i'd say worth it

Tareim - calculate £stg cost using today's exchange rate and, if you are paying carriage, add that. If it is carriage paid, ignore this.
 
Duty ex USA will (normally) be 3% of that total. Add that to the total cost, (cost+duty) - VAT will be 20% on top.
 
HMRC change the exchange rate daily but the diff is marginal.
 
As an example - £1,000 cost (incl. carriage) will incur £30 duty. £1,030 plus 20% VAT will cost a further £206, so your final bill should be £236
 
Spec K
 
Spec K

This sounds EPIC Keith, can't wait to see it in action and glad that you are back on the road in her rather than your tonkatoy.

Glad you've got your car back Keith!

Would love a passenger lap at Woodbridge! See you there.

Many thanks for the pointers on the washer bottle....
 
I visited Fensport ten days ago when the car was on the ramp and the front bodywork removed. We discussed all the options.. it is not just the trans cooler coil that has to be resited, the electric oil pump and the motor fan have to be plumbed in... much scratching of heads.. at the same time I asked if we could replace the 4.67 final drive with the original 4.1 and also fit uprated drive shafts.
 
My washer bottle/reservoir is now sited in the boot. Both oil coolers are now at the front of the car, ducted either side of the intercooler -  the foglight apertures are way too small to allow sufficient airflow. Both exit through the (plastic) wheel arch internal liners, with mesh installed to prevent gravel etc. thrown off the wheels from puncturing the cooler coils.
 
This was a major engineering undertaking with custom made brackets, pipe runs, ducting and electrics, both behind the front bumper and leading to the washer bottle in the boot.  Dave and Alex at Fensport worked their socks off to get this done - and I am really pleased with the finished product (which you cannot see) .
 
Cost/benefit? - if it saves another fried autotrans / loss of competing at two Sprints it is well worth it. 
 
The engineering work was completed by last Monday and on Wednesday Adrian started mapping (and was at it until well gone 8.00pm!). If you recall earlier I had already completed to 500 miles running-in demanded of the new HKS forged engine, so it was a gentle trundle initially with eyes peeled on oil temps/leaks and then down to his wizardry..
 
I had asked for the approx. power output of my original two maps to be retained if possible - at 0.55bar (245bhp) and 0.75bar boost (265bhp). I then wanted a further two maps with the same increase in boost, so that map 4 was at approx. 1.05bar. This is way under the maximum working boost that the HKS engine is capable of taking but is a reasonable yardstick to start with.
 
However, the original actuator on the Stage3 AVO was not happy to play under 0.72bar boost, so a 'softer' actuator was quickly installed..
 
Thursday evening and Adrian had gone as far as he wanted, considering the ambient temps - it was the hottest day of the year so far. So I went up to Chatteris yesterday afternoon (pleased to find my spare autotrans has arrived from the States) and we tried it....
 
My map 1 is crap.... yeah, it's quicker than a standard car but nothing is working to any degree of efficiency. Bigger blowers want more boost, simple innit... map 2 is simply awesome, map 3 is manic and map4 is.... un-fscking-believable!! With the exception of the LFA I don't think I've ever been in a car which accelerates so quickly... please bear in mind we are talking getting up towards 400bhp here, and that's at the hubs on road fuel.. my car as standard gave 164bhp at the hubs..
 
Because of the ambient temp issues Adrian hasn't started getting to grips with it yet. The big plus is there is no signs of knock and the autotrans is working a smoothly as it ever has.. all logs in the three usable maps are right on the button.. on short maximum-attack runs both oil temps peaked at 90degrees (as they did in rush hour traffic at 6.00pm last night) and, by flicking on my manual pump/fan switch whilst stationery in traffic the autotrans oil dropped 8degrees in a matter of seconds..
 
72 miles home down the M11 in map2.... blurry eedjits in Beemers and GTI's getting in the way and Transit-man at 100mph trying to stay with me... mwahahaha... the acceleration between 70-120mph in fourth is mind numbing, the additional torque makes the whole thing tractable from 2000rpm... this is one heck of a machine..
 
More to come. I am at TDI in Thurrock on Monday to dyno these initial figures. Then it's (hopefully) back to Fensport on Friday to get the new Stoptech brakes fitted, if they've arrived from the States. Then it's Woodbridge on Saturday to learn a bit more about how to drive the thing, followed by Sunday's Sprint.. then back to Fensport for more mapping work.
 
Anyone at Woodbridge is welcome to passenger with me once I've got to grips with it myself.. you will be, err, surprised..
 
Spec K