Special K

.. because I've bought one as a spare...  ( I've bought every other fscking thing on the market as a spare so I thought I'd make it a full house.. can't drive it though, it's a blurry manual..)
 
 
Special_K , I have been 'Special K' (with helmet design, pictures and copy in Autosport/Motoring News) since my original entry as a 750MC competitor in 1967. It was my moniker through my advancement into Clubmans Supersports (driving the works Haggispeed) until I took a short break, in 1976. I returned to motorsport in  2013, a mere 37 years later (I said it was a short break!), when I was enervated to find that the moniker had remained unused. 
 
I am happy to concede this title/honour to you if you can demonstrate an earlier precedent. 
 
Spec K

I may have missed a previous post - sorry - but if you are talking about 'brace' as in top/bottom bracing in the engine bay I can vouch for their efficacy.
 
A top 3-point and bottom 4-point Summit brace transformed the steering/suspension 'feel' and response on my car, even before I went f/i.
 
And it was the bottom brace that made the real impact on me... all of the imprecise 'wobbly jelly' feel disappeared and I could feel the difference that even minor changes in camber/toe in made.
 
It's difficult to explain to those who've never come to grips with a fully rose-jointed spaceframe race car.. It also sharpens your senses to what the tyres are doing, and the difference other tyres make. My car was driven by Adrian Smith (Fensport) and by Colin Hoad (CAT) at a Tein suspension development day at Millbrook (with Pitman) and their input has convinced me.
 
Ignore my advice if it pleases you.. it is so long since I drove a GT86  I am now at inner peace with myself by frightening every learner driver in my locality by driving my tonka toy straight at 'em or overwhelming their rear mirror... it is the little things in life that  provide vicarious pleasure....
 
  
 
Spec K

Awesome!
 
http://chonday.com/videos/fivebujawe2
 
Spec K

Hrrmph.   Silver on blue is not 'bling' - it's 'classical retro'.   

I don't know the route exactly but I think we're trying to avoid the M6 from what I've heard. The drive across the Brecon and from Manchester to Edinburgh will be fun!
 
Just to give you an idea of some of the other cars on this, and what my car will be looking like (hopefully!) tomorrow:
 

 

 

 

 

 
*gulp*...

I cannot agree more, Lauren. To have adjustable active suspension, in cockpit, for the cost of Tein EDFC is astonishing.
 
Dunno about Streetflex Z - is that what GT86 Ian has just had fitted? (Yes it is - just seen his reply..)
 
And I see that BAE are now putting active suspension on Chieftan tanks... to save maintenance costs, no less!  F1 technology for (ex) Tower Hamlets Mayoral transport...?
 
Spec K

Grrr... all this chat, chat, rabbit, rabbit about 'bling'... what next, chromed nipples? The only 'Rocket Bunny' worth talking about is a high speed sanitiser in the ladies toilet...
 
Am I still in the same Forum or have I regressed to a past life..?
 
If you want to strut your stuff go to Spearmint Rhino..
 
Golden rule number one - if it's made to make your thing look pretty it's a waste of money.
 
Golden rule number two - if in doubt refer to rule one.
 
<Grumpy from Lunnun>  :blink:

Good stuff, guys 'n gals.... really feel for Neil, having his tow truck break down and using his sprint car to get to Blyton, then having a mechanical problem... I do hope it's not too serious for you, Neil..
 
I had a real hoot in D-Pro class, using Gary (RRG)'s Starlet with Yaris power... fwd... manual g/box... 110bhp... fully stripped, roll cage, a super job he's made of it... huge fun.
 
I cannot thank him enough for letting me have a drive in it, I was getting severe withdrawal symptoms.. an itch that needed scratching... and the only problem I had was changing down on his ultra-short shifter from 4th to 3rd and constantly getting 5th... kinda kills the exit momentum, know what I mean..?
 
(I checked my dates - the last time I drove a manual box on circuit was 45 years ago... that's about the last time I heel 'n toed, as well...)
 
I couldn't get up to the D-Pro class winner - Trackday Toyz Yaris... she was wearing racing tyres against Gary's 19-year-old rubber and standard suspension. But I was chasing her all day and gradually whittling my times down.
 
Like a lot of you my best was my 8th and final run, when I got down to 1.29.03 I think.. enough for runner-up and Gary was third in class, which is a hugely creditable performance in a brand new car and no previous sprint experience.. I presented Gary with my runners-up trophy as his 'Constructors Cup'..
 
... we then had a real bash during free time, sharing the hot seat and I bullied him into knocking almost two seconds off his best time by shouting and screaming at him.. tee hee...
 
A cracking day all round... I just hope I've got my car fixed for Woodbridge..
 
Spec K

Yeah! I'd had a few beers.. and the girlies in the lapdance club had taken their wicked way with me....
 
.. I jumped on the underground at Holborn, sat down and a priest sat next to me... I opened the Evening Standard, read a few headlines and asked him a question -
 
"Say, Father - what causes arthritis?"
 
He looked at me ( yeah, I was smelling of beer, covered in lipstick...) and said -
 
"My Son (and he was 50 years younger than me, ffs!), my son - it's caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and lack of a bath.."
 
I muttered in response - "Well, I'll be damned!" and returned to my paper..
 
The priest, thinking about what he had said to me, nudged my arm and apologised -
 
"I'm sorry" he said. " I did not mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?"
 
 
 
I answered "I don't have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope has it..."
 
 
 
Spec K

Keep the faith Keith :-) I embarked on my stupid mk1 project 3 years ago. 2 engine builds later and blowing 5th out of the gearbox it's finally starting to pay off.

Doing something different to the norm never goes smoothly :-(

Some of Jeremy Clarkson's best quotes -
 
Bentley Continental GT's suspension adjustability - " It really is about as useful as having a snooze button on a smoke alarm"
 
BMW Z3 - "And if you are clinically insane, by which I mean you wake up in the morning and think you are an onion, here's your car"
 
Ferrari F430 - "Now we get quite a lot of complaints that we don't feature enough affordable cars on the show, so we're kicking off tonight with the cheapest Ferrari of them all"
 
Chevvy Corvette ZO6 - "In many ways then this car is like herpes. Great fun catching it but not so much fun to live with every day"
 
Nissan Almera - "Telling people at a dinner party that you drive a Nissan Almera is like telling them you've got the Ebola virus and you're about to sneeze"
 
Renault Espace - "This is the Renault Espace, probably the best of the people carriers. Not that that's much to shout about - it's like saying 'Oooh good I've got syphilis, the BEST of the sexually transmitted diseases"
 
Porsche Cayenne - " I've seen better looking gangrenous wounds that this"
 
Renaul Clio V6 handling bends - "In typical French fashion it gives up! A bit like the French did with the Germans"
 
Suzuki Wagon R - "You do not just avoid the Suzuki Wagon R. Yo avoid it like you would avoid unprotected sex with an Ethiopian transvestite"
 
Lotus Elise - "This car is more fun than the entire French Air Force crashing into a firework factory"
 
Toyota Camry - "Whenever I'm suffering from insomnia, I just look at a picture of the Camry and I'm straight off"
 
4 seater convertibles - "The only person ever to look good in the back of a 4-seater convertible was Adolf Hitler"
 
Nuclear submarines - " Britain's nucelar submarines have been deemed unsafe.... probably because they don't have wheelchair access"
 
Bus Lanes - "I don't understand bus lanes. Why do poor people have to get to places quicker than I do?"
 
Front Wheels - "asking the front wheels of a car to do their normal job of steering while handling more than 170hp is like asking a man to wire a plug while juggling penguins.. whilst making love... to a beautiful woman while on fire, on stage.. in front of the Queen. It'a all going to go wrong"
 
Toyota GT86 - "This car is so much fun, you can drift it while reading a book. Look, I'm showing you.."
 
Spec K

Some of Jeremy Clarkson's best quotes -
 
Bentley Continental GT's suspension adjustability - " It really is about as useful as having a snooze button on a smoke alarm"
 
BMW Z3 - "And if you are clinically insane, by which I mean you wake up in the morning and think you are an onion, here's your car"
 
Ferrari F430 - "Now we get quite a lot of complaints that we don't feature enough affordable cars on the show, so we're kicking off tonight with the cheapest Ferrari of them all"
 
Chevvy Corvette ZO6 - "In many ways then this car is like herpes. Great fun catching it but not so much fun to live with every day"
 
Nissan Almera - "Telling people at a dinner party that you drive a Nissan Almera is like telling them you've got the Ebola virus and you're about to sneeze"
 
Renault Espace - "This is the Renault Espace, probably the best of the people carriers. Not that that's much to shout about - it's like saying 'Oooh good I've got syphilis, the BEST of the sexually transmitted diseases"
 
Porsche Cayenne - " I've seen better looking gangrenous wounds that this"
 
Renaul Clio V6 handling bends - "In typical French fashion it gives up! A bit like the French did with the Germans"
 
Suzuki Wagon R - "You do not just avoid the Suzuki Wagon R. Yo avoid it like you would avoid unprotected sex with an Ethiopian transvestite"
 
Lotus Elise - "This car is more fun than the entire French Air Force crashing into a firework factory"
 
Toyota Camry - "Whenever I'm suffering from insomnia, I just look at a picture of the Camry and I'm straight off"
 
4 seater convertibles - "The only person ever to look good in the back of a 4-seater convertible was Adolf Hitler"
 
Nuclear submarines - " Britain's nucelar submarines have been deemed unsafe.... probably because they don't have wheelchair access"
 
Bus Lanes - "I don't understand bus lanes. Why do poor people have to get to places quicker than I do?"
 
Front Wheels - "asking the front wheels of a car to do their normal job of steering while handling more than 170hp is like asking a man to wire a plug while juggling penguins.. whilst making love... to a beautiful woman while on fire, on stage.. in front of the Queen. It'a all going to go wrong"
 
Toyota GT86 - "This car is so much fun, you can drift it while reading a book. Look, I'm showing you.."
 
Spec K

86alex - it's not something you borrow 'cos once your stickers are on you can't get 'em off and once you've cut 'em to size they're bl**dy useless to anyone else !!
 
I've got some, I'll bring a couple of sheets and can bring my scalpels/scissors/steel rule if you need 'em.
 
(I'm not sure what car I'll be in - if I'm in the tonka toy I can get my cutting board in as well.)
 
Spec K

Winning!

I also really need to start putting the DC as my team name on the entry form as well

I'm with Rob, if we're going to do it, it must be correct, font and all! 

They are blobby for a reason, so they don't peel, that said these are going on magnets so won't be an issue. I can make it later, i'd rather you used the correct font. Otherwise the club is just a waste of time for me. (yes i don't expect you to understand)

Thanks for the good wishes, guys
 
I collected from Andy yesterday afternoon - I am very, very, impressed by that guy's attention to detail, even down to fabricating a bracket to hold the coverter plate at tdc for Dave at Fensport to follow. He's a bit annoyed that we hadn't given him the whole car so he could slot it all back together and test it... when I get a chance I'll go back up there and let him have a test drive.
 
He had kept the old dog clutches to show me - temperature killed 'em.
 
Dropped all the bits off at Fensport 9.30am this morning..
 
 
 
No, Tareim.
 
My original SSP upgrades were the stage 2 valve assembly body, torque converter and trans oil cooler (see their website). Now, if you are looking for a modicum increase in power (and still keep it docile for road use) I would recommend the stage 1 valve body assembly.... the stage 2 is very aggressive and gives you a belt up the backside when it changes at lower rpm (this is mentioned on SSP's website - you don't notice it a full throttle/high rpm)
 
These proved more than adequate for 320bhp on sprint/drag use but extreme use on trackdays built up too much heat for the cooler to deal with adequately and cooked the original dog clutches.
 
The latest upgrade, now fitted, are the high performance dog clutches.
 
Plus Redline Lightweight ATF instead of Toyota ATF.  This new trans fluid is recommended by Andy and is safe to 540 deg C - now stocked by Fensport 'cos I ordered double what I need just in case...
 
I am also moving the trans oil cooler from behind the rear bumper (with electric fan) to the front of the car, ducting air via a (removed) foglight. The electric oil pump for the trans fluid will remain, of course. The engine oil cooler is being moved from in front of the intercooler to the other (removed) foglight.
 
I am also taking a temp sensor from the transmission oil sump to a new guage fitted in the drivers fresh air vent with a red light warning/klaxon... this is one seriously expensive trans so I'm taking every precaution with it.
 
We shall see if this cures the issue - oh, and a Seibon vented bonnet to aid cooling.
 
If I was to look at competing again next year (with possibly more power, hehe ) I would have a serious chat with Andy. He has offered to build me a 'special' autotrans - 3 speed plus overdrive - based on a competition spec which is safe to 1200bhp. Would mean some serious gearbox mount fabrication and a custom-built prop... also it would be stick shift, not paddle - a sequential box but without a clutch. Of necessity it would be a closed-season project but we will have to see..
 
 
Spec K

Update  at 8.20am -
 
I emailed Andy and he responded immediately.... transmission rebuild is completed and he is awaiting the rebuilt converter which should be with him by 11.00am this morning.
 
As soon as he lets me know all bits are available I'll leave for his place to collect... then it's up to Fensport to perform miracles between Monday and Friday...
 
... can I see a glimmer of light at the end of this dark tunnel..... ? 
 
 
Spec K

Update  at 8.20am -
 
I emailed Andy and he responded immediately.... transmission rebuild is completed and he is awaiting the rebuilt converter which should be with him by 11.00am this morning.
 
As soon as he lets me know all bits are available I'll leave for his place to collect... then it's up to Fensport to perform miracles between Monday and Friday...
 
... can I see a glimmer of light at the end of this dark tunnel..... ? 
 
 
Spec K

Update  at 8.20am -
 
I emailed Andy and he responded immediately.... transmission rebuild is completed and he is awaiting the rebuilt converter which should be with him by 11.00am this morning.
 
As soon as he lets me know all bits are available I'll leave for his place to collect... then it's up to Fensport to perform miracles between Monday and Friday...
 
... can I see a glimmer of light at the end of this dark tunnel..... ? 
 
 
Spec K

Yeah I did know I was posting it. But yes, it does beg the question that if one isn't allowed then neither should the others, I agree on that. The trouble is such jokes are made on stereotypes which is problematic in itself and whether it's an old steretype or a newer one doesn't make it any better. The problem is all the time we make jokes like this we reinforce prejudice and therein lies the problem. Not only that but we demonstrate our ignorance. 
 
We live in a multicultural community and I would be appalled to think that a member is offended because of their religion, race, sexuality or for some other reason after seeing something posted on here. This community is for all and we welcome anyone, so we can't allow jokes that poke fun at minorities especially so if we are in the majority. 

I can verify to the excellence of these calipers - it's what I use in the TSS, albeit with Ferodo DS2500 pads and StopTech rotors..
 
... as Tlly says, you retain the front/rear balance using std rear calipers but the progressive feel on the fronts is way superior to the original.
 
Spec K

What a game you're having Keith.
 
Really hope you get it sorted. 

We now have some details of the new changes.
 
Primo will come with 16inch wheels as well as no spoiler.
 
GT86 will come without spoiler as standard.With new starlight blue colour option & new style custom leather and option of 18inc wheels
 
Gt86 Aero has Orange added to colour range as well as the Red,black & white(only in manual)with 10 spoke black gloss 18inc alloys (not the OZ wheels)
 
New special edition "Blanco" available in july.
 
I will have more details,pics shortly.