Production BMW Build 320 - RACING!

[milescook]

Hi james go to their website www.llandow.com they are pretty frequent. Bit more chat on the arb links on the what did you do to your e30 thread page 50 in bmw chat. They seem to be just better lasting.
Rich I'm not kidding insurance was 300 quid from adrian flux as a 2nd car low mileage and all mods. Even covers me for commuting!
I figure they've calculated on averge if you put that much money into the thing chances ae you aren't goingto wwrap it somewhere. ..

[jmc330i]

Thanks Miles, my arb links are looking past their best (I think one was an advisory last MOT) so its a good excuse for more shiny bits

When are you booked in for Llandow? I've got a trip to make over the bridge, could possibly combine it for a trip to Llandow if they still allow spectators?

[DanThe]

Those Gaz struts are looking worse for wear, or should that be worse for standing?
How old are they out of interest? Mine were only months old when I fitted them and had not done a full track day, under 100 miles, and they had rust spots coming through
I gave them the wire wheel brush and waxoil treatment, seems to have lasted ok but I dont rate whatever the coating is

[milescook]

1st Feb so a week Saturday is the big day! Will have to give the car a good look before then though would prefer someone more experienced....(!) I reckon like a lot of places if you want to come to a track day as a spectator it's free... check their website though but sure come down. I may need a lift back

The other strut is newer Dan but yeah it definitely needs some tlc. To be honest the whole car needs a look I've got very rusty wheel arches, bottom wings, and water is getting into the cockpit running down the cage turret ... definitely a job at the end of the year stripping down and hunting rust, dealing with bad areas The cage makes the shell a bit more valuable unless the cage could be transplanted some day?

[milescook]

So! Went to Llandow yesterday for a bit of testing, and the first time the car has seen a race circuit. As many know I vitrually sold the car on two occasions, (still waiting for the previous owner to buy it), but what a hell of a waste to never drive it in anger after nearly 2.5 years building it. So the BM finally had her cherry popped

Weather promised to be utter toss, in the end apart from being very (very) windy and some sharp showers, the day was manageable. A dry line even started to appear around Nook bend - shame it didn't start earlier in the bend as I could never bear to take it flat all the way through.

Early on, did one sighter lap after rushing changing over the tyres in the rain to the worn 888's I have and dropping the front suspension down a couple of cms from what I have on the road. Straight off I can hear some scraping, so come straight in. Can't see what the issue is, doesn't seem to be any rubbing, so out for another 3 laps. Bang. Shit - what was that Come straight in, seems wobbly, try and inspect the car only to find I've lowered it so much I can;t get the jack under, and it's sodding raining cats and dogs! No garages at Llandow

Guy next to me in an X5 (cheers!) asks if I want to borrow a low trolley jack - which I didn't know existed! I give the front a good look, then wonder why the mudflap is dragging on the ground... check other side, no mud flap. Hmmm. Take a front wheel off, and oh dear. The coilover collar has gouged the wheel... so back up the suspension goes a couple of cms! Need a couple of wheel spacers then - I remember seeing this advice but the problem is you get conflicting advice, and can never hold it all in.

After this calamity - I thought quite honestly ah well I don't really know what I've been doing over 2.5 years, the thing was bound to break - I go out for a few more runs. Before lunch I'd sorted the tyre pressures up to 25psi cold (probably should have gone a bit higher as it was a freezing day), and the handling was much improved. After lunch I put in a few more runs, gaining more confidence with the car and really getting a feel for it. In hindsight starting on a slippy track was probably not such a bad thing.



So, car is going off the road soon. Finally have a cheap car cover as water is leaking into the cockpit Will see what the next few months bring, but yesterday was fantastic I'm still grinning

Vid clip

[rix313]

Mate the start if that video had me in bits

Congrats on getting out there and driving the car it's a great feeling. Can't wait to jump in mine now

[shedrool83]

Looks/sounds like you had fun.
I'm really looking forward to popping my trackday cherry when mines is ready.

[Demlotcrew]

Great Video, quite funny!!!

[milescook]

Yep can't beat a bit of inept slapstick....

Quite a list of to dos but honestly who can say their car is ever finished! Thinking of gettinh the s uspension properly looked at and setup, wheel spacers so it can run lower, moving the steering wheel back and maybr down, wishbone bushes and tie rods fitted. Coolant flush and cam belt check. That should be enough to do another test before hopefully a race here's hoping

[milescook]

Right so now have 5 mil spacers for the front, wishbone bushes and tie rods sorted and new coolant. Need a new OS front bearing and a few little jobs doing - saw a committee member for the PBMW series today and the car broadly gets a non-scruitineer (but been through enough himself) thumbs up.

So the plan is, Brands Hatch GP mid August for a race meeting! Sent off my license for renewal, need to get some more kit (my "racing costume") and some toyos. Very happy bunny!

Roll on August...

[rix313]

Blimey mate good news

[milescook]

Blimey mate good news

Cheers! Been researching the GP circuit on youtube. I did take the (ahem, 1.6 Tdci) Fiesta round the indy circuit so I know half of it at least!

If you're around that area on the 17th (or anyone for that matter) feel free to pop by

My list of jobs to sort by then:

Harness straps incorrectly secured to roll cage
NS Fog lamp out
Master external cuttoff switch needs grease
Master switch label replacement
Fuse box lid insecure
Air filter (use standard rather than K&N) for better performance
OS Wheel bearing replcement
Gear knob replacement
Race numbers
12 V Power lead for driving standards camera camera
Tidy some dangling wires

So not a massive list!

[rix313]

The GP circuit is awesome, they don't run many races on ot especially club races so very lucky in at Castle Combe in the Saturday for the Ergeb track day jobby otherwise I'd come down.

Is it a K&N panel filter you have? I recon run that mate, be better and slightly freer flowing than a paper one. Marginal but as they're serviceable they don't need replacing all the time like paper ones.

Btw did you have a good day at the Silvo test? Sorry I wasn't about to see ya.

[milescook]

I thought I still had the newish paper filter but I'd buried it with so many tools it's US Sod it the K&N will do.

Silverstone was pretty good, upsetting only a small part of the circuit was open (wanted to go and see maggots/beckets etc). Some of the Lotus guys thought they were presenting a cookery programme on a bench outside the garage - would have preferred more teams to be a bit more like Force india who were taking pictures of kiddies and adults next to their car, or RBR woman talking a crowd through their steering wheel. Other teams were too busy and Ferrari and Sauber had sodded off. More a rant on how they need to engage more than be too busy than anything, but n'mind. I'm sure you'd be on their side!

Yeah generally it was quote good and for F1, reasonably priced!

[milescook]

Okay so the mad rush to get all the remaining kit is well underway.

I have a set of nearly new Toyo 888s (though one tyre isn't great!), 2nd hand transponder (mylaps want 35 euros to transfer the website account to me... yeah right), new wheel bearing, laptimer and race numbers.

Also have a camera mount:

http://www.jjcraceandrally.com/race/cam ... lamp-mount

..which seems to work lovely. Just need a few more odd jobs over the next 2 weeks. Starting to get nervous to be honest!

[milescook]

Bad news...

Spun at Paddock during qually, after trying to restart for a good 10 seconds got t boned...

The damage...






Floor is ripped at the base of the cage, but the cage did it's job very well. I'll get pics of the cage inside it's bent slightly but a great product from the rollcentre, even if it did take a while to wait for it...

More to follow. I'm fine, pretty gutted but think I'm taking it well!!

[rix313]

Shit the bed mate bit scary for first time out. Glad to hear you're ok

[milescook]

I was quite a bit off the pace too even though it was the first time in the dry on a high speed circuit! Plus the car hasn't been corner weighted, old injectors etc etc I've got all my excuses... but my biggest one is I need practice :p

Just taken the passenger door off tonight - amazingly thanks to some help, it turns out the door handle was knackered but it opened from the inside, so not as bad a shunt thankfully. Everything else seems straight, but it's going up for a good inspection and measuring to make sure. All being well there, when I can source a shell to cut a piece out of from a 2 door it will be off to the workshop in the new year - fingers crossed it measures up ok! Big hammering from the now empty budget, but needs must, and this is a need....

I'm hooked after (only!) 5 laps of Brands GP...

[Mikey_Boy]

Stuck with it fella - let's hope that shunt will pull out....!

Good to hear you are hooked - one more of us, one less of them!!

[rix313]

I haven't done a full set up on my car. Fingers in the wheel arches was about as advance as my ride height got and I won't go into toes haha. Points straight and I get nice tyre wear so can't complain

[jmc330i]

Christ Miles, they didn't hold back on your first meeting

Glad to hear you're ok and it hasn't put you off

[milescook]

Cheers (belatedly) for the support. hoping to get back on track (not literally until the new year) now. Will see what the damage is - fingers crossed it's straight and we'll be able to cut out a section and weld in one from a donor car. A few cage bars will need replacing too.

Oh, pulled out the footage I have of qually, after the outlap - though the camera turned itself off so will get a different one. Yes I know I'm slow as shite, but you have to build from somewhere!



I was a few secs quicker each lap after this - honest!

[milescook]

Bit of an update... A very reputable zoner who is good with a welder is at work on the car! In a few weeks I should have some pics

Also getting gear linkage bushes done, engine and gearbox mounts, timing belt and we pump and other little jobs. Racing probably will have to wait till later in the summer but glad it's going in the right direction!

[Demlotcrew]

Oh no! I missed this, so sorry to hear about the damage, hope you can get the car back on track soon, what shame

[milescook]

Yeah I was quite stoical getting out of the car mind, I think having seen a lot of motorsport I decided these things happen, it could have been worse I'm not majorly injured etc. I was massively unlucky to be hit the marshals had an age to get the yellows out at a spicy part of the track but didn't somehow.

I will need more seat time, all I'd had with the car was a wet Llandow! I'm thinking Coombe for a bit more speed and getting used to the grip when the tyres warm up.

[milescook]

An update

In the capable hands of popular zoner and renowned gentleman Maggspower, the car repair is coming on.




The dented door was my fault after leaning it against the kids' bikes in the garage

The panels are being lined up temporarily and a section of the floor will be replaced to join them, before some welding. Much better already!

[Demlotcrew]

Progress is progress

[milescook]

Yep cheers Andrew. Been up for another look:



Checkout http://www.cookracing.co.uk if you haven't before, it catalogues about 6 years of history (slowly) getting into this motorsport malarky! (Oh and definitely click some ads if they look interesting - cheers )

[milescook]

Back from the garage!! Here's a video tour and some pics

[rix313]

Are you going to do any tests or track days in it to build up your confidence and stuff again?

[milescook]

Yeah hopefully castle coombe - the chap I originally bought the car off wants a go and will pay half for a few laps

Not sure when, it would best be close to a race unlike last time I got a good feel for the car at Llandow then 8 months later straight into qualifying

[rix313]

I would say focus less on the fact it's qualifying and just learn the track. You won't be going for pole or a top position so just learn the track and keep it on the black bit.

Let me know when you're going and I'll try get down and give you a hand.

[milescook]

I would say focus less on the fact it's qualifying and just learn the track. You won't be going for pole or a top position so just learn the track and keep it on the black bit.

Let me know when you're going and I'll try get down and give you a hand.

[milescook]

WE'RE GOING RACING!!!!!!!!!!

Still have the grin on my face and we decided last week we'd take a mini family break to Cheshire camping, at Oulton Park. Loads around for the kids to do, we'll stay at the circuit and a b&b.

On to the car....



I replaced (finally) the anti roll bar bushes. They were a horrible job to get in - I used the jack and bottlejack and the car's weight. I lowered the car before tightening.

Still have a jobs list:

Engine down on compression on 1 cylinder and leaking sump gasket.
Engine mounts need replacing (1 is torn from the brands shunt).
A rollcage bar needs replacing
Fire extinguisher needs a service
Suspension geometry needs an expert look
Starter button needs replacing
Door wiring loom needs reattaching

Have 3 weeks to do it all!

[milescook]

We're running again



New(er) engine dropped in, starter button fixed, enough door loom replaced, rollcage sorted.

Oulton Park testing on Friday then qualifying and race the next day Need to tidy the car up inside, and paint the new roll cage section gave it a wash today. Excited!