CadwellPark, suspension, tyres and lights, beep beep....
Nov 11, 2021 8:51:22 GMT
atlex, wannabe, and 6 more like this
Post by thruxton on Nov 11, 2021 8:51:22 GMT
Yesterday I was at CadwellPark race circuit. My last track day of this year and it was a fantastic day.
If you are thinking about the value of top quality suspension for your car then just do it. I am now running MeisterR Club Sport units on my 1.8 1999 NB.
The difference between these and standard units is night and day. I was very worried about running my R888 tyres this late in the year.
With my new suspension and a decent geo set up once a dry line had developed I could 'lean' on the tyres like never before. The suspension for the first time allowed the tyres to perform as they should do. The grip was just astounding and I could leave the braking to what previously would have been impossibly short distances. I have also properly 'de-powered' my steering rack. The feed back is just great now. Another very worthwhile modification in my view.
Yesterday has opened my mind and eyes to just how amazing these cars are. Mine is 22years old and has covered 150,000 miles. It is standard apart from the suspension, 225/45 x15 R888s' tyres and Paul Roddiosn brakes coupled to a brake master cylinder stabiliser and some good over the counter brake fluid. And of course the steering rack. I was able to pass and hold off much newer and more powerful machinery that has cost way more then my £2500 worth of MX5.
The drive there and then again home for me was 220 miles each way.
The drive home was in the dry, the dark, the wet and the wet dark and fog.
I have fitted some PIAA headlamps now, a big thank you to ..... WANNABE.....
he recommended them and he was right. Unbelievably good lamps. Such a complete upgrade for the NB. Not cheap at about £57. But honestly, worth double that. This is why this forum is so great, the swapping of knowledge from real people that own these cars.
CadwellPark for me is the best circuit there is. I've done the Nurburgring many times, Spa and all the other big ones. Now that I'm older (67) I have to pace myself. Cadwell has something for every body and if you have not done it then give it a go. It's long enough but not too long it's challenging and suits our cars perfectly. I managed to get my NB up to 97Mph going into the first uphill bend after the start finish line and let the momentum fall away just by the uphill climb and then do the whole of the next sweeping right hand bend flat out just 100Rpm off the rev limiter in third. Not the fastest car there at all, but what FUN! Then it's a head long flat out rush in 4th to the next bend and brake waaaay latter than you think possible and it's flat in 3rd again all around the next unending curve section and to the crazy fall down the 'mountain'. Still in 3rd all the way through the bends up the hill and past the cafe into the 's' section, hard brake for the 90 bend right, through the section under the trees and the next 90 right and then flat in 4th to the uphill section again. Well 10 of those laps and I need a rest!
Next year, well if I ever stop building my new house and spending money at an alarming rate then it's time to fit my new engine which is sitting in my workshop.
A KL V6 2.5Litre. With throttle bodies and decent exhaust it's 225Bhp and about 190Ft/Lbs and 8000Rpm ... that'll do. I'm still going to buy the Yokohama Advan Fleva V701 tyres when they are back in stock, Yokohama tell me that will be March 2022. Why? Because the R888s' are so ..... NOISY, .... YOU SAID WHAT?
So that's my report hope it's been of some use to you.
Regards.
Rich.
If you are thinking about the value of top quality suspension for your car then just do it. I am now running MeisterR Club Sport units on my 1.8 1999 NB.
The difference between these and standard units is night and day. I was very worried about running my R888 tyres this late in the year.
With my new suspension and a decent geo set up once a dry line had developed I could 'lean' on the tyres like never before. The suspension for the first time allowed the tyres to perform as they should do. The grip was just astounding and I could leave the braking to what previously would have been impossibly short distances. I have also properly 'de-powered' my steering rack. The feed back is just great now. Another very worthwhile modification in my view.
Yesterday has opened my mind and eyes to just how amazing these cars are. Mine is 22years old and has covered 150,000 miles. It is standard apart from the suspension, 225/45 x15 R888s' tyres and Paul Roddiosn brakes coupled to a brake master cylinder stabiliser and some good over the counter brake fluid. And of course the steering rack. I was able to pass and hold off much newer and more powerful machinery that has cost way more then my £2500 worth of MX5.
The drive there and then again home for me was 220 miles each way.
The drive home was in the dry, the dark, the wet and the wet dark and fog.
I have fitted some PIAA headlamps now, a big thank you to ..... WANNABE.....
he recommended them and he was right. Unbelievably good lamps. Such a complete upgrade for the NB. Not cheap at about £57. But honestly, worth double that. This is why this forum is so great, the swapping of knowledge from real people that own these cars.
CadwellPark for me is the best circuit there is. I've done the Nurburgring many times, Spa and all the other big ones. Now that I'm older (67) I have to pace myself. Cadwell has something for every body and if you have not done it then give it a go. It's long enough but not too long it's challenging and suits our cars perfectly. I managed to get my NB up to 97Mph going into the first uphill bend after the start finish line and let the momentum fall away just by the uphill climb and then do the whole of the next sweeping right hand bend flat out just 100Rpm off the rev limiter in third. Not the fastest car there at all, but what FUN! Then it's a head long flat out rush in 4th to the next bend and brake waaaay latter than you think possible and it's flat in 3rd again all around the next unending curve section and to the crazy fall down the 'mountain'. Still in 3rd all the way through the bends up the hill and past the cafe into the 's' section, hard brake for the 90 bend right, through the section under the trees and the next 90 right and then flat in 4th to the uphill section again. Well 10 of those laps and I need a rest!
Next year, well if I ever stop building my new house and spending money at an alarming rate then it's time to fit my new engine which is sitting in my workshop.
A KL V6 2.5Litre. With throttle bodies and decent exhaust it's 225Bhp and about 190Ft/Lbs and 8000Rpm ... that'll do. I'm still going to buy the Yokohama Advan Fleva V701 tyres when they are back in stock, Yokohama tell me that will be March 2022. Why? Because the R888s' are so ..... NOISY, .... YOU SAID WHAT?
So that's my report hope it's been of some use to you.
Regards.
Rich.
, back then I would never have been caught dead in an MX5, how things change 
but now I'm mostly over my initial 'RWD deathbox fear', lol, the 'granular' feedback through the rim enables excellent assessment of actual surface texture, changes and conditions, which means being able to really maximise speed by matching to well-telegraphed grip limits 
le sigh