Not such a newbie but I finally bought an Elise

[Andy G]

Hi Mark

Good news on the car front.

Can provide advice on the mods also - having the RLC still fresh in my mind.

What will suprise you though is how much fun you'll have ragging the arse of a standard car that is properly set up. Some of my favourite in car clips from the RLC are pre-engine mod, revving the arse of it and sliding every single corner. Teeside video is my favourite, and that was on totally shagged tyres too.

I'd personally (if you intent to track it) ditch the S2 upgrade, its not good enough, and go for Nitrons. This and geo, some 888's and upgrading the brake pads will give you a very quick car, and quickly

Through the winter, once the Esprit is sold, I'd then think about taking the car off the road, and sorting the engine. Give it some time, get it done right, and Ali is the man to advise on that.

Get out there an enjoy it for now Make sure you have 2 months full of going sideways on track, and you'll have a much better appreciation of what YOU actually want to do to it also

Totally understand your craving for power, and I dont think anyone is trying to be patronising. Mckean is spot on (f*ck i must be working too hard )

[mwmackenzie]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Andy. I think your spot on with the plan too, engine mods well anything with the head off will wait until the winter once the Esprit is sold, Ali may be able to hook me up with some protec suspension he said he'd ask the owner if he'd sell them to me at a reasonable price hahaha but not sure what that means? My problem with adjustables is setting them up, I'm clueless! Is this something you could help with? I have seen you at knockhill a few times now but have never said Hi as there is always a crowd round your car are the 888's ok in the wet?

I have great faith in Ali and will have him do everything to the car as he is a GURU in my eyes and has done some great work on my Esprit to date. I know the car will most likely be quicker than me for some time but I plan to really enjoy trying to learn it and catch up with it before I find the need to do and serious work to it like internal engine mode to be honest I don't want honda or audi power or anything near it just a quick free revving great handling, great sounding little waggon to rag round the track and take on the odd wee jaunt to my brothers in Southport an the likes. I don't want a trackday hero but something that is at home on the road and track if that's possible though a tad more track bias if that is possible??

Look forward to chatting to you, Ali speak very highly of you and often.

Cheers

Mark

[Modena Scotland]

I've never tried the 888 yet but have been told by some it's better in wet and more progressive when it starts to slide than the 48. Cheaper too. I will try them on when my tyres need replacing on the CR & SLR.

Its difficult to have a long conversation with Andy during trackdays. So busy driving . We can just manage 5 min conversation, if that .

[mwmackenzie]

Its difficult to have a long conversation with Andy during trackdays. So busy driving . We can just manage 5 min conversation, if that .

That'll be because your never off the track old fella!!

My track Stratedgy is going to be..... Follow Mass's lines through the bends and break at least 10m before he does in order to actually make the corner I'll be an expert in no time!! hahahaha

Mark

[Shug]

Following Andy on 888s with me on A038s down the M8 a few nights ago, it was very noticable just how much water they were shedding. I remember when I ran them (with tall fronts, before they made the right sizes available) that they were brilliant in the wet - but I was coming off tupperware Maxspurts, so frankly there wouldn't have been much that was worse...

Make sure the toe-links are of the uniball type (upgraded) if you plan running on R rated tyres all the time though. It is NOT funny when one breaks - my seat still has a bite mark in it... People will probably maintain they've run R rated things for years on standard toe links and checked them constantly, but so did I and they were totally fine before the Tut Towers one failed on...

Personally, I'd stick with road tyres (Advans/T1R) to get used to the handling - the thing about the R rated ones is that things are happening a lot faster when it does let go and TBH, it's more fun sliding it at slightly lower speed at first, plus they are much cheaper per mile...

[Andy G]

For R tyres they (888s) are great in the rain

I'd go straight on to them tbh

any time you want a chat mate let me know - I'm away for the next 5 weeks till Sept 20th, but get yourself singed up for the AMP3 trackday and we can chat then or afterwards at the BBQ

[mckeann]

I'd stick with road tyres, as shug says. You learn all the subtleties of the chassis more with less grip. The sticky tyres will only hide any of your bad points until its too late.

[mwmackenzie]

Well I have Hankook tyre on at the moment so I guess I'll learn alot quickly hahahaha, I'll try the 888's later on when I get everything as I want it and have a few spare quid to hand. Any suspension set-up Gurus out there in-case I end up going down the adjustables route?

Mark

[mckeann]

road tyres and S2 suspension will be fine.

[mwmackenzie]

The thing is I may be able to get a set of use protec coilovers, anyone used these? are they any good? they will need to be at a good price before I'd go for them over some used S2 stuff.... Also I would need some help from one of you to set it up???? My budget is tight just now as I have no idea how much the Esprit repair is going to skin me. at the moment I'll basically take what I can get my hands on to sort the car out as It knocks and bangs lots at the moment and is squidgy at the rear. Tyres, I'll stick with what's on it for the time being until i'm comfortable with the car and feel it's time to change, could be some time away that

[campbell]

Robin received a set of Protecs which were set up wrong by the factory, IIRC, and they didn'w work very well.

S2 suspension is ALL you need, believe me. The adjustable stuff is either for people with too much money or people who do really know their stuff and want to tinker. You mention a road bias with some trackdays...this is ideal for the S2 kit. Only a trackday bias with some road use (driving to / from circuit) merits fully adjustables in my opinion. And yes I had a set. And yes I ditched 'em for S2 But money was a factor for me when I got the adjustables, bargain price, so I take your point if they are available cheap. Just don't expect optimum performance in more than one type of condition.

[mwmackenzie]

Hi, Over the weekend I managed to get a full set of grooved discs, Muttsnuts by the looks of them, a de-cat pipe, a 4-2-1 manifold and a rollbar cover.... Getting there slowly..

Still need..

Suspension upgrade & geo
brake pads
induction kit

Then we'll be motoring for the time being and ready to try the track later mods can wait til the car and I are better aquainted

Mark