Booked onto a Knockhill hot hatch day as my last experience of one, probably 10 years ago was great- very quiet- by the afternoon about three cars left running, so got the whole track to ourselves pretty much, Sunday less so..
A 1am finish the night before and the car was ready, after getting the tow bar on her ML and buying a decent brain james tilt trailer- OTT for the loltus as its rated to tow 2 tons but it tows brilliantly and has a lovely tilt bed (which I need to get some wooden chocks as the front bumper even sans splitter and the rear diffuser took a beating getting it on and off..
23mpg towing -the family Ml350cdi 4 up, with spares/tools I can't complain about at all, 70mph cruise control and it sat in 7th all day even on the steepest hills, great tow car!
Here's a pic, didn't even have time to fit the badges on the yellow thing!
First session went fine, about 8 laps or so, bearing in mind this was the first time the cars been driven in anger bar limited road miles since the supercharger went on, new fuel lines, injectors, a chargecooer, a LSD, new brakes inc 4 pots up from t as I never was happy with the standard 2 pots.
So the brakes, brilliant, well worth the investment, great feel, couldn't fault them!
LSD, wow, a revelation, hooks up great on the hairpin, can't believe some people day these cars don't need them
Supercharger, great up until the belt snapped....
Onto the second session:
The rubbing noises on the left handers was a handbrake cable that was rubbing the inside rear wheel.
Here's a (short) video, also excuse the numerous swearing...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZVUurJ2IEU&sns=em
On inspection about a third of the belt was still on the pulleys but it wouldn't catch, it flailed about and ripped some of the sound deadening off but I need to get it all apart for a good look.
Also pulling off I hit a fairly innocuous looking puddle however the front right was sitting a lot lower than the left afterwards so there's something clearly amiss these as well!
As the hot hatch days I now remember why I hate sessioned days. The hot hatch days appeal to a certain type as well, there's 1 red per sessions, umpteen yellows (mine included although the session was stopped after a caterham spun at the bottom up duffus) and snakes of cars all refusing to pull over, if you can't get past on the straight under power you aren't getting past full stop, I won't do another one but if the car has lasted I would have enjoyed it as by lunchtime in the region of 60% of the cars were no longer running!
2 new charger belts ordered...
