Coogs multifaceted fleet

[weeloaney]

Sounds like it could be fun. I might take a run down and try it. Afraid of making a total wab out of myself though lol.

Sure you've already been practicing

 

[Coog]

Northern Ireland's only drift spec jimny lol. Where did those videos go?

 

[weeloaney]

Northern Ireland's only drift spec jimny lol. Where did those videos go?

Yeah, must get them sketched together, brother has a couple too.

Will try to get that done this week.

 

[svensktoppen]

Have a chat with @Graham, he did the autotest thing in an MX5 not too long ago now. Was great fun watching too, you get really close and all the action is in a fairly small area so you can easily walk around and have a look at all the different stations.

Hillclimbs are not far off from there, he did them too

 

[FM155]

Lanes rallying for a good day's craic. Only problem is you won't be able to find it in the car park
Want to try autotesting at some point but the gearbox is the weak point in the ZR

 

[peter wilson]

I've fancied a go at autotesting for years but a.totally inflexible spine has put me off. Although the Thoroughbreds do theirs all forwards so maybe I'll get myself a car sorted at some point.

 

[Coog]

What you mean peter? No reversing?

 

[peter wilson]

Yip. All forwards. A bit like an autosolo but over a shorter course. I used to go and watch them at the Billy Neil playing fields or the old Millisle aerodrome. Check their website. Haven't been to spectate at one for a few years so might have changed.

 

[Coog]

Sounds like an easier intro for a newbie too. I really know nothing about it at all so will have to do the same and maybe get down and watch it too.

Did a bit of reading last night and looks like the hydro handbrake will need a brake upgrade too. I've just upgraded the fronts on the car from the breaker (it seemed to have bigger brakes on it), so will check the rears. If they're no different then the hydro will have to go on the back burner till I can afford a new brake set-up on the rear.

 

[DavyC]

Sounds like it could be fun. I might take a run down and try it. Afraid of making a total wab out of myself though lol.

Where can I find out more info re times, etc?

This event last year was my 1st ever autotest. I made plenty of mistakes (360 around the wrong pylon, clipping another, not reversing far enough to put the rear wheels across a line, etc etc..) but improved a lot as the night went on and it made me want more.

Some clubs keep thier web pages up to date but Facebook seems to be easier for them to update so check out thier pages.

The ANICC website shows the calender of events throughout the year and can be filtered by discipline or by club etc and you can check results from past events to see how many entered/ what cars were used. Most clubs would upload thier regulations / entry forms here too.
http://www.anicc.org.uk/Default.aspx
For the evening autotests most clubs are ok with you turning up on the night rather than posting an entry form away, tho it's polite to have the form filled in and the correct fee with you.

I've fancied a go at autotesting for years but a.totally inflexible spine has put me off. Although the Thoroughbreds do theirs all forwards so maybe I'll get myself a car sorted at some point.

I done thier Multivenue one last year which was good, and yeah it was all forwards stuff.

 

[Coog]

Is there such a thing as an instructor led session or a practice (aside from grabbing a couple of comes and finding an empty carpark lol)?

 

[KevM]

Sounds like an easier intro for a newbie too. I really know nothing about it at all so will have to do the same and maybe get down and watch it too.

Did a bit of reading last night and looks like the hydro handbrake will need a brake upgrade too. I've just upgraded the fronts on the car from the breaker (it seemed to have bigger brakes on it), so will check the rears. If they're no different then the hydro will have to go on the back burner till I can afford a new brake set-up on the rear.

Upgrading the fronts only will lead to more lock-ups & braking under-steer now. If you are going for a hydro, put an adjustable bias valve in while you are at it to balance the footbrake out to the rear more. Mine was meant to have 1.8 fronts and 1.6 rears and used to frustrate the life out of me

As DavyC says, autotesting is a laugh in a 5, & multivenue is a bit less intricate and more fun. I did one at the tail end of last year, great day for all it costs. I had a VLSD and virtually no handbrake, but wasnt there with the intentions of winning anyway, so managed the best!

Its actually really easy to pick up. If you arrive at a test nice and early, you can jump out of the car and watch the cars before you driving the course. Its easy when you can visualise the route

 

[peter wilson]

From what i can remember the MGCC used to do instruction sessions at their early season events for newcomers but they've all gone now. Try Pete Moore off here as he's been about autotesting for years.

 

[Coog]

Upgrading the fronts only will lead to more lock-ups & braking under-steer now. If you are going for a hydro, put an adjustable bias valve in while you are at it to balance the footbrake out to the rear more. Mine was meant to have 1.8 fronts and 1.6 rears and used to frustrate the life out of me

As DavyC says, autotesting is a laugh in a 5, & multivenue is a bit less intricate and more fun. I did one at the tail end of last year, great day for all it costs. I had a VLSD and virtually no handbrake, but wasnt there with the intentions of winning anyway, so managed the best!

Its actually really easy to pick up. If you arrive at a test nice and early, you can jump out of the car and watch the cars before you driving the course. Its easy when you can visualise the route

Good point, never really thought about that. I've the rears there too which I can use - I must fire them in at the weekend along with the upgraded diff mounts.

 

[DavyC]

..^^ Pipped me to it there Peter. The MGCC have had a couple of beginner friendly autotests this year and competitors could arrive earlier for a bit of advice / tuition from the more experienced. Worked well from what I hear. @earney ?

 

[svensktoppen]

Sounds like an easier intro for a newbie too. I really know nothing about it at all so will have to do the same and maybe get down and watch it too.

Autotest and hillclimbs/sprints are all good intros to motorsport, and the MX5 is perfect for either. Autotest is probably a bit more specialised/technical, but good for car control. Hillclimbs/sprints you basically just drive on your own as fast as you can from A to B, without having to worry about other cars aiming for the same bit of tarmac at the same time.

Everyone has to start somewhere, and everyone there knows this. Whichever one you go for, they will be very happy to see new faces, and will keep you right. No better way to learn than to give it a go. Or even have a go at a trackday, plenty of people have started that way.

You will not win any of these things, the chaps who do all have highly specialised machinery and have been at it forever. Or they carefully pick an "easy" class and build/drive to maximise the regs.

But that is not the point. Just have fun and enjoy it.

 

[peter wilson]

A 1.6 MX5 would be perfect for the small road going class in sprints and hillclimbs. As it doesn't tend to be heavily populated class you might even be in for an award if you keep it pointing in the right direction. Only thing is for the hills a rear cage will be needed as a lot of the clubs are now insisting in roll bars even in the road class. Would still be good fun though and at least roll bars are easy to get and to fit to an MX5.

 

[svensktoppen]

That was the class Graham ran in, and he did indeed get a few awards. Seems to be a relaxed class, perfect entry point.

 

[OZ10]

Sorry only seeing this now. Best place to start is TSCC their next autotest is at Kirkistown July 1st Entry only a tenner from what i remember. Details are on their site, they do all forwards autotesting.

Next up would be Peak Performance Motor Club, they have a bit of reversing, tests are usually open, suit any car and good for beginners. Entry usually £20, they have 1 autotest and 1 multivenue left this year from memory.

We at MGCC will hopefully run a tutorial at our October event which is a Saturday. Not sure on the location yet. We have an autotest on the 18th of June which you are more than welcome to watch/enter however it does have tail throws, nose throws and reversing which if you havent autotested before may be a little difficult. It is at Morrow Contracts in Gilnahirk.

Clubs usually like entrys to be sent in the post but usually you can get away with a phone call or email to let them know you are attending and bring your form/fee on the night. They need to know before hand for signing on, amount of test diagrams etc to get printed.

Plenty of MX5's competing these days and plenty or RWD men only too happy to give you advice on driving and car set up.

 

[OZ10]

From what i can remember the MGCC used to do instruction sessions at their early season events for newcomers but they've all gone now. Try Pete Moore off here as he's been about autotesting for years.

We still do them on our Saturday events, ran one at Delamont and Nutts Corner this year. Hopefully another in October as long as we have a suitable site and the numbers to run it. You going to give it a go yourself?

 

[Coog]

Thanks @earney - I take it I need to join the club and pay the entry fee? I think I might just do it and make a plonker out of myself.

What's it mean by "throttle spring" in the scrutineer sheet? Is that a separate spring on the throttle pedal or is the OEM one on the throttle body sufficient? We had same rule in 4wd club but I can't remember what way we did it.

 

[peter wilson]

I would love to but trying to.manhandle the 96 around tight turns on tarmac is near impossible as the steering lock is useless. I'm 50 at the end of the year so.need to do something to mark the occasion so might have my first foray into motorsport. When my Volvo was trashed a couple of weeks ago i was going to go and look at a Starlet to get me on the road. The thought was it could always be used as a cheap autotester. I'll be decide at yhe end of the summer whether I'm going to move the 96 on and if so might get myself a Starlet and a couple of new handbrake cables!

 

[OZ10]

Thanks @earney - I take it I need to join the club and pay the entry fee? I think I might just do it and make a plonker out of myself.

What's it mean by "throttle spring" in the scrutineer sheet? Is that a separate spring on the throttle pedal or is the OEM one on the throttle body sufficient? We had same rule in 4wd club but I can't remember what way we did it.

Join the cheapest club and it does you across the range of clubs, you only need to be a member of one unless you want to do a championship then you need to join that club. TSCC i think is £10 same as PPMC.

Throttle spring depends on the car some have it as standard, not sure on the MX5. Just stops the throttle from becoming jammed down. To be honest ive never had an issue passing scrutiny, some can be awkward but never turned down. Our Starlet apparently its built in, the mini doesnt have one to my knowledge. May be different for sprints tho , they may be more specific.

 

[OZ10]

I would love to but trying to.manhandle the 96 around tight turns on tarmac is near impossible as the steering lock is useless. I'm 50 at the end of the year so.need to do something to mark the occasion so might have my first foray into motorsport. When my Volvo was trashed a couple of weeks ago i was going to go and look at a Starlet to get me on the road. The thought was it could always be used as a cheap autotester. I'll be decide at yhe end of the summer whether I'm going to move the 96 on and if so might get myself a Starlet and a couple of new handbrake cables!

Cheap car ours was 400 with very little done to it. But yes new handbrake cables would be advisable, its hard to get a good handbrake on them.

 

[peter wilson]

As a matter of interest did you fit an lsd to the Starlet.