Clubsport 250 Cup

If you cast your minds back, I replaced both driveshafts on the car shortly after buying it. Almost instantly, the new (genuine) drivers side shaft started to spew grease everywhere.
With a trackday coming up, I refitted the old shaft which didn’t actually need replacing in the first place - I just like doing everything in pairs. Fast forward to MOT time this February gone and the old shaft finally failed.

AUTODOC had sorted me a replacement out free of charge, so today I set about replacing it for the 3rd time.







The outer boot had lost its clip, but there was no grease anywhere, so presume this must have failed previously.

My air filter was in desperate need for a change too.





Gave the Protracks a scrub, and got the car loaded up for tomorrow. It’s gonna be an early start!

So Cadwell. Not really much to say as most of you were all there.

Early start for me and Ben





Plenty of company too. @Helpimonfire and @Beany with their freshly prepared Trackbaguettes special builds - though Martin’s suffered a questionable noise half way through the day. @burrellbloke and @EthanMenace made the journey up, still adamant that they don’t need a tow car and trailer, and the clio197 relic @R20BTG and his pal @s88thy with his new acquisition.

My first time at Cadwell in the Megane. Felt a little anxious to be honest. Had a couple of tentative sessions on the A052’s, of course with Ben pushing me along.
Finally found a little bravery and fitted the slicks. Wasn’t too impressed with these, but never really got them hot enough I think. Their time was called short pretty quickly, having rubbed the arches and beginning to delaminate.



One thing the slicks did identify, is the suspension just seems way too soft for them. By comparison, the car feels absolutely mega on A052’s, and that’s what I spent the rest of the day on.

Had some mega laps chasing and leading @tombate911 with his E46. You’ve no doubt seen that video also.

Was happy to see that Rob Baxter in attendance with the Javelin crew, but it appears he spent all day taking pics of the Audi Quattro.

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Ben had a pretty crap day. We broke for dinner and the car decided to break whilst parked up.
This is the second time he’s had a genuine clutch cover fail now, and the 4th time he’s had clutch issues. He got home and stripped it down pretty quickly, only to be greeted with the following:

Also gave the car a once over Saturday just gone.
Driveshafts all intact this time, A052’s will survive the trip to Germany, but a bit of play in the swivels on the N/S. Absolutely no way I can be arsed to sort them before I go, so like Martin, it can be something for future Nathan to sort.

Spent a good while Sunday cleaning it - the first time I’ve done it properly since buying it (laziness)

It really was no drama at Cadwell with the exception of a couple of sideways moments - nothing lairy though.

Looking forward to the ring now!

A very exciting update. Not.





Managed to find some ‘correct’ length drop links.



Got the guy in the unit behind my dad’s to put me a fresh sunstrip on too. No more silly writing.
Satisfies my love of none messy cars.

Ring on Friday. Getting anxious now!

It is indeed. It has an ITG intake and the filters just the other side of the opening.

The annual pilgrimage to Nurburgring. Overall, a great trip, but not without its issues.

I was on the whole, fairly prepared for this trip, having put a bit of time into the car post Cadwell to make sure it was ready to go.

Friday - headed down to the unit to finalise my packing, and when I say finalise, I actually mean start it.
The Megane was still sat on the 4 post ramp, and neither trailer or tow car was loaded up. I opted to go for the minimalistic approach this time round, packing spare tyres, a jack, and my trackday tool grab bag.

By now, you’re probably all getting fed up of seeing the trailer, but I don’t care cus I think it looks mint.



I departed for the 2.5 hour journey to Hull around midday, and arrived at the boat 4.5 hours later - Friday traffic really is the worst.



(Ignore the TPMS warning)

After the debacle last year with my mate not being allowed to travel, I was feeling pretty anxious queuing up for passport control. Everything did go smoothly, and I was soon loaded and sat at the bar.





Some poor sods happened to arrive 7 minutes after the closing time, and were swiftly sent on their ways



Saturday morning

A decent nights sleep on the boat this time, with the exception of some pissed up silly bint running up and down the sleeping quarters shouting AARONNNNNNN at the top of her lungs at 2am.
Passport control on the Rotterdam side always seems to take forever since Brexit #perks but this did give an opportunity to perve on the other motors in the queue, namely:



My travelling companion had managed to get through the boarder really quickly compared to me, so we met up at a small truck fuelling station to just go around the cars and make sure wheels were tight and tyres had the correct air



The drive from Rotterdam seemed to take an age this time, but by 3pm, we were driving passed the ring sign



We unloaded and headed to Brunchen to watch the end of the RCN race from that day.



By 6pm, I’d accidentally ended up on track in the tow car






More to follow shortly

Helpimonfire said:

Big licks in the big rig. Bet those tyres were fun

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Was mildly horrific to be honest.
Was worth it for the pics though. Looks so out of place compared to everything on track.

Tarticmonkey said:

How much more does it cost towing to the ring rather than driving over?

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Essentially double

Continued.

The conclusion of TF that evening meant a visit to one of my new favourite restaurants in the centre of Adenau, Blau Ecke.
Sunday was essentially the preparation day for me, so I took some time switching the PS4’s with the A052’s.

I spent some time doing some adventuring in the Touareg, and watching TF.



There had been a nasty crash just after Hatzenbach, which was causing absolute mayhem as people were heading into the yellow flag section.



I departed my view spot, and shortly after, @R20BTG arrived - having been fisted by the German Police. He’d managed to avoid (only just) the influx of what was reported to be 45,000 motorbikes to the area as the season kick-off Anlassen.



Monday

So this brings us onto the morning of the trackday.
Having had my breakfast, I headed to the track and sat in the pits waiting for the sighting laps. I really wasn’t feeling this, and had a massive headache and was a little bit sick.

Nevertheless, I headed out, and on my first session noticed there was a little bit of vibration on the front end, which I assumed to be pad pick-up from Cadwell a few weeks prior.
Still yet to get that 4 wheels off the floor pic at PF1, but I’m adamant I can’t go any faster, as I’m essentially on the limiter in 4th and not braking before the jump at all.

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We broke for dinner, and I noted that I really was wearing the A052’s down. I had considered purchasing a new set over there, but decided just to take it steady.
I went out for another session, and the brakes were really properly terrible at this point.
I headed for the accommodation, had a check over the brakes, and was greeted with the following on the drivers side (see the crack on the inside of the disc)



So that was my day over. Silver lining is I hadn’t purchased tyres, but had just put a full tank of 98 in - annoying!

Tuesday was a mix of sulking and watching the second CD trackday. The weather had taken a turn for the better worse. 20+ degrees does not sit well with me.

Wednesday was just a big dose. Got the cars loaded up, packed up, and headed home via the ring sign of course



A mixed trip overall, but it’s more of a holiday really nowadays. Had some great food, beer, and good chats with mates.
Wasn’t brave enough to have the lap timer on/on show, but of the 1 video I did get, I am getting ever closer to the 8 minute mark. I’m booked on for their June date, so we’ll see what happens.

Couldn’t resist heading down to the unit on Friday and checking the car over.



I done me a big whoopsie



Really don’t know what to replace them with, and instead of deciding, bought a set of part worn direzzas instead

burrellbloke said:

Were you booked on for two days of track day action or just the Monday?

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Just the Monday fortunately.

I did source some new discs from the Renault dealer, but there was no way I was paying €450 for that privilege (cash only).