Matt's 200

Great day at Silverstone

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The new KW v3 were brilliant. I left them fairly soft for the greasy/damp morning session but after lunch wound them down and loved the increase in grip and directness.
Was also really pleased with the PS4s again in the morning - and the Cup2s (Black wheels) gave a huge amount of grip once a dry line appeared after lunch.

Silverstone is very very flat, very very Smooth and very very wide - the Clio felt a little slow because of this but was immense in the twisties.

Next big thing then is brakes.

This was their third track day and daily running so pads and discs are now shot. Good excuse to upgrade a little for next time.

Best thing about the Clio is just what a versatile little thing it is! One minute pounding round giving machines 10x it’s price hassle, next it swallows all your gear and drives home all comfy with cruise control on!

Love it!
 

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So I’ve decided the lockdown has to be an opportunity! I can’t get to any of my other cars so the Clio (which has been an ignored daily for a few months) is going to get some attention. Nothing else to do so might as well clean it within an inch of its life!

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The KWs have been amazing but brakes definitely need some beefing so perhaps some 330mm discs and new pads for the front.

Then one of those cheeky on a whim forum buys sees this coming in the post To match the recaros, steering wheel and mats

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Then looking at my steering wheel and thinking the alcantara looked to be on the worn side I’ve asked for a quote form royal for a refreshed steering wheel and gear gator just to lift the interior a bit. Oh, and some yellow seat belts!

Other jobs are to find a second set of Cup wheels for my Cup2s to go on as it’s (nearly summer right) and I’m tired of swapping tyres into the same alloys. Might go lime green for them as well........


Then wait for all this to be over and book some track time and enjoy some morning blasts again!
 
Love it. Though I don't know how you manage white wheels. I got a new set of the 8J Speedlines a few years ago and had them on the car for less than a month due to having to clean them every 3 or 4 days. Looked the biz but just too much work.

Also. Which Silverstone layout did you do above? I've done the National layout (The one the BTCC use) and thought it was $hite in the 200. Not enough corners. I definitely want to try out the full circuit but it is a long way to go for us Scots.
 
Love it. Though I don't know how you manage white wheels. I got a new set of the 8J Speedlines a few years ago and had them on the car for less than a month due to having to clean them every 3 or 4 days. Looked the biz but just too much work.

Also. Which Silverstone layout did you do above? I've done the National layout (The one the BTCC use) and thought it was $hite in the 200. Not enough corners. I definitely want to try out the full circuit but it is a long way to go for us Scots.


White car/ white wheels so it’s either all filthy (which I quite like) or all spangly which I think looks the dogs... I am thinking of ceramic coating the wheels so they don’t pick up the dirt as much. Did it on my other car and it’s been amazing.

Silverstone was the full GP circuit. I mainly did it to do it if you know what I mean but was pleasantly surprised. It is very wide and it is very flat and you will have some very fast cars blasting past BUT it has some good really tight corners, maggots and becketts are very satisfying at high speed and I had plenty of fun! Just misses a few of the cambers and undulations you find at other tracks.

Worth ticking off at some point
 
Small things can make a massive difference:

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Anyone know what this wire does - I’ve left it detached and nothing seems to have disappeared or not working - there wasn’t the connection for it on the Alcantara one?

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So today I tried a new product on my already very very clean Clio!

Fortify from Shine Armour in the states promises to do a bit of a ceramic effect and protect my nicely, freshly polished Clio.

First I waited a couple of weeks to let the wax and polish harden off from earlier session. Then it was a fairly simple process of wiping on with a damp micro-cloth and then buffing off with a dry one. Windows and all.

Not tested it yet outside or with a cup of dirty water!!!!! But initial thoughts are it gives a lovely smooth finish and was very easy to apply. Time will tell if it gives that ‘ceramic-lite’ effect


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Retrimmed steering wheelarrives next week so I can give the interior some love.

Then I need to find some more cup wheels, Spray them lime green, buy two more Cup2 tyres and get my summer wheels on. Then I can get these wheels off for a refurb and maybe ceramic coating which would make keeping white wheels easier!!!
 
Wow, that looks super clean!! Nice work!

Look forward to seeing the steering wheel as U’d like to get mine done. Can I ask how much?
 
Wow, that looks super clean!! Nice work!

Look forward to seeing the steering wheel as U’d like to get mine done. Can I ask how much?

yep - using royal steering wheels who have excellent rep and it’s about £160 with my old steering wheel in exchange

although they will retrim your existing wheel
 
So steering wheel time: many of you will have read my pain at trying to unclip the airbag (3hrs of my life I won’t get back) but advice to use a 1/4 extension made a massive difference and finally I got it off. Same story with the gear knob: literally had to stand with one foot in each footwell and heave - missed my face and nads though when it finally came so I guess that’s a win!

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If anyone’s interested: this is what it looks like to finally get the bag off!

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You can see how much abuse the back of the bag gets with the flat head screw drivers!

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The Renault Sport Clip has never fit very well and the nice new alcantara made it look even worse.
Nice little fix - saw of edges and use back as clamp. Think it actually looks better as a plate anyway. Pleased with how that worked out.

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Then into the car to put it all back in!

Much easier process thankfully!

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I think the results are excellent!

Quality from Royal is fantastic and colour match on stitching is spot on.

The interiors of renaults have never been great - but I feel I’m nearly there with this one.

Feels like a quality place to sit!

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Great thread this! Really like the steering wheel!! Did Jack give you a choice of colour for the Alcantara, or is that his default choice?

Love that face you pulled when you got the airbag off!! Ha