Proper update to come but the little French Terrier was mega at Blyton today! Thoroughly enjoyed it and the little guy performed faultlessly! 
MS 200 fun road and track car - and other car stuff!
- Thread starter Matt Scarbro
- Start date
A little late with the update as I was hopeful of having the track pictures but they've not landed yet...
Blyton Park // 08.04.2017
I booked an afternoon at Blyton with Mazda on Track to test the water with the Clio. The MoT days are well run and tend to have better than average driving etiquette.
One downside of the MoT days is that they tend to run the day in two halves, one on the Eastern Circuit and the other on the Outer Circuit. Happily in this instance they ran the Outer in the afternoon so I was able to have a later start than a typical trackday. I can't stand the Eastern Circuit, too much tight messing about at the start of the lap and then 'Curva Grande' that they sell as being a challenge to the car... the reality is just that the tarmac has sunk so it's bumpy and horrible!
The Outer Circuit on the other hand is very good for a flat, airfield type circuit, with a great variety of corners and an ideal proving ground for a new car or setup.
The plans to make the car useable on track had come together quite nicely, with all the 'must haves' covered, giving me confidence that it should be properly equipped for a reliable day's running.
The weather was absolutely splendid, sat at about 20* and bone dry. To be honest, it was warm enough that I was grateful that I wasn't in the sweaty, hot, noisebox that is the MX2000!! It wasn't hot enough to warrant AC though, precious couple of horsepower are better used going fast!
So, my first ever trackday in a front wheel drive car, let alone my first in this car. And right from the go in the afternoon session I left the pits following a well-prepared 197, best be on my A game!! I was quickly reminded to switch off the TC/stability by a bit of electronic interference on the way out of the first corner. Button duly pushed on the straight and the little car was simply terrific!
I expected it to be good for a road car but was amazed at just how easy it was to drive, by the end of the first lap I had the confidence to drive it hard. Without trying too hard I was able to hang on to the back of the track 197 and it was interesting to see a couple of areas where it (or the driver) was noticeably faster. In the sweeping exit from the first complex it would hook up a bit better and out of the slow chicane it was much better. I would be interested in finding out what has been done to the car beyond the well advertised Bilstein suspension and weight loss.
So a terrific first session following the 197 around and it just got better as the day went on. The CL brakes were mighty and I didn't have the problem with heel and toe that I had feared. The AD08r tyres did exactly what was expected of them, feeling like a 'quarter slick' in terms of outright grip and not giving up all day despite the abuse they suffered.
That fact that I don't have much to say about the suspension is a glowing endorsement, the sacrifice in road comfort delivering the promised dynamic reward and I wasn't left craving coilovers.
Coolant temp was rock solid at a little below the halfway point and it didn't use a drop of oil all day!
The seats were great for recliners, a little core strength was required in places and I would definitely benefit from fixed buckets and harnesses, but the ease of use of the normal seats and belts more than offset that on this car.
Although it's a fairly small car, it's not particularly light (I should think mine is >1250kg) and it doesn't trick you into thinking it is either. But equally it doesn't feel heavy and cumbersome on track and the quick rack makes it feel willing and eager, even if it doesn't dart around like a flyweight.
The chassis is very capable and grown up, dare I say even a little too grown up?... I tried playing around with tyre pressures to provoke a little more mobility at the rear but perhaps I wasn't aggressive enough with the changes.
I must have left my external gps switched on having been checking the accuracy of the speedo en route to the track, it seems I inadvertently logged a session on Harry's... 2up it did a 1:16.6 which is a little quicker than expected and more importantly, a few tenths quicker than a friend's similarly modified 350z at the same track! I reckon that's good going from the little Terrier!
So the first track outing, albeit just an afternoon was a huge success and hugely enjoyable! I have paid for a bundle of five trackdays with my insurance company so I'm going to have to use them all up!
The following day I gave the car a check over, swapped the wheels front to rear, swapped the CLs for some OEM Pagids for road use and put the compact subwoofer back in.
Will loves a pose!
The pads have barely worn which is good though I would have been very disappointed to find anything else having opted for the RC6s.
Interestingly, despite the warnings I've heard about the CLs being hugely dusty, there was barely any at all. Less than the Renault OEM pads at the back! I've also had very little squeal too, as longs as they don't go through discs too quickly with road use I don't see any reason that they couldn't be used all the time instead of swapping.
Very little dust:
Pad wear:
Labelled up for next time:
The tyres are mostly ok, however there is a band of heavier wear on the inside centre quarter of the outside front. Given that this was just an afternoon I'm a bit worried that I might get through these tyres a bit quick!
I will likely get a spare pair of wheels and fit some slightly more track orientated rubber for the front. I know a few chaps who run either narrower or less extreme tyres at the rear on FWD track/race cars without oversteer problems, and two of them are CRXs which are much more pointy than the 200.
If anyone has a spare pair of 200 wheels or can point me in the direction of someone selling it would be appreciated!
Sorry the first half was a text fest! Track pics to come and then a vid once I've edited it.
Blyton Park // 08.04.2017
I booked an afternoon at Blyton with Mazda on Track to test the water with the Clio. The MoT days are well run and tend to have better than average driving etiquette.
One downside of the MoT days is that they tend to run the day in two halves, one on the Eastern Circuit and the other on the Outer Circuit. Happily in this instance they ran the Outer in the afternoon so I was able to have a later start than a typical trackday. I can't stand the Eastern Circuit, too much tight messing about at the start of the lap and then 'Curva Grande' that they sell as being a challenge to the car... the reality is just that the tarmac has sunk so it's bumpy and horrible!
The Outer Circuit on the other hand is very good for a flat, airfield type circuit, with a great variety of corners and an ideal proving ground for a new car or setup.
The plans to make the car useable on track had come together quite nicely, with all the 'must haves' covered, giving me confidence that it should be properly equipped for a reliable day's running.
The weather was absolutely splendid, sat at about 20* and bone dry. To be honest, it was warm enough that I was grateful that I wasn't in the sweaty, hot, noisebox that is the MX2000!! It wasn't hot enough to warrant AC though, precious couple of horsepower are better used going fast!
So, my first ever trackday in a front wheel drive car, let alone my first in this car. And right from the go in the afternoon session I left the pits following a well-prepared 197, best be on my A game!! I was quickly reminded to switch off the TC/stability by a bit of electronic interference on the way out of the first corner. Button duly pushed on the straight and the little car was simply terrific!
I expected it to be good for a road car but was amazed at just how easy it was to drive, by the end of the first lap I had the confidence to drive it hard. Without trying too hard I was able to hang on to the back of the track 197 and it was interesting to see a couple of areas where it (or the driver) was noticeably faster. In the sweeping exit from the first complex it would hook up a bit better and out of the slow chicane it was much better. I would be interested in finding out what has been done to the car beyond the well advertised Bilstein suspension and weight loss.
So a terrific first session following the 197 around and it just got better as the day went on. The CL brakes were mighty and I didn't have the problem with heel and toe that I had feared. The AD08r tyres did exactly what was expected of them, feeling like a 'quarter slick' in terms of outright grip and not giving up all day despite the abuse they suffered.
That fact that I don't have much to say about the suspension is a glowing endorsement, the sacrifice in road comfort delivering the promised dynamic reward and I wasn't left craving coilovers.
Coolant temp was rock solid at a little below the halfway point and it didn't use a drop of oil all day!
The seats were great for recliners, a little core strength was required in places and I would definitely benefit from fixed buckets and harnesses, but the ease of use of the normal seats and belts more than offset that on this car.
Although it's a fairly small car, it's not particularly light (I should think mine is >1250kg) and it doesn't trick you into thinking it is either. But equally it doesn't feel heavy and cumbersome on track and the quick rack makes it feel willing and eager, even if it doesn't dart around like a flyweight.
The chassis is very capable and grown up, dare I say even a little too grown up?... I tried playing around with tyre pressures to provoke a little more mobility at the rear but perhaps I wasn't aggressive enough with the changes.
I must have left my external gps switched on having been checking the accuracy of the speedo en route to the track, it seems I inadvertently logged a session on Harry's... 2up it did a 1:16.6 which is a little quicker than expected and more importantly, a few tenths quicker than a friend's similarly modified 350z at the same track! I reckon that's good going from the little Terrier!
So the first track outing, albeit just an afternoon was a huge success and hugely enjoyable! I have paid for a bundle of five trackdays with my insurance company so I'm going to have to use them all up!
The following day I gave the car a check over, swapped the wheels front to rear, swapped the CLs for some OEM Pagids for road use and put the compact subwoofer back in.
Will loves a pose!
The pads have barely worn which is good though I would have been very disappointed to find anything else having opted for the RC6s.
Interestingly, despite the warnings I've heard about the CLs being hugely dusty, there was barely any at all. Less than the Renault OEM pads at the back! I've also had very little squeal too, as longs as they don't go through discs too quickly with road use I don't see any reason that they couldn't be used all the time instead of swapping.
Very little dust:
Pad wear:
Labelled up for next time:
The tyres are mostly ok, however there is a band of heavier wear on the inside centre quarter of the outside front. Given that this was just an afternoon I'm a bit worried that I might get through these tyres a bit quick!
I will likely get a spare pair of wheels and fit some slightly more track orientated rubber for the front. I know a few chaps who run either narrower or less extreme tyres at the rear on FWD track/race cars without oversteer problems, and two of them are CRXs which are much more pointy than the 200.
If anyone has a spare pair of 200 wheels or can point me in the direction of someone selling it would be appreciated!
Sorry the first half was a text fest! Track pics to come and then a vid once I've edited it.
I'm seriously jealous Matt...gotta get rid of my Audi A3 then I can get on with playing about with mine..
How are you getting on with the Yokos on the road? Can't decide between them and the ContiSports!
How are you getting on with the Yokos on the road? Can't decide between them and the ContiSports!
Yeah..I can't imagine me being any different with noise, currently got a harmony of one ContiSport, one Pirelli and two different budgets. Change needed! What price did you manage to pick them up for?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice read your write-up few posts up.........
Im amazed by that above !
The Conti 5's for me have been good in the dry - but have excelled in the wet in my eyes. Although not a track tyre - and in the same bracket as the Yoko's perhaps - they've also done 'ok' on track for a few peps.
***Just done a little Googling and numerous reviews say the Yoko's are good in the wet. So much good rubber around these days.....we are spoilt for choice.
Really glad to hear you had a great track day and the tyres, brakes - not to mention the car itself - all performed faultlessly.
FWD "convert" ?
Pav
Moderator
so glad you had a good time at Blyton..i have done Blyton 3x times now and its a great little track..great shots too and by the look of it,it looks like the weather was your friend too on that day..
What a great thread and write up on the your track day experience. This is something I'm hoping to do in the future and this type of info is very helpful in preparing my car. Great job matey.
Paul
Paul
///M
Gold Member
Absolutely fantastic write up and superb photos.
Clearly you had a bloody glorious day out.
Enjoyed reading and seeing all that Matt.
Clearly you had a bloody glorious day out.
Enjoyed reading and seeing all that Matt.
FWD "convert" ?
To be honest I'm a RWD convert!
I had classic Minis for a few years, then mk2 CRXs so knew how much fun you could have with a hot hatch.
But once I tasted RWD with the S2000 and then the MX5s on track I must admit, there is just more enjoyment to be had from driving them around and above the limits. If you've only tried FWD I would say get yourself out in an MX5 or something on track, it's different, requires more from the driver, especially over these Clios that are really easy to drive. But there's so much to be had from driving a well set up RWD car on track.
If there's anyone here that finds themselves on track with us in the spare mk2 MX5 and conditions permit, I would happily let you take it out to see what all the fuss is about!
That's not to take anything away from the Clio, I think it's a cracking car and you can absolutely have an awesome time on track in a FWD car too. I consider myself very fortunate in that I can enjoy both fairly regularly.
Clio is playing support car this weekend as we're at Cadwell in the slow MX5. When you've only got 87bhp you need all the help you can get...
Fit like a glove, and the parcel shelf went down! You wouldn't get those in a GT3!!
Fit like a glove, and the parcel shelf went down! You wouldn't get those in a GT3!!
Pav
Moderator
Yep, I have a set of semis for the Clio that load nicely like that, too. Seemed "too hard" for earlier cars
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I offered a 16" wheel up last evening 'just to see' if they fit...
They do! Details here for anyone interested:
http://www.clio197.net/threads/16-wheels-fit.56264/
If they were the right stud pattern, I would have bought them for the Clio, as Dad's had them laying about for years. Any track stuff my car does is a bonus though, so I won't be going out and spending £600 on a set of new TD wheels for it.
They do! Details here for anyone interested:
http://www.clio197.net/threads/16-wheels-fit.56264/
If they were the right stud pattern, I would have bought them for the Clio, as Dad's had them laying about for years. Any track stuff my car does is a bonus though, so I won't be going out and spending £600 on a set of new TD wheels for it.
First of the Blyton vids, just a few clips from my first session following a nicely prepared 197. 
Pav
Moderator
love Blyton Park..short technical track..your car looks very fast..any more track days booked??
We were at Cadwell in the mk2 MX5 on Weds, truly fantastic day! Next up is Cadwell again in the VX220 on May 10th.
Then I'm planning a couple of Blytons, one in the Clio letting my Dad drive. He spent his working life building rally Minis and then performance and race Mini engines, but never did much track stuff himself so having retired he's building a track Mini at last! Figured the Clio would be the perfect friendly car for his first outing!
The second Blyton I'll be taking the mk2 MX5 and letting a couple of old friends drive it, I love getting other people involved in this hobby I love so much!
Then I'm planning a couple of Blytons, one in the Clio letting my Dad drive. He spent his working life building rally Minis and then performance and race Mini engines, but never did much track stuff himself so having retired he's building a track Mini at last! Figured the Clio would be the perfect friendly car for his first outing!
The second Blyton I'll be taking the mk2 MX5 and letting a couple of old friends drive it, I love getting other people involved in this hobby I love so much!
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