Sprint Hillclimb 197

[av4625]

I got a new car for sprints



Unfortunately the Clio just isn’t suited to any class, the M3 will be in the same class as I was with the Clio.

I love the Clio and I was beating things that I probably shouldn’t have been in it. But have been on the look out for something RWD with more power and this popped up at the right price. It already has a half cage, buckets, coilovers, AP Racing calipers and some other bits and pieces. I think the E46’s have gone mad, money wise, so I needed one that had already got most modifications I wanted. This will be my first go with RWD, so it should be fun lol

I’m still a massive RenaultSport fan and couldn’t bring myself to sell the Clio and I’ll never sell my 275 Megane (think I have a problem).

Might plan on a full cage for the Clio to replace the half cage and venture out to do a hillclimb. My Dad might do the odd sprint in it too. Its pretty cheap motorsport doing a sprint in a Clio if you aren’t in a road going class (road going needs tax which needs insurance, which is costly for a couple of sprints a year)

 

[av4625]

First prototype 3D printed endplates. Not just happy with the shape. A few tweeks and it should be good

 

[av4625]

I put cup racer EE brackets on the Clio and all the other stuff required along with the bump steer correction. Shortly after this I got the M3 so didn't really get to use it too much. Did a track day at the weekend at Kirkistown in the Clio, and just whao. It is sooo good. Much more planted in the corners than the M3 (it's currently not as heavily track focused as the Clio though and it didn't have semi slicks last year). The first corner I was pinned at 110mph and if I had more power the car could handle more. Took a few friends out in it and they were surprised by how good it was.

I would really like to try the cup racer ARB as I have the lightest one that came on RS Clios, along with this I would like to change my spring rates to be similar to the cup racers as mine are a bit backward as I didn't know any better at the time and let GAZ spec them given my cars weight. 650-700lbs front and 400-450lbs rear (can't remember exactly).

One slight issue with the car on the day, I came into the paddock and left it running a minute, it just stopped after a minute or so and wouldn't start, just cranked. Couldn't hear the fuel pump priming or feel it buzzing. Put my hand on the connector on top and it fired up just before we ran the battery down too much. The car has been sitting a while and my dad put fuel in it the day before and the petrol needle just stayed at half full. After 4-5 stops and starts of the car, it went up to full. When the car wouldn't start we put more fuel in it as I thought we would have used more than half a tank, and the needle went straight up to full. Not sure whether to trust it.

 

[Big Ben]

Be interested in what Gaz say about spring rates. I run 650f 350r Gaz golds and don’t feel the need to change a thing.
Are cup racers on a “true” coilover or a separate spring and shock at the rear? That might be why you see such variations in rates

 

[av4625]

Be interested in what Gaz say about spring rates. I run 650f 350r Gaz golds and don’t feel the need to change a thing.
Are cup racers on a “true” coilover or a separate spring and shock at the rear? That might be why you see such variations in rates

I asked GAZ and they could supply me cup racer specs and that the shocks wouldn't need revalved according to them.

Cup racers have a true coilover rear and their spring rates are: 75N/mm front (about 450lbs) and 130N/mm rear (about 750lbs).

The reason they run those rates is as far as I gather, because of the corrected roll centre and wider track etc etc. They also run a stiffer front roll bar (along with the updated geo/track width) which allows the softer front spring. Then the heavier rear is likely to make the rear more playful. I can literally launch my car at anything, even over big curbs on throttle while turning (this sounds a little more aggressive than it is lol) and the rear is glued, never wants to step out, I'd like it to rotate a bit more and I think this would help.

 

[NickD]

They also run slicks.

 

[av4625]

They also run slicks.

And this ^

 

[av4625]

Carrying on from my previous issue of dodgy fuel gauge and the car stopping.

I tested the fuel gauge with a variable resistor and it seems to work as expected on the dash, so that seems to work.

Next thing to check is the level in the tank, I cut the hole under where the back seats where bigger as I already had the Alu plate from ages ago and never did this. Wasn’t able to get the cap off the tank, I then ran out of time. So ordered a tool and will try this the next time I’m down at the car (currently at my parents house).

 

[av4625]

Got the cap off and moved the level and the dash updated accordingly and seems to show the correct amount of fuel is in the tank. Everything seems fine. Will just have to keep an eye on this.

 

[av4625]

I entered the Clio in for my first hillclimb. It is more of a social hillclimb rather than a competitive one, I think they want it to be the Northern Ireland "goodwood". I was doing a spanner check and I noticed the the passenger seat had some movement. I removed some of the bolts and was shocked to find this:





I got these mounts for the passenger seat a good while ago from supreme motorsport. But this seat was never used as I only did sprints (other than my partner sitting in the seat in the pits the odd time). The first time it was used properly was at the trackday at the start of the year. So after one proper use they look like this. I have SW motorsport steel ones in the drivers seat and they are fine.

I emailed supreme and they replied wanting more pictures, sent those and thats the last I heard from them. Pretty poor considering what could have happened in a crash.
They said they stopped selling these in aluminium, I think it's poor not to do a "recall" on them as it sounds like they knew they weren't strong enough but just let existing purchasers use them. If anyone else is running these please check them or just replace them.

 

[R20BTG]

Yikes, that's not good. I've just checked mine with a magnet and I have the revised steel versions. I'd be expecting a straight swap for steel ones if I was in your position.

 

[av4625]

Yikes, that's not good. I've just checked mine with a magnet and I have the revised steel versions. I'd be expecting a straight swap for steel ones if I was in your position.

Thats what I was expecting too and didn’t think it was too unreasonable to expect that

 

[deekay16v]

I would suggest using stronger washers, in case of aluminium seat mounts. Also check whether bolts are tightened (or using threadlock "glue" or Nordlock washers) time to time. To me it looks like bolt came loose and it killed those seat mounts.

 

[av4625]

I would suggest using stronger washers, in case of aluminium seat mounts. Also check whether bolts are tightened (or using threadlock "glue" or Nordlock washers) time to time. To me it looks like bolt came loose and it killed those seat mounts.

I do regularly do a spanner check and the seat bolts are something I check as scruiteneers always grab the seat (driver and passenger) and shake it to see if its tight. I’d be surprised if it came loose because of this.

Because he stopped selling aluminium and changed to steel suggests to me that similar issues have possibly been seen before.

 

[Zuban]

what is the thickness of those aluminium mounts and what is the thickness of material between the holes where it collapsed? Wonder what alloy was used.

interested as i've made my own seat mounts from aluminium and so far holding up fine

 

[RSRowe]

holding up fine

for now

 

[av4625]

what is the thickness of those aluminium mounts and what is the thickness of material between the holes where it collapsed? Wonder what alloy was used.

interested as i've made my own seat mounts from aluminium and so far holding up fine

I’m pretty sure they are 4mm thick but don’t quote me. I can measure for you the next time I’m at my parents house where it is currently stored

 

[av4625]

After sending a few more emails to supreme, they finally reply and just say they are going to do nothing. I’ll not be using them again. I have seen bad reviews from them on the facebook group but you never know the whole story sometimes. But it seems to be true. Pretty poor service.

 

[R20BTG]

I'd be curious to see how the conversation went. Care to share the discussion with sensitive information redacted?

 

[av4625]

I'd be curious to see how the conversation went. Care to share the discussion with sensitive information redacted?

Haha wasn’t much to it but here it is:

My initial one:

Hi,

I got seat mounts of you a while back and they haven’t seen much use until recently. I noticed the seat was moving so had a look and the mount holes are broken.

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Thanks,
Aaron

His reply:

Hi Aaron,

I’m really sorry to hear about this and to see the damage. They look like our aluminium mounts which we haven’t sold since 2019. Is that the rear mount of the seat?

Can you send us some photos from further away so we can see the full mount?

Many thanks

My reply:
I replied with some more pictures.

I got no reply over a week or so, I then sent:

Hi,

Where the extra pictures I sent OK?

Thanks,
Aaron

I still got no reply for a few days so I sent this:

Hi,

Can you replace these with the steel version?

Thanks,
Aaron

He then finally replied:

Hi,

We have checked back and haven’t had any others failed this is the only set. We did recall a later model which our manufacturer used the incorrect aluminium but these were all exchanged.

We can’t swap the mounts as we no longer sell any seat mounts unfortunately.

Many thanks