Yiannis' Albi Blue R27 - Toning down...

[Pav]

spot on Yiannis..always enjoy your yearly Euro update..car is going strong too..glad you had a such a great time..

 

[Yiannis197]

I had an S1 Elise and loved it lucky to have been in a audi powered elise & exige and that is some serious power - look like you had a blast.

Really? How come you sold mate? A friend of mine has an audi S1 and I went for a run a few years back. Not a fan of the power delivery though, too extreme for such a car but again, it might have been the mapping or the fact that he was running big power.

Sounds like he's gone for a TVS1900. I'd expect much more power than 410 though. Maybe it's something different. I know a guy with the TVS1900 and he had no trouble keeping up with a full blown Komotec 460 around Spa. Looked even faster to be honest.

Agree with him about the 380, quite a few owners voicing discontent at that car. One guy "upgraded" from his Cup and found he was two seconds slower around his local track. TWO SECONDS!

Still can't see how he's nailed his tyres so quickly. I know plenty of folks who have done that trip in a Lotus and never heard of anyone doing that. Even Johnny Pits (races in the Caterham championship) didn't have such issues and from the videos I've seen I can't imagine your mate was going quicker. He was on Trofeo too. Maybe he has set up issues. Wouldn't be the first car to leave Hethel with bad geo...

As for the fuel tank, yeah it's too small, but it's not a GT car anyway. Funny that even with the 60l one it still wasn't good enough! Extra weight though huh?

And speaking of weight, it's funny to hear to refer to the Exige as being too heavy! A car that is about 120kg lighter than your little Clio! You've been hanging round with the Elise boys too much mate!!!



Not sure I'd want to do that trip in a Lotus though to be honest. Far too hardcore for that length of journey. Fair play to all the other guys who did. I bet the Porsche guys were much happier in their GTs! Hell, I'd rather do it in the Clio to be honest!

haha I was only referring to other Lotuses mate and not to the Clio, it'd be rude to compare a clio with a V6 exige anyway! The point I was trying to make is that the V6 is 400 kgs heavier than an S1 and that car was running more than twice the power and torque. 410 is a ballpark figure, he hasn't dyno'd his car and as you say, it might be more. I'll message him for details out of curiosity

There were no geo issues mate, his car was prepared for the trip from the bests in the field apparently and he was running on corsas not tropheos. These were the tyres the car came with and they were brand new. Not sure what Johnny Pits was doing and how many miles per day they were driving and what power he is running etc but believe me when I'm saying this, the V6 was going bold on tyres very early on the trip. The owner is a very good peddler and 250 miles per day going aggressive on the passes is a recipe for tyre destruction.

As I said, same story for the S1 running 300bhp at the wheels, they are preserving the tyres to last. Back in 2010 we were looking for tyres in the middle of the trip for another guys s2 exige running a bit shy of 300bhp. We couldnt so he had to pay a hefty premium for them to be sent straight form the UK! This kind of power on such trips is lethal for the tyres...the way we drive and the mileage we do anyway. On the contrary, the honda S1 was absolutely flying everywhere and no issues whatsoever. It's the power/torque and for the V6, the weight for sure.

Funny you say that, the targa 4s guy only brought that car on the trip because...his 280 bhp s2 exige broke down 4 days before the trip! And he was gutted even though the porker held its weight magnificently at the trip, we were all pleasantly surprised. And god it was quick, twin turbo 440bhp all wheel drive, flooring it on the hairpin and simply said...see you later! Not slow on the narrow passes either, quite impressed tbh.

Mate, you need to come with us one year, honestly. And it's not hardcore at all, I did it back in 2010 as a passenger in my mate's S1. It was awesome

 

[kevlar]

Really? How come you sold mate? A friend of mine has an audi S1 and I went for a run a few years back. Not a fan of the power delivery though, too extreme for such a car but again, it might have been the mapping or the fact that he was running big power.


My S1 Elise was a standard car had it around 14 years ago, just got talking to some people on the seloc forum and we met up as they lived close one had an audi powered elise about 220 bhp, the exige was a very track focused car pushing around 310bhp - that was the scariest thing I have ever been in! - Sold my Elise and bought an S1 Exige which was supercharged, huge, huge mistake i hated that car it was to track focussed for me sadly.

 

[///M]

Really? How come you sold mate? A friend of mine has an audi S1 and I went for a run a few years back. Not a fan of the power delivery though, too extreme for such a car but again, it might have been the mapping or the fact that he was running big power.



haha I was only referring to other Lotuses mate and not to the Clio, it'd be rude to compare a clio with a V6 exige anyway! The point I was trying to make is that the V6 is 400 kgs heavier than an S1 and that car was running more than twice the power and torque. 410 is a ballpark figure, he hasn't dyno'd his car and as you say, it might be more. I'll message him for details out of curiosity

There were no geo issues mate, his car was prepared for the trip from the bests in the field apparently and he was running on corsas not tropheos. These were the tyres the car came with and they were brand new. Not sure what Johnny Pits was doing and how many miles per day they were driving and what power he is running etc but believe me when I'm saying this, the V6 was going bold on tyres very early on the trip. The owner is a very good peddler and 250 miles per day going aggressive on the passes is a recipe for tyre destruction.

As I said, same story for the S1 running 300bhp at the wheels, they are preserving the tyres to last. Back in 2010 we were looking for tyres in the middle of the trip for another guys s2 exige running a bit shy of 300bhp. We couldnt so he had to pay a hefty premium for them to be sent straight form the UK! This kind of power on such trips is lethal for the tyres...the way we drive and the mileage we do anyway. On the contrary, the honda S1 was absolutely flying everywhere and no issues whatsoever. It's the power/torque and for the V6, the weight for sure.

Funny you say that, the targa 4s guy only brought that car on the trip because...his 280 bhp s2 exige broke down 4 days before the trip! And he was gutted even though the porker held its weight magnificently at the trip, we were all pleasantly surprised. And god it was quick, twin turbo 440bhp all wheel drive, flooring it on the hairpin and simply said...see you later! Not slow on the narrow passes either, quite impressed tbh.

Mate, you need to come with us one year, honestly. And it's not hardcore at all, I did it back in 2010 as a passenger in my mate's S1. It was awesome

All these years as a Lotus fan I've never heard of such tyre issues. Maybe it says more about the speeds you guys were going I don't know. Thinking about some of the videos I've seen... quite possibly! Otherwise, all very surprising. Maybe most people only use them for weekend blasts and don't push them as far/hard as your mates.

Can tell you know, if I came on one, I'd be in the BMW No way I'd fancy doing all that in the Lotus! I'm probably too old

 

[Yiannis197]

All these years as a Lotus fan I've never heard of such tyre issues. Maybe it says more about the speeds you guys were going I don't know. Thinking about some of the videos I've seen... quite possibly! Otherwise, all very surprising. Maybe most people only use them for weekend blasts and don't push them as far/hard as your mates.

Can tell you know, if I came on one, I'd be in the BMW No way I'd fancy doing all that in the Lotus! I'm probably too old

Poor you Mes, if you don't get your V6 to the Alps you'll get a brilliantly modified E36 CS, tut tut tough life!

Hopefully you'll join us one year my friend, too see what the fuss is all about.


Talking of fuss, here is me running over that rock!

Spoke to the V6 owner by the way, he had the car done at Hoffmans at a cost of £9k on top of the full spec V6 350 sport price. He doesn't know anything about spec though.

 

[///M]

Poor you Mes, if you don't get your V6 to the Alps you'll get a brilliantly modified E36 CS, tut tut tough life!

Hopefully you'll join us one year my friend, too see what the fuss is all about.


Talking of fuss, here is me running over that rock!

Spoke to the V6 owner by the way, he had the car done at Hoffmans at a cost of £9k on top of the full spec V6 350 sport price. He doesn't know anything about spec though.

Oh mate that's HARSH!!! Shows how quick things can happen, you didn't have time. Bet you had just enough time to think "OH SHIT" and that was it. Painful!

I've done a good chunk of the areas you visit mate, I know how incredible it is! Definitely game one day, just need to get my life in order. 100% would do the old man bit and take the BMW though

And then probably kick myself because I've got back ache because the seats are crap!

Your mate with the 350, that's the Simply Sports Cars TVS1900 conversion almost certainly. Unless there's a step in between. I'd reckon on a lot more than 410 if it is. This is only me going off seeing one up against a Komotec 460 and if anything it looked a bit faster. Car must be pretty mental. Too quick for the road really.

Correct me if I'm wrong, is this your first time with the diff on one of these trips? Footage looked ace, I swear you can see it working. And how was driving around the flat spot? Car sounds absolutely brilliant now. Proper old school rally character to it. Perfect.

 

[Yiannis197]

Oh mate that's HARSH!!! Shows how quick things can happen, you didn't have time. Bet you had just enough time to think "OH SHIT" and that was it. Painful!

Correct me if I'm wrong, is this your first time with the diff on one of these trips? Footage looked ace, I swear you can see it working. And how was driving around the flat spot? Car sounds absolutely brilliant now. Proper old school rally character to it. Perfect.

Yes mate, it was harsh and I nearly cried, I didn't want to believe it, especially after deciding NOT to take my spare raider wheel wrapped in a AD08r due to weight....not doing that again!

Diff is immense mate and you are right, first time on such a trip and god it was working. Brake, point the corner and full throttle. Flat spot was not noticeable as the car was always above 3k rpm so no real issues there. Regarding the sound, people could not stop complimenting how great the car now sounds, I remember one day I stopped for some pics and the rest of the group stopped a bit further down the pass for a coffee break. When they heard a car steaming through the pass they didn't know what was coming as - to use their words - "we though it was a race car" lol.

More footage then

A cross country in France video with a 260 Exige;

Going through the single carriage Livigno tunnel from Switzerland to Italy filming the big boys, that soud was so loud that my ear popped and I had to close the windows...

And the most hilarious video, edited by theTOAD TV guys, ff to 5:40 to see me interviewing and straight to the end for the cars presentation.

 

[///M]

Awesome awesome post mate. Vids are brilliant. External mic works well too. Proper pro presentation, too much hanging round with Diz, must be rubbing off on you!

 

[Yiannis197]

Right so, here is the bad boy wheel...

2017-09-24_11-15-20 by YiannisR27, on Flickr

And according to what they tell me it is not repairable. So I'm after an OZ which is proven to be a bit of a task as the majority of retailers don't seem to be selling just one. I'll be on the hunt but for the time being I've got a raider wrapped in the same tyre so mechanically the car is sound.

Snetterton is in November and it's also cambelt time. I've got all parts in hand (cambelt kit, aux kit, water pump, dephaser pulley, coolant) so I'd just have to drop the car to Sean @JadeDevelopments to sort it out amongst some other stuff.

Finally, a video footage from petite St Bernard

 

[Sean197]

jesus that's some damage! Can't you contact OZ directly and ask them to supply a single wheel? Surely in terms of good customer service it'd be good for them to oblige.

 

[kevlar]

Jesus look at that wheel - Could have been a lot worse for you lucky chap.

PS - Love the driving gloves.

 

[Chris]

You stayed relatively calm running over that, id have been throwing things...

I guess you were 'lucky' it didn't ping up into expensive suspension!

 

[nutnutwelshman]

Yiannis have you done Monza as a track day bud

 

[Pav]

i've said it before Yiannis but im gonna say it again..think you were born with no self-preservation instinct

i would poo my pants going this fast this high up in the mountains..hat off to you and your mates..you must trust your machines 100%..

 

[Yiannis197]

jesus that's some damage! Can't you contact OZ directly and ask them to supply a single wheel? Surely in terms of good customer service it'd be good for them to oblige.

I know right? I have indeed Sean but no reply as yet. However though I found this on ebay, sent from Italy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALLOY-WHE...152094&hash=item4d619f1102:g:x3IAAOSwhMpZmL3a

£276 for a wheel but I suppose this is how much they retail for nowadays?

Jesus look at that wheel - Could have been a lot worse for you lucky chap.

PS - Love the driving gloves.

This is exactly what I thought to be honest mate, when I heard the bang I thought suspension, hubs the lot...Gettting a wheel and driving the car back seemed an extremely distant task at the time.

You stayed relatively calm running over that, id have been throwing things...

I guess you were 'lucky' it didn't ping up into expensive suspension!

haha this is what my mates told me but I guess I put it down to experience of things going wrong! As I mentioned above, I do consider myself very lucky given the circumstances!

Yiannis have you done Monza as a track day bud

No mate, fancy organising it? But it's Spa next year isn't it?

i've said it before Yiannis but im gonna say it again..think you were born with no self-preservation instinct

i would poo my pants going this fast this high up in the mountains..hat off to you and your mates..you must trust your machines 100%..

hahaha indeed matey, in machines we trust Up until something goes wrong and we kill ourselves in the Alps lol

 

[nutnutwelshman]

I know right? I have indeed Sean but no reply as yet. However though I found this on ebay, sent from Italy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALLOY-WHE...152094&hash=item4d619f1102:g:x3IAAOSwhMpZmL3a

£276 for a wheel but I suppose this is how much they retail for nowadays?



This is exactly what I thought to be honest mate, when I heard the bang I thought suspension, hubs the lot...Gettting a wheel and driving the car back seemed an extremely distant task at the time.



haha this is what my mates told me but I guess I put it down to experience of things going wrong! As I mentioned above, I do consider myself very lucky given the circumstances!



No mate, fancy organising it? But it's Spa next year isn't it?



hahaha indeed matey, in machines we trust Up until something goes wrong and we kill ourselves in the Alps lol

SPA Next Monday Yiannis I've a plan Bruno and Spa and the Ring on the same week

 

[Yiannis197]

wow you are not messing around mate, jealous!

 

[nutnutwelshman]

wow you are not messing around mate, jealous!

Simon is offered free accommodation in Czech Republic

 

[nutnutwelshman]

Simon is offered free accommodation in Czech Republic

You game

 

[Yiannis197]

And that is awesome, b

You game

I wish I could afford it mate even though it sounds so tempting!
I've got to sort out my wheel, then cambelt service, then track day beginning on November and to top these up I've also book a rally day with Phil Price Rally school, and that wasn't cheap!

I think that's enough car related expenses for now lol