MR2 + mud = scary stuff

"Conor" <conor.turton@gmail.com> wrote in message> news:MPG.1cd5d546a418f972989982@news.individual.net...>> In article <xradnST_6cToKPbfRVnyuw@pipex.net>, Carl Gibbs says...>> > Well I've done my first event in the MR2. Stupidly I chose an event> with 30>> > miles of white roads (gravel, mud, grass and some BFO bumps), when the> MR2>> > has absolutely no guarding underneath and road tyres. But with a new> clutch,>> > new brakes, some big bits of metal bolted to the front end for> strengthing>> > and a few other tweaks we wanted to give it a go!>> >

The 120 miles of tarmac bits were excellent, exactly what the car is>> > desgined for. Gravel was more or less OK, except to the big potholed> bits.>> > But mud/grass were a nightmare. I had to fight hard to keep the car on> the>> > road whilst trying to keep up some pace. I had one amazing move when I> was>> > coming up to a massive bump and had to slow down but the back end> stepped>> > out and I went over the bump sideways at about 45 degrees and >> > completely>> > missed it

Not so lucky all the other times though. One time I >> > think> one>> > back wheel got caught in a rut which sent us well out of shape an left> us 90>> > degrees to the road with all 4 wheels stuck in ruts. Got towed out by >> > a>> > Landy. Similar thing happend again and got pushed out. Another time I>> > locked up and went straight on at a corner into some long grass and got>> > stuck again. Got pushed out. With a bit of luck, lots of opposite> lock,>> > and some abuse of the floor pan and a few more iffy moments we made it>> > through and finished, which was our main aim of the night.>> >

Sounds like you've had a fantastic time.>

Not sure you've got the opportunity to alter car setup mid event but>> adjustable suspension is a must have as on rough stuff you really do>> need to raise the suspension on gravel and soften it a bit to prevent>> damage/aid traction and also stiffen up the antiroll bar considerably>> to help stability.>

If there was adjustable bits in place then there would be time, but > budgets> dont normally strech that far in the sort of events I (can afford to) do.> Its only at a grass roots level.>>

Its hard choosing tyres to cover an event like that. Tarmac ones will>> get ripped to bits on the gravel and be useless on the mud. Gravel ones>> will wear like hell on the tarmac.>>

I knew I would have problems with standard road tyres, but I spent my > whole> prep'ing budget on just fixing things just so the car would get round. > I've> got a whole heap of things I'd like to spend money on, but that will have > to> wait! If I do another event with that much unsurfaced mileage again the> first thing I'll be buying will be gravel tyres for the rear and sacrifice > a> bit of speed on tarmac!>




Get comments by e-mail Add to favourites

respect your talk pals, avoid using obscene language, typing entire messages in CAPS, posting buy/sell ads or violating netiquette or the RF Criminal Code..

	see also: F1: BMW Sauber prepares for Fuji NASCAR-CDN: Kawartha: Micks Motorsports… NASCAR-CUP: Dover II: Starting lineup		pass tests:		see also: how to install a steeda adjustable…

MR2 + mud = scary stuff

Add new comment