Stutopia

Tragic, makes you think about the big picture sometimes. My Mum used to work for his Dad when I were a young 'un too.

and congrats

and good luck with the hunt, and drive as many as you can.

Brace yourself for some more pic whoring now the professional shots have landed. Almost dry when we started. Mildly moist. I think it was only the MPSS (Dan), the front lip (Tarmac) and the diffuser (Redline) keeping me on track, and I owe it all to this place.

Unlucky BBK, it's one of them things you chalk up to experience and learn from. It's a bit dirty from them, but not unusual for those who prize profit above all and service as a waste of effort. They're totally in the clear, but with stuff like this I like to think karma does work its way around eventually. Don't get bitter, get better

Like these?

http://www.amsmotorsports.com/shop/ind/350z-g35/engine/ams-350z-g35-aluminum-race-pulley-kit.html Is number three some sort of belt buckle, keeps your trousers on at high speed?

Big nuts stuff, that's well cool

Thats what I've been looking at through your thread, only thing that concerns me, is it too 'plasticky'? It's almost entirely plastic, but it's solid stuff, I tend to cart it about a bit, drop it from time to time, it does mark but it's held up fine so far. I think on the thread I started some people did rate the Nilfisk stuff as the internals may be brass, and as per the post above GMballistic is pleased with the Halfords one too. Have a look in your local hardware type places, they have limited selections in my experience but you can get a feel for the quality. Personally I'm a brand snob, so I wouldn't go own brand but you can't argue with a 7 year lifespan!

We'll pleased with my K4, as per the thread above. Feels decent quality, easy to find a lance that fits, cleans all sorts of things you point it at! The PA lance I went for rules too. All in all, great purchase, especially if you've got other lesser cars to clean which don't require a proper TBM and real attention, just a quick blast.

Sorry to hear that, hope any damage is not too extensive.

I felt like that Pete, but not sure if it was because it was a friendly Old Man's Jaaaag Club or if it's totally normal, but I never felt any pressure to hammer it. Except from myself. The controlled group release was good too, as it stopped me staying out too long and there were only ever 10 cars out, so easy to find a gap if you wanted some space. When I did get passed, he waited behind for a couple of corners, I moved over, no drama. My mate in the R32 was last out in his group for the initial 3 sighter laps. There was a nice old lady (70 if she was a day) in the XJS in front, because you shouldn't pass on the sighter laps, he got dropped off the pack by about 45 seconds! But it was just cool to see her out tracking

Welcome to a listen if you're up North.

It was a quiet day, 88db, which I expertly hit, in the half meter standing test. A Triumph Stag got blown out for hitting 100db! The two Porkers had a couple of issues but got out in the end. The Jaaaaags were on track, so I assume they passed It's criminal that the local residents are able to put so much pressure on the circuit, most of 'em will have bought their houses knowing full well it's next to a race track. If you ask me, they're going in with eyes open, if you want somewhere quiet, don't move next door to a circuit - simples! The place is steeped in racing history, 60 years of heritage, and just cause some bellend from the middle class mafia moves in next door and hears a little noise when they're reading their Daily Mail, they're having to fight them all the time. You can actually help Croft by going to their Introductory Days, as it proves that they're providing a service people want and new people are getting into. So do it for motorsport, even if you don't want to!

I'm loving my Scorpion with Berks now, transformed the sound without being brash. I'm pretty sure I'm Kowalski every time she starts up and starts to rumble

Cheers Vik. Humpy, I never would have done this a year ago, Zed Club made me do it Little vid, nothing that'll get you track veterans excited, no in car I'm afraid just some drive-bys, but some cool noises. http://s1321.photobu...13a721.mp4.html

Having soaked up as much preparatory learning as I could from you good people here, I was 1 part excited, 1 part curious and 20 parts bricking it about my first track day. Watching youtube videos didn't really help either As part of the continued Jaaaaaagification of this place, a mate of mine in the Jaaaaaag owners club (http://www.jdcarea11teesvalley.co.uk) kindly got me in with the Big Cats for an Introductory day at Croft, though it felt pretty intermediate when the race prepped porker rocked up and some guys had full race suits. Anywho, got the sighter laps out the way and then got my first proper run. OMFG this is the most fun you can have, pants on or otherwise. Sadly it absolutely hammered it down all day, so I was tiptoeing around the first few laps. Especially after coming out of Tower Bend and the rear trying to overtake me, only 4 corners in After I cleaned my pants I set about finding some lines and keeping it smooth. I'm pleased to say only one car got past me, I'm sad to say it was an FF Clio 172, but on the positive side it was driven by an actual race experienced driver, so I didn't feel too bad. I felt even better when after a lap or so of shame after the Clio incident, I stomped past an Aston Martin DB9! Yay Team Jap. I was less excited about doing a Mk2 Jag a bit later, which was older than I am. Fully shaking after the first session, but absolutely loved it, even managed to assuage the fear of totalling my beloved Zed and relaxed a bit. I learnt a lot more about what she will and won't do in the wet in 20 track minutes than I did in the previous 8 months on the road. My second stint was cut short by pesky engine management light, so I pitted, checked the codes (grrr heated o2 sensor 2s), cleared the codes, but it was too late to get back out. Booo! I was so pleased I had the iOBD2 to confirm what the fault codes were, otherwise I would have been too scared to drive her the two hours home, cheers Dan for weighing in there It could have been worse though, my mate who organised it put his scooby track toy off the road backwards two days before the event, and then bust the turbo on his Beamer daily driver which he was bringing instead (TBF it's done nearly 250k!). So I got off lightly, naturally the rain meant a couple of incidents. An Ibiza decide to try a route over the grass, but survived unscathed fortunately and the Clio which did me had an ABS fault at the end of the pit straight which locked up the rears. Only some monumental skill stopped it being nasty. The tyre sounds alone will stay with me for weeks. Enough banging on, sorry I'm still a little bit excited about it all, here's the pics and hopefully a short vid. The circuit, if you're not familiar. Not too complex, but not very forgiving, the grass is wet and very very close on some sections, as is the armco. Pretty much the first car I saw on arrival, even more beautiful in the metal. As you can imagine at a Jaaaaaag event, there were cool old cars all over. C Type Replica, nice. Lancia Vulvia I don't remember the name, but the Fez is familiar.... But there was also some new Cats, and not just on my Zed. The noise this thing makes is epic, especially down shifting after the pit straight. There were a couple of lightweights out as well, they like the wet even less than the Zed. This Z4M was astonishingly fast in the wet, it blitzed everything it came across. I never saw it go head to head with the M5 that was out, but I reckon he would have beaten it. It's either a beast of a car or the driver was the third Schumacher brother you don't hear about. The DB9 that had to get out my way! Beautiful car. Some jerk off's beetle holding me up. TBF, there were two Carrera 4S's out, both flew round, like it was dry. Skillz. I detailed the Zed beforehand, only to find out that country roads are the enemy of the detailer. Filthy before I even got there My other mate, in his R32, stunningly quick in the wet and, for a stock motor, made a great sound down the straight. If I was going practical, I'd have one of these. Rapid The Clio that did me It's a mini metro Lynn, they've re-badged it Lynne, you fool. Another quick Golf. Probably my favourite modern Jaaaaaaag. But this one isn't bad TBF. Oh the noise mmmmmmmmmm... M5 - handy if you need to get to the office fast, but does't really get me juicing. Probably the fastest car of the lot, easily the coolest. The classic e-type and fittingly for a Jaaaag event, leading them out, the van is not tracking BTW. All in all it was ace, if you're thinking of doing it, do it. Get insurance if you are nervous like I am, I was still pooing it at first but that soon went away when I realised it was more likely to be me getting it wrong than someone else cleaning me up. I think I'd be much more relaxed out there if I had a little track toy to use please Santa.

Got back without a reappearance of the EML so well pleased, maybe just lightly toasted them

That's what I wanted to hear! Cheers Dan.

Just went out for session 2 of track day, cars been standing in the rain for last hour or so, it was wet when I went out for first session this morning so taking it pretty easy, however, EML was thrown after a couple of warm up laps on second stint. iOBD2 reads fault codes: P1147 & P1167 which I believe both to be "Heated O2 Sensor 2" Obviously I abandoned the session, and I've cleared the codes now, and left her to cool down. But she was driving/pulling fine when I noticed the lights and on my stroll back to the pits. Is this just because there's no heat shield on the Berks? Is it something I need to worry about? Is she safe to drive home (circa 3 careful hours driving)? Any help fully appreciated! Ta.

No worries. It's not a great leap from a bathroom towel TBH, the dodo that is, there's a Meg's one with a waffle finish which is quite different from a conventional towel, but I seldom use mine as the dodo is miles better. I'll go mammoth next time, just for the change. Mitt FTW!

I prefer a drying towel to a chamois, got one of these which I like http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/dodo-juice/orange-plush-microfibre-drying-towel.aspx though I've read good stuff about the mammoth. http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/drying-towels/chemical-guys-wooly-mammoth-drying-towel/prod_1003.html Also got a mitt, not a sponge http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-Luxurious-Lambs-Wool-Wash/dp/B001MPW5IC This stuff is quite personal though, so it is not necessarily black and white on this. If you have the cash, simply try a couple of things

What about? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-hinged-plastic-screw-cover-caps-White-Brown-Beige-Black-Grey-NEW-/181186628990

After I hacked up my front grills I simply bought some fine speaker cloth, ebay, then some elastic thread and sewed it up round the back. Zero protection from objects but acoustically almost invisible. There's a picture of the bodge in here. http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/69970-front-speaker-grill-mod-a-big-thank-you-to-smd/