Megane R26 - Standard to Track

[papps]

A Winning Thread!! Car looks great on the 26R Wheels!

Cheers Steve! - The question now comes do I keep them in Red and get the rest of the car to kind of match (black mirrors, remove roof decals etc) or to go with something a little different and maybe get them done on OEM anthricite - or Gold even - we'll wait till the brake dust trashes them a bit more I think haha

 

[papps]

August / September 2015

So after the clutch overheating on the 2nd track outing it was time to make sure this didn't put an early end to the fun again......at roughly the same time I started getting a noise from the DMF.....time for the overhaul....

Sadly I was literally 3 days early in ordering my lightweight TTV SM Flywheel before the group buy came up on this...oh well...

So Rentec sourced me the TTV Flywheel (from Paul at RS Tuning) and the R26.R clutch - while the car was in pieces, the front hubs, wheel bearings were also done...

I needed a new lower arm, but with it being August and the factories being on holiday they were on back order - so uprated Pure Motorsport Bushes were ordered - and didn't fit - BE WARNED. A week or so of pulling out my hair later (missing an rsmegane trackday) we fitted powerflex black series bushes that solved the problem.

With all the work done to the front steering components I had to get the alignment done on the car again....



This time I went for -0.05 toe on each front wheel - so -0.1 in total....here's the printout for technical reference.




The difference such a small tweak could make was so instantly noticeable - the understeer I was getting on the exit or corners was now gone and the diff was working properly again! - happy days.

This was all in the nick of time for a Trackday at Knockhill - this time for 4 hours in an OPL format. Also this time a new circuit, its Knockhill Reverse, ie the wrong way - very handy as it meant I could use the R888s and fully get my monies worth out of the wear they had left.

The organisers for this event (TrackScotland) attract a lot of the motorsport competitors in the area - and as a result meant they were some mega power cars on track, which makes things a little harder for track position etc -

Some of the cars were utter droool....



Having the Geo with the more neutral set up was brilliant, but made heavier braking really complex - a great challenge.
Cramp took its toll badly, so I went fastest around half way in when still learning the lines and braking points - later on I wasn't as on it and was enjoying flying round in a nice and clean manner - but did mean some bad habits of feeding the wheel and resting my arm creeped in...

Here's some nice pics from that evening / afternoon...









and a nice clip from the evening as well - don't worry the Ferrari makes an appearance 3 or 4 laps in

 

[DaveL485]

do I keep them in Red

Resounding yes from me, they look great.

 

[Scott Armstrong]

I was there at the last track scotland day. I passed you in the westfield!

Heres my go pro from the day

 

[andybond]

The red looks excellent !

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Resounding yes from me, they look great.

:thumbsup:

 

[papps]

I was there at the last track scotland day. I passed you in the westfield!

Hi Mate! - a few times I seem to remember haha - lovely motor your westy is.

Did I read somewhere you have an R26 as a daily?

Was a cracking day the last one - very tough for me as its the first time I've been in the Wet - so addictive though - big fan of the TS days - really nice crowds and very eclectic mix of cars.

Are you done for 2015 or going to try and squeeze in more track time?

 

[papps]

Resounding yes from me, they look great.

haha cheers for the kind words and the warm welcome.

I think you may be right - does look mean lol - its hard with the R26.R looking so good with the red to go against it.

 

[papps]

Sept / October 2015

After the 2nd trackday I had, it was really noticeable how much the seats were holding me back - I was constantly having to re-position myself in the seat and tighten the seat belt practically at every available opportunity......

I had picked up a set of 2nd Ktec Subframes and OMP side mounts so I really had no excuses......

I went for Sabelt GT-140 Seats in Large...and what a mistake that would be lol......they looked pretty good though





I had the lap fixing positions properly drilled into the chassis in the middle (you can use the existing seat belt fixing position for the outside lap straps), and had the anti sub strap positioned correctly on the drivers side. The pax just has the 4 point 3"/3" Sabelt Steel series, while the driver has the 3"/3" 6 point.....



Sadly after a couple of hours of road driving it became apparent that the seats are ever-so slightly to narrow on the thigh for me - limiting my ability to proper move between throttle and break when pushing on......not good

So took it on the chin, ordered a much more suitable wider seat for my 6ft5 frame...the Corbeau Sprint in XL width.

Its not nearly as pleasing on the eye as the sabelts, but F it, not really important in the grand scheme of things.



As soon as I made the decision to put the fixed backs in, I had to put a rear cage in, primarily for the safe fixing of the harness shoulder straps - but also as a Std road seat has give in it, in the event of a nasty incident this helps you a little - with a fixed back bucket there's no where for you to go in the event of a nasty - you need a cage....

After speaking to the regulars at Knockhill one mans name kept on coming up - Scott McMinn Motorsport Fabrication.

So I got a fully welded rear cage installed for less than half of what Ktec charge for the bolt in cage delivered..... a no brainer.

The result is a cage that should be more rigid and lighter than the bolt in equiv



Again - the Harness set up is exactly in line with Scroth FIA best practise - the crossing of the harnesses is due to the distance of the seat back being >500mm to the harness bar - I think if you're taking out safety features from a 5* NCAP rated car its worth ensuring its done properly - here's the guidance for anyone else..... http://www.schroth.com/installation-instructions/en/index.html

Its hard to describe what it feels like when you are properly belted in (yes, believe it or not, there is technique on how to do this properly....see above) - its a very comforting feeling, you're not fixed in by any one point of the belt, but at the same time you can't move at all!

The roof lining, curtain airbags and other pieces or rear trim were removed for the installation - a few of the bits and bobs are to go back in for a little more comfort - but not a lot - 3kg MAX lol

Now it was time to get some bits and bobs ready for the next track outing....

First tyres as the R888s were slicks practically at this point...just went for AD08R mainly due to the value they offered...



A Jerry can after spanking a full tank at the last 4 hr day - decided to make it custom as well



I was meant to have all my engine mounts uprated with inserts by this stage - after a not very pleasant 7 week wait after payment they finally turned up after being lied to regarding the dispatch date........and no surprises the stuff didn't fit -

RacingFlex on FB - I've filled a claim on paypal 3 weeks ago and yet to hear anything - please please please be warned.......



The non flush fitting gearbox mount inserts meant I had difficulty sometimes in finding 3rd - oh well - nothing is ever perfect for a trackday but I was as ready as I was ever going to be

So on the last day in Oct I had the meg's 4th Track outing - another 4 hour OPL organised by TrackScotland again - this time the weather would let us down a little and it was pissing it down when we all arrived....

It would rain for the 1st hour, dry for the next 2 and finally with around 45 mins left of the day a dry line started to appear on the track.

It was a VERY steep learning curve - not so much in terms of driving and the limits of the car, but more from a set-up point of view. I had my tyre pressures a little too low in the wet (amazing how much it had an effect), and also had my coilovers far too firm - the rears are only really adjustable with the back wheels off so I had to live with only being able to adjust the front all day - this will be sorted for the next outing.

There was a very nice Black 265 there....



and a couple of nice pics of the megane in the rather wet weather....





This longer clip shows how much the track conditions change during a 15 min stint - you'll see a lot more grip in the last 4 or 5 mintues as I'm able to get some temp into the tyres...

You'll see I'm pushing the limits of the car a lot more in this one as well, and I have 2 or 3 moments that are hot linked in the description - almost losing it at 40, locking up at 14:12 and shitting myself at 15:21 lol



Was good to be able to get nearer the limits to learn more about the car and my abilities
Unsure if thats it for 2015 for track work, might well be it till Feb time now....

Thanks for reading!

 

[Mart]

Don't suppose you still have the o.e Recaro seats? If so, would you consider selling them?

 

[papps]

Don't suppose you still have the o.e Recaro seats? If so, would you consider selling them?

I sold them mate - however I do know I chap who has a set of the Leather ones for sale on the Megane FB page - full leather, he also listed them at 600 only.........they are there for the taking mate - he's stripped it already - needs gone

 

[Scott Armstrong]

Hi Mate! - a few times I seem to remember haha - lovely motor your westy is.

Did I read somewhere you have an R26 as a daily?

Was a cracking day the last one - very tough for me as its the first time I've been in the Wet - so addictive though - big fan of the TS days - really nice crowds and very eclectic mix of cars.

Are you done for 2015 or going to try and squeeze in more track time?

Yeah I've got an R26 and a Leon FR as daily's.

The Westy belongs to my mate. He races Formula Ford which i help out with so we share driving on Track Days in the westy.

It was an interesting day. We had a predominantly Dry setup on the westy with almost knackered R88's until the track dried out it was like driving on ice! The rear was kicking sideways on zero power coming out of clark. We were having to short shift before about 5000 to put any power down. it was spinning up cresting the main straight in 4th which is interesting given thats about 100 mph at that point. the change from 2nd to 3rd after the hairpin on the main straight i had to back out the power a few times as it was jumping sideways!

That will be our last track outing this year as he's got to rebuild the racecar in the off season and has got some other plans involving more power for the westy - cos like obviously its really slow in a straight line with only 450 bhp/ton hint below..



I was going to come have a word with you but didn't get a chance on the day. We'll probably do the first TS one at KH next year if you're on that? If your after a bit instruction my mate would be happy to sit in the p-side?

 

[Mart]

I sold them mate - however I do know I chap who has a set of the Leather ones for sale on the Megane FB page - full leather, he also listed them at 600 only.........they are there for the taking mate - he's stripped it already - needs gone

No worries mate.

Yep, seen those ones for sale, but £600 is too hot for me. Ideally wanted the alcantara type, but either or if the price is right.

The search continues...

 

[Adey]

No worries mate.

Yep, seen those ones for sale, but £600 is too hot for me. Ideally wanted the alcantara type, but either or if the price is right.

The search continues...

only continues because you wont put your hand in your pocket and pay the going rate for them you pikey

 

[Mart]

Cheers forest boy, janky caaant.

There's been a few on Ebay recently for that price, and didn't sell, so maybe it isn't the going rate?

Anyway, if that's what they're up for, that's what they're up for; I'm sure Papps' mate will end up selling them regardless, as they are a sought after seat

 

[papps]

Yeah I've got an R26 and a Leon FR as daily's.


.
.I was going to come have a word with you but didn't get a chance on the day. We'll probably do the first TS one at KH next year if you're on that? If your after a bit instruction my mate would be happy to sit in the p-side?

Oh my, those goodies look pretty good haha - christ that thing is going to literally fly with more power!

Thanks mate, that sounds awesome!, getting some tuition has always been on the radar - on my first outing (Dreadnought Track night) I was meant to have MG Series Racer Paul Lutti come round for my first few laps - but it was busy and the time was ticking so I ended up just going solo.

I had been watching some of the Fiesta ST racers and how they tackle the curcit as I thought they'd be using similar lines give they are FWD cars .

Feb can't come soon enough!, I was tempted to try and squeeze the KH own 4 hour OPL next weekend, but its probably a little too soon, even if the weather isn't so bad.

 

[papps]

Cheers forest boy, janky caaant.

There's been a few on Ebay recently for that price, and didn't sell, so maybe it isn't the going rate?

Anyway, if that's what they're up for, that's what they're up for; I'm sure Papps' mate will end up selling them regardless, as they are a sought after seat

Just for reference I sold my recoards (alcantara) for £600 - I listed them only on the Scottish Clio Sport Onwers FB (a mere 180 members) - I had 3 people offer full asking within the 1st hour.

The clio guys bite your hands off for them - the timing may be the issue as its near christmas - I have seen them go for north of 700 with the clio runners already.

 

[W33SLP]

Only just realised you had this thread here, really good read

For the r26.r wheels I like them in red, I don't think you should get gold

Look forward to seeing more updates

 

[DaveL485]

obviously its really slow in a straight line with only 450 bhp/ton hint below..

Please post a thread in the non-Renault section for this car!

 

[Scott Armstrong]

Please post a thread in the non-Renault section for this car!

Clicky