WEEK 14 OF THE SAXO BUILD AND EXCELLENT NEWS FROM ANDREW GRANGER & CO TO SPUR MIKE ON!

This week Mike took a call from David Granger, whose father owns Granger & Co a well repeted Estate Agency with branches all over Leicestershire. Mike was supported by them in 2007 having won every National Kark competition at a Junior in 2006.

They assisted his challenge in Motors TV where he led from the first round, but family ill health distracted him for a couple of rounds, but he recovered to almost win. In 2008 we were considering an offer to drive a Ginetta G20, but full funding was not available, so Mike then decided to look at Stock Hatch as a cost effective entry point.

We are pleased to announce that they are offering to assist again in 2009, with a view to a long term arrangement subject to results and press coverage. As David works for Red Bull F1 in charge of their publications and websites, we are confident that Mike will get sufficient publicity to satisfy all our supporters. Mike would obviously like to extend his thanks to Andrew Granger and for futher information about their services their website is http://www.andrewgranger.co.uk/

The car will be returning to SPOOXs this week for the final push. Mike would also like to extend thanks to Phi de Wit of Hight Tention Ignition Lead suppliers MAGNECOR, who has delivered to us a set of KV85 racing leads for the car in return for some decals and feedback, which is really apprecialted. For more information about their products please try this link http://www.magnecor.co.uk/ We hope that as the season progresses more local companies will see the benefit in providing Mike a helping hand.

WEEK 13 OF THE BUILD AND THE GAZ SUSPENSION IS IN.

We had a couple of installation problems at first, as the new springs to match the AO48 tyres are shorter and wider than before, so we initially had some clearance problems, but once we had established the problem they fitted perfectly and give the car a very agressive stance. EBC supplied the new brake discs and pads, so those were fitted together with new drive shafts, bearings and anti-roll bar drop links. Now we have to drop the rear to suit and re-bush the whole suspension.



With the engine in, we fitted gas struts to keep it up out of the way and bonnet pins to keep it closed. We added a new steering wheel and final positioned the Cobra Evo seat and Sabelts. The incar wiring still needs to be completed under the dash before we can fire it up again, but all the panels are on and we are jusr waiting for a new screen to be fitted before it goes off to SPOOXs for a final check and minor electrics.



The aim is to get onto an airfield within the next two weeks and then to Mallory on the 18th.

WEEK 12 OF THE BUILD AND THE MK2 ENGINE IS BACK IN

A sunny day, and from one angle, we seem to have built a decent looking car.

We are still waiting for our new engine, so with time rushing on and no practice as yet, we decided to put the MK2 engine and VTR box back in this week and hope to have the suspension fitted next week.

We still need to fit some glass for the car to be watertight, but things are now progressing at a faster rate, as we have a rolling shell. The plan was to keep the car matt black and then run a dayglow stripe, but just picking out the chevrons might be enough considering the amount of decal we must place on the car.

From certain views, the car still has dsome work to do!

SPOOX SUPPORT FOR 2009

The local and respected Leicester Perugeot and Citroen Motorsport company will be running Mike in 2009. They have already assisted in the SAXO preparation and will be installing their engine and gearbox for us next month ready for testing. They already support winning Rally and Sprint drivers, but this is their first venture into Circuit Racing, so we look forward to the season with enthusiasm.

GAZ SUPPORT FOR 2009

The Stock Hatch units arrived over the weekend to the latest specification ready for testing. Once we have located some new bearings and anti-rollbar links form one of our supporters - Parkers of Leicester, we will get them installed later this week. GAZ were the 2005/6 winners of the championship, so we will have some basic circuit set up data from them. The Stock Hatch regulations are very strict, but as their MD originally owned LEDA, he feels he has the experience to provide us with a better solution. For more information about their excellent products contact them on www.gaz-shocks.co.uk and ask for Dave or Mark.

RACE-TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

In 2002 soon after the company started, having won the TKM festival, Mike was invited to started working with Race-Technology on a lighter version for Karting. During 2003/4 most of the potential problems were identified in order to make the unit more robust. Now in 2009, the company have offered Mike a system for his Stock Hatch season. Initially we will install the DL1 and Dash 3, which costs just £699. By mid-season we hope to link with their in-car video system. Full details are available on their web-site http://www.race-technology.com/

Mike has gone for the upgraded 20HZ version to give him more accurate car positioning data. He will also link it to his ECU so that he can display all the engine data on his Dash 3. The system records all the data onto a flash drive, which is downloaded onto any low powered PC for track-side analysis.

WEEK 11 OF BUILD - MORE PARTS ARRIVE

After a quiet couple of weeks of tinkering with small jobs, the brake discs and pads arrived together with the oil cooler and correct brake lines. The suspension has been posted to us together with the data capture module and lap timer.

With the power plant still at the engineers, we are installing the MK2 motor and VTR box for our initial testing, with the new powerplant and OMEX set up to follow in February. The poor Clan still sits in the garage waiting to be rebuilt!

WEEK 10 OF BUILD INCLUDES A TRIP TO THE NEC

While we wait for the engine and box being blue-printed, plus still waiting on the suspension units, so just little jobs being done which included a trip to the Autosport show with Spoox Motorsport.

Following the trip. Spoox outlined the support program for 2009, which looks very cost effective.

WEEK 9 UPDATE ON SAXO BUILD

With Mike away Skiing, and most of our suppliers closed, we are still waiting on the suspension from GAZ, the engine and gearbox from SPOOX and the ECU from OMEX. The car now has new fuel and brake-lines fitted and the seat and belts sorted. The spare rear axle has been refurbished and the roof plate and interior panels completed. Images will be posted soon. The 2009 regulations have just been published, so we now know what we are building. The main change is the addition of fitting a Catalyst.

Before he left, Mike returned home with the winners trophy and champagne from the Track Drivers meeting.