Wanted: Radical clubsport

Wanted: Radical clubsport

Author
Discussion

gsinky

Original Poster:

46 posts

249 months

Tuesday 20th February 2007
quotequote all
I am toying with the idea of possibly getting myself a Clubsport for hillclimbing and sprinting, and was wondering if there are any of you chaps that may be able to point me in the direction of any decent cars for sale. The car wouldn't have to be immaculate, but I don't want to shell out on any expensive engine rebuilds in the near future.

Any help pointers, buying advice etc. would be appreciated.

Regards,
Graham

craig7l

1,135 posts

272 months

Wednesday 21st February 2007
quotequote all
i can verify that JP Iveys car is a good example and well kept. If it hasnt sold already?

you usually get what you pay for and older cars at £8-9k for example often need attention and you will find yourself spending more money and time upgrading etc older parts. You may aswell (in my opinion) spend that little bit more for say £10-11k and get something right from the start. - dry sumped, big bore, 4 pots etc etc

As for engines i would suggest rebuilds for hillclimbing and sprinting would give you years of enjoyment before you need to touch it. - under normal circumstances.

k13job

590 posts

218 months

Thursday 22nd February 2007
quotequote all
I have just finshed a season on Hills and Sprints in a very old, pre flatsides, pre drysump, pre undertray standard '98 Clubsport. Only thing Idid was put good soft (Avon A40) rubber and repace the worn out rear brake disks and pads with soft road material.

I can confirm that the radical is a very competitive Sports Libre, in fact in Scotland where most of the records were set by car derived spaceframe specials it was a record breaker.

I would war you that as the car is quite heavy, it was very hard on the front tyres and this year I hace sourced some wider wheels to try get some more slowspeed grip.

shyster

48 posts

212 months

Monday 26th February 2007
quotequote all
k13job said:

I would war you that as the car is quite heavy, it was very hard on the front tyres and this year I hace sourced some wider wheels to try get some more slowspeed grip.


What size of fronts would you suggest?

sclemow

63 posts

285 months

Tuesday 27th February 2007
quotequote all
I've just bought a Clubsport, a 2001 pre dry sumped one with the same idea.

Whereabouts in the country are you based, and which championship are you planning on doing?

Simon

k13job

590 posts

218 months

Tuesday 27th February 2007
quotequote all
The standard wheels are 6" frint and 8" rear, I amgoing for 8 and 10, as these are the standard fitment on all the small racing cars in Sprints and Hillclimbs in Scotland. These will probably be fitted with the "standard" Avon A40 approx 7 and 9" tyres.

Last year I did most of my events in Scotland (Highland Speed Championship, which I won overall) and the North of England (WigtonMC Northern Speed Championship, which I got a class award).

This year I intend to do more events in England as I am now based in the East Midlands. I have entered the Midland Speed Championship and the British Sprint Championship Junior Challenge. If possible I shall have a go at defending my championship as well, we shall see how things go in the early season before deciding where to concentrate on.

How about yourselves, what have you done in the past and are planning now?

craig7l

1,135 posts

272 months

Tuesday 27th February 2007
quotequote all
hi k13 job,

have you had any issue with bodywork fouling by using the bigger OD and width tyres that are used on bigger rims?

k13job

590 posts

218 months

Tuesday 27th February 2007
quotequote all
By choosing the offset corectly the rears do not foul anything, but do stick out a fraction (no tread showing, just the sidewall bulge so will need some small spats.

The fronts will need a bit more, not so much with the width sticking out, but they will fowl the sidepods on full lock wich will need trimming back, but not much.

There is no increase in OD as the Avon crossplys are sized by OD eg, 7.2/21-13 or 21 where the 22 is the OD. the standard wheels are 21 front and 22 rear. last year I ran 20 front and 21 rear. This lowers the car slightly so the ride height will need setting.

I also reccoment getting the corner weights checked as mine were way off for most of the season and once set the turn i was dramaticaly improved. Don't just go by setting an even ride height like I did originally.

For tyre info look at www.bmtr.co.uk

Angus


stiglet

1,082 posts

240 months

Tuesday 27th February 2007
quotequote all
k13job said:
I amgoing for 8 and 10, as these are the standard fitment on all the small racing cars in Sprints and Hillclimbs in Scotland. These will probably be fitted with the "standard" Avon A40 approx 7 and 9" tyres.



Well if that's how your spending your prize money the sponsors may not cough up hehe



k13job said:
The standard wheels are 6" sprint and 8" rear,



Anything left in last season's for a poor rookie in a beat up old clubsport? (not got one yet)

craig7l

1,135 posts

272 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
hey angus i had an idea it was you. how you getting on with the other bit of kit?

sclemow

63 posts

285 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
> How about yourselves, what have you done in the past and are planning now?

We've been doing the ASWMC hillclimb and sprint championships in a 1960 Lotus Twincam Seven. It was a pretty competitive car, but gets outgunned by the bike engined B2 cars like strykers, fury's and Westfield Megablades. We decided for a change of car hence the Radical.

This year we're planning on doing the ASWMC sprint championship, we considered the British Juniors, but we've already got quite a few events.

Sounds like you do a bit better than me, I've had a few class wins, but not the championship!

Good luck next year.

S

BTW we found with the wider front wheels (Image Wheels) they catch the suspension arms on the front on full lock. This is probably ok on a circuit race car, but for hillclimbs, obviously not too clever. We're dropping half an inch on the width to solve this.

k13job

590 posts

218 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all

>Well if that's how your spending your prize money the sponsors may not cough up hehe


Prize money!? Is someone hiding something from me? Next thing you'll be trying to kid me that sponsors are meant to provide financial support


Edited by k13job on Wednesday 28th February 20:42



Edited by k13job on Wednesday 28th February 20:44

k13job

590 posts

218 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
Hi Craig,

the Kit is in the back of the suzuki to take up to Scotland this weekend for fitting, hopefully be all running ready for a test day at the end of march at Teesside.

k13job

590 posts

218 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
sclemow said:
>
BTW we found with the wider front wheels (Image Wheels) they catch the suspension arms on the front on full lock. This is probably ok on a circuit race car, but for hillclimbs, obviously not too clever. We're dropping half an inch on the width to solve this.


When I said careful selection of offset, perhaps I should have said more luck than judgement as the wheels are ancient Revolutions off a racing 100E Anglia bought off ebay last year. Don't think they fowl the suspension but will have a better check this weekend as i now have a couple fitted with old tyres to properly check clearances front and rear.

as far as the championship is concerned, it was a case of being in the right car at the right time, only the first thing I've won in over 20 years of competing (off and on) and even then it came down to a tie breaker to decide the winner!

minitici

200 posts

211 months

Tuesday 20th March 2007
quotequote all
k13job said:
sclemow said:
>
BTW we found with the wider front wheels (Image Wheels) they catch the suspension arms on the front on full lock. This is probably ok on a circuit race car, but for hillclimbs, obviously not too clever. We're dropping half an inch on the width to solve this.


When I said careful selection of offset, perhaps I should have said more luck than judgement as the wheels are ancient Revolutions off a racing 100E Anglia bought off ebay last year. Don't think they fowl the suspension but will have a better check this weekend as i now have a couple fitted with old tyres to properly check clearances front and rear.


Just to confirm that the 8" front wheels/tyres needed some trimming of the sidepods and had spats fitted to the bodywork.
I checked for the wheels rubbing on the lower wishbone, everything is clear on full right lock but on full left lock the left wheel rim hits the lower wishbone.
I will try centralising the rack to see if I can get clearance both directions, failing that I may have to fit a collar to the steering rack to limit travel - Angus will just have to steer the Radical using the accelerator on the tight hairpins!

craig7l

1,135 posts

272 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
i have the following which fit onto the clubsport (without susp. fouling or bodywork altering- although as tight as you would wish) which enable use of FRenault michelin tyres 16/53-13 fronts and 23/57-13 rears.

Image split rims billet 4 -

Rear 9.5” x 13” Outer overall size of rim width 260mm
outer rim 4” in and 4.5” out
backdepth 110mm
offset = ET -20mm
Hole diameter 63.5mm
PCD 108mm

**********Mounted without using rear 6mm spacer plate******************
increases original trac out by 6mm per wheel

Front 7” x 13” Outer overall size of rim width 200mm
Outers 4” in and 3” out
backdepth 117mm
offset = ET 7mm
Hole diameter 63.5mm
PCD 108mm
ID inside 322mm

**********Mounted without using rear 6mm spacer plate******************
increases original trac out by 5mm per wheel


info maybe of use if anybody looking to get new wheels to suit larger tyres



Edited by craig7l on Thursday 22 March 19:30



Edited by craig7l on Thursday 22 March 19:42