OV9

As for my car, was loads of fun as ever. The new break arrangement was stonking. Appreciate that you can realistically lock up on standard breaks, but I think the initial bite was much more confidence inspiring and I certainly wasn't locking up more. For sure I was breaking later than last time. They just felt amazing all day.

I'm not 100% sold on the AD08RS, it would be interesting to try something else, but realistically there aren't loads of options.

I keep thinking I'm hearing some new noises from the gearbox either when the clutch is in or it initially starts idling in neutral, but the car has a lot of noises so it it's hard to know whether it's a new one or an old one I've just noticed! No change in how it feels when driving. Think it's anything @dan?

mik wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 11:42 pm

Rich B wrote: Tue Mar 18, 2025 8:39 pm i now fully understand the appeal of Elises! Mine is crap at “normal” driving, but felt incredible on track with full commitment.

One of the guys on The Lotus Forum who picked up a 118bhp Elise S1 last year, having previously owned a Macca 570S and an Exige 430Cup just posted a comment that made me grin and nod.



“From my experience of vehicles with much more power, you just end up at the end of an enjoyable road faster than you had hoped and spend a lot of time looking down at the speedo thinking “oh shit, I better back off”!

For that reason, I’m not really after a power increase, just want to magnify all the ways the car connects with my senses”

Amen. And it’s what Joe Public and even a chunk of people that claim to be CG’s just don’t get.

Yep, admittedly we were on a tight/twisty track, but i didn’t come away thinking that i wanted more power.

I don’t think i’d be having any more fun in even stuff like the Evoras - but that obviously needs to be caveated that i am a complete novice!

Rich B wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 6:53 am
I don’t think i’d be having any more fun in even stuff like the Evoras

Agree. They are better road cars (imho), but on track the Elise makes every direction change (lateral or fore & aft) a lesson in the joy of low mass.

duncs500 wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 6:52 am Think it's anything @dan?

Probably not. Could be the clutch release bearing or something like that, it was brand new and now it won't be and they can make a little noise, but i'm sure its nothing to worry about, everything in there is incredibly robust.

duncs500 wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 6:34 am I had a good chat with the guy with the silver 410 (he also has an S1), he's put some sort of Komotec kit on it which makes a useful bit of extra powah apparently. He seems very happy with it, really lovely car. Didn't get a chance to look at the orange one, but from taking to the owner I think that has more power too.

Bloke in the orange Evora was there last time, I think he visits frequently - same one who let me take it for a few laps.

Re: Evora/Elise, yeah, I've no doubt you'd enjoy the Elise more than the bulkier Evora - it's absolutely in its element with a tighter layout like that. You'd have enjoyed the Evora more on the boring motorway journey home though

How did the day work? I've only done the activity days there where you do the fast left hand hairpin a few times to try nd get the hang of not spinning, maybe followed by some clutch kicks round some cones, then a coned course was set up for some sideways action.

The day was in 4 parts, maybe 1hr 30m each?

High speed corner (do your run, back round to the back of the queue.) Maybe 8-10 goes?

Small circuit - 3 laps, back of the queue. Again 8-10 goes

Small circuit other way round - same format

Longer circuit - timed - 4-5 runs

Eliseparts do a full kit for the headlight mounts with new springs, clips and wingnuts. I did mine as they were rotten and about to fall off.

https://www.eliseparts.com/shop/left-ha ... onversion/

I bought all the bit minus the lights as they werent available at the time. I managed to source a set of original OEM units.

mik wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 7:19 am

Rich B wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 6:53 am
I don’t think i’d be having any more fun in even stuff like the Evoras

Agree. They are better road cars (imho), but on track the Elise makes every direction change (lateral or fore & aft) a lesson in the joy of low mass.

Weeee. This was me auditioning for the parent of the year award When the boy was about 13

scotta wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 1:16 pm Eliseparts do a full kit for the headlight mounts with new springs, clips and wingnuts. I did mine as they were rotten and about to fall off.

https://www.eliseparts.com/shop/left-ha ... onversion/

I bought all the bit minus the lights as they werent available at the time. I managed to source a set of original OEM units.

already ordered!

Rich B wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 1:39 pm

scotta wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 1:16 pm Eliseparts do a full kit for the headlight mounts with new springs, clips and wingnuts. I did mine as they were rotten and about to fall off.

https://www.eliseparts.com/shop/left-ha ... onversion/

I bought all the bit minus the lights as they werent available at the time. I managed to source a set of original OEM units.

already ordered!

I parked it against the wall in my garage. Jacked it up on to axle stands then drew the beam pattern on the wall. Matched the new brackets to the beam pattern. Should get you mostly aligned and you can then match the one thats fallen out already.

@Rich B we're famous!

Also @MikeHunt if you're trying to get an idea of what it's all about.

i like the way the caption pops up and covers my car almost entirely!

Looks fun

edit - ignore - im at centre parcs this weekend….


https://www.awdrivertraining.co.uk/book ... n-activity

what other track days are there that are good for a novice like me? i’d like to have some stuff booked to look forward to.

i’ve booked on a 4 person one on 18th June instead. one space left (don’t forget the 10% discount - SELOC)

https://www.awdrivertraining.co.uk/even ... 18-06-2025

Rich B wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 11:30 am what other track days are there that are good for a novice like me? i’d like to have some stuff booked to look forward to.

I don't have extensive knowledge to share, but I did Anglesey (International layout) last year with ScottA + Maurice (+ several others not on here) and it was excellent. (see page 1070 of fleet report thread). Lots of looooong corners where you get plenty of opportunity to practice adjusting your line/balance via trail-braking & throttle application yada yada. Good run-off areas, and purty scenery. Premier Inn at Bangor is cheap and allows you to arrive at the circuit fresh (hence it is well used by circuit-goers). Groes Inn if you want to pretend you work for evo mag.

I fancy trying Oulton as I love driving it on sims, but I know I'd be over-cautious around Druids as its pretty unforgiving.....

I did one at Snetterton last year, and thought that was a really fun and safe feeling track. Noise limits is pretty forgiving too which was the other reason I picked it. Anglesea is another one which is good on noise but I've never been there.