306 Rallye

[Teej]

So almost 10 years ago I got the trackday bug....



I moved through a few track-focussed Vauxhalls, and ended up running a couple of races in a Nova GTE, before it caught turning-brown-vauxhall disease and died.



The car was underdeveloped (poorly tuned carbs, knackered shocks) and I lacked the testicular fortitude to overcome that, or the intelligence to go testing first!

Alongside the track cars I was running my Rallye as usual daily driver.



September '12 and it disgraced itself on the way to work, sitting in a puddle of coolant; head gasket didn't survive the shame, and I parked it, leasing a super-dull 1.2TDI econo-wagon.



It turns out that no-one wants to buy a broken 13-year old French tin can, so I got it repaired and as soon as a space opened up in my garage I brought it home, planning to mothball it until values went up.

That plan lasted all of 3 days! A chap on the gti6 site was breaking his track Rallye, and the cage and suspension was too tempting to say no to.

Cage being resprayed from red to black



Customised Koni's, converted to coilovers, revalved and with 350lb Eibachs.



The girls loving the Cobra Monacos (from a Nova on migweb, with seat mounts from someone on gti6 forum)



Set of black Oz Superturismos (Ford offset, but with hubcentric spacers)



And another set in white (ebay bargain, came with Ford-Peugeot spacers already welded inside - chap was selling cos they wouldn't fit on his Escort!)



Stripped back and repainted to anthracite



There's a lot of stuff comes out of a 306...



Oops, pretty sure that's not meant to look like that! Replacement rear beam sourced and being fitted...



These pics are all from last summer. I did a few bits on it since, like fit the suspension, air filter, rig up a leaky oil cooler; but I'm a teacher and find myself ridiculously busy from 8:30-3:15 each weekday, so didn't find time to complete much else since last August. I've now entrusted the car to Shepherd Motors in Chelmsford, who have run BTCC 306s to titles in club motorsport, to get it finished off. I've been using them since I got my white 6 nearly 11 years ago, and they're top guys.

I'll post up a spec list of how it should come back. It's being built to CTCRC pre-2005 series regs, which means standard engine, 'box and bodywork, but enough other stuff to play with.

Cheers for reading!

Tim

[Piggy]

Sounds promising...be curious to see final result!!

Glad to see a rallye used for its purpose, not pampered into a poodle

[Dum-Dum]

Looks good. Nice to see another black one here. Reminds me I really should get on with making mine into something that vaguely resembles an MOTable example.

[RetroPug]

Looking forward to seeing the mongoose on this!

Good to see it being returned to glory.

[Teej]

That's fitted already, though I haven't heard it run yet. It looks, ummmm, big! I haven't had an aftermarket zorst since a Scorpion Imola on my bianca 6, I'd forgotten what the size of an aftermarket was like, ha! My black Nova had an Ashley, and that got drowned out by the carb induction roar.

I should point out that I suck at taking photos. I usually just get on with a job and then remember about photos once it's finished.

The intention is to keep it road legal. It's insured, and will be MOT'd once complete.

[callumcull]

Looking good man, also very keen to see the result!

[ozonehostile]

Ah another black rallye being used. Will be keeping an eye on this

[RetroPug]

The tip is big but the actual bore is sensible!

[Teej]

I've picked up a few more shiny bits while the car has been away. Most of it has come from people on here and the 6 forums (dirty homeless peasants!). The exhaust was shot, so that has been replaced with a Mongoose system (from retropug). I also stumbled on a fancy inlet manifold and throttle body, and have had the big end bearings and rod bolts uprated.

The rest of the acquisitions I've termed the "handling package":

Baker BM adjustable top mounts:




Baker BM engine mounts, and wishbones with some Rich W bits on:




Solid rear beam mounts:




What is purported to be a Mk1 Xsara VTS steering rack:




I've also picked up some gear rods from Miles, and a Compbrake quickshift. Still likely to be a few weeks before it's back, as I throw this extra stuff at the garage folks.

New race suit:


Shiny helmet: (Bell GT5-Pro, with the visor swapped for a touring peak - this feels so much better than the OMP I had before)


I took a peek at the running total spreadsheet, and had a bit of a minor meltdown, but I've hit the limit of what I can change within the pre-2005 regs now. I have to stick with this car. I can't sell it cos my missus has just reminded me that it's her name on the V5 and not mine!