motoring part 2: Ford RS Focus -

so having a wee run this morning and a white RS Focus with a private plate pops out in front of me. At first I thought he was just putt putting about but then he went for it and I thought game on!

So, in a straight line I was able to pull a little back on him and into the braking areas I was really on him, though I suspect he was being more cautious and I was using him as my braking marker so easier maybe for me? He was pretty quick out of the corners and gained a bit which I then pulled back under power and again into the braking. Neither of us were going to overtake the other as that would be silly speeds and so not worth the risk on a road that wasn't suitable.

No idea what his car was running other than a private plate with 300 in the reg, big exhaust and gleaming white. Was a nice car I have to say and it certainly shifted ok. He didn't leave me behind either so I'm happy enough. When I turned off the road I gave him a flash of the lights and a wave :)

oh my giddy aunt -

went out this evening for a wee run when the roads were a little quieter. Not for speed like but for pushing the brakes harder and harder and harder and harder and er harder. Now I've noticed the rear brakes have had a blotching to them almost like fluid marks and the handbrake isn't the best either. I was concerned the rear brakes weren't doing much but I knew we hadn't adjusted the handbrake after doing the rears so mmm.

Jet washed the car as it was filthy then went for a run.. Started pushing the brakes a little harder and the pedal a little further. The rate with which the speed is being scrubbed off feels amazing! As I pushed harder and harder I could feel the front of the car planting itself into the tarmac and it feels stable too although broad front tyres do tend to tramline, mind you skinny fronts would just melt! I got the brakes really working and yeah pedal travel does seem a fair bit but certainly no further than before and I actually do have working brakes now. I could feel the car really slowing down on each brake application so I decided to pull over and inspect the discs. Fronts looked same old and so did the rears. The blotchy look wasn't altered BUT all four discs were cooking hot so they are definitely being worked and from touch test evenly worked too. A few of my brake tests really worked the tyres and I could feel the fronts begining to skip over the surface undulations so they are controllable up to the ABS coming in. I may have to up the tyre width on the fronts hehe.

Strip down and check of the brakes to be done this coming weekend

front brakes looked at -

inside passenger pad and outside drivers side pad jammed solid in carrier. So with a file I removed some metal from the pad edges and now they move freely inside the carriers. Once the retaining springs are in place they are snug, but still movable. Nothing left over after putting it all back together again, I'll test the brakes tomorrow - was too hungry to do it straight away.

Looks like the S02 plan all round for replacement tyres is no go on the fronts, they just won't fit. The rears still should but what the heck do I put up front?

awesome day out -

went for a wee jaunt up to Aviemore Ski Resort. Was a monthly meet through the OC and the weather during the planning of it was a concern. However on the day the weather was just perfect. Ok it was maybe 10degC air temp but the sky was clear, almost no clouds all day and it was soo clear. Blue sky. Just perfect.

Started the day off by jet washing the car as it was manky and had some serious bird doo on it. Then went to get Shell's finest only to discover the garage had run out of the stuff! I mean that's like McDonalds running out of chips! It just aint right. So after a wee detour the car was fully loaded with V-Power and the run began.

A few wee blats on the road from Dunbarton to Tarbet when the road allowed and yes the chargecooler was working but more on that later. The road from Tarbet to Aberdour has turned into a ploughed field. Crap doesn't even come close to it. Anyway, past that and the climb to Crainlarich and I started stretching the legs on the car for the first time since last September I suppose. Yup the old girl could still run darn fast. Woo hoo.

Outside Crainlarich and met up with another club member and we got the t-bars off. Shades already on and off we went. Blasted through Tyndrum and on towards the climb up to Rannoch Moor. Awesome section of road and the roads were dry and grippy and fun was had indeed. I must get the dump valve plumbed back into the airbox as it's quite noisy but not to me as with the t-bars off you don't anything. The car behind however gets the full effect right in their face. As we climbed up towards Glen Coe the views were breathtaking and the sky was blue. Perfect open topped motoring. Some stunning views and look how clear the sky is





Once into Fort William it's just a wee hop to Spean Bridge and then the turn off for Newtonmore and some of the most fantastic roads in Britain. We hurled along that road having a blast, until er my brakes cried enough and started giving me a very long pedal. No matter it was just a stunning road and it's times like this I wish I carried a passenger so they could take some pics. Anyway, into Newtonmore then onwards to Aviemore and up to the Cairngorm carpark for the vehicular ride to the peaks. This was the view as we pulled into the carpark. Awesome or what!


The view that greeted us. Ah bliss


So after taking in the view and having a chat about the drive up, the smell of cooked brakes from my car and the odour of overworked tyres we got hungry and headed for the cafe. A wee photo shoot from the cafe looking down from the peaks, highest cafe in Britain don't you know...


just bliss


Before leaving we had to have a photo shoot of the event and so we acquired with permission a corner of one of the carparks and did this with it.



Alas after this and some chat the leaving began and with a fair drive ahead the car was pointed south. The drive back in the beginning was at a slower pace that the one up but that's because myself and fellow member were looking at our fuel gauges thinking it's gonna be tight. Really really tight. We had to get back to Fort William some 50 miles away where we ( ok I ) could fill up with Super Unleaded so it was touch and go for the last 15 miles. My fuel light was coming on softly but the other car was solid yellow for the last 30miles!! Lesson learned. Fill up in Fort William on the way up AND back lol.

It was late and while I was in no rush to get home the other dude had things planned for that night so he headed home on his own while I dawdled home. I had to stop at the Bridge of Orchy viewpoint and get some shots of the car. After that I sat there on the grass for awhile just taking in the view, drinking my Irn Bru and thinking, what an awesome day with great roads, great weather and great company. God damn what a place I live in and I have the perfect car for it (that I can afford anyway ;-) ).

chargecooler install complete -

indeed it is finally done. Initial results under load are good with the intake temperature rise now much slower that before. Oddly I was expecting there to be no real rise in intake temps but there is a definite reduction in the overall rise. Which is nice. At one point I was considering removing the whole thing and going back to A2A. I still need to fix the VTA as it's so noisy on part throttle it's unbelievable

I reckon there is more to come with respect to the results but my attention is slowly being drawn by the brakes. Bascially I'd like to improve them.

However the front passenger side light / indicator connector block is needing a good clean as it's shorting out. Typical. Shoulda done that when the bumper was off. Not like I have anything better to do this weekend anyway.

Apart from the Aviemore run. Woo hoo. Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbooooooooooooooooossssssssssssttttttttt