Lotus Elan Central

Had a great day last Friday at Snetterton with LoT.
Did a 100 miles on the track, not a lot of other people there so never had to wait to go out.
I was the only Elan there, plenty Exige, Elise, couple of VX220, Caterham, Locost, 911, Subaru and a Leon!

Car went really well, managed to improve my driving some as well, still a way to go though! Few fluids leaking but hopefully nothing too serious.
Everyone who rode passenger or drove the car was very impressed with the Wilwoods.

Got some video but nothing to exciting.

Can't wait to do it again asap!!

Good man. By fluids do you mean coolant overflowing from the header tank? This is pretty normal when the Elans been under boost for prolonged periods.
No spins then? Monty always manages at least one

damn damn and double damn, i was up that way on friday could have popped over easy.

Dico wrote:Good man. By fluids do you mean coolant overflowing from the header tank? This is pretty normal when the Elans been under boost for prolonged periods.

Yes, I do!! Thats interesting to hear, any theoryson why?
The coolant temp wandered around about +-1/8 around 1/4 on the gauge (if that makes sense!). But at one point started went above 1/2 so I backed off and it started coming down pretty quickly, back in the pits and there was steam coming from the header cap. After if had cooled I topped it off with about 1/2 a pint of water.

Dico wrote:No spins then? Monty always manages at least one

Yes.... i had one spin! At least I can say I was trying! About 1/2 hour from the end of the day I got a bit carried away on the sharp right hander at the top of the circuit..... Good fun though!!! Decided that might be a good time to call it a day!

I don't think thats right Dans, would do a sniffer test if i was you.

chris.t wrote:I don't think thats right Dans, would do a sniffer test if i was you.

Thats what happened to me when my head gasket went

But good doo`s on getting out on track would like to visit Snet one day but it`s a darn long way for me

Lets see the vids

Both mine and Jimp's spat fluid out from the header tank after a lap of the Ring.
Mine (and others) seems to overflow if the level is at the 'level' mark, but seems to settle and remain at around a 1/4 full. Yours too monty iirc? Seem to remember thats why you keep your level low???
Maybe it was this excess just flowing out?

mine did same on Jurby track session on IOM trip

Dico wrote:Both mine and Jimp's spat fluid out from the header tank after a lap of the Ring.
Mine (and others) seems to overflow if the level is at the 'level' mark, but seems to settle and remain at around a 1/4 full. Yours too monty iirc? Seem to remember thats why you keep your level low???
Maybe it was this excess just flowing out?

Thats cause my head gasket was on it`s way out and Jim had to replace his head gasket

There`ll be many members whos gasket is on the way out but won`t realise it, once your out on track thats when things start to show

Blimey, looks like I had better order a head gasket then

Dico wrote:Blimey, looks like I had better order a head gasket then

Don't worry. It should last another 100 miles or 5 years, whichever comes sooner.

chris.t wrote:I don't think thats right Dans, would do a sniffer test if i was you.

That was my thought when I saw it
Trying to find a kit now....

Haven't sorted the vid yet, but heres a pic someone got of me.

Was v. wet early on my sun soon came out and it was perfect conditions

I heard that there were a couple of 2 11's doing the business there?

chris.t wrote:I heard that there were a couple of 2 11's doing the business there?

Should see a few at Donny as well, some of the LoT will be racing them in this years elise trophy

Dans,
Did you get plenty of understeer in the rain

Those 211's appear behind VERY VERY quickly!!!!! Insanely fast!

Yep plenty of understeer, but as you can see from the picture, whilst it was wet I drove like a grandad, until I went out woth the instructor and he shouted at me until I kept accelerating until he said so...... scared the beejesus out of me!!! Good fun, and very helpful though!!

dans, keep us updated please

Dico wrote:dans, keep us updated please

Eh..??? You mean on the state of the head gasket? Or something else ?

Not driving the car at the moment in case there is a problem, then waiting for pay day to go and buy a sniffer test.

Also planning to borrow this jobba of a mate:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gunsons-Hi-Gauge- ... dZViewItem

Some mor useful info here:
http://www.pumaracing.co.uk/comp.htm

Cheers,
Dan

dans wrote:
Not driving the car at the moment in case there is a problem, then waiting for pay day to go and buy a sniffer test.

Sniff it (hence "sniffer" test ). If your coolant smells of charge & exhaust fumes, then it is likely that your head gasket has failed.

dans wrote:

Dico wrote:dans, keep us updated please

Eh..??? You mean on the state of the head gasket? Or something else ?

Something else? Ugh??? Credit card details

The head gasket. If indeed the head gasket has failed.