Lotus Elan Central

1st thing is to thank Sy for our New section

Well I thought I`d get the ball rolling, I`ve not done a trackday yet but hopefully that will change in the New Year. Here`s a list of things i`ve done and going to do.

Fitted:-
Rollbar (LGM Hoops)
Wilwood front brake upgrade
DOT 5.1 brake fluid
Dave`s short shifter
Quaife ATB
AVO adjustable dampers
Wheel alignment been done

To do:-
Bucket seats
Harness

These are the seats i`m thinking fitting next year

Corbeau Clubman 2004 seat


Note that these seats don`t have the wings at shoulder height so should fit our cars nicely, there only about £99 each and come in different colours.

Those that have fitted a harness could u give me advice/pictures on where`s the best place to fix the rear of the harness ie the part for the shoulder straps/fixings?

Well, you asked for an opinion, so here's mine (FWIW )

If you only intend to use the car on the odd track day, not for competetive stuff (presumably this is where we're at) then there isn't much more you 'have' to do, but lots that I'd recomend

Will you be using the car regularly with the new seats, or just sticking them in for track use?

If you're keeping them in, I'd recomend a different one than the one you've indicated (I don't want to advertise on the forum, but Monaco are competetively priced, FIA approved and comfortable (also a bit lighter) and come in diferent sizes for the 'fuller figure' so something will fit you/the car. Also, have you considered something like these :-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Leather-Look-Rall ... dZViewItem

Likewise with harnesses, don't skimp with your safety!!!

3" straps are more comfortable than 2", but (obviously) more bulky. Also, 'twist' release buckles are 'better' than push release.

Back to your original question, the MSA 'Blue Book' gives the full angles and specifications to meet FIA regulations (Not necessary for track days, but as it's the basis for safety (including MOT test) it would be foolish NOT to follow the rules.

On a practical note, as you have the hoops fitted (presumably with the horizontal bar at shoulder height) it is a simple case of making sure that you get the correct sort of harness with shorter shoulder straps (or get a 'normal' one modified by a good trimmer) that DO NOT have fittings on the end of the straps for attaching to bolts or anchor eyes.

They simply wrap round the horizontal bar and through the metal buckle to adjust the length.

Again, you can keep the harnesses in 'full time' or remove them and use the standard ones when popping down to Tesco for the monthly shopping!

Having built & prepared cars for various levels of motorsport (from 'boy racers' through 'track day specials' to full FIA spec race / rally cars) I would not like to get on a track without a plumbed in fire extinguisher fitted (simple system for about £100).

The other essential is a pair of good sunglasses! May sound stupid, but with a full face helmet the visor forever steams up and if you remove it (or flip it up) you'll get flies / grit / track debris in your eyes!

Besides that, It looks real cool to have good shades!!!!!

Dave thanks for u`r advice,

The racing seats will be staying in the car, but the problem is that most racing seats have the wings at shoulder height which will be a struggle to get them to fit without hitting the door as David.JT who went to the Ring can contest to David also had a standard harness fitted and said that it`s to long and couldn`t adjust the shoulder straps any tighter but i don`t know how he mounted his.

I was thinking on the same lines as u regarding the harness, and see if it can be wrapped aroung the rollbar. As i`ve done a few Pax rides on track and know how important it is to be strapped in and feel as part of the car. The standard seat belt will also be staying in for those shopping trips lol

Some of the guys on here track there car and would appreciate there advice too,

Dave.M
Stevo
Nige
Sy and his flying cat project.
Chris.t

another thing i need to know is do i need the side mounts for the seats and there sub frame or can i remove the stock runners and bodge them to fit the bucket seats?

iirc Stevo has big brakes, big engine boost and no other safety features except the incontinence pants for his passenger

As far as I remember most (probably an exception out there somewhere!), most of the 'cheaper' seats (No offense to what you're looking at, but if you want to spend £800 on a carbon fibre one, you can) are 'botton mount' not 'side mount'.

As such, they need either a subframe (about £15 on flea bay) or (My prefered option!) bodging onto the runners you already have.

Bodging is a poor term here, it can be fairly easily done on cars with metal floors, as there is always something to mount the runners to at the spacing dictated by the seats, not sure about how that will work on an Elan.

Again, FIA rules forbid this practice (too many bits which can break in a major roll), but for what you're after, it is okay.

It may seem stupid, but various bucket seats have different rake angles and some may suit your prefered style (upright or reclined) more than others.

I have been known to have 4 different seats in my lounge, bolted to milk crates, which i use to watch the telly for a few days before making my final choice.

(hence my e-bay link to the others above which recline and don't have big wings!) There's lots of similar out there, and whilst they are more for the look than racing (boy racer in Ford Cortina = buyer!), they meet EU regs, and will take a harness!

Take sheet of 3mm chequer plate. Chop to fit floor pan and fettle to get rid of sharp edges.
Drill holes to correspond with existing mounting holes.
Position seat, drill holes to correspond to mounts/runners.
Remove surplus chequerplate under seat area.
Mount seat to chequer plate.
Mount assembly to car floor pan.

Monty wrote: Here's a list of things i've done and going to do.

Fitted:-
Rollbar (LGM Hoops)
Wilwood front brake upgrade
DOT 5.1 brake fluid
Dave's short shifter
Quaife ATB
Wheel alignment being done this friday

Don't forget the AVO's and braided hoses you've fitted.

Monty,

I think you have most of the options covered. I think the only essential for a track day in a mainly road use Elan is the better brakes. More power is a nice to have, the roll hoops make you feel better but whilst that's nice and some serious thought went into the design and construction of them they are neither tested nor approved to any specific standard (not a criticism as I am pleased I have mine fitted). For a car which is still mainly road use, bucket seats and a full harness are a complete pain and look particularly daft in the high street. I fitted a CG-Lock to hold my bum firmly in the seat and until you've done a track day or 2 and can decide on the basis of experience whether you want to go down the bucket seat and harness route I would recomend it, see Here at £50 it is a lot cheaper than seats and harness.

The other thing worth considering is tyres, the biggest difference of all for me was fitting track day tyres (Toyo R888s) even though it was soaking at Castle Combe earlier this year the grip was impressive, in the dry they will be awesome compared to a road tyre. However, more grip means more loads into the suspension so the mechanical integrity of bearings etc becomes critical. Tyre pressures can make a big difference, normal advice is to raise them by 5PSI or so (dry) but that is very much a matter of personal taste, tracks tend to be smooth compared to the road and the increase in pressure prevents the tyre rolling on the rim when you put more load into it.

Final thought is that if instruction is available (it is at Castle Combe) then use it, better driving through training is usually a more cost efective way to faster laps than all the add ons in the world!

I'm no expert but hope the above helps.

Monty, I agree with Nige, don't forget that your car will be predominantly used on the road. I considered a 4 point harness and racing seats but think of it on a daily basis - complete arse ache. From driving on track i do find the seats a little unsupporting in the corners ( you tend to find yourself hanging onto the sterring wheel which is not good) so changing seats would be an option. Is there a compromise from the the conventional seat belt to a 4 point?

My car is fine as it is on the road but if it was purely for the track i would defo be going down the same train of thought that you are. Get you 4 point harness fitted and you'll be at the back of the dony convoy though

Thanks for the advice, my plan is to do a couple of trackdays with standard seats and belt to see if it`s for me first

But since i don`t use the M100 as an everyday car i prefer to be secure with a harness and racing seat, although i`ll be keeping the original seat belt for normal driving.

Nige,
Do u use the Toyo R888s as an everyday tyre? and how long do they last with normal driving and trackdays? Don`t want to be spending 100`s on tyres so might have to compromise and go for those paradas that Stevo went for.

The R888s are on my 17" rims (BMW Mini in origin) and although I have used them on the road where they are excellent, as a medium soft compound they aren't going to last for that many miles. I didn't take too much out of them last year because my track day was so wet, they were fun at Le Mans however. I don't use them all the time. Although I'm not using the S2 much at this time of year the S2 wheels and road tyres are back on it until next year. If you are going to do a couple of track days with the standard seats and belts then I definitely recommend the CG-Lock, I have it permanently fitted as it's good for road use to.

What track days are you thinking of? I've done the Club Lotus one at Castle Combe the last couple of years and its good value, I got 4 x 6 lap sessions for my £75 this year.

Was looking to see if i could get a cheap harness on ebay but a cam lock type will cost over £100 but found these and found the same ones at Motor World for £49.99 there not FIA approved but should be better than the CG-lock

Nige
Not sure about when or which track, but more than likely it`ll be oulton when they have a novice day + it`s only an hour to get there.

At that price why not, I would.

Oulton's a nice circuit, long time since I've been there, Thruxton's my closest but I've never really investigated what they do in the way of track days.

Castle Combe, Thruxton, Oulton Park...hang on MSA book to scanner.

I shall be doing the CL day at Goodwood next year - good circuit for the Elan

the main thing to do is learn how not to drive like an old woman.

most tracks offer one on one driver training from an hour course to full on race training either in your own car or theres. i would recomend at least an hour lesson in your own car, this helped me no end. then if your on a track thats new to you hitch a ride with a local and learn the line.

after that, in this order....
1. brakes
2. brakes
3. brakes(you get the point)
4. tyres(more grip more speed)
5. weight reduction(mass is the enemy)
6. suspention(lower, stiffer)
7. now your ready for more power
8. lsd(to put the power down)
9. gray shoes and badly fitting race suit

have fun

Since i`ve got my 1st trackday at Oulton tomo`s i`ve installed a Fire Extinguishers from Halfords for £14.99.

Also got a Digital pressure gauge

That ain't a fire extinguisher....... It looks like it's made by Fisher-Price

Seriously though, it's probably adequate, and certainly better than nothing!

Something that size can hold a fire at bay until help arrives - plastic cars can go up pretty quick

[I just hope it ends up a waste of money, and doesn't get used]