I'm back from Le Mans
and the cars back
and even better, I drove it back
Got in a few hours ago but I'm still buzzing, my only aim was to meet my deadline and make it there, but although there was problems throughout it even got itself back home, really liking this mini at the moment
Wow, what an eventful trip, in more ways then one, don't think for a second it was a simple trip there and back! Car had problems at the start and at the end and a few in between but considering its been put together by me it played well and got a bit more attention than I wanted...
First problem was about a minute from dover, a guy in a beemer pulls his window down in slow traffic "Oi mate your exhaust is hanging off" me thinks "interesting?"
pull in and yep the rear rubber has pulled away from the hook, couple of cable ties with the rubber and job done, onto the ferry I go
Open it up a bit more on the frenchy roads, car was running sweet, plenty of three figures (I think it was kmh officer)
only problem was I filling up every 45 minutes or so, it was too hard to take it easy with this car. What was funny was a brit three car convoy and they were cruising at shall we say a comfortable speed
and I would vtec past them, pull in for some fuel and vtec past them again and so on, got a thumbs up on the third pass - job done!
Pull in to fill up (again) and a couple of guys behind me filling up walk up and say "What you got in there?" I told them a-series, its just been tuned up a bit with some high lift cams, he goes "nah no way" so I said check out the wheels? have a seat and check out the interior? he sits in there (glovebox is closed) and starts off with the traditional "this takes me back, I used to have a mini............" anyway he's happy with it, glad he never asked me to pop the bonnet
Hit Rouen just before rush hour, not good, stuck in so many jams and was watching the temp gauge tentatively, only upside was a girl in a white mini pulling up alongside in traffic waving frantically, I wave back and then leave a long gap ahead of me - then vtec'd past her with some added pops - job done!
Finally made it to the guys in the campsite
Bonjour! Le Rio-Tec is here!
Say hello have a beer then couldn't wait to get the front end off to sort some stuff out, only two of them knew I had a honda engine, the others didn't have a clue, was a bit of a surprise!
These engine mounts were getting worse, going into second at traffic speed jolts the whole car, you can litterally feel the engine hitting everything and almost pin point the the type of sound, I knew one was coming from the front but that wasn't exactly hard to spot - rad beens poked by part of the bonnet
I've bent a small section on the bonnet so it clears now but there was more than enough clearance before so I know the engine has rocker more on these mounts, if anyone is in any doubt about why I moan about these mounts being utter tosh done by a prick well here you go
Anyways, I'm here now, so join the others for race day, the food was so bad at this place they named it twice...
I haven't got alot of photos/vids, got a couple of night vids, don't mind our dutch friend, he's one cool cat
http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg25 ... nt=246.mp4http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg25 ... nt=247.mp4Get back to the campsite about 2am to find one of our crew is in A&E???? He had bit to drink all day and stood up lost his footing and he went over on his ankle, he's fractured one bone and broke the other
In the morning none of us was really in the mood for the race, he's ok now and back home here, his wife will not be pleased!
Finished off a few more niggles with the car, had quite a few people keep turning up to have a look at it, yes its nice but sometimes you wanna just be able to get on with things, grabbed a few shots whilst working on it
Back on the road on the way back and car is moving along nicely, still rattly as hell, but I decide to take it easy, only filled up twice aswell, did have a play with some french guys in a civic, what that means is I vtec'd past them
they pull up alongside and we both floor it, yeah that was an easy one
Finally make it home
but not without problems
everythings reading fine on the gauges and I'm starting to think "dam I've nearly done it, I'm actually gonna drive it home!" I get out to open the garage door and when I get back in the car the oil pressure is reading about 4psi and dash oil light flickering.......errrm ok, quickly pull in and shut off and find the obligatory oil leak like you do on a mini...
Sump plug is dry, as is the oil pressure/temp sender units, its coming from higher up, I can only think its the oil filter which I can't really get to it now so will try another time
You can always tell when you've had a good drive, the plate splats
No rush on the car now, I'll get the bits that need attention as and when
The mini proved itself and suprised me once again, really liking this car