AMD's 2 litre 304bhp 162mph Fabia Monte Carlo TDi *6 speed conversion*

[AMD87]

Entry list and time table 

[AMD87]

Tech all passed 

[AMD87]

The little diesel Skoda that could

 

Write up from SLS at the weekend. Data on the videos are speed, RPM, G force, Boost and intake air temp

 

What an experience it was, after months of Gordon, Renny and Adam saying i should do it thought i'd enter the last round of the series.

 

First day was reverse direction, something i've never driven before and only passengered ever in one session with George 5+ years ago in the Evo x after a day at HQ getting it mapped.

 

Set the tyres based on Avon's recommendations so 26psi cold at the front and doing the mini thing of running 40psi in the rear and headed out. Problem with the Fabia is you can't turn the ESP fully off so have to try and get it to slide into the corner before it kicks in.

 

Also had to learn the track as well as was all new. Sadly after going back out after the red flag on the 2nd lap tipped the car into the chicane the back started to slide but ESP kicked in killing the power causing it to run wide and take out the markers. Was worried i had damaged the oil cooler so came in checked the car over thankfully everything ok only damaged pride but called it for the rest of the session with a 66.736

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUL4Z08cp9g

 

Next was the practice session, went out to learn the track and try different lines, as you can tell more cautious through the chicane after the last time and managed a laptime of 65.511

 

Checked the tyre pressures when i came back in and the fronts were sitting at 42psi 😳 so lowered them down to 26psi for the next session

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGbPwYnKxQg

 

Out for qualifying, wanted to get straight out and on it so had to try and make my way through the cars that were waiving. Car felt good and started to gain more confidence through the chicane as it went on, came in half way through the session to check my time and it was a 66.207 which i was disheartened about so went straight back out to improve on the time but wasn't able to do so.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVfL_HEgdgM

 

For the final you only get 1 warm up lap and a flyer so no time to get tyres up to temp or pressure so had to be set pretty much where you want them to be. Also looked like it was between me and Euan Duncan in the JCW Mini for the road car trophy. Set the tyres at 32psi and tried that. Was parked up on concrete dust in the holding area so did a few waives to clean the tyres but on it from the off to get as much heat in the tyres as quick as possible. Slight lift on the exit of McIntyres as the front was pushing out wide but managed to cross the line in 65.360, 0.016 in front of Euan. Great close battle.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVDgu-FFCwI

 

Moving onto Sunday where it was normal direction this time.

 

First up Warm up. Busier track this time so struggled to get a clean lap and had to try not to follow the Ginetta off the track and managed a 66.352 so a good starting point.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBrkab7K2EQ

 

Next up practice, just wanted to get out and get a banker lap in, had to work my way through the weaving cars again and noticed the far starting to get very skittish at the back into the braking for the hairpin but managed a 65.711and called it a day there.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiR9qnoOUfs

 

Next up was qualifying and for some reason the car just didn't feel right, back end very sketchy on turn in and braking alot more than normal but i guess this is down to more confidence and carrying more speed and managed to turn in a lap of 65.685 so getting quicker. During this i thought the white mini was pulling over to let me passed before the hairpin and didn't expect it to come down the inside of me and managed to avoid hitting him.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haylkaLxDEU

 

Lastly the final, again straight out and on it to get heat in the tyres and going well was up by .37 untill the chicane, Took too much kerb on the left and then the ESP killed the power at the wrong moment and when it let me have it back the passenger rear wheel dropped into the gravel and threw the car sideways but kept on it just in case and again braking into the hairpin the back end squirmed out and managed a lap of 66.067. Super close between Mark Beaumont with a 66.001, me with a 66.067 and Suzanne Buist with a 66.106.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2em1L5tK40

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKDDVhTAnYo

 

Still came out with a massive smile on my face and one of those event that i can now tick the box and say its been done.

 

 

 

Huge thanks to  everyone thats helped over the years with the car Darkside Developments ADE Tuning Funk Motorsport EBC Brakes EBC Brake Shop MTEC Brakes Wavetrac Differentials Europe Wavetrac Differentials Europe Modifided lights uk

 

 

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48705981668_c569ea706d_c.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AMD87]

Some speed trap data, one of the slowest cars so most of the time appears to be made up under brakes or in the corners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AMD87]

When you see it.....

 

[AMD87]

Another clean bill of health for a year

 

Going to be at Knockhill on Sunday doing demo laps to promote Super Lap Scotland so will be a good chance to test out the new wider rear axle from an Ibiza Estate and the 256mm Vented Mk4 Golf 25th annvi rear brakes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dark_Hero]

Sounds great

looking at your previous competition you could do with a car without ESP

[AMD87]

Videos from the Super Lap Scotland sessions at the Knockhill Racing Circuit Tartan Tarmac Big Day Oot! event yesterday.

 

First time out with the new Ibiza estate rear axle and mk4 Golf Anniversery 256mm rear brakes.

 

Took the first session pretty easy to get used to it, car feels more stable going through duffus now as the axle is 15mm wider, didn't think it would make that much of a difference but it really did.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEl4uPLKGE0

 

After getting an idea of how the car handled after the recent changes it gave me more confidence going into the second session and managed to get times down to 65.8 but it started to rain harder as the session went on.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5rdYmkTy_M

 

After lunch the weather turned and made the car completely wet, first time every driving the car around knockhill in the wet and on ZZR's at that too. Always thought people overexageriated how slippy the kerbs were now i know they weren't 😳

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3soV3oMjlYg

 

Mini following

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H_P9N84T6A

 

 

slidey bits

 

 

Still an awesome day out 😆

Edited 23 September, 2019 by AMD87

[Dark_Hero]

Looks like a great day out

[AMD87]

9 hours ago, Dark_Hero said:

Looks like a great day out

It was, and after complaining about esp kicking in when it rains it decides it doesn’t wanna work 🤣

[AMD87]

Finally after almost 3 years i've finally got the picture i've always wanted of the car 😍

 

 

few more from sunday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BiGRUD]

Nice car mate.  Where did you get bonnet piston kit from?

[AMD87]

2 hours ago, BiGRUD said:

Nice car mate.  Where did you get bonnet piston kit from?

thanks, got it off ebay

[BiGRUD]

Cheers. What length did you use?

[AMD87]

3 hours ago, BiGRUD said:

Cheers. What length did you use?

I didn’t get an option they just came in the one size

[BiGRUD]

Sorry to be a pain, but could you please measure the length of the strut when the bonnet is open?  When you get a chance  👍

 

Much appreciated,

[AMD87]

12 hours ago, BiGRUD said:

Sorry to be a pain, but could you please measure the length of the strut when the bonnet is open?  When you get a chance  👍

 

Much appreciated,

 

[BiGRUD]

Thank you. 

[AMD87]

Finally got round to painting the brakes, look ok from a distance 🤣

 

 

 

 

[AMD87]

Couple of pics from sunday night

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mdk1]

Good to meet you today Andy, car looked very nice on track.

[AMD87]

On 04/11/2019 at 19:35, mdk1 said:

Good to meet you today Andy, car looked very nice on track.

Thanks you too

 

[AMD87]

Good day out at @BossFox track day at Donington on Monday, Shared a garage with Jason's 400bhp Fabia vRS and Philips 20vt swapped elegance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Started off with a wet track that my fabia seemed to love but stuggled to get heat into the tyres so had oversteer which then went into understeer but later on it dryed out and was great, did have an issue once when the power steering stopped but apart from that great day and at some points doing 101mph down crainers.

 

 

 

Chasing down Jason in his vRS but kept getting held up with traffic then the power steering went.

 

Sun out a dry track getting more speed

 

 

last session

 

also got a new poppy for the front

 

[AMD87]

Few pictures from the track day last Monday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spent the weekend down in Anglesey at Race Of Remembrance where for a 2nd year we won our class and even took home a 1-2

 

 

 

with the odd tunnel run for good measure

 

 

 

 

 

some new stickers from Darkside Developments too

 

 

 

Car was booked in at ADE Tuning for a service and a health check on the way home but noticed on the way to anglesey a high pitched noise at 50mph and only 50mph, knew it couldn't be the diff or gearbox thought i had warped the brakes in the floods that i came across but no vibration under brakes so thought it was a front wheel bearing, Had to be considering they are still the originals at over 90k and have had a heck of alot of abuse.

 

ADE checked the front bearings completely fine, checked the rears and there was around 10mm of play in them, they were brand new fitted less than 2 months ago and only did 3k. They checked they were fitted correctly (they wanted to be sure i never doubted the guy that fitted them as he is a multiple drag race winner and has built some crazy cars) but they were installed correctly they had both just failed. new ones fitted and car with a clean bill of health.

 

Edited 12 November, 2019 by AMD87

[AMD87]

Not much happening since its the winter, renewal came through for the race licence so need to get that done for next year. Has a new set of PS4's on the front as went through a pair already.

 

Also got a catch can from Christos at RTMG Performance to test it on the Fabia as well to see how it copes with it.

 

 

car could do with a wash though

 

Gotta love a paddle clutch on a single mass aswell