Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

[trig]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

That was you I was talking to then... I thought it may have been but you have changed the car since I last saw it so convinced myself it wasn't you lol...

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Yes you were explaining the weather vane on the roof to me. Escort looked great in the flesh.

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

House move beckons, so not much more in the form of modifications for me this year
Roll on 2014

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Moved in December 2013.
Currently painting the new garage.
First event is Rockingham Sprint on March 16th.
Loving the new house without the neighbours from hell.

[Evolution-VII]

Post some pictures of the new garage mate.

Congratulations on the new house!

[Graham]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Moved in December 2013.
Currently painting the new garage.
First event is Rockingham Sprint on March 16th.
Loving the new house without the neighbours from hell.

nice one

im guessing the new house owners are in line for a bit of a shock?

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

I'm sure they portray me as the NFH to the new owners Graham. I'm happy to leave it that way. The indians next door will no doubt drop their guard and pretences after a while, and resume where they left off with moaning to the new people about parking, boundaries, fences, burning his decking, and having all manner of screaming rows with his wife till midnight.
The new place is a world away, quality of life is incredible, wish we'd done it sooner.
The new garage is smaller than I wanted, with no room to extend, the only option would be to make it a tandem but then I'd loose a parking space on the driveway. I'm outside most evenings, painting the walls, fitted four 5ft strip lights so I can see, and I'm going to paint the concrete floor once its dried out.

[Graham]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

The new place is a world away, quality of life is incredible,

thats all thats important

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Painting the walls white, and grey, using B&Q masonry paint. And some general tidying up and storing stuff in the roof space.

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber


First event for 2014 for me was the Rockingham Sprint, last weekend. I hadnt sat in the car since the last track day at Combe in September, so I was a little rusty to say the least. First two practice runs I had big slides where the dirty rear tyres caused the rear end to step out, and after playing with tyre pressures I tried a little harder, but couldnt get confidence in the car. I was a little over 2s slower than the 4x4 DJM Cosworth Ka, which recently came out of retirement. A phenomenal little car, and 4WD definitely helping him get traction out of the corners.

I've only just downloaded the data from the datalogger, and this week I'll analyse where I was 2seconds slower.
The Fiesta ran flawlessly, a fresh oil change before the event, and a repair to the front suspenson arms on both sides (replaced some bolts with a pair of shoulder bolts) certainly helped make her more direct when I pointed her at a corner.

I'm now building a 260BHP screamer for the car, to raise the RPM limit and the top speed. I was on the limiter again at Rockingham, which is 116MPH and I need a higher top speed.

Still writing for RF magazine, with a monthly column, and the garage is now painted, just waiting for the right time to paint the floor.

[the1theycallthe1]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Good to see you again Graham on Sunday!

Smart picture of your car on the CF show gallery

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Nice pic.

Not much happened since the show at the Pod. I'm out of work, looking for new contract opportunities.
So I'm working on the car to kill some time, and I'm making a front splitter at the moment.
Rear diffuser to follow.

This isnt the final fit, it needs fasteners to support it.


I've used black Alumite board from my local sign makers. Score it with a knife and snap to shape.




More pictures on my website.

No plans to enter any more events this year. I did run at Prescott in June, on 2nd hand hard slicks, which took a lot of work to get heat in to. Next outing is the Forge day at Combe in September.

Looking like running in Time Attack next year, well, thats the ambition anyway.

[xr2Ted]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

lovely car mate see her at pod its stunning

[team_zi]

Re: Grahamb's Mk1 Fiesta XR2 Duratec HE Hillclimber

Cheers for that. I've not had much to report recently as I'm on a long term contract working away from home, so have zero time in the garage.
I'm planning on changing the seat in the XR for a Sparco Circuit, so I have the extra head protection. I may even get a HANS as no doubt they'll be mandatory in a year or two.

The 2.0 engine still needs building, but I cant see the hotel being too happy with me doing that. NHM have offered to do it for me, so I need to get all the bits over to Troy at some point.

I did finally get rid of the Legacy diesel, traded it in for a F31 330D xDrive, which is a rocket in comparison. Still no tow bar on the back, so not going anywhere soon with the XR. In no hurry at the moment.