Refreshed for Spring

Project Merlot spent the first 2 weeks in April perched on a 2 post vehicle lift in the warm confines of the Cambridge Branch of EMG Motor Groups' modern, spacious workshop. The car has been undergoing some transplant & cosmetic surgery in preparation for the next visit to Woodbridge airfield with Javelin Trackdays.

A new clutch assembly kindly supplied by EMG Motor Group was installed along with a new gear change lever dust boot and the box filled with fresh 75W90 gear oil in an attempt to aid the failing 3rd gear syncromesh evident at the recent Woodbridge event. I also changed the clutch fluid.

A powerflow made cat-back exhaust system donated by Ady Neill (solargraphics.net) with a 3" tip now replaces the decrepid and failing Bosal system the car had been dragging around since the team had bought it.

Next, I removed the Axxis Ultimate brake pads from the front and fitted a set of EBC Green Stuff pads (donated by Eastern Region member Ailsa Thompson). Here it must be stated how well the Axxis Ultimates had lasted. After just one track day we were finding that Mazda pads were melting from the heat and needed at least a clean up and re-face before the next event. The Axxis Ultimates however have lasted for 5 events untouched and when removed, purely because they were looking a bit worn and we didn't want them to wear out mid event, they showed no signs of over heating at all. This is a brake pad I would happily reccomend and I hope the EBC's fitted now are as commendable. While the wheels were off I also changed the brake fluid.

The boot lid with its characteristic maybe even sentimental dents & holes has now been consigned to the skip in exchange for the new lid which was supplied by Dandycars and painted by DWR.

Project Merlot can be seen at Woodbridge Airfield with Javelin Trackdays on April 26th.

Woodbridge Airfield Saturday 1 March

Our first trip back of 2008 to Woodbridge Airfield with Javelin Track Days and what a day!
Gale force winds over night had removed all traces of cones by the morning and therefore no track to be seen! Thankfully some very early morning action by the Javelin crew put most of it back together before we arrived but with the strong wind persisting they decided that the main runway section would just be too windy to drive safely so we ended up with a shorter, but no less interesting track.
Drivers today were Martin Curtis and Jon Elsey, with two new boys to the Merlot, John Mellor and Jamie Tink.
We started off the day on Toyo track tyres but by lunch time the more severe corners of the shorter track were taking there toll on these so a sprint back to Martin’s for a replacement set of wheels and tyres was necessary. This made the day even more interesting. A morning session on the semi slick and an afternoon on regular road tyres showed up just how much the handling can change with a different tyre.
By the end of the day we had pretty much removed all the tread from the offside front tyre and worst still we were having a few problems selecting gears.

Project Merlot - Back to the Old Skool

After a sabbatical from Snetterton circuit Project Merlot returned on 17th February for its 3rd visit to the track, this time with Javelin Trackdays. The morning, although cold at -4°c was dry and clear and the day remained so through out the event with temperatures climbing up to 6°c by the afternoon. Project Merlot saw the return of Steve Hider (soon to be out with his very own track prepared Roadster), Tony “Dad” Brown & Robbie Marsh to the driving seat and added a new name to the already distinguished list of Merlot drivers, Steve Alleyne. It was the first time Mr Alleyne had driven any car on any circuit so not only were his nerves tense but so were the nerves of the Team! After signing on and listening to the briefing all drivers were sent out in 3 groups for sighting laps. Steve Alleyne, obviously keen to get out on track used his own car for this only to return to the pit lane after 3 laps to be told he should have been wearing his crash helmet!!! The circuit opened at around 9:30 and from then until five o’clock with only one hours rest for lunch the car was subjected to the extremes of driving that it has taken in its stride over the past 18 months. Since Team Melot last visited the circuit they have fitted FM Anti Roll bars, installed polybushes and are now running Toyo R888’s making the car even better under track conditions. Tony, who paid for 20 minutes instruction from an ARDS instructor, said “The car certainly handles better compared to the last time I drove it. I even passed a few cars”. Once Steve had got used to being able to use the whole “road” he said “Wow! Fantastic day I will definitely be doing this again, thanks to Robbie, Steve and Tony for showing me the ropes. I can’t wait to see the video”.

In total Project Merlot clocked up 297 miles on the track that day and used £103 worth of fuel. Strangely enough, the last time we visited Snetterton we did 294 miles!