Mk2 Fiesta XR2 Sprint Car

[paulwoodford]

Hi guys

I'm new to posting over here. I've seen a few of your cars knocking about at various events and thought I'd introduce myself with a few details of my competition car for those that are interested.

I've spent the last couple of years preparing the car, after spending the best part of a year before that finding one which was clean enough. This was near concourse condition, and whilst some people have criticised me for stripping a car in that condition, I don't have the facilities to rebuild a shell and wanted to start with a solid base.

It's a Mk2 Fiesta XR2, built for modified production class (though it's not overall very competitive in this class yet ), and I've recently done my first couple of events in the car at Harewood.

Pics of most recent event here:

http://www.whatnonegatives.com/2007/...HTML/index.htm

And a little vid from the same:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EULzRZN03MYouTube - Woodford's XR2 at Harewood.

And some of the car:

Those with experiences of Mk2 XR2s will appreciate how rare it is to see this...





The only rust on the car was from the odd stone chip !

















I only graduated from Uni last year, and did most of the work while studying so as you can imagine my budget is very limited, and I'm currently looking for a sponsor or even someone who can lend me a trailer/van for events (as I'm driving there at the moment) so if you know of anyone who can help please get in touch

My next event is an Auto66 sprint at Elvington on 9th September. I do love the car and it's a lot of fun out there, but deep down I'm a rally boy, and keep getting niggling thoughts of changing direction and going down the road rally route. I will own a tasty Mk1/2 Escort one day

That's me, and my car-hope to see some of you guys at various events. I've had a good look through the competition cars on here and there appears to be a very good bank of knowledge to call on so expect to see me around the place asking questions and drooling over some of the machinery!

Cheers

Paul

[Pushrod King]

Very clean car matey Unless you're going to spend alot of money on tyres,suspension and engine tuning you might be better off putting the back seat back in and running in the roadgoing class

[paulwoodford]

This is something I've been looking at doing, but is it just the back seat I have to put back? Because I don't have standard doorcards, or the centre console-will putting the back seat in and just changing the tyres to 1A list make me eligible for road modified?

[Dan]

i think you need carpets in too, not sure about door cards but i think as long as you have some its ok

[paulwoodford]

You don't need carpets, it says that you have to retain all trim but may remove carpets (can only assume this is for the aid of fitting a rollcage?). Now, I was told by someone that to be eligible for the roadgoingclass it was necessary to have radio/speakers/centre console in there if they were fitted as standard.

Cheers

Paul

[Dan]

aaah sorry i assumed the carpets had to be kept as i was told thats why mine were left in, including the back seat (even though the fixed seats, harnesses and rollcage make it almost impossible to use)

forgot to say before... lovely car

[paulwoodford]

Cheers Dan

I'm going to look at putting a back seat in, and assume that I can use the dooorcards that are currently fitted.

Unless anyone has any further comment? Have we got many people on here competing in the road modified class?

[Pushrod King]

Rule11.4.6 states"interior trim must remain fitted (except floor carpets/mats)" it doesn't say as standard so I'd reckon that as long as something's there it'd be ok.I'd ask the scrutineer at your next meeting what he thinks

[GavinR]

Its another of those ambiguous and inconsistent rules from the MSA but I would agree with Pushrod King that you'll be ok just by putting the back seat in

The Road Rally Rules are similar but more specific, possibly because more people have tried to bend the rules in the past - they are written as follows

All major internal trim as fitted to the body type by its original manufacturer when offering it for sale must be retained. This trim will include headlinings, inside door panels, carpets and rear seats. Front seats may be improved or replaced. The trim, including the rear seat may be cut to allow the fitting of a safety cage.

[paulwoodford]

Yeh, I had noticed that, hmmm. The question is which tyres to use if I have to choose from list 1A-I want the same level of grip the A048s give me ideally-any ideas from you 13" boys? The Yokos have only just done one sprint so I'll keep them for track days or something most likely.

Cheers guys

[GavinR]

I'm sorry I have no experience of the List 1A tyres, running my Escort in Mod Prod on slicks

All the people I know doing Road Rallies either use Yoko A032's or Avon Turbospeeds, both of which are on List 1B

[paulwoodford]

That's the thing. I got the Marshalls I have on now as I was advised that they'd be a great compromise, but tbh they're terrible, dry or wet

I think a rear seat is on the list though, for sure!

[paulwoodford]

I competed in a sprint at Elvington today. While I had fun, learnt a bit more about the car and generally enjoyed a good day, the track really didn't suit my car-the massive long straights really showed up my power disadvantage from other competitors. That said, I beat a couple of 1.9 Pugs, a Datsun 240Z and a Rover challenge car

Couple of vids here-apologies for the sound, I don't know what went wrong there?!

Bit of an 'off'...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79tGSejUfzoYouTube - Woodford's XR2 at Elvington #Take 1.

Better run...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tST65np5Gn4YouTube - Woodford's XR2 at Elvington #Take 2.

I got loads of nice comments about the car, and again took the challenge to some much more powerful cars. I'm learning all the time and know what I want to do over the winter now to develop the car to be more competitive next season.

Also, as we were leaving the track, Vodafone Mclaren F1 Team were setting up for testing, which was a great sight!!!
Cheers

Paul