DR Motosport

Anyone at Knockhill on Sunday for the Top Marques morning, know how badly damaged the WR1 was. I was on track when the red flag was brought out to stop the session, as I got to the bottom of Duffus Dip the WR1 had been off and covered in mud, but I couldn't see how bad it was. I was told it came back in and put on the space saver, then disappeared home. Just hope it wasn't too bad. Other than that, it was a good day. Weather was crap as usual for knockhill, but good track action. Nothing passed us all day, and I passed everything except Extreme's 450bhp EVO. I could catch it and keep up with it lap after lap but couldn't get past. Fuel was too low and started to get pick-up problems out of the hairpin, so had to use 3rd gear. Not so good. Next time.............maybe. David

I think Petter is signed to Subaru for the next 2 years, until the end of 2006. Just need to find him a decent team mate.

Dark Blue mica 52D is a darker shade than Deep Blue 95H On a sunny day when the car is clean, you will notice the difference in colours. David

Big thanks to JohnS for another well organised day - even got the weather right. Wasn't out on track as much this time. My mate Gavin was up with my old Impreza for his first track day, so I was instructor for the day. He still managed to scare the sh1t out of me. But not as much as the black EVO8 (not John's) who lost it right in front of me at Clarks. He was suprised I was gaining on him a couple of seconds per lap, and tried too hard. I went over to check all was ok, all he said was "that's a bit quick". Jap Import mate --- not a UK PPP I did get an e-mail from Knockhill today. Top Marques coming up on Sunday 28th November. 11am-3pm. David

Roadworks are on the bridge this weekend. So expect delays of at least 1 hour at lunchtimes. Good news is weather forecast for Knockhill is cloudy, but dry. Time for slicks David

Going back to the original question, some of the early UK turbo's from 1994 also had alloy bonnets. But then the UK models were all changed to steel. David

Yes, looks like 74F to me too. David

I've been told that these speed camera vans are operated by members of the public and not police officers. And therefore can only operate between the hours of 8am and 4pm. Does this add up to the times you've seen them or is this info on times wrong. David

Rasher, wish I did, but it's all UK dealer brochures. David

I think I've got most of the Impreza brochures since the mid-90's. Certainly all the Limited Editions are covered. But as a kid, I also went with my Dad around car garages collecting junk - as he would call it. They're still up the attic, but some rare stuff there. Old Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Triumph - some of them leather bound too. I also had a TR7 one. About 8 years ago, myself and my brother in law bought 2 TR7's for £1000. One was a limited edition special model that was all Ziebarted from the factory, so had absolutely NO rust. It was black with rally arches, wide alloys, huntmaster buckets seats and a biege velour interior- including the dash - disgusting inside. But came with the then rare 5 speed 2.0 DOHC sprint engine. The other was a donor car which was full of rust but had a mint black dash interior. The good car was then restored with the better interior, and finished off with new trim from a specialist company caller Rimmer Brothers. Probably spent £300 on the car, but sold it for £2500 a few months later. I made up a portfolio for selling the car, and I think put the TR7 brochures in with that. So don't have it now. We stripped down the donor car, and sold of the parts for £150, but we also put it's registration number on a retention certificate and sold that for £850. Made about £2200 profit, so those TR7's were great cars for us. Spent the money, plus a lot more on a 1964 E-type Jaguar. But that's another story. David

Qualifying 1am. Race start 6.30 am. David

1. Evojkp - Black Evo7 2. sKunk - WRBlue STI8 3. Tim - Elise 111s 4. Ali - Elise 111s 5. Miss Scooby - Black STI R 6. tut - S1 Elise 7.Gambler formally scooby scott - Black 04 WRX PPP 8. David - WRBlue JDM STi (<--- spoiler isn't on it just now)

Yes, it will be quicker no problem. I had a 2000 EVO 6 GSR, then a 2002 JDM STi. It's far more reliable, built better, quicker, has just as good handling and slightly better braking. 2 seconds per lap quicker at Knockhill, and more importantly SOUNDS better - a lot better. Just do it. David

Chris, was this the accident near Breich on the A71, last Monday. I'd heard there had been one involving a blue impreza !!! That was all I was told. The cars looks repairable after some time on a jig to straighten the chassis legs. The main parts will be no damage to the roof or kinking to rear quarters. Can't tell from photos. Just glad no-one was badly hurt. David

Forget about the "official" 280ps stuff. The 2004 Spec C is quoted at 322bhp, and I think I saw the 2005 version is 325bhp. Now everyone will come on and say that's wrong, and it's only 280bhp. But when I got my JDM Sti 8, I was quoted the official 280 but 310bhp was closer I was told. Once run-in I took the car to a SIDC rolling road day - 316bhp straight out of the box. Had it reset for Optimax on a very safe program, and an HKS exhaust fitted. Result on the same rollers 331.5 bhp, 306 lbft. It does lots of SIDC track days at Knockhill and any PPP STi doesn't get remotely close to it. As the Nike advert says. Just Do It. David

The Scottish Classic and Performance Car Show takes place this weekend at The Highland Showground, Ingliston. I've been sent 4 guest tickets, but can't make it myself this weekend. So I'm splitting them into 2 pairs, and if anyone wants to go for free, please e-mail me at drmotorsport@lineone.net for a pair of tickets. The first 2 e-mails that come in, get the 2 pairs of tickets. Just include your address, and I'll post them this afternoon. The show is Saturday and Sunday, and the tickets are valid for either of those days. David

What a mix up this thread has gotten into. Right is everyone paying attention. The 93-96 grill on our web-site is a direct replacement for the grey bar grill fitted as standard to the earlier models. Simple as that, designed to look like the later grills with mesh. And shaped to fit with the early bonnet and early (rounded) headlamps. Changing the headlamps to Morettes which are the later 97-00 shape, causes the grill problems. The early lights have a rounded edge, later lights including Morettes have the angled edge. You can continue to use the grey bar grill and be happy with the extra half inch gap at both ends. Our grill would have the same effect, and if I was to sell them for that purpose, I'd be shot down in flames for a poor fitting grill. The solution is the grill from Technopete, as he fitted Morettes to his own car. We gave him a grill and he modified it to fit properly, and he sells them now, although not to us unfortunately. Come to think about it he's still to pay for the original grill from us. Anyway, since this is now a problem, and it doesn't look like Pete is selling them anymore. I will speak to Lewis tomorrow, and half an hour with his car, we'll get them into production ourselves. Some of the pictures above in this post of STi V6 grills, are misleading. There is no way that a genuine Subaru grill from a later model will fit with an early bonnet and headlamps. The bonnet won't close, and if it does your car is totally misaligned - probably due to bady repaired accident damage. Don't laugh I have seen it. The grills in question are simply the same idea as our own, modified to fit early models, but called V6 grills. If anyone has any other questions, please give me a call or e-mail. Lewis I'll speak to you tomorrow. David

Anyone going tomorrow --------- Don't Bother. Utter crap, stayed a couple of hours then went home. 2 trade stands and nothing else. Guy trying to do stunts on a motorbike in the wet. Which he couldn't do. Plus a whole load of scrappy specials on track. So much for the festival weekend. So tomorrows plan is Moto Gp, then the Live Rally Stage, then the Ryder Cup. And NOT Knockhill. David

Just a note to anyone heading over the Forth Road Bridge. Road works are cancelled this weekend. Don't know why, but good news anyway. David

Might head up to the banger racing myself, depends on the bridge traffic. Anti clockwise on Saturday, clockwise (normal way) on Sunday. Hairpin on Saturday should be good for all the cars with dodgy brakes. David

Another great day organised by John, many thanks. Day started with a damp track, so took it easy with the RE-70's, didn't want to kill them as they were only a week old. Then a nice dry line appeared so on when the slicks, and the fun began. Got a great run on the Noble through the chicane and passed it into Clarks, then quite easily pulled away from it. Passed most things, and certainly nothing passed us today. Come to think of it, from all the SIDC days this year, the only thing to pass has been the Radical - but it wasn't there today. Used a full tank plus a 5 gal jerry can, so maybe 80 laps. David 2002 JDM STi

Just a tongue in cheek comment John. I think some of my laps had been timed on a mobile phone as well. But it is a good way to compare your driving and mods to the car. If losing 50kg can gain a second, how much power do you need to gain another second - 20, 30 bhp? Jools, probably best to give me a call when your back home. The S7 / S8 spoilers (what was fitted to the bug-eye WRC Cars 2001 / 2002) are available now. These overhang the rear boot, but don't have the 4 upright splitters. But they would leave you with exposed holes from your STi spoiler. But you could get another bootlid, and keep the original one with the spoiler still attached. The S9 / S10 spoilers from the blob -eye WRC Car 2003 / 2004 won't be finished until after the Winter, these do have the 4 upright splitters, and will cover all bootlid holes. The one on my car was just a trial and not a production version. Both spoilers are / will be homologated for rally use, and neither have a brake light fitted into them. David

Now John, Hope your remembering the rules for the track days. No timing of cars. 61 or 62 seconds is my normal for a JDM STi with moulded slicks and some clear track. Last year, the interior was stripped and a lightweight bucket seat was fitted - lost about 50kg. Result, a 60 second lap. My old UK turbo with PPP was 64 secs with full slicks not moulded. And the EVO 6 was also 64 secs, but with road tyres. Slicks, I'd say give you 2-3 secs per lap. Of course, you need to work all this out from a video camera !!!!!!!! David