I fancy a Renaultsport Sabelt wheel and I've seen some fitted to 182 Trophy's with the word 'Trophy' embroidered on the base, are these custom or available off the shelf? Also I've seen some uber cool button surrounds people have made when fitting the Clio wheels for Cruise Control options and horn etc, has anyone done anything like this on the Megane? i.e. What buttons are needed to pass an MOT? What is required to stop dash warning lights coming etc? Thanks
As Mikey has said the Trophy logo is custom. Here's a picture of mine that I got done for my Clio Trophy If you want to get something custom then keep a look out for a used wheel and send it off to get retrimmed. The Sabelt wheel is smaller than standard and does take a little more effort to steer with. I didn't have any of the buttons on mine - so I lost cruise control, but you could swap the indicator stalk with one with the horn button on the end and so still keep the horn. I'm not sure of the setup on the mk3 Meganes?
Wow looks great, thanks. I did wonder whether the smaller size would affect the driveability...I'd like to try it out anyway and see how it is. Would have to go grey though to match the TR interior. What about the switch panels does anyone have a solution for the Meg, and what about the airbag light too?
The Renault wheels do look really small to me. Are they 330mm or 350mm? In terms of MOT, you're screwed either way, as it should technically fail because the air bag has been removed (unless it's obviously a track/race/rally car). Depends on your tester I suppose though.
Still thinking of this in the meantime of selling my car. I have seats and harnesses so no airbag wouldn't matter unless I rolled it then I'd be screwed either way lol! Will keep you guys updated as to what I do, there are some trick solutions available which I may not be able to resist!
Not sure - looks like the airbags did a good job in this rollover. The driver gets out and walks away (!)
Not at all, you numpties have just misunderstood my post! I have harnesses in the Trophy R so I wouldn't move forward in the seat to ever hit my face on the steering wheel in the event of a crash. What I meant was that if I rolled it I'd be screwed as I have no cage and wouldn't be able to move sideways in the seat sue to my harnesses! And yes seen that video before, shows the Meg has quite a strong shell!
Very lucky to escape that. I have to say I do not understand the obsession with members of the public trying to obtain record breaking lap times on this circuit in what is overall a 'normal' road car. It seems a pointless risk, and if you're not competing for anything in particular why bother? Sure, it would be fun to drive a quick lap in your Megane or whatever you happen to have (BMW / 911 etc.), but otherwise I see it as needless risk taking. If you have a fully caged up track specific car then fine, but in a regular car no additional safety hardware installed I'd be taking it a lot more steady, and, you can see what happens when people drive beyond their ability in the video above. Madness, not to mention the financial implications if it all goes wrong! If I ever get over there in my Trophy R I will be driving it nice and steadily, as I am under no misconception that I possess the driving skills of Laurent Hurgon!!
Agree completely. Friends of mine are the professional drivers at a track and host loads of track day drivers. Their main complaint is people turning up in cars that have had x amount of horse power added but no additional safety or upgraded brakes / suspension etc. They're all suprised when they can't keep the car on the track. Hence why mine is having the brakes, tyres and suspension replaced and a full service undertaken before I start adding anything that increases power. Owning a quick car does not make you a quick driver.
Much wisdom here. I used to race karts. It was brilliant fun, and becuase I never got over about 70mph relatively safe too. I had enough shunts doing that to know that I wouldn't want to try to do the same in my own car. If I were to try it I'd pick somewhere with lots of run off like Bedford Autodrome. And not the 'ring. Even if you are a brilliant driver, there's no accounting for what other drivers may do. This one could have been really nasty, and its pretty clear that the Megane driver knew what they were doing. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time, with some crash barriers in close proximity.
Probably a safer place than the other public roads to drive fast I see worse driving on the M1 regularly! At least no drivers are texting while driving on the ring (that I have witnessed yet ) It's an incredible place and track, gets a bad rep online due to horror stories, but considering the volume of traffic it's not bad at all (imho of course). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'd like to go for the experience but I would be careful! I just worry about wannabe racing drivers who think they're in the grand prix driving like complete numpties, it does happen.
Just treat it like a public road enthusiastic drive and it'll be fine. I recommend going with people that have been before, makes it a more enjoyable experience in my opinion. Yes you get numpties everywhere, not solely on the ring I'll be back over there next year, welcome to join us [emoji16] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The risks of doing TF these days in a UK car far outweigh the enjoyment imo, Its only gotten worse over the last couple years and it still amazes me how ignorant so many UK drivers are about it.
Haha, each to their own opinion of course I've been going since 2009, the people that I've met each time were aware of the risks and drove accordingly - of course not everyone does but you get substandard levels of driving on tracks days where you are not insured as standard. It's petrolhead Mecca even if you don't drive the track, the people, the history the landscape and the cars there are fantastic. Have you been? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If you are still thinking of going, go early and do a couple of evening sessions, there are a lot less cars and you don't tend to get lots of really fast cars, a few maybe not know where near the amount at a weekend. A friend had a good analysis of it, a Megane is to slow to be fast and to fast to be slow, you will get over taken loads and overtake loads.
If I was a better driver I'm sure the Meg would kick some ass on it but I'd probably be fairly nervous on the way around. I remember the trackdays I've done, always found it a little nerve racking as you have to concentrate so hard. One thing which the ring would be better for than a track is the fact it's a road and would be more memorable, I found on the tracks I've been on it takes ages to remember the corners as there are no land marks per se, it's just open space, almost misjudged a couple of corners because of this, an aspect I didn't enjoy so much. Of course the ring would take a few laps to get it into your head but it's not just a huge airfield if you see what I mean, you'd just have to worry about steroid 911's coming up behind you!
Ive been going since 2009 and have done hundreds of laps both driven and passengering, In a multitude of different cars from completely standard road cars upto fully setup and dedicated Ring tools. It isn't your own driving standards and skills, Its the thought of something happening and you causing an incident which seriously injures a biker or causes someone to stuff their expensive Porsche GT car into the armco leaving you with a huge bill. Or coming round and finding fluids/derbis scattered across the track rendering you a passenger. I know first hand how expensive an issue can be there, Both personally and from close friends. Thats not to say ill never do anymore laps, But only on the quiter periods and midweek. Granted my Megane wouldn't be able to run TF now anyway.
Jamie excuse my ignorance but what is 'TF'? Why would your Meg not be able to run it? I guess you need to be able to afford it if it goes bad there ultimately!
Touristenfahrten, Public days or Terroristenfahrten as some know it now lol. Seats are the main reason i can't run it anymore
Strange then, you've done hundreds of laps so you must have enjoyed it? So maybe some bad experiences have put you off which is understandable, my point is bad can happen on track days, on public roads and on the TF which is kind of in between As someone said going first thing in the morning at the weekends is good, but usually a really quiet time is last thing on a Sunday evening too, literally driven the track with no other traffic it was brilliant [emoji16] I've come across bad driving and avoided it, if someone is driving beyond their limits coming up behind then I'll let them past, likewise if I am catching someone driving badly ill drop back as I have no target time to get each lap, I'm just there to enjoy it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have done a couple of track days at the ring and they were absolutely brilliant, did a lap of two and seen one other car in the whole lap, worst case was maybe 30 cars max in a lap, on a TF you can get that many before the first corner I know its a bit expensive to do a track day at the ring, but its not that much more than say Silverstone or the full brands circuit, all your paperwork is done the night before and it starts at 8am, first hour is sighting laps time you can join and leave at anytime, also no stopping for lunch
Missed my point, it's not as enjoyable as it used to be with the risks now there is no chance of insurance since last year
I never thought I was insured at all during visits on the ring so guess it made no difference to me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This is on the list for next year as well as a trackday at SPA. Good to hear you enjoyed the ring track days. Did you book it through any particular company? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It became harder and harder to find proper insurance that would cover TF but was still there until the last company stopped it last year and was the only reason i continued to do so many TF laps. The Polizei are beginning to crack down on it now as well and take a dim view as your basically uninsured, granted theres an EU law that means your company has to pay out, But they will then counter sue and chase you for costs. Can be hundreds of thousands of pounds and has the potential to ruin you financially
Interesting. I just don't drive at 9/10ths and I know the dangers. I will try track days for sure, but I also like the TF days. There are hundreds of uk cars over there so many people accept the risks. 99.9% have no problems but I understand it can go bad and expensive quickly, it could bankrupt you, drive accordingly Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nah, They don't accept the risks. They are completely oblivious sand ignorant to it lol, The amount of people that dont realise they ain't covered is laughable. Anyway, Back to steering wheels.
You have a choice, for Spa= open track, Gold track, Circuit days and Javelin For Nurburgring = Circuit days, Destination Nurberg and Rsr. Let me/us know if and when you go
Brilliant, next year is going to be great Sure will let you know when I get the dates booked [emoji106] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
