Mike Rainbird

Dear Weaver,
Ah, a man with my type of sense of humour!

Not yet......

But I take it VERY gingerly in the wet (and in low boost (only 25psi and 350bhp!)...
Best regards
Mike
PS. Would prefer throttle controllable oversteer than boring front wheel drive-like terminal understeer! Evo 1s rule OK!

Diablo

Scoobies must be c**p if even Tiff couldn't get it to oversteer!!!!!

Mine does, mind you, oversteer that is So does Stef's from what I read....

Having said that, Mike - I hear they tried to get a cossie that age for the test but there's no scrap yards near the BBC

D.

robski

D,

thats not true, there is a scrappy just round the corner, but you have to queue to get in, cos the RS boys are stripping anything with a spoiler in sight, to bolt on to their own motors! Best bit is that there aint that many bits to go round, so you spot the bit you want, and wait for the RS boys to crash, and grab it quick when they get towed in a few hours later

robski

Weaver

It's true most Cossies spend more time in fields than a farmer's tractor!
Weaver

Mike Rainbird

Dear All,
I'm beginning to get a persecution complex! But I must admit to laughing out loud when I read your postings - very witty. Are trying to drive me back to the RS site!

Although in the Cossies defence it's still faster and better handling....(well mine is anyway, so ner-ner, ner-ner-ner!) Please don't mention that "r" word though, you now the word that it tends to do alot of in this country! This is when I can be embarrassed by a Justy, let alone an Impreza!

However, I freely admit that Tiffany was testing an 'M' plate Impreza, although that's not much of an excuse for the Scooby, as the Evo1 was a 'K'......

I am waiting with baited breath (wondered what that smell was!) for the test between the P1 (which sounded awesome in this month's Evo) and the EvoVI. Who will win? It will probably be the closest EVER match. Afterall, Prodrive bought an EvoVI to pull apart to try and get the P1 to emulate it. We will see shortly I'm sure!
However, as soon as the P1 has been out a few months the EvoVII will appear in response. Then what!? Start all over again with a new improved Impreza to beat that and then an EvoVIII and so on and so forth. When will we know that X is the car to buy? As at the moment within months it is obsolete and yesterdays hero - and as you Scooby boys point out with the Escort, who wants to buy something that will always be overshadowed by the next newcomer? However, the good thing for us, is that the cars are improving with each new model, so when will they reach a plateaux so that I know what to get to replace my Cossie?! Until then, I'll be content in the knowledge that I can whup all your asses!
Love you all!
Mike
Norfolk RSOC Chairman

spence

Gonna get me a ZX-12 and take both your car and you bike!!

Stef

Yes, yes, yes, but only in a bloody straight line in the dry!
No bends......and no RAIN!!!!!!!
What sort of car's that?
You might as well catch a train!
(And don't tell us about the time you raced an Intercity Express alongside the M1 please!)
See you all Sunday.

Stef.

Mike Rainbird

Dear Spence,
Yeah, right - try getting a license first! And you will have to wait a while even then for the bike to become available....

Dear All,
I forgot to mention that we have a web-site that you might like to check out. Obviously it is about RSs, but has some good articles in the newsletters section that make light hearted reading.

Let me know what you think and no (well not too much!) wee-wee taking....

Best regards
Mike

Stef

Why would we want to check that out?

Stef.

Mike Rainbird

Dear Stef,
Bends (in the dry) I don't have a problem with either, as the car has full coilover suspension, poly bushes, 330mm AP racing brakes, hugely uprated rear anti-roll bar (3.5 times more stiff), front and rear strut braces and a full on Grp A rose jointed rear beam. The tracking has all been optimised as well. Check the newsletters out in my last posting for full lowdown on the car. Has lapped Snetterton (with 385bhp and Koni shocks at time) in fraction under 1.25. If anyone is interested I can send them a full spec sheet for the car (you need a spreadsheet program to open it) and you can see in exact detail precisely what has been done (just to prove it is not JUST about power - as the saying goes: power is NOTHING without control...
Best regards
Mike
mike@rjpipe.demom.co.uk

Mike Rainbird

Dear Stef,
It would give you something to do when you were bored, as you obviously have SO much time on your hands! (After-all that's the only reason I visit this site!)(JOKE For all the insecure people!)
LOL
Mike

Diablo

Stef

Mike.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooo.......luvlee!

Stef.

Mike Rainbird

Dear All,
You bunch of pis taking b'stards! I suppose I'll just have to show you up at Santa Pod on Sunday....

You ought to read the newsletters, you might learn something!

Best regards
Mike
PS How the bloody hell do you work these Icon things!

Diablo

Awww Mikey,

Its funnier when the picture works!

Just our idea of an innitiation ceremony

Cheers for now

D.

Mr Leigh

Mike! I'm the man to make your cossie go bang Whup my ***, LOL.

Liam

You are all going to get the short version now as last time my computer crashed just as I was about to post a very long one.

As Stef already knows I have an EVO 6 that is not running to well at the minute so I can't make it.

Mike
Have you tried a Type R as these are rear wheel drive if you want them to be? The EVO 7 isn't out until October 2000. The EVO 6.5 on the other hand is out any day now. It is also supposed to be the best EVO to date by a considerable way. The EVO 7 will be using the new GDI technology and be a completely different shape.

Let me know when everyone will be at the Pod next year and I'll come along for a few runs.

Regards
Liam

p.s. The icons are great aren't they!

[This message has been edited by Liam (edited 30-10-1999).]

Stef

Mr Leigh.

Not in a standard UK you won't, THAT, I can assure you!
I reckon your 0-60 at Trax has gone to your head!

Stef.
PS Is yours standard?

Mike Rainbird

Dear All,
Could someone please tell me how to use the icons properly, as I don't want some of my jovial comments to be taken in the wrong way!
Thanks
Mike
PS And how do you propose that then Mr Leigh!?

Stef

Mike.

Got to the FAQ at the top of the page.
Instruction are there on 'How to use smilies'.

Stef.

madbrit

Cheers lads

I havent laughed so much in ages! The british sense of humour is missing here in Canada.

As an ex owner of a Cossy while in Norwich, and an Impreza wannabe (if the turbo ever arrives in NA) I have followed the debate with great interest.

I dont know who to cheer for more.... Mike or Stephan! Hope the meet gives you all something to talk about for some time to come... Good on yer

Diablo

Thanks for the report Mike. Its very refreshing that you can write without too much bias.

Well done the lads, though

Scoobies 1
Cossies 0

Looks like you need 4wd!!!

D.

Weaver

So come on then what happened on Sunday at the 'Pod???
Luke

Mike Rainbird

Dear All,
As the saying goes (or it does now!) "another day, another diff!" Despite posting some poor times before the track and tyres heated up (high 13s with wheelspin in 1st, 2nd AND 3rd!), the grip started to get better as I was able to keep just going round and round due to there being only a few people out on the track early on the morning. This saw my times coming down by two tenths each time as the wheelspin started to disappear as the tyres got warmer.

After posting a 13.428 while still wheelspinning like mad (2.5s for the first 60ft!), the next run I then missed 3rd gear, but still got a 13.7s quarter (and a 2.2s 60ft!), so I knew the next run would be a good one if I could get out again before the tyres cooled down. I did, and the tyres were fantastic - good traction off the line in 1st then as it was approaching 6000 rpm BANG as if it had jumped out of gear. Looking down to see where the gearleaver was (in the correct place for first!) - oh f$%k, not another diff please! Selecting all the gears I realised that it had indeed gone (again, third one this year, second one in two weeks!). I managed to coast the car to the end of the track without the aid of the recovery vehicle, and that and the fact that there weren't too many people there by then saved me SOME embarrassment. However, this was short lived as Stef promised faithfully that he was going to be kind to me on the BBS (yeah, right!). Despite this, I was cheered by the fact that due to the severe headwind the Scooby boys were way off my best recorded time of 13.4 by almost a full three tenths, and with no show of any possible improvements. So this meant that a Cossie (a rwd one at that) was going to take top honours (hooray!). And then the black "ROCKET" turned up. Looking like a normal Scooby Sti and sounding like a normal Sti (yummy!), no big wing, no fancy wheels (but matching AP330mm discs to mine). He staged against Stef, and as I watched them launch it looked as though Stef had another victory in hand, and then to my amazement, the "ROCKET" started to reel Stef in and then actually pass him - the first Scooby to beat Steff AND posting a 13.22s run in the process. This was obviously NOT allowed - the cheek of it, beating my time! Upon further investigation it had one of the Possum Bourne ECUs running 1.5 bar and producing round 320-30bhp. Not bad for Jap Crap!

Anyway, I will be back again, this time with a secret weapon (not so secret now I've told you all!), in the form of a solid diff (no LSD or anything) for Santa Pod days. Which should mean it WON'T break next time! A good time was had by all (even me), and this was especially due to the Scooby boys (and girl - sorry Annabelle about the confusion over boyfriends!), making me feel very welcome (and only taking the **** a little bit about the diff), with everyone being happy to talk about their cars to the "enemy"!

Thanks everyone.
See you soon - and how about letting me come on one of YOUR track days?
Best regards
Mike

Weaver

Oh dear, oh dear!!! Another cossie that goes pop
Luke

R19KET

Mike,

Sorry I missed you.I only intended to spectate, but Stef talked me into running.I think he wanted an STi under his belt too !!.

Interestingly, I just couldn't match Stef's 60' times, But when we swapped cars,I was quicker to 60' than in my own car.Don't know if I was just getting better (I'm appauling off the line, and have the reaction time of a slug !!) or if the gearing in the UK car gives a better start.

The car overboosts to 1.5bar, but only holds 1.3bar.320bhp is about right.

Stef recommended running with a 1/4 tank, instead of the 3/4's I had in.Have no idea if it would make much difference though.

Now if I can only get the start right !!!!.Thanks for all your advice Stef.

By the way Mike, the car goes round corners too !!!!

Someone once told me."putting a Cossie engine in a ford, is like keeping caviar, in a biscuit tin". Or was that for the Lotus Sunbeem !!!.

Great fun, thanks for all the advice,

Mark.

Mike Rainbird

Dear All,
As the RSOC bulletin board seems to be currently off-line for some updates (to prevent the idiots from getting on who try and upset everyone), you will have to put up with me on your web-site (plus you seem to have better quality people on the site, because of the set-up you already have in place). Anyway lots of messages for lots of people:

Madbrit,
I am a Norwich lad, so you should be cheering for me next time!

Luke,
Try putting even 350 bhp through an Impreza and see how everything lasts! Mark was complaining (black ROCKET) that he could feel his rear diff groaning under the strain of 1.5 bar let alone 2.5 bar!

Mark,
Depending on the size of the Sti fuel tank, losing ½ tank of fuel should be good for between 1 and 3 tenths. Every 100kg lost is equivalent to a gain of around 40bhp, so the more weight you can ditch, the better power to weight ratio you will have = better acceleration.

I still think you are doing yourself down considering it was your first time. You will see high 12s runs if you listen to Stef, especially as there was a high head-wind that day which knocked 2 tenths of Stef's normal times, so on a perfect day you should be able to push out 12.9s runs over and over (providing the tiny 6" rear diff doesn't die! I couldn't believe how small they were when you said!).

With regard to the Cossie engines, they are a pile of poo as standard, being as course as 10 grit sandpaper if revved hard! The only thing they have going for them is their potential. 550bhp is genuinely achievable out of a road going engine for around £12k for a fully built brand spanking new one.

Rest assured that my battle against the Scoobys (and the car) is not over and I have a few tricks up my sleeve for next year (Feb / March time). You'll just have to watch this space!

Diablo,
4wd is for girls who can't drive (no offence to all you girlie Scooby drivers), and anyway 400 plus bhp and torque combined with 4wd = very expensive (in excess of £10k to change mine to 4wd running gear that could take the power).

And the score should be Scoobies 1 / Cossies 1, because my time two weeks ago was not beaten by any Scoobies that weekend, let alone the 11.86s run by Frances in his three-door.

To everyone (especially Mark),
Being a petrolhead, I would be really interested in hearing of some of the mods carried out to the cars and the continued development of the models including the pitfalls / limits you have come across, the peformance benefits / what has worked and what has not etc. etc. This is a fantastic bulletin board and you should all be using it to it's fullest potential in sharing the knowledge that you have gained through experience. Also, I want to know - Stef, how come your car is SO much faster than ALL the other Scoobies (Mark's excepted), yet has so little mods!? Because if it wasn't for Stef's car, the Cossies would definitely rule Santa Pod!

Speak to you all soon I hope.
Best regards
Mike
Norfolk RSOC Chairman

Weaver

Hey Mike 4WD is for girls is it? You'd better not let any Escort Cossie/4x4 Sapphire owners hear you say that otherwise you'll be hung from the nearest whaletail spoiler . Oh yeah and what about all the WRC drivers, girls everyone of them I bet!

Mike Rainbird

Dear Luke,
The RS lot also know my views on 4wd (but again it is just jovial banter anyway), but with regard to 4wd on the road - it IS for girls! However on the loose you do NEED it to be competitive, and it does AID the drivers, as 4wd IS faster on the loose compared to 2wd. However, on the tarmac the 2wd cars KILL the 4x4s (admittedly they are front wheel drive light weight "kit" cars).

So how often do you take yours rallying!?

4wd is STILL for girls!
Best regards
Mike

Diablo

Mike,

I suspect Stef's car's performance is down to Stef.(£10 notes in brown paper bags, Stef, I'll tell you where and when!!)

As for 4wd being for girls, come up to Scotland and try your 400 bhp & 2wd.

You know, the dreaded "R" word. Bit girlie that too, don't you think, being scared of water

Cheers for now.

D.
(Watching the rain,again)