Hi I'm carl from n.i. In Lisburn I've got a Simons Gray 09 rx8 r3, anyone else from n.i. On here?

 

Peter aka "Matra et Alpine" and "Competizione PZ" also a "bannee" from another unnamed uk rx-8 owners club () for arguing with the comittee about how they treat members and apply rules

Anyway leaving that aside own 4 year old Prodrive PZ variant from new.
Now on 41000 having just driven to Turin, Modena, the 'Ring and back

Compete regularly in the production class of the Scottish Sprint and Hillclimb championships where do all right in the sprints but very badly in the hillclimbs -- too big and too heavy But on warm days I can enjoy my air con so I consider that a win-win

Many vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/MatraEtA...ature=mhee#p/p and pics at https://www.facebook.com/#!/peter.h.locke?sk=photos and occasionally on sites from the Scottish Championship events.

Just outside Edinburgh, so anyone looking for assistance or a meet give me a shout. We've arranged some good discounts ( especially a deal on hot compression testing ) with new local dealer.

If you fancy competing just for fun with an '8 then the Scottish Championship can always do with another rotary or just come along to support if you fancy.

 

Took you long enough

 

Been busy racing ( well to be more precise trying to make a car with aircon, electric seats/windows and radio and a full interior go as fast as stripped out "specials" ) and just back from trip to Stelvio and numerous passes on route to Turin, Modena, Lake Como and the 'Ring

... which reminds me has ANYONE else managed to blister the paint off a set of EBC yellow pads ? They were still braking OK but after 3 hours of up and down fantastic passes in Swiss/Austria/Italy border I noticed the paint was bubbling on the back of the pads Lowered my confidence tho' so drove ever so slightly slower for a while

 

EBC pads are crap. Fade sooner and last less than the competitors' lineup
Did you like Italy?

We're also both bannee from our respective communities, lol!

 

EBC have done a full season of competition in sprints and hillclimbs and about 18 hours of tracktime on trackdays which was damn good and I'd say feel was always excellent and they bite from first application and VERY little fade. More liekly a difference in driving style

As I'd said, on this trip I boiled the paint off the backing and they STILL were providing reasonable stopping and have recovered fine. ( THough worn, it was 2000 hard miles )

Took in the obligatory Stelvio, but also Obergargl and Jan(something) and preferred the less well known ones over the "headline" Stelvio ! Visited the Ferrari museum and the Turin Fiat on the top as well as seeing Jim GLickenhaus P4/5 on display after the 24h race. Weather was too warm with a 34 on one of the days and the air con was definately struggling. PLanning another trip for the places I ran out of time ( and bad planning ) to visit
Think like all things it depends when we've experienced things. EBC had a bad rep 5-6 years ago for their rotors and Hawk pads whilst good some folks wont touch having seem them delaminate at the 'Ring I'll be putting the yellow back on again.

 

The Stelvio is too dangerous, full of bikes etc.
EBC pads are a couple of steps down from Hawk, Carbotech and other known names. When I tried them between 2 sets of Hawk I didn't really like the decrease in stopping performance and increase in pad wear. I actually measured it, i was just not a feeling thing
You should definitely try Hawk's ht-10 compound for track days, awesome!

 

hi carl

i live in armagh, not far from you, nice to meet you.
i have a winning blue 2004 231ps, haven't been in an r3, she sounds nice.

ronnie

 

Hi All,

Seeking your advice: I have a velo red R8, located in Herts. UK, which has some wear and tear showing (scratches and scuffed wheels). Can you advise of any repair kits that you've used which would be suitable or cost effective repair outfits that you recommend ??

Thanks, Jugal.

 

Nice touch On trunk lid logo

 

Sighting deffo a must
It's the BUS that's the scary one !
Shown recent problems with Hawk pads delaminating off the backing at the brake guy I use at the 'Ring and WAS going to try them so put off a little making the planned swap ( and to be fair EBC had a similar production issue 5-6 years ago )

Biggest problem in comparisons is everyone brakes differently and so what works for some wont for others. Carbotech dont do RX-8 from supplier books I've checked, do you have part numbers ?

Mate is now a dealer for Endless and we're waiting on tech response on materials and if we can get a good price I'm going to test those on the next 2 hillclimbs and sprint and see. He supplies them to race teams at the 'Ring. You tried them ? What compound ??

 

I don't have any direct experience with Endless pads, sorry
Google returns a bunch of rx8 pads from carbotech: http://949racing.com/carbotechrx8brakepads04-08.aspx is an example.

Keep in mind that different pads may not be directly swappable, the compound deposit on the disk may "react" (for lack of a better term) with the different one. Cleaning the brakes with sandpaper or thorough brake cleaners is the norm.
I never had Hawk pads flaking anyway, go figure!
you should click the picture in my sig

 

Always clean my discs in case of contaminant anyway, but good reminder

Still no luck googling carbotech in the UK Even drilling down some of the suppliers I use dont list the RX-8. So I've emailed carbotech europe direct. Crazy if the pads out there for it not to be available !!!
Might be a legal test requirement causing problems here ?

registration made cheers

 

Nobody will ever check your brake pad compound... just if your car brakes and if there's enough material!

 

I am a UK owner in Margate Kent

 

Brake materials have to comply to standards and it's illegal to run a car with non-compliant materials. That was why I conjectured it may not have passed a relevant EC or UK test standard. Manufacturers and suppliers can be arrested for sellign non compliant. I know in Germany that they can ONLY fit German sourced parts -- coz given the price of EBC over there I considered driving over a truck load of UK ones at half the price

True in the UK that nobody "checks" as long as the brakes work. But they are meant to A VOSA review of a car in an MOT test centre can pick things liek that up. With the new computerised system the VOSA now randomly check cars as they are passed on the MOT and get to them before the ramp has even come down. Garage that does all our kit cars says the "unusal" attracts the VOSA attention

 

HI Anakin, what model you got ?

 

I have a 2008 RX8 R3 in red. It is a great car but the Insurance and tax are a real killer so I hope I will not come to regret owning it! I scuffed my front alloy today so feeling a little down. Considering having a Mazdaspeed cold air intake fitted to give more sound for those tunnel runs!

 

MetA - email Ian@Carbotech Europe (PM me if you want the address), tell him Phill with the buggy sent you and he'll sort you a price out for the pads, even if they have to be custom made for you.
They are a bit pricy, but they last so damn long it works out cheaper than many worse pads in the long run.

Don't worry about the MOT, they're not allowed to take your car apart and they can't see pad markings when they're in the calipers anyway. Anything with EC90 approval has to be limited in friction and fade resistance to similar to the OE materials, so you're not going to get much of a pad for competing with if you limit yourself.

 

Cheers Phil, Ian got back to me on my cold-call to him and said he'd just finished doing a batch and gave me prices

Thanks for the heads up.

Am waiting on Endless prices from mate who's a distributor for them ( and Carbotech. but doubt he can beat what Ian offers )

Re the MOT, if they have a doubt they are "supposed" to inform the owner the car is unroadworthy. Driving an unroadworthy car is an offence regardless of what paperwork we have They're even worse on SVA for kit cars and I worry with computerisation all the common sense will go on the MOT too

The EC90 approval was where I was thinking that an alternative supplier must put their pads and manufacturing process forward before they can be sold as alternative fitment and it was pure conjecture that may be a reason for limited availability in differing markets.

 

I'd bet not a single MOT tester going would know or care that the brake pads weren't supposed to be in there, there's no way they can tell.
So long as it hauls up on the rollers they're happy!

If you flick through my build thread on rotaryheaven there's the initial testing on changing to the carbotechs, and also feedback from the end of the season - the disc wear is particularly impressive.
I've even made a clutch up from some offcuts Ian let me have!

 

Saw some links to this site from the RX8OC so thought I'd just pop over to say 'Hi' Bought one of the last RHD R3s available in the UK - Aurora Blue Mica so no mods until the warranty runs out! It's good to be able to see the technical stuff without paying a membership fee.

 

Also check out Rotaryheaven another good knowledge base.

 

Hi all,

I am in Nottingham, UK. Only had the car a few weeks. 2004 RX8 55K Miles. Broke down after 2 and a half days!!!

New coils sorted it though, now drives great.

GP

 

gotta love the Rex