summer 2010 mcmillan motorsport 2010 caterham r300 ... august newsletter.pdf · graduates racing...

M c M I L L A N M O T O R S P O R T – August 2010 Newsletter

McMillan Motorsport. Wharf Farm, Coventry Road, Hinckley. LE10 0NB. Tel – 01455 239900 : email – [email protected]

Summer 2010 Well, it’s getting near to the end of the racing season so we thought that an update on the year was long overdue! But don’t worry, there will be another at the end of the season and before everyone packs their cars away for winter. Firstly things are going better than planned for our inaugural R300 season and we currently sit at the top of the Team Championship and 2nd & 3rd in the driver positions. However, there are still 6 races remaining and there is still the opportunity for a handful of drivers and teams to ultimately win the series. But with rounds at Donington and Castle Combe in October the weather conditions may suit some drivers more than others. After Brands Hatch the Graduates have only Snetterton and Thruxton to complete their year and the former may be the deciding factor in for final positions for the season. The finale to the season will see Andy McMillan in the Birkett 6hr Relay Race, along with support from McMillan Motorsport, and if you haven’t entered or watched the race it is an ideal opportunity to see an eclectic mix of cars in a grid of 60 teams on the Silverstone GP Circuit. We also have one member of staff trekking down to Angouleme to race in the ‘Circuit des Remparts’ street race in September, definitely a race for the brave!

2010 Caterham R300 Championship Firstly, thanks must go to the team members that put their trust into a brand new team with no proven history of running a Caterham race team. As much as we can intimate our credentials it is only the hard facts and race results that give credibility to our claims. With little or no time for testing prior to the opening round at Silverstone it was always going to be a baptism of fire… swiftly put out by a downpour! Although the opposite weather conditions provided for some exciting racing at Zolder. The season was always going to be a learning curve and particularly in respect of opposing drivers and teams strengths and weaknesses. The series remains highly competitive and, now that it is settling down, should prove to maintain its position as the flagship of Caterham Motorsport. Only at the end of the season will we fully know how successful the team has been. McMillan Motorsport will be holding several test days over the closed season for its customers to drive an R300. If you are interested then please email us to register your interest. If you are interested in being part of the team we will again be providing support for the 2011 season so if you want to know more about hiring a vehicle or taking advantage of our support services then please do not hesitate to contact us.

McMillan Motorsport We regularly hear comments from new customers saying that they didn’t know that we provided our services outside of the ‘Graduates’ racing club and therefore felt that using the newsletter was an ideal opportunity to clarify the matter. Whilst a large proportion of our workload does come directly from the Graduates Club, we have, over the last 6 months, noticed an increase in contact from other race series and road car owners. Earlier on in the year we held an open evening for the Lotus 7 Club, which gave an opportunity for road car owners an insight into exactly what we do. Similarly, through our presence at R300 meetings, alongside the Roadsport and Academy drivers, we have also seen a flow of drivers requesting our services. However, we do not ‘just work on Caterhams’ and have seen vehicles in the workshop from several different areas. A few ‘other’ kit car owners have been in touch and we continue to work on projects including engine building services for the Turkish Army (no kidding!) and now supply McMillan Motorsport designed components to Ginetta Cars for use in their race cars. If you are in any doubt as to whether we work on your type of car then please contact us to discuss your needs.

All prices exclude VAT Prices current until end of Nov 2010

Prices quoted include CGRC 10% labour discount

Academy & Roadsport ‘B’ Drivers New faces are always welcome at the workshop and we would encourage owners to come and pay us a visit. Not only are we able to offer free advice for the novice driver we are also able to alleviate some of the nerves that drivers may have as they take their first steps on the motorsport ladder. The Academy and RSB regulations do not allow team support, or delivery services but we are able to offer, as we are for all race classes;

- vehicle setup - driver tuition - dedicated test days - damage & insurance repairs - gearbox rebuilding

This year we have provided vehicle set up and advice for one of the current leading group drivers and several others, including race winners. Roadsports ‘A’ & Supersports At this level of Caterham racing drivers are allowed to be supported by teams. The need for support depends upon each driver and their individual requirements. In addition to the usual workshop services we can offer the driver a full support package, including storage, race preparation, transportation and trackside support. Each driver has specific needs and therefore we tailor our services to those needs. Once we are aware of your needs we can then confirm costs, in the first instance please call us.

Caterham Graduates For those drivers that do not know about the Club it offers cost effective racing and a typical ‘club’ atmosphere. Annual subscriptions cover costs of hospitality, trophies and technical support – provided by McMillan Motorsport. As engine builder for the Graduates series we offer a complete range of engine services, including engine upgrades between classes, forged pistons, valve seat modifications (2010 regulation compliant) for the driver. For new drivers thinking of joining the Club, or transferring from the official Caterham Motorsport classes please call us and we will offer advice on race classes and upgrade option costs. Caterham R300 Superlight The pinnacle of Caterham Motorsport offers televised race meetings and the opportunity to race the 2 litre Ford Duratec race car. We offer full support for drivers in this series, however in addition to the base support package also offer R300 race cars for hire, race administration, fuel, tyres and additional test days. At this level the benefits of team support are invaluable and the provision of dedicated team awning, staff and hospitality. However, each driver has specific needs and we would again encourage drivers to speak to us to determine the most suitable level of service for them. Budget costs for 2011 are available, subject to the release of the race calendar.

Store, Prepare & Delivery As most existing drivers are aware we have provided storage/prep/delivery services for some years. By way of example the service for the 2010 Caterham Graduates Racing Club season, covering 10 race meetings and opening trackday, including the European Zolder meeting, cost from £3995. For this, customers vehicles were insured, stored, prepared and delivered to the all the seasons meetings. In preparation for each meeting cars are subjected to a comprehensive pre-race inspection and scrutineering check, comprising a total of over 120 critical items. We operate a ‘Hire or Reward’ transportation service and hold an International Operators Licence, issued by VOSA, ensuring that delivery of your vehicle is not only insured but more importantly legally transported within the EEC. We tailor packages to suit each driver, so if you are unable to attend all race meetings, or require us to include maintenance packages within the price please speak to us. Sprints & Hill Climbing We continue to provide services to several drivers in the Lotus 7 Club sprint series, including engine upgrades, maintenance packages and vehicle setup. The regulations are perhaps not as strict as other race series and this does give the opportunity for us to implement performance enhancements that are fully compliant.




M c M I L L A N M O T O R S P O R T

Type 9 Gearboxes We continue to face reliability issues with the gearboxes used in the MegaGrad car. Unfortunately the inherent issues of a box designed for use in a 25 year old family saloon do give rise to failures. Working with the CGRC we are attempting to offer solutions that will ease the problems that drivers face. However, we are mindful that next year the ‘Tran-X’ solution will have been in existence for 5 years. We already offer uprated synchros, blockers, selector pins and forks however, during rebuilds this year we have seen evidence of the gear faces becoming worn, and once the hardened face has worn through, the softer metal beneath has a greater rate of wear, ultimately requiring new gear kits. If the problem is left until a failure it is not uncommon to see a greater number of components affected and the associated costs of replacement increased. Consequently we shall soon be offering alternative rebuild option including choices for the customer to replace all bearings, inspection of all components (irrespective of failure history) and crack testing. Additional details will be emailed out to our existing customers. However in the meantime, if you require clarification then please contact us. This will then enable each owner to choose what level of service they require and will aid to the longevity of the current ‘Type 9’ gearbox and hopefully reduce future failure… on lap 15 when leading!


Springs, Dampers & Suspension How many race miles have your springs & dampers done? We can carry out a test & report on your dampers, however the cost for Bilstein to carry out this process is approx 75% of the cost of replacing the dampers with new! We currently offer the following replacement spring & damper packages including all labour costs and now INCLUDES flat floor setup reusing existing adjustable collars and fixings*;

- Classic Graduate £ 590.00

- SuperGrad £ 610.00

- MegaGrad (uprated springs) £ 690.00 (* adjustable collars & platforms can become corroded due to lack of use and sometimes necessitates their replacement)

Braking Have you checked your brake pads and discs since the end of the season? We offer a braking overhaul service including new brake discs, front & rear race pads and brake fluid change;

- Race pads, discs & fluid £ 250.00 Why not have your wheel bearings overhauled at the same time? Costs including replacement parts;

- New wheel bearings inc labour £ 92.90

- Stand alone cost of replacement £ 160.40 (i.e. not with disc & pad offer)

Sump Plug As previously advised the location of the K Series Caterham sump positions the plug on the nearside therefore IF you catch the kerbs a little too much and catch the sump plug it will actually unwind itself. The results of your sump plug removing itself are relatively obvious as are the costs of rebuilding an engine. To avoid this happening McMillan Motorsport now provides an approved modification to the sump and locates the plug on the offside of the sump, whilst blanking over the existing. We carry out this process on an exchange basis however if you supply one that has ‘seen some kerb action’ we do have to charge an additional amount to cover repair cost.

- Sump plug change £ 50.00 Oil and Sump Foam Replacement Caterham Cars recommend that the sump foam in a race car is replaced EVERY YEAR! Have you changed yours recently? Failure of the foam blocks the oilways with catastrophic results… We are offering this alongside oil & filter changes;

- Oil & filter change – Rover £ 69.00

- Above plus sump foam change £ 99.00

- Oil & filter change – Sigma £ 49.00




Rover K Series Engines – LIMITED SUPPLY Yes, brand new and only 3 remain, we cannot guarantee any further supplies so if you are considering a complete transplant then speak to us sooner than later. These engines are unused and are supplied with forged pistons and cylinder head modifications compliant with the 2010 Caterham Graduates race specification. The engine can be supplied ‘bare’ or complete with all new electrical sensors, injectors, alternator, McMM engine wiring loom and is ready to drop straight in. A brand new replacement engine, including cylinder head modifications and forged pistons, is available from £2,699.00. Please contact us for more details. NOTE – since starting this newsletter another one has been sold to a Lotus 7 sprinter! Leaving only two! Cylinder Head Refresh Are you running the most up to date cylinder head modifications in your engine? If not then we can complete these works at the same time as a head refresh saving costs for the customer. A cylinder head refresh, for a standard 1.6 Rover K engine, remains at £375.00 and includes stripping, inspection, re-lapping of valves, head gasket, coolant and post build checks. During the work if there are components that are worn or require replacing we will advise the customer of all the available options to ensure that their engine is rebuilt to a competitive standard.

Vehicle Transportation This service remains ever popular and if you have any transportation requirements, vehicle, parts, etc. then please do not hesitate to ask. We can transport a single vehicle upto 24 cars, and all combinations in between. So, if you or a group are planning a winter trip to the Nurburgring or further afield, or just require the convenience of letting someone else deal with transportation please let us know if we can assist. Vehicle Storage & Car Sales We can of course store your race car, road car or prestige vehicle. The workshops are insured & alarmed and also have the benefit of 3rd party security surveillance. If this service is of interest please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your needs. We continue to receive calls from new and existing customers looking to purchase Caterham road & race cars. We do not keep a stock of cars however we are in the position where we can put both parties in touch, to facilitate a sale. Similarly we are able to offer a ‘storage and sell’ service where we actively market your car to such potential purchasers, each car will undergo a check to provide purchasers with as much information as possible to enable them to make an informed decision when purchasing.

Engine Wiring Issues The IACV (idle air control valve) has been a persistent problem on the MegaGrad engine, primarily due to the vibrations caused by the aluminium inlet manifold. However, we have designed a ‘flexible linking bracket’ that helps to reduce the vibration effect. The part has now been tested in use since the beginning of the 2010 season and has not shown any signs of being problematic. We do not wish to officially offer the part as a solution until a full season of use has been completed, however if any owner wishes to purchase the same part, in the knowledge of the limited testing, please contact us. The price for the part is £40.00. CAT Exhausts We currently have 5 CAT exhaust remaining from the batch made for the 2010 season. If you require one then please get in touch. This silencer is MSA compliant whilst still being able to pass the MOT test. Ford Sigma CAT and exhaust silencer - we are currently testing our prototype and expect them to be available in January 2011. The budget cost for this part will be £295. Bead Seats We now offer a bespoke ‘bead seat’ service for race drivers. Based on the ‘indi Seat’ polystyrene method the seat is moulded specifically to the driver prior to hardening of the beads. Once set the seats are then able to be covered, if the driver wishes, with leather trimming. The cost of this service is £150.00, excluding coverings.





Cam & Alternator Belt Change We provide a specific cambelt replacement service, including the cutting of a 25mm hole in the face of the cambelt cover to facilitate the future checking of cam timing without the removal of engine seals for Graduate racing members. We also replace the alternator belt at the same time; For peace of mind we also offer a clutch & throttle cable replacement service which if carried out at the same time as the above offer a reduced charge;

- Cam & alternator belt £ 69.00 - Above plus throttle & clutch cables £ 129.00

Cosmetic Repairs We can provide bodywork and chassis repairs from a simple replacement of fibreglass to a complete respray. Repair and replacement of aluminium panels including painting can all be carried out by McMillan Motorsport. We do not have a set price for such items as each vehicle is assessed individually. However we can give estimates based on emailed photographs. Respray & Vinyl Wrapping We still offer a complete bodywork repair and respray service however the current trend for changing the appearance of your road or race car is vinyl. Not only can this be carried out in ANY colour it is also possible to use specialist vinyl including carbon fibre, mirror metallic, photographic images, the possibilities are endless!


Want to drive an R300? You have read the reports and seen the results and now wonder if you would be on the mark? We shall be offering R300 track/test days over the coming months for customers to try out the R300 race car. If you and/or a group of drivers want to test a vehicle then please let us know. We do have R300 race cars for hire in readiness for the 2011 season on a fully supported basis. If you are interested in joining the McMillan Motorsport team then please contact us for an informal chat. Newsletters & Offers If you do not wish to receive our newsletters or details of future offers please let us know and we shall remove you from our list. Workshop Opening Hours The normal workshop hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, however we will always accommodate customers wherever we can. It is not unusual for us to open till later evening or on Saturday and Sundays. If you wish to deliver your car to us at a more convenient time then please ask us. We also offer a collection & delivery service and this is currently charged per mile on a round trip basis, however if you are able to combine collection & deliveries then we will always reduce the costs to the customers.



Sigma Academy to SuperGrads? Moving from Academy to the Graduates for the 2011 season? We can provide you with Yokohama tyres, rear anti-roll bar, uprated valve caps and vehicle set up in one package. It is strongly advised that you upgrade your Ford standard valve caps for continued race use, failure of these components under race conditions can lead to valves being ‘dropped’ with obvious consequences!

- Rear ARB & AO48 tyres £ 425.00

- Ford Sigma valve cap upgrade £ 429.00

- Flat floor & race car setup £ 99.00

Servicing & Pre-season Inspections We offer a selection of service packages from a simple check, including oil & filter and fluids change to a full vehicle inspection & report including replacement throttle & clutch cables. End of season works As we are all aware the VAT rate increases in January 2011? We shall be offering some winter warmers in the next newsletter, however if you are thinking of having works carried out then the sooner you act then the sooner we can complete the works and invoice the customer…. and you can avoid an additional 2.5%..!


summer 2010 mcmillan motorsport 2010 caterham r300 ... august newsletter.pdf · graduates racing...

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