Goal & Background

Project Goal

The goal is to build a car to compete in the 2012 Scottish Hillclimb Championship. I will be entering into Class A1 Road Going Production Cars up to 1400cc. This class allows for some limited modifications to be made in an attempt to keep costs down and competition close.

In its current guise the Polo wouldn't stand a chance against the other cars currently competing in A1. These include: a Vauxhall Nova 1.4SR running Webber Twin 40's and a very well spec'd Hillman Imp with an 1100cc screamer in the back. Both cars have outputs the right side of 100bhp and are well piloted. Being a "free" car I am fortunate to be able to spend a bit of cash on the car in an attempt to make it competitive. I'll be overhauling the brakes, suspension and attempting to squeeze a few more horses from the little 8 valve motor. The Polo has some strengths that we are going to play to.

I've always wanted to drive competitively but never had the budget for karting or circuit racing. After spectating at the majority of hillclimbs last year and watching on as Stuart competed in his Integra Type R I thought this could be just the ticket...

A little bit of history...

I was gifted this car from a good friend who had it stored in his garage for the last 3 years. Some of you may remember this car being owned by Ross who used to frequent Club Polo. Well, he's getting stuck in to help with the build as is Stuart, who also previously owned a couple of Mk3 Polo G40's. We were all once Polo mad, the guys have great enthusiasm and provide a lot of support, banter and brawn.

Here are some photos of the car way back when in 2007/2008!

Below is a couple of photos and some spec. of my original Polo GT Coupe that I had a few years ago:

• BBS RA 14x6J
• Toyo T1R 195/45R14
• H&R 60/40 Cup Kit
• 256mm Corrado G60 Brakes - way over the top but great fun!
• OMP Velocity Suede Wheel
• Quaife Gearknob

Here's a couple of Stuart's second G40:

Edited 21 May, 201214 yr by Tav

Ooooh this will be an interesting one!

Removal Men

Having sat for 3 years the Polo needed to be persuaded to step back outside. A couple of hours of chapping away at seized brakes saw it exhumed...

Once out of the garage it was time to get the car loaded onto a trailer and transferred to its new home. The trailer below normally tows a full blown race spec. Honda Integra Type R. One of the benefits of the hillclimb community is that competitors really help each other out off the track.

The Honda Accord Type R tow car made light work of pulling the Polo and we were soon at my rented garage 20 miles from home...not ideal but much cheaper than renting in the city, there's electricity, running water and a Subway near by...yum! It also looks like we didn't hang around when it came to removing some weight from the car...

Edited 18 January, 201214 yr by Tav

A Statement of Intent

Here's one of the first deliveries I made to the garage. It's amazing what you can fit into a Clio 182 Cup with a little bit of imagination. Can you tell what it is yet...?

One day I'm moaning that pukka race seats never come up for sale second hand. The next day I get a call from Stuart telling me there is a Recaro Profi SPG for sale on the Integra DC2 forum and to top it off the guy only wants £220 for it delivered! I couldn't believe my luck and literally ripped his hand off for it. These seats normally retail at over £600. We'll be mounting it to the floor using Polo Performance Parts Bucket Seat Mounts. It improves safety, makes the car easier to drive flat out and it saves a lot of weight!

Here's the real statement of intent below. A Dbilas Dynamic 40mm DCOE pattern inlet manifold from Germany. Just right for fitting some 40mm individual throttle bodies I'd say...

...what have I got myself into...

Edited 18 January, 201214 yr by Tav

Been waiting for a topic since noticing you posting again with "Hillclimb" added under your name.

I wish i had electric in my garage, Crack on!

Inspiration

Time to share some inspiration I think. I've included a video from each of the 3 venues that make up the Championship to show folks just what the Polo will be getting used for.

Doune

Generally regarded as the scariest/fastest/craziest course of the year watch as Graeme Wight Jnr. threads his highly modied Imp up the hill in the video below:

If you want to see something totally unhinged watch as he then pilots his V10 single seater up the same skinny stretch of tarmac. This video is not speeded up:

Forrestburn

My favorite track as a spectator. Ballsy at the start then gets more and more technical as you go. Here we have Clark pedaling his BMW e30 318 to a class record followed by the Integra that normally sits on the trailer that was used to tow the Polo:

Fintray

Our local course and it's only 10 miles away. It's the shortest too comprising of only 3 bends. Don't let that fool you though the first one is a tricky double apex...or single apex...or triple...depends what you make of it! This course favours power and traction as you accelerate out of each tight turn towards the next. I've lined up a 16v KAD conversion Mini for this one, great noise!

Edited 18 January, 201214 yr by Tav

This is awesome!

It also got me looking into hillclimb events.

Its pretty cheap to join, i was surprised Might be something for next year, be some right fun.

Cant find any info on regulations to do with the cars themselves.

What's allowed in regards to engine mods? Can it be a non standard engine? or does it have to be what came in the car (say, for example. a Genesis with a GT engine in? or the same, with a 1.4 16v in)

Cant find any info on regulations to do with the cars themselves.

What's allowed in regards to engine mods? Can it be a non standard engine? or does it have to be what came in the car (say, for example. a Genesis with a GT engine in? or the same, with a 1.4 16v in)

You're only really allowed to modify a few parts in production. For example you could:

• Fit trackday tyres like R888 or A048. Slicks are not allowed.
• Change springs/dampers or fit coilovers. Suspension must be of original config. and you can't move mounting points. No rose joints unless standard.
• Upgrade brakes disks and pads.
• Engine must be original block and head. No 16v conversions or fitting motors from later spec. cars. So I'd have to stick with the 8 valve GT engine. If you had a Genesis you could fit a GT engine, no problem.
• No rules on induction or exhaust...so I'm slapping on throttle bodies, 4 branch and a big cam...not really standard...but the other guys have twin 40's so much and such!
• Max 1400cc capacity
• You can remove carpets and fit different front seats. All other interior must stay inc. rear seats.
• Car must have a valid MOT

Anything else really is not allowed in the rules and isn't in the spirit of production class...that said...I'm going to fit rose joints since the G40 had them. I'm going to fit a PPP stage 2 frame since it uses same mounting points as the original VW sump gaurd. I've ditched the stereo and passenger wing mirror as there are Polo's that don't have these. Also looking at lots of other cheeky wee mods that I can do.

You might some more info here: MSA Bluebook

Edited 19 January, 201214 yr by Tav

Cheers for that dude :)

I was looking for the Bluebook, cant have looked hard enough haha.

LOVE IT!

Look forward to seeing what happens with this!

Looks like a good thread to keep my eye on

Very interested in this one! What's the regs for running a aftermarket subframe?

It will be interesting to see how it fair against its rivals..

On that nowt what cars are common in this class?

So would a g40 be allowed then?

Boost ftw

Looks great!

I really fancy doing some hill climbing and sprinting with the black polo when I get it running! :)

crazy stuff this but i can see how thrilling it must be good luck with your challenge

Now this is gunna be interesting, some lovely polo's to boot too!

Now this is what i'm talking about.

Awesome thread, can't wait to see some more progress...

I think we should all go and watch

So would a g40 be allowed then?

Boost ftw

Yeah, I think it would be under class B1 though, as only a limited number of G's were made.

B1 Road-Going Specialist Production Cars up to 1700cc

So would a g40 be allowed then?

Boost ftw

Yeah, I think it would be under class B1 though, as only a limited number of G's were made.

B1 Road-Going Specialist Production Cars up to 1700cc

its also due to the fact its super charged.

I think you have to times the capacity by 1.3 to get the appropriate class. So a 1300cc G40 actually works out as 1690cc and there for competes in the over 1400cc class.

standard capacity x1.4 rule applies to a G40. which makes it 1780cc (1272x1.4)

Specific Regulations for Sprints, Hill Climbs and Drag Racing (S)

Engines

10.3.1. Forced induction equivalence 1.4.

standard capacity x1.4 rule applies to a G40. which makes it 1780cc (1272x1.4)

Specific Regulations for Sprints, Hill Climbs and Drag Racing (S)

Engines

10.3.1. Forced induction equivalence 1.4.

ahh thats the fella! :)

i hate the fact i knew that without googling it

its bad when you've owned an MSA competition license since you were 14!

nice, a reason to visit clubpolo once again.

This GT made me buy my white one 4 years ago!