I am very interested in doing the Seloc Nurburgring track day this summer. It’s a 1000 mile round trip plus track time. My main concern is, will my VHPD go the distance? It’s a lot of money to spend to end up sat at the side of a Belgian motorway awaiting the recovery truck!
I last did the 'Ring in 2005 with my K-Series Elise, which apart from trailing coolant through the paddock area , made it back in one piece.
So, I guess I am looking for reassurance from some of you VHPD veterans who have embarked on many an epic journey that the VHPD is fine
Hi Neal
I’m also considering this trip - if I can get away from work and the family let me, I share your concerns, but at least there will be plenty of other experienced friendly Lotus owners around
Done 3 or 4 Euro trips in the Exige now, including one trip that took in the Ring. Each has not been less than 3k miles and VHPD has always run well, if a little hot in the mountains (PRT kit appears to have solved this now).
Of course, only you will know how well your car is doing, but I’d say go for it!
Done 3 or 4 Euro trips in the Exige now, including one trip that took in the Ring. Each has not been less than 3k miles and VHPD has always run well, if a little hot in the mountains (PRT kit appears to have solved this now).
Of course, only you will know how well your car is doing, but I’d say go for it!
It’s always a gamble, as I gather the build ‘quality’ of VHPDs can very widely. However, if you consider yours ‘reliable’ then give it a go - just remember to make sure that you have European recovery. Personally I’ve been to Scotland, Le Mans, the 'Ring, Spa, and Monte Carlo with my K only one ‘moment’.
As said above, really depends upon how well your engine has been treated/maintained.
I was fortunate in buying my car new - always took care in warming it up before giving it any stick, & regularly changed the oil eg every 2K to 3K miles, depending upon how many trackdays I’d done. The VHPD never let me down in 36K miles (refresh at 25K miles), including 40 odd trackdays & 5 return trips from Bolton to Le Mans.
68k miles before top end rebuild (has been rebuilt at some point too)- all the way to Spain and back and the only problem was the gear linakge frayed and I only had reverse, 2nd and 4th for the last 1 hour of the trip!
Honda engined car had 2 driveshaft repairs on the same trip-lolz
Thanks chaps! I have only owned the car about five months, and in that time it has only done about 1000 miles (rubbish weather)! It will be getting more use this Spring and Summer though and will have had a couple of decent runs with track days at the end of them before the 'Ring trip - including a run down to Abbeville at the start of May, so these will hopefully boost my confidence The engine seems fine - it starts okay, runs well, pulls strongly and doesn’t appear to burn oil. It has covered 23k miles - Pesky, what prompted you to get a rebuild at 25k - was it just a precaution, or had you had some kind of failure?
25K refresh by Gav Kershaw & his team - just a precaution at the time, after loads of trackdays. However, once stripped down piston rings were well worn, & clutch was almost knackered. It was rebuilt with strengthened bits eg big end shells, steel oil pump shaft, & the throttle bodies machined so that they fitted true on the head.
Unless your motor was severely knackered by previous owner you should have no probs in a properly cared for car.
I’ve now done 2 lots of two day Spa 's plus the thrash there and back and numerous track days inbetween with the only trouble being a self imposed oil leak due to dip- stick not being fitted properly ( as Bishop said to actress)
And before you go check brake discs as oem’s cracked badly on the INSIDE so you need to remove them to check thoroughly.
Hey Pesks are you going to make the Lotus day at Spa this year??