Rover SD1 Drift Car / Trackday Car / General Heap

Car looks great, what arches have you fitted?

A few months ago, i was a bit down about how little i use this car. So while sitting in my flat, drinking Strongbow (other ciders are available, and probably better) i decided to book a driftday. Lydden Hill and Snetterton don't run drift days any more, and Santa Pod is good, but i wanted a proper track. The only realistic option was Rockingham.

I took last Friday off work and got ready preparing the car....

...all i did was wash and refuel it.



I actually spent more time adjusting the brakes on my trailer than on the Rover. Washing the Rover presents an interesting challenge. I quite like the dirt, coolant spills, and rubber marks so i decided to wash just the windows. This is where it gets problematic. None of the windows seal! So i washed it with a hose and the doors open, so the water would drain straight onto the floor and not inside the cabin.



On Saturday I loaded up and headed up to a Premier Inn at Corby ready for drifting on Sunday. Sunday morning came and i was pretty excited. It had been a year since my last outing and when i broke the gearbox. The Rockingham track is excellent with a fast flowing infield and some even faster stuff on the oval banking.





My first run was utter wibblepoo, as i had no idea where i was going. I got a bit better and really enjoyed the infield. The big track and that imposing wall on the outside were pretty harrowing, so i stuck mainly on the infield.

Sadly the day didnt last long. First i realised my feet were slipping on the cabin floor. A quick check revealed that the clutch master cylinder had gone again. Yes this is a new one!!!! Its new old stock so I'm guessing the seals were really old and just not up to it. Anyway it meant i lost started to lose the clutch and couldn't get second on downshifts. I topped up the clutch fluid and taped some blue rag around the pedal area to soak up any more escaping fluid, but it still kept leaking.

Then a second problem developed at the steering column. The plastic bush at the bulkhead broke. I'm not sure if it was related to the escaping and corrosive clutch fluid, but there was now a lot of slack in the steering. Not good. So unfortunately i packed up early. Partly due to paranoia that i would munch a second gearbox in 2 drift days, and also random locking up of the steering.

This marks the end of this foray into drifting in the Rover. Ive had great fun in the car, but there are quite a few parts on this that i borrowed out of another SD1 I'm rebuilding and ill need those parts back soon.

don't worry though, I'm not scrapping the shell. I'm going to keep it with a view to fitting either a Toyota 1uz-fe V8 or an LS series V8 engine, budget depending. In the meantime ill keep it running as a fun road car for as long as the MOT is valid.

Lucky you. I'd love to go. I'm a fan of s14's. I have a kuro black navan s14 Silvia. I'm never selling it!

There is a chap on the sd1 forum who fitted a supra 3mgte with manual box, but not sure he ever got it running. There is another one with a 1uz-fe, but it still has the auto box on it.

Heres a video from Sunday

If you ever take it to Lydden Hill, let me know I'll come and watch !! I've met some interesting people there in the past, including a young Jenson Button !!

adrian.

Would love to see a picture of the s14!
really like the look of the SD1, awesome car!

Had to move the driftcar, so I started it up and took it for a quick run up and down the lane to clear the cobwebs. Got a surprise when a mouse ran out of the bonnet air vent and started eye balling me through the windscreen!

I love the way that looks. Last year I went and picked up some 218 VVC wheels, the guy had a Tuscan challenge engined SD1, similar arches and I think they where 305 P Zero's from a Countach!!! Had a very similar stance. He also had a Lancia 037 Stradale!

I bought them as a 5th set for my rallyrover. But I have also a 218 VVC coupe.