1994 Rover 820 Vitesse

[820T16]

Hi all,
Having admired your fine club displays at several different shows I had to join the forum.

My Rover is a 1994 820 Vitesse fastback modified for track days. An unlikely choice but surprisingly good on track. I bought the car in 2000, it was very clean and served as a perfect reliable family car for a few years, that was almost 20 years ago, the car has changed a lot since then with modified engine and transmission, roll cage, modified suspension, brakes and a 200kg diet.
Despite all the modifications externally it is still looks relatively standard, it is not mint but it is all original so after 25 years and 105,000 miles it does have a few scars but fortunately no rust.
It spends most years in the garage, I enjoy working on it as much as driving it but this summer it has been back on the road attending a few shows and gatherings, hopefully before the summer is over I will get back to Brands Hatch for a track evening.

Some current pictures









A video on board the most recent track day at Brands Hatch in 2016



and a link to the website

http://www.rovervitesse.com

Jim

[TonyG]

Jim, thanks for sharing the pics and You Tube clip of your Rover. The old girl certainly goes well and is clearly a lot of fun to drive. I did a number of track days a few years ago with my Caterham so I know from personal experience how hard it is is to master driving quickly on a track and you were looking good out there.

Thanks again, well done and keep it up!

Tony.

[820T16]

Jim, thanks for sharing the pics and You Tube clip of your Rover. The old girl certainly goes well and is clearly a lot of fun to drive. I did a number of track days a few years ago with my Caterham so I know from personal experience how hard it is is to master driving quickly on a track and you were looking good out there.

Thanks again, well done and keep it up!

Tony.

Thanks Tony, I have been on track with Caterhams a few times, those cars are so fast and agile.
Track days are such a good way to get it all out of your system and at the same time you know its your own car that has to get you home at the end of the day.
Since the last track day I fitted a new exhaust so this needs noise testing, hopefully this week then I can plan the next track day or plan fitting an extra silencer.

Jim

[TonyG]

Jim, my Caterham was low tech by today's standards. Built in 96 it had a 2 litre Zetec engine tuning with twin 45 Webern and 200bhp. Still a formidable combination with pretty much a straight line of power delivery through the gears. However, while we took it to Brands Hatch in the early days, it was just too noisy to meet their tight requirements a few years later. Not just the exhaust but the induction noise was awesome. The car could have been modified to comply but that would have diminished what I loved about it; i.e. The raw power! I sold it to my brother (who sold it to me 15 years before) so I could concentrate on my old Rovers. Fast cars are a waste on our busy roads and I find the challenge of driving a pre war car more fun these days and every outing is an adventure. Hats off to you though for combining your passion for speed with a classic car and doing it in a safe environment!

Tony

[820T16]

I imagine driving a pre war vehicle takes a fair bit of preparation each time you venture out, I carry tools, spare relays, sensors, fuel pump, hoses and all sorts and thats just in a modified 90's vehicle. It must be great fun though once your actually out driving, I guess it takes equally as much concentration as a track event dealing with modern car drivers with pre war brakes and steering.

I went to Brands Hatch Wednesday evening for the noise test with crash helmet in car just in case, unfortunately it is well over the limit at 108.4 dB.
I will add a centre silencer or a much improved rear silencer. The car just has a small rear silencer at present, any changes will me made over the winter.
I get the fast cars on our congested modern roads do not make sense thing, but I still have a few more laps to get out of my system while the senses still sort of work, but it will have wait for next summer.
Thanks for your interest.