markSTI
New member
Hi All,
Just though I'd share mine and Chris (tweedie) thoughts on our day spent with the team down at Centre of Gravity.
First of all Chris and Pete are magicians, the best in the business. We could have chatted to them all day; it truly was an educational interactive experience from start to finish. We arrived at 8.30am and were greeted by the team, had a brew and a quick chat in their waiting area (Porsche nirvana). They kindly took Wendy and Pat to the local town for coffee etc as we were needed for a good few hours with Chris and Pete.
Chris and Pete started by asking what we were looking for from the cars, we both said fast B road setupJ . So we handed the keys over, I had Pete and Chris, Chris. They have a test route where they get a feel for what the car is or not doing. The first test is the roundabout. Jesus Christ, who knew a car could do that. Thirty five in to the roundabout and then round and round, keep pushing, forty, forty five and then the front started to push wide and me smiling like a kid. Then we went on and tested straight ahead steering test, camber tests, back road driving. Pete was telling me that you should be able to steer the car with you thumb and forefingers and shouldn't be constantly making corrections. So, back to the garage and Pete said well Mark, it’s not bad but we can do much better. Great stuff!
Next up was a complete forensic chassis inspection. So, floor panels off, and then a forensic look over the chassis. Now out on the course it became apparent that I had a squeak from the front. It was quickly identified as the bump stops were too big for the lowering springs when I had them fitted. Something the garage should have changed when I had them done but didn’t. Anyway, this was quickly fixed, no more squeaking. The rest of the chassis was in superb condition and all the bushes were greased up. Pete said that lack of use of the cars is the worst thing you can do. All the rubbers dry up etc. In fact, he said 95% of the cars they see with issues are ultra-low mileage cars; get out and drive is their moto
. One thing they did pick up is that my left hand front alloy has a buckle in the rim. This must have been done on the Blow Away the Cob Webs drive as I hit a massive pot hole that I couldn’t do anything about as a car was coming the other way. Luckily it has not deformed the tyre and that is why I didn’t have any vibration etc. Couldn’t see it when I cleaned the car as it’s very slight. Anyway, it happens and nobody is to blame but the council.
Next the cars were setup for fast B road driving with various black magic jiggery pokery going on. Pete and Chris explained everything that they were doing at every stage. So after a good few hours we were taken on to the test route again with Pete and Chris at the wheel to do the initial test. They didn’t say anything; they just wanted our opinion when we took over half way through.
The transformation is amazing, what these cars can do when setup by experts is beyond anything we expected. We thought our cars handled very well, how wrong we were. The car feels completely different, planted, no fuss, jiggling or nervousness. The handling is truly astonishing and I mean in a completely different league. Its hard to convey to people just how different the car feels both on B roads and motorways, totally planted. The confidence the setup gives you is amazing, it will literally go around corners at insane speeds, no drama and then slung shot out the other end; cheers Chris and Pete, the car is now a B road weapon. Chris (tweedie) shares the exact same option about his Cayman R. We just smiled and talked about it for hours after, we still are.
So, if you think your Porker handles well, think again, there is a B road monster waiting to break out, just see Centre Of Gravity. The best £350 I’ve ever spent on the car. Forget about engine mods that cost the earth, just get the chassis setup by experts. Happy days!
Mark & Wendy Arctic Silver 987 Boxster S Carmine Red Renaultsport Twingo 133 Cup (1 of only 50 in the UK)
Just though I'd share mine and Chris (tweedie) thoughts on our day spent with the team down at Centre of Gravity.
First of all Chris and Pete are magicians, the best in the business. We could have chatted to them all day; it truly was an educational interactive experience from start to finish. We arrived at 8.30am and were greeted by the team, had a brew and a quick chat in their waiting area (Porsche nirvana). They kindly took Wendy and Pat to the local town for coffee etc as we were needed for a good few hours with Chris and Pete.
Chris and Pete started by asking what we were looking for from the cars, we both said fast B road setupJ . So we handed the keys over, I had Pete and Chris, Chris. They have a test route where they get a feel for what the car is or not doing. The first test is the roundabout. Jesus Christ, who knew a car could do that. Thirty five in to the roundabout and then round and round, keep pushing, forty, forty five and then the front started to push wide and me smiling like a kid. Then we went on and tested straight ahead steering test, camber tests, back road driving. Pete was telling me that you should be able to steer the car with you thumb and forefingers and shouldn't be constantly making corrections. So, back to the garage and Pete said well Mark, it’s not bad but we can do much better. Great stuff!
Next up was a complete forensic chassis inspection. So, floor panels off, and then a forensic look over the chassis. Now out on the course it became apparent that I had a squeak from the front. It was quickly identified as the bump stops were too big for the lowering springs when I had them fitted. Something the garage should have changed when I had them done but didn’t. Anyway, this was quickly fixed, no more squeaking. The rest of the chassis was in superb condition and all the bushes were greased up. Pete said that lack of use of the cars is the worst thing you can do. All the rubbers dry up etc. In fact, he said 95% of the cars they see with issues are ultra-low mileage cars; get out and drive is their moto
. One thing they did pick up is that my left hand front alloy has a buckle in the rim. This must have been done on the Blow Away the Cob Webs drive as I hit a massive pot hole that I couldn’t do anything about as a car was coming the other way. Luckily it has not deformed the tyre and that is why I didn’t have any vibration etc. Couldn’t see it when I cleaned the car as it’s very slight. Anyway, it happens and nobody is to blame but the council.Next the cars were setup for fast B road driving with various black magic jiggery pokery going on. Pete and Chris explained everything that they were doing at every stage. So after a good few hours we were taken on to the test route again with Pete and Chris at the wheel to do the initial test. They didn’t say anything; they just wanted our opinion when we took over half way through.
The transformation is amazing, what these cars can do when setup by experts is beyond anything we expected. We thought our cars handled very well, how wrong we were. The car feels completely different, planted, no fuss, jiggling or nervousness. The handling is truly astonishing and I mean in a completely different league. Its hard to convey to people just how different the car feels both on B roads and motorways, totally planted. The confidence the setup gives you is amazing, it will literally go around corners at insane speeds, no drama and then slung shot out the other end; cheers Chris and Pete, the car is now a B road weapon. Chris (tweedie) shares the exact same option about his Cayman R. We just smiled and talked about it for hours after, we still are.
So, if you think your Porker handles well, think again, there is a B road monster waiting to break out, just see Centre Of Gravity. The best £350 I’ve ever spent on the car. Forget about engine mods that cost the earth, just get the chassis setup by experts. Happy days!
Mark & Wendy Arctic Silver 987 Boxster S Carmine Red Renaultsport Twingo 133 Cup (1 of only 50 in the UK)
