Feature Car Feature Car of the month December 2009 - (Jim Potter)

[Ben Seabrook 4]

This month's feature car belongs to Jim Potter. I don't know much about this shy and retiring member or his car but I will try and write a few words.

I think pretty much everyone on here will have had a browse through Jim's build thread ( here http://www.vr6oc.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?231150 if you haven't ) and it has now passed into the stuff of legend with people on other lesser forum's whispering his name in reverance. Well let me burst the bubble, it was a complete fluke !! No seriously this is a man who takes modding his cars very seriously and what makes it all the more impressive is that he does 99% of everything himself. Jim's car is a home built turbo currently running 370bhp and managing to annoy some very expensive machinery at every available opportunity ! His inspiration behind the car is simple "it's just to show that it can be done and be reliable, and you dont have to spend mega money! It's been runnig two years now, at various power levels, and was at 183000 miles and counting on the orig engine. which tested better than the one i had brought to replace it."

Also impressively apart from a spacer plate and arp head bolts it's a standard engine!! although to go with it it has delphi 440's, c2 ecu, c2 4 " maf housing, miltek stainless exhaust, spa designs stainless manifold, t4 oe turbo, 38mm wastgate, ebay intercooler, plenty of ally pipe, logpro hoses and a few other bits. As above Jim has not just collected the parts and sent them off to be assembeled this is a truly home built car with all the work being done in his spare time in his garage. To add the final icing on the cake Jim says "at the mo it stands me at 1500-1600 quid, that includes replacing parts that have failed through age" yup you read that right !! this is a car which can pretty much out perform anything which he has built himself for that minimum cost - Jim has every right to be justifably proud of his work.

He now manages the, shortly to be up and running, online store and is always willing to help members old and new with any queries. Pop along to any of the Santa Pod shows and you are guaranteed to find Jim blasting up the 1/4 mile ( his best times are a 12.56 1/4 and 32.2 standing mile at 158.8 mph) and Jim has been and will continue to be an ever present on the Ring trips and most of the other shows as he says " my favourtie show has to be anyone involving santa pod. i would say the ring, but thats more of a annual road trip. im more into go than show, as it gets expensive retouching paint" and in nudge to a hopefully forthcoming event "id love to see a vr6oc trackday , be good to get some highpower stuff ( of which we have loads ) together on track, and used as it should be.", I think you get the idea of where Jim's heart lies.

Jim's final thought ( nicked that from jerry springer )

"The whole reason I built the car was that I was getting bored with 200 bhp. I've had cars before with a fair bit more, and you always miss it, but when i looked at what to replace it with, nothing compared to the potential v money scenario. I would have had to have spent shed loads to get something as good, and thought why not start with what I have. It's now proven on track days and sprints, so maybe this year a bit of hillclimbing is in order

2 fingers to all that said it cant be done, it can and I have (thankyou to anyone who helped) I hope it inspires some more people to do there own thing and not follow the heard."


The person behind the car.

Name: Jim Potter
Forum user name: Jim Potter
Age: 33
Occupation: Road Maintenance Supervisor
Location: Colchester, Essex
Hobbies: Cars, Martial Arts, Footy
Likes: most things
Dislikes: rude people, liars, timewasters

Car questions

First car?: MK2 Escort
Current car?: VW Golf VR6 Turbo
Dream car?: maybe a W12 Golf
Other cars owned?: loads of vw's, x4 200sx's, montego turbo's, Rover 827 V6's, and loads of others
What got you into Dubs?: been dubbing since years ago, always liked them
Best feature on your car?: The turbo or the brakes depends on your view
Future modifications?: more power and a diff.
Favourite other member's car?: tough one and there is loads, but probably Eat This's 4mo/r32 hybrid, it's something I would like to do in the near future

General Stuff

1. Blonde or Brunette? Brunette
2. Takeaway or home cooked? Home cooked
3. Tea or Coffee? Tea
4. Euro look or USA look? USA
5. Soap or Documentary? Documentray
6. Mates or Dates? Mates
7. Pubs or Clubs? Pubs
8. Sun seeker or Thrill seeker? Thrill
9. Lager or Spirits? Neither wine or cider
10. Dogs or Cats?: Dogs
11. Night out or Couch potato? Couch potato sometimes
12. All Go or All Show? All go
13. Winter or Summer? Summer
14. Tattoos or Piercings? Piercings
15. Football or Rugby? Football.





































This is what can happen if you stand too close when the car is started !!