Any handling tweaks for an SLC?

[demain]

Hi all..

I have a 1978 280 SLC and have decided to go in a rally tour here in NZ. It is a companion event to the New Zealand Dunlop Targa. It goes from Auckland to Wellington (the length of the North Island) in a sort of S shape and covers 900km of closed roads and 1600 of touring over 6 days. It is supposedly a "navigational tour" but the more people I talk to, the more intense it sounds. Basically you go on the same course as the Targa, and the idea is to stay in formation behind a lead car and not race. It sounds like rivalry naturally appears and it all gets a little spirited.. Apparently you get the opportunity to "test" your vehicles.

Basically I want to have the best car I can have for this event so I am not embarassed!.. Some of the other cars in the tour are a Ferrari 335 Berlinetta and a 412, an Austin Healey 3000 Mk2, a Porsche 930 Turbo, 928 SE and 993 RS, a few Triumphs and MGs, and an AMG C36..

What modifications/upgrades have others done that have substantially improved the handling of their 107s? I am not going to go down the road of more engine power, it simply isn't worth it. Handling though is something I can use afterwards on the road.

I have been doing a bit of research on the 'net about Bilstein shocks - has anyone had any experience of changing to these from regular shocks? At the moment it has Monroe Gas-matics all round. Are they worth the change? I have standard sized 205/70/14 Dunlop Daytonas (a NZ special I believe) and going to new bigger wheels and low profiles is probably a bit out of my budget at this point.

I have just ordered a gorgeous MOMO wood/leather "Fashion" steering wheel, so that may help me to throw the 'benz around.. (thats what I keep telling myself anyway..) The handling of the SLC is feels good and pretty neutral to me, but then I have only had the one and I don't really know how good they can be.

Any suggestions would be great!