tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52105019431967598682024-03-14T18:49:08.812+00:00Living the DreamRacing isn't just in our blood, it's in our everyday livesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-55970904906032669922014-10-01T16:04:00.000+01:002014-10-01T16:34:35.502+01:00Rotary ClubNo, I haven't gone all sensible middle-aged business man! This was something quite, quite different and very exciting....<br />
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I've been trying to tie up this test in an Aixro kart for some time, but "life" kept getting in the way. Aixro? WTF that? Take a look, dear reader:<br />
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<a href="http://www.aimmotorsport.com/aixro/">http://www.aimmotorsport.com/aixro/</a><br />
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Aixro is a rotary engine with major applications in the military, used in things that need constant power. So they're pretty powerful and very robust too - the last thing the forces want is their equipment falling out of the sky and into the hands of whoever is the enemy this week. In the trim I was testing, it was giving just under 50bhp which sounded pretty exciting in a machine weighing under 200kg with even this under-tall driver on board.<br />
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Truth be told I was a bit nervous as I turned up at Whilton Mill. I was greeted by the wonderful wail of the Aixros in full flow - it turned out there were around half a dozen testing. "My" kart was sat there waiting for me, looking so innocent. I gulped again, last time at Whilton had been in C100 and I nearly wiped out the son of a former F1 world champion. I was also so slow that I vowed not to race karts again, a promise I have broken only twice and both times have proved that it was a good promise to make.<br />
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First session in the kart - an Energy chassis - and once the external starter was removed I took to the track. It was all so docile idling through Whilton's pit lane, and as soon as I got out on track I eased the throttle down. Actually, that wasn't too frightening, now if I just squeeze a bit more going up to Christmas - OHMYGODTHAT'SFAST! With the instruction that there was no rev limiter so "keep it below 11k" ringing in my ears, I could barely see the dashboard, my eyes were vibrating at a different rate to the rest of me. Just seeing where I was going was a problem, especially on the bumpy start/finish straight. The left-hander that's normally flat in a TKM/Rotax was a definite brake, then through the right and head up to Christmas and OHMYGODTHAT'SFAST! Gradually I picked out a few apexes, and I could see the rev counter on the dash. I could afford to make a right cobblers of that first corner and still find somewhere near the same revs - with the TKM if you don't get the preceding corner right, then the speed has gone.<br />
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After a few laps, I pulled in. Turned out the tyre pressures were w-a-a-y too high. I also had a turn on the brake bias to push it further forwards, and so I went out again. The machine was transformed for me. Much smoother and I was able to pick out apexes - and even sometimes find them when I wanted. Also the brakes inspired more confidence.<br />
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I did several sessions, all of them less than 10 laps because I'm so race un-fit. Arms, legs and lungs were all bruised from the experience but the kart was absolutely awesome. By the end of the day I was confident enough to push and "go for a time" and duly managed to take a couple of tenths off what I'd done so far, tried again and missed a few apexes and braking points - time to give it back to the owner I think before I spin it or worse!<br />
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I was really impressed with the kart, it allowed me to feel like a racing driver again much more so than the TKM does. I think I did a 47.2 on a day when "Mr Aixro", the driving force of the engine, was doing mostly high 45s. OK not that good, but I wasn't the slowest and I think I was on the same pace as the kart's owner. And given I've only twice driven a kart this year, I was actually pretty pleased.<br />
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There's no doubt that the engine is expensive, but rebuilds are so few and far between that maintenance costs are much less than one would think. The sheer exhilaration of driving was like nothing else I have experienced in a kart, pressing the throttle made the straight just disappear beneath my wheels while the corners leaped up at me. The front brakes didn't manifest themselves particularly, I guess I wasn't using them hard enough. I was told we were pulling just less than 80mph up the hill to Christmas, and I will admit to missing the apex a couple of times which quickened the heart rate!A bit more testing and fiddling would no doubt have got the kart exactly to my taste.<br />
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Would I buy one? In a trice, if I had the cash! Would I come out of retirement and race it? Definitely YES! Great kart, friendly scene what's not to like?<br />
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-87500195438078167552014-08-25T14:36:00.000+01:002014-08-25T14:36:55.306+01:00Missing a Dunking at DunksWoke up this morning, Bank Holiday Monday, and it's pissisting down out there. We certainly were lucky to get back from Dunkeswell Kart Track before we got soaked, just a few spots of rain as we tidied away failed to dampen the enthusiasm for a very good weekend. It would be so different if we were racing there today, a veritable Dunking at Dunks!<br /><div>
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Attaq Motorsport was represented by Alex Tyler, TKM Alonso 32 and Ed Gamble, TKM Wright 98, for the first TKM grid at the South West Championships for around 10 years. Alex had been instrumental in pulling the grid together and to judge by the feedback the grid will be back in 2015 when Dunkeswell will also hold a round of the Southern TKM Inter-Club Challenge. Helping us out was reigning Clay Pigeon Junior TKM champion Steve Le Cocq (Kosmic TKM 31) who will be debuting in seniors later this season. </div>
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With open testing on Saturday followed by timed qualifying, there was everything to play for from the off and after practice Alex and Ed went onto race engines and tyres with high hopes. So it proved, in Q1 Alex put in a front row lap until it was taken off him for a white line indiscretion which left him 7th while Ed gridded 5th. In Q2 it was Ed on top in 4th with Alex unable to find a "tow" and languishing in 6th on the grid of 11 karts. </div>
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Dunkeswell rolled out a great evening for the Championships, with a hog roast, quiz, karaoke and disco on the Saturday evening. The next morning we just squeezed our first race in before the "Quiet Hour". The two Attaq drivers diced throughout the race, Ed taking 5th and Alex 6th but both were pipped by fellow Clay TKM racer Luke Barton. Like Ed and Alex, Luke is having his first year in seniors and very much running at the front end of the grid.</div>
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So far so good, but with about 20 minutes to go before Heat 2 we discovered a crack in Alex's axle, a possible cause of transmission problems we'd been trying to diagnose all morning. All hands to the pumps to whip the spare axle complete with hubs, disc and sprocket from our spare Tonykart which "just happened" to be in the trailer and drop it into the Alonso. We made it to the grid by the skin of our teeth without chance to put race set up on, but the chain guard was fouling and we decided to non-start instead of risking further damage. A shame, but based on the hindsight of 2013 when a snapped chain buzzed an engine and effectively brought an end to Alex's Junior career it was the right decision. Ed kept Attaq's flame burning with a stirring 5th chasing Luke for position. </div>
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Starting the Pre-Final from the back was never going to be optimal but Alex took on the challenge with relish, especially as Dunkeswell is one of his favourite tracks. While he made great progress to finish 5th, right on the bumper of 4th, Ed had a nightmare of a start and dropped right to the back and so had to fight his way through to latch on to Alex with a couple of laps to go. A great dice ensued between Alex, Ed and James Lovell of TW Motorsport who just held the Attaq drivers off over the final tours. So close was the last lap, that those of us watching at Pit Bend were convinced Ed and Alex had taken each other off at Hangar, the furthest point from us. As they burst into sight, we could only see James's kart and crash helmet and it wasn't until they peeled off into the Bus Stop we were actually sure there were three drivers in a very close train.</div>
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And so to the Final, with Alex on 5th and Ed 6th - about where we had targetted on positions, but so much closer to the front on lap times than we dared to hope. Alex was caught at the start and dropped behind Ed, but was given time to re-group as Luke's engine was running slightly below par. Alex managed to slip by Ed on lap 8 and latched onto Lovell's bumper again hoping to replicate the overtaking move he pulled on the Intrepid driver in Heat 1. But it wasn't to be, James had him covered and flashed across the line in a fine third with Alex less than three tenths behind. Ed was with him all the way, until Luke's engine suddenly came back with a bang and he set fastest lap as he squeezed through to 5th place.</div>
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With Alex 4th we had the excitement of full scrutineering. Despite the weighbridge's best attempts - we religiously mark the fuel level when we finish every race, and according to the scales we were spot on the minimum 146kg limit after every race despite having a higher finishing fuel load each time - we then stripped the engine down for inspection. There has been a lot of controversy lately about illegal TKM engines and the top four had a thorough going over with all measurements checked minutely. Suffice to say we all passed, but it's still nerve-wracking. It just proves you can have good TKM racing without cheating.</div>
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So no trophy this year for Attaq Motorsport, but we're really pleased with finishing 4th and 6th overall in a good-quality field. We'll be back next year to try and go at least one better, preferable three. </div>
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5th and 6th on the grid for the Final - Alex (32) and Ed (98)</div>
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Alex, Steve and Ed prepare for the Final</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-1606190390810482542014-03-18T14:34:00.001+00:002014-03-18T14:34:44.215+00:00Kerbing the Yellows?There's been a lot of chatter on car racing forums over the past few months about the new penalties for crossing kerbs and regarding "double waved yellows".<br />
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As a karter, all I can say to the car drivers is "Nah, nah, nah, naaah, nah"<br />
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The following is an extract from the minutes of the last Association of British Kart Clubs meeting:<br />
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<b>"There has been some confusion about whether Kart Circuits have to use the new double waved yellow but the MSA confirmed that Kart Circuits do not need to use double waved yellows.In answer to a question the MSA representative confirmed that the new track limit rules do not apply to long circuit karting as well as not applying to short circuit as Section U has its own rules."</b><br />
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The link to the extract is here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.abkc.org.uk/News14_2.pdf">http://www.abkc.org.uk/News14_2.pdf</a><br />
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So karters rejoice, you can wreck your chassis to your hearts' content and launch yourself across the kerbs with impunity! And yah boo sucks to you car racers who complain that they can't - maybe it's time to get into real racing!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-67785002405384157122014-03-05T11:31:00.000+00:002014-03-05T11:31:08.731+00:00Lots of water under the bridge...and over me!It's safe to say that the Winter of 2013/14 will be known for its storms, floods and general wetness. We're lucky to live in a sheltered rural area well away from rivers and seaside, so have avoided the devastation.<br />
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Why then for a hobby and a job do I insist on going to kart tracks at former airfields, wet and wild at the best of times? And this winter they have been the wettest, wildest, most God-Forsaken spots in the world, little oases of misery totally surrounded by water. What a plonker!<br />
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It all started as early as the first Saturday in January with Connor and Ed splashing their way round Clay Pigeon on our recently-acquired Tonykart hire chassis. The puddles on the way were so deep we nearly lost the Peugeot and trailer!.<br />
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A week later it's dry and warm at Autosports International with the Racewear Roadshow (when of course it wasn't raining outside!), then a week later it's back out in a south Wales deluge at Llandow with Oli on his Rotax. Zack and Alex were driving the TKM TonyKart, and the airbox had more water in than most peoples' baths at the end of the day! On the Sunday it was merely "soggy" at Castle Combe, a great improvement on the monsoon of the day before. I was over-seeing some of our junior karting hotshots who were receiving one-to-one tuition from the team at <a href="http://gofastertraining.wix.com/go-fastertraining"><b><span style="color: blue;">Go-Faster Training</span></b></a>, and it was a nice respite to be working with pull start 4- strokes for a change!<br />
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It was supposed to be Clay on the first Saturday of February but along came the next set back - the Peugeot suffered terminal breathing problems and was in no fit state to drag the trailer, so we had to cancel. A day catching up on office work then, and the Sunday saw the first round of the Combe Karting Junior Championship.Still damp, but great racing and a chance to to see how the training had improved the drivers.<br />
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Peugeot-less, a Mercedes Vito day van was purchased just in time for the Clay shakedown meeting. Alex was keen to test on the Saturday ("I haven't driven a kart since December!" he wailed) but the storm forecast as The Beast hit Dorset that day so I put my foot down. Many of our hardy friends did make the trip to the kart track and even stayed in caravans - chapeau, mes amis, chapeau, I stayed at home in the warm and deserved the "Wimp" comments! Sunday was windy but mainly dry, and after we caught Jinder's awning making its airborne way to Dorchester decided our own Gin Palace could stay in the back of the van.<br />
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The Shakedown was a great success for the Club, and we're looking forward to more of the same this season as <a href="http://www.claypigeonkartclub.com/"><b>Clay Pigeon Kart Club</b></a> seems to have hit on a sweet formula. 25 TKM Extreme/Masters drivers heading out of the pit lane at once certainly sharpened up the reflexes of us pushers I can tell you! For once we drove home in the dry and in daylight - was spring on the way?<br />
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Don't be silly! One week later and we are back in at Clay in rain with the hire kart - ah well, it was nice while it lasted. George and Liam faced greasy conditions and coped really well in very low temperatures. At last the days are lengthening and we drove home in the daylight again, Alex frustrated that I popped the Tonykart back into the trailer rather than put him out on it :-/ I was cold, son, and hungry! Combe the next day was starting to get warm - NOW is spring on its way?<br />
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It certainly seemed like it the next weekend and where were we? In a cowshed in Warwickshire! The Race Retro exhibition is normally a pleasant start to the racing season, but this year it seemed like an imposition, stopping the serious business of racing...<br />
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Still the weather has turned hasn't it? At the beginning of March Zack, James and I hauled the Tonykart down to Forest Edge and Connor had his first taste of TKM on slicks - that's more like it! Steadily whittling his lap times down under the eagle eye of Go-Faster Training, Connor looks to be heading off to Club 100 when he finishes his time learning his craft with Attaq Motorsport.<br />
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Next day down to Llandow with Oli and his Rotax - guess what, it's raining! How can two consecutive days be so different? Today is more about learning than the last time, and I played race engineer for a while and found him a couple of seconds in set up alone. When the rain intensified from heavy to monsoon we called it a day, packed up the Gin Palace and came home (drenched). I had one last job to do, deliver a racewear parcel to a customer that runs a pub just up the road from the circuit. The atmosphere was warm, convivial and I really needed a pint.....but no, back into Attaq's crew bus for the drive otherwise I'd be there still.........<br />
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We're looking forward to the Clay race weekend in a couple of days' time. This will be Alex's first championship race as a Senior, and with 25 TKMs entered again it's going to be mega. He's testing on the Saturday and we're kipping at the track overnight so the crew bus will become a camper.<br />
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So after a lot of water under a lot of bridges since we last had a day van - I was about 10 years old and we had an old Thames Trader, called a day van because it took a day to get anywhere - but here we are again, camping at a race circuit. We've been through sprints, Thundersports and racing around Europe but it always comes back to this - motor sport is sitting around in the half-dark, frozen, drinking cheap beer while the tales get taller and we love it!<br />
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A lot of bridges. A lot of water. Most of it over me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-53403387773252374382014-02-19T14:11:00.001+00:002014-02-19T14:11:22.981+00:00<img alt="race-retro-banner.gif" data-mce-src="http://www.racewear.co.uk/product_images/uploaded_images/race-retro-banner.gif" src="http://www.racewear.co.uk/product_images/uploaded_images/race-retro-banner.gif" height="85" style="cursor: default;" title="race-retro-banner.gif" width="400" />
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We're exhibiting at <strong>Race Retro February 21st - 23rd 2014</strong>! We're in Hall 3 (the Outer Darkness) as usual, and look forwards to seeing you there.
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First time to Race Retro? Then check out our 2-minute Showguide below!
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Getting round the show is easy. You go first into the Posh Hall - that's major championships and clubs, the important people. Then you wander through the rally specialists and the art stands before you come to the Tunnel of Civilisation at the end of which you're in the Outer Darkness. This has lots of motor bikes, smaller motor clubs and great value racewear traders, and the glorious chance to rummage amongst the history of our sport with photos and memorabilia. It's a lovely place to while away the hours. <br />
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Chief attractions of the Outer Darkness (besides us) are the Fire Engine Bar and the Ace Cafe. Feed yourself up with hot victuals before moving on to the Arctic Circle. This is the unheated, uncarpeted Autojumble, usually a mix of private and commercial concerns. You can stock up on consumables at bargain prices (WD40, saw blades etc) and maybe find a little gem in the spares section. But you may need to do it in several short visits, it is just a cattle shed and mighty cold even on a nice day!<br />
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So who needs to buy a Show Guide? Print this out and you won't get lost!
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Here's a quick peek at last year's stand, this year it's Focus On...Custom Racewear so please do come and say hello!
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<img src="https://store-99u9s.mybigcommerce.com/product_images/uploaded_images/471031-3438540841881-42628902-o.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;" />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-66249786125673659722014-02-01T08:56:00.001+00:002014-02-01T08:56:36.986+00:00Cats, MAFs, EGRs and a rant....It's not often I have a business rant, but I was on "a well-known internet auction site" the other day and found an indoor karting centre selling karting overalls. Clearly they get them from the Far East for their own use, and over-order as a little profit centre. Or simply because they don't last that long, which is my experience!<br />
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So what really got my blood pressure up? It was the phrase "sizes may vary by up to 10 per cent". TEN PER CENT? WTF?!?!?!?!?! That may not sound much, but I'm 6'2" tall, which means I could end up buying a suit made for someone either 5'9" or 6'7" - and consider the chest variation as well, you could be buying a suit for someone nowhere near your size or shape with, presumably, no recompense because you were warned!<br />
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Some years ago one of our suppliers introduced a new CIK suit which was well-priced but the sizings were atrocious. We don't sell it, because we stand by our promise to replace or refund if you are not completely satisfied, and we could end up losing a great deal of money simply because we care. So, although the big European brands *seem* expensive, they are the result of many years R&D into everything from materials to sizing. They are subject to stringent quality control tests and, most importantly, I am proud to stand by them. I'm really impressed by the new Sparco KS-3 (the Rookie replacement) and the OMP version of the same name. Gosh, nice they've both pushed the boat out on inventive product names...<br />
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Both feature strongly on or re-vamped web site, which will be live in a few days subject to a couple of problems being ironed out.<br />
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Rant over!<br />
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Cats, MAFs and EGRs are joined by DPFs- catalytic convertors, Mass Airflow Meters, Exhaust Gas Recycling valves and Diesel Particulate Filters are all part of the solution to my Peugeot 406 running problem. Each one is an integral part of the anti-pollution system on the car, any one of them can have failed, and the cost goes up the deeper you delve. I've checked all the cheap stuff, it seems to be OK so it's the Cat or the DPF I reckon - and that gets expensive. We've had to cancel our test at Clay this weekend because of the breakdown, I hope I get it fixed before next weekend when Alex is due his first race in Senior TKM.<br />
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Better stop ranting then and get on with it!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-26887171374510701582013-12-21T10:07:00.001+00:002013-12-21T10:08:27.585+00:00Le Midgetmax est mort, vive le MidgetmaxIts with great regret we report the passing of Midgetmax.<br />
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In truth, Midgetmax has done sterling service but should have been pensioned off years ago, when I sold my final MG Midget racer and ephemera of years of Midgeting. Through the 924 years (that sounds so long, in truth I only raced it once!) I clung to the moniker because, well, "you never know."<br />
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Midgetmax was my screen name on eBay when I started buying parts. It became my trading name when I bought, broke and sold MG Midgets and I own the URL midgetmax.com, this blog is under the name of midgetmaxracing and I still have a midgetmax blog somewhere, so it's kind of grown. Oh I think there are a few "forums" I use various forms of the name but probably the less said about those the better. Ahem!<br />
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As an aside, despite being an avid MGCC man and therefore steeped in the history of "Midgets" the only Midget I actually owned was my RWA FISC car which ended life embedded in the tyre wall at Zandvoort. Not my fault, honest, I wasn't even in the same country at the time LOL. Everything else I've run has been an Austin Healey Sprite - such is the way of the world!<br />
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NB for those that don't understand these acronyms, Google them.<br />
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So what's caused the end of Midgetmax? Simples - the purchase of an old Tonykart EVX kart! I now have NO racing cars around the place but THREE karts and one of them purchased with me specifically in mind! Woohoo! I found it on Fleabay last week, made an offer and went to Derbyshire on Thursday to collect it. Pretty good nick, I'm just waiting for the rain to ease off so I can get it prepped for its first school day on 4th January, and I may even get the chance to sample<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> it myself - looking forward to that ;-) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">S-o-o three years ago we bought an old kart "just for Alex to have a go on". Today we've got 3, a big box trailer, gin palace awning and we run a racing team. Funny how things go.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">As for the name...TonykartMax doesn't sound right so I thought of TKMax but it appears someone's beaten me to it so...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Le Midgetmax est mort, vive le Midgetmax</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">And anyway, I'm too tight to buy a new URL!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-90617564437194099482013-12-09T15:01:00.002+00:002013-12-09T15:01:49.430+00:00More of a Turkey Amble than Trot...To be fair, I was never going to set the world alight with my performance on a kart that Alex discarded as "too small" 18 months ago! But I'll admit the annual <a href="http://www.claypigeonkartclub.com/">Clay Pigeon Kart Club</a> Turkey Trot race meeting was more of an amble thanks to my ineptitude. I'm sure <a href="http://www.attaq-motorsport.co.uk/">Attaq Motorsport'</a>s #1 driver would have been quicker - and if he hadn't a swift boot up the backside would have been delivered!<br />
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Despite the dire predictions of the Daily Express we set off down to Clay on a damp but not-too-cold Saturday and set up for the weekend in the new Attaq Motorsport Gin Palace - a 6m x 3m pro-quality awning that keeps us snug, warm and dry. It will also do sterling service as<a href="http://www.racewear.co.uk/"> racewear.co.uk</a>'s "Racewear Towers" away from home.<br />
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Alex tested all day on the Saturday and I managed to squeeze out for one session on slicks on a drying track. You know what? I wasn't slowest and superstar had to fight to get by me and couldn't pull away - at least until I tried "a demon new line through the kink". Ah, that'll be why no-one else uses it then...so we did a little rain dance and retired home to beers, pizza and bed.<br />
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Race Day. Practice. Cold and damp and half the grid out on slicks, including me. I managed to drop it at the hairpin because I had been laughing too much at Liam spinning in front of me and missed my braking point. Pillock. Superstar wasn't very happy as it was the furthest point from the pit lane to run with the trolley....<br />
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For those not versed in the art of TKM racing, a little education. Clutches are not a feature of karting in its purest form and drivers either have to run with the kart, jump in and juggle the throttle while it fires (unlikely given my bulk and height) or enlist the help of strong able bodied pushers. I had Alex, who recruited our colleague Josh from <a href="http://www.combe-events.co.uk/">Combe Karting</a>, and the pair of them barely added up to my body weight. Thanks guys, you did a great job! Once the engine is firing, you really, really don't want to spin because the engine stalls and if you can't restart on your own you're finished. It was my mistake with the direct drive that caused my practice spin - I braked hard on the wet surface, stalled the engine, didn't come off the brakes soon enough to re-start it and whoops! round we went.<br />
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So, Race 1. All but one driver changed to wets - Sally stayed on slicks and was on pole! It would have been an inspired choice had the race started just two or three minutes later. As we drove out for my first TKM start I cursed outwardly: the bottom end of the circuit had a proper dry line. This was going to be expensive on wets :-( Race started and we headed off round Billy's, through the chicane, down the left hand side of the straight to the (wet) Hairpin - where I'm overtaken by a Tonykart going faster backwards than I was forwards. Massive avoidance, he hits me side on and I j-u-s-t managed to keep the engine running or my first race would have been over before it even started. Head down, set off after the others. I caught & passed Steve after a few laps, and despite a few excursions Sally suddenly started making progress, absolutely flying along on her slicks on what was a drying track. If only it hadn't been so wet for the first couple of laps she'd really have been in the mix.<br />
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Race 2 was dreadful. We found a puncture on my alloy-wheel mounted slicks and had to fit Alex's half-mag Alonso wheels. The kart was dreadful. It didn't generate any heat, the tyres wouldn't grip and it was all I could do to get it to the finish a whole lap down on everyone else. Back in the Gin Palace we had a lightbulb moment: the Alonso rims had a different offset and the geometry had been totally wrong! No wonder it was so bad. A bit of a guesstimate re-set and it's time for the Final, a mammoth 12 minutes plus one lap.<br />
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12 minutes doesn't sound much to car racers, but proper karts on sticky tyres are just so physical that it was going to be hard work. Dicing hard into the first corner, I made up a couple of places and came out of the Chicane to see Derek facing towards us. In fact I could see the whites of his eyes as we all scattered every which way to avoid him. I flicked left and just snagged Steve's rear bumper. It ripped my nose cone off from the mountings and from then onwards it was going to be a struggle - if they let me continue. Sure enough, the black and orange flag was shown and I retired to the pits, my TKM debut over.<br />
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The kart still hadn't been right in those few laps so we learned that the Venom doesn't like half mags - and that'll be why the Alonso was so rubbish on the allys first time we ran it. So a good lesson, but it was a bit deflating.On the plus side we had no mechanical problems apart from the set-up error but I don't feel I did myself justice. The wrong side of 50, the wrong side of the weight limit, I'm never going to be quick but I really wanted to have been a bit better. Will I do it again? I don't know - if I do I'll need a clutched engine so I don't need to keep finding "willing" pushers :-) Oh and there's a new "<a href="http://www.attaq-motorsport.co.uk/step-up-to-2-stroke/4580629510">Heavies</a>" class just to entice me, although I still need to lose 10kg.<br />
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Now both karts have to be rebuilt over the Christmas break, our first <a href="http://www.attaq-motorsport.co.uk/step-up-to-2-stroke/4580629510">Step up to 2-Stroke</a> day is on 4th January at Clay followed by 18th January at Llandow. Anyone fancy a go?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-21478940748640679782013-12-03T21:20:00.003+00:002013-12-03T21:26:34.489+00:00Of Princess Diana, Snow and Trotting TurkeysSo here I am, just days away from my TKM racing debut and the country is set to be "swept by Arctic storms", when temperatures "plunge" below zero and we suffer "the worst winter for decades". Shrugging I turn the page of the newspaper to be told that Princess Diana was murdered because she wanted to force down the price of houses...ah yes, it's the Daily Express, so it's going to be a balmy weekend then!<br />
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All of which is my Express-esque method of getting an attention-grabbing headline myself!<br />
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So, I'm days away from my TKM debut and am I ready? What do you think? My race kit is strewn all over the house and Racewear Towers, the kart is in pieces in the trailer and the engine is in Cornwall. Oh well, I'm sure it'll all come good on Saturday or Sunday.<br />
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Actually it's not my TKM *debut* having raced a few times in Club 100 endurance races, but I'm entering as a Novice because I don't fancy starting my first sprint race from pole. I'll be quite happy concentrating on not getting lapped and seeing if I can bring my lap times down every lap - just like I tell all my ARKS candidates. I don't expect to be competitive on an old Venom, and if it goes well perhaps I'll get promoted to the Alonso or something similar? Testing went OK, the biggest laugh I gave the assembled multitude wasn't my lack of pace but my lack of Space...squeezing my legs onto a kart we decided was too small for Alex 12 months ago certainly caused a chuckle or two. Please Jo, fill up the memory card before the STKM race ;-)<br />
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It's been quite a road to get here - every time I thought I'd get a start, something went wrong with Alex's kart so my entry fee gently disappeared. Finally it's come together in a perfect storm - Alex's Junior engines are no longer competitive, the new Senior Lightweights don't come into being for another month and we have bought an Extreme engine off Team Gamble so it's now or never. Am I looking forward to it? YOU BET!<br />
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Some pics from my last attempt at TKM. Yes it does only have three wheels.<br />
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Here's hoping I don't repeat that on Sunday :-) Turkey Trot, here we come!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-774407418427417452013-11-28T10:23:00.002+00:002013-11-28T10:23:21.381+00:00Funny how it goes - and last posting datesI've been selling racewear for "quite a few years now" (make that decades) so you would think that at last I'd been getting a handle on it. But the only thing that's predictable about this business is its unpredictability!<br />
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Last year we sold mainly <a href="http://www.racewear.co.uk/Sparco_Race_and_Kart_Wear_s/67.htm">Sparco</a> products, this year the big seller seems to be our <a href="http://www.racewear.co.uk/Speed_Racewear_Kart_Track_Day_Clothing_s/68.htm">Speed Racewear</a> range - take a look and see what's attracting so many buyers.<br />
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Last posting dates for Christmas from <a href="http://racewear.co.uk/">racewear.co.uk</a>:<br />
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Final date for despatch of physical goods - <b>FRIDAY 20th DECEMBER</b><br />
Final date for despatch of e-vouchers* - <b>TUESDAY 24th DECEMBER @ 12:00</b><br />
Office re-opens for despatches - <b>MONDAY 6th JANUARY</b><br />
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*e-vouchers include the following products:<br />
racewear.co.uk <a href="http://www.racewear.co.uk/Freechoice_Gift_Voucher_p/gft.htm">Freechoice Gift Voucher</a><br />
Attaq Motorsport <a href="http://www.racewear.co.uk/kart_driving_gift_voucher_p/attaq-vou.htm">Step up to 2-Stroke voucher</a><br />
<a href="http://www.racewear.co.uk/Junior_Racing_Academy_Open_Day_for_14_16_years_p/rej-vou.htm">Junior Racing Academy voucher</a><br />
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The "activity" vouchers normally come in a presentation box by post, between Saturday 21st December and Tuesday 24th December these will only be available by e-mail<br />
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<b>CHRISTMAS RETURNS:</b><br />
Any goods for return or refund should be returned by 14th January in the original packaging and in unworn, re-saleable condition. Please send a copy of your packing note or invoice if possible, if not reference to the name of the customer who bought the gift.Please note we can ONLY refund to the card/Paypal account of the purchaser.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-21274316309772415222013-11-24T08:59:00.002+00:002013-11-24T09:03:46.948+00:00An electrifying prospect? It seems that the world is not yet ready for electric car racing, particularly to judge by the reaction at the end of the article:<br />
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<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/motoring-news/theyre-going-to-need-a-long-extension-cable-an-electric-version-of-f1-aims-to-turbo-charge-the-environmentfriendly-car-market-8959725.html">http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/motoring-news/theyre-going-to-need-a-long-extension-cable-an-electric-version-of-f1-aims-to-turbo-charge-the-environmentfriendly-car-market-8959725.html</a><br />
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The new formula has its inherent hilarities - swapping cars half way through isn't going to convince the sceptics - but I think we should give it a chance. Motor racing has always improved the breed.</div>
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100 years ago cars had riding mechanics, among whose duties was pressurising the fuel to keep the engine running - we<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> developed fuel pumps to do the job! Today we take disc brakes for granted - developed in the fifties on the Le Mans Jaguars of course. Who knows where the KERS/ERS/Hybrid systems of F1 and WEC cars will lead? </span></div>
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At the moment electric cars are a joke. But then again so was the internal combustion engine, and it hasn't done us too badly. So I say give the race series a chance and let motor racing lead the way in transport technology again. </div>
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One further point comes to mind...if electric car racing appeases race track neighbours and keeps circuits open, then I'll race electric cars! Although by then of course I'll be limited to those old people's scooters that seem to be everywhere. Now there's a thought for my dotage...<br />
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<a href="http://www.fiaformulae.com/">http://www.fiaformulae.com/</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-90096129902443218232012-05-09T10:13:00.001+01:002013-11-24T09:50:30.813+00:00160 - DONE!I think this will be the last 160 for the 360 post - because we only ruddy well did it! Yes, we took a £160 car to Snetterton and raced it for six hours, bringing it home 12th out of 20 entrants. Woo hoo!<br />
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The weekend wasn't without its trauma...during the week before I'd been struggling to get a new wishbone, but Karl from the 924 Forum (www.porsche924.co.uk) said he had one of the parts that provided the answer, so I set off full of confidence. We were towing with the ZS because the van that was arranged fell through, and the idea was to toddle up there slowly. It still towed at a steady 70mph!<br />
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Arrived late Friday and unloaded, and the thing bit me again. Literally, as I got the straps off I cut myself and managed to fracture a brake pipe, so dripping blood and in the dark I had to flare the end all over again and give it a quick bleed.<br />
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Karl arrived Saturday morning, and immediately diagnosed my wishbone woes. Apparently it isn't a 1980 like I thought, it's much earlier and has Turbo ARB and wishbones. And no one had a spare. So as I went to drivers briefing I left him and Terry removing the drop link.<br />
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After this, things get a little hazy...i just cannot remember everything we (I say we, but mostly Karl) had to do, so apologies to him if I miss something that he worked hard on, or get them out of order. However, there seemed to be a huge workload. Practice on Saturday was due to be one 75 minute session, but due to a red flag ended up split into two which was brilliant for us as it gave us time to work on some solutions. First practice proved we were the slowest car out there, with the car running roughly and during the 75 minutes of running plus the lunch break we:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Manufactured and fitted a replacement roll bar mount on the new wishbone</li>
<li>Set the tracking thanks to Absolute Alignment's fantastic electronic alignment equipment (one of the co drivers runs it, please visit his web site <a class="postlink" href="http://www.absolutealignment.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">http://www.absolutealignment.co.uk</a> </li>
<li>Reset the camber</li>
<li>Adjusted the rear brakes</li>
<li>Constantly fiddled with things to cure the kangaroo juice that the car appeared to have swallowed. It started after about 20 minutes driving and got worse, but when the car cooled down again it was perfect. Changed as many leads as we could, to no avail</li>
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After practice we pulled the plugs and they were weak colour and oily. We put the air filter back in. We switched them to 8s from 6s and it ran much more smoothly. Reset the timing to give more advance, huge improvement. Changed the front pads to new Carbon Lorraines ready for the race, and went back to the hotel confident we were ready.<br />
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Race morning practice. I don't think we had many problems, but just a few. Still, I put in a time EIGHT SECONDS quicker than the day before and it felt like it was flying. Still more time to come from me, I don't know the 360 circuit that well yet. I'm sure we fiddled with something meaning one driver didn't get out to try and set a quicker time, but I was guardedly optimistic that if we could lap at this pace we'd not disgrace ourselves. Some way off Smithy, and miles behind the Tango 924, but I wasn't driving particularly hard and the time was coming to me.<br />
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After the pre-race preliminaries, we were last on the grid for the rolling start but Chris soon dispensed with one car and was hunting Smithy down when he put it sideways, the revs went sky high and it lapsed onto 3 cylinders. Straight in the pits for the first of many stops. We found a problem, going over the kerbs he rattled the earth lead in the battery box loose. But there may have been another problem, of whoch more later. Shove Steve in the car, off he went again. A couple more stops to properly sort that, including using the shirt off my back to jam the battery in place (!) and it's back to Chris. But there's a problem...oil pouring out of the air filter, and the scrutineer won't allow it on track until sorted. I'm using the standard re-circulating breather system, and it's pressurising and dumping oil into the filter box which is then landing on the track. Scrutineer advises us to give up as the engine is clearly knackered but I'm too stubborn for that and send him away with a flea in his ear. Karl rigs up a breather catch tank to collect the spilt oil to the satisfaction of the scrutineer, and we send Chris on his way.<br />
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Chris sticks strictly to 4000rpm at first, gradually increasing as he gets into a dice with a BMW but not exceeding 4500. Riches in 5th gear isn't much slower than in third, and huge fun! He comes in when it kangaroos again, seems short of fuel. Top up, put Billy on board and check how much oil has been dumped out, intending to pour it back in the engine (at thirty quid a gallon I'm not wasting it!). None used! Give Billy strict rev instructions and he's on his way.<br />
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Uneventful stint for Billy, he comes in when it kangaroos, we top up and I get a go at last. Four hours in, we may even make it! Our strategy is simple...drive until it cries enough, come in, let it have a rest and send it on it's way again. And at these revs it's not using oil.<br />
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I spent some time behind the safety car, at the head of the queue. I had to drive round in third to keep the revs high enough for the oil pressure to register on the gauge, and when the SC pulled off I tried the full Vettel stuff - drop back, floor it in the final corner, get the jump on the rest....I barely led over the start line, let alone into turn 1! had a bit of a dice with MGD, kept him at bay for a lap and shut the door on him coming over the start line which was a bit of fun, but we've no acceleration keeping the revs down.<br />
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Three uneventful stints to the finish, I insisted on taking the chequer. As I got in I heard the commentator, the great John Hindhaugh of Radio Le Mans fame saying that if we pass the Mustang five times we are up into twelfth. Fat chance I thought, but the first time through Hamilton I saw that the Mustang was actually parked up at the side of the road so it was do-able. A bit of a dice with Mike in the MGD car - I made him work hard to catch me, let him past, then made him work hard to pull away - and I use the dizzy heights of 5000rpm to the finish. When Alex hangs out the P12 I roll the speed down and tick off the time. I'm going so slowly I've got time to peel down my glove and look at my watch, wave to the photographers etc etc. I can't see a lot for the last couple of laps, my glasses were steaming up and I'm too proud to say what was causing the moisture...<br />
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And then it's all over. Everyone going mad on the pit wall, and I'm pulling back into the garage and switching the engine off. Unbelievable. We brought a £160 car fit for the scrap yard to Snetterton and raced it for six hours, got it to the finish, and it was going as well as at the start. Which to be fair wasn't that well!<br />
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What caused the car to dump its oil out of the breather? I don't know. Did Chris buzz the engine when he half spun? Was it just concentrated use of too high revs? Or could it be something causing the air box to suck oil out of the breather? It's a thought, the car was running very lean, and the kangaroo juice did feel like a car does when it's cold and I've got no choke. Could they be linked?<br />
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Got the car home today and it won't start! Ah well, that's for the future, today I've closed the book on Project 160 for the 360, JOB DONE!<br />
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Now, although this blog is coming to an end, there's the little matter of my enthusiasm for racing having been fired up again! Can't play the £160 card next time, although the commentators loved it on the day, even trying to undercut me, bidding for one on eBay live on air! There's talk of a 2 hour race on the Brands GP in September...can't wait!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-31990046496866174612012-04-25T12:37:00.000+01:002013-11-24T09:50:55.663+00:00Nearly thereYes, I know I've been somewhat remiss in blogging here but honestly it's been really busy. Suffice to say, read the below and catch the photos on my Facebook stream:<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1862262355904.110569.1221312844&type=3">http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1862262355904.110569.1221312844&type=3</a>
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Woohoo! We're nearly there!<br />
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PRESS RELEASE</div>
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Budget eBay Bargain hits the Track!</div>
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Wiltshire racer Max
Tyler is tackling one of the toughest motor races in the UK – at the wheel of a
bargain Porsche he bought for £160 on eBay!</div>
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Max, who runs Racewear Ltd selling racing drivers’
clothing worldwide from offices in the Wiltshire village, originally bought the
1980 Porsche 924 as spares but then decided to have a go at building it into a
racing car. It is now entered into the 360 Motor Racing Club’s demanding 6 hour
race at Snetterton in Norfolk on 6<sup>th</sup> May, racing against a variety
of historic racing saloons and sports cars from Mini to Aston Martin.</div>
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“When the car arrived it had a smashed windscreen,
mismatched doors, wouldn’t run properly and smelt like an old Labrador inside”
he says. “But I could see there was potential, and perversely I wanted to prove
that you can take part in quality motor racing for much less money than people
think.”</div>
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The rebuild has taken eighteen months, and now the car is
raring to go next weekend. Max has two co-drivers sharing race costs and has
financed the build of the car personally.</div>
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“From the very beginning I set out to prove that a racing
car is in the reach of everyone so I was determined to build it with money I
had generated outside of the ‘day job’. By the end of the first month, I was in
profit over the original cost by selling parts from the car on eBay and it’s
continued like that! The fact that I can say ‘I’ve got a Porsche’ is an added
bonus, and I do forget to mention it only cost £160!”</div>
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Max is not expecting overall honours but is looking for a
good class position in the race. “It’s not a terribly quick car in absolute
terms, but it’s a big, comfy old beast and if the famous German reliability
sees us driving round and round for six hours we’ll be in with a shout at the
end!” he comments.</div>
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“Project 160 for the 360” as it has been dubbed will make
its race debut next weekend.</div>
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ENDS – 25<sup>th</sup> April 2012</div>
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Notes for editors:</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Further information from Max Tyler, 08452 604104
(day) or 07775 834341 (eve) </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Photographs available</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The 360 MRC Snetterton 6 Hour race is for saloon
and sports cars over 21 years of age and takes place annually at the famous
race circuit in Norfolk, attracting entries from all over the UK</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Randi; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Max Tyler<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Racewear Ltd t/as </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Randi; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">racewear.co.uk</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Randi; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Britain'sonline racewear specialist -
from your desktop to your doorstep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">08452 604104 <a href="mailto:max@racewear.co.uk">max@racewear.co.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Co No 6901214 Clackerbrook Farm, 46 The
Common, Bromham SN15 2JJ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-85001136312714276332011-10-02T20:31:00.000+01:002011-10-02T20:31:29.203+01:00Slow progress..Conscious of the fact I haven't blogged for ages, here's an update:<br />
<br />
1. Car has now progressed from a wreck to a scruffy 924! It starts on the button, runs, I've had the brakes apart and they work, and driven it regularly round the Crescent. We are now ready to test!<br />
<br />
2. Got some drivers champing at the bit to pay some money to are in the 360 next year, which means I'm pretty much committed<br />
<br />
3. Then...turn the car into a racer before the beginning of May!<br />
<br />
I'm quite proud of the progress to dat, now we need to spend some money. Whoops, that's a problem! Fingers crossed for the Lottery over the Winter...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-88588875428983037382011-02-13T17:37:00.002+00:002011-02-13T18:19:23.998+00:00At Last - A Porsche Driver!All together now:<br />
<br />
Oi am a Porsch-e Droiver<br />
Oi droives it round the Crescent<br />
Oi am a Porsch-e Droiver<br />
It is jolly pleasant<br />
Oo-arr oo-arr ay<br />
Oo-arr oo-arr ay<br />
<br />
With apologies to the Wurzels and even more apologies to whoever it was that wrote "Una Paloma Blanca"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5ffTMpqzbNnybDQtC0JSRnv6sTTBVzLR6134bYYTsJ0lk06of46XsNtPftOFeKHx3kuPA_mkmutZ1PHtvaaA3UZM084rDNxukWPj7EfSVswjYwmEna__AP293FowhQ77B_J-tFh1Ikfq/s1600/130220112026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5ffTMpqzbNnybDQtC0JSRnv6sTTBVzLR6134bYYTsJ0lk06of46XsNtPftOFeKHx3kuPA_mkmutZ1PHtvaaA3UZM084rDNxukWPj7EfSVswjYwmEna__AP293FowhQ77B_J-tFh1Ikfq/s200/130220112026.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Whatever, progress of sorts made this weekend with the fitting of the racing seat and trial fit of the belts.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thanks to a bit of wheeler dealing, I've ended up with a reasonable Cobra steel-framed seat and a slider to accomodate short ar-----erm, slightly less tall drivers than me with ease! I've also acquired a couple of brand new Cobra mounting frames which came from a Corsa and drop into the 924 to take the seat, which is far too narrow to fit on the standard seat mounts.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImScO-RpFMTpXVqkaO57kN90E_RZOZvBzgv-MYQuckKnpnYdnXsLPsxz6oPVujLtFf9aetmF1iqn6wcN5QRfe44nI8Z-0bKFvz2OQreUVcxv2k6YQqRgkF7FeNjZIYb1yhh0XKckD77C4/s1600/130220112025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImScO-RpFMTpXVqkaO57kN90E_RZOZvBzgv-MYQuckKnpnYdnXsLPsxz6oPVujLtFf9aetmF1iqn6wcN5QRfe44nI8Z-0bKFvz2OQreUVcxv2k6YQqRgkF7FeNjZIYb1yhh0XKckD77C4/s200/130220112025.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The mounting frames were too tall, so I had them shortened and the seat base is about the height of the standard seat, we can just reach the adjuster over the cross member. Still to do is have the floor strengthened - it flexes where the seat frame is bolted to it! MSA rules call for 3mm plates to be added above and below the floor, so by the time it's been done I'm confident that problem wil go away.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You can see the cage in place in the photos - it's not fitted but I've nowhere else to store it! I switched to a 924 because a Midget was too small for me to be comfortable, it's amazing how little room there is in this...seat goes too far back even for my lanky frame to reach the pedals and steering wheel, but the roof is still pretty close :-)<br />
<br />
Also difficultly close is the handbrake, which is on the right hand side. Under the doorbar. Ah, good job I've got small hands, but I don't think it'll be used in a hurry if the brakes fail at speed!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Belts are only temporarily fitted, have experimented with using the standard rear belt mounting points. It's OK on the outside edge, but I think the inside is too far off a central pull. Shame. I'll have to re-set the mounts into the vertical panel where the rear seat should be. Would like to put them on the horizontal boot floor, but I can't get in there to fit the re-inforcing plates. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The seat goes so far back that not only can I not reach the pedals, but I'm also behind the line of the front seat belt mountings, so we need to make sure I'm far enough forwards that they pull me back properly into the seat. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Takes me back to my old days sharing the Rover SD1 with my dad in Thundersaloons. He was - how shall we say it kindly? - somewhat stouter than me and sat further back with the belts set long to go round his corpulent frame. When I got in, the mechanics slid the seat forwards until I squealed, at which point the belts were tight enough! Happy days..... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And back to my somewhat corny rendition of "I am a cider drinker"...after I got the seat fixed in place I fired the car up and drove it round The Crescent. Rear brakes still binding, but they need a rebuild anyway, car feels really soggy but it could be that soft rear tyre, and it's heavy on the steering, can't put a tiny wheel on...BUT I'M A PORSCHE DRIVER!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Running on 4 - check!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Overheating - no!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Just one question...do all 924s have a long, clunky throw on the gear lever? Answers please to max-at-midgetmax-dot-com</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The 360 gets closer, and there are a couple of drivers on the horizon to share with me. Fingers crossed!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-51079355168877904442011-01-29T08:51:00.000+00:002011-01-29T08:51:18.388+00:00Progress?Made some real progress last weekend, with the final removal of all the sound deadening in the driver and passenger area. This was too well stuck down for cold chipping, so used the blowtorch...only a couple of little fires, and it only took a couple of days for the toxic fumes to clear from my lungs! Still, a definite move forwards, and makes the car look better.<br />
<br />
This week I have sourced the replacement screen, possibly even a fitter, and arranged for the cage to be fitted. The seat has arrived, I'm waiting for the slider to turn up, and then will be looking at fitting the belts and then .... I think we'll be going testing! Just to check it runs properly and nothing falls off, before back to the drive and prepare for spraying. Also lined up some Challenge spec suspension, but that may wait until after the 360.<br />
<br />
If it happens that is! I've no doubt the car will be ready but there's no drivers yet, they've all fallen by the wayside. Frustrating, it is a pretty cheap event with a load of track time for about the cost of two standard events, but it falls awkwardly between Easter and May Day. At this rate I'll be all dressed up with no place to go. May even be reduced to mechanic work on the MGDavid 924 which will be frustrating.<br />
<br />
So if anyone reading this has a National B licence or higher, fancies a drive in a six hour race, and has some money (£600 - £800 is the budgeted cost) please contact me max-at-midgetmax-dot-com!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-35340381374869123212011-01-19T21:01:00.003+00:002011-01-19T23:27:16.600+00:00Slowed to a crawl?<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1005477663"></span><span id="goog_1005477664"></span>After the excitement of the Christmas break, work has slowed to a crawl as the combination of dark evenings and weekend working have eroded time available to work on the car.<br />
<br />
Successes are limited to:<br />
<br />
- chipped off the sound deadening from the driver's and passenger's footwells. Still got the seat spaces to do plus the rear deck<br />
- temporary build of the roll cage (easier to store!) awaiting someone to weld the mounting plates into the shell<br />
- finished stripping out the interior and repaired the "924 pox" in the battery tray - car now (mostly!) watertight<br />
- gradually sourcing bits, but now need to find the cash to buy them and the time to fit them! Managed to get hold of a full 924 Challenge suspension kit secondhand :-)<br />
- looking for co-drivers to share the entry costs! Castle Combe Saloon Car Championship racer Nick Clark has signed up, and fellow racer Wayne "Waz Pablo" Osborne is taking a break from his pest control business to engineer the attempt, so we're pretty committed now! Still two drives available, check out the driver/sponsor proposal <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9bbCfKsc3YQZTI4ZDU3YjAtMTUwZi00YjAwLTk1NDEtOTUwYzdiMjA1MWE1&hl=en_GB&authkey=CL3V84UP" target="0"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>.<br />
<br />
Chipping off the sound deadening has been a hard job. Wood chisel, large hammer and plenty of elbow grease....these Germans know how to build a solid car! If it had been a 70s MG I would be through the floor by now......<br />
<br />
Hoping to spend some more time on it soon, but work, road car problems and Alex's kart mean time is at a premium. Wish me luck!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-56839453687433241152010-12-12T18:58:00.002+00:002010-12-12T19:03:07.355+00:00Two steps forwards, one step back...Well, it's not been that bad I suppose but sometimes it does feel like two steps forwards and one step back!<br />
<br />
What with Alex's karting, work and general "stuff" about the house, I didn't get out to work on Project 160 until mid-November. And then the early snow and desperately low temperatures meant that Driveway Motors didn't get much done! But looking at it now in mid December, the car is stripped out, the roll cage is due to arrive tomorrow and the cut out/ignition system has been rewired to comply with MSA rules. <br />
<br />
I' looking forward to the cage arriving, even though to finance it I had to wave goodbye to my trusty trailer. Bit of a sad moment, we've done a lot of miles together, but the trailer didn't take the Porker that well anyway, so it had to go -and I couldn't afford the cage without selling it!<br />
<br />
So that's several steps forward, but what about the steps back? <br />
<br />
Step 1 - in the extreme cold I snapped off the driver's door handle. Quick cri de couer on the porsche924.co.uk forum and one was found for a really good price. Fitted it in the extreme cold last week, really difficult to adjust with numb fingers and now the door opens easier than ever. Re-sult! Out of desperation comes...well I dunno really but something good I suppose.<br />
<br />
Step 2 - stripping out excess wiring, it was meant to be just the remote micro switches, but all of a sudden it won't start. You idiot! Got a bit careless with the wire clippers did you? Out comes the Haynes, a bit of testing tracks it down to a failed fuel relay and not anything I'd done. Phew. Wow! Aren't they expensive? Hit the 924 forum again and within a couple of hours I've found a guaranteed one for less than half price. Thanks Chancenellie! <br />
<br />
So as we approach Christmas and a few days off work, where are we? Will try to get the cage in over the break. Have disabled the steering lock as per MSA rules, remote switch panel and starter button fitted (it looks s-o-o cool), isolator switch in place, just waiting for some big cables for the battery earth strap and it'll be fully race legal. Once cage is fitted I need seat and FIA extinguisher and we're ready to test! Looking for FIA spec kit so I can race in Europe, so it's a bit more expensive.<br />
<br />
Speaking of the finances, where are we? Well, everything has been paid for so far by a bit of horse trading and eBay which mean Project 160 has still only cost - well £160 which can't be bad. Spares from the car, swapsies, and flogging the trailer have even raised enough money to start building up a modest spares package. Major purchases now are seat and extinguisher (on Santa's list), windscreen and respray. The decision has been made to save money by not modifying the car at all, even down to pop up headlights and electric windows...should garner some interest anyway. <br />
<br />
Once we've got it running and a basic test, I'll think about stuff for the 360 like fuelling kit and possibly a few mods to the car, although I'm planning to make places through famed German reliability rather than speed. There are a couple of people in the frame for sharing the drive and costs it actually looks like we'll make it in some form or other :-)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-73381282490840128422010-10-21T07:18:00.001+01:002010-10-21T07:19:40.815+01:00This is the 360!Quick post to show what it is I'm trying to build the car for. If you're quick you can see me standing in the pit lane, but there's loads of pics of the racewear.co.uk racing with Team Mont Blanc MG Montego :-)<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ru2pkLx8gA4?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ru2pkLx8gA4?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Progress at the moment? Slow, gradually stripping the interior. BUT - the door opens and shuts properly now! Amazing what a difference that makes to it being a viable car. Had a few thoughts on re-fuelling system, need to run them past a scrutineer before going too far. <br />
<br />
It's been slow, been spending time working on Alex's kart as well. Hoping he can test that next week, preparatory to first race meeting in early December. Fingers crossed!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-22703133860670303042010-10-06T19:03:00.000+01:002010-10-06T19:03:38.302+01:00Injecting a bit of excitementNext milestone...running on 4 cylinders!<br />
<br />
I left the car sounding definitely 3-ish, thought it was a plug lead. Hit eBay - replacement coil 99p :-) replacement dizzy with new cap and leads (leads alone range from £40 - £80 on fleabay) just £5.00 :-) Just to be on the safe side I've bought another one for a mighty £14.99.<br />
<br />
Quiet at work today, so I take a POETS. Change leads, coil, cap. New plugs (bit of a bummer, had to pay full price for those at the local motor factors), jump in full of anticipation......nothing. Battery dud. Blast. Seems like the alternator isn't alternating. Disappointment. Stick it on charge and have a cup of tea.<br />
<br />
Finally it turns over and drags itself into life...3 cylinders. Blast again! Realise I've left a lead off (prat), switch off, refit lead, wait for battery to charge. 3 cylinders. Bugger. Actually it must have been running on two previously, it definitely sounds better than it did before I fixed the electrics.<br />
<br />
More tea. Haynes manual. There's a good spark, there's good compression, it must be fuel. Wow, it's easy to test an injector, they're only a push-fit. Hang on, why mess around with testing, what's that big boxy thing with pipey bits coming off it that was in the boot? A spare injection unit <em>with injectors</em>.<br />
<br />
11mm spanner, swap the pipes, push the injector in the hole, turn the key...3 cylinders...wait...no FOUR! IT'S RUNNING ON FOUR! Woo-hoo!<br />
<br />
Remember this date. Wednesday 6th October 2010 - Project 160 is definitely up-and-running. Next stop the 360! Well, perhaps not next stop, but we're definitely closer.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-73785326037279311422010-09-28T14:44:00.001+01:002010-09-28T14:48:11.306+01:00Moving On<em>We left the story with our hero contemplating the meaning of life, the universe and non-starting Porsches while going about his daily business and wondering if the phrase "bitten off more than he can chew" is a truism...</em><br />
<br />
A couple of days after I got the car home, I was prodding around under the bonnet and it was running of sorts, then it stopped. No more go. I carefully shut the door (hah! "Slammed" maybe a better word!) and worked out how to start flogging bits off it...<br />
<br />
Now the Racewear Roadshow season was winding down, and I finally got to spend a day on the 924. In the interim I'd acquired a Haynes manual, and under the heading "What to do if it won't start" was a full page of "test this, test that, mumble, mumble, resistances, mumble mumble". Far too complicated for me! All I knew was that there was no spark, so it was back to basics with the only thing I could do: fit a new coil out of my Midget spares box. Lo and behold - it started! Can't say it roared into life, it was still only running on 3, but it sounded a lot better. Revitalised, I swung myself underneath the trailer to see what it was like...hmm, thought these early 924s were supposed to rust? This one hasn't, compared to a Midget it's like new!<br />
<br />
Managed to prise open the back to see what treasure it contained...spare front seats, spare back seat, loads of goodies. Quick photo later and the back seat is on fleaBay and...at last! A little bit of luck. The email I received was quite clear "If you've got the front seats they're worth money to VW camper van drivers." It exhorted me to join the Porsche 924 Owners' Club which was a snip at £15...so I did, and learned more from the Forum in one evening than I already knew about the cars (OK, not hard!)<br />
<br />
Now the car was empty, running on nearly 4 cylinders, it was the moment of truth, time to get the car off the trailer. Start it up, it was such a tight fit I didn't need to steer, but all of a sudden there we were! Sat on the road in a Porsche - well it was rude not to....<br />
<br />
...3 laps of the Crescent later and:<br />
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I'M A PORSCHE DRIVER<br />
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Woo hoo.<br />
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Get the front seats on fleabay. And some other bits - turns out that funny box thingy was an original tunnel-mounted cassette box, worth £46 to a chap in Cyprus. Before I knew it, I'd made a profit on the car...now THAT'S the way to go racing :-)<br />
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Oh, the engine's got good compression, doesn't leak oil and I've tracked the mis-fire down to a duff plug lead. There's a new coil and set of leads on the "must buy" list, but we're good to go - Project 160 for the 360 is up-and-running! And you know what? Judging by the queue of people banging on my door there's a lot of interest in sharing the car. At this rate I'll be out of a drive but in profit :-)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210501943196759868.post-61793324834675398512010-09-27T16:46:00.000+01:002010-09-27T17:08:27.410+01:00Let's begin!It started at the inaugural 360MRC 6 Hour Race at Snetterton in August 2010. I was sharing a drive in the Team Mont Blanc MG Montego, and man was it fun! This car was basically standard, it cost a pittance to build, and at the end it was running strongly enough to win the up to 2-litre class! I'd raced the Monty in a sprint race at Silverstone, and while it was fun there was no hint that the car would be suitable for a 6 hour race. But boy did it deliver :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83h7i45_K2MjLn81qOA2YyU2P3CBBPQZ7opossug_MAMQsmuKAxSb5C7gv5XI8MAVpIpTmucv5_DFwQETHbjVL1oZaczINmhIMJfyLq0xUWI_estMztvZ9BWAEqb48kBktMkXpS042wOr/s1600/IMG_2161wb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83h7i45_K2MjLn81qOA2YyU2P3CBBPQZ7opossug_MAMQsmuKAxSb5C7gv5XI8MAVpIpTmucv5_DFwQETHbjVL1oZaczINmhIMJfyLq0xUWI_estMztvZ9BWAEqb48kBktMkXpS042wOr/s320/IMG_2161wb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For 2011 there was going to be no repeat, because the Monty was up for sale - and I love endurance racing so I needed to find something to build.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Actually, it started a long time before August 2010, probably in 1981 when I first entered a sprint in an MG Midget. Over the years I'd developed the car - it was a totally original, "only one new head and two new handles" - to 1380cc spec running in the FISC championship around Europe: Nordschleife, Spa, Dijon, Zandvoort, culminating at Monza in 2007. Check out the video:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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Early 2010 for various reasons I sold the Midget, so by summer I was champing at the bit looking for a replacement. The criteria were simple: RWD, 2-litre or more, front engined, preferably pre-'81 to qualify for the Eifelrennen at the Nordschleife, and now it had to be a GT or saloon car for "The 360". I had already considered and discarded MGBGT (been there, done that), Rover SD1 (likewise, also too hard to find) and Capri (too expensive) when the idea of Porsche 924 popped into my mind. <br />
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Two days and a couple of beers later I hit eBay. Another couple of beers later and one was mine, for the princely sum of £160 - and "Project 160 for the 360" was born! When I sobered up I reflected on what I'd done: I know nothing about 924s, ANY Porsche for £160 is bound to be a shed, and how the hell would it fit on my MG Midget-sized trailer to get it back from Maidstone to Wiltshire?<br />
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Thanks to the timely intervention of long time racing buddy and all-round good egg MG David, owner of the now-famous Montego, the car came back to Wokingham where we had to load it onto my ever-so-slightly-undersized trailer. Running on, ooh, must have been two cylinders and with binding brakes, my first EVER drive of a Porsche between the trailers was traumatic. With the Porker now jammed onto the trailer I set off on the 100-mile homeward drive. First 924 problem exhibited itself as soon as we left the 30mph limit...with the car's 50/50 balance there was no weight on the tow hitch so above 38mph the trailer swayed. Alarmingly.<br />
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Discretion was the better part of valour, we came off the M4 after one junction. I stopped and tried to adjust the car on the trailer. It was jammed so tight I had to use the ratchet on a tie down strap like a winch to pull it forwards - still, it was never going to fall off, was it!<br />
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It was better, we could now tow at 50mph before the dreaded sway so a peaceful, if slow, drive back to Devizes ensued. We crawled into bed at midnight, and in the morning the true horror of what I'd done began to sink in...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4ahdcwgVpiSGO8yamWbGFqiGmVnjUPKyJUEaG9gB-EVNGQ-eXI0gdn_9bYBHHZw4N3eH69zHrOqHZEWPuaCENGjIwsu77RAsIH_XGc0wzilwB2LhQmebK5Cxu4FKN5tCkvtP6_kTpStF/s1600/ABCD0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4ahdcwgVpiSGO8yamWbGFqiGmVnjUPKyJUEaG9gB-EVNGQ-eXI0gdn_9bYBHHZw4N3eH69zHrOqHZEWPuaCENGjIwsu77RAsIH_XGc0wzilwB2LhQmebK5Cxu4FKN5tCkvtP6_kTpStF/s320/ABCD0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It didn't run, it had a brown driver's door which didn't open properly, it had been over-sprayed in matt black, it had a smashed windscreen where the last owner had clashed with a gypsy family, the inside smelt like a wet labrador...and the bloody thing was stuck on my trailer. <br />
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I hadn't got any time for a few weeks, I was working every weekend on the <a href="http://www.racewear.co.uk/roadshow.asp" target="0">Racewear Roadshow</a>, so I sighed and left the car in the drive until I next got a few days off...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668157556241226933noreply@blogger.com1