The orange positives just wouldn't seem to upload but it looks very nice in blue don't you think?
Friday, September 16, 2011
McArlus Cars - 31.
Despite the atrocious weather last Friday and Saturday, the Winton trip was still on.
Forecast for Benalla was pretty cold, but the chance of rain was quite low, far better than the weather that Melbourne received.
I headed off with Dad and Rick Dathan, who I think was a little disappointed in finding out that the picture of the Aston tow car was not 100% accurate, it was a picture I couldn’t resist taking though!
On arrival we secured a garage space and set about unloading. Incidentally Winton has had some work done there, with new garages, drivers’ briefing rooms and more bitumen areas, far more civilized than it has been in the past.
The Friday is an open test day, pay your money and drive till you run out of fuel basically, and is divided into roughly ½ hour sessions for open wheel cars, sedans and motorbikes. I ran with the sedans, which was the largest group (providing the most passing and the best option of directly comparing with other cars).
Initially I was fairly nervous and very conscious of listening for strange noises or any sign of problems, including the chain that had let go at Calder. Each session though, confidence grew, and the car was checked for any signs of failure or problems, of which none seemed to be appearing.
Only concern was that after about 20 minutes the water and oil temperatures would start to creep up, although a couple of slow down laps soon fixed that. I may have to investigate a fan on the radiator, since as it is significantly larger than the yellow cars’, it doesn’t seem to be getting enough airflow to it.
After four successful runs and about 30 litres of fuel gone, it was time to leave, check into the motel, and the pub for tea.
Saturday started well enough again.
With a full field of 115 cars competing, the car breezed through scutineering and then a quick practice of 4 laps.
I was now ready for my first competitive run in nearly 2 years!
The AASA Sprint Series, in which I compete uses a system of timing your best standing and best flying laps , the aggregate of which is your time for the day, and the lowest time of course being the winner.
I lined up against another competitor, John who I competed with 2 years ago I each of the 4 runs. He is the red clubman with the full front spoiler in the photos, and all day we had a great dice, with him ultimately coming off the better in the end.
I had a sinking feeling in the first run. When braking and when changing down gears I could suddenly start to hear the bang of the chain as it reverses the way it loads, which is often a sign that it is becoming too slack. Sure enough on the 3rd lap the chain let go again and I coasted to a lonely halt.
Once returned to the pits, the rear body of the car was stripped and the chain removed, fortunately again with no other damage.
By this time Paul Smith had arrived as well, so there were hands everywhere as the “pit crew” swung into action and readied the car. I decided to replace the “new” chain with a second hand one that I had spare, as I had lost confidence in the quality of the new chain.
When the joining links on the replacement chain were connected, it was immediately apparent that they were a lot more difficult to connect than the “new” chain, which reinforced my concerns on it’s’ quality.
The chain was readjusted and the car put back together for the next run, the whole process of which is much easier with a couple of extra pairs of hands assisting.
The car managed to run trouble free for the rest of the day, and as each session progressed I managed to stay closer and closer with Johns car, eventually managing to get past on the last run, though to be fair it was colder and his slicks were really starting to struggle to retain heat, but I’ll take it anyway! I seemed to have the advantage under brakes and through the sweeper and around onto the old straight, but coming out of the corners he seemed to have a little more initial drive. Something to work on!
So how were the times?
My best standing lap was 1.45.223 and my best flying was 1.38.918, done on the last lap of the day, for an aggregate of 3.24.140.
John’s best standing was 1.44.289 and best flying was 1.38.184, for an aggregate of 3.22.473.
Of the 115 cars competing, I had the only engine of less than 1000cc, with a “Harry Potter” Anglia next at 1300cc and then John with his 1500cc clubman.
My times gave me a second place in the clubman class and 12th overall.
Despite my time being slower than my best in the yellow car I was very happy.
In the cold conditions, the clubman cars often seem to suffer more than the others through a lack of grip, so although I was a little slower, relative to the other cars in the class I was very happy with my position for a first competitive run.
The car received a lot of positive comments and interest, with many people wanting to know what it was, and what is in it. By all reports it looked and sounded great on the track, and the body modifications and windscreen have done wonders in disguising the full size driver in a ¾ scale car.
Anyone want to buy the prototype yellow car?
Feel free to make an offer!
There are a few little maintenance items to attend to, but nothing major, so it’s just a matter of a good clean, and touching up the stone chips!
Thanks to Nev for the photos, any observations or constructive criticism, would be most welcome
Rick managed to get quite a lot of good video that I am trying to get onto you tube, so I’ll keep you posted on that.
Can’t wait for MSCA Calder Saturday 5th November!
Regards
Simon
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Zs at Tanunda yesterday.
Michael McKelliget/Robin Evans (Qld) 1974 260Z
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Targa Classic Adelaide street party.
Just to let you know that a table has been booked at Stanleys, on the footpath for the benefit of Bolwell people and other friends on Friday night. Starting time sevenish.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
B8/37 hits the road.
Just found a pile of old newspaper clippings. Here's the first couple. This was after Keith and Daryl finished their first Nagari. Both The News and The Advertiser published comprehensive road tests of this car but these were sweeteners when it first hit the road.
6-hours in the early 70s.
These are a few pictures I've picked out and scanned from one of Bernie's proof sheets. He had come over to Calder with the rest of the club to help with our Bolwell SA team and banged off the odd roll of film. This may well have inspired him as he went home and entered the next MSCA sprint at AIR and the rest is history.
Stratton on the front straight.
The Willmott Mark 7.
and a bit further down the straight.
Overtaking a Mini.
John Szabo in the BCCA Victorian team.
Murray battling it out with a GT6.
Ken on the dummy grid.
MW with a couple of TRs.
Admittedly we had a clubman in our team but in those days they were the exception rather than the rule. Now there are hords of them, at Mallala 6-hours anyway.
Another shot of MW.
and another shot of KS on the dummy grid.
Travelling over to Melbourne from Adelaide on the Friday night after work was as much fun as the race itself almost, with hordes of Bolwells, MGs, Big Healeys, Sprites, TRs and the odd SP250 rushing through the night, meeting up at the various roadhouses along the way (and trying to avoid the notorious cop at Horsham).
Travelling over to Melbourne from Adelaide on the Friday night after work was as much fun as the race itself almost, with hordes of Bolwells, MGs, Big Healeys, Sprites, TRs and the odd SP250 rushing through the night, meeting up at the various roadhouses along the way (and trying to avoid the notorious cop at Horsham).
Friday, September 9, 2011
Greetings from Copenhagen.
Hi John,
Found your blog accidently while googling TVR in Australia and have enjoyed it very much.
I'm originally from Portland Victoria where in the mid 70's there was a ragtop Nagari, yellow if I recall correctly which started my interest in performance cars.
I'm living in Denmark now and have bought a TVR 3000M as a restoration project, the photos from the pier on west coast Denmark.
Keep up the good work.
All the best
Damon Jarrett
Prinsesse Charlottes Gade 38
DK-2200 Copenhagen N
Found your blog accidently while googling TVR in Australia and have enjoyed it very much.
I'm originally from Portland Victoria where in the mid 70's there was a ragtop Nagari, yellow if I recall correctly which started my interest in performance cars.
I'm living in Denmark now and have bought a TVR 3000M as a restoration project, the photos from the pier on west coast Denmark.
Keep up the good work.
All the best
Damon Jarrett
Prinsesse Charlottes Gade 38
DK-2200 Copenhagen N
Tattoos
The photo on yesterday's post was taken outside the packed cathedral at Brockies State Funeral where Neil Crompton delivered that unforgettable eulogy.
Tony Shaw has sent this photo that he took at Bathurst 2006.
Tony Shaw has sent this photo that he took at Bathurst 2006.
URGENT
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