Whisking the head off again after removal at Silverstone to found out what the problem was 9obviously bent exhaust valve) I was praying that it had not trashed the head. I couldn't face having to do another race head so soon. Fortunately it had just dinged the edge of the seat in the head slightly – so a new valve, guide re-ream, and seat 'trim' got thing sorted.
With all the bits re-applied I took the car back down to genial Pete at Alwyn Kershaw's.... Read more
After a monumentally busy start to the year work-wise, I made a concerted effort to get the car sorted to get back out there and have some fun. My plans for stripping the car back to the shell and re-checking all the suspension alignment starting from the shell and subframes went to hell in a hand cart, so it was a case of building an engine and doing my best to re-sort the suspension geometry to try and suss this weird and inconsistent handling .... Read more
Hawcrofts claim debut class success in HGTCC
Brothers Rich and Don Hawcroft achieved a series of firsts during the second round of the Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge at Donington Park last weekend (May 20/21).
Having joined the HGTCC this season in their 1071cc Mini Cooper, the brothers from Hull are racing the least... Read more
TORQ BAR CHALLENGE - 24th October 2005
Well known rally navigator and purveyor of energy bars, Paul Robinson, asked me at the end of the Targa if I would make my car available for a track test day , to compare a few of the most successful Historic Rally cars in a safe and fast environment i.e. Bruntingthorpe.
I readily agreed and to add spice the event was to be covered Track and race magazine. Read more
Conister Trust Historic Manx Rally - 28th to 30th July 2005
As this would be our first visit to the island, Anthony and I decided to take advantage of the two pre-event recce days on the preceding weekend, flying out from Birmingham and doing the Stage recce in a hired 1.4 Seat Leon
The weather was sunny and dry on the Saturday and Sunday and over a busy two days... Read more
After a major engine rebuild carried out by MED in Leicester designed to give a stronger bottom end with a fully specified crankshaft and their special high torque camshaft (STR 930) to make the car more driveable.
The S rods were smoothed, polished and whole assembly balanced giving a very usable power band from 3000 to 7000, but capable of revving to 8000 safely. Read more