Practice 1 - its a bit slippery

First Timed run, slap the helmet! still no idea why it bogged down so badly, thought my day was done, 0 to 64 ft time of 4.7s

Second Timed run - little punch of the air, time to change gear then 32.07

Rob

Rob

Fantastic  Hayabusa installation by Force Engineering to my car over the last summer...

  Rob

Well we will be going to the Harewood event on the 5th August, which I can't wait for

Harewood speed Hillclimb

But Roland Preece, one of our class 5 regulars is on the front of their web site in his R400 taking a little excursion through the gravel, i think you can see his eyes just about shut at the time

Rob

Yesterday i posted a how not to drive Shelsley Walsh post

well here is how to do it, Adrian Williams going up in very damp conditions in 35.2

of course for my run it was much wetter, hence being 3.5s slower

rob

First up is Darren Luke (ex caterham r400 / busa) in his new Force a few weeks back, it was all repaired and no permanant damage done!

and then our very own David 'Troublemaker Nelson at Saturdays wet event bouncing off the grass banks after the esses

Even with that little incident david was quicker than me, but i have a pocketfull of excuses why!

Rob

Ken Evans on YouTube going up Loton in 57.06

Link to YouTube - Caterham Seven at Loton Park Hillclimb

apparently only good for 2nd place

Rob

Some in car video from Simon MY51 VEN Rogers from 7tips racing at Pembrey last weekend, I think this must have been his practice run as being a bit too far are on the rumbles caused his inertia cut out switch to cut everything on his timed run...

http://www.7tips.co.uk/7tip_site/_RefFiles/Simon Pembrey 07 Saturday.wmv

I was some 9s behind, but of course run in a different class

Full results from the L7 club class for the entire weekend, I was supposed to do the Sunday but went home in a huff due to only having 1 pratice and 1 timed run on the Saturday.  To be honest I needed the day off...

Rob

Video clip of Myles Daviston going up Forrestburn Hillclimb.  I think this was Myles first ever event :)  and he gets better through every run, and even gets sunny on the last run...

Link to YouTube - MSCC Forrestburn Hillclimb

Rob

thanks to Will Fly over on the se7ens.net for the picture

original picture at http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/476902576_376a151d2a_o.jpg

rob :o

hopefully this will be a doddle, I have checked the car over and hopefully it should pass with no problems, but you never know.  It as at 1:30 so will update when I get back.

The car has been off the road since the MOT ran out last September and it has taken me ages, getting it MOT ready and getting the upgrades on..

Update   - car passed, took a few goes with the emissions but we got there, however it did dump some coolant out of the expansion tank i think, so it looks like that is the first job to rebleed

but at least I should be ok for another year :)

thanks To Geoff at Wingfield Engineering in Winnersh - 01189 781519

rob

There is going to be a stand with cars and club members at the RaceRetro event being held this weekend at Stoneliegh Park, Coventry.  I will be manning the Lotus 7 Sprint Series stand on Sunday from 10am to 2 pm, so come along and say hello :)

Race Retro is billed as Europe's premier winter show for historic motorsport.

"A full weekend of interest and activities, where historic motorsport enthusiasts, competitors, event organisers and the supporting industry, can come together under one roof, in a relaxed atmosphere, to discuss their plans and promote their events and services. This pre-season gathering, at the end of the Winter break, is far away from the pressures of the racing season and allows time and space for all to enjoy this amazing sport in all its disciplines, which has grown so much since the 1980's.

Newcomers to the sport will find all they need to get started, from advice to accessories. The event will showcase all historic disciplines and display racing, rallying, hillclimb, dragsters, trials and short circuit cars plus motorcycles, covering a period from the 1930's to the 1990's, currently in use for historic motorsport."

There are 4 exhibition Halls based on themes

Hall 1 - is the rally area, including some Group B cars :), plus engineering and accesories...

Hall 2 -  (where I will be) is the racing and speed hall,  for event orgainsers and historic competition car manufacturers.  Looking forward to having a wander around this hall and see cars such as the Westfield XI mentioned by Radio7

Hall 3 - motorcycles, with 100 years of the TT

Hall 4 -  Autojumble plus the 2 live arenas with auto-tests etc

Might even go in the Caterham if it passes the MOT Friday, weather permitting...

Might not take the credit card tho as it could take a beating if not careful...

Rob :)

Season almost feels like it has started, first event form and cheque sent off for the Borough 19 sprint at Cadwell Park.

Forms available online (word doc)

Cadwell from the air

It is a long way to go for an event but hopefully worth it and I will get a place.

Rob :)

So not really a surprise (SCMC have been saying it could be the last event at longrcoss for a number of years) but it appears there will be no more motosport at Longcross :(

'Please be advised that it is with regret that I have to advise you of the cancellation of the 2007 Chieftain and Scorpion Sprints at Longcross following the decision of QinetiQ Management to withdraw the venue from ALL motor sport use. 

This decision was confirmed this afternoon at a meeting between myself (as MSA Liaison Officer), Ian Davis (MSA) and the appropriate management at QinetiQ Farnborough.

The withdrawal is also effective immediately for all remaining motor club bookings for rallies (Craven MC / Sutton & Cheam MC / Rally Britannia / Bexley LCC / Oxford MC) and Sprint bookings (London Irish MC).

This situation is subject to an on-going discussion although it should be stressed that QinetiQ have stressed that they are unlikely to reverse their decision.  Should there be any favourable development over the next few days then I will advise you accordingly. I would ask that any queries or communications regarding this matter are directed toward me in the first instance.Barry Guess MSA Liaison Officer'

 Being discussed on Blatchat and also Pistonheads

Longcross from the air

I have always enjoyed the challenge of longcross on the 4 times I have been there over the last couple of years, even though I have visited the scenery once :o  and it is a pity that it seems highly unlikely that we will get to go back.  It was local, long, fast and challenging and usually 3 timed runs where possible.  A number of people queried the safety situation, but when you are sat on the start line safety doesn't seem to come into my head...

On the good side it means some extra time to get the car prepped now before the cadwell event, which i hadn't really planned on doing....

Rob :(

The regulations for the Lotus 7 Club of GB Speed Championship 2007 have now been published (I should know I did it)

2007 regulations

There has been quite a few changes to class structures and scoring to make the championship be more attractive to new competitors :)

So take a look and if you are interested drop me a line and I can supply more details

Rob

So we moved the alternator housing around 180 degrees because my powerspeed exhaust had previously melted the connection  into the alternator, which in itself had caused problems getting the engine to idle, not a big deal and been done before...

however when i went to start the car I got no charging circuit, the car would start fine and run however.  Suspicion focused on the alternator and that either

1. the re-wiring was bodged up

or

2. the alternator didn't like being changed in this manner and as such wouldn't charge

however on closer inspection when we took the alternator off, we found that the bushes that go against the spindle (which must take the current out and charge the circuit) where broken.  It looks like they have suffered some sort of metal fatigue (I am not metallurgist) rather than a clean break.  So I am confident that our change in rotating the casing round was the primary cause.  Of course it could have been a contributing factor...

So hopefully I will be able to get this specific part from a Bosch distributor Part number F 00M 145 206 rather than have to buy a new alternator.

UPDATE - a quick call to Camberly Auto Factors with the part number and I have one coming tomorrow, 37 quid with the dreaded so better than the cost of a new alternator, lets hope it works :)

Rob :)

Last week with some of the top wishbone spherical joint conversion kits...

Which 'converts the normal 'truck' top ball joint for a spherical joint.'

The benefits of this being

1. More accurate control of upright

2. Increased steering response and reduced effort

3. Easier and more accurate camber adjustment

To be honest I am not sure I will notice 1 or 2, but as will be using a tyre that really hasn't had much experience of setup for a caterham in hill climbing (Kumho V70A in soft all round), I am suspecting that minor adjustments to the front camber could be needed, but then again...

Great service as always from freestyle, even changing my order at the last minute :o  I ususally get Gary May to setup my car and probably with the new suspension and tyres will take the car to him for a fine tune...

Just gotta fit them now....

Rob :)