Thruxton Race Circuit UK 13/14th Aug 11, Taking out the 2nd Gen Options

[Al weyman]

I will be competing at the fastest circuit in the UK at the weekend in my 2nd gen car 'Old Bumble' in an historic race (vintage to you guys!). I will try to post some footage up after the event.

[trackbird]

Give 'em hell Al! And post lots of pics when you get home!!!

[tonycook]

Good Luck!

[Al weyman]

Thanks Guys, its a big meeting as the Euro Trucks are on so there will be a big crowd, maybe when they see my tank they may chuck me out with them lol! I will have the incar camera going and will post footage after the event. All I need is no rain!

[Al weyman]

Meeting was great, nice crowd and some interesting racing on, unfortunately I did the classic mistake with the old 2nd gen and changed too many suspension things at once.

I had just swapped the 1.25" Transam front A/R bar for a smaller one under an inch and had yet to try it then I checked the droop on the rear axle and discovered it only went down about an inch and has always been like this but probably not a problem before I had to raise the ride hieght to conform with the Historic class rules I now run with. So i made some extenders up then discovered it would only drop a tad more before the rear A/R bar stopped it so I whipped that off having read thats how a lot of guys run them and also as it would spin at the hint of a wet track.

Anyhow to cut a long story short she wallowed around like a pregnant yellow duck and had too much roll and didnt feel very stable at this high speed track. I got a poor qually position as the gear linkage worked loose on the rebuilt Muncie so was starting near the back. I made up about 5 places though and the car finished strong with all systems working great including my home built engine, gearbox and rear axle, just didnt handle too nice. I will take the third gen out in 3 weeks time with the new Eaton diff and lowered Panhard bar at a fabulous UK circuit called Cadwell Park thats a bit like a mini Nuremberg Ring with its own Seguna corkscrew thrown in for good measure. In the meantime here is some footage from the weekend. I do get the blue Escort in the end and he was docked for straight lining the chichane and gaining a pass on me he should have slowed down and let me retake the place. Oh btw half the field including the Escort were on Toyo 888's as the recession has meant grids are low so in an effort to get grids the club relaxed the regs a bit now most of the cars in front were running in the invitation class so I think I had some moral victory on my old Dunlop Historic tyres!

Footage from Thruxton race circuit UK.

[Al weyman]

Some pictures here mine is the yellow 2nd gen. these pictures confirm I had way way too much roll and this was from the good side wher my bulk counter weights the car! TransAm Roll bars back on this weekend!

PHTC/Grp1 Quali http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa35/Da...ric%20Practice/
PHTC/Grp1 Race http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa35/Da...istoric%20race/

[NJSPEEDER]

Good racing. Give us an update once you get the other anti-roll bar back on the car.

-Tim

[Al weyman]

Will do, I am debating whether to take this or the 3rd gen to the next round at Cadwell Park. I nearly got a free $1000 entry last weekend as a racer dropped out of the Heritage races for pre 77 cars at Brands hatch but they found someone else, that would have been good and I had put the bars back as well.

[NJSPEEDER]

I use a simple equation when I have to choose between two fun options to drive, which one is faster? lol

I would probably take the 2nd gen out again to get a feel of how much more competitive it is with the sway bar change you are planning.

Good luck whichever car you choose to take out.

-Tim

[Al weyman]

Yes I have done sway bar mod now and am thinking along those lines as apart from that she ran well last time out. On the 3rd gen I have done a lot since last time including changing head gaskets as they were seeping due to not retorquing down (lesson learnt there with Felpo comp gaskets, redo when engine stone cold not hot!). New rear bearings and seals, 28 spline Moser axles, Eaton diff, and panhard rod relocation bracket, cut down front springs and car rebalanced and its quite a long way to tow (140miles) mind you I guess for you guys thats concidered a local track! maybe i should get the third gen out for a test day first.

[Al weyman]

The other thing I should add is that the 2nd gen goes in the older pre-74 championship currently and unfortunately merged with the pre 83's the 3rd gen goes in the pre 93's which encompass the all concouring BMW M3's and Sierra Cosworths and other turbo flyers so it will only be a lower midfield runner there or has been pre modifications! However in both championships there is a plus 4000cc class so all the Turbos less the Toyota Supra out with me are in different classes. I would like to get on pace with the V12 Jags and the Supra that are in my class with the 3rd gen. Mind you some of those guys at least the one with the Jag XJ12 Saloon will not bat an eyelid at a $30k engine rebuild where as all mine are home built efforts so to finish on the same lap has some satifaction in my car with a self built engine standing me in sub $5000!