Classic Alfa Forums

How do you deal with that. Can you shave it off ?
That must have given quite a lot of vibration.

Apologies for the delay Keith, i've been on my tri-annual weekend holiday!

Thanks Shrew, doesn't she look pretty?

Great picture Keith.
The tyres on my spare set of wheels are Yokohama Advanta which are higher profile at 215/50/13. I need the lowest profile possible so I will buy another set of 225/45/13 Toyo R888 to use in the dry and replace the worn set with nuts on.
Brgds
Simon

Hi Guys,

In practice on Friday (when it was a cooler day and light traffic), the 1286cc Trofeo lapped Rockingham 1.825sec faster than the CTCRC lap record for group D cars which was set by a 1600cc Fiesta.

Details as follows:
Shame I couldn't get anywhere near that in the race.

Brgds,
Simon

Hi Simon, so is that now officially recognised as the new class record ?

You are really getting fantastic results with the car now. I see you and Malcolm are in Alfa Romeo Driver this issue.

Hi Keith,
I don't think it counts because it was not done in an official race.

It was good of Richard to include a couple of pics of us in action.

Brgds,
Simon

Hi Guys
Cadwell racing on Sunday with qualifying tomorrow.
Practice today and slower than expected with a 1:52.11
Brgds
Simon

Good luck with qualifying tomorrow - I'll be following on TSL. Key to a good time is the uphill left hander up to Charlies - build up to taking it flat if you aren't already. Beyond that, Chris Curve leading into the Gooseneck is another long turn to maximise your speed.

Are you there by yourself or do you have team mates?

Hi Bryan,
In the wide awake club. Thanks for the top tips. I was getting faster steadily but getting distracted towards the end with a lot of noise from the car with the offside front under load in left hand bends. I am suspecting the front right wheel bearing as it has started weeping grease.
Shrew is kindly looking for a hub for me so I can change it at Cadwell. I am on my own for this weekend but it gives me the option of swapping the Trofeo for the SC if needs be.

All mechanical issues are relative. Look what I saw at Leicester East Services with AA men, it's an absolute beauty:
Brgds,
Simon

Morning Simon - hope you at least got some sleep! Fingers crossed for the hub swap - I see from the timetable that you are not out for qualifying until late afternoon so at least you have some time this morning - hopefully you can stick with the Trofeo if you can sort the hub.

I know the Porsche 918 is the least headline grabbing of the three but it I'd prefer one over the McLaren P1 - but a big second choice to the La Ferrari of course

918 for me

Hi guys,
No hubs to be had at short notice.
I packed up and went home this morning. 3hrs each way.
Malcolm kindly helped me do a racing car on trailer change and I brought the SC back to Cadwell. Stuart at the CTCRC kindly gave the heads up to the scrutineers and I was in scrutineering and signing on at 5pm as the pre83 cars were heading to the assembly area.
Pleased with my qualifying time and grid position but I think I can improve, weather permitting.
I have got to put into practice top tips from Ted and Bryan.
The SC has a lot more torque and I am using 3rd as I start the mountain.
I think rain is forecast for tomorrow!
Brgds
Simon

Hi Simon, sorry to hear the Trofeo is out of action.
Hope you and Tim have a good day. Do we hope you have rain?
Good luck.

Hi Keith,
We like rain because it gives the Sud an advantage

Brgds
Simon

us out watching would rather not get soaked

see you guys there in the morning

Good luck with the SC tomorrow Simon - that torque will come in handy if it is wet!

Hi guys
I thought I would try a Malcolm sneaky wet start and it worked!
My plan was to get in front of the Capri on my left and take the inside line. The Dolomite in front of him was napping so I got in front of both. Not for long. Stayed in front of the Capri but the Dolomite and black 2 litre Escort sorted me out quite quickly and I didn't see them again.
Happy enough with my place and looking forward to the dry race later today.
Brgds
Simon

Excuses: it was wet. The steering wheel is on the wrong side. The wheels aren't 8 in wide
This car does things in third my car does in 2nd.
Seriously, the car is great!

Good result Simon - I saw you jump into 4th but then secure 6th - what happened two laps from the end - the 2.11 lap? It's good just to survive Cadwell in the wet! What happened to Tim? Problem in qualifying preventing him from starting?

PS - all valid excuses but no need to excuse a class win and 6th overall

Nice one Simon, hope the go-pro was on

Hi Guys,
The go pro was on.
Had a minor off at hairpin when hassling Mark Chollertons Escort. Went in to that bend too hot at least 3 times - doh. Had to give myself a talking to.
I think the 2:11 was when we came upon back markers.
If I can stick with Mark in the dry (tall order) I will have a very good result.
I have walked all the track to see where I should be going faster and braking later. Hoping it stays dry.
Found a foxy friend on the grass bank opposite the start finish straight. You have to get seriously close with an iPhone to get such a shot. This little cub seemed as though he had no idea what I was. His mum will give him a thick ear when he gets home.
Brgds
Simon

Forgot to say that Tim subscribes to your view Bryan that it's good to survive Cadwell in the wet. Can't argue with that at all.
The common comment from the drivers in parc ferme was thank goodness that there were no shunts or major offs.
His car is fine and we should see him out this afternoon.
Brgds,
Simon

Tims dad spotted this:
Its Rockingham.

Brgds
Simon

Brilliant results Simon, well done!
Glad you made qualifying. 6 hour round trip and little sleep the night before maybe a short letter to Mr RedBull for some sponsored carbon and inconel bits and pieces for the Trofeo ?

Since Tom's setup the SC is a very capable 1598cc and is well and truly on the radar of the 2 and 3 litre Fords.

Thanks for the updates Simon.
Glad you had a good weekend and love the little foxy picture.
I also like that you got on the program cover.

as the guys are probably still travelling home and unloading i'll just say a cracking days racing was had by all after the mornings rain had dried off. the track was truly soaked with a river down the main straight for qualifying in the morning, within an hour it was baking hot save for a 5 min shower mid afternoon
good to meet up with Tim and Simon, a very busy paddock made them hard to find!
must say though Malcolm, he wasn't holding back any with the SC, the commitment through hall bends was superb....kept waiting for him to copy my line though there and graze the Armco, but all in control
Tim had a tough race with starting on the last row but guessing he enjoyed having a good few cars to overtake so most likely a good race for him too

Hi Guys,
Today's Video is downloading to YouTube.
You kind of bare your soul a bit but so what.
Still not committed enough at Coppice and I wince when I see how badly I am tackling Charlie's but the video is a great learning tool.
I also notice how I seem to be farting about on a Sunday drive until the lotus cortina gets me animated. Backed off from a back-marker when there was room on the grass if necessary and let the lotus cortina get in front.
Overall I had a fantastic day and really pleased with my fastest lap time. I am improving!

Great to catch up with you Kev. In the video you do notice how the nose of the car is dragged to the left as power is applied in Hall Bends. It looks like I am going to plough into the bollards on the right and hey presto the nose snaps to the left - the Alfasud is such a great car!

This is the video of the wet race. Maybe a bit boring this one. Start is good. Have an off on the grass and several laps later the black and white flag comes out - it means your behaviour is sub-standard and you will get black flagged if you continue - no idea why this came out?

https://youtu.be/HVu3zqejveY

Here is the second dry race which is much more interesting. That chain saw noise is the Lotus Cortina bearing down on me. Camera mount needs changing as you will see!

https://youtu.be/fiB0zfCGtME

All the best,
Simon

Thanks Simon, as you say you bare your soul when you put it out there.
Do you think you did something wrong with the flagging? I noticed the marshal on the right had a yellow but it wasn't waved, then the one on the left was flying on the bend, the Cortina parked up was by a green (does that mean restriction over?) so what happened?

I did notice on race 2 that at 6:33 it looked like you were being watched from the heavens. Check the clouds, or is it just me?

Always love watching the clips you guys post up. Hoping to get over to Silverstone next month.
Cheers.

Hi Keith,

I think you have sussed it. At 10.15 on the video the marshal steps out of his hut on the right with a yellow flag. There is no way I would have seen him. The camera is a wide angle lens and I am concentrating on missing the bollards in front of me. Then there is a waved yellow on the left side on the bend. This is for the car parked on the grass. Then the green which is the all clear. I think the black and white is for not slowing down enough.

Brgds,
Simon