Classic Alfa Forums

Have I read it wrong?timetable on barc website says CTCRC races at Silverstone 28/29 March are on both days.I'm sure I read both our races were on the Saturday? does anybody know.I have registered in Class X invitation pre-83.
Ian

Hi Ian , read it as both days, qual and race sat and race 2 sun.

I need to get my rear end in gear and enter tomorrow.

I'm going in class x

I have submitted my entry tonight to the BARC, I've opted for the weekend membership for this one as some bad planning at work and home now means I cannot make it to Mallory or Donnington......gutted

I'm still aiming to come to a few more, hopefully Brands and Snetterton, but I've also been in touch with the HSCC regarding the invitation class in the 70's road sports series, and the good news is that they will allow my Sprint to run with them so I am going to enter some of those meetings also.

Have we all entered? I got my slip from the BARC acknowledging my entry this week so all hopefully ok.

Hi All,

We have the 1.7 Sprint and 1.5SC registered for Silverstone in pre 83 class X.
The Trofeo will not be there as it needs the gearbox rebuilding to get the ratios right.

All the best,
Simon.

I should make it four Suds as I entered last week pre-83 class X 1.7 Sud Ti,can't wait!!

Bad news Comrades, we seem have eaten a crank, I won't make it to Siverstone after all....

Onwards and upwards....

Come on Tim, I was only doing Silverstone cos you were going & there would be 5 Suds etc.now down to three
Have you got a crank??.......still two weeks to go.....

Hi Ian, yep bad news and sorry. I cant get back into the garage to take another look until Thursday night, but it looks likley to have destoyed the rods also, one of the caps we checked was very badly damaged and we didnt get time to check the rod end, or the rest of them.

I've never seen a situaion like it before, I'd have expected to see a rod through the block before now based on what we think has happenned.

Tomorrow will tell for sure, but its looking terminal.

Tim

Hi Tim,sorry to hear that,yes sounds like crank & rods (depending on how rest of end caps come off!)
Do you have a spare engine you could stick in while this one is repaired?Failing that are you coming to watch.

Hi Tim, Sorry to hear about your crank problem.

Let me know if there's anything that I can do to help. (Extra pair of hands to assist with an engine replacement for instance)

Veesix75 wrote:Hi Ian, yep bad news and sorry. I cant get back into the garage to take another look until Thursday night, but it looks likley to have destoyed the rods also, one of the caps we checked was very badly damaged and we didnt get time to check the rod end, or the rest of them.

I've never seen a situaion like it before, I'd have expected to see a rod through the block before now based on what we think has happenned.

Tomorrow will tell for sure, but its looking terminal.

Tim

Just seen this post Tim. Really sorry to hear that.
When was the last time the engine was racing/running?
Did you have the bottom end opened up to change the big end bearings and big end bolts?

All the best,
Simon

Simon, the car last ran at Oulton in anger, and we have run it twice this year in the garage , it sounds and runs fine even when the revs are run up.

However, all 4 rods have spun bearings.

It's clearly done it when racing, but by some miracle each half has spun in unison, hence it didn't blow to pieces. I can't tell yet how bad the crank is damaged, one shell set looks to have slipped sideways.

I don't have spares or time to sort it out, and the spare engines I have all need stripping and checking, shells etc. so I'm not risking another engine without refreshing it first.

A few lessons learned on this one, one being not to leave prep work to the last minute among a few other fundamental ones.

On the bright side, no head damage, pistons and block look good so it looks like rods and crank. I will either source 1500 rods and crank, or will have a think about putting the heads on a 1700 block I have in storage that had a bore and +4 Pistons a while back.

Doubly p!ssed off, just seen that next weeks race will be on motors TV...

Hi Tim,
It's down to the wire for prep for me too on the 1.5SC.
Fire extinguisher has not turned up. It goes for a rolling road tune tomorrow. Today the brake system dumped all the fluid? Seems to be the RH front calliper? Better now than on race day.
There will be some late nights this week.
Yesterday I had the sump off to check the big end bearings and change the big end bolts to ARP after your report.
Good luck with the engine build.
Brgds
Simon

Worst case on the extinguisher, Grand Prix Racewear sell them and the shop atSilverstone should be open Saturday.

A Hand held would suffice as a last resort.

Im hoping to come down on Saturday.

The front inboard calipers can sometimes leak from the adjuster on the side, the one that is an Allen key centre with the lock nut, especially if wound out too far when fitting new pads.

Hi Tim,
Thanks for that. I think you are right. There is no sign of any fluid leakage from anywhere except the outer adjuster which is moist.
See you on Saturday.
Brgds,
Simon

Good luck to those at Silverstone over the weekend - keep us updated!

Hi Brian,
Thanks for that. All three Suds had some fun in the race today. It's Ian, Malcolm and then me at the back of the grid tomorrow.
I have been moaning about my engine being flat but it got on song in the race today for a few laps and showed a lot of promise. We found some metal in the distributor? Hoping that the engine will perform now for tomorrow. Malcolm and I have never raced at Silverstone so we are gradually working on going into various sections faster and in the best way.
Looking forward to it.
All the best,
Simon

Hi Simon,

Glad you got a finish despite your engine issue. On the National circuit Copse is always quicker than it feels it should be - there's plenty of run off there too if you need it! Try and carry as much speed through as possible as it leads to the run to Maggots/Becketts. That turn is also important for the run down the Brooklands Straight - unwind the lock as soon as you can so you can get the power down with minimal steering angle - there's lots of time to be found there due to the long straight. They are the two main points on the National circuit that carry major benefits - lesser time to be gained elsewhere so initially concentrate on the sections that offer the biggest gains. Good luck!

Hope it stays dry for you - the forecast up here in Cheshire is suggesting canoes will be required!

Hi Bryan,
Thanks for the advice. Now do I tell Malcolm?
We were hoping for it to be damp as the really powerful Jags, Capris and Escorts struggle around the bends.
I will let you know how we get on.
Off to study the track layout.
All the best,
Simon

I went to Silverstone to watch yesterday, met Keith (kegsti) , it was a great day of racing, even though Silverstone isn't the best for spectators we really enjoyed it.

Ian, Malcolm and Simon will be live on Motors TV today, starts at 1pm, pre 83 race at about 3pm.

It was a good race to watch, all 3 suds stayed within reach of each other and well done Malcolm for getting his lap time into 1:14's first time racing at Silverstone - it was great to watch, but gutted I wasn't racing as we would all have been similar times and grouped together.

The pre 83 was combined with pre 93 and the grid had everything from a e36 m3, 3 litre Capri, jag xjs, Firenza , dolomite, mk1 escorts and the two most bonkers racers, jag xj12 and the P6 Rover v8 - both of which are very quick and look / sound great.

If you have motors TV, it will be well worth watching, I'm hoping for a dry race for everyone!

You beat me to it Tim !
As said, we got to see some action and today is on the tv from 1 o'clock on Motors tv.
Good mix of cars through the day and that wind was keen.
Great to meet Tim and Ian and Malcom and pleased Simon got the car running better.

Here are a few pics for you.

Here are a few of the other cars on the day.

Hi Guys,
We had a great time today. Malcolm, Ian and I are all looking forward to Donnington.
These are the results:

My son has promised to produce a fun video clip. I will put a link up.
Thanks to Nick at AROC for his steadfast support.
Brgds
Simon
PS: my excuse is the car is still not running right. It will be fixed for Donnington without fail.
Still had a lot of fun.

Glad you had a good second day Simon, watched you on tv this time. You had a good view of the blue BMW going off didn't you?
Your brother is a dark horse, he was on a flyer, top man Malcolm.

Malcolm did really well. He was overhauling all sorts of cars in the bends. Jags, a Firenza and on the last bend an Escort.
The in car video is great.
Brgds
Simon

Hi Guys,
Here is a video my son put together. It's a bit of fun:

https://vimeo.com/123571589

Brgds,
Simon

great video, very snazzy!

and i could watch that kind of Sud action all day long!


well done all

Very good Simon, good choice of music.

I watched on TV, it looked very slippery.

Well done to all 3 of you.