Classic Alfa Forums

Sud Pics:
Brgds,
Simon

Nice photos Simon. Tim's car looks so clean, low and mean and the SC looks cool loaded up on the bend.

Hi guys,

The Trofeo offside front hub was changed tonight. On full lock round the car park the car sounded much better. Little bit of a tick from the offside rear so I will change those bearings too.
It will be interesting to see what the front hub bearing looks like when removed from the hub.

Brgds
Simon

Hi All!
Currently enjoying this weekend at Silverstone on the GP circuit.
Only qualifying completed today with 2x 20 minute races tomorrow.
Big grids at this meeting, qualifying was close to 60 cars I think with CTCRC pre 66, pre 83, pre 93 and some little Smart four two things.
Everyone behaved themselves and all cars came back to the paddock safely.
Alfa wise it is myself and Duncan in his Sprint. Frank Guest is also there in his GTV6.

Being the GP circuit I was expecting the big engined stuff to utilise all the long Straights and blast past but looking at the times this was not so much the case. I suspect traffic as it was quite busy out there.

Hope to find a couple of secs in the races tomorrow.

Timings:- http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/ ... 521csl.pdf

All the best for now,
Malcolm

Good qualifying. In the pre83's I make it:

Jag 3.6
Escort 2.0
Dolomite 2.0
Escort 2.0
Dolomite 2.0
Capri 3.0
Alfasud 1.6

Good luck to all the Alfa drivers and Chris in the Golf Gti Mk1.

Brgds
Simon

Have a great second day boys.

Hi Malcolm, good result this morning - hope you can catch the Mini's this afternoon

Hi All
Safely back from the Silverstone GP circuit. First time CTCRC have run this circuit.
Qualifying yesterday was quite a busy affair with so many series on the track at the same time. For the two 20 minute races on Sunday we just ran with pre 66's, pre 83's and pre 93's.
Race one was looking like it was going to be interesting as it was shaping up for a fight with a beautiful Mini (Maxted), Jaguar XJ6 (O'Brian)and a Firenza (Fletcher).
The Firenza lost a valve after the first lap and I was being hassled by the Mini and the Mini was being pushed by the Jag.
Suffice to say the Mini had me on one of the slower bends and the Jag had me on one of the straights. After those moves it was a fairly quiet race for me with the huge Ford Falcon only just visible in my rear view mirror on the last lap.

No massive improvement on my qualifying time but very happy with the pace.

Race two was more involved.
From the outset I was being hounded by another Firenza (Hall) and a Golf (Baptiste). I was trying to stay with the Jag but was losing time fighting with the Golf and Firenza. Everything settled after the Firenza retired and I am not sure what happened to the Golf but I was left chasing the Jag and the Falcon. We swapped positions a few times but the Jag was too good on the day. The Ford Falcon was difficult to deal with as he was able to just blast past on the straights.
I ended up shoving the Sud up the inside where the International circuit meets the Wellington straight (tight left hander) and this seemed to unsettle him enough for me to scamper down the Wellington straight without being overtaken. Imagine my joy exiting Luffield to find the chequered flag out!

A great weekend was had with Duncan in the Sprint and Chris in the Golf.
Probably not the best circuit for a Sud/Sprint but when looking at some of the cars in the list I think the Alfa's/Golf held their own. (All timings on TSL)

Hi Brian
The Mini's, well the Maxted one was occasionally within range but I was just not able to do much with him. The other Mini I don't think I saw in either race! My times were not so good in the afternoon race, not sure why but maybe the swapping of places with the Ford Falcon?

Great to meet with Ted and Julian today. Also had a great chat with Chris Snowdon who was there looking after the GTV.

Will try and get some video footage out in the next couple of days. Race two footage will only be rear view as a Marshall was not happy with my old Samsung S3 suckered onto the windscreen

All the best,
Malcolm

Two good finishes for you all - 6/6 Well done!

Sorry Guys!
I have completely messed up all recordings so nothing available to post for the Silverstone weekend.

Hi guys,
I pushed the Trofeo out to address the rear bearings and you could hear a slight tick.
Pleased to say it was as smooth as silk when I pushed it back in. All rear bearings replaced but the nearside outer rear bearing outer race was the problem as follows:
Brgds
Simon

Hi Chaps,

Brands Hatch this coming weekend. I will be taking the Trofeo. The CTCRC races will be recorded for motorsport TV and Racemax on Sky Sports.

Brgds
Simon

Hi Guys,

Tom has kindly replaced the bearing in my front offside hub.
The noise was thought to be the driveshaft rubbing or rubber nuts being picked up by the tyres.
The wheel turned smoothly.
The clue was the seeping grease.
Look what Tom found:
Brgds
Simon

Ouch !!
That looks like it has had some stick .

the way the pitting is spaced it looks like classic wear where the ball bearings are sitting in the same place and corrode away where they touch, glad it's sorted

I think you are right Kev. Just in those four places. Nowhere else.
You would only need microscopic corrosion for the inner race surface to start picking up.
Then as Keith says, the car soaks up a lot of abuse in the corners and you end up with craters. Now I know what that horrible noise was around Rockingham and the reason I didn't take it to Cadwell.

The new bearing is packed with a lovely high temp racing grease. I think I will get the nearside front replaced and then all four wheel bearings are new.

Brgds
Simon

Hi Guys,

Sneaky practice at Brands Hatch today.
The last time I was there I was having misfire problems so could only manage a 1:04
I was hoping to get close to 1:00 so was pleased with a 59.2 in the dry.

For the second session it was raining but the track was damp and not wet which produced a 1:01

Qualifying tomorrow and two races on Sunday.

Brgds
Simon

Love the photo Simon.
Great practice times , have a great weekend., are you all out?

Just me Keith. We are talking about doing the Brits V Italians allcomers race at Festival Italia on 13th August at Brands.
Brgds
Simon

Hi Guys,

Just taken a couple of screen shots from my video of my grass tracking.
Brgds
Simon

Evasive action need eh !
Nice one.

Hi Guys

Happy with my qualification time today.
Could be very wet tomorrow. Alfasud's love to scamper around in the wet. Capris, Firenzas and Camaros hate the wet! So six cars ahead of me on the grid that might struggle.
All the best
Simon

Well done on your qualifying result Simon, I watched your progress on TSL - good to get under the 60 seconds I'm sure you'll also have a good race in the dry but I can understand you wanting it to rain Good luck tomorrow!

Have a good race Simon. You have a really full grid there. Never seen so many Fords and that Camaro will be fun to watch in the wet.
Go-pro and wipers on and give 'em grief.
Good luck.

Hi guys
Very overcast first thing this afternoon but no sign of rain.
Did ok in the first race despite a terrible start.
Evasive action round an escort on the grid with a broken half shaft lost me quite a few places.
Camaro left the circuit at Clark Curve and 3 litre Capri broadside at the bottom of the hill after being bumped. Thankful to get round him safely and then into racing and trying to catch up. The race slowed 1/3 in due to oil on the track but three laps later it was OK.
Sud going really well. Footage handed in to Motors TV.
Will try to improve in the next race at 5pm.
I can see from the footage when I get a corner right and when I don't. More precision and more throttle required.
All the best,
Simon

Hi guys,
Second race, good start. Puncture after lap 1 and retired.
Best regards,
Simon

Hi Simon,

Well done on your Race 1 result - and shame about the puncture in Race 2. That said, as far as retirements go then something like a puncture is preferable to engine/transmission! Looks like you and the Lotus Cortina were similarly paced over a lap but you had the upper hand over a race distance - well clear in the first race.

Good luck for the Italia Festival at Brands if you do that.

Well done Simon, low 59's is a great time and you could break 58's next time, very impressive.

Hi guys,

Good point Bryan. A puncture is nothing compared to some of the cars that get recovered.

I think the car can do a 58 too. The last lap was the best and low 59 and the lines looked good to me on the video but getting on the throttle earlier and braking later would improve things.

Have a look and see what you guys recommend. Just uploading to YouTube but 2 more hours!

Brgds
Simon

Hi Guys,

The on-board video for the first race on Sunday. The start had too much excitement:

https://youtu.be/oc2nud-31DQ


The second race video is very short due to the puncture but a good start:

https://youtu.be/eLBrl9uWM3M

Brgds,
Simon