Grahame W

Ian Not much I can add to all the postings which cover all of our thoughts other than thank goodness you are OK and hope to see you back fit, and raring to go as soon as is feasible Grahame

Robin Firstly hope you are enjoying your years sabatical, at this rate beginning to wish I had joined you. Head and 12 valves was all that remained, head had a small mark on one cylinder that could be plannished out, but advice was to reuse especially as it had DVA's expertise on the ports. Rest rebuilt as before forged pistons etc. nothing trick. I did originally ask for a new engine that was proven to be able to win in class 3, so they said what I needed was an R300 engine.............. Mmmmmmmmm Best Wishes

Well I can barely credit it but 12.01 today and e mail arrives to say engine in, road tested and ready for collection, and as an aside they had refreshed the gearbox whilst it was out. Macmillan Motorsport just saved my bacon. All I can do is reiterate my thanks to all in the club who have offered help but it looks as though I will be at Coombe under my own steam after all See you Saturday

Well I knew we were going to a live firing range but never expected the shrapnel to be bits of block and con rod from my own engine. Anyway a quick thanks to all in the club for their practical help, offers of assistance and words of sympathy, also to the organising club and their marshalls for providing every assistance in retreiving the car quickly and conveniently. Macmillan Motorsport and Barclays willing might even see you all at Castle Coombe

I have my old passenger seat sitting in the garage, probably only used half a dozen times but does have some light 'shoe' scratches. Have used runners on a new low back Tillett, mail me if you want some pics, Grahame

Hmmm That proposed chicane a the top of the 'straight' looks as though it could concentrate the mind

Sorry to hear this Robin we will miss you and Viv's great company (and the close competition) Hope you might make a few more of your favourites Loton, Shelsley etc but if not have a great year to enjoy the family and when you do return just don't be too fast for the rest of us Grahame and Heather

Have high back with part carpet black glass fibre Tillett Bought in 2006 used as passenger seat in sprint car sat in maybe half a dozen times Some marks on seat bottom do not yet know if they will polish out, complete with runners if required. Think they are about £350 from Caterham

Lisa, welcome to the fold (or is it mad house) sure you will enjoy every minute of it. By the way theres a paddock bacon butty in it if you can get your brother to over indulge at Chrismas as well, in an attempt to even out the power to weight ratio differences in the pensioned off Roadsport A racer group of class 3 Grahame

Rob Sorry to put a spanner in the works but have to agree with my arch rival (and gentleman as he brought the subject up first) I do have an even lower score at Curborough 2 to drop first Thanks Grahame

Certainly interested in longer events, but agree with others regarding budget timing etc. Clearly if it were possible to do 2 events each end of a weeks holiday then that would make the travel investment more worthwhile. Time is however the biggest problem, not only to fit in around the club speed championship but also with regard to advance planning. We will in a few weeks know all of the club speed event dates for 2010, and that really helps plan time and budget, if we couold have a similar list of French events we could enter at a similar time of the year then that would really help us to plan now for time and money and would put competing in France firmly in the plan for 2010.

You may like? to know that Angelsey was dry and bathed in sunshine all day Monday, but that wouldn't be as much fun? as we had with the changing conditions over the weekend. Reading the other posts everybody who deserves the plaudits seems to have received them so will not add anything other than congratulations to all the winners, and to all those who pushed them so hard,thanks to all those who make the series and this particular weekend happen and best wishes to all those in class 3 who have made it such a memorable year and those in the other classes who provide inspiration as to what our favorite little cars are capable of whether it is 100 BHP or 250 BHP Now wheres that overdraft application form for winter upgrades? Grahame

Ooops Sorry , just picked up on this thread if you can squeeze 2 more in on Friday that would be great Grahame

After a small altercation with the bank after Museum on Practise 2 left me with a bent rim looked like end of play for the day. But another example of the great atmosphere in the speed championship this time in the form of the loan of a pair of nicely scrubbed Kumhos on his very nice Rial rims from Jeff Smith meant battle could recommence for the timed runs. Jeff, a big thank you it was very much appreciated. Elsewhere in class 3 it was a great days competition, Mr Sankey again showing us what according to the back of the car is not an R300 can do. Great performances from class 3 K powered newcomers Matt Willoughby and the Gibsons means getting points is going to be even tougher. Great weather at a great venue with great people, just what club motorsport was always meant to be. Grahame

Hi Matthew Glad purchase has gone through OK, welcome to the retired Roadsport A chapter of class 3 Sure you will find class 3 just as welcoming as class1, and just as competitive, look forward to competing with you at Loton Grahame

Another vote for the MIke S appreciation society, 4 super runs, quicker every time out really showed us all the way, well done Mike. Don't seem to be able to get close to Jeff or Robin either both of who's times would have been better rewarded in any other company, thanks for setting the standard guys pity could not offer much competition. Also a quick thanks to Mark and the club for allowing us the priviledge of competing at such a historic venue. How did the battles in the other classes fare Grahame

3 weddings on 3 consecutive nights with loads of noise till the early hours did not enamour me to Stradey Park last year, they do have a coach parking area which is good for parking car and trailer. A room at the back and at the far end of the building would be an essential for me to return.

Well after Curborough was thinking maybe it was time to hang up the helmet, but the great competition, weather, conversation in the paddock (and admittedly helped by a better than average result) at MIRA means that pruning the roses and slippers can wait a bit longer. With these ex class 2 hot shoes getting to grips so successfully with 1B rubber have no doubt we will all be moving up and down the result sheets as the season progresses only hope I can remember how to drive the thing as Harewood in August seems a long way away.

Nigel I have large black pack headlamps on brackets, narrow front wings on race stays and all front ARB's except thickest if any of them are any use even as a stop gap Regards Grahame

Nigel Sorry its a bit late, only just logged on and saw your news, so all I can do is reiterate everyone elses thoughts that thank goodness you are OK and I look forward to your speedy return to the championship Grahame

Thanks Mark, is Llys Y fFan normally oversubscribed or is there still a chance of a spot

Any one know when Llandow regs will be available as I've put off Llys Y Fran entry assuming I'd only do the weekend if I could get into both events. Due to gap between the 2 sets of regs now worried there will not be any space left at Llys Y Fran anyway.

Adrian Thanks for the answer, the 235 question was to check whether I could just do a tyre change rather than a tyre and rim change should I ever develop the car into a different class in the future. As to the why; the smaller inner rim allows fitment onto the front and if it was possible to go same configuration at the rear then you have the convenience of interchangeability of all the wheels Thanks again Grahame

Despite all the useful info there has been on here in the last few months about split rim wheels I still find I have some gaps in my knowledge and understanding. Hopefully one or some of you experts can fill in those gaps. 5'' inner and 2.5 '' outer seems the accepted optimum, is there any reason why one cannot go with 3'' outers to give a full 8'' wheel like the Caterham rears? If it is possible will a 235 fit OK on 8'' at the rear or does rim need to be wider? Bit of a fair weather mechanic so its this better weather and actually finding the car at the back of the garage behind all the Christmas stuff that has reawakened my interest Thanks Grahame

Just to add a slightly belated best wishes to all for the new year and the new season, roll on Goodwood. Not sure about it being a saga season in class 3, too many good youngsters I'm afraid, as soon as we loose one to the upper echelons then at least one more arrives. Judging by size of the envelope from the Inland Revenue that thumped on the door mat, timed to kill off any seasonal goodwill only planned upgrade now is from Asda's best to BP Ultimate See you all in April Grahame