Alan Bowler

Something at the end like: "The Comp Sec can advise on a cars class eligibilty based on engine spec, tyres and general specification. Where classes specify a BHP limit, comparative speed trap data will be monitored to validate the correct class is entered and the spirit of the regulations are followed. For power verification in cases of uncertainty or dispute, Northampton Motorsport Rolling Road is the reference." ? AB

Andrew - just leave your engine with me for a weekend. I'll work my magic free of charge, and soon have it down on power.

150 for class 2, and 160 for class 3 seems a good compromise. I accept I need to get my car tested (and looks like I need to pay a visit to Northampton for that) as most of the existing class 2 frontrunners have been there already. Andrews car was slightly over IIRC, and I would hope it could be tweaked (vernier timing?) to get to 150, as I surely want revenge next year . If its not simple, then 155 for class 2 (i.e. no change) as it will make little or no difference other than a slightly bigger gap between classes on paper. I wouldn't want to see a 2/3 rule change where any of last years entrants were excluded. Perhaps 155 for class 2 2015,with notice served that it will be 150 for 2016? I would like to keep the TB rule as is for class 2. That way Sigma 150 and K Series R300 aren't de-tuned to get more torque and 149.99 bhp to exploit the class 2 rules which isn't really in the spirit. My understanding of how the existing rule was written was that is was quite deliberate, and not at all an accident. I wasn't there when it was discussed though. (selfish mode) class 2 is very well supported at all events, very close and competetive, and would be a shame to change what isn't broken, plus I don't think we have anyone with a R300 who wants to enter class 2 (end of selfish mode) As far as I know... (and stand ready to be corrected) we don't have any TB'd cars in class 2 yet (the Sigmas are 140s?). Although 10 bhp is a small gap, the number of Caterhams around this power mark is probably quite high (e.g. Sigmas, mildly tweaked/supersport Ks, Zetecs, Xflows) which justifies a smaller gap than between 4-5-6. Also, tweaks to power on cars with locked ECUs aren't always quite so simple. I very much agree with Caterbrams points above regarding investment, and R300s on 1As. Is there a point where 1As really aren't a sensible tyre for the torque/power available? I am also very consious of Matt's email and that a few of us use this forum alot more than the majority of competitors. Suggesting 160 and TBs for class 3 may well offend quite a few competitors there. More opinions please! AB

Stolen from Pistonheads... never mind TBs, this should improve my awful 0-64 ft times: http://www.thelocal.ch/20141103/swiss-electric-car-sets-world-acceleration-record 200 hp, 0-62mph in 1.785s. So that is class 4 if I fit a Caterham-ish body and KumZZers? More seriously, how long before we see a properly quick electric car on the hills? AB

Fixed - it was indeed the wiring to the dip switch, which some eejit must've put back together wrong as part of last springs wire tidying exercise. I'm wondering if full beam was in fact double beam... Thanks all. AB

Full beam working OK, but dipped has stopped on both sides. 2001 car. This could be a consequence of when I changed the lights last spring, as I don't recall alot of night driving this year! Pretty sure they were working though... No volts going to red/blue (dipped) on the bulb. Main light switch is OK (took apart and cleaned up anyway). There is +12V at the red/blue on the dipped/full switch. Fuse OK. Swapped the relays around, so they should be OK. Indicators/side lights fine. Any ideas? Where should I poke the voltmeter next? Or, could this be explained by wiring the main/dip switch incorrectly? Thanks Alan

Agree that its been demonstrated to be possible to get 160bhp from a K without TBs/Emerald, so to add it onto an existing class 2/3 car, and then detune doesn't make complete sense. Unless you are out to build the perfect engine for the regs with no expense spared, or happen to have the components in your garage anyway. So swapping TBs with a standard plenum looks quite involved, and not a friday evening swapover job. Fair enough. A comparsion between stock 1800 SS and an 1800 with TBs here: http://www.dyno-plot.co.uk/dyno/dynoplot/190_187/index.htm (via DVA Power : http://www.dvapower.co.uk/ ) From a selfish point of view I agree - keep the rules as they are. Also its in everyones interests to keep costs down and encourage more standard cars (Ks and Sigmas). If we allow R300s in the spirit of keeping the rules simple to encourage more entrants, aren't you also discouraging those with, say a standard 6 speed 1600/1800 K? Probably alot more of those around than R300s. At least you will be competitive by just fitting some hotter cams and an SS map currently. Not sure if a 1600SS would be competetive against a slightly detuned R300, and there are surely alot more 1600/1600 SS engines out there than R300s.

Trolley jack/piece of wood - yes - sump is not THAt fragile . Torque setting for manifold nuts - no - they should be tight! AB

Do we have any speed trap figures for "stock" K series R300s (TB variant and VVC variant) on 1As / 1Bs at venues we compete at? Depends on the driver/conditions etc. but would be interesting to compare. Do we have a RR plot for a stock R300 (both variants). How much torque compared with existing class 2/3 engines? One concern is to try and keep budgets sensible in 2/3. Opening up the class to TBs and fully programmable ECUs adds £££ to costs (TBs + Emerald + Mapping + mild porting?) and makes the route from class 1 to 2/3 more difficult. Sigma 150s already have TBs (I think), but K series cars still seemed to have the edge this year - but it is close. Allowing even faster K series cars isn't going to encourage new standard Sigma 140/150 entrants (or those with standard 1.6/1.8 K series cars). We should be looking to encourage more Sigma engined cars in 1, 2 and 3 as that is the future. How difficult/costly/time consuming is it to swap off TBs for a standard ebay sourced K series plenum and ECU? Cheaper and less disheartening than getting a 160+ car re-mapped back down to 155? And yes I know a well driven standard 5 speed 1.6K would still be quicker than me in 1.8K with TBs mapped on a low reading RR to 154.9 / 159.9 plus alot more torque. Faster on any course with corners, anyway - which is most of them! (its all about perception, right?) If we are making significant rule changes, any reason to keep class 2/3 engine specs aligned with only tyres making a difference? (another can of worms probably...) Runs away and hides...

Rob - more than happy to pick you up and drop you home if I attend (waiting to hear on work commitments). We'll be visiting family though as well, so there won't be much room in the car. That should be fine - you aren't expecting to bring anything back from the awards lunch are you? ;-)

At least its being properly and consistently managed - we don't find out halfway through the weekend that some tyre warming is sort of permitted a bit as long at its just a teensy bit and some people do alot and others none because they thought it only applied to the single seaters... mutter mutter mumble grumble Angelsey (spit).

Simon - sounds good. I'll get my spanners and the grinder out. And buy some more ear plugs... Am hoping to get back to back RR tests for 4-1 and 4-2-1 with no other variables.

Thanks all. Sounds like I should be able to sort something out. Nick - next time you have a tape measure handy if you could measure the length of the main body of the silencer it should help. Richard - thanks for the pic. Brings back bad memories of Anglesey Good to know chopping a standard can is an option, but I'd rather try and use the Meteor silencer if I can. AB

I have a 4-1 long primary "race" exhaust on my 1.8K roadsport. I have bought a 4-2-1 (SLR?) system. Before I start fitting, does anyone know if: - sideskin hole needs to change - Will my existing silencer fit? Looking at the 4-2-1 bits next to the car, I think it may be too long, which will be a major pain as its a special Cat-in-Can Carbon sleeved Meteor jobbie. Put another way, was there a special 4-2-1 SLR silencer, or is it the same as the 4-1 one. Diameters are OK - problem appears to be length AB

Well done to Andrew in class 2. That was close. You owe Mr Spencer a pint or two. Apologies to anyone who I overtook on the M6/M42/M40/M25/M3 on the way back from Anglesey who heard me shouting obsceneties in the tow car for the entire 7 hours... http://www.lotus7.club/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/cry_smile.png AB

http://www.lotus7.club/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/lightbulb.png Not me. Someone else in a blue car at Llandow. Test image.

One for me please. Thanks

Yes please. AB

T2: here Stuart - suggest you have a coffee and a couple of biscuits lined up if you watch, as its sooo slow, in fact almost 2 whole seconds slower than the average class 5 time Good weekend though there is a funny sheepy smell in the tow car 😬 Mark - stealing hats from small chidlren... AB

So Collins and Howard threaten "hat pegging", call me "rather inconsistent" and then both fail to enter Wiscombe. Thats a pity. And comp.scorer has obviously been having a peek under my bonnet as he's calling me "Blower" Practising the wet lines here at Anglesey with Jackie today. No idea what he's on about. Damon's been sacked for moonlighting. AB

I am not Ray Snoates. I am a free man! I've not seen the published article as I'm here at Anglesey having hired the circuit for a week. After some expert tuition I've taken 3 seconds off both class records, and Damon thinks there's at least another 2 to come. So not much point anyone else in class 2 going really. You can get a refund if you are quick guys. H.A.T. Racing

Thanks for the constructive feedback Stuart and Hat Mark. I will sulk in my tent at Wiscombe instead of listening to your boring tyre waffle. Anyway, I only wanted to win by 0.01s, so deliberatley backed off a bit in several places

Shaun and Matt 😶‍🌫️ My relatively tame effort here I think I gained the necessary 0.01s with an unexpectedly tight line around Museum. A great first event for the mini-Bowlers (glad they missed Curborough). We were walking up the hill just before lunch, and watched one of the quick Westfields bounce off the tyres at the kink on Cedar straight and almost roll Sobering. AB Edited by - Alan Bowler on 2 Sep 2014 19:47:01

Pehaps a good thing "The Hat" wasn't stuck up the flagpole on Saturday to observe the standard of driving... [runs and hides]

I was distracted by 0.9s by the view of my hat strung up on Curborough's flagpole I have raised a complaint to the FIA to have a 1 second penalty added to the times of all other class 2 competitors.