ANYONE ON HERE RACE IN THE SWINGING SIXTIES SERIES

[irmscher]

Just wondered if there was nyone on here ?? as thinking of doing it next year or anybody race a minor in another series

[MarkyB]

http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/s ... ixties.htm
This one?

It sounds like an update of the old pre '57 racing there used to be.

I'd be interested to see how you get on, you'll have to watch out for A35s and maybe even Minis that can get a better power to weight ratio than you can.

[irmscher]

Marky i think you are right about the 57 series its just a more modern version . i am building a car for next year but if the right car came along maybe this year .i watched two a35,s racing the other week and they were quick but i only want to compete in a minor and probably make numbers up thats all

[irmscher]

anybody in the club race or sprint a minor ??

[MartinB]

Not any more!

[irmscher]

But you did what was the spec of your car Martin can you tell me please

[MartinB]

I used to hillclimb and sprint it.

Initially it was fitted with an 8 valve 2 litre fiat TC with twin 45 DHLAs, reprofiled cams etc with Minor front suspension with coil over shocks, anti roll bar, plastic bushes, leaf springs at the rear with panhard rod, anti tramp bars and quaiffe LSD (escort Mk 2 axle).
The engine then received the 16 valve head in '92 but with standard cams, started using slicks an went to princes 4 pot calipers on front (tried rear discs but made it really unbalanced as too much at rear).
5 linked rear suspension in '93 and played around with cold air box.
New 2.1 engine in '96 with modified cams, lightened crank/steel flywheel/forged pistons 11.5:1, modified front suspension lower arms to run negative camber without using spacers to get the inboard pivot back where it should be, very, very stiff anti roll bar on front, vented front discs on modified escort hubs on front, fibreglass doors etc. Had a subtantial off this year!
Rebuilt car with semi space frame front end allowing the engine to be a foot further back, added fibreglass front wings and bonnet, car was too capable and made the engine seem tame (190bhp at wheels).
Turboed engine in 2000 to see how it would go (with decompression plate) was good fun until it went pop in 2004.
Built new engine (2043cc) which is dogs do-dars spec, fully ported 16 vave head, steel billet competition cams, forged low comp pistons, Arrow con rods, piston cooling jets, dry sumped, fuel injection, gave 308 bhp at Emerald rollers with 0.8 bar boost with boost tailing off due to too small a down pipe. Corrected this with larger down pipe (3") and had to richen fuel at the top end which equated to 325 bhp at 0.8 bar boost. Finally ran it at 1.3 bar boost (all the poor little turbo could provide) and was well over 400 bhp! A absolute animal in that configuration! Also fitted 280mm front brakes (still in 13" wheels).
I built the engine for 2 bar boost which would probably be 550 to 600 bhp with the right turbo.

I haven't driven it for over two years now or even started it up for over 1 year.

I wasn't sure if you wanted the current spec or the spec's over the years as t evolved over a 16 year period. I have missed loads out I'm sure.

[irmscher]

Thanks for that Martin that is some spec it evolved into a monster

[MarkyB]

If THE SWINGING SIXTIES SERIES is anything like the pre 57 spec the basic idea was to restrict how many thing could be changed and so limit the amount of expense involved.

The trouble with most motor sport is that expenses can get out of hand and it's the bloke with the biggest wallet that wins.

[irmscher]

I agree Marky you end up buying a trophy

[minorman94]

Martin that sounds like an absolute beast of a minor, would love ot be taken for a ride on that do you have any videos of it in action?

[irmscher]

I think Martins insane or has a death wish that cars lethal

[MartinB]

It only got a bit dodgy when absolutely wringing its neck on the race track and to be honest I was probably over driving the car a bit. Drive it to about 98% and it was bloody quick and very safe and capable, any car is going to get a bit twitchy when pulling over 1G in corners and drifting it on slicks at over 100 mph! With the boost on minimum (over 300 bhp) it was just like a production car, it would put all the power down no problem and was very docile, although totally flat as a fart compared to the higher boost level in comparison.

There is a bit of footage here http://www.brayspeed.co.uk/video.htm from 2006 but I think that was the old engine and it was a compilation of several runs including practice hence the change of wheels a couple of times.

There is also a bit of on board here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt2-bI2dPpA which is defininately the old engine.

[chrisryder]

Beautiful!

And i'm watching it at work with no sound! Can't wait to watch it at home with some speakers!

Did i spot a dent in the boot, or was it just a trick of the light?

[MartinB]

Yes, big dent in boot done when it rolled down the trailer into the back of the tow car, forgot that the hand brake wasn't on and that the winch wasn't connected (bloody idiot !!), the dent was from the tail pipes on the tow car. For once the Morris came off worse I still have a brand new fibreglass one to put on sometime.

[chrisryder]

still the best looking minor i've ever seen (although never in the metal), even with the dent

[irmscher]

some great videos there martin i was marshalling at longleat