Dunlop Rover Turbo / Tomcat Vento Cars

[Eddie_harasym]

Sounds a good series but the Tomcat is from 94, not pre 93.

Dave

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by Eddie_harasym

Sounds a good series but the Tomcat is from 94, not pre 93.

Dave

Hi,

From the Rover Website: "As time passed, Rover continued to add more and more derivatives to the range: the Tomcat coupe was added at the end of 1992"

Cheers

Stacy

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by teej

Can you give us any more info, Stacy, or will we have to wait? What regs will it be run to? I was aiming for Classic Thunder, but the Astra might be more suited to this instead.

I can't give you too much info at the moment, but as a guide it's intended that the series will run roughly to our successful Pre-83 Group 1 type regs for modifications - that series was oversubscribed on several occasions this year, and has been in existence for some considerable time..

What's the spec of the Astra?

Stacy

[Tim Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by stacy

I can't give you too much info at the moment, but as a guide it's intended that the series will run roughly to our successful Pre-83 Group 1 type regs for modifications - that series was oversubscribed on several occasions this year, and has been in existence for some considerable time..

What's the spec of the Astra?

Stacy

Sounds good. Astra is eligible for Classic Thunder Group E except for homologated wheel size; mk2 with (hopefully) a late 90s National Saloon spec (group A+, i think Rob called it) XE, if we ever get that built. It's in a vaguely similar colour scheme to the '89 winning car. I look forward to the announcement and reading the regs.

Dave - Alan Cherry's brother bought Steve Govett's Tomcat for the engine; the car was in pretty bad shape, unfortunately, but he might have got some spares from it. He has posted on here on occasion but I can't remember his ID. A quick search of any TRC thread should find you Alan, tho.

[Eddie_harasym]

Hi again,

Yes thats right the road car did appear in 92, but it wasn't until 94 that the race series was constructed and the Roversport tomcats appeared, I guess you could argue that its a pre 93 car though in road basis

Looks a good series, If eligable, I might do a few localish rounds next year.

Regards

Dave Harasym

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by Eddie_harasym

Hi again,

Yes thats right the road car did appear in 92, but it wasn't until 94 that the race series was constructed and the Roversport tomcats appeared, I guess you could argue that its a pre 93 car though in road basis

Looks a good series, If eligable, I might do a few localish rounds next year.

Regards

Dave Harasym

The regulations for all our championships are based on the road car being marketed prior to a date - so this interpretation is consistent with that.

For example, my RX7 in Group 1 is actually a 1985 car, but as the model was available prior to 1983 it is eligible to race.

Would be good to see you!

Sincerely

Stacy

[Tomcat Racer]

I may be up for this series, depending.

Tomcat racer as well.

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by Tomcat Racer

I may be up for this series, depending.

Tomcat racer as well.

Good stuff, it certainly looks like a strong grid already - Would be good to see the Rover's out there.

Stacy

[COLIN STUBBS]

Hi Stace. Just you be carefull with your knowledge of Rovers!!!!

[Tim Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by stacy

Good stuff, it certainly looks like a strong grid already - Would be good to see the Rover's out there.

Stacy

What kind of machinery is expected to be out there? Hopefully it won't take away from the Classic Thunder Grid, or is planned for that to become for even more modified cars?

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by COLIN STUBBS

Hi Stace. Just you be carefull with your knowledge of Rovers!!!!

Oyya.... Lets not forget I wasn't given all the facts me old mukka!

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by teej

What kind of machinery is expected to be out there? Hopefully it won't take away from the Classic Thunder Grid, or is planned for that to become for even more modified cars?

Classic Thunder, as with every championship, needs to stand on it's own two feet. The classes E & F were always meant to break out as Pre-90's, but the cut off was too short in my view - hence the date change to accomodate the many cars around from that period.

We do have plans for CT - as you'd expect, but until things are fully sorted we can't publish them at this time.

The regs for CT certainly won't be going more modified however, no. I'm a firm believer that there are far more people with 3000 a year to spend on racing, than have 10000 so we should price the stall accordingly. We can cater for the larger budget, but it's not a necessity. I'd point out though that I'm only 1 voice out of 9, but I'm not aware of too many people round the table who disagree..

Stacy

[Al Weyman]

I'm a firm believer that there are far more people with 3000 a year to spend on racing, than have 10000

You are not wrong there Stacy and even if we have the 10k do we really want to chuck it at a sport, a hobby. Keep up the good work as I for one am impressed from my brief excursion with the CTCRC.

[Tim Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by stacy

Classic Thunder, as with every championship, needs to stand on it's own two feet. The classes E & F were always meant to break out as Pre-90's, but the cut off was too short in my view - hence the date change to accomodate the many cars around from that period.

It does indeed need to stand on it's own two feet, and i'd be interested to see how the pre-93 touring series is regulated to attract competitors who aren't CT already. It would be great to see full grids for both, assuming that the pre-93 won't be making up the second-half of the CT grid.
Either way, I look forward to a good year's racing in '06.

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by teej

It does indeed need to stand on it's own two feet, and i'd be interested to see how the pre-93 touring series is regulated to attract competitors who aren't CT already. It would be great to see full grids for both, assuming that the pre-93 won't be making up the second-half of the CT grid.
Either way, I look forward to a good year's racing in '06.

Pre-93 needs to be run standalone if it's too work - that's my view anyway.

There is a clear delineation between the two products, one is Group 1 style, one is heavily modified - so I can't see any more churn than we see between our other championships.

The cars in CT are spectacular, which is a classic USP in itself..

Sincerely

Stacy

[Al Weyman]

As a matter of interest Stacy and as owner of a 2nd race car that runs standard on 16 x 8inch rims and who may be intersted in this new catagoury, if as i assume Dunlop tyres are going to be required will they be able to supply the Formula R's in the bigger sizes because many cars in the later period will be running standard on bigger tyres and rims than the skinny 225 x 50 x 15 stretched onto an 8" width rim that I have to run my old car on and as I undersatnd it they gave the manufacture a problem just producing this small size which is why I believe you used to allow a different tyre in class A.

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

if as i assume Dunlop tyres are going to be required

Hi,

My feelings are that the later you get in these series', the less practical it is to tie down to one manufacturer. Our championships have a huge range of cars, from Mini's to Camaro's and yes, we did use to have a problem.

Although it's not ratified as yet, I would expect that the Pre-93's would run to any list 1B tyre - thus to allow those who currently have Kumho's, Yoko's, Dunlops etc to run them as they are.

The formula R's are a great tyre - they last, they are consistent. They also don't give you a honeymoon period for the first few heat cycles so there's no benefit to buying new every meeting. Just not practical for them to fit every car on the later grids though

[Al Weyman]

The formula R's are a great tyre - they last, they are consistent.

You are right about being consistant, after two practices and two races Pembrey thay went completely off after about 6 or 7 laps in every session Also I seem to have a lot of wear on the edges and I can't see them lasting long on my heavy old car unfortunately unless Pembrey is exceptional abrasive?? I am going to swop them round so the worn edge is on the inside for the next race.

I like the idea of any tyres from List B but may I be so bold as to suggest you concider also allowing guys to run on List A as well if they wanted to.

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

You are right about being consistant, after two practices and two races Pembrey thay went completely off after about 6 or 7 laps in every session

Well, consistent if you're setup is right - for what it's worth Pete Hallford doesn't have that trouble, in a similar car I believe..

As for 1A - I can't see an issue and will raise it at the next meeting when we clarify the regs, which is only a week or so away.

Stacy

[Chris Y]

Al - perhaps you need more -ve camber, if you're scrubbing the edges of the tyres. Thats a sure fire way to overheat them too - perhaps that's your problem.

[Al Weyman]

How do I get on the back though Chris if I don't do a Walkinshaw SDi Rover mod (i.e a negetive camber live axle with C.V joints buried in the case, only what I have heard of course ). I also have a lot of camber on the front (3 degrees) but it is chewing the edges up front and rear. To be honest I am a little concerned at this as it cost me over £600 for 5 of these tyres then another £75 to fit them as the supplier is not open weekends, I certainly can't aford that too often. I am taking steps to cure the problem because it was fine when I used the car on List A tyres 10 years ago but I could run that lower and a lot lighter on the front end and with wider larger diameter rims.

Today I have just reduced the toe in and have an H/D rear anti-roll bar on order as I think it is rolling to much on the rear end looking at pictures back from Pembrey and I think I need to also raise the rear end up 1/2 inch. Thats one of the reasons I am going to do the Walter Hayes two race meeting at Silverstone to see if I can sort this before next season. Maybe I need to change my driving style

[TEAM78]

whats a H/D anti roll bar?

[Al Weyman]

Sorry H/D for Heavy Duty. Anti-roll bar as in anti-sway bar.

[Stacy]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Where are your roll centres?

Stacy

[Al Weyman]

Ah now you may have hit the nail on the head there Stacy, put it this way the roll centre at the front of the car is now a lot higher than it was courtesy of your regulation that required me to a) have 4" ground clearance and b) having to run a 15inch wheel with a 55 profile tyre. The net result meant I had to raise the front by a whopping 1.5 inches higher than I was running it before and I think that has what has messed things up. The last time I took this car out was at Cadwell 10 years or so previous and I had just increased the front camber and the thing handled like a twitchy throughbred with just a nice amount of controllable oversteer, I have lost that to a certain extent now as I have now a fully steel nose section and have to (I assume please advise if I can remove) the detachable inner splash trays under the bonnet which weigh in a fair bit as they are made of steel but add absolutely no strength to the car whatsoever. This has resulted in I would say an extra 100ibs plus in weight just where I don't want it, right up the front!