HSCC Brands Hatch

[Peter Mallett]

HSCC Championship Races.

[Robyn Slater]

Thought i'd wake this thread up.

Anyone going?

[morninggents]

Going past - on the way to Spa!

[Belmondo]

Originally Posted by Robyn Slater

Thought i'd wake this thread up.

Anyone going?

No DBT, or Guards... but might go and watch.

[McMuttley]

I'm making my much unanticipated comeback in the FF1600. Should be interesting as the neck still doesn't really let me turn right easily - could be an issue on the Indy layout ! we'll see how Friday testing goes.

I get the impression there has been some 'eventful meetings' in the HFF 1600 calendar since I went away - be gentle with me, i'm perfectly capable of finding the gravel without assistance!

[apriliadriver]

Yup, I will be there for my second race in the 'new' 1969 Chev Camaro in Historic Road Sports. Weather forecast is currently showers/wet, so my first experience of racing the Camaro in the damp. Oooo-err. Gulp.

Any TenTenthers, drop by ... I will be the one with the pale and interesting expression on my face ...
Nick

[105 Mad]

The Alfa is still not well so I've decided to hang the overalls up for the rest of this yr.

Do some work over the winter & come out fighting next yr.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by McMuttley

I'm making my much unanticipated comeback in the FF1600. Should be interesting as the neck still doesn't really let me turn right easily - could be an issue on the Indy layout ! we'll see how Friday testing goes.

I get the impression there has been some 'eventful meetings' in the HFF 1600 calendar since I went away - be gentle with me, i'm perfectly capable of finding the gravel without assistance!

Finding the gravel is one thing but it takes skill and practice to find the other parts of the track that seem to have become popular.

2 solutions to your 'looking right' problem.

The first would be to to the lap anti-clockwise. I suspect this may not go down well with the authorities but, you never know, it might be just as incident free as going clockwise.

Alternatively set the car up for power oversteer on right handers - any power level - and work out how to get around with minimal use of the steering except in emergencies.

(Obviously the two approaches are mutually exclusive unless you are feeling especially masochistic so I would suggest that you only adopt one of them, although if running anti-clockwise any adverse efffects from RH power oversteer would at least be somewhat limited. HTH.)

[HRSTR5]

I'm expecting to put in an appearance, but only in a supporting capacity as a mate of mine is making his long-awaited motor-racing debut in an MG Midget in HRS. He's a bit nervous ... treat him gently!

Red Midget #70 say 'Hello' if you're passing, I've promised him that everyone is friendly!

[HRSTR5]

Originally Posted by HRSTR5

I'm expecting to put in an appearance, but only in a supporting capacity as a mate of mine is making his long-awaited motor-racing debut in an MG Midget in HRS. He's a bit nervous ... treat him gently!

Red Midget #70 say 'Hello' if you're passing, I've promised him that everyone is friendly!

Sad to report that chum Mark is no longer making his race debut ... Having broken the gearbox in the Midget at a Brands track day yesterday, awful luck especially considering how long he's been waiting to have a go ... Better luck next time Mark.

[simonb87]

If the gearbox is broken, can't it be changed? Seems a shame to have got so close and then to drop out.

[Al Weyman]

Originally Posted by apriliadriver

Yup, I will be there for my second race in the 'new' 1969 Chev Camaro in Historic Road Sports. Weather forecast is currently showers/wet, so my first experience of racing the Camaro in the damp. Oooo-err. Gulp.

Any TenTenthers, drop by ... I will be the one with the pale and interesting expression on my face ...
Nick

You are local to me Nick have we met? I have been racing Camaros for many a year, good luck in the wet they aint nice! BTW are you at Combe Classic?

[apriliadriver]

Al,
I'm not sure we have met .... I used to race an Alfa GTA in Historic Saloons at HSCC. I live in Ruislip : where are you based ? I will make a visit if that's OK ? Any tips about racing Camaros in the wet much appreciated !! (I have already been told " make sure you are straight before applying the throttle ") - anyway, will be a learning curve as long as the curve does not lead straight to the gravel trap,
Nick

[apriliadriver]

Damn ! Clutch failed on the Camaro on the way to Brands. Pesky pain - one of the few components we did not replace. Actually failed in the Dartford Crossing toll lane, so I discovered a new fan-club (not) in the queue behind me - finally dribbled the car over to the hard shoulder. Just arrived home courtesy AA Relay - very efficient.

If any racer is reading this on real-time in the Paddock, could you tell the HSCC Office that car 55 is scratched from the HRS race ?

Thanks, much appreciated.
Nick

[Al Weyman]

Oh no bad luck, I take it you obviously drive to the circuit then, not a fan of that myself since I totalled my Road Saloon at Oulton 200 miles from home! As far as clutches go here is a word of advice that I took on board for my older car and this is from the horses mouth, Robin Grey of Autopontiac who also drives his 500bhp 2nd gen TransAm to the circuit to race. Basically he said forget all about the ridiculous expensive triple and twin plate clutch set ups and use a Sachs 11" clutch and pressure plate from Real Steel and job done. Nice easy clutch pedal and as long as you are not silly off the line will last well and under 200 quid!! If you go nuts off the line in these things you only sit spinning the wheels so what the heack. I had constant problems and huge expense with a triple plate Tilton, stuch a McCloud single plate 10.5 inch (I had a 15lb GM flywheel in the garage which is the lightest steel one available I also dont have as much BHP as Robins Big Block Pontiac) uprated diaphram clutch with kevlar centre plate and have done about 10 or 15 race starts and it feels fine also a lot easier to get on the trailer!!. As for driving in the wet, softly softly and stay off the go pedal in the bends!

I am in Watford and my shop is in Harrow Weald down the road from you.

[Belmondo]

Originally Posted by apriliadriver

Damn ! Clutch failed on the Camaro on the way to Brands. Pesky pain - one of the few components we did not replace. Actually failed in the Dartford Crossing toll lane, so I discovered a new fan-club (not) in the queue behind me - finally dribbled the car over to the hard shoulder. Just arrived home courtesy AA Relay - very efficient.

If any racer is reading this on real-time in the Paddock, could you tell the HSCC Office that car 55 is scratched from the HRS race ?

Thanks, much appreciated.
Nick

If it makes you feel any better, Brands wasn't a very joyful place today:

[apriliadriver]

Thanks for the commiserations, guys. Al, I will be in touch.

Did you all get a full programme of races ? Reason I ask, is that a mate just mailed me to say that there seemed to be very long periods with no track action ...

Nick

[Belmondo]

Originally Posted by apriliadriver

Thanks for the commiserations, guys. Al, I will be in touch.

Did you all get a full programme of races ? Reason I ask, is that a mate just mailed me to say that there seemed to be very long periods with no track action ...

Nick

Classic F3 combined with CRC, second Historic F3 race cancelled, all others shortened a bit. Nothing happened from about 2pm until about 3.30, except for rain falling. I left soon after the touring cars.

[Alan Morgan]

Another picture from a miserable Brands. Note that the cars are using the top tunnel to get to the assembly area. The bottom tunnel was flooded.

[AGD A105/6]

Indeed, gentlemen racers of England still abed will think themselves...Dry, they were not here.

Spare a thought for the marshalls out there in all of it.

I didn't get a programme so sorry for the lack of captions, but you get the picture...

[Al Weyman]

My God its no fun at all when its like that. Maybe the clutch problem was a blessing Nick!

[Burfs]

Anyone know what happened at the beginning of the combined 70's and HRS race? I decided to bail out (literally!!) and go home mid-afternoon as I was so wet and cold after cleaning all the gravel out of the Lenham after my off in practice and I actually thought the meeting would be called off. I watched the live timing and saw that there was a red flag session right at the beginning.

[AGD A105/6]

Nasty collision between a Turner and a Spridget somewhere around Clearways I believe, both drivers reported OK but took a while to clear up. Cars looked rather damaged unfortunately.

By the time racing resumed, the weather had worsened, leading to the swimming pool at the bottom of Graham Hill. Thankfully no further incident, AFAIK.

[Burfs]

Thanks for the up date:- Oh dear, I guess that would be Dick Coffey (Turner) and Ian Ford (Spridget)....Dick has had a diffcult season: I hope that Tom (his mechanic) is able to get the Turner ready in time for the Finals.

[HRSTR5]

Originally Posted by Burfs

Thanks for the up date:- Oh dear, I guess that would be Dick Coffey (Turner) and Ian Ford (Spridget)....Dick has had a diffcult season: I hope that Tom (his mechanic) is able to get the Turner ready in time for the Finals.

Sorry to hear of the carnage, do hope cars and drivers are all back on the grid soon.

I'd wondered what had happened to you Burfs, but you've answered that for me ... after just one lap too ... ambitious!!!

Of course chum Mark was due to make his race debut before pulling out with 'box trouble on Friday - I'm glad he didn't we might have put him off for good ... I know several who went home after quali, and I commend those of you who stuck with it - not sure what i'd have done!