Favourite Formula E Ford 1600 memories - Page 4

JEB · 6 Sep 2005, 16:17 (Ref:1400502)

I have so many memories of this 'happy' time...

Out of memories from these days (and earlier) the WHT was born !

Steve Burns · 6 Sep 2005, 16:34 (Ref:1400516)

You must be older than I thought JEB

I didn't even enter this world until 1977.

Whilst writing my entry form for the WHT should be with you soon. Just sorting a car (as I don't own one) and team to run it (as I don't know one end of a spanner from the other).

JEB · 6 Sep 2005, 16:42 (Ref:1400524)

Mr Burns - I am honoured that you will be joining us in November.

I am told being 35 is prime of life time.....!

My continual bad back and stiff neck has kept me out of my rally car since Sunseeker.
Maybe next year I will return to the cockpit of a FF1600 for a 'head to head' - I am worried though that Mr Cunningham has shown me what my old RF78 is capable of...Me thinks I will be unable to replicate that performance.

A race miles from home, with knowone watching, would do me fine!

Steve Burns · 6 Sep 2005, 16:47 (Ref:1400527)

Shhh. You will give the likes of Snowman and Diz ideas.

I can see it now... The FF1600 Organisers Challenge Cup

Cue witty reply from Diz...

jminsh · 6 Sep 2005, 16:58 (Ref:1400543)

you'd never fit Diz in one unless it had an ashtray fitted!!

diz · 6 Sep 2005, 18:03 (Ref:1400616)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jminsh

you'd never fit Diz in one unless it had an ashtray fitted!!

Thanks Jason

Anyway, I couldn't drive a greasy pole up a dogs 'bottom'

sprocket · 7 Sep 2005, 08:45 (Ref:1401118)

I can see it now... The FF1600 Organisers Challenge Cup

I'm suprised Diz has'nt jumped in with a class for you all @ Anglesey on 4 December !!

diz · 7 Sep 2005, 21:14 (Ref:1401702)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprocket

I can see it now... The FF1600 Organisers Challenge Cup

I'm suprised Diz has'nt jumped in with a class for you all @ Anglesey on 4 December !!

No need to, I'll be overflowing with entries - hopefully

StephenRae · 8 Sep 2005, 07:53 (Ref:1401967)

Quote:

Originally Posted by diz

No need to, I'll be overflowing with entries - hopefully

I notice the lack of a 't' in it'll, and wonder if this is some sort of Froidian slip, possibly inviting those of us who Diz has irritated over the years to try out his greasy pole idea.

Walshy · 8 Sep 2005, 08:37 (Ref:1402000)

Yew.

I can't get the image out of my head.

Thanks Steve................

pjlague · 1 Feb 2006, 20:03 (Ref:1513741)

Hi
this is the fist time I have been on this site,I am interested in the comments you have made about DOUG LAGUE,for your information Doug did come back and beat every one at mallory park,if you don't believe me ask Richard Peacock,but you should know this
Peter Lague (the dad)

dhart · 2 Feb 2006, 00:37 (Ref:1513921)

Curious...didnt find out at the time..why was Dougs engine found illegal? he was mighty quick at the time...looked like he was going places

Alan Raine · 2 Feb 2006, 16:26 (Ref:1514313)

I missed this Formula E Thread when it first came out as I wasn't a member then. I remember Doug Lague but I think he came on strong after I stopped racing.

I loved Formula E. It was well run, (thanks Diz and the late Moose etc) was great fun and you could have a good race no matter what part of the grid you were on.

Loved the stories on Roger E -

Quote:

Originally Posted by diz

Over the water now to Kirkistown and a test day. Roger had a very high speed off and careered 'for miles' through a very wet and muddy bog. When he got the, undamaged, car back, he found the circuit's hosepipe and cleaned all the mud off. The car was full of water and Roger decided it needed drying off. So having changed into jeans, a white short sleeved shirt and sun glasses, he started driving round the paddock and then out onto the circuit to do 'a few slow laps' to 'blow dry the Crossle.' Unfortunately, somebody - properly attired - passed him. Big mistake. Roger was driving round with no belts, no suit, no helmet etc. and was quickly up to race pace and glued to his gearbox. I'll never forget the big smile and flailing seat belts.

It might of been me who overtook him as he came flying past about half a lap later with his hair and seat belts flapping in the breeze and with a fag in his mouth!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last time we went to Kirkistown Roger was offered a drive in a Works Crossle so was going to drive that as well as his own car. Unfortunately the tail gate on his truck feel on his foot as he was loading up and came to the ferry from the hospital with his foot in plaster. Not wishing to lose the Crossle drive he cut the plaster off his foot and cut out a plate the shape of his foot from a bit of alluminium and taped in place. He carried on as normal as if nothing had happened.

I never had a problem with Rogers driving, as basically I never got anywhere near him on the track, but he was one of a kind and he turned out beautifully prepared race cars.

pjlague · 3 Feb 2006, 17:41 (Ref:1514946)

Hi
The reason Doug's engine was found illegal,was 5 or six drivers protested him,for going to fast ???,this car with engine was bought complete and other than general maintenance,we run the car as we bought it.
This is why the RAC engineer found the engine illegal
2 points
1 engine volume low on 2 cylinders and high on two (high compression on two cylinders) two cylinders high (illegal) 2 low compression cylinders which would have made the engine unbalanced the engineer said this,so no gain.
2 the flywheel was under weight by 2 pound's.
the RAC engineer said that after the inspection of the engine,that the gain in perfomance if any would have been marginal.
But at the end of the day anyone that raced against Doug,or saw him race know he was a very quick driver,not just in the dry but in the wet.
Doug's Dad i hope this answer your question.
Best Regards Peter.

Alan Raine · 3 Feb 2006, 18:25 (Ref:1514982)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjlague

1 engine volume low on 2 cylinders and high on two (high compression on two cylinders) two cylinders high (illegal) 2 low compression cylinders which would have made the engine unbalanced the engineer said this,so no gain.

We had a similar problem after a Monoposto race at Oulton in the late 80's. A few regulars were thought to be running suspect engines so it was decided to seal the first six finishers. A stupid idea as I think about 5 of the first 6 finishers were local drivers who were only doing the race for a bit of fun. The guy who won (who has now gone on to bigger and better things) refused point blank to have his engine sealed as it had just been rebuilt and didn't want it messed around with, so declined the win.

To cut along story short when our engine was checked we also had too low a volume on 2 cylinders. Basically we had never thought to check it. The block had come from a road car which needed re-lining and the old guy we used in Bolton had skimmed the block a tad to much. No action was taken as it was an honest mistake and the RAC Scrutineer could see by the rest of the engine that we weren't trying to cheat. In fact he was really good guy and helped us modify the pistons slightly to make it legal!

Ok we lost the place which is fair enough but we never did Monoposto again
and they were still grumbling about bent engines.

Back to pjlague's reply 2 pounds seems an awful lot off a flywheel?

Séamas M. · 23 Sep 2009, 20:16 (Ref:2546927)

Yesterday we lost someone who was at the centre of a lot of happy Formula E memories. Jim (Panther) Kelly passed away after a long spell of ill health.

I know there is a user here with the name Panther but Jim was the original, named for the result of his mother's washing his white race suit with some other red garments.

I can't ever remember feeling even slightly gloomy when Jim was around. I'll miss him, he was my friend.

StephenRae · 24 Sep 2009, 08:48 (Ref:2547201)

Hi Seamus. Very sad news indeed, Jim will not be forgotten I was very lucky to have him as a friend....he will be missed.
You didn't get the origins of the nickname quite right... the overalls started off red but over time his Mum managed to wash most of the colour out of them!...Steve Jones

Alan Raine · 27 Sep 2009, 16:55 (Ref:2549218)

Sad news indeed.

A familiar part of the 80's Formula E crowd and he always seemed to have a grin on his face no matter what.

The first time I ever drove my FFord at Oulton I accidently pushed him on the grass at Druids. I felt so guilty I went and apologised afterwards and expected a rollicking but was greeted with a smile and a bit of advice of how to take the corner in the future.

A genuine, nice guy.

diz · 28 Sep 2009, 14:26 (Ref:2549764)

Very sad news about "Panther" RIP Jim.

Funeral is this Friday at noon.
Our Lady of Compassion Church, Formby, Near Southport.

kartingdad · 28 Sep 2009, 14:55 (Ref:2549786)

Quote:

Originally Posted by diz

Very sad news about "Panther" RIP Jim.

Funeral is this Friday at noon.
Our Lady of Compassion Church, Formby, Near Southport.

Did he used to be a race instructor at 3 Sisters by any chance?

If so, I bought a Golf GTI from him a few years ago for my son....

diz · 28 Sep 2009, 19:18 (Ref:2549994)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kartingdad

Did he used to be a race instructor at 3 Sisters by any chance?

If so, I bought a Golf GTI from him a few years ago for my son....

He certainly did Andy and was instructing until the end of last year, when his condition got worse.

BTW, I'm sure the Golf would have been on the infamous 30/30 guarantee.
30 yards, or 30 seconds, whichever came first.

Moose would have happily quoted that guarantee and often did.
Now they can chat away happily up there on all things Formula Ford and Racing Schools. Moose has probably found a Bar up there as well.

Alan Raine · 28 Sep 2009, 20:34 (Ref:2550050)

Quote:

Originally Posted by diz

Moose has probably found a Bar up there as well.

I'm sure Roger will have the round in already

kartingdad · 28 Sep 2009, 21:24 (Ref:2550075)

Small world then. He came across as a proper gent.

diz · 28 Sep 2009, 23:06 (Ref:2550141)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kartingdad

Small world then. He came across as a proper gent.

He was that and some.

JHY · 19 Oct 2009, 10:41 (Ref:2564416)

Hi Guys,
I tripped over this site by accident and a few years too late. Good to see so many familiar names and cars mentioned to remind me of some of the best (and worst) days of my life. Referring to some old threads, I haven't been in touch with Trevor Stiles for a while so I don't know who has my old car. I like to think that that particular chassis has as good a pedigree as any, having achieved good results with a number of owners. I believe this was down to it being an ex-works development chassis, an engine built from scratch with selected parts by Martin, and Trevor's initial setting up.
I no longer live in the Uk and am trying to build a house in Italy (Not easy), it would be good to hear from anyone who remembers me from the CoB days.

Regards,
John Hayden

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Favourite memories of 2002?	Mr V	Formula One	47	16 Oct 2002 16:53
Favourite Formula Ford Festival Memories?	Andrew Kitson	National & International Single Seaters	26	5 Aug 2002 16:00
Favourite Monaco Memories	Mark F1	Formula One	25	23 May 2002 14:06