Thunder Saloons

[ncmotorsport]

Rod birley and garry,it seems funny how we all love the cars and the racing but the cars disappear well I just bought graham goodes old rs500 touring car, shell no88001,it has come back from indonesia in the last 4 months and has all the original GRP-A gear on it and at some point has had a thundersaloon bodykit fitted.over the last 3 months I have been sourcing bits and have been able to find people who supplied bits to the car originally ,you might be able to help me,the guy I got it from removed the engine and split it thinking it was u/s due to the amount of gung that came out of the sump when he dropped the oil.
But apparently I have found out that every time they ran the car in indonesia because of the humidity it used to get a build up of gunge thus requiring oil changes each meeting.I need a 500 grp-a engine do you know any for sale or anyone who builds good strong engines capable of producing 500 bhp thanks neil.

[Flying Printer]

Thundersaloos racing is the epitomy of saloon car racing.
Recogniseable shaped road cars with masive engines,large wheels and extended bodywork. I would rather see Thundersaloon racing over touring cars any day of the week.
The sound of TS6200 (that Carlton!)used to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Donnington Park at the last FS race,the old Asley Exhausts Thundersaloon was there. That brings back some memories. Please lets have some more of the ThunderSaloons back out there.

[Tony_Simpson]

To be honest the Thundersaloon series, with a couple of rule changes, should have been the BTCC. Now that would have been good, 600 bhp cars that we all know and see every day. Hang on that is the Aussie V8 and DTM series (as well as more no doubt). Shame the BTCC never went to big power rwd cars.

Xircom, I only thought the cars were restricted to 500bhp, as I am sure I saw that number mentioned in a magazine somewhere before. I am also aware of the balance between power and drivability of a car, as the report in this months CCC magazine shows. Nice to here that the Calibra V8 might come back out to play this year, another very nice car and something different to look at and hear for the spectators.

Does any one know if the TS6000 Carlton is still around as this must be one of the most famous cars built.

Nice to see some more info put on the FS web site, just need a few confirmed drivers to wet the appetite. Also it is a shame that a deal could not be worked out for the support race rounds. It would have been great for a larger crowd to see the series, but I agree with what was said on the web site, it is not worth racing at that price at that time of the day, it is just not fair.

[Rod Birley]

In response to the enquiry about Cosworth turbo engine try Harvey Gibb at Specialist Car Services near Peterborough.
Tel. 01733 576614. He does my engines and Steve Papworth.
There is a Sierra with a V8 engine being built at H.T. Racing. With regard to Australia I saw the Sports Sedan race at Adelaide last year which was spectacular. Asquith have moved a couple of times and seem to be concentrating on rallying. I now have two loyal mechanics and do a lot of the work in-house,literally...and yes I will wave/visit the long suffering marshals. Lets hope I can get a sponsor soon,the costs just keep going up and up.

[Tony_Simpson]

Sorry I was ment to say the web site needs to have a few of the confirmed drivers put up on the site in the drivers page.

[Gareth Walker]

The Formula Saloon Championship decision to cancel its F3/GT fixtures is a brave and bold one. As a spectator i did not fancy paying double the norm entrance fees to watch 10 laps at 9.30 in the morning at Donnington PK.

The championship has the potential to become very big, like the Thundersaloons were, attracting large crowds at national/club meetings, if the mixture of Tourers and Thunders can be acheived.

[redshoes]

Somehow I always seem to be busy elsewhere whenever FSaloons are on so I was looking forward to the Donington rounds. That said I can understand the reasons why it was cancelled. Looks like I'll need to get the dieary out again.

[ncmotorsport]

thanks rod for harvey gibbs no I shall be contacting him shortly.dont suppose you know anyone with any BBS split rim centres for sale,cheers.

[Tomgreen]

Rod , were you out here in Adelaide for the sports sedan race?
Also does Roy still help you with your car. I used to work at Asquiths and i remember spending time with your Prelude. My cousin quite often sees you too. He works for Caterham cars and often says that you have been down there. Thinking of buying a Seven??

[Rod Birley]

I went to Adelaide just to watch,the main event was the ALMS.The Prelude is still going strong but Roy is now doing other things.No I am not thinking of buying a Caterham,although I did drive the black brick which belonged to Rob Cox in a winter G.T.race having a great dice with David Ellis in his Aston.David did a Thundersaloon race with me at Mallory Park in my Sierra V6.
This weekend I should be at Brands the Escort is almost ready,Steve Hirst will be debuting his new Audi and there are some Sapphire Cosworths and Rover Tomcats entered.

[Craig]

We're doing Silverstone Saturday and down to Brands on the Sunday for the Mighty Minis - hope to see you then Rod!

[Rod Birley]

We had a win at BH on Sunday. The car went the fastest it has ever done. Take a look at the website for the race report and Gossip, we'd love your feed back. Sue.

www.hotrodbirley.care4free.net

[Craig]

And what a great race it was - well done Rod! Sorry we didn't come find you but you weren't in the outer paddock were you ? I hate the way the cars are stuck in the centre of the circuit at Brands!! Next time, eh ?

[ncmotorsport]

Sue and rod good website how about some photos of the car and you in action,cv's like that dont just pop up,its just good driving and good back up,where are all the sponsors ,any sponsors reading this how about it,we need more sponsors for people like this with talent.

[Maisie]

Good race, Rod - I enjoyed that Your car looks really awesome.

[Rod Birley]

I tried to organise an improvised pit walkabout during the lunchbreak mainly for the 300 local residents who were present. I don't know why it was not on the schedule. We got the garages mainly because cars like the Audi are difficult to move about at slow speed. I do like to meet and talk to people so hopefully this will happen soon.
Thanks for the nice comments and yes we are still sponsor hunting, we even spent last Thursday at Kingshill near West Malling trying to attract interest with the car on display.

[ncmotorsport]

I read somewhere,I think the motoring news that donington was of ,is this right rod.

[Flying Printer]

Rod,I saw you at Brands last Sunday. Brilliant race, very entertaining. The car was mega. Ilook forward to seeing more races

[Nissan]

I note that Autosport shows the photo of Rod and Steve Hirst under the heading Formula Saloons, the race was infact the 1st round of SEMSEC, Formula Saloons kicks of at Rockingham on 27 / 28th April, although it would be nice to see Rod race the escort in Formula Saloons rather than the Prelude as the action would be closer !!.

With regard to Formula Saloons it would be nice to know if the purple ex Cleland Cavalier will be out as well as some of the older tourers ?.

I am new to this forum but am a close follower of Formula Saloons and it is good to see good feedback of the series.

[garry]

The cavalier will not be out at the moment and is for sale for about £12000.00. Andy Clarkins old 90 Cavalier will be out in class C with Jim Pilckington at the wheel.
I am interested to know why you think the action would be closer if Rod came out in the Escort instead of the Prelude as the later is a quicket car.
Nice to know that you follow the FS hope you enjoy this year.

[Rod Birley]

Sorry Mr Nissan, you are mistaken the meeting at BH was not a SEMSEC meeting it was run by the BRSCC and was the Sports Saloons Series jointly run with the BARC SE Centre. Autosport did get it wrong saying it was a Formula Saloon meeting and you are right that the first will be at Rockingham, 28th April. Incidentally Snetterton 1st September is also off

Yes NCMOTORSPORT Donington is off 'cos the officials wanted us to race at 9.30 in the morning and charge us a £200 fee for the "privilege."

[Nissan]

point taken !!!! with regard to Formula Saloons what car will you be competing in and in how many rounds ?, will you be concentrating on the rounds at Brands and more local races or will you be competing further afield ?.

[Rod Birley]

Somewhat strangely the Rockingham meeting has been called off, due to technical problems {whatever that means!) Just have to go and watch Formula 1 stocks cars instead.

[Stephen Green]

Rod, they are resurfacing the track that weekend I read on Reuters yesterday. Something to do with the 'bleeding' they experienced for Cart last year.

[Chris Y]

'weeping', Stephen Although, the Rockingham officials may be doing both if angry BARC competitors get hold of 'em