History of a Lola T492 Sports 2000 chassis?

[911thillclimber]

Sean at McClug Motorsport felt the small changes to camber would set the car for radials. I don't push this car for obvious reasons, so I'm not close to the edge.
Biggest issue will be getting tyres to suit the 13" rims and the sizes of width and diameter.
Unless someone steps in there will be some difficult times ahead for all, the slow guys and very much the quick ones.

[S griffin]

Let's hope you find the right setup so you can feel more comfortable.

[911thillclimber]

My tyres were fresh 12 months ago, and I usually get 3 years from them, so this tyre situation will be fixed or we are all up a gum tree by then.

One get-out would be 17" rims and stick road tyres, but talk about killing the 'classic' nature of the car, but better than nothing.

[S griffin]

It's good your tyres usually have the durability of Duracell bunny, so there is something wrong if your tyres are already struggling. Yes something needs to be done, but at least you have some ideas. It's whether you can compromise on them

[911thillclimber]

What a very long time it has been since the finish of last season.

The Lola is still buried under a cover and some light bits n pieces but things are stirring.
We have entered the Midland Championship for 2023, I think this is my 30th year of the excellent series.
30 years is a long time doing the same stuff, and i sense Mrs Hillclimber is starting to tire of it all, hopefully winter blues.

We have entered the first 2 events too, Prescott and Shelsley Walsh, so fingers crossed to getting accepted, won't know for several weeks yet.

The plan is to find the Lola and get organised.
I have restored a 1949 Humber push bike over winter, surprisingly tricky to do and almost done, so...

Simple oil change
Start the car to check all is well and 12 plugs are running.
Mega clean of the car everywhere

Clean my overalls and helmet etc and wait!

That was hard work.

The tyres will be good for this season and probably next. I really hope by then the AVON tyre situation will be resolved, but there is no good news about that anywhere.

This could be become the turning point to my hillclimbing caper, no good tyres will probably be the end of it all.

Mike Luck will have his new car ready by now and looking for my scalp and I think there is a Norma about to surface that will take both our scalps!!

[Gerard C]

Good to hear from you, Graham!

I have restored a 1949 Humber push bike over winter, surprisingly tricky to do… Tell me about the gearbox into the rear hub!

[911thillclimber]

Ha! Yes, always a tease on these projects. Others who do them never have problems, just me it seems.
Not convinced I have it right even now, but I am the World's Leading Expert on rapid Sturmey Archer 4 speed epicyclic gear hub strip-down.

I've just bout a 1938 Royal Enfield bicycle to do in the summer....

[S griffin]

Hope you find out what you need to do. Your luck is due to change. Although it will be tricky

Lucky you buying a vintage bicycle

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by 911thillclimber

I've just bout a 1938 Royal Enfield bicycle to do in the summer....

Next will be a lawnmower! Did you ever meet Carol Spag's son? He had a nice collection of american bicycles, really a nice person to talk with. Those were the days when we were exhibitors at Stoneleigh.

[911thillclimber]

Lawn mower? Nah...mines a Honda so will never go wrong.
This vintage bike thing is new to me, but I've always had a bicycle interest and did a flirtation with Cyclocross at school and much simple road cycling.

They are simple but quite hard to do.
This Royal Enfield (they made the motorcycles too) i want to keep as original as possible, some of the paint and pin striping is very delicate, but getting the rust smooth and then 'sealing' it all will be the major challenge.

After some help from the RE owners club i have been assured the bike is 1938 with the optional drum brakes fitted.
You may ask why a women's bike? There are more around than you think, but they are generally in far far better original condition than the equivalent Gent's bikes are.

Sitting here at home as we are about 1/2 way though a sever cold/covid/whatever spell, but expecting soon to find the Lola and get it up and running.

Summer project!

[Gerard C]

Quite a challenge again Graham! By the way, RE made lawnmowers… https://www.royalenfield.org.uk/photos/lawn-mowers/

[911thillclimber]

Warm day yesterday, so decidied to stasrt the Lola up.
Bit early as the fist meeting is about 5 weeks away (Prescott) but...
You never know.
It was a year ago when i was in the gloom of this engine's ignition system, and if I have a problem, maybe time to sort it out. In October I pulled the 12 plugs to check all were alive, which they were, so with 2 fresh gallons of Shell's 99 octane, churned the engine over to get some fresh oil in all the arteries, and kaboom. off it went on all 6 pots just like all of last season!

Good start, literally, and ran it till warm. Nearly 4 bar oil pressure cold on tick over dropped to 2.5 when hot, a good reading on an early 911 engine.

Enthused somewhat, cleaned the res of the winter dust off the tub and the front end and WD40 whetted the aluminium.

Only needs a clean and waxx to the body, some air in the flat slicks and race numbers and we are off!

tool to take screen snapshot

[andy97]

Originally Posted by 911thillclimber

Ha! Yes, always a tease on these projects. Others who do them never have problems, just me it seems.
Not convinced I have it right even now, but I am the World's Leading Expert on rapid Sturmey Archer 4 speed epicyclic gear hub strip-down.

I've just bout a 1938 Royal Enfield bicycle to do in the summer....

Sturmey Archer? What a daft (British) invention. Never, ever, got them to work properly as a kid. Hated them. Always wanted a bike with derailleur gears like all the posh kids had! A good French invention!!

[911thillclimber]

They are indeed a mystery when opened up!
On a 4 speed, 2 sets of drive pawls, one set for 1/2nd, and other for 3/4th.

I have another 'cross-over' bike with Shimano 6 speed enclosed hub gear and it is like silk, but at least 50 years between them....

My 'new' Royal Enfield has one single speed, so pleased!

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by andy97

Always wanted a bike with derailleur gears like all the posh kids had! A good French invention!!

And guillotine too.