History of a Lola T492 Sports 2000 chassis?

[911thillclimber]

Indeed!
Apart from the weather and mud, the rest was great.
4 points on the score board, better than some.

One of the competitors who was supposed to be coming into the class said he still was, so thing might tighten up yet.

Amalgamated class next weekend, just the 3 of us.

[911thillclimber]

Took 1/2 day to clean the car, forced to use a good jet wash and a lot of rag and WD40.
You could see the grit coming out of the rose joints when blasted with brake cleaner rattle can.
Looks good now, it may not be fast, but looks pretty.

Found all 4 rubber bobbin mounts for the oil cooler were semi sheared, so have replaced them at the same time with correct Mocal parts this time.

Massive entry at Shelsley Walsh, good dry weather arriving, so should be a great weekend.
Amalgamated class 2 x under 2000cc and me only over 2000cc.

This 1/2 way up the hill, gives you a feeling of what Shelsley is like

https://youtu.be/nbh4EfuGuao

[911thillclimber]

Saturday, and practice at Shelsley in blistering sun.
24 degC, but we have a 'garage' shelter in the paddock, so car and Team can keep cool.
3 in the class, Martin in his hot Striker who beat me at Prescott last weekend, David in his 2L Crossley 9E and me solo in the over 2L class.

First event on this hill this year, had a warning that the track was green...

First practice run was 34.67/2.2 start, not shabby. Car ran great.
"nd practice in the afternoon and 33.70/2.12/ 89 mph finish
Thought it was a 32 so a bit disappointed, but ok.
Faster than the other 2!

PB is 31.92/ 2.24 and 99 mph over the finish line, so something to do tomorrow.

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[911thillclimber]

Sunday, race day and v hot...
Both runs today count to get points in the new format of the Championship, so needed to score today.

1st run went well, everything worked, I was even up to speed with the car for a change: 32.42/2.22/ 94 MPH

2nd run was hotter still, sweating under all the helmet etc as we slowly progressed to the start line.
Got to the line with the engine just heating up over the 'normal' mark so a bit nervy.
One of my fellow class mates failed to stop at the very top of the hill after the finish line and ended up in a the DEEP kitty litter, so was held on the start line for about 10 mins in the sun slowly baking despite the umbrella I was given!

Blasted off the line as I wanted a good time.
32.23/2.2/97mph so a shade quicker, but not beating my PB.

Anyway, 1st in class both runs!


Home safe and sound, car was simply great.
Next round is at Loton Park close to Wales, my favorite hill on the 19/20 May.
Can't wait!

[MGDavid]

Congrats for a job well done

[Andy Clegg]

Well done!! A good weekend then.

[911thillclimber]

Indeed Andy, so far so good.
I have yet to find out who is registered in my class in the Championship.
Only when I know will I find out what the rest of the season will throw up!

I've been clocking the thread ever since I started this story about 10 years ago now.
10 years!
The thread has turned 500,000 hits today, astonishing, and I never thought it would run this long.

Seems rather tame now it works after those early 'detective' years finding and proving the Chassis Number.

Thank you to everyone who has helped the cause and has given me encouragement when times were tough, and continue to follow the story of this little club racer.

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[S griffin]

It’s a good thing we have these run what you bring championships

[911thillclimber]

I think every hillclimb paddock looks like that!
Something from every walk of life, that's why it is so good.

From mild to wild, there is a class for everyone.

[S griffin]

Hillclimbing is so good. It’s like soapbox, only up hill and a lot more technologically advanced. As you said there seems to be no limit on the categories

[911thillclimber]

Championship weekend and off to a good start.

At Loton Park, close to Welshpool and my Club's own track and my favorite.
Saturday, so practice. Hot with a light breeze so ideal.

First run was a 'sighting' run on a warm but dusty track so a good steady 58.39 was the result. Everything worked well.

There is an merged class, 2 over 2 litre and 2 under 2 Litre.

Second run needed to be a bit more determined in preparation for tomorrow, so set off hard and hung on.
Had a few slithers and slides, no real drama, but unexpected. hope these new tyres come in soon!
Anyway, a nice 56.76 was the result with a stonking 1.99 start to cover the 64 foot dash, so over 1g of acceleration. Very positive.

pb here is 55.69/ 1.95 in Sept 2017, the last meeting of the year.
So, a bit to do to get 1st in class and a pb which is my aim.
So far, ahead of the others, but one is a pest and can find a chunk of time at a push!

Lovely day hill climbing.

No third runs as there was a heavy crunch in the morning, just reminds you to be careful..

[911thillclimber]

Sunday, and 2 runs, each attract points.
Hot but some cloud and off we went.
1st run seemed quite good from where I was sitting, and netted a 56.44/2.00 start and quicker than my last practice on Sat.
This gave me 1st in class on that session.
Second run was after lunch and with a hotter afternoon we all blasted up the hill.

I was disappointed and surprised the run was slower, 56.8/1.97 and was beaten by a sub 2000cc class mate by0.78 sec, so 2nd in class.

However, the way the event awards go it was to my class mate who had the fastest time of the day for the class, so no pot for me!

However, more Championship Points in the bag, the car ran great and we are home in one piece!

Shelsley Walsh in 2 weeks time.

Got to clean the car and do the garden inbetween...

[Andy Clegg]

Are they're any more competitors joining the class later on in the year?

[911thillclimber]

Not sure Andy. I thought back last Xmas there were 3 more to 'arrive', but no show.
I think in a few meeting's time I could be in an 'unassailable' lead!

My principle goal is to get my name on the Championship Class Trophy for a third time. Nothing is certain until the season is over!

On a different note, the new slicks are not impressing me at the moment.
I think there was more grip on my 4 year old ones than these new tyres.

They only cost £1250 the set.

[Andy Clegg]

I don't know but would it take time for them to bed in and for you to get used to them.

[S griffin]

Well it must be hard doing this hillclimbing championship, I guess it depends if you are competing against regulars or first timers.

[911thillclimber]

Hill climbing is not a difficult branch of motorsport, continually improving certainly is, esp to me!
In my particular class you usually have experienced people from another class joining as some do move classes if they change their cars.

Andy:
not sure about the tyres 'coming-in' the last set just worked.
I don't have a choice, so have to work round them.
The fronts are softer but I can lock them up with ease...

[S griffin]

It must be hard, plenty of experienced guys out there. Sometimes it really does depend on the competition. What is your budget for your parts?

[911thillclimber]

Throwing money at the car or me won't improve things too much, I think I am at my limit on nerve.
Just have to accept the way things are.
The car is infinitely better now than the way it first was and money did not sort it out, just perseverance.

[S griffin]

Good idea, just make sure you get it to the end in one piece. Perseverance does pay off if you ain’t got money to spend

[911thillclimber]

Shelsley this weekend and a round of the super fast British hill climb Championship.
There are 2 of us in the class but only me in the Midland, and only Allan in the British!
As long as I qualify and get up the hill on sunday I will get a huge 1 point for each race run.
In the sub 2L class and next to me in the garages is a new car , a Norma, a very modern take on the Sports racer.
It will be good to see how a modern one goes!

Next weekend marks the 1/2 way mark in the Championship at Loton and the class is full with 6 drivers, all horribly fast (except for one), and yet still only me in the Midland Championship...

[911thillclimber]

It rained hard over night at he hill, so the track was a bit rough and we were warned to be careful!

First practice run netted a good 35.63/ 2.18 start/ 89 mph finish and everything worked, all gears when I asked!
With a good track the mid-day track gave me 33.15 / 2.12/ 98 mph and again it all worked but I was trying to see if taking a higher gear would give a good time, not sure!

Third practice run in the stinking heat and drove the car like I normally do (yes, badly..) to get a very nice 32.03/ 2.05/ 97 finish.

My PB is 31.97 so pleased with this.

The Norma sports racer is a carbon fantastic and is getting fast and into the sub 30 secs and my class mate is miles ahead in practice @ 28 secs as always.
Still only me in my Championship this weekend, so if the car works will get all of 1 point/run.
Lot of effort for 2 points!

Must take my camera to show you some cars tomorrow.

A good day and so close to my PB of late last year.

[Andy Clegg]

Getting quicker!!!

[911thillclimber]

Oh yes it is Andy!

Sunday and the sun is well and truely hot, bloody hot, but got a job to be done.

First run and a bit of a surprise, 32.24/ 2.05/97 mph.
I was irritated it was so slow, but it was hot and all that jazz, so had to sort it 9in my head) for the second race run.
My class mate, Allan stormed the 28.82/ 1.86/ 117 mph, so you can see what I am up against!

2nd run and hotter still but felt far more focused oddly, and got going.

31.58/ 2.13/ 100 mph A PERSONAL BEST!
Previous PB was 31.92/ 2.24/ 99mph

The car absolutely flew up this steep hill and I felt I was with the car every inch of the way, all gears good, all steering good, brakes good (you only use them twice) and a first in class sadly because Allan had an oil filter leak and sprayed hot oil all up 1/2 of the track, really disappointing for him as he had struggled to get the car ready for the weekend.

Thus a further 3 points to the Championship class points.

What a great weekend of hill climbing when everything all falls into place.

Next weekend is another full - on Championship weekend at my favourite hill, Loton Park. www.hdlcc.com, 6 in the class for some reason, only me in the Midland Championship, but the others are HEAVY HITTERS...

Forgot to take the camera, but here is a google picture of Allan's EVO Mini creation:

[Andy Clegg]

I was watching some from Loton and Shelsley on Youtube.