History of a Lola T492 Sports 2000 chassis?

[Mike Harte]

Graham, you are assuming that they will last the whole weekend; it may well be a case of the hare and the tortoise. More importantly, just keep on enjoying doing what you enjoy so much.

[911thillclimber]

Here is the Norma, it is far bigger than this pic suggests but the hill needs a lot of power, the Norma has about 2 x more than the Lola but is a tough heavier.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9...76c652~mv2.jpg

Here is the VW!

https://www.hoskingindustries.com.au...NOV_2018sm.jpg

Need to give chase in the Lola!



But, as you say, all good fun.
Some good points to be taken even if I walk/push the car up the hill.

Video here may be of interest.

https://youtu.be/9ZkrZDMA_3w?t=25750

[911thillclimber]

Saturday at Shelsley Walsh, lovely place to be, full paddock and busy if a bit cramped.

Car went well, clutch was good and times not too bad.
Got a feeling the slicks are getting close to needing a changing mind, bit wobbly in unusual places.

3 of us in it.
2 practice runs, though my first was red flagged as the VW failed to stop in time at the top. You need to get on the brakes asap at this hill.

PB is a nice 31.08, but as it the norm nowadays, I was well slower!

Prac # 1: 32.72/2/29 and Pract # 2; 32.15/2.21

On run 2 I just pipped the VW and the Norma has gear shift issues.

Hope the weather keeps good for tomorrow, just might get 2nd, but really expecting 3rd.

[midgetman]

Sounds promising. I have only done Shelsley once, and only in a road car, but I do remember trying to get it stopped!

Have a great day Sunday.

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[Gerard C]

Jeez, this Bug is a real monster. https://www.wpvw.com.au/phoenix.htm
Have fun Graham.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Jeez, this Bug is a real monster. https://www.wpvw.com.au/phoenix.htm
Have fun Graham.

Thanks Gerard, quite a beast. Aussie heritage as well!

[911thillclimber]

Sunday, race day, points etc...
What a hard hard day it has been, but at least we are back in one piece.

So many crashes and really hot weather. Massive delays as cars and barriers were recovered, but all drivers were ok.

Plan was to keep the VW in sight, maybe even beat it, but no to the beating part, but he only just got away, so I was please overall.

Boiled down to:

Norma: 26.53 and 26.87
VW: 31.06 and 31.56
Lola: 31.08 and 31.83

Nearly re-set my PB!

I hate these hot sticky meetings, and Shelsley when hot all air drops still and every bakes.

Loton Park next weekend, and I'm in a class of my own.

[midgetman]

That Norma's quick isn't it? What was it in a previous life? Was it built as a hill climber?

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[911thillclimber]

600 bhp, light and purpose built.
They dominate the european hill climb events, esp with big BMW engines.

YouTube clips are well worth watching.

https://youtu.be/NbKgh_mZQrA

The driver is undoubtedly capable, but wants a bigger engine...

Those times would get him close to the top 12 run off.

The hill record is in the 22 seconds bracket.

There is 40 years between tit and the Lola and to see the car without the outer shells is quite something (carbon tub etc)

The weekend was really nice overall. The Aussies were a real treat to have next door, about 10 family members all doing their bit, all really nice people.

Bought some real colour to the paddock inc 2 flags!

They are today off to Germany for next weekends monster VW meeting, then have the car cleaned by a specialist, put in a container and 2 months time will be back in the workshop.

I think they loved England and the great reception they had.

Have to say I loved driving the Lola over the weekend for such an old tech car it is superb.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by 911thillclimber

Have to say I loved driving the Lola over the weekend for such an old tech car it is superb.

This is more important than anything else, Graham; just keep enjoying it.

[911thillclimber]

Yes, wise words!

I have been amalgamated in the Under 2 litre Libre class for points in my real class, and came 4th on each run, so some good points coming my way I think.

The runner with the NG V8 also registered in my class for 2024 is well on with repairing the bent chassis so will re-appear soon.

We are about 1/2 way through the Championship rounds (18 of them) so doing well towards the end goal, a Championship Class win.

Just need to make hay while I can.

[911thillclimber]

[IMG]lola vw[/IMG]

[midgetman]

Alas picture not showing here.

The NG V8 - is that one of those 1950sMGTType-esque replicas/kits on MGB running gear?

I've got an entry to Prescott for the first time in my life on July 13 - are you there then?.it's the day before the Midland round I believe. Excited - it's fulfilling a dream. I've been visiting since I was about 10 and.never entered before.

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[911thillclimber]

Yes, that is a quick way to describe the NG, Nigel's is a bit tweaked!

Yes, there on the Saturday , or at least I've entered, does not mean i have an entry!

[911thillclimber]

Yes, that is a quick way to describe the NG, Nigel's is a bit tweaked!

Yes, there on the Saturday , or at least I've entered, does not mean i have an entry!
If you run in the bigger events as a routine (as I do) then many times you will not get an entry in a clubbie event, so my fingers are crossed.

Should know in about 2 weeks time.

The missing pic is a nice pic sent on facebook, but i can't get it 'across' to my pc pictures.

[911thillclimber]

A snippet from today at Loton Park.
Need to go MUCH faster...

https://youtu.be/ZaSf2wFmDiY?t=8256

[911thillclimber]

Sunday, and a good hard day with this little Lola!

Practice in the cold morning (but dry) gave a good time, 56.08, so just over a second slower than my PB.
Car ran really well have to say. I like Loton, my club's own hill climb venue.

First race run was a bit slower @ 56.31 and the 2nd race run was a nice 55.94, the car scooting up the steep long hill like a champ.

Lots of interest in the car from real petrol-heads.!

[911thillclimber]

https://youtu.be/IuMJMI1y0J0?t=15750

[911thillclimber]

Something to say at last.
We are running at Prescott on 13/14 July.
Saturday is a local club meeting and Sunday is a round of the Midland Championship.

On Sat we are in a very very mixed bag of cars, about 15 runners, so that will be fun, almost relaxing.
Sunday I'm all alone again in the class!

We have to change places in the paddock and change race numbers too, but the paddock spot is very nice, even on tarmac.

I must smell awful or similar, but nobody around. Only 5 drivers in the under 2 litre Libre class too, so bound to be amalgamated for points.

Never mind, no pressure from others, just the bee in my bonnet to do a PB.


We shall see.

Both meetings are only just full, the sign of the times again obvious at this very very popular hill. Both days are usually over subscribed.

About 15 years ago! Bloody hell...

[midgetman]

Oh I'll see you there then. I've got an entry in the MGCC Speed Championship class I'm pleased to say. Breaking my Prescott duck after 40 odd years of competing!

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[Gerard C]

Hope you have a picture of your MG in the kitchen, Midge! Have fun all.

[911thillclimber]

Be sure to find us, we are #80 in the paddock close to the start line.

[911thillclimber]

Weekend at Prescott, first time here since Sept last year, so practice was slowly-slowly for the one day event today, all on handicap.
Race runs this afternoon faster!

HC was 45.22, PB is 44.15 made in 2022.(new engine)

Did well in the cool day,
46.76/ 2.27 start
45.32/ 2.18 start.

So just 0.1 sec from the handicap, but 1.15 ish secs off the PB.

Han another interesting sport libre cars in my class (of about 16) which i thought was a Lola T492, but that was literally skin deep.
Killer car, bike engine, OMS carbon sports racer and more.
Managed to be faster, but he did better on handicap. We came 4th in class, he came second!

tomorrow is Hillclimb Championship day, so bit more serious tomorrow, but a great day of club hillclimbing, some lovely cars, and met a fellow 10/10's contributor to the Lola's thread!




This was VERY nice, quite took my fancy:

[midgetman]

Good to meet you Graham and see who exactly is behind this thread - and see the fabulous car you've created of course. "Well Jell" as they say! It's a lovely thing and the finish and attention to detail are a credit to you.

Meant to take loads of pics. Didn't of course. Ah well. Here is the one I did get during one of the many red flags in the morning.



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[911thillclimber]

Saturday, and yet another '10/10th' member I've met for the first time, and another today.
They are everywhere!
Great to meet some of you over the events and chat things through.

Have to say i thought all old race Midgets are abandoned, but no, they all go hillclimbing!
Some lovely cars in the paddock.

Sunday, and sunny all day.

On my own in the class, but still irritated i could not find that 1/10th to get the Saturday handicap.

Still, some nice runs in a meeting well punctuated by red flags, so the day drew out a bit and I lot some mojo on my last run.

Results were 45.09 / 2.14 and 45.45 / 2.21, so not too far off...

Well, a good second away from my PB, but I was not alone, lots were down 1 or 2 secs and grumpy.

So in all a it of an anticlimax, BUT, home in one piece, car worked really well, met a lot of nice people and only had to get around some air-hear who decided to part right behind my trailer blocking access.
Seems to be the way of this modern world.

Shelsley nextAug 10/11, then Prescott again and finally Loton.

Gone past very quickly.