HSCC Silverstone

[safetysam]

A plea to all racers. I am a Motorsport fan and was at this meeting today. This posting is because today on the road between silverstone and brackley my wife had her windscreen cracked. The cause? Gravel falling from a race car on a trailer.

If you've been in the gravel trap you wouldn't go back on circuit without cleaning it out, please don't leave the circuit with a car carrying loose gravel.

Thank you in advance

[Mike Bell]

That sounds very thoughtless. Hope those responsible read your post!

Great event so far, the usual HSCC ambience topped with almost perfect racing weather. Forgot sun block so will have to be careful today.......

[geordiecriag101]

Another great days action as always yesterday, and the weather just topped it off. here's sum of the action i managed to get along with a few pics, all comments welcome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHYp...ature=youtu.be

https://www.flickr.com/photos/geordi...7644705858341/

[brands]

Best day of motorsport this season, this meeting is a hidden gem.
Will try to restrain my shutter count today as I took far too many photos yesterday.
Time for breakfast and a wander through the paddock before the track action starts.

[John Turner]

Fabulous weather, too. Only managed to see the first 3 races as then got involved in FISCAR presentation stuff, but yes, great meeting.

[john ruston]

What is so special about those Hillman Imps?

Remember the Frazier cars with Unett and Brown but looking at times they ,certainly one,is very quick.

Intrigued!

[GORDON STREETER]

Well they were quick in their day, I know that because I used to work for Alan Fraser, and they have now been "developed" as much as all the other "historics" running at the front !

[john ruston]

So where is Peter a Brown who used to race the Imps and JCB cars?

[simon drabble]

Why were several cars excluded from Guards GT grid and was the general feeling that the split from SR is becoming a permanent thing?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

Why were several cars excluded from Guards GT grid?

Just home. Don't know exactly but looking in blue book C3.5 refers to championship technical eligibility and G5.3 to CoC judgments on various matters on track- flag signals etc. 2 cars were excluded from GTSCC results as well.

Regarding the Guards split, Brands Superprix forms are just out and they are combined for that.

As for Imps, I think most if not all are HRSR ByBox cars, not App K. The regs are less restrictive.

[simonb87]

Being an Imp driver, I probably should add a comment. We have certainly been developing the cars over the last few years, but more a case of catching up with some other HRSR classes than anything too radical. We do run to HRSR regs, sadly the Appendix K regs mean Imps have to run too heavy to be competitive and Rootes didn't homologate enough bits for circuit cars - they were more involved on the rallying side. My engine puts out about 112bhp from 998cc.

My engine was built by fellow racer Andy Jones (Shrigley Eng) and has been proving very effective, I was running 4th overall today until I had a problem. I managed 4th overall in the wet at Thruxton and 8th in the dry and usually have similar laptimes to the quicker 1300 Minis. We run 5 speed boxes (as in period) and have discs all round, the cars weighs about 605kg and handles well, especially on the GP circuit with corners with multiple changes of direction.

Colin Gunton along with his father Ian are running recast 5 bearing blocks (standard Imp engines have 3 mains) - Rootes made some 5 bearing engines in period though they weren't carried through to production. These engines are intended to improve reliability and Colin was going very quickly today.

There is a great support for the Imp racers from our friends in the Imp Club and others and we have a great time racing them.

Thanks - Simon

[John Turner]

There were a few Imps in period which were very quick. I remember a couple of them showing a clean pair of heels to a horde of Minis at Crystal Palace many, many years ago. The good ones, always outnumbered, usually gave a very good account of themselves in their class. I know it's probably a blasphemy but I always preferred them to the Minis, great though the latter also were.

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by simonb87

My engine was built by fellow racer Andy Jones (Shrigley Eng) and has been proving very effective, I was running 4th overall today until I had a problem.Simon

What was the problem, Simon?

[simonb87]

Hi Peter - not sure yet, turned it off when it lost power.

Cheers - Simon

[brands]

Really enjoyed the two days. It's nice to be able to roam the circuit and to use the odd photo slot. The weather was a huge bonus.
A few random shots from Saturday, Sunday will take another day or two.

70s roadsport and Guards SR

[brands]

Historic road sports/FISCAR and Martini

[brands]

and Guards GT and Historic FF

[Colin McKay]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

Why were several cars excluded from Guards GT grid and was the general feeling that the split from SR is becoming a permanent thing?

Ignition was being checked & cars weighed, we were done early on so I'm not sure if everyone was checked but I guess the blue book refs quoted could apply to either of these. There were also 3 time penalties for pit stop infringements.

All the GT drivers I've mentioned it to enjoy being split from SR's, I expect the SR's feel the same. Both were excellent races.

[Celia Stevens]

Hi Guys, we were at Silverstone with a TR3 and a G12. just like to thank Mike for the loan of the battery charger, good to see you and Delta there. Fantastic meeting even if we did break an alternator, a dynamo and do a head gasket. Ah well. However Ian had a great race in both cars and somehow managed to get a surprise result in the Fiscar handicap race in the TR co-driving with the cars' owner. Now we've got to go like the clappers to get ready for Snetterton! Great race meeting, unbelievable cars, terrific bunch of people and sunny weather. What more can you ask for?

[Chigley]

My thanks to all you racers, ladies and gents! Despite some fairly quick turnarounds between sessions you all streamed out of assembly quickly and it was a pleasure to give you time to get some heat into tyres and brakes. The rolling start formations were brilliant with applause to the HFF and HTC who packed up tighter than sardines in a tin, praise also to the FF2000 who for a first time doing a rolling start did a cracking job.
Apologises to Mike for telling him to make sure he finished this time and then had the misfortune to have the car fail again. I'll shut time next time you're on the front row

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Chigley

Apologises to Mike for telling him to make sure he finished this time and then had the misfortune to have the car fail again.

Not me, I might add! I was only on track friday for testing, and it was a very useful day. The Canary suffered a complete engine stoppage in it's first session just as I exited Stowe. I managed to shoot across the grass into the New Wing pit lane and avoid causing a red flag. After much checking and deliberation back at base camp it turned out to be a failed rotor arm, which is at least probably the cheapest part on a BDG...... Very frustrating, the rotor is a proper one and showed no visible signs of a fault. But soon as another was substituted, the engine roared back into life, and Canary completed the next session flat out for 25 minutes with no hesitation. Touch wood all set for the Classic!

I also tested Gilbert Gilbern, fresh from rebuilding the rear suspension after a link failed in testing at Mallory. Unfortunately we (Iain and me) found a handling problem on right handers that caused much checking of rear geometry and possible faults, but nothing to see. The gearchange also suddenly became very vague. Have since looked at this and it is a remote problem, so easily fixed. Next step in an attempt to sort out handling is to remove the 'new' lever arm front dampers and refit the old ones, in case the left isn't doing as intended. Annoying with the 3hr only 2.5 weeks away!

The rest of the weekend was spent watching, socialising and helping on the pitwall. As said before by me and many others, this is a fabulous meeting put on by the HSCC, so thanks to them and all trackside for making it so. long may it continue!

[simon drabble]

you are running your Gilbern in the 3 Hour? good - hopefully that should ensure we have somebody to race against as I fear the elans etc will be running rings around our sabre!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

you are running your Gilbern in the 3 Hour? good - hopefully that should ensure we have somebody to race against as I fear the elans etc will be running rings around our sabre!

That is the plan, Simon, as a test for Spa 6. Plus it is a lovely event anyway and on my doorstep! Will be good to see you out in the Sabre, too many of those B and Élan things about....... Entry is full, BTW!

[zefarelly]

I'd harboured some pipe dream of doing the 3hr with a Tornado, alas other things conspired against us.

what was the comment on ignition systems a page back? people finally getting rumbled for not running points? or is mapped de rigueur now?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

I'd harboured some pipe dream of doing the 3hr with a Tornado, alas other things conspired against us.

what was the comment on ignition systems a page back? people finally getting rumbled for not running points? or is mapped de rigueur now?

Normal electronic is so last week, Joe!

Only joking. As far as I know the only major pre 66 series that doesn't insist on points is Masters GD, so if people were using electronic in Guards, they risked being caught!

Let us know when you do get the Tornado and track and we will come and join you.