History of a Lola T492 Sports 2000 chassis?

[midgetman]

That's what makes it perplexing, Gérard

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[911thillclimber]

WELL DONE!
You are the only one to pick up on this mistake...
Told you it was perplexing....

This winter's work will be quite light.
A small list of diy jobs to do and then the car is off to McClurg Motorsport for a full suspension geometry check and reset where required, Sean sure knows his stuff.
It has been a great season and here I am 12 months on from when I stripped the engine and all that 'game' started.

It has been confirmed I have won the Class in the Midland Championship in 2022, and the 5th time my name is stamped on the silverware, so very chuffed.

I wonder what 2023 will deliver.
I am sure the TVR/ Mike Luck will be coming out to get me, and possibly a keen young driver with a fabulous Norma sports racer prepped by Tom New who is wizard, he engineers the winner of the British Hillclimb Championship no less.

This year I really wanted this award, to justify the £10K ticket of the engine etc, but 5 times feels so good.

Not sure how many more years I will run, I'm 70 now and definitely creaking everywhere, dealing with trailers is a pain in the ar+e.

However, the wife is keen to keep going!

Very soon this thread will hit 1,000,000 hits for goodness sakes, I can't let you all down!

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by midgetman

That's what makes it perplexing, Gérard

Graham you're right about the Norma, those are really good cars.The ones we had here were mainly mated to a Honda two liter engine, a lot of power (around 300) but may be not as user friendly as your Porsche unit.

As to your trailer if no one gives hand you'll find electric motors to help and even a remote command. https://www.caravancampingsales.com....coming-123096/
No excuse not to go now!

[911thillclimber]

The Norma is a very modern design over the Lola, daresay the driver is too!

The trailer already has a mover and winch on it in the vein of 'work smarter than harder'.
I doubt we could have the hilclimb 'thing' more worked out than we have already.
I'm still suffering from joint pains and a very difficult right foot problem that makes me hobble. Top of the winter 'To Do' list is to fix these probs if I can over the next 6 months.

Just back from a 2 week driving tour of north/mid France, feel better already!

Nice car, nice hotels always work for us.

This would be our next hillclimb car when/if the Lola has to go.

[MGDavid]

Bah humbug! I thought much like you on reaching 70 yet here I am 3 years on, having just completed my second Spa 6 Hours and looking forward to the season closer which is my 7th Race of Remembrance. Anglesey host us for 12 hours split over Saturday and Sunday - when it's not dark it will be gloomy and when it's not raining sideways off the Irish Sea it soon will be. And always cold. But most of us old-boy racers believe if you stop you simply fade away and die. I'm not volunteering to test that theory!
Graham, if the bones creak try a week - two is better - of decent heat in the winter; somewhere like Sharm or Hurghada or even southern Spain where you can just loll about in the sun interspersed with a swim or a massage. Works for me, it was 29 degrees in Almeria today and we are heading there in the morning.

[911thillclimber]

Yes David, you are right, Just Get On With It comes to mind.

With that thought, the tinkering with the Lola has started.
The list is tiny compared to 12 months ago!



The hub at the rear is the big issues, so started there and had a lot of luck over the last few days. The hub back face is now machined flat and true, new wheel drive pegs machined and installed, al all the brakes etc all line up!
That was a surprise!

I'll let the few pics do the talking:

[911thillclimber]

Took the Lola down to Sean at McClurg motorsport for a check over since the last demon set-up 10 years or so ago.

We dropped it off and went to the Garden Centre, and returned a few hours later. It was 'OUT', i suspect my rumble strip rattles were not kind let along a million strap downs to the trailer and a few adventures off roading along the way...

As ever, all dialed in cock-on and some homework to do.
Sean always gives me homework to do!

I now feel very confident to have a great chassis again all fresh and accurate!

Oh, and I hate the M1/M42/M6 and any road in the UK after 6 hours fighting traffic and close-quarters with lorries and vans and hire vans.

Still all done, so after my homework a few small things to do and an oil change and we are ready for 2023!

Oh, I love this car.

[911thillclimber]

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[VIVA GT]

Hopefully you will have a less stressful closed season this year.
(But at least your results made all of the hard work worth-while)

[911thillclimber]

This winter will be VERY stree-free in comparison to 12 months ago!

With the Lola now under a cloth cover for 3 months or so, my old classic 911 also in a similar position, I have decided to fully restore a 1949 Humber gents touring bicycle with 2 gears missing from it's Sturmy Archer gear hub, plus everything is rusty...

Got to have a challenge!

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by 911thillclimber

It was 'OUT', i suspect my rumble strip rattles were not kind let along a million strap downs to the trailer and a few adventures off roading along the way...

How true this is, if the use of strong straps is a necessity sometimes we dont care as we shouldabout how to place them. On a touring car (tin top for you may be?) it can bend the steering rack!


Fix a damaged gear hub will keep your brain busy more than expected, what a headache it can be! Bonne chance avec cette bicyclette, Graham!

[911thillclimber]

Just around a week to go before Xmas, we have just finished putting up the decorations, so I think it is time to send you all a Card from Team Lola!

It has been a great year with the car as regular readers well know, and I thank all of you for your support and interest as ever.
I have the Championship Trophy for the 5th time in 6 years, a reliable season thanks to the DIY engine, fresh tyres and as ever the McClurg Motorsport chassis, should be even better now Sean has moved his gauges and spanners over it.

My closest rival this year, Mike Luck is running a new car for next year, far far more hillclimb focused in specification, so 2023 may not go so well for me!

Anyway, may I wish you all a very happy Xmas and a great New Year!

[MGDavid]

And the same to you and yours... please keep us entertained during 2023.

[911thillclimber]

Still a LONG time to go before the season kicks off, Prescott 22/23 April no less.
The Lola is under a large dust sheet, just needs an oil change and a really good clean and we are off.

Biggest fright is that AVON are stopping competition tyre production end of 2023, no more hillclimb tyres from them, and Pirrelli are going the same way it seems.

At this rate we will have to modify these cars to road tyres (!) or stop using the cars and all join the road going classes.

There has never been a greater threat to top hillclimbing possibly across the whole of Europe.

Goodness knows where this will leave the historic racing on the circuits too.

Gulp...

[MGDavid]

Could you (Kevan) alter the setup for radials and use Michelins?