Van Diemen RF88

[RAZ]

Hi

I have just brought a Van Diemen 88 , I've just started to rebuild it, So I can race it in the north west . Could anybody tell me were I can get new parts ie: wishbones and uprights ect .


Cheers Raz

[Redracer77]

John Loebell as Medina Spares - www.medinaspares.co.uk

[diz]

Or speak with Nigel Thompson at Team Red and Black in your neck of the woods. He has RF88s' and no doubt youngoldy will pop up here soon and PM you his details

[FA73]

You could also try Ken or Simon at Universal Racing Services (although they are a little further away in Norfolk...)

http://www.universalracing.co.uk/

[youngoldy]

Hi there Raz,

Good to see you have chosen 'sense' over 'achivement' in buying an Van Diemen rather than those pesky Reynards.

We are to run Nigel Thompson in an 88 this year, not sure which championships just yet. Hopefully, Peter Daly will have play again this year up North in his 89. Lee Hannam has an 89 VD for this year, and Doug Crosbie may also be out in his 88 VD this year. Hopefully your car will be up there this year as well. Stu Jones and David Bailey will be in Reynards again hopefully, and Dave Franklin is looking like the guy to beat this year. So you have chosen to right championship.

A guy called Neal Robison is our fabricator of wishbones, up rights. Basically just what you are looking for. He used to work for SPA and made wishbones and other tricky bits for the RIP Jordan F1 team in the late 90's early 00's, so he has been fabicating for years.

You can contact him by email e.robinson6@ntlworld.com . He is based in a small town called Middleton, just a few miles from Drayton Basset. He is building up quite a few wishbones for our 88, so getting spares souldnt be a problem. He is usually at all the FF event we go to, so getting a wishbone at the event if you have a woopsie shouldnt be a problem either.

[Redracer77]

Originally Posted by Redracer77

John Loebell as Medina Spares - www.medinaspares.co.uk

Sorry put the wrong web address down - http://www.medinasport.co.uk/

They are the official supplier of genuine Van Diemen parts for kent cars. I was at the Medina Spares unit on Saturday picking up bits for Absolute's winter rebuilds and I gather John has a number of RF88 uprights and wishbones for sale at reduced prices.

[RAZ]

Thanks lads,

I will chase these up . Hope to see you all later on in the season

Cheers Raz

[phantom lunger]

What has Lee done with his 88 Reynard? Will be interesting to see how he goes in the VD. I've heard around the paddock that they are just as quick if not quicker than the Reynards. Just as hard to get hold of one too.

[youngoldy]

The 88/89 are quite popular down at Castle Combe, but very few go on racecarsdirect as rumours go round and they get snapped up so quickly. But quite a few are coming out of Europe at the moment. I have seen some available in Spain, Austria and Sweeden. Just keep a look out. One is likely to turn up.

We put Tom Bradshaw in 'Our Niges' 88 at Oulton Fosters in 07, and managed 1.04.23, which would have been quick engough the following day to put him P2 or P3 for the Post89 class, and pole in Pre90 by over a second. They are very quick cars, in the right hands. Tom has proven how quick they can be around Oulton, Peter Daly has proved at Silverstone, Mallory and Snetterton how quick they can be there.

In 88/89, the Van Diemen hammered the Reynards. The Reynards in our minds have been very quick, but are easier to drive on the limit than the VD. The VD I believe is a much quicker car, but has to be driven more precisley.

[phantom lunger]

Originally Posted by youngoldy

In 88/89, the Van Diemen hammered the Reynards.

Does anyone know where to find British Formula Ford results from 88/89? I'd be interested to see how the works teams performed against each other back in the day...I was only a wee nipper then

[youngoldy]

Well, when I said hammered....
http://www.motorracing-archive.com/s...cfm/editID/252

Reynard didn't actually get on the podium of the FFF in '89. The VD had the mk9 box in for 89, and then went to the LD200 box in 89, and looking at results on bit of paper from 1989,

The main difference between the 88 to the 889, is the gearbox it uses. On visual, there is nothing striking. But I believe mounting points for the front suspension are slightly different.