Totally new to Radicals: advice please
Discussion
I am a seasoned hillclimber in tin tops for last 18 years. Before I get too old i fancy hillclimbing a 'Sports Racer', and as older cars like Lola's are somewhat rare, my eye has turned to Radicals.
I am particularly drawn to the early bodied cars with 'older style' bodywork etc. The class in hillclimbs for these cars in sports Libre to 2000cc. Really this means anything goes as long as the engine is less than 2000cc.
I am looking for pics of early spec cars with body off so i can see the construction and lots of other info to the chassis, weight/wheels size etc to see if the car is right (to my mind) for the hills.
Has anyone fitted a reverse gear to a radical for instance?
Can anyone help me please at least to get started. I've searched Google of course, but thought i would get to the heart of the enthusiasts on here.
Graham.
I am particularly drawn to the early bodied cars with 'older style' bodywork etc. The class in hillclimbs for these cars in sports Libre to 2000cc. Really this means anything goes as long as the engine is less than 2000cc.
I am looking for pics of early spec cars with body off so i can see the construction and lots of other info to the chassis, weight/wheels size etc to see if the car is right (to my mind) for the hills.
Has anyone fitted a reverse gear to a radical for instance?
Can anyone help me please at least to get started. I've searched Google of course, but thought i would get to the heart of the enthusiasts on here.
Graham.
Ha! I knew I would get to the real enthusiasts here! Thankyou all very much for the responses; I will follow them all up.
I particularly like the 'type' (forgive my ignorance) with the body that was (I am told) taken off a Robinson Sports 2000 of 1978 vintage, BUT with 2 'seats'.
Also, it seems the 2 seaters do not have chain drive?
For the Libre class, you need about 400 bhp/tonne minimum with a lot of agility.
Thank you all again, Graham.
I particularly like the 'type' (forgive my ignorance) with the body that was (I am told) taken off a Robinson Sports 2000 of 1978 vintage, BUT with 2 'seats'.
Also, it seems the 2 seaters do not have chain drive?
For the Libre class, you need about 400 bhp/tonne minimum with a lot of agility.
Thank you all again, Graham.
To the techies on here please:
How big an engine can I put in the early 1100 Clubspot?
Can I get to 1500cc or what routes are open to me?
Also, has anyone put a turbocharged bike engine in such a car?
The hillclimb class is up to 2000cc and the turbo 'multiplier' is 1.4, so a turbo 1100 = 1540
A 1500 = 2100cc etc.
Where can I find out info on the bike engines?
Graham.
How big an engine can I put in the early 1100 Clubspot?
Can I get to 1500cc or what routes are open to me?
Also, has anyone put a turbocharged bike engine in such a car?
The hillclimb class is up to 2000cc and the turbo 'multiplier' is 1.4, so a turbo 1100 = 1540
A 1500 = 2100cc etc.
Where can I find out info on the bike engines?
Graham.
Thanks Rob.
The bike engine world is totally new to me, but they are getting very common in light hillclimb cars, esp Locaterfield types.
with my tweeked Impreza I am all to familiar with the difficulties of turbos and a supercharger is a good route if there is room for either.(and the intercooler)
Very interesting and I appreciate the responses.
Where would we all be without Google?!
Graham.
The bike engine world is totally new to me, but they are getting very common in light hillclimb cars, esp Locaterfield types.
with my tweeked Impreza I am all to familiar with the difficulties of turbos and a supercharger is a good route if there is room for either.(and the intercooler)
Very interesting and I appreciate the responses.
Where would we all be without Google?!
Graham.
DSL: Thanks for coming over to say hello and all the advice. Just read your post tonight.
Thanks for the chance to see your Prosport too!
I can't help thinking the Clubsport is the right Radical for the hills.
There was an SR4 racing today at Shelsley, and after looking hard at the construction it is obviously a very robust chassis and the quality of fit is exact and very tight. Perfect!
Thanks for the 2 seater pics, looks tight. The SR4 was very neat with its two seat moulding.
Had the opportunity to talk with a lot of prople about a Radical on the hills, and the comments were very varied.
The Porker was simply superb at Shelsley.
Slow, but magic. For anyone who has not driven an early 911 on the limit at a hillclimb you have missed an experience. Just so focused anf tactile.
I hope a Radical can thrill the nerves as completely.
Thanks for the chance to see your Prosport too!
I can't help thinking the Clubsport is the right Radical for the hills.
There was an SR4 racing today at Shelsley, and after looking hard at the construction it is obviously a very robust chassis and the quality of fit is exact and very tight. Perfect!
Thanks for the 2 seater pics, looks tight. The SR4 was very neat with its two seat moulding.
Had the opportunity to talk with a lot of prople about a Radical on the hills, and the comments were very varied.
The Porker was simply superb at Shelsley.
Slow, but magic. For anyone who has not driven an early 911 on the limit at a hillclimb you have missed an experience. Just so focused anf tactile.
I hope a Radical can thrill the nerves as completely.
Thanks to you all, and good to meet you DSL and for the sound advice!
LCM: will follow this with you if i get closer to using a Radical for the hills.
The Radical SR4 today was superbly made and a real credit to Radical.
Talking to a few at Shelsley, there is a mxed opinion to the suitablility of a Radical for the hills, but mainly 'too heavy'was said.
Not at all sure I agree with that as I drive 1000Kg and 1250Kg tin-tops normally!
Bert: The 911 was superb today, and I took a personal best again after 5 years of last racing it.
I think a Clubsport is the right car for me and with a stock 1100cc engine for now.
Regards to all, Graham.
LCM: will follow this with you if i get closer to using a Radical for the hills.
The Radical SR4 today was superbly made and a real credit to Radical.
Talking to a few at Shelsley, there is a mxed opinion to the suitablility of a Radical for the hills, but mainly 'too heavy'was said.
Not at all sure I agree with that as I drive 1000Kg and 1250Kg tin-tops normally!
Bert: The 911 was superb today, and I took a personal best again after 5 years of last racing it.
I think a Clubsport is the right car for me and with a stock 1100cc engine for now.
Regards to all, Graham.
Considered a Bike engines Locaterfield, but not for me (too many hot shots in the class)
Seems that the Radical Clubsport has no or rather a weak reversing gear 'system' which bothers me as i'm not mauling the car back into a sloping grass wet paddock!
This could be the deal breaker on the radical direction.
Graham.
Seems that the Radical Clubsport has no or rather a weak reversing gear 'system' which bothers me as i'm not mauling the car back into a sloping grass wet paddock!
This could be the deal breaker on the radical direction.
Graham.
If you don't ask, you don't learn!
From all the pics sent recently it looks very small down there and surrounded with a birdcage of tubes.
It is a must to have a good reversing gear in hillclimbs and their paddocks (pits) which are usually tarmac but can be bumpy wet grass.
The Zcars make use of a starter motor that is manually meshed with the diff sprocket I think. Crude, but ok if it works.
When I started on this tak I was looking for a Sports 2000 racer, an old one, and those have the Hewland Mk 8 box used in a zillion Formula Fords etc. Reverse is there.
Finding one of those cars is painful, hence the Radical route.
The basic Clubsport is the right spec...
The reverse issue will be a deal breaker.
As ever, thank you all for so much help so far.
This site really works thanks to the people!
Regards, Graham.
From all the pics sent recently it looks very small down there and surrounded with a birdcage of tubes.
It is a must to have a good reversing gear in hillclimbs and their paddocks (pits) which are usually tarmac but can be bumpy wet grass.
The Zcars make use of a starter motor that is manually meshed with the diff sprocket I think. Crude, but ok if it works.
When I started on this tak I was looking for a Sports 2000 racer, an old one, and those have the Hewland Mk 8 box used in a zillion Formula Fords etc. Reverse is there.
Finding one of those cars is painful, hence the Radical route.
The basic Clubsport is the right spec...
The reverse issue will be a deal breaker.
As ever, thank you all for so much help so far.
This site really works thanks to the people!
Regards, Graham.
Edited by 911hillclimber on Tuesday 6th May 21:13
I can't be pushing and shoving in the crowded paddock, and the wife won't either!
Some of the paddocks in the hillclimbs I do are far from easy to move a car about.
As to a weight of 500Kg @ 200bhp
I'm used to a 911 @ 1060Kg/230 bhp and latterly an Impreza at 1260Kg @ 370 bhp.
Can only dream about 500Kg monsters!
Sportslibre: are you doing Barbon this weekend? There is a dual driven Radical there.
Some of the paddocks in the hillclimbs I do are far from easy to move a car about.
As to a weight of 500Kg @ 200bhp
I'm used to a 911 @ 1060Kg/230 bhp and latterly an Impreza at 1260Kg @ 370 bhp.
Can only dream about 500Kg monsters!
Sportslibre: are you doing Barbon this weekend? There is a dual driven Radical there.
Today at Barbon hillclimb was the shared Radical of Tom Brown and Steven Cunningham.
Must admit, the car looked great and went well, esp as it seemed to be on 'circuit settings' which are FAR away from hillclimb 'suppleness'
It was great to actually see a Club Sport first hand. Surprisingly small to my mind.
My 911 Bitza was just great, but the meeting was great too.
Must admit, the car looked great and went well, esp as it seemed to be on 'circuit settings' which are FAR away from hillclimb 'suppleness'
It was great to actually see a Club Sport first hand. Surprisingly small to my mind.
My 911 Bitza was just great, but the meeting was great too.
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