Hethel lotus test track retro event
Discussion
I'll take on telling the organisers, Stewart, as the only sensible one here. 
Phazed has decided to drive up in the morning, given that we only need to be there 10.30/11 ish.
Hope you noted the timings Alun. It's not a normal 8.30 track day briefing. Briefing is 11.15, on track 12-5.
I am not aware if there is catering at the track. Peter will be in his mobile tea wagon.......and as I am on a diet still I will be on lettuce sandwiches.
Phazed has decided to drive up in the morning, given that we only need to be there 10.30/11 ish.
Hope you noted the timings Alun. It's not a normal 8.30 track day briefing. Briefing is 11.15, on track 12-5.
I am not aware if there is catering at the track. Peter will be in his mobile tea wagon.......and as I am on a diet still I will be on lettuce sandwiches.
I was told it had a 2.5 litre engine and it certainly was louder than standard cars. But then my engine is twice that size.
Went for a passenger ride in it, and the most obvious thing was how chuckable it was into corners, and how well it carried speed where I was on the limit of grip.
My F1 excuses - my tyres were one track day away from completely shot, I got baulked more than once by slower cars, I can take Charlie's 1&2 (where he re-caught me after the bottom straight) a lot faster now I have newer tyres.
But I did a couple of long sessions on track, either behind or in front of him, and we lapped pretty consistently in the same times. He came out for a ride on the TVR and was blown away by the noise and the grunt.
Went for a passenger ride in it, and the most obvious thing was how chuckable it was into corners, and how well it carried speed where I was on the limit of grip.
My F1 excuses - my tyres were one track day away from completely shot, I got baulked more than once by slower cars, I can take Charlie's 1&2 (where he re-caught me after the bottom straight) a lot faster now I have newer tyres.
But I did a couple of long sessions on track, either behind or in front of him, and we lapped pretty consistently in the same times. He came out for a ride on the TVR and was blown away by the noise and the grunt.
That was a good part-day. Great guys all of you. I think I counted 6 Chims, a Grief, either two or three Ss and Yosini's Cerbera. Interesting track, despite the narrow chicane, and we proved that Peter's car is faster than mine in the bends as well as the straights.....or he's a better driver. No, not a chance....must be the car.
Thanks to Peter for the shade and cold fizzy water, and to you all for your unfailing good humour - even Joe seemed quite calm and cheerful when faced with an engine rebuild bill. I suspect he has shares in Bespoke.....or the RAC?
Hope you got back to your wife and littl'un at something approaching a sensible time.
Thanks to Peter for the shade and cold fizzy water, and to you all for your unfailing good humour - even Joe seemed quite calm and cheerful when faced with an engine rebuild bill. I suspect he has shares in Bespoke.....or the RAC?
Hope you got back to your wife and littl'un at something approaching a sensible time.
Yeah what a bummer,, a fantastic day somewhat spoiled by the Cerbs troubles, by the look of the two fat skid marks it must have been a frightening moment for Joe.
That's a great track when it's free of slow things. Flowing and you can rest on the two straights
I was only going 3/4 throttle,,,,,,,,, hahahahah believe that and I'm the Pope.
We were easily the happiest bunch there, we all brought good heads with us and concentrated well I'd say. All the Tvr's were cracking today I thought,
Love the S cars but didn't get to be on track at the same time,
Matthew Poxons car when your behind him,, mega sound I thought.
We had some really fun laps together,, cars are evenly matched on power but his handles better than mine,,,, hahahahah bulls
t he's thinking,, I love my excuses,,, even I laugh at the futility of some of them.
But I did have huge brake judder from the front left,, it's not right and the caliper is not pushing the out side pad on the disc enough. Hmmmm
Might be a wheel bearing just starting to give up,, it only judders from 130mph down to 50mph when really hard on the brakes but the steering wheel is vibrating hugely.
Maybe a warped disc I suppose.
Anyway what a good day that was, sun, great cars and great company and a nice smooth bit of Tarmac to enjoy without the plod on ya back.
Watching the Tvr's on track I was well impressed with how we all drove.
That's a great track when it's free of slow things. Flowing and you can rest on the two straights
I was only going 3/4 throttle,,,,,,,,, hahahahah believe that and I'm the Pope.
We were easily the happiest bunch there, we all brought good heads with us and concentrated well I'd say. All the Tvr's were cracking today I thought,
Love the S cars but didn't get to be on track at the same time,
Matthew Poxons car when your behind him,, mega sound I thought.
We had some really fun laps together,, cars are evenly matched on power but his handles better than mine,,,, hahahahah bulls
t he's thinking,, I love my excuses,,, even I laugh at the futility of some of them. But I did have huge brake judder from the front left,, it's not right and the caliper is not pushing the out side pad on the disc enough. Hmmmm
Might be a wheel bearing just starting to give up,, it only judders from 130mph down to 50mph when really hard on the brakes but the steering wheel is vibrating hugely.
Maybe a warped disc I suppose.
Anyway what a good day that was, sun, great cars and great company and a nice smooth bit of Tarmac to enjoy without the plod on ya back.
Watching the Tvr's on track I was well impressed with how we all drove.
QBee said:
Who looks after it for you?
That'll be me... Only back on the road last Thursday after a pretty extensive rebuild. Only thing I didn't do was the engine as it sounded ok and pulled really well when I bought her. I'm not too fussed as it's why I went there today, I knew it would make or break it and I'd rather it happen now than abroad... tel595 said:
Was a good day all told, but I too have the prospect of an engine swap or rebuild. I think a big end or main bearing has gone and that's why my S lost oil pressure (thought it was the hot weather). Only 2 and a half weeks till the S club Eurotour, no pressure then... 
That's not what we were hoping to hear Tel,, Does the Carb and yourself Tel have a baffled sump?
I'm just wondering if that long right hander might have chucked the oil away from the pickup!
It's a long corner that goes on for seconds,,, then tight hairpins the same,, then if that's not hard enough your then going left right left at speed high up the revs,,, it's a test alright and mainly on the machinery.
Sad to end this with mechanical woes but if it was going to happen it's better for it to happen in a safe environment.
ClassiChimi said:
Watching the Tvr's on track I was well impressed with how we all drove.
It was great to see so many TVR's on the track and not pussy footing around either, good bunch of lads.. I was really impressed with how well my S could hussle round the track, even on soft shock settings and super high profile tyres it did pretty well. I got the car set up ok for road use after a few shock adjustments, but after the oil pressure went, I thought it would be prudent to nurse her back to Ipswich... A brilliant day though and the organisers are a good group of enthusiasts too.. ClassiChimi said:
That's not what we were hoping to hear Tel,,
Does the Carb and yourself Tel have a baffled sump?
I'm just wondering if that long right hander might have chucked the oil away from the pickup!
It's a long corner that goes on for seconds,,, then tight hairpins the same,, then if that's not hard enough your then going left right left at speed high up the revs,,, it's a test alright and mainly on the machinery.
Sad to end this with mechanical woes but if it was going to happen it's better for it to happen in a safe environment.
I think you may have a point there.. I was getting a bit excited on a couple of the laps and pushing rather hard.. I doubt the sump is anything but standard, and to be honest I have no idea what standard is. I think I'll probably just look for a donor replacement engine and put that in with all my ancillaries, I can then build a new engine from the original. There's a few 2.9s on ebay so I'll try and get one by the end of the week.. Happy days...Does the Carb and yourself Tel have a baffled sump?
I'm just wondering if that long right hander might have chucked the oil away from the pickup!
It's a long corner that goes on for seconds,,, then tight hairpins the same,, then if that's not hard enough your then going left right left at speed high up the revs,,, it's a test alright and mainly on the machinery.
Sad to end this with mechanical woes but if it was going to happen it's better for it to happen in a safe environment.
tel595 said:
I think you may have a point there.. I was getting a bit excited on a couple of the laps and pushing rather hard.. I doubt the sump is anything but standard, and to be honest I have no idea what standard is. I think I'll probably just look for a donor replacement engine and put that in with all my ancillaries, I can then build a new engine from the original. There's a few 2.9s on ebay so I'll try and get one by the end of the week.. Happy days...
Top man,, top car too Tel, yeah, it's an excuse to build a beauty of an engine. I have a baffled sump and since it was put on the car the oil pressure even today is constant 30 psi, it used to drop in both left and right hand corners!
I love my Chim but as the years roll on the S shape just gets better with age,, you guys looked the business out there.
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