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.
Welcome Graham, there a few cars being used on the hills these days so you won't be alone. There are lots of different flavours of cars and many have had various things done with them. Have search in this forum to start with, quite a few threads on the topic you are asking about. I've had mine since 2005 and modified it to its current spec - fair amount of information on my site - www.mtcracing.co.uk
I have a ton of pictures of my 2000 Prosport on the web. It covers several years of projects and there are many pics of the chassis and closeups of other components:
http://pictureposter.allbrand.nu/pictures/nasa+racer/Radical/showall
http://pictureposter.allbrand.nu/pictures/nasa+racer/Radical/showall
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.
Not sure on a Robinson S2000 but a SR4 has two seats but passenger is very tight and chain drive. A clubsport can be converted to two seats but built with just one. SR3 has no chain with a transaxle attached to the engine, is bigger than SR4 and will take 2. SR8 is a V8 engined beast. Google Radical Sportscars for a full description of all but the Clubsport which is no longer sold. If you look at the online sales area you will see pictures of all parts of the cars including the CS.
You'd better be prepared to open your wallet!
Nick
You'd better be prepared to open your wallet!
Nick
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.
- How big an engine can I put in the early 1100 Clubspot?
Hayabusa conversion have gone to 1800 but you don't hear much about them, 1600's are getting more common
- Can I get to 1500cc or what routes are open to me?
Tried and tested route is the Busa engine, ZX14 might also be an option but I don't know what kits are out there for them
- Also, has anyone put a turbocharged bike engine in such a car?
Supercharge is better imho, speak to Green Hill Racing, they do one of the best kits but they aren't with their issues.
- The hillclimb class is up to 2000cc and the turbo 'multiplier' is 1.4, so a turbo 1100 = 1540
A 1500 = 2100cc etc.
I thought that was higher now? (would need to check)
- Where can I find out info on the bike engines?
Google is your friend
Hayabusa conversion have gone to 1800 but you don't hear much about them, 1600's are getting more common
- Can I get to 1500cc or what routes are open to me?
Tried and tested route is the Busa engine, ZX14 might also be an option but I don't know what kits are out there for them
- Also, has anyone put a turbocharged bike engine in such a car?
Supercharge is better imho, speak to Green Hill Racing, they do one of the best kits but they aren't with their issues.
- The hillclimb class is up to 2000cc and the turbo 'multiplier' is 1.4, so a turbo 1100 = 1540
A 1500 = 2100cc etc.
I thought that was higher now? (would need to check)
- Where can I find out info on the bike engines?
Google is your friend
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.
Forget turbo & superchargers fitted to bike engines for the hills, that is unless your planning on just being a straight line hero! Check out the blue & yellow Force at Shelsley today its got 341bhp at the tyres from its supercharged Busa, still manages to be 3 or 4 seconds slower than the same car fitted with a 1070cc nat asp engine everywhere we go, saying that sometimes its v fast through the speed trap!
Me in car 110 if your there today, come and have a chat. Darren
Me in car 110 if your there today, come and have a chat. Darren
Graham
Before committing to an engine, remember that at National B level the engine break point is usually 1700cc, whereas at National A level it is 2000cc (except for Harewood where it is 1400cc and 2000cc for B events) and that there are few entries in >1700 in B events and even fewer in >2000 at A events. Confused?
The combination of sticky slicks, more powerful engines and hillclimb starts certainly test Radicals rear chassis rigidity, diff location and chain strength - it's taken me a year to engineer the problems out of my car but we've got good solutions now.
As you're in the Midlands, you're very welcome to have a crawl over my 1600 lightweight Prosport - it has been developed quite a lot and is now reasonably rapid. PM me and I'll let you know where I'll be competing over the next few weeks.
Before committing to an engine, remember that at National B level the engine break point is usually 1700cc, whereas at National A level it is 2000cc (except for Harewood where it is 1400cc and 2000cc for B events) and that there are few entries in >1700 in B events and even fewer in >2000 at A events. Confused?
The combination of sticky slicks, more powerful engines and hillclimb starts certainly test Radicals rear chassis rigidity, diff location and chain strength - it's taken me a year to engineer the problems out of my car but we've got good solutions now.
As you're in the Midlands, you're very welcome to have a crawl over my 1600 lightweight Prosport - it has been developed quite a lot and is now reasonably rapid. PM me and I'll let you know where I'll be competing over the next few weeks.
Here are a few random pics of my 2 seat conversion http://rides.webshots.com/album/547990035TVzXfx?vh...
How did the hill climb go in the porker? I see it's a proper air cooled version!
Bert
How did the hill climb go in the porker? I see it's a proper air cooled version!
Bert
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