Hillclimb Ford Puma

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Discussion

tp_reading

Original Poster:

32 posts

72 months

Sunday 10th November 2019
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I don’t think that I have ever seen a Ford Puma 1700 on the hillclimb circuit. They have their own circuit class, are they not competitive on the hills for some reason ?


AdeRacing

31 posts

69 months

Monday 11th November 2019
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What are the engine size rules in hillclimb like? One of the reasons why Puma's have their own series and are seen in large numbers outside of that is because the 1.7 engine often puts them in the 2 litre class. The ones that are successful (like my old one) in general series tend to be 1.6's.


Truckosaurus

11,183 posts

283 months

Monday 11th November 2019
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Most events seem to have classes split <1400, <2000 and >2000cc.

I'm sure I've seen a Racing Puma competing, and they aren't too far off the power of the popular 2-litre Clios in that class.

Some clubs run a 1800/2600cc split which it would fit nicely into (a friend sprints a 325i Compact under those rules).

tp_reading

Original Poster:

32 posts

72 months

Monday 11th November 2019
quotequote all
Truckosaurus said:
Most events seem to have classes split <1400, <2000 and >2000cc.

I'm sure I've seen a Racing Puma competing, and they aren't too far off the power of the popular 2-litre Clios in that class.

Some clubs run a 1800/2600cc split which it would fit nicely into (a friend sprints a 325i Compact under those rules).
That’s what I thought. There are lots of Clio’s competing at Gurston Down in the Roadgoing up to 2000 class. I thought I might have a go in a Puma next year, however I’ve never seen one on the hills so reasoned that they were uncompetitive. There are loads of good ones around for under £2,500.

DarkMatter

1,473 posts

230 months

Monday 11th November 2019
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There was a Ford Puma at Gurston in August 2019, running in the SBD H.S.A. Hillclimb Championship.

Results here https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=sprint/2019/193...

tp_reading

Original Poster:

32 posts

72 months

Monday 11th November 2019
quotequote all
DarkMatter said:
There was a Ford Puma at Gurston in August 2019, running in the SBD H.S.A. Hillclimb Championship.

Results here https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=sprint/2019/193...
Thanks for the info. The Puma times compare well with the MX5’s ,which was my other choice.

df76

3,614 posts

277 months

Monday 11th November 2019
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Are you talking about a 1.7 puma with c.125bhp?? You’d need north of 200bhp to be anywhere competitive in the 2l class. Some clubs run a 1.8 class (in the south west), but you’d then be up against Elise’s.

tp_reading

Original Poster:

32 posts

72 months

Monday 11th November 2019
quotequote all
It will have to be a Clio then I expect &#128553;

Mr Red Barron

1,568 posts

207 months

Monday 11th November 2019
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You could always buy a 1.6 Puma?

Noyzboy

93 posts

217 months

Monday 11th November 2019
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Or buy this one

Galveston

708 posts

198 months

Monday 11th November 2019
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A Clio 172/182 does everything a Puma can do, a lot more besides, and won't rust.

I sprint and hillclimb a standard Clio 172 Cup. It's a bloody brilliant little thing. Fun, fast, reliable, cheap to maintain... perfect.

LordHaveMurci

12,034 posts

168 months

Monday 11th November 2019
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Galveston said:
A Clio 172/182 does everything a Puma can do, a lot more besides, and won't rust.

I sprint and hillclimb a standard Clio 172 Cup. It's a bloody brilliant little thing. Fun, fast, reliable, cheap to maintain... perfect.
Just not quick enough to be really competitive (in the dry), not in the SW anyway with the 1800-2600cc class frown

Still a whole lot of fun though!

df76

3,614 posts

277 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
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tp_reading said:
It will have to be a Clio then I expect ??
Which events would you most want to do??

tp_reading

Original Poster:

32 posts

72 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
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df76 said:
Which events would you most want to do??
I fancy doing a season at Gursdon Down in the road going, under 2litre class, and to drive there and back in the car. I tried it a couple of years ago in my Porsche 968. It’s a very heavy car, and being 3litre was uncompetitive in its class. I just want some cheap motorsport, but don’t want to finish stone last !!!

df76

3,614 posts

277 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
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tp_reading said:
df76 said:
Which events would you most want to do??
I fancy doing a season at Gursdon Down in the road going, under 2litre class, and to drive there and back in the car. I tried it a couple of years ago in my Porsche 968. It’s a very heavy car, and being 3litre was uncompetitive in its class. I just want some cheap motorsport, but don’t want to finish stone last !!!
You definitely need something with 200bhp+ then. The previous record holder would have had at least 240bhp in their Civic. Other than a 2l, Turbo 1.4 is an option. Or something very light - an Elan has gone well (little out of budget).

darreni

3,759 posts

269 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
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Noyzboy said:
Or buy this one
Lol, that’s a very long way from being a puma!



confucuis

1,303 posts

123 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
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Toyota MRS any good?

I'm in the same boat over here in Ireland. Looking at something besides my Punto for 2021. I always liked the look of the MX5/MRS/Elise sort of cars but that puts me into the class with the mega 2 litre Civics. I don't want a Civic but I do like the Clio so that is an option!

Galveston

708 posts

198 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
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tp_reading said:
I fancy doing a season at Gursdon Down in the road going, under 2litre class, and to drive there and back in the car. I tried it a couple of years ago in my Porsche 968. It’s a very heavy car, and being 3litre was uncompetitive in its class. I just want some cheap motorsport, but don’t want to finish stone last !!!
For what it's worth, I've only done Gurston once and did a 41.8 in my bog-standard 172 Cup (on List 1A tyres).

The onboard video looks fairly sedate, so I reckon it could go a second faster with more practice and a bigger brave pill for Hollow. Let's say 40.5s with stickier tyres, and that looks mid-class in A2 on a typical day.

tp_reading

Original Poster:

32 posts

72 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
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Thanks for the info. Looks like that’s the way to go for me. I shall start trawling Autotrader.

Galveston

708 posts

198 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
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I've uploaded the onboard video for inspiration...

https://youtu.be/mTuZ6pRKnbU