Mini Wedge Fest
Discussion
Inspired by the BBWF we are having a bit of a run out tomorrow and it looks as if we may get 100% attendance of all roadworthy wedges within two days driving distance 
That's all 4
There should be a good showing of all TVR's in the state so will make sure plenty of pics are taken with the hope of making an article out of it.
That's all 4
There should be a good showing of all TVR's in the state so will make sure plenty of pics are taken with the hope of making an article out of it.
The shirts were blue !
Glorious day - 23 deg C and clear blue skies. I was staying in a hotel in town after a show so got off to a late start and thought I was going to miss the meeting point. Luckily a scenic route was being taken which meant doubling back a bit from the meeting point so I was met with the sight of 3 wedges coming towards me flashing headlights.
Now you need to understand what a rare sight that is considering there are only 4 roadworthy cars in a state that is the same size as Western Europe !
Unfortunately out of the handful of modern TVR's in WA only a Chimp could make it on the day (albeit a v.nice example) although there was an immaculately restored Taimar as well as three cars from the Jensen owners club and a couple of "normal" cars, driven by enthusiasts who couldn't make it in any other steeds.
After a quick U-turn I caught up as the cars pulled off the main road and immediately pulled over. Ahead of us lay a 25km stretch of well surfaced road with numerous short straights, gradient changes and switchbacks, sweeping corners and not a junction, traffic light or other joining road on the whole stretch. Apparently it is an unwritten rule that in the morning traffic travels East along the road and then West in the afternoon so it is almost one - way. This was then borne out as around 50 bikes came hurtling past us so we gave it a break before setting off one at a time at 2 minute intervals.
First off Toby in his 280i who was to stop at a 3rd gear bend 10km in and video the cars going past. I had thought the 280 sounded good as he gave it a boot up the tree lined hill away from us but next off Ray in his red 390 set the spine tingling with a full throttle run through the gears, each gear change sending what sounded like a hand grenade explosion back down the road. Next was the Chimp which, whilst making rapid progress, did confirm what I had always known in that a BBW has the best exhaust note, ever, of any car this side of 500hp.
A few of the Jensens next and then a 3 series beemer which I allowed a good couple of minutes grace before setting off. Now picture this - roof down, trees echoing the bark of the exhaust, a 400m straight followed by a downhill 270 deg bend with a small wooden bridge over a stream then a short climb, a long sweeping bend opening onto the next short straight and so on for 25km - motoring heaven. Of course none of us were exceeding the speed limit but I did find I caught the beemer far too rapidly and had to keep stopping to get some space which allowed Don in his silver 390 to come up behind me.
At the end of the road we all allowed the cars to cool and when Toby caught up I distributed the Steve Heath DVD's I had kindly been sent (Thanks again YNW). We then went onwards to a small town which was holding a craft fair, lunch in the local pub and then onto Colin's (Taimar) parents gaff on 17 acres for a scenic photo shoot, a more detailed look at a few of the cars and then afternoon tea before heading off home.
A great day with promises by all to do this more often and again just goes to show, with a 100% turn out, that wedge owners are the most enthusastic owners who have brought the cars for all the right reasons, for what they are - what they look like, sound like and drive like.
Glorious day - 23 deg C and clear blue skies. I was staying in a hotel in town after a show so got off to a late start and thought I was going to miss the meeting point. Luckily a scenic route was being taken which meant doubling back a bit from the meeting point so I was met with the sight of 3 wedges coming towards me flashing headlights.
Now you need to understand what a rare sight that is considering there are only 4 roadworthy cars in a state that is the same size as Western Europe !
Unfortunately out of the handful of modern TVR's in WA only a Chimp could make it on the day (albeit a v.nice example) although there was an immaculately restored Taimar as well as three cars from the Jensen owners club and a couple of "normal" cars, driven by enthusiasts who couldn't make it in any other steeds.
After a quick U-turn I caught up as the cars pulled off the main road and immediately pulled over. Ahead of us lay a 25km stretch of well surfaced road with numerous short straights, gradient changes and switchbacks, sweeping corners and not a junction, traffic light or other joining road on the whole stretch. Apparently it is an unwritten rule that in the morning traffic travels East along the road and then West in the afternoon so it is almost one - way. This was then borne out as around 50 bikes came hurtling past us so we gave it a break before setting off one at a time at 2 minute intervals.
First off Toby in his 280i who was to stop at a 3rd gear bend 10km in and video the cars going past. I had thought the 280 sounded good as he gave it a boot up the tree lined hill away from us but next off Ray in his red 390 set the spine tingling with a full throttle run through the gears, each gear change sending what sounded like a hand grenade explosion back down the road. Next was the Chimp which, whilst making rapid progress, did confirm what I had always known in that a BBW has the best exhaust note, ever, of any car this side of 500hp.
A few of the Jensens next and then a 3 series beemer which I allowed a good couple of minutes grace before setting off. Now picture this - roof down, trees echoing the bark of the exhaust, a 400m straight followed by a downhill 270 deg bend with a small wooden bridge over a stream then a short climb, a long sweeping bend opening onto the next short straight and so on for 25km - motoring heaven. Of course none of us were exceeding the speed limit but I did find I caught the beemer far too rapidly and had to keep stopping to get some space which allowed Don in his silver 390 to come up behind me.
At the end of the road we all allowed the cars to cool and when Toby caught up I distributed the Steve Heath DVD's I had kindly been sent (Thanks again YNW). We then went onwards to a small town which was holding a craft fair, lunch in the local pub and then onto Colin's (Taimar) parents gaff on 17 acres for a scenic photo shoot, a more detailed look at a few of the cars and then afternoon tea before heading off home.
A great day with promises by all to do this more often and again just goes to show, with a 100% turn out, that wedge owners are the most enthusastic owners who have brought the cars for all the right reasons, for what they are - what they look like, sound like and drive like.
Chunder had a look at your pics - wow the gathering looked great.
The weather also looked fantastic. I will be turning your bits into an article if you can add anything more or fire me off some more hi-res pics that would be brilliant.
Tell me though, as the weather is so hot do you have any overheating issues with your wedges??
MikeB
The weather also looked fantastic. I will be turning your bits into an article if you can add anything more or fire me off some more hi-res pics that would be brilliant.
Tell me though, as the weather is so hot do you have any overheating issues with your wedges??
MikeB
mikeb said:
Tell me though, as the weather is so hot do you have any overheating issues with your wedges??
MikeB
The other guys have said they don't and I have only had the car on the road for end of winter / early spring so far so can't really tell.
The cooling system has been modified a bit with a bigger and repositioned expansion tank, larger bore and re-routed pipework, a re-cored rad with larger inlet and oulet flanges, twin fans bolted straight onto the rad with an adjustable thermostat and a modified undertray at the front.
I have a led on the dash wired off the relay output to the fans so know when they cut in and whether the relay has failed and unless I am travelling at greater than 30mph they still cut in occasionally so I imagine I may have issues in traffic when it is 40 deg plus. Fortunately it isn't my only car so I can try it out at the weekends before giving the daily commute a go in summer and I do have a few other mods planned to improve cooling further.
Great words Bob and that car of your looks unreal. It was a perfect day out.
Best noise of the day went to Don in his Silver 390SE as he tramped it out of the curve I was videoing and gave it what for away up the next hill and over it.
The Chimp thought I was a traffic cop and threw out the anchor!! The two interceptors bellowing past were an new experience for me too.
I must admit to giving it some herbs (small engine syndrome...) most of the way round and the only thing that threatened to overheat was the brakes. I've had the 280 through 2 W.A. summers and no overheating probs yet.
I have some good photos, particulary of the wedges so if any are interested email me. Videos came out 4-5 Mb so a bit big for emailing. I'll use lower res next time....
Summer's coming so let's hope next time is soon.
Best noise of the day went to Don in his Silver 390SE as he tramped it out of the curve I was videoing and gave it what for away up the next hill and over it.
The Chimp thought I was a traffic cop and threw out the anchor!! The two interceptors bellowing past were an new experience for me too.
I must admit to giving it some herbs (small engine syndrome...) most of the way round and the only thing that threatened to overheat was the brakes. I've had the 280 through 2 W.A. summers and no overheating probs yet.
I have some good photos, particulary of the wedges so if any are interested email me. Videos came out 4-5 Mb so a bit big for emailing. I'll use lower res next time....
Summer's coming so let's hope next time is soon.
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