History of a Lola T492 Sports 2000 chassis?

[911thillclimber]

Not my picture, but trying to find the photographer, Joy Richings.

[morninggents]

If you put Joy Richings Photography in Google it comes up with someone who may be the one you want.

[911thillclimber]

Thank you.
Got there this morning, nothing says she is in the UK, the same name occures in the USA.
Sent a message to her, so we shall see!

[Gerard C]

Found this for you Graham: https://clubmans.org/regulations
Hope it helps.

[911thillclimber]

Thank you Gerard.
Joy Richings contacted me this evening about the picture, so I hope to get a print for the collection.
She will be at Loton Park hillclimb as I will be, so hope to get it then!

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by 911thillclimber

Thank you Gerard.
Joy Richings contacted me this evening about the picture, so I hope to get a print for the collection.
She will be at Loton Park hillclimb as I will be, so hope to get it then!

I had a jigsaw made from a photo of our dog for my wife's birthday last year. I just had to send the image digitally and they did the rest.
I'd advise you to send the highest quality rendition as you can, a 500 piece jigsaw is far bigger than a 'phone screen so you want as much detail as possible.

[911thillclimber]

The photographer has kindly sent me a high res version for free!
Just ordered 2 1000 pieces jig saws, one for us on a rainy winter day, and one as a Xmas present.
Result!

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by 911thillclimber

The photographer has kindly sent me a high res version for free!
Just ordered 2 1000 pieces jig saws, one for us on a rainy winter day, and one as a Xmas present.
Result!

Two excellent results, well done. I'm wishing you a rainy day (or two) once the jigsaws arrive!

[S griffin]

Glad you've got the jigsaw sorted. Nice!

[911thillclimber]

Jigsaws on the way.
Who would have thought the 'conversation' on this thread would go from the mystery of the chassis number, a few bumps, to 2 mega engine rebuilds and then the making of 2 jigsaws?

Can't wait for the last event at Loton.

No points pressure, class win in the bag and as far as the BBC goes a dry weekend.
We shall see!

Long time ago!

[E.B]

Originally Posted by 911thillclimber

.

Long time ago!

Graham, Is that going into Orchard at Prescott? (He asks 35 years after having last competed or even having been there).
Your car looks somewhat different (and prettier) now it has to be said. (Not that it looked bad then.....)

[911thillclimber]

It is indeed.
The best 'first corner' I know of the Midland Hills (Shelsley, Prescott and Loton Park).
Taken very quickly, flat out, one eye closed and hanging on. I scoot under the bridge at about 80 mph, feels like 180 mph.

50 yards later is another 'facet' of the bend best taken with eyes wide open!

[911thillclimber]

It is indeed.
The best 'first corner' I know of the Midland Hills (Shelsley, Prescott and Loton Park).
Taken very quickly, flat out, one eye closed and hanging on. I scoot under the bridge at about 80 mph, feels like 180 mph.

50 yards later is another 'facet' of the bend best taken with eyes wide open!

The current iteration of the Lola is far nicer to live with, narrower wheels transforming the chassis, and the engine is miles more characterful.

[911thillclimber]

This meeting at Loton over the weekend is the last in the Midland Hillclimb Championship for 2022.
I've done this Championship since 1992, so 30 years chasing points, some years good, some very good and some awful!

5 drivers in the class, just as last Prescott, but I head into it miles ahead of the 2nd place runner by 22 points.

Weather looks good according to the BBC.

Hope to come home with me and the car in one piece.
I have a short list of bits n bobs to do over Xmas, nothing like the mega engine rebuild of 12 months ago.
Bit of luck my body will be pain-free for 2023 when I really hope to do it all over again!
There will be Live Stream for the Sunday i think, we are car # 85.

We are 'seeded' to be the fastest!

LOL!

[E.B]

Best of luck for a successful, reliable and pain free weekend Graham.
Go get 'em.

Chris.

[Mike Harte]

Seconded.

[MGDavid]

Best of luck Graham, and we'd love to see a new PB on the livestream

[911thillclimber]

Thank you for the best wishes and the pressure!
Today was a bit of a mix.
Rained unexpectedly this morning before our runs, so first practice was a cautious 58. We were all careful. (yes, really).
Second practice was dry so went for it.

What a scrappy run it was, I was nowhere near the car up the hill, but netted a nice 55.8 (!).
Allan in the Mini was with engine issues yet again and was just 0.1 sec faster than me, but the 'irritation' was Roger Moran in his full spec tarmac rally Skoda R5 was moved to our class....
And was quickest.

Third run needed more focus, so managed to drive the Lola neatly, no brake lock-ups, no silly positions on the track, no fluffed gear changes, and rewarded me with a nice 55.61, my pb set this year is 55.24.

Had 2 great starts, 2.04 sec matching Allan's mini 4X4.

The clouds gathered, dark grey, and came down just as we set off for home.

So, today:
1st Skoda @ 54.28/2.13
2nd LOLA @ 55.61/2.04
3rd MINI @ 55.81/2.04
4th TVR @ 55.99/ 2.23 (bit close for comfort)
5th/6th the Pilbeam @ 57.96 and 60.82

It would finish off a very good year in the 2022 Championship to finish tomorrow as today, but I'm not sure that will work out.

BUT, that is the plan!

[911thillclimber]

Sunday, and a very cold track!
It was 8 degrees when we all did our first timed runs, cloudy too, and mist covering the fields and valley.
What a difficult run I (and we) had.
Talk about scruffy, but a good time as below, and 3rd in class, TVR 4th.

Second run was considerably warmer, about 16!

Timed run was brilliant, I was with the car and a PB was the result, 54.98, so I've delivered on my instruction to get a PB. Haven't seen the live stream yet as I type this message.

second in class and the TVR 4th.

Thus the Championship is over, and I think i will have won the Class for my 5th time in this little race car.

What a great way to finish this year after all the anguish of doing the engine last Winter, but what an engine it is proving to be, I am very proud of my DIY engine build and the result.

Holiday looming and time to mull things over for the winter and 2023.
The TVR will be back with a score to settle, and there is talk of a well driven Norma sports car arriving too, but we shall see!

[Mike Harte]

Well done, Graham; we all had faith in you!

[911thillclimber]

Ha!
I have you all in the back of my mind (not kidding) when I drop the clutch on the start line.

https://youtu.be/Lu2-4PzaPSM?t=21781

[Gerard C]

Well done Graham, good job from the driver and mechanic. Comme on dit ici, champagne!

[lotustwincam]

I was holding my breath watching your runs on the live feed, . Congratulations on a great result, engine and drive!
I hope to get to a few Hillclimbs next season, so I may actually see the car I have followed right from the beginning.

[911thillclimber]

Thank you all so much.
This little story has covered a lot of ground!

I will be writing up the 2022 Season for another (Porsche) forum, nothing to massive, and hopefully not too boring, I'll copy n paste it on here when done later in October, but you all know the story.

My long friend in Allan with the MiniEVO has 'warned' me not to get used to me beating him as I have done a few times. He suffers from reliability issues as the car is so highly strung.
Having the TVR and Mike Luck arrive has been significant motivator and will be a pain in the A+se in 2023.

10-10ths has been an equally large motivation for me as you all follow this adventure I'm on, and I like you all to share this with me good and evil, your encouragement is priceless.

While I'm here I have to say a BIG Thank You to my wife, without whom none of this would happen and keep going.

Secondly, the long term job Sean at McClurg Motorsport did 10 years ago on setting this chassis up for me where I miserably (laughably?) failed, it is a major factor in the enjoyment and performance of the car in my amateur hands.

For me, this is the picture-of-the-year that sums the car up....the perplexing right hander at Bottom Esse at Shelsley Walsh.

[Gerard C]

I will follow with a grat pleasure you writings and 2023 new adventures, Graham. Just one question, when you say " the perplexing right hander at Bottom Esse at Shelsley Walsh" are you sure its a right hander?