History of a Lola T492 Sports 2000 chassis?

[911thillclimber]

Indeed.
Recently some are asking if the weekend meetings should go in favour of 2 x one day meetings. This format is used for more 'Clubbie' events rather than the big British Champ meetings.
The organizers make more money this way but one day meets are hard work and hard on the car oddly it feels.

I like the weekend meetings, quite relaxed after 3 decades!

[911thillclimber]

Finally some action!
Finals for the Midland Championship meeting at Loton Park in mid April have arrived.

At least we a re in!

Just me in the class and a very poor numbers of entries as we expected.

Maybe Prescott will be better in late April.

Won the class already...

[andy97]

Originally Posted by 911thillclimber

Won the class already...

I was tempted to think that yesterday at the opening CSCC Magificent 7s race at Donington Park - I was in a class of one but I knew that the motor racing gods could be cruel.
And they they were, an electrical problem approx 3/4 the way through the race saw me retire!

[911thillclimber]

ALWAYS that risk!

At least when on your own you don't have to try hard, no point in risking anything, so Loton will be a 'Practice Weekend' I think.

Hope it is dry and warm...



Need to get used to it all again:

https://youtu.be/nbh4EfuGuao

[911thillclimber]

With Loton Park just 8 days away, thought a bit of TLC on the Lola would be a good idea.
Removed the body and cleaned all the dust that has gathered over the last 5 months despite it being covered up.
Fresh fuel and checked the red top battery and it fired up a treat.

Left it to idle with a few blips every now and then and shut it off.

Body back on and washed and polished, and that was all the TLC it will get!

Sadly, the April meeting at Prescott has been cancelled due to weather logged grounds and moved to August. Might be dry by then...

[Mike Harte]

You really spoil that car, Graham!

[911thillclimber]

Always have!!

It wears it's patina well, fits in with the old school look in the paddock...
Found out that I have one other car in Championship class, my old adversary Nigel Hinton I presume in his NG V8 which is far from standard kit car stuff.

He was talking last year about a special engine build, so things may get sticky.

Talk also of merging us with Class F which is Libre under 2 litres where all the FAST boys reside, and lots of them.

[911thillclimber]

After the L-O-N-G-E-S-T wait in my life, we are off to the first event today.
Plan is to get to Loton Park and set-up-shop so to speak and then practice day Sat, 'race' Sunday.

Only us in the class this event and only 2 of us in the Class in the Championship.

Thus, £300 for 1 point!

2 of us at Shelsley Walsh in early May as the finals have just been released.

Many classes that would see 5 or more entries are depleted to 1 or 2 cars.

This trend was noticed last year too.

[Mike Harte]

I would imagine that financial priorities mean that all forms of motorsport - a hobby for most - will see lower numbers, Graham.

[911thillclimber]

Yes, I know a few who are doing selected (favorite) events rather than the whole Championship rounds.
Entry numbers are generally down too.

[midgetman]

I had two entries in for "early" season events which have been cancelled - Harewood due to waterlogged ground and Rushmore Arena due to military activity - and have found it easy to get an entry in another event. That's a massive change from last time I competed when I had to get an entry in as soon as possible to be sure of getting a run.

Like said above, I'm doing odd events instead of committing to a full championship, it suits my life and my wallet better!

Sent from my AC2003 using Tapatalk

[911thillclimber]

Saurday, and the first event of 2024 for us.
Thought all should be ok with the car, just the driver was red-rusty...

Day was dull, grey, breezy but 15 Deg C and DRY, so nothing to moan about.

We did 3 of the 4 practice runs and took a second out of the time for each run and faster off the start line.

Car was great, though i think the clutch lever/linkage needs some tightening up, but everything else ok.

Obviously miles off my PB!

Best time today was 56.62/ 2.10 and PB 54.98.

The slicks feel good! They are about to do their 3rd season and as they have stopped making them, good job I bought a car set early last year, now in the 3rd bedroom.

Alone in the class this weekend, so will come away with 2 points even if I push the car up the hill....

Awaiting scutineering:

[911thillclimber]

Sunday, bright and clear if a little cold. Practice run first, then 2 points counting timed runs.

Car went well though the driver cocked-up a few gear changes in the practice run, just not focused enough.
The 2 timed runs were great though with a few hundreths off the start times and down to just about 0.9 sec off my PB on the last run.

So, in all a good event.
2 points in the Class, car and Team in one piece and home for 5.00pm.

The trailer powered mover motor gave up at a crucial time in the paddock, so had to haul the trailer a bit by hand up a slope, but back feels ok.

that will be the task for tomorrow, sort out the trailer mover...

Exciting this hillclimb malarky.

Shelsley next with Nigle and I in the class on 1/2 May.

Bit of live stream with a few snippets of the Lola:

https://youtu.be/u5KVEdWVCVM?t=8125

[911thillclimber]

The Championship Organisers have amalgamated me into the under 2 litre class (the fast boys) and the points attributed to me from those class standings, thus with about 7 in the class I came 4th and 3rd in class so getting MORE points, 6 in fact instead of the 2 i though I has from Loton.

Feel a bit better about that!

[Gerard C]

Good point, Graham. Lucky you.

[911thillclimber]

Looks like when I wake up tomorrow to a wet England, the thread count could be at a stunning 1,000,000 views.

[911thillclimber]

Operator error, two posts...

[911thillclimber]

Well, made the 1,000,000 hits, for me a real bonus.

Thread opened on 24 May 2008, a few days after I bought it home, about 16 years ago!

It started out trying to trace the total history of the car, it's owners, it's chassis numbers, and when that was done (took years) Lola authorizing the car's number.

It continued to the years of sorting the car out, 2 engine rebuilds and 3 gearbox rebuilds.
A few minor offs in the early days for various reasons, all my own fault, but from that came the cracking chassis set-up by Sean at McClurg Motorsport that gave such confidence.

Narrower wheels came and improved the manners no end.

From this has come 6 Championship Class wins in the recent years and an awful lot of other class awards.

The recent mega engine rebuild and upgrade hit 100 bhp/litre and a power to weight ratio of 320 bhp in 560 Kg, about 570 bhp/ton and a Big Bill too!

Thank you to all who have followed this adventure and have helped me reach these goals, Clive Brown and Driftwood in the early parts of the thread chasing successfully the chassis number down, Sean for the chassis and all the regular people who have posted encouragement, all so very much appreciated.

Most of all Trish who has been with me all along track side, sometimes in the garage even bleeding brakes, supply of coffee and all Team Managers do, and always supporting the effort!

Impossible without her.

[911thillclimber]

We are at Shelsley Walsh this weekend, practice today, Sat, serious stuff tomorrow.

Initially the track was damp and the 'akward' bottom and top esses were roumoured to be devillish..

Didnt seem to bad to me, so although careful clocked a 33.23/2.25 first run, and 33.36/2.21 second run.

My class mate nigel, an long standing rival was here with a fatter V8, fresh tyres and a lower diff, so could be trouble ahead.

However, it did not go to plan and on the second run he lost the powerful NG big style and did a lot of damage to the car, mainly the OS front as he hit the bank in the lower reaches of the tricky hill.

Weekend over, but it will be fixed for the next hill on 1/2nd June, again at Shelsley.

Not sure if we are amalgamated with under 2 litre Libre class, but the weather could be sunny again (!) and I'll have to find some good runs tomorrow.

The Lola ran a treat, I know where I left time behind on the hill, so MUST FOCUS.

Those under 2 litre cars are fast....

[911thillclimber]

Wheew, busy day racing The Pack.

The NG that crashed yesterday is deemed worth than thought, so bad news for Nigel.

I think i would be amalgamated into the Under 2 lires, and if so came 3rd in class on both timed runs.

However, all is not well with the car.

It has a really bad vibration at 2000rpm + to about 6500, and I think the heavy duty clutch is protesting.

Did the runs ok, 32.17/2.37/ 103 mph and 32.68/ 2.29/ 100 mph
PB is 31.08.

Thus I think the engine is ok.
Feels harsh enough to be a fail(ed) clutch, so some basic investigating tomorrow morning, but I fear it is the box off job again.

I guess 320 bhp / 300 lbft shock hit could be too much with sticky slicks at the other end. We will see.

Hope to strip it out this week and order a new one of a 'race spec' and back together for Shelsley in June.

Lots of other cars suffered issues, clutches, floor pannels, bent bit n pieces, ....

I was close to the class winner, and old class mate when I had the 911/Impreza.

[Mike Harte]

Sorry to read of your travails, Graham; and all for the joys of motorsport! Hope nothing too serious.

[Gerard C]

Shelsley will see you in great shape, Graham, I'm sure. When you'll replace the clutch may be its worth to check the flywheel bolts too. I remember you tighten them using Loctite but sometimes the vibes can have them lose. As you say, high power and sticky slicks are demanding.

[911thillclimber]

Clutch out today.
Found the problem, the pressure plate that is supported by 3 straps has a strap location rivet failed and has allowed the plate to shift to one side, thus running eccentric to the clutch as a whole, no wonder the vibration was awful!

So, need a new heavy duty pressure/cover assembly, but I can only replace it with an identical design....



The damaged strap, the rivet on the right is cocked over, should be upright:

[911thillclimber]

Went to Helix Motorsport today in rural Bicester and bought a really well engineered cover plate. Lovely bit of machined artistry.
The Sachs clutch was not a heavy duty one..., but this UK made and assured cover sure is.

Will be back in the Lola tomorrow and I expect the vibration is be vanquished!

Not cheap, but so nice.

We are confirmed for the next Shelsley Walsh, a full-fat meeting with the British and Midland Championships there together.

I have 3 in the class. the oh-so-fast Norma and an unknown VW Beetle with a 2.7 litre engine.
Thus, 2nd or 3rd!

Helix on the left:



Helix on the right:

[911thillclimber]

Shelsley in a few days.
Still 3 in the class I think.
The mighty Norma and a god walking driver in it has around 60 bhp and a chassis around 40 years younger than the Lola.
The Aussie VW has a huge 500+ from a turbo 2.8 flat 4 and a chassis from a F2 single seater.

He went well at Harewood.

I think I'm doomed to 3rd!