Mike Bell. - Page 13

S griffin · 26 Dec 2022, 19:12 (Ref:4138251)

There should be plenty of parts lying around if you know where to look

**Peter Mallett** · 26 Dec 2022, 19:15 (Ref:4138252)

Yup there's loads in the grass at the top of the Kemmel Straight.

E.B · 26 Dec 2022, 19:57 (Ref:4138253)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Yup there's loads in the grass at the top of the Kemmel Straight.

Cliff Ryan · 26 Dec 2022, 22:46 (Ref:4138260)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Fifty may be. Knowing that some components have a limited time of running, like exotic conrods, its not only a matter of replacing the bearings. May be I'm wrong, but it seems that when you go beyond the 8 K mark, things change. A good pre-heating system is great value for money.

That sounds about right, I seem to remember that Lairy was approaching 40 hours, so Mike was just being Mike….

midgetman · 26 Dec 2022, 23:59 (Ref:4138262)

And we're looking at £8k for a refresh/rebuild? Above that it's exotic territory?

Obviously the answer is always "it depends". But as a ball park figure?

Sent from my AC2003 using Tapatalk

Cliff Ryan · 27 Dec 2022, 09:31 (Ref:4138284)

A few years ago I spoke to Wilcox engineering who built Mike’s engine & I seem to remember it started at £5k, but normally was about £8k for a refresh if nothing major was found.

GORDON STREETER · 27 Dec 2022, 09:46 (Ref:4138286)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Yup there's loads in the grass at the top of the Kemmel Straight.

I once walked around Spa looking for my clutch slave cylinder that fell off in a race (that I did finish). The amount of "stuff" at different parts of the circuit was amazing, from bent con rods (complete with various parts of pistons) to starter motors was amazing !

Gerard C · 27 Dec 2022, 11:27 (Ref:4138298)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

A few years ago I spoke to Wilcox engineering who built Mike’s engine & I seem to remember it started at £5k, but normally was about £8k for a refresh if nothing major was found.

I seem to remember Mike mentioning Scholar too. If i'm right, he had his gearboxes refurbished in the London area. Everything focused on reliability, performance remaining compliant all time.

grantp · 27 Dec 2022, 12:33 (Ref:4138302)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

That sounds about right, I seem to remember that Lairy was approaching 40 hours, so Mike was just being Mike….

I thought he said he had taken it out for one last run before a refresh, pushing the hours to the limit, and something failed resulting in the need for more than a refresh and some significant cost.

Maybe I misheard what he said.

S griffin · 27 Dec 2022, 13:21 (Ref:4138303)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I once walked around Spa looking for my clutch slave cylinder that fell off in a race (that I did finish). The amount of "stuff" at different parts of the circuit was amazing, from bent con rods (complete with various parts of pistons) to starter motors was amazing !

Is the red water still there?

Gerard C · 27 Dec 2022, 16:07 (Ref:4138312)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

Is the red water still there?

Nope, water is so expensive nowadays, they changed it for beer!

**Peter Mallett** · 27 Dec 2022, 16:10 (Ref:4138315)

Eau really?

Gerard C · 27 Dec 2022, 17:36 (Ref:4138319)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Eau really?

Cliff Ryan · 27 Dec 2022, 21:36 (Ref:4138327)

Quote:

Originally Posted by grantp

I thought he said he had taken it out for one last run before a refresh, pushing the hours to the limit, and something failed resulting in the need for more than a refresh and some significant cost.

Maybe I misheard what he said.

Nothing failed on Lairy, we started it & drove it onto the lorry that took it to the auction. The auction house also filmed a.video of Lairy driving around the grounds of the auction venue.

grantp · 28 Dec 2022, 15:15 (Ref:4138364)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

Nothing failed on Lairy, we started it & drove it onto the lorry that took it to the auction. The auction house also filmed a.video of Lairy driving around the grounds of the auction venue.

Must have misunderstood what he said then. Unless in the time between Mike had had somework done or done something himself.

Lancsbreaker · 31 Dec 2022, 13:15 (Ref:4138560)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I once walked around Spa looking for my clutch slave cylinder that fell off in a race (that I did finish). The amount of "stuff" at different parts of the circuit was amazing, from bent con rods (complete with various parts of pistons) to starter motors was amazing !

I used to walk the circuit the evening before most races, when possible, and had a few good finds - my best was probably a transponder I spotted at Brands - although a certain Mr Dolan of this parish actually beat me to get his mitts on it

- and a Snap-On 10mm combination spanner at Anglesey....

GORDON STREETER · 31 Dec 2022, 15:47 (Ref:4138569)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

I used to walk the circuit the evening before most races, when possible, and had a few good finds - my best was probably a transponder I spotted at Brands - although a certain Mr Dolan of this parish actually beat me to get his mitts on it

- and a Snap-On 10mm combination spanner at Anglesey....

I didn't even have to walk the track at C/Combe to find something, I was out for qualifying and braked hard for the first corner and a club hammer appeared from under my seat into the footwell and got under the clutch pedal, I drove back round into the pit lane and handed it to my mechanic with a smile

midgetman · 31 Dec 2022, 22:03 (Ref:4138586)

One of my drivers went on track one race with his mobile in his pocket. Not there when he returned of course so he went for a track walk at lunch time. Came back with his mobile plus my missing 8mm Allen Key that my mechanic definitely, absolutely, completely, "no Max I just don't do that" did NOT leave on the kart's floor tray

Sent from my AC2003 using Tapatalk

delta · 31 Dec 2022, 22:10 (Ref:4138587)

Years ago I sold a Delta to new driver . We tested the car at Mallory and it went fine . They still went off and rebuilt the car . Went back to Mallory and crashed the car as the throttle jammed open . They ordered loads of spares of me and when I asked what had happened they sheepishly said that a screwdriver had gone missing in the rebuild . Guess what it reappeared and jammed throttle open .

Gerard C · 1 Jan 2023, 16:17 (Ref:4138672)

Having done some races with 911's which have floor articulated pedals, this kind of unwanted object has always been a concern. Still, driving an Alfa I've been caught once by a bearing, and old one, stuck between the clutch and the brake pedal. A good vacuum cleaner is really useful sometimes…

GORDON STREETER · 1 Jan 2023, 17:54 (Ref:4138678)

I may have told this before, one of the famous cider makers in our area had a crash on the road that finished in a court case, in his defence he said that his jack Russell dog had got under the clutch and brake pedals and he couldn't stop his pick up truck !
He was found guilty anyway as he was 4 times over the drink limit

delta · 1 Jan 2023, 20:24 (Ref:4138681)

What the Jack Russel was four times over

GORDON STREETER · 1 Jan 2023, 21:45 (Ref:4138687)

Quote:

Originally Posted by delta

What the Jack Russel was four times over

I think the dog was teetotal

The driver said he couldn't put up with the dog yelping when he tried pushing the brake pedal down harder

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Magic Mike Bell 27 May 2020	delta	Tributes Forum	356	29 May 2022 01:01
Mike Bell - Disgraceful.	bauble	Historic Racing Today	17	4 Mar 2015 06:56
Mk1 Escort TVR V8 (formerly Mike Bell thread)	Eep	Historic Racing Today	12	20 Apr 2012 08:25