Thruxton Historic 12/13 June 2021

[E.B]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

quite what they found to 'rebuild' I cannot imagine. It always looked 100% and just required recommissioning from 3 or 4 years of rest.

David, this is what I gleaned from Andrew Jordans Instagram update and pic(s)

Mk1 RS1600 for our friend @nick.whale. The car was previously a race car so has been fully stripped, blasted, and a new roll cage fitted. All parts have been refurbished and ready for assembly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNdBGzXBqC0/

[zefarelly]

Originally Posted by E.B

David, this is what I gleaned from Andrew Jordans Instagram update and pic(s)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNdBGzXBqC0/

I wouldn''t dare suggest Mike didn't prepare it properly so I wonder what wasn't up to JRT spec? I'd still love to know what they do to Cortina shells as well.

[HRSTR5]

Making a long-awaited race debut in my Elva Mk5, restored by Delta over about 5 years! Guesting in HRDC Allstars, and really looking forward to it! All photos welcome!

[E.B]

I cant find a live video stream for the event..... the best I can come up with is the live timing and audio commentary.
(link follows) Audio commentary is via link on bottom left corner of the live timing pages
That is running now.

The link:
https://livetiming.tsl-timing.com/21...kuwcvmlgHW5pCs

[john ruston]

So the gang have pole with Lotus 15 and dominating Class A with Elite
Not a bad morning and let’s see what happens in races
I intend to go for day tomorrow . Have a spare ticket . Leaving Suffolk at sparrows.

[GCCheddaris]

Delta having problems with the Penfold ? Only 2 laps completed in qualifying.

[Peter Mallett]

I haven't spoken to him yet but I understand Iain is having "one of those days".

[Mike Crow]

As Roy Salvadori almost said "Give me Thruxton on a summers day and you can keep the rest."

What a delightful return to normality. Access to a fabulous paddock gleaming in the sun. A real programme made of real paper. A large crowd. Feeling warm. Great racing, great cars close enough to see properly. Linnets in the bushes

Best car? Has to be the GA Capri. Or the CSL

Thank you BARC. Thank you Thruxton

[delta]

Wishbone broke at Goodwood which was very exciting .All fixed and had a good few laps at start then the engine did not feel good so I’ve retired for weekend . It’s been a good day and great to meet u with friends at such a lovely circuit .

[grantp]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

I wouldn''t dare suggest Mike didn't prepare it properly so I wonder what wasn't up to JRT spec? I'd still love to know what they do to Cortina shells as well.

You have to make money somewhere I suppose.

Maybe added some lightness?

Also, do I recall correctly that there was a need for an engine rebuild after Mike opted for "one more race" before a refresh? And that proved problematic?

Unused for about 5 years? Maybe longer?

[john ruston]

So we had two knackered drivers both with injured shoulders .So after practise the decision was made to pull Alta and split the driving of the Talbot.
They could each manage about 20 mins each
It worked and the green bus was first overall with Messrs Birch and Burnett!

[dwh43scale]

A hot Le Mans style couple of days (we should have been in France on the original dates) but with 99s rather than baguettes on offer. Lots of photos taken and will post links in due course. Light mid / late afternoon at chicane delightful.

[delta]

Originally Posted by john ruston

So we had two knackered drivers both with injured shoulders .So after practise the decision was made to pull Alta and split the driving of the Talbot.
They could each manage about 20 mins each
It worked and the green bus was first overall with Messrs Birch and Burnett!

We heard you shouting at your drivers at the far end of the pits John.!!!
So out of the Delta camp we had one FF2000 that did not miss a beat all weekend. A Elva MK5 that was just using this race as a test.Ended up going very well. HRTR5 will I am sure be on hear to tell his version.
As I said I broke a wishbone but then put a hole in piston in the race followed by another customer Delta that had gearbox issues and a smoky engine.Van Diemon RF82 went very well in first race but driver retired in second race claiming he had loss power. Then finally our pre war car broke a rocker .!,Yes we have had better weekends racing.
Good to catch up with tenthers, MG David who is fast becoming Delta Motor Sport team manager. Thank you David. HRTR5 for superb drive, Peter Mallet for just being Peter, finally lovely to see Mary armed with sausage rolls and lemon drizzle. happy days indeed.
Apart from our problems I had a fantastic weekend. The sun shone and everyone was very nice and helpful so thank-you Thruxton and Rob Manger for organizing the very first " Robs Race"for Historic single seaters with slicks and wings.

[john ruston]

Originally Posted by delta

We heard you shouting at your drivers at the far end of the pits John.!!!
So out of the Delta camp we had one FF2000 that did not miss a beat all weekend. A Elva MK5 that was just using this race as a test.Ended up going very well. HRTR5 will I am sure be on hear to tell his version.
As I said I broke a wishbone but then put a hole in piston in the race followed by another customer Delta that had gearbox issues and a smoky engine.Van Diemon RF82 went very well in first race but driver retired in second race claiming he had loss power. Then finally our pre war car broke a rocker .!,Yes we have had better weekends racing.
Good to catch up with tenthers, MG David who is fast becoming Delta Motor Sport team manager. Thank you David. HRTR5 for superb drive, Peter Mallet for just being Peter, finally lovely to see Mary armed with sausage rolls and lemon drizzle. happy days indeed.
Apart from our problems I had a fantastic weekend. The sun shone and everyone was very nice and helpful so thank-you Thruxton and Rob Manger for organizing the very first " Robs Race"for Historic single seaters with slicks and wings.

Not my drivers
It’s Michael’s car but I have owned it on six occasions since 1988!
It’s a great car
Think between Michael and I we have the best Talbot 105 Alpines

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

quite what they found to 'rebuild' I cannot imagine. It always looked 100% and just required recommissioning from 3 or 4 years of rest.

Of course they'd strip and rebuild it. I do the same when I have a new kart customer. You can't stick it on the grid under your name and have something you haven't checked fail.



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[Peter Mallett]

Well, that was fun(?).

Good to see Delta and spotted JR from a distance, that Green Machine sounds glorious on full throttle. Chunterer and sons came to chat and later on a couple of old friends turned up.

Since Donington, we've built a new gearbox, changed the brake pads and discovered that you can increase the firmness of the rear dampers by more than 25 clicks! All of which made the car more driveable and although I still qualified down the back of the grid, I was faster than last year but still many seconds off the fastest MGBs.

Anyway we got to the grid and after some faffing around, the red lights went out. Sadly I wasn't looking so got away quite late . That led to some fun because I overtook all the cars that overtook me by lap two, then had a long dice with a red MGB, until I made a mistake and he got past, I was catching him up when he pulled off after Church so finished two places ahead of where I started.

A good atmosphere helped by the weather and the number of spectators around the circuit and in the paddock.

[zefarelly]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Of course they'd strip and rebuild it. I do the same when I have a new kart customer. You can't stick it on the grid under your name and have something you haven't checked fail.

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Of course you go over a new car, but a bare shell and respray ? regardless, good to see it was out and in the same livery.

Looks like the temperatures and nature of the circuit took a few casualties, a great turnout & meeting. Well done all. Pre war race looked very close in qualifying.

U2TC looks dead. a lot of Cortinas & minis parked up.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

U2TC looks dead. a lot of Cortinas & minis parked up.

Was pondering the same yesterday. There were a few Cortinas and Minis in the HRDC races.

[zefarelly]

Yes, I saw that. Whilst I've done next to nothing with mine in the last few years, its been very noticeable after how many cars were built from scratch for special events and series only to promptly disappear completely.

[dwh43scale]

https://www.flickr.com/gp/dwh38/CaDZt5
An initial gallery featuring a Delta, a Mallett, a hidden Clarke, a Norwich supporting Escort and some Tiffs ...

[Peter Mallett]

Good pictures there David.

[chunterer]

Like all of you, we throroughly enjoyed the meeting and it was grear to see some familiar faces again after such a long time! Pete and Ken both on good form on and off track.

The varied grids, superb weather and ease of access reminded me of how much I've loved Thruxton ever since I was a little boy. Younger than my two when first attended!

Some belting races too. The Pre 66 'anything goes' was a great spectacle from the Smithies, Spiers, Willmott scrap all the way through the Mustangs, Mimis, Elans, MGBs.
The arms and elbows of the pre war guys was a matvel!
Some hard charging in the HTCC race got a lot of attention. That GA Capri!! We could hear it round the back of the circuit from the grandstand! Nice tribute to the late Vince seeing thst and the Esso replica. The flame spitting Godzillas! Good grief! Whilst I never agreed with them in period, they are very spectacular, sound good and mega fast! Sweetest sound was that of the Ken Clarke TWR Hepolite Vitesse which in Tim's increasingly able hands passed little Lairy Canary on the last lap of the race.
Then the G1 Capris scrapping throughout, the gorgeous Alfetta GTV6s all make
Saloon car racing and Thruxton just go together perfectly!

The Jochen Rindt Trophy field was enormous and varied from the rapid Atlantics through the F3s and the Super Fords. Felt bit sorry for the front 2 who raced off into the distance only to break down but there were multi car battles throughout the race.

Hats off to BARC, Duncan's merry band at MRL for putting on such an event and long may it continue!

The Covid meant that Thruxton was the first meeting i'd attended since The Classic in '19. As I said to Peter, 2020 was the first year I hadn't been to any race meeting since 1984. Having missed 1983 I never saw the Yellow Rover race in period.

Can't wait for the next event!

[zefarelly]

Nice to see a Spruce Green Cortina, albeit with 'aftermarket' wings Mikes Escort looks good doesn't it.

[Mary Bell]

It will always be Mike's escort. Here is Lairy at Portemao 2009. We shared a garage with that incredible Capri. It was SO LOUD, you had to walk away when they started it up.

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[Peter Mallett]

Great memories Mary.