2024 Rendezvous

[Lancsbreaker]

Winter work?



I really keep thinking I must start to get rid of a lot of the cars I have about me, and find something to do with all the Alfa spares I've accumulated over the years, because my unit is costing me £400+ per month and these days I'm not trading anywhere near that much out of it - so its just an expensive man-cave. Problem is I don't get up there that much as milady is nearly 89 and getting somewhat frailer - we spent 17.5 hours at A&E this weekend as her BP was way over 200/120 and she was dizzy. I can't really be leaving her for longer periods of time to go and do the work at the unit......and in all honesty as I'm well into my 70s I don't have quite the enthusiasm (or strength/agility ) to do what I really need to do.......but I don't want to just scrap everything I have at my unit.


Sure I'll work something out


Anyone want an Alfa 75 track-prepared car - though it hasn't turned a wheel in years......or any other Alfa-related projects?

[morninggents]

How much for the GTA you must have stashed away somewhere?

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Did you put the seat on the left side? Just sayin'

yeah I should have done to get the maximum reach for my legs. Although maybe I should have junked the seat and sat in the back.

Sent from my AC2003 using Tapatalk

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Yeah I should have done to get the maximum reach for my legs.

Aheum… what about your arms? Be a Gibbon monkey!

[midgetman]

It is a bit of a struggle! Drove the car for the first time today, it's completely changed the driving experience I don't stall it anywhere near as much.

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[Gerard C]

No worry, Midge, just speak french while driving and you'll be fiiiiiiine!

[delta]

I’m 3 years behind you Lanky . Going to stop racing and sell up . We’ve had the best years racing without doubt .?

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by delta

I’m 3 years behind you Lanky . Going to stop racing and sell up . We’ve had the best years racing without doubt .?

yeah, yeah. If I had a tenner for every time I've heard that I could probably buy that Alfa 75 (which I will one day).
This winter's project is finishing a roadgoing Midget for my younger grandson, plus fixing the Lenham after another disagreement with a wall at CHGP a couple of months ago.

[Gerard C]

A 75. Why not. Should be America then. If America must be a 3.0, not a turbo.

[Alan Morgan]

Originally Posted by delta

I’m 3 years behind you Lanky . Going to stop racing and sell up . We’ve had the best years racing without doubt .?

Around 10 years ago, Iain got out of the car at Silverstone and said "Well Al, you've just witnessed an historic moment - that was my last ever single seater race".

12th October 2024 car number 44 in the Derek Bell Trophy race - Iain Rowley March 79B.

Retirement in three years? We'll see...

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by delta

I’m 3 years behind you Lanky . Going to stop racing and sell up . We’ve had the best years racing without doubt .?

Didn't really want to stop, but my race partner did, and can't really afford to race solo......tho if I got rid of the unit that would fund a few meetings a year, I guess......


Its just my "carer" role that's restricting me now, really, but we've been together for about 47 years (having met through my rally club -so she knew what she was getting into ) so I guess I've had a good run since my first twelve cars in the mid-70s, though years of stage rallying including quite a few Internationals, before being lured into this funny roundy-round stuff.....


Just been looking at the CSCC 2025 calendar, though, and there's a couple of circuits on there I haven't done, so you never know.


I haven't got a GTA to sell, but I have the 75TS trackday car, and a couple of 72 Giulia 1.6 saloons that I had ideas of turning into historic racers, so if I move those on, I could do something. I'd just have to buy milady a motorised wheelchair so she could get around the circuits while I was playing

[delta]

Think it was longer than 10 years Alan . Me and my big mouth . Just had cracking evening up the pub with like minded race drivers . Just brilliant . It’s the people that make racing all do good . ?

[mike faloon]

Originally Posted by delta

Think it was longer than 10 years Alan . Me and my big mouth . Just had cracking evening up the pub with like minded race drivers . Just brilliant . It’s the people that make racing all do good . ?

You can't retire Iain!! not while Keith Messer is still out there.

[delta]

Yes yes . Me and my big mouth . Kieth is a real inspiration to me as you know . Anyway back to my racing and I’m afraid the season ended with a bang . Big hole in the block on my BDA Atlantic . They always say engines blow when they are going so well . Hey Ho . Winter is here so will hook engine out and see what the damage is . Keep warm everyone ?

[L-G Sjöberg]

Originally Posted by delta

Yes yes . Me and my big mouth . Kieth is a real inspiration to me as you know . Anyway back to my racing and I’m afraid the season ended with a bang . Big hole in the block on my BDA Atlantic . They always say engines blow when they are going so well . Hey Ho . Winter is here so will hook engine out and see what the damage is . Keep warm everyone ?

So sorry to hear about your Atlantic engine. That's the second time you have had a hole in the block, isn't it? My Atlantic engine is OK for the time being (fingers crossed) but my best FJ engine went out with a bang at Hockenheim in May and the engine I have in the Cooper now seems rather worn. Will probably have to build a new FJ engine over the winter.

[andy97]

Originally Posted by delta

Yes yes . Me and my big mouth . Kieth is a real inspiration to me as you know . Anyway back to my racing and I’m afraid the season ended with a bang . Big hole in the block on my BDA Atlantic . They always say engines blow when they are going so well . Hey Ho . Winter is here so will hook engine out and see what the damage is . Keep warm everyone ?

Bad news, sorry to hear that.

Wasn’t to (allegedly) most successful FFord engine ever called “Patch” after that put a hole in the block and was literally patched up.

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by andy97

Bad news, sorry to hear that.

Wasn’t to (allegedly) most successful FFord engine ever called “Patch” after that put a hole in the block and was literally patched up.

Yes, 'Patch' went on to score quite a few race wins subsequently, and in the hands of several different drivers too.

[delta]

Don’t this this block will repair . Must admit it was such a loud bang I got completely disoriented . Jeff Bloxam came by and said he had photos . He is calling them “ Bloxham Blow Up”. I’m already feeling positive . The car is just awsum to drive and I can’t wait to get out again next year .

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by delta

I’m already feeling positive . The car is just awsum to drive and I can’t wait to get out again next year .

That,s our boy.

[S griffin]

I'm sure you can get a new one next year and continue to do a great job

[Gerard C]

When we have this type of incident and bring the engine back to the engine builder, the explanation is always the same: OVERREVED, that's it. And they often add that it was so sudden that the tacho needle could not follow and register the crank speed.

[delta]

Stayed late after work and started to take engine out . You can see the con rod stuck in side of block . I will take a photo tomorrow .

[Gerard C]

No hurry it wont go far now. The patch seems a good idea?

[drbob]

Does anyone know when the 2025 Le Mans Classic entries open. I was told September but I can’t see that.

[Gerard C]

Hi Robert. Classic procedure, phone call. You'll see if Pierre-Antoine left a clean place or not!