My other German powered car

I was out on slicks in the rain on the Saturday.... never ever had so little grip! It was so much fun!!!

A Difficult Weekend!

Scrutiny (Friday Evening) went well. Only 3 points to be rectified. One was a missing sticker to indicate where the fire extinguisher pull is. another was low brake fluid. The third took a little bit of work. This was some play in a spherical rod end on the steering. John Mahon who runs a number of racing Vees changed this for me.

Practice Saturday Morning

Went around at a fairly safe speed (slow) until engine went bang. I coasted to the side and got out to investigate. What I found was one of my spark plugs swinging on the end of its lead.

I was towed back to paddock after practice was over. I showed the damage to John Mahon, he said he might have a spare head. I went for a walk! When I came back my pit crew (Killian Bannon) was working with John putting my engine back together.

Saturday Race

Went well for 3 laps then power went so I pulled over. They were a great 3 laps. At the start the car ahead of me made a poor start so I backed off and the 2 cars behind me passed me ( I was now last). My time the engine power dropped off I had passed the 3 cars I just mentioned and was closing in the next. A loose exhaust manifold was diagnosed.

Sunday race

Eventful startThe car behind me gets a good start and his right front is by my left rear when I have to move because of another car, he went for a 2 foot slight in the air and had to retire with suspension damage. Coming into the first corner knowing the carnage that can happen at the first corner, I went the long way round and picked up 4 places! On the second lap one of the cars I passed outbraked me coming into the Furry Glen hairpin. So I gave him room, but he left getting on the power a bit late coming out of bend so I modified my nose cone on his gearbox and tyre. Then it happened again the power dropped off so I was passed by everyone and had to retire. I was towed to the edge of the track area after the race and Killian used my van to tow me back to the paddock.

I will have to investigate this power loss before my next event the Donegal hillclimbs 2/3 September

And many thanks to my pit crew Mr. Killian Bannon. Without him my weekend would have major pressure

This photo sums up my weekend

http://homepage.eircom.net/~goconnor/Fvee1/PPTow.jpg

At least I was towed by a BMW!

2007 A new season

I got the FVee back from John Mahon (near Gorey Co. Wexford) on Wednesday after having had its engine rebuilt . This was convenient as I received a notice that there was a test day at Mondello today Friday.

Now since my current working hours are 10am to 1 pm in Blessington I decided to do the afternoon session. I dropped the FVee at Mondello on my way to work (see Hit and Run Topic for what happened on the way)

Battery was flat on the FVee so I charged it off the van while I was signing on and changing clothes. Took the first session handy with limited revs to run in the engine. Second session a bit more on the revs but I noticed the handling a bit funny coming out of the double apex rights. Braking at the first part of the Esses I got a wobble and ended up in the gravel trap. The reason for the handling malady was now revealed. A rocker cover bolt had come out and dumped oil on the left rear tyre. Towed back to paddock.

The gravel had bent the poor nose cone under the car. All I can say is it will not polish out!.

Third session ran without nose cone, toes frozen! Took engine near max revs, running very smooth. 4th session was a blast, although took it a little cautious with the braking, I did step the power out a few times under power out of a few corners.

As I was on my own I have no laptimes, but I would say they were not great, as I was taking things a little on the safe side

You can take this as a comment on current grid numbers

Mondello are giving a discount of 30 euro for the second race if more than 20 turn up for the first

There were only 4 FVees including mine there today, A few FFords and FSheanes and 2 FLibres.

There was an amazing hillclimb car in a garage its owner was driving a libre. The car has a SPA chassis with Pilbeam suspension and a 3 litre Judd V8. There are going to be about 10 Class 7 ( the top class) cars on the hills this year so things are going to very interesting.

The first event is the Wexford Motor club hillclimbs at Bunclody on the 31st March and 1st April

Turning left in Bunclody going South will bring you to the first junction on the hill about 200 metres from the start. It is a 90 right and was a lot of fun in the damp and rain last year. A lot of straight ons under braking and plenty of fishtailing under power exiting the junction.

A photo of the remains of the nose cone after its visit to the gravel trap and subsequent tow out

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=416317030&size=o

OOPS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnqld3SenzU

Maybe that bend was not flat in top. I was easily doing a minimum of 75mph when I lost it

The front axle tubes on the left have been bent back about 4 inches. The left rear trailing arm was bent.

I survived without a scratch, although I had that thought "this is going to hurt" in the middle of it.

Car will be repaired for next event at Ballyvaughan Co. Clare organisied by Galway Motor Club (Fey!'s crowd) on 21/22 April

Ballyvaughan Co. Clare orgainised by Galway Motor Club 21/22 April 2007

Compiled my on board videos into a 6 minute piece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5bvhn-c3CI

Batteries went flat on way to line for last run. Put down the power too heavy at the left hander before the mid point services and spun into the wall. Damaged front suspension again.

My runs were not the fastest for two reasons

1. I was lacking confidence after my high speed off on the Wexford event

2. The car felt totally different after the rebuild. It turned in better and the brakes had a way better feel. On the negative side the back felt a little more skittish.

MY 2nd run on Sunday was 131s against 128s last year. Maybe I was trying too hard to equal last year's time on the last run!