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anyone take their Healey to the track?

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Several of the participants in last summer's Australian-US AH Challenge ran the entire series on wires. Among those who raced wire wheel-equipped cars were Larry Patterson of Canada, who won his class mainly by starting and finishing every event and Geoff Leake of Australia who had a screaming fast 100 that he pushed throughout the series. I do not recall any retirements due to wire wheel failure.
 
Doug, I know them both well. Did you know that Bill recently bought Peters '61 Angle Box, that Peter has been racing forever?
Maybe we should continue this over in the "Other British Cars" forum?
Jeff
 
Jeff- that is good to know! So will I need a roll cage/ roll bar for open track days at Waterford? Is there a website where I can read the requirements that you inspect by so I can show up prepared?

Thanks!
 
Matt, if you want to run an open track day at Waterford, a roll bar is required for any open car. Not a cage, just a bar. Good and functional belts, no major fluid leaks, and no loose items in the vehicle. The battery must be securely mounted, and I suggest you cover the hot terminal. Tape is OK for that.
I don't know if the requirements are still on the web site, www.waterfordhills.com but the 2006 schedule is up, listing the open days. I think we have 3 of them planned for this year.
I have a meeting tomorrow night, and I'll try to get a copy of the tech sheet for open days. I don't have any left from last year.
Feel free to contact me at the address in my profile, or through the WHRRI site.
Jeff
 
Bugeye, I checked out your track site! Man thats cool! I wish we had a facility like that locally. Some of the guys here go to Atlanta but it's a pretty good hike from here.Bob
 
Yeah, BlueRidge, we like it. It's a very technical track, and a blast to drive. And, the $140.00 entry fee gets you a practice/qualifying session, and three 10 lap races every weekend. Can't beat that with a stick.
Jeff
 
BB,

I worked my Big Healey out with much enthusiaum and spirit up at Tahoe in 04. I ran new 60 spoke painted rims from Moss. I broke one spoke. I replaced the rim and the one with the broken spoke was repaired by John Blake in Santa Cruz. It is now my spare. Udo P ran on minlights did not break any rims. Part of the mix here is radial tires that stick better and thus have a later break free point. If I was on older original tires I would have spun instead of breaking a spoke I imagine. To see a pic of the solo go to my website Nuts About Cars click on photos - healeys - OpenRoads 2004pg2 - second to the last photo

As far as control arms etc, I would at least be sure everything is sorted out and sound with new bushings. For safty's sake have your spindle checked (magnafluxed) for cracks. These old spindles are notorious and it is far cheaper to magnaflux (and replace) than to pay repair and doctor bills later. Besides even if you just slid off the track to safety you would never live it down.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif FWIW
 
Hi Matt, you already have good advice from Jeff, Dave, Michael and others, but I hope to add something useful to the discussion.

Wire wheels...As pointed out, many very heavy and powerful cars, Astons, Maseratis, Jags, Ferraris and even early Cobras have run wires without problems. The loads put into wheels, suspension components and brakes will be a function of the amount of grip the tires provide. Vintage race tires from Dunlop (L and M series) or Hoosier do not, in my experience provide the grip of a modern R compound track tire. I did 7 years of Solo 1 and track days on 72 spoke wires with Yokohama 032 tires with no problems; also left the brakes stock other than removing the dust shields, different pads and linings, and braided flex hoses. Only on the most severe stop-and-go layout did I have any fade.

Minilites are lighter, don't require heavy inner tubes, and are strong. If you can budget for a set of tires for track use on a set of these with splined hubs that would be ideal, and you might want to use your street tires if the track is wet, as the race tires will be shaved or moulded with very little tread depth. If this is not possible the 032 in hard compound can be driven to the track, are street legal, and have deep grooves if you don't shave them. The extra grip they offer will gradually be lost as they harden through having so many heat cycles.

Track days are a fantastic experience, you will learn a huge amount about the car and will understand and appreciate vintage racing much more, just try to keep the adrenaline under control!
Simon.
 
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Dave, Will a set of chevy rally wheels bolt on a disc wheel car? The bolt pattern seems to match. Bob

[/ QUOTE ]
Depends on how determined you are. The wheels on my car are 15 x 6 / 5 on 5 (Chevy 1/2 ton truck pattern) Ralle Wheels.

fm_001.jpg


They'll directly bolt onto the rear axle in place of the splined adapter. The fronts were a little more trouble (unless you could find a pair of original bolt on/disc brake hubs)...

hub_dwg_d1.JPG


scp-101a.jpg


scp-101c.jpg


finished_hubs.JPG
 
Randy, Do you do your own machine work? Thats impressive!
I was thinking as my car was never equipped with the wire wheels it appears that a chevy solid wheel may bolt up to the existing rotors and rear brake drums. I may give it a try the next time I have it raised and take the wheels off.
Was your Bn6 a wire wheel car or disc originally?
Since mine came with the disc and very few 62 Bn7 Tri Carbs
were fitted with them I will keep it that way. Thanks Bob
Is the truck rally bolt pattern the same as say a Chevelle or a Vette? I had the rallies on my 67 Chevelle and liked them.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Randy, Do you do your own machine work? Thats impressive!
I was thinking as my car was never equipped with the wire wheels it appears that a chevy solid wheel may bolt up to the existing rotors and rear brake drums. I may give it a try the next time I have it raised and take the wheels off.
Was your Bn6 a wire wheel car or disc originally?
Since mine came with the disc and very few 62 Bn7 Tri Carbs
were fitted with them I will keep it that way. Thanks Bob
Is the truck rally bolt pattern the same as say a Chevelle or a Vette? I had the rallies on my 67 Chevelle and liked them.

[/ QUOTE ]
Those hubs were done for me as a favor, on a CNC turning center, though I took all the dimensions and provided them with the drawings. I dabble a bit with a small mill and lathe...

My BN6 was originally a wire wheeled car.

The Chevelles, Corvettes, et al, are 5 on 4-3/4" bolt circle. Here's a link to where I got mine https://www.wheelvintiques.com/, but you may have to call them for this application (I don't see that wheel listed any longer in their catalog).
 
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