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Old Brit cars having fun.

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Baz

Baz

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Big local car show went on yesterday, always fun. This year the local region of the SCCA hosted an autocross.
This is merely an observation, but 6 Brit cars left the judging and headed over to the autocross track. The Detroit iron stayed put and polished their radiator hoses with the exception of a Corvair, but I figured he had nothing to lose anyhow.
Just really great to see a bunch of old Brit cars and their owners having fun.
Yours truly in the Midget (please ignore the sounds it makes) 2 MGAs, TR6, Jag XKE and a Spitfire.

Old Brit cars at autocross.

It's worthwhile noting that 3 of the 6 had never done it before, they just thought it would be fun to open their cars up, and they weren't disappointed.
 
Nice video, Barry. Thanks for sharing, but I have to ask. Whats up with the sound of the Midget?? It almost sounds as though it's running way rich.
Jeff
 
Ok, really enjoyed that now for the problems.

Baz you car is not running correctly, you also need more air in your tires. May I suggest 2 lbs all around 26 front 28 rear. The back end needs to slide a bit on the corners so you can keep the peddle down. That salam portion should have been flat out. On the start you should be able to get a bit of a cherp, just a bit when you dump the clutch and the RPM should never come down.

Is the engine too rich? It is certinaly loading up, or skipping or missing.

Sorry, please take my comments in good cheer. I would have loved to have Miss Agatha there. That brought back so many memories, all good by the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvjQmH5uqTc This is me and my first Bugeye doing a number on everyone else. Watch the corners close, keep the speed up, stay smooth.
 
I'll drive her later and report back in Spridgets, she does have problems that manifested during the day.
Tire pressure was 38 rear and 34 front, chalk marks dictated that; your comments are always welcome Jack.
 
Never never let the car slow on compression. It is either brake hard, just at the point of break away or on the gas. All your slowing should be just before you get into the corner, while the tires are still straight, then power on hard and control with the wheel and throttle. Idealy the throttle only, the wheel is for pointing. Should never need to back off in a corner if done correctly. Wastes time. Take another look at my corners, that was about as good a run as as possible and it was running right and more.

If the rear end is hard to control on corners let a bit of air out but match it with a bit less in the front as well.
You want the front to stick and the rear to break away just a bit but be controlable with the throtle.

Remember smoothness counts, it is all about time.
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif Nice video. Thanks for sharing.

One query. Why is red the dominant vehicle color?

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:] Remember smoothness counts, it is all about time. [/QUOTE]

Jack...you old party pooper!!!
 
That looked like great fun! I miss going to the Auto X and having classic Brits there.

I ran a DP Spridget for several years in the mid 80's. My first AutoX I had a tire that kept breaking from the rim half way through the course - pretty embarrassing. I came in dead last that day - STD. But by the end of my 3rd season (and about another $2k - $3K investment) I was point champion in my class - even got one or two FTDs and FTPs at some small events on really tight courses.

I ran the Evante once not long after I bought it. I placed somewhere in the upper half of the field - the new Elise that was running for the first time ever that day beat me by about .75 - 1.0 sec - he ended up running the whole course in 1st gear and had better tires. I was hoping to give him a better run. I blew my best run when I struggled with a down shift going into a sharp corner and followed it by hitting the throttle too hard. At least I didn't spin like I did on the last little offset like I did on my 2nd run!

Evante Auto X
Elise Auto X
 
Way fun!
 
Some American cars do try autocross, I stress the word "try"

One of my Flickr contacts recently posted some very fun photos of various American classics attempting to go through an autocross course, it looks rather comical actually...

694092777_cf01cc411a.jpg


Poor old Hillman... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

686757573_870325106f.jpg


For more of the carnage just head here... https://www.flickr.com/photos/minkypaw/sets/72157600591481110/ And note how many cones are not standing...
 
Some guys have taken the smart car and put Hayabusa motors in them. I haven’t found any autocross videos but there was one where a smart car beat a Ferrari in the ¼ mile. Looks like fun in an evil sort of way. not your average smart
 
Jeff

I just know you're really eyeballing that Pinto in the back of that Renault photo... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
Sherlock said:
Jeff

I just know you're really eyeballing that Pinto in the back of that Renault photo... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
Click to expand...

More likely the 240Z in front of the Pinto. And is that a <u>PINK</u> MGA I see in the far rear, left?
Aren't you supposed to be out stampeding or something?? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Jeff
 
GregW said:
Some guys have taken the smart car and put Hayabusa motors in them. I haven’t found any autocross videos but there was one where a smart car beat a Ferrari in the ¼ mile. Looks like fun in an evil sort of way. not your average smart
Click to expand...

Ow!!! THAT Smarts /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif (Hurts so good!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif )
 
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