Sunday 11 June 2006

classicford show

Just got back from santapod raceway brilliant show. I may be corrected but, I believe that I was probably the first trials car to go up the strip! Pulling what I feel was a respectable time of 17.024 and 76.41 mph over the 1/4 mile.  Also, there was a grass auto test where my poor Escort was triple (!) driven.  The inevitable happened and Paul Bartleman beat me by a whisper (IN MY CAR!) to win over all and was awarded for his success with a handshake by Tony Mason.  All said and done a grand day out Gromit!.

7 comments:

  1. Hi Simon   I took my Escort for a RWYB meeting a few years ago as a friend was taking his Elise there. I think I got 19.2 and 68mph. It rained before I took the 3 spares wheels, spare diff etc out of the boot.   Blinding weathert for it though this weekend.   Maybe more trials cars in the earlier days would have taken to a drag strip.   regards Mark  

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  2. Wouldn't surprise me if Dudley has tried the 1/4 mile as he's certainly into hillclimbs & sprints.  Didn't Sydney Allard get heavily into drag racing?  I should think he started  in one of his V8 trials cars.  We had the buggy at the Pod years ago at one of the early Bug Jams but I couldn't be bothered to queue up for the RWYB as I was supposed to be selling shoes at the time...it's a long story....we did bump into Dave Alderson there and he's another possible suspect...   But I would say Simon that you are the first modern trials driver of a gold escort to run the strip (!).  Presume a long smoky burnout preceded your run or do trials drivers only do that on hills?    

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  3. Looks like its the quiet season for competing so to continue the show theme, anyone looking for a good classic car show to attend and living in the North could try the Moffat Classic Car Show on the 24th and 25th June. Just of the M74 and in a beautiful setting with gorgeous surrounding countryside, full of mostly classic cars with a few (but not many) commercials. There are always plenty of Rootes Group vehicles there as the show is run by their owners club or used as part of a tour (not sure which) Always a small but good auto jumble too. Give it a go and try the road out North of Moffat past the Devils Beef Tub. You wont be dissapointed. And, No, I do not work for the local Tourist Board just in case you were wondering.   Myke.

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  4. Thanks Ian. I can imagine Dudley now you say it!!! It was such a hot day and there was so much grip on the sticky tarmac. I didn't do a burn out or thrash it too hard off the line for fear of snapping a shaft,  as I still had trolley jack and a few bits and bobs in the boot. But I can tell you that we didn't half get some funny looks  "Is it 4 wheel drive"etc.  I will try to post some pics as I am going to buy some. I certainly found them very amusing.  It would be great to see more trials cars there next year they certainly get some attention.

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  5. Sounds fun, how do you get a run? We used to to use the J for hill climbs and sprints and it was quite competative, but I gave it up due to the length of time required to convert from trials set up to sprint and back. About a weeks work each way. Never tried the standing 440, but I would expect it would be quite quick of the line, but then challenged by having the aero dynamics of a blunt brick  Regards Dudley 

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  6. www.santapod.com have a calender with all the dates of shows and RWYB "run what ya brung" . We paid £15 filled out a small form and produced driving liecence, for that we got 3 runs but we could have paid £10 more and ran all day. Have a go!They have on site photographer for a picture with a difference.  Also i think you would need a crash helmet for an open car.  

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  7. On the continent they sometimes do 1/8th mile drag racing rather than the 1/4 mile - perhaps this would suit trials car aerodynamics better Dudley? Bit of a way to go to find out though...

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