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Staverton Again
This morning, the third Sunday of the month, I again attended the A30/A35 meeting at the above. There's a small café there, The Aviator, which sells breakfast food as well as hot drinks. Turnout was poor, considering the scorching weather, with not many interesting, to my mind, cars in attendance. A few of the other punters wanted to chat about the A352, but I spent most of my time there watching the aircraft, both fixed and rotary winged, playing.
My carb. investigations had revealed that I'd replaced the dashpots 90° out and possibly overtightened. Rectifying these schoolboy errors has transformed the performance, but only over 2000rpm, beneath which the engine dies. More fiddling required :( A couple of shots: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b5ed3b6b_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5c01fe7c_b.jpg Regards, Mick p.s. Thanks Paul :) |
Hi Mick, are you going to Castle Combe racing tomorrow ? I will be in attendance and parking by the straight before camp corner
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Hi Alex, originally I was, but I'm going to London early Tuesday and have a lot to do before then. It should be good at The Combe, I was looking forward to the historic FF :(.
Regards, Mick |
Ok Mick no worries, hope you have a good time in London
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Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh
Yesterday I decided to fill up the A352 in anticipation of today's sortie to Stoneleigh. It was most unwilling to start and ran very poorly, refusing to idle without choke, even when up to temp. I got home, just about, let it all cool down and removed the carbs, as these were the likely culprits following the diaphragm replacement saga. On dismantling I found that the new diaphragms were already badly stretched and distorted. I suspect they're made from something incompatible with petrol - not a lot of use! I'll just have to buy two more, this time from Canley or similar, rather than Ebay cowboys. Buy cheap: Pay twice (and miss Stoneleigh) :(
Regards, Mick |
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Made it, after all
After berating myself for capitulating so feebly, I decided to go to Stoneleigh in the S4 Seven, which was of course available as a kit in period. After a blissful trip up the almost deserted Fosseway, I joined the short queue into the NAC. Cruising up and down between the club stands I spied another S4 Seven, on the Dutton Owners' Club stand. I parked behind it and the owner, whom I'd conversed with on PistonHeads, came over for a chat. He'd had his (his second) since the turn of the millennium and had paid considerably less than I in those now far off days.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9da7c34f_b.jpg My 'phone then rang: it was Scottie of A352/XKSS fame. We met at the Tribute Owners' stand for a good chin wag where we also saw Lucky. The trade stands area was a little thinly populated, though the manufacturers' hall was heaving with the usual plethora of 'cheque book specials'. The drive home down the much busier Fosseway was enjoyable, the Lotus behaving perfectly throughout the day's 108 mile round trip total. Regards, Mick |
More Stromberg Woes
Following on from my May 5th post, I'd bought and fitted new diaphragms from Canley, which were clearly of much better quality than the ones I was discarding. Whilst giving everything a good clean, I'd noticed that I'd fitted one of the jet O rings in the wrong groove. I'd committed this schoolboy error at least three years ago and it was clearly at least partly responsible for my inability to ever get the beast to run to my satisfaction. I bought a replacement one as the guilty item was damaged, but only found time to fit it on Friday, in anticipation of this weekend's motor sport marathon.
Once everything was back together I started her and she ran beautifully, except that the throttle wouldn't return far enough for idle. Slackening the cable proved ineffective so I gave up in disgust, deciding to use the Lotus instead. Anyway, yesterday's sortie was to 'La Vie En Bleu' at Prescott. The Lotus behaving perfectly: it's a joy to drive with oodles of power and great handling. Parking at this event is in an adjacent field rather than the usual orchard as it gets very busy. From there I took this shot as the Severn Valley Railway's steam locomotive passed in the valley with much tooting. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8c12a8aa_b.jpg Wandering over the bridge to the paddock I came across this old friend. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a0a67592_b.jpg I'm not really a Ferrari fan but this engine certainly caught my eye..... https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...53067a47_b.jpg Despite the plethora of drool worthy high performance machinery, for me the cars of the event were this Panhard and a distinctly 'Moss Monaco' Austin Seven special. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bb1e066e_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f3143572_b.jpg Regards, Mick |
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More photos from this event, some fantastic cars to see.
Early 50's Ferrari 166 Tipo Milla Miglia was owned by an elderly gent who had the car for 59 years ! He was happy to let the kids sit in it and for people to get up close. Probably the most valuable car there too, the last one similar sold for £8,000,000 ! The car also boasted the 2 litre Columbo V12 engine, an early version of what would have been in my 250 TR ! The "Beast of Turin" was in fine form and yes, the 4 pot, 23 litre engine does go all the way up to the top of the bonnet ! Several old and unrestored cars including this ex John Surtees Ferrari and a Bugatti Type 35 fresh from a 24 hour race by the looks of it. The railway in the photo by Mick is in fact the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway, they also host classic car shows, the first being on the 9th June at the station in Toddington, just down the road from Prescott. |
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I stand corrected! I believe my engine picture above is that of the Ferrari 166 Tipo Mille Miglia you mentioned. Whilst on engines, here's my picture of that of 'The Beast'. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...da2988fa_b.jpg More on this 28,353cc monster here. Regards, Mick |
This Sunday
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If I can sort out the throttle problem I'll go in the A352, otherwise the S4 Seven. Regards, Mick |
Shelsley Walsh 1.6.19
Today's sortie, again not in the A352, was to the above. Once again the Seven behaved perfectly, singing up the almost deserted A38 in glorious early morning sunshine. Parking on the front row of the grid, as usual, I found myself next to a very 60s looking Midget in Bahama Yellow. Very period.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...74bf9e56_b.jpg Once the action began, this array of old-skool metal queued for the hill :) https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...feaf1d59_b.jpg and a little later, this beast: the Chapman Mercury III. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7b8c9720_b.jpg Climbing to the top of the hill, I went through the small wood which no-one else ever seems to enter. Rook chicks are ill advised to leap unfledged from the nest over the badgers' sett....... https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c5275def_b.jpg Car of the day, for me, was this Jensen CV8. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f6851c56_b.jpg The Seven behaved perfectly again on the way back. It draws lots of positive shouted comments from children, nice to hear. I always give them the thumbs up in appreciation. Regards, Mick |
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I wonder what the mpg was like? |
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More here :) Regards, Mick |
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See it here driving through London- #BeastofTurin #FiatS76 https://t.co/DysPJtBZHx (https://twitter.com/LondonConcours/s...189469184?s=09) |
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The Napier Bentley featured here is impressive too. W12 aero engine that will wake the dead a do a burn out better than any Top Fuel dragster. I've seen this race on a number of occasions and it is quick despite its size and weight !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua-0wSn0azs |
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Ebay A352
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Builder has a thread on the forum, I recognise the garage but can't think of the name.
Chassis, engine and interior all look to have been done to a very high standard. Still the hardest bit to do, the body. I think it would have to be dismantled to get a decent paint job, big job as it would seem to involve drilling out a lot of pop rivets. |
One of the ads at the bottom of the page was for this -
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Historica...l/113790034480 If it weren't for the shape of that front screen, I'd be very tempted. |
......and again
This appeared overnight. Can't say it does a lot for me: no pictures of the interior or engine. Stardust were Cortina 3/4/5 based so its '0.1' mill is likely one of those huge heavy lumps so many (myself not included) rave about.
I wish him well with the sale. Regards, Mick |
Strombergs/Friday/Saturday
Last week I'd again attempted to get my twin CD150s to behave - dream on! Following the instructions to the letter, I got the engine up to temperature and set about fine tuning the mixture, which involves lifting the piston a tiny distance and adjusting the jet screw according to the engine's reaction. Rear carb: engine dies irrespective of any adjustment. Front carb, engine ignores any mixture change made. I replaced the air filter and took her out for a road test. Very poor throttle response, engine dies after about half a mile. Restart, same but after a half the distance. Repeat, dies after ever decreasing distances. Park, walk home in disgust, recruit son, pop along in Micra, tow home, cover over and try to forget :(.
Saturday's sortie in the S4 Seven was again to Prescott, where another was competing, albeit twin cam powered. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...810254b4_b.jpg Also competing was this Westfield XI, which I heard one knowledgeable chap advise his chum was "A D-Type Jaguar" :rolleyes:. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...60f9276e_b.jpg The event was Porsche themed, but despite the many many more modern models there, this Historic Rallying 912 was my clear favourite :) https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dbf432c9_b.jpg I think I'll give up on those carbs and get another set off a runner from Spitfire Steve, then probably try again to pass on the A352. Regards, Mick |
Sounds like there is a fault with either the carbs or the plumbing. If it isn't responding to your adjustments as expected then there must be more to it.
Would it be worth investing a little to have the set up checked over and tuned by a specialist ? You will end up spending a bit on yet another carb anyway then there's the fitting, messing about, etc etc. Once you are up and running I'm sure there will be second thoughts about selling up ? |
Mick – Sorry to hear you are having problems with your carbs. :icon_sad:
My car also suffered fuel starvation the other day, but, luckily, I was able to push it home. ( As I’d barely pulled out of my driveway. :rolleyes: ) I hope I’ve tracked the problem to a blocked fuel line (new parts on their way). But, for me, this was confirmed by running the engine without any problems from a petrol can. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Em...=w1154-h862-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BH...=w1154-h862-no I know you know a lot more about this sort of thing than I do, but I thought I’d mention it just in case. Good luck, Paul. :) |
Lucky
You have a PM
Regards, Mick |
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By that criterion, I am insane. About three weeks ago, between bouts of Monaco related tasks and trips out in the Lotus, I decided to rebuild the Strombergs one last time. Once they were fitted back I took the A352 around the block, not daring to venture more than a couple of hundred yards from home as I no longer had any confidence in her. She seemed OK, but then she did for a short distance last time. I covered her over and advertised her on Car and Classics web-site. So far I've had five nibbles, one from a very honest German who decided he'd prefer a Jaguar based one; three from dreamers who wasted my time and ceased communicating, and one today who is supposed to be 'phoning me to come and have a look. Prompted by this, I decided to bite the bullet and take her for an extended spin which was completed without drama. I know that I did nothing different in the last carb. rebuild so I'm still baffled, but grateful nevertheless. Roll on next Saturday for Shelsley Walsh and Sunday for Burford Specials Day. Thanks both Pauls for the encouragement and suggestions :). Regards, Mick |
I would suggest that both Shelsley Walsh and the specials day will have interested punters if you put a "For Sale" sign on it !
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You missed a great selection of about 40 cars at the 50s Specials Day today. There was even a Mistral trailered there. Ashley, Buckler, Dellow, Fairthorpe, Falcon, Gilbern, Lotus, Peerless, Rochdale, S.A., Shirley, Tornado and Turner all represented. Plus a nice TVR Grantura from Switzerland, a Jensen CV8, Lotus Elan+2 and a racing Ginetta with a 997cc Ford Cosworth SCA motor in the "other interesting car" line-up. We took my Z300S and Sylva Fury.
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You may have seen this today:
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Attachment 6308
Owners Meeting Saturday September 7th Lunch at The Pelican Inn Froxfield, on the A4 between Hungerford & Marlborough www.pelicaninn.co.uk We are welcome and booked from 11am with lunch at around 12.30pm There are two spacious car parks, where we can have a drink and talk Tribute Cars. Afterwards you / we can drive round a bit of Hampshire to the Silk Mill at Whitchurch for tea, overlooking the river Test, last orders 3.30pm. www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk If you are interested the Pelican Inn also has a room or two overnight on the Friday and or Saturday. We are staying there Friday night. Please let me know if you will attend or at least think about it. REPLY to Kidge on his site OR The Owners site OR PM me OR email kidge.elder@btinternet.com |
Blistering Bank Holiday
Yesterday's sortie in the A352 was to the Gloucester Goes Retro Festival. Last year, I was parked two or three cars back from the front, so this time I left home even earlier and secured pole position just before 0800. Within half an hour the street was filling up with a good selection of 50s vehicles.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...328e9be0_b.jpg I wore my 'gentleman racer' white boiler suit, shirt and tie, and cheesecutter cap again which nicely complement the car. The downside was that, after four months in shorts and T shirt, nine and a half hours in the blazing sun on my hind legs was something of an ordeal. Once again I was busy all day fielding queries and lifting small children in and out of the cockpit for photocalls - the driver's door now has more fingerprints than the central criminal register! I was flattered to be told a few times that mine was the car of the show: I redirected these people to my friend's Alfa Romeo engined Lenham, it's such a gem. A really good day out, apart from the heat prostration. Regards, Mick |
Blistering Bank Holiday Part Two
Today's sortie in the A352 was to a small meeting a friend organises. It's at a US themed diner about 20 miles away near Lydney which fronts onto a large well tended field. This is only in its fourth month and has already attracted an eclectic following.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d6aab0ab_b.jpg The young (well, to me) lad who trailered this rail to the meeting fired it up for a couple of minutes: I now know what being stabbed in the ears with white hot screwdrivers must feel like. What a beast! It was, however totally eclipsed in my book by this home built Cummins Railton evocation. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...981f5425_b.jpg Its creator was a very quiet unassuming chap who told me that he'd logged 4,000 hours spent building it. Apart from the running gear, it was 100% scratchbuilt. The six litre straight six had, in series, both a supercharger and a turbocharger, each with its own intercooler. Twin fishtail silencers gave it the most glorious exhaust note. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...12acb0f3_b.jpg I'm certain that I've never seen a better homebuilt car. Simply fabulous. Regards, Mick |
Gloucester Retro Festival 24.8.19
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Did you get to this on Saturday? I was besieged all the day so could easily have missed you. Regards, Mick |
Prescott Breakfast Club
Sunday's sortie in the A352 was to the above event. It's very low key with attendance on an entirely ad hoc basis. Lucky was there in his donor car to greet me on arrival. Turnout wasn't fantastic, although there were some, to my taste, gems in attendance.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ae6138d2_b.jpg This glorious Spider had me singing 'Mrs Robinson' in my head for the rest of the morning. For those of you too young to get the connection - link. It was mercilessly aped in Wayne's World II, link :). https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...159b44dd_b.jpg This early Gilbern was taking part in a European tour whose members were parked in the orchard away from we mortals: they were walking the hill and visiting the Bugatti Trust Museum. Many of them were in Edwardian dress, including a delightful couple from across the pond who were very interested in my creation. The young lady was fascinated by my letter-box boot, asking for a look inside, a first for me! Blatting down the almost deserted roads with the six pot purring on the cool moist morning air had me hoping the prospective purchaser from France doesn't show.......... Regards, Mick |
Mick - Always great to see your car out and about. :cool:
Also, glad to hear that the car seems to be running nicely again too. Cheers, Paul. :) |
Thanks - & More Posing......
Thanks once again for kind words Paul, appreciated! Still not sold, despite lots of nibbles, I think there are many many dreamers out there! Enquiry no. eight arrived by e-mail today, from Sweden. We shall see......
A friend took this at the Retro Festival: it's enhanced both the A352's colour, and that of my face! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5efb845f_b.jpg Regards, Mick |
Staverton Airfield Breakfast Meeting.
This morning's sortie in the A352 was, once again, to the above. The beast started perfectly and was singing along until I got to the B4063, only a few miles from the airfield, when a swiftly increasing backfire manifested itself. Over only a couple of hundred yards it had deteriorated to the extent of sounding like cannon fire - a poor bloke was walking his dog which bolted, fortunately without slipping its lead. I dived down a left turning, performed a quick three-point turn, and retraced my route, startling the poor hound once again. The misfire gradually corrected itself until, after a mile or so, the engine was running more or less OK.
On returning home I let it cool and investigated - first port of call being the distributor, in particular the condenser, which had failed a year ago tomorrow with similar symptons. However, I noticed that the pip under the cap was hanging a little low, a gentle tug revealing its spring was very weak. I'd only bought this in February when its predecessor failed. I'll get another from Canley or similar and renew the condenser as well. The points were fine, but I ran a folded strip of fine emery cloth between them anyway. I want her well again for Shelsley Walsh next Saturday, so fingers crossed. Regards, Mick |
looking good Mick looking good I hope you sort it out foe Shelsey.
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Thanks Deggsy. I fitted the new distributor cap and one of the new condensers I've carried since the failure. It's back to running its best ever now - Woo Hoo! I didn't go to Shelsley, or the Castle Combe Rally Day for that matter, as I'm red hot keen on cracking on with the Monaco. Knocked a couple of small jobs on the head but had to pack up when it got too hot in the cave.
Regards, Mick |
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