Tag Archives: Plant

Motors TV Live Race Day – Castle Combe

Last Bank Holiday Monday I popped over to Castle Combe for the Motors TV Live Race Day where the 750 motor club brought along the Demon Tweeks / Yokohama Locost series which was joined by the MSA British Superkart Championship, Aero Racing Morgan Challenge, Lancaster Insurance and three Castle Combe Championships for a busy 13 race schedule.

750MC Demon Tweeks / Yokohama Locost Championship, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

The first of two 750MC Demon Tweeks / Yokohama Locost Championship races took two starts to get underway and even then several competitors from the huge field found it difficult to stay on track on the opening laps above Steven Wells in the #7 Locost is seen having run out of track at the Bobbies Chicane trying to get back on course after passing the marshals post on the wrong side. The maneuver cost Steve who had been fifth twenty places of which he recovered nine for a 16th place finish. Locost race 1 was won by Alistair Garret who started from Pole and led every lap.

Wyatt, Barnard, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

Mark Wyatt qualified on pole for the Castle Combe Saloon Car Championship in Association with National Windscreens race and ended up leading every lap after challenges from Tony Hutchings driving an Audi TT and William di Claudio driving his Peugeot 106 GTi faded once Wyatt started lapping cars on lap 5. Wyatt driving the yellow #98 Vauxhall Astra is seen above lapping the #100 Vauxhall VXR Turbo of John Barnard.

O'Reily, Platt, British Superkart Championship, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

Not sure how many decades it has been since I have seen any Kart racing but the two races on Monday reawoke my appreciation of these ballistic mostly 2 stroke projectiles that lapped Castle Combe 10 seconds faster than the previous saloon car race. Above James O’Reily who started 4th on the #13 PVP Viper Honda pulls off a brilliant winning last lap, last corner, move going round the outside of Paul Platt aboard the PVP Redspeed Honda going into Camp Corner in the first of two MSA British Superkart Championship races.

Siliconhoses Sports & GT Championship , Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

Perry Waddams was a bit too keen to get the Castle Combe Sports & GT Championship supported by Siliconhoses.com race under way in his #77 Chevrolet LS3 powered TVR Tuscan Challenge, Perry is seen above relinquishing the lead, from a ninth place start to eventual winner Craig Flemming who started the race from second on the grid in his #5 Juno TR250 a couple of hundred yards after the start. Note Pole sitter Simon Tilling was swamped in the #23 Radical SR3T which had already fallen to fifth place.

Jones, Plant, Aero Racing Morgan Challenge, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

Quarry was the place to be on the opening lap of the Aero Morgan Challenge race above pole sitter William Plant driving the #19 Morgan 4/4 is seen above after being inadvertently punted off by eventual winner Tom Jones driving the #67 Morgan Roadster. Plant made an entertaining recovery from 23rd to 3rd by the end of the 25 minuet race.

Lancaster Insurance MGOC Championship, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

Pole sitter Lee Sullivan led the opening 3 laps of the first Lancaster Insurance MGOC Championship races driving the #68 MG ZR from the #77 MGF 160 of Robb Addison and #6 MG ZR 160 of John O’Brien but it was Ben Palmer driving the #12 MG ZR starting from 4th place who won the race starting from 4th on the grid after Sullivan dropped down the field on Lap 4. Above Sullivan leads the race on the opening lap through the Esses.

Startline Formula Ford 1600 Championship, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

Race of the day was the Castle Combe Formula Ford 1600 Championship which saw the return of Ben Norton driving the #111 Spectrum 10b which he qualified on pole. Ben and Steven Jensen driving the #22 Spectrum 011b proceeded to romp away from the rest of the field while engaged in a thrilling dice that saw the lead swap many times. Ben eventually made the winning move seen above going into Tower Corner on the last lap, a nice way to mark becoming a father. Ben and Steven were unanimously voted drivers of the day for their thrilling performance.

750MC Demon Tweeks / Yokohama Locost Championship, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

The second 750MC Demon Tweeks / Yokohama Locost Championship was as entertaining as the first with Alistair Garret starting from 4th grabbing the lead which he then swapped with Richard Jenkins on several occasions with novice Tim Neat joining the fun. The race was eventually won by Jenkins who is seen above chasing Garret while being pursued by Neat through Bobbies Chicane.

Platt, PVP Redspeed Honda, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

Toby Davis driving the #3 Anderson Viper Honda made a brilliant start from 5th on the grid to lead the opening 3 laps of the second of the MSA British Superkart Championship races before surrendering it to Race 1 winner James O’Reilly #13 PVP who then spent the next ten laps swapping the lead with Paul Platt driving the #1 PVP, the final result saw O’Reilly snatch the lead on the last lap of the last corner again to become the days first two time winner. Above Platt leads O’Reilly and Davis onto Westfield.

Martin Chivers, Rover MG ZR, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

Once Tony Dolley retired from the lead of the non championship Saloon Car race Martin Chivers driving the #65 MG ZR pulled away from the remaining field to take his first victory at Castle Combe by over 8 seconds. Martin is seen above at Tower.

Plant, Parsons, Aero Racing Morgan Challenge, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

The second Aero Racing Morgan Challenge race saw William Plant making no mistakes starting from third on the grid William took the lead and was never headed eventually winning the race by over 4 seconds. William is seen above lapping the #45 Morgan 4/4 Sport of Tim Parsons.

Sullivan, Addison, Lancaster Insurance MGOC Championship, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

Like wise Lee Sullivan made no mistakes in the second Lancaster Insurance MGOC Championship race winning by 1.2 seconds from pole, Lee’s #68 MG ZR is seen above being chased through tower by the #77 MG F 160 of Robb Addison who retired after 5 laps were completed.

Craig Flemming, Juno TR250, Sports & GT, Motors TV Live Race Day, Castle Combe

The final, non championship, race of the day was for Sports and GT cars which Craig Flemming starting from pole won by 5 seconds from the Mallock driven by Adrian Hamilton. Craig is seen driving the #5 Juno TR250 above along the Hammerdown straight.

After a glorious day in the sun I went home with my appetite for motor racing satiated for one day at least. Full results of the day can be found on this link.

Thanks for joining me on this “Motors TV Live Race Day” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Americana Thursday. Don’t forget to come back now !

PS Earlier this week I was invited to write a for Motorsports Unplugged and you can read my first piece Fortune Favours Fernando and Ferrari on this link.

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Muscovite Service Barge – Moskvitch Scaldia 427

The Russian Moskvitch brand was launched with the construction of the Moscow Automotive Plant in 1929, after the cessation of hostilities in 1945 an entire Opel production line was imported from Brandenburg in Germany and production of the Moskvitch 400, based on the Opel Kadet, commenced in 1947.

Moskvich Scaldia 427, Race Retro

Between 1947 and 2002 there were four generations of of Moskvitch were built before the company was liquidated.

Moskvich Scaldia 427, Race Retro

The 1972 Scaldia 427, seen here at Race Retro and the Brooklands double Twelve, is a third generation Moskvitch which was in production from 1965 to 1986.

Moskvich Scaldia 427, Double Twelve Brooklands

The 427 Estate / Station Wagon was in production from 1969 to 1976 it’s saloon / sedan twin the 412 was produced from 1967 to 1975 and marketed as the “1500” in export markets.

Moskvich Scaldia 427, Race Retro

During the mid 1970’s when some British Production Car racing series were run in price classes the exceptionally cheap Moskvich saloon / sedan with it’s comparatively large motor, for it’s price did very well, particularly in the hands of Tony Lanfranci.

Moskvich Scaldia 427, Race Retro

Moskovich also vigorously promoted their brand to a global audience by participating in marathon rallies like the 1970 Daily Mirror World Cup Rally.

Moskvich Scaldia 427, Race Retro

Today’s featured car until recently looked like a daily driver, but it’s current owner has added some tribute decorations to make it look like a works team service barge, and competes with it in rallies dedicated to Cold War Soviet Bloc vehicles.

Moskvich Scaldia 427, Race Retro

While researching this blog I found this linked photo of what appears to be one of the 1970 World Cup Moskvitch’s decaying in a junkyard.

Thanks for joining me on this “Muscovite Service Barge” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Hot Business – Ford Business Coupé

Even after an interest in motoring that goes back over 40 years every once in a while I learn about a Ford model I have never heard of before, such is the case with the 1937 Ford Business featured today which I mistook for a De Luxe.

Ford Business Coupé, BMW Plant

It turns out the Business was a base model range to introduced in 1937 that replaced the Model B and stayed in production only until 1940.

Ford Business Coupé, BMW Plant

Many of the features apart from the V shape grill of the Business were shared with the Standard and De Luxe models.

Ford Business Coupé, BMW Plant

The Business Coupé seen here would have originally been fitted with cable operated drum brakes.

Ford Business Coupé, BMW Plant

Engine options were either 60 hp 2.2 liter / 136 cui or 80 hp 3.6 liter / 221 cui V8’s, the one seen here is listed as fitted with non standard a 5 liter / 305 cui.

Ford Business Coupé, BMW Plant

The Business was available in Sedan, 8 seat station wagon, Coupé and Convertible versions.

Thanks for joining me on on this ‘Pleasure Business’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Norma Ann Sykes – MG B Mark III

For 1974 US federal regulations mandated low impact bumpers which led to some seriously non collectible vehicles being built like the Volvo 240, aand US spec Jenson Healey, FIAT X1/9, MG B and MG Midget.

MG B, BMW Plant

The Mark III MG B was introduced in 1972 with the biggest benefit being a new and improved heater for the occupants.

MG B, BMW Plant

In 1974 chrome bumpers were replaced with steel reinforced rubber items that formed part of the restyled nose at the front. Apparently in MG circles these bumpers are referred to as ‘Sabrinas’ a name derived from a well endowed British model Norma Ann Sykes who was better known as Sabrina in her acting career which started with a small role in the 1955 film Stock Car.

MG B, BMW Plant

To complete the transformation from cool low slung roadster to the dork car look US Federal regulations mandated a minimum height for head lights and so the MG like many other sports car manufacturers that decided to simply raise the ride height of their cars rather than start with new designs or heavily restyled versions to meet the regulations.

MG B, BMW Plant

Like Concorde sports cars as they had been known were effectively ruled out of the market in the USA, manufacturers did not seriously look at the Sports Car market again until the late 1980’s and early 1990’s and since then the minimum ride headlight regulations have been dropped.

MG B, BMW Plant

MG B manufacture came to an end in 1980 and MG did not replace it until 1992 when 2000 limited edition MG B like R8’s were manufactured.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Norma Ann Sykes’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Mechanical Orchestra – TVR T350

TVR T350, Pistonheads, BMW Plant

The TVR T 350 is probably as close as one can get to a four wheeled motorcycle that will scare a young mans prospective in laws to death, it’s small and according to one journalist in 2004 the engine belongs in an orchestra pit.

TVR T350, Pistonheads, BMW Plant

The T 350 comes with TVRs own 350 hp 3605 cc / 219.9 cui Speed Six all alloy 24 valve engine that is canted over at 30 degrees so that it fits into the svelte T 350 body that measures just over 13 feet long by six feet wide by 47 inches high.

TVR T350, Pistonheads, BMW Plant

TVRs under the direction of previous owner Peter Wheeler dispensed with creature comforts like interior lights, air bags and traction control, though these vehicles did come with air conditioning.

TVR T350, Pistonheads, BMW Plant

Weighing just 2,616 lbs / 1,187 kg performance from rest to 62 mph was 4.4 secs up to 100 mph in 9.5 secs with an official top speed of 175 mph.

TVR T350, Pistonheads, BMW Plant

Production of the T350 ran from 2002 until 2006 when Russian/Greek/British baby oligarch Nikolai Smolenski took over the company and soon after halted production of all TVR models.

Allegedly Mr Smolenski has announced various plans to restart production most recently with a Corvette powered model which might be built anywhere between Blackpool and Cape Town, here is hoping this hairiest of automobile brands finds its way back to the market soon.

My thanks to the Pistonhead who brought this T350 along to the Sunday Service at the BMW plant back in January.

Hope you have enjoyed todays orchestral edition of Gettin’ a little psycho on tyres and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Rustproof & Secure – Subaru Impreza WRX STi Type UK

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Top of the 2007 Subaru Impreza range was the WRX STi with 260 hp, considered at the time the default Rally Replica of Choice in some circles.

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The STi Type UK was available with an optional 300 hp engine with Prodrive re engineered engine parts that were stronger and or lighter than the originals including a larger air intake and intercooler.

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Unique to the Type UK is a Thatcham Category 1 alarm, satellite tracking system, enhanced rust proofing …

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and 10 spoke gold alloy wheels attached to a reengineered suspension which is more stable than the standard Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

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Prodrives Driver Control Centre Differential System (DCCD) allows the driver to control the oversteer (loose) and understeer (push) characteristics of the car by adjusting the front to rear torque balance delivered to the four driven wheels.

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Against the contemporary Mitsubishi Evo the STi Type UK appeared the the more reasonable value.

My thanks to the Pistonhead who brought this Type UK along to the Sunday Service at the BMW plant back in January.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s Type UK edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Integrated Nose – Porsche 944 S2

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Porsche introduced the 944 model in 1982, it shared the same platform as the earlier 924 and latter 968 models. The 944 shares similar body revisions, wider wheel arches, of the earlier 924 Carrera GT.

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In 1987 the 944 S2 broke new automotive design ground being the first example of a vehicle with an integrated front bumper where the wing and bonnet (fender and hood) blended smoothly with the bumper. This design feature is still much in evidence today.

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The 944 S2 was also noted for carrying the largest 4 cylinder motor of it’s day the then brand new 208 hp 3 litre / 183 cui engine was particularly smooth thanks to its counter rotating balance shafts.

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Optimum front to rear weight ratio of the 924/944/968 design was achieved by placing the gearbox directly in front of the rear axle.

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60 mph from rest could be reached in 6.6 seconds,

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top speed for the 944 S2 was quoted as 150 mph.

My thanks to the Pistonhead who brought this 944 S2 along to the Sunday Service at the BMW plant back in January.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s integrated edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you’ll join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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