One year on

Well 12 months have passed by and here I am again, once more with all my cars up and running! And yet in those intervening months there have been a number of mishaps.


The 1929 Riley Brooklands

Last September at Donington the crank broke going into the Old Hairpin. New crank, rods, pistons and block re-machined. This May back at Donington the mag breaks down at around 4000 RPM and then the boot lid comes off, to be driven over by my fellow competitors. After burning lots of midnight oil the Brooklands is taken to VSCC Cadwell Park. Disaster - front main location screw works lose and the main rotates, cutting off oil supply. Result: almost new engine seized!! Replacement engine fitted and we secure a handicap win at the Double 12 at Brooklands this month. Off to AMOC Donington Park this weekend for three races.


1929 Amilcar CGSs

Wheel comes off on start line at VSCC Spring Start Meeting at Silverstone due to half shaft shearing. Why? Fatigue and poor design. Now back in the workshop her next outing is VSCC Loton Park in July.

1935 MG PB

At the Vie en Bleu Meeting at Prescott eighty year old mother has an off at Pardon, hitting the tyre wall. Result - damage to car and damage to mother but she is a tough old bird and shakes it off. MG's front valence being repaired.

1960 Cooper T56

Now here's a thing. She's all in one piece and is pictured above with a sister car that was once owned by Steve McQueen.

1927 Harley Two Cam Racer

Still waiting for pistons. The intention is to have her running this year. It's been 15 years since her lovely engine note was heard thumping away.

1980s Ducati Pantah Race Replicas

I went to Moto GP at Silverstone as a VIP guest and was like a kid in a sweet shop. I fell in love with two Ducatis and had to bring them home. Pictured is the 500, the other is a 650. More on these when I get them running.

Two years ago today my wonderful dad died. He was my inspiration. Thank you dad. Simply the best.

It's a French thing

Well the Riley Brooklands has gone away so I can focus on the Amilcar and the Cooper. The Amilcar is a gem. With its supercharged OHV Amilcar engine - no Riley 9 powerplant in this car - my monoplace CGSs is a fantastic hill climb car. Running on methanol at almost a couple of miles per gallon when used in anger, she is swift off the line and fast through the turns. The brakes work too!

Yes she sports the OHV conversion. We originally ran the standard side-valve Amilcar engine but managed to borrow an engine that had the period conversion. My late father used the loaned engine as a pattern. I believe it was from the 200 mile race car. Here is my father in the car at the VSCC Curborough Sprint meeting.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog which focuses on vintage and historic motorsport.

It's the end of the season and the toys are back in the cupboard but there is much to be done. The Riley Brooklands is a priority. After a hard campaign of races the engine is coming out over the winter. I hope to have this ready so that the car can run on New Year's Day. Where my Cooper T56 is concerned I have to sort out the brake problems which befell me at Mallory Park. The Amilcar will need looking over and the oil pressure backed off. However, she seems to be running sweetly at present. Finally a major project is going to be getting our two cam racing Harley going again. I have had the barrels repaired and the whole assortment of bits is going off to a friend to be put back together again...I hope!