Ross' report (Winton Historic meeting)

[Ross Nicol]

It was an early start on Saturday morning, out of bed at 4am,down to the factory to load the car on trailer before the 3hr trip north to Winton Raceway. Arrived at 8:30am and the weather good.After signing on I checked the programme to find there was only 5 cars entered for our Marque sports group.Pretty pathetic support from our club but I told the guy I would be there earlier in the year and as I like to keep my word, even motor dramas didn't stop me from making it. Off to scrutineering and after a casual look over the car it was passed and stickered.Back to my carport (cheaper than a garage) and warm up the motor. Soon it was off to grid up for qualifying and the realization there was only 4 of us racing, lost one already.Anyway out we go on this tight and twisty track and straight away I knew things weren't right with the motor. It was popping and banging and sounding quite flat. At one point I looked in the mirror and saw a major flame leap out of a trumpet, mmmm that frightened me a bit.Anyway I soldiered on hoping it would clear and driving badly due to the concern over the problem.Toward the end of the session I thought it may have improved but not much.Needless to say I was in 4th and last place however a top ten finish was never in doubt, if you get my meaning.
So back at my pit I changed out of my suit and prepared to do checks on what could be causing all the misfiring.I checked the firing order (know it off by heart now 13726548) matched plug leads and the injector wiring etc but all seemed ok. Now I was at the stage where I needed the lap top computer but hadn't bought it with me.I didn't have the timing light either. About an hour before the first race I made an executive degision to put it back together an go out but I was considering pulling out.By this stage I had attracted a valuable helper who I allowed to burn his hands on the exhaust checking plugs for me.I was suspicious of the plugs as they were quite black. So out I go for the race trailing round the rear of the field popping and banging but towards the end it came better and this was promising.Back to the pits and after pulling the plugs again (burning David's fingers again) they weren't as black. It was decided to fit new plugs before race 2 on sunday and off to the motel and an early night, feeling much more confident.
Sunday dawned beautifully sunny day and off to the track.The Idea we had was to warm up the car with the old plugs and then bang in the new ones just before the race.Well it worked a treat the car ran well and there was no hint of the problems of saturday.Now I could concentrate on my racecraft but having lost a day and no practice I soon realized I was well off the pace of the other 3 guys also due to the motor not having the grunt of the one I ruined.However the steering is much lighter and the car was much easier to drive.Finished in 4th again.
We were relegated to the last race of the day (probably due to low numbers) and Tim Hendy in the Cobra Daytona didn't show so we were down to 3 cars on the grid (the farce continued). Car running well again so I tried a bit harder and reduced lap time by another second but still not driving terribly well.I saw in the distance Tom in the TR8 pulling in to the pits leaving Paul C (DRB Cobra)and myself to finish.So I finished in second but didn't feel particularly elated. Lessons learnt from the weekend - watch out for plug fouling.Also this fouling can make you think the timing is totally out off whack but logical thinking saved the day and I headed off about 5:30 pm on the long 3 hour drive home.
Here are some pics I took, among them are my competitors TR8 (red open top),Black Daytona Cobra, Purple DRB Cobra.Also 2 Ford Anglia 105E with slant back window, I raced one of these back in 1971 seems like yesterday.
Ross

[Murray Cowley]

Cheers Ross,
you had your work cut out with those problems, glad you got them sorted.
That last Cobra looks a bit mean, serious stuff there. I liked the MG.

[Dalton]

Thanks, Ross. Always enjoy your first-hand, warts and all, reports.

I seem to have missed the solution to your steering issues. But in principle, was it lightened up by changing the geometry? (eg. castor angle?)

Dalton

[David Briggs]

Ross, you Down Under guys have some serious iron! I like that Lotus, it would be fun running with you.
Dave

[Big-Foot]

Ross - Great report and pictures ((thank you))

Seems like somedays your the windshield - other days your the bug...
- Either way, It's gonna be messy!!!!

One of the true measures of a real racecar driver is to be able to play the hand that was dealt him.. I've made a pretty good showing with 7 cylinder cars with ony 3 wheels that would oblige me..
Soldier on!!!