12th March test day -- report n pics
There was a little respite from the recent
freezing weather, but not much, on a day with sunshine and showers including hailstones!
It made for interesting conditions, certainly after the track as coated with oil after an
engine blow up! Amongst the drivers giving it a thrash it was nice to see some familiar
faces make a comeback. Making a return after many years on the sidelines was Glynne Jones
this time with an Alfa 33 "I got it off ebay!" With the car currently in a dull
yellow colour Glynne who has alway professed a regard for Italian cars can be relied
on to spice up the action. "At the moment it's got a standard engine and rubbish
tyres but if I can get it right I hope to give the Rovers something to think about"
Another face making a comeback,
but not after quite the same layoff as Glynne, was Clive Hayes with a Radical Prosport.
However Clive and Terry Brown had some mind
boggling mods to the engine with a huge intercooler dominating the engine. This time it
wasnt for a turbo, but a supercharger! "They use them a lot on bikes for drag racing
but this one runs from the crank. Superchargers dont suffer from lag like turbos and there
is plenty of torque. I only got the kit fitted yesterday and spent most of the morning
finishing it off". Power should be twice the usual amount and when Clive got it
running it certainly seemed quick but the track conditions made it difficult to judge how
quick it will ultimately be.
Super Dream Machine or Plumbers Nightmare - plenty of
pipes on Clives car
Giving their standard Radicals a run were Peter
Williams and Jeff Davies. Adrian Chapman and the Rover bunch were also giving it a run as
was one of the new contenders in a VW Golf and the Swansea Uni Locost. There were big
banger sports cars too. Dave Krayem and his Stealth and Nigel Bowen and his Porker turned
up to give a run, but Keith Butcher & Larry Phillips were giving another new car it's
debut with the ALMS Porsche formely pedalled by Sasha Massan and Bob Wollek. Looks
good and should be good! Roll on 30th April!
Wild Rover - Matthew ice racing skills came in handy
Not the weather for Golf