the life of rolie

[Farmer]

Yeah, slack!!
O.K., better get out & write down a few numbers.
Remembered 1 more - Dave G's retired race car (Sydney) - still in his shed & complete.
Cheers.

[PR91]

haha!
the guilt trip worked.

cheers mate.

[gt orphanage]

i have 2 teardrop numbers also to add to the list. 1 good,1 rip

[Farmer]

One more - Simmy's of course!

[Pombellett]

I appreciate all this digging around guys, it will be interesting to see what the final outcome will be. In the meantime there's no real rush since those nice government suits now tell me I'll have to pay full whack and then apply for a historic rebate later. This is truely "jobs for the boys"
And it's enough to drive you mad.
Rolie due to land at the end of the week, is that when I can properly list myself as a Bellett owner?

[2ldohc]

I think that is stage one of Bellett ownership... when you get the second and the third 'for parts' then you know you have arrived

Or as that maybe a little difficult with Bellett's very light on the ground you have two alternatives A) when you are standing staring at Rollie wondering why the headlights aren't working and he won't start... you touch a fuse and it all starts working... like magic or B) you hook it into a corner, you feel the suspension roll under, you feel the car drive on the side wall for a while and then you feel the IRS turn to jelly... Then you are a Bellett owner

R.

[PR91]

or B) you hook it into a corner, you feel the suspension roll under, you feel the car drive on the side wall for a while and then you feel the IRS turn to jelly... Then you are a Bellett owner

correction....
thats makes you a bellett owner who needs to speak to those in the know, and then do some work, as any good one won't do that!

[Pombellett]

[quote][/quote]
Been there, done that, I learned in an Austin A35. My old man always said I should fit casters to its sides, it went over so often.

[gt orphanage]

Has Rolie landed yet? I know the he had an appointment only a day or two after the 7th?

[Pombellett]

According to the shipping company..ROLIE HAS LANDED. They say I should be able to collect him on Wednesday. The engine arrived from Holland on Friday so it's go, go, go, as old Murray used to say, as by the end of this week
If I have time I shall post the plans we have for him today.

[Pombellett]

Here's the plan for Rolie, we're aiming for a race called the St Mary's Trophy at The Goodwood Revival, this is one of the most important classic saloon car races on the UK calender and possibly Europe.

Trouble is this makes it very difficult to get into. You have to present the finished car in May and then they decide whether you get an entry. So it's quite high risk.
The car has to be the right age for Goodwood and has to have "Goodwood significance" which narrows it down, and consequently all the 'easier' cars have been done.

The Bellett fits these criteria (you'll noticed my unhealthy interest in Bruce Mclaren)...well he was going to race in the St Mary's Trophy at Easter in 1965, but holed a piston in qualifying, it may not seem like much but we reckon it's enough to stir an interest in the powers that be.

We don't have to make a replica of Bruce's car, but I figure it would be nice to get it as close as we can, as a sort of homage to the great man (who died at Goodwood incidently) and to, what was apparently, a decent little racecar.

[Farmer]

Nice plan, Mr. Pom! And nice that rollie sat in a paddock near Coonabarrabran for ? years waiting for the nationals to be held there & for Greg to go hunting, just in time for you to begin your search.
Keep 'em coming!
Cheers, Matt.

[Stickman]

Now that is a cause that makes Rolie's trip to the UK well worth it.
Almost providencial.

All the best with the powers that be.

[RobSA]

I for one am looking forward to the resurrection of a true missing classic.

Even if it is not an absolutely perfect rendition.

Cheers
Rob

[yellowperil]

Great plan Pom Bellett

Keep us up to date with progress, it's an admirable ambition to harness intternational cooperation. I can see the story will go something like this: Japanese giant killer, carefully preserved in Australia for many years,:roll: race prepared in the traditonal British fashion, takes on all comers at Goodwood 2011.

Hoping this time you don't repeat history in blowing a piston.

[Pombellett]

Well, hopefully no blown pistons this time, as I've found this SOHC engine which should give Rolie a little more beans, instead of pushing the pushrod job to destruction.

[PR91]

go for it pom!
we sort of picked it a while ago tho... mclaren bellett references... st marys trophy...

i'm a firm believer these days in replicating old race cars that no longer exist, as doing so fills the gaps in our rich motorsport history.
most of u will know of the dick johnson falcon i drive, which is a classic example.
65bellett's pat crea car caused a real stir when it was 'unveiled' at the 2010 nats, and if i had my time over again, i'd do my yellow race car as the george reynolds/barry ferguson 66 sedan that raced at bathurst in 66.
and yep, i even have a colour photo it it during the race! i never seen another one.

cheers, and good luck pom!

[Pombellett]

Cheers PR, we're pretty sure we're within the rules to use a limited slip diff, any thoughts?

[Pombellett]

Welcome to England Rolie, this is how I found the dock monkeys unloading Rolie, for those of a nervous disposition....look away now.

[2ldohc]

Wow.

Just Wow.