the life of rolie

[Waldo]

awesome stuff...i wish i had a 4.11 diff

[Pombellett]

Well, just got back from a grim windswept day at Castle Combe, where it rained heavily and pissistently. Rolie's competition were out in force, and although not quite of the calibre of the Revival, they still looked a pretty useful lot.
The business end of the grid was largely dominated by Mk2 Jags and Cortina GTs. But further down there was a good mix of allsorts.
The weather was so bad a lot competitors had already gone by the time I dug my camera out, but I got a few snaps in the paddock.

IMGP3506.jpg (564.97 KiB) Viewed 168707 times

Really nice Ford Zodiac

IMGP3504.jpg (394.92 KiB) Viewed 168707 times

Studebaker Lark Daytona 500

IMGP3512.jpg (550.13 KiB) Viewed 168707 times

I've got a few more to follow, but from what I've seen so far, Rolie could more than just hold his own in amongst this lot.

[RobSA]

Love the bonnet catch on the Jag

[Nappe1]

That Studebaker is RARE with big R. Being historic racer, it makes pretty much unique.
Based on grille, it's late 1963 model and so last ones to come out from Southbend before company pulled the plug. Yet that does not mean it being slow... It is sort of revenge of South Bend that they had still enough time to build needed amount of "Super Larks" with R2 block (Supercharged 289ci V8 from Avanti.) to make it homologated.

Unfortunately only one the fastest R3 variant was built (it was for sale, but only single order was placed before South Bend factory started shutting down) and even the R3 engines (as whole, Avanti's racing variant used same engine) are counted in dual digits. R3 was R2 bored to just under 5 liter class limit and had all "go fast parts" you can imagine old-Indianapolis racing brothers could put in to. Stude never claimed any big numbers (one of their big errors... mostly due them not able to follow quickly developing marketing techniques in early 60's), but original R3 Avantis have dynoed "almost 350 lb-ft @ 4000rpm and over 400bhp @ 7000"

Larks are stated to be better drives / handling than their period big three competition... Not sure if it makes a difference against european / japan competition.

really nice pictures, thanks for sharing.

EDIT: It's 289ci NOT 289cc.

[Pombellett]

I better avoid running straight into him on Rolie's first outing....that could be quite an expensive pile up.
A few more pics from Combe. First is a very pretty Jensen

IMGP3507.jpg (426.63 KiB) Viewed 168606 times

Second is a trick Aston, different race....but check out the Airstream back up vehicle.

IMGP3511.jpg (321.71 KiB) Viewed 168606 times

And lastly, what can happen when things go wrong

IMGP3509.jpg (447.33 KiB) Viewed 168606 times

[oz_toffa]

nice pics, thanks Pom

nasty hit on the last. must have hurt back pocket, self esteem and maybe a good headache to boot.

good to hear the Bellett is still tearing up the tarmack



OZ

[Nappe1]

oh man, some great pictures. Love the Jensen. Probably another car that we finns have no single one in the country.

I had already forgotten how it is like to be in historic racing event in britain. (I was in Festival of Speed 2008... to be honest, wondering that no Bellett GTRs were around though almost everything else you just could imagine was there, but that's another story.) There's HUGE leap in car selection compared to Finland.

grrr... your pictures make me regret that we could not finish the digital GTR before the our GT legends F1 Venue Championships season started... it would have been spot on car. (very flexible classification, only rule seems to be that car has to be in manufacturing in 1970-1976 and it's power to weight ratio should be between 4.66 kg / Kw and 5.66 kg / Kw)


So, what I drive then? Not really big suprise that it's Mini... with 194bhp KAD Works engine. It's not too shabby, but 10" tyre size seems to be set some serious challenges as tyres melting under for our ~ 150km race distance.

Bahrain GP is tonight.... hoping a lot better start than in Malaysia. first lap was blastered with some accidents. luckily digital sheet metal is cheap --->
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkWt40olYWU

[Pombellett]

Love the idea of tyres 'melting' ...although I'm not overly surprised with the best part of 200bhp going through those little 10s...that's just abuse!
Found one last pic on my little camera from our wet meet at Combe, it's the latest creation to come out of CSR, and so is Rolie's ugly half brother I suppose, a Sunbeam Rapier on it's first outing.

IMGP3510.jpg (2.73 MiB) Viewed 168531 times

[Stickman]

That's a great looking little car.

[PR91]

I had already forgotten how it is like to be in historic racing event in britain. (I was in Festival of Speed 2008... to be honest, wondering that no Bellett GTRs were around though almost everything else you just could imagine was there, but that's another story.) There's HUGE leap in car selection compared to Finland.

visit Australia and view our historic racing someone my friend.
think u'd be pleasantly surprised!

[Glenn]

This might be old news..... another bellett in the UK

scroll down:
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=75935&page=1

[PR91]

This might be old news..... another bellett in the UK

scroll down:
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=75935&page=1

is this user Glenn:
viewtopic.php?t=271
was bought off ebay here and imported a few years ago.

[Glenn]

I thought so, oldish posts though.

BTW,
Brett what model Mitsi did you get the rear disk rotors from for your race car. I looked at TP Magna and they have built in hub.
I PM'd you but no rteply.

glenn

[PR91]

I thought so, oldish posts though.

BTW,
Brett what model Mitsi did you get the rear disk rotors from for your race car. I looked at TP Magna and they have built in hub.
I PM'd you but no rteply.

glenn

not magna.
late 4 wheel disc sigma rear.
front is late sigma front too.

[Glenn]

LATE ? year, model ?

they would be 5 lug type though ?

[PR91]

all sigma's were 4 stud.
late, as in the GN?? i think one of the models was called, but any 4 wheel disc sigma.
there were a few models.

think of the difference between the early sigma that we've used the 8in discs off on the Bellett's for years, and the later ones that are 10in that is only used on my race car and one of Craig's (as far as i know).
the early 8in front disc cars were drum rear.
the late 10in front disc cars were disc rear.

[PR91]

the car this thread is about, Rolie, has a disc front with 4 spots (again, i think).
what did u use Mark?

[Glenn]

Rollie uses a 4 spot Metro caliper. From Pom bellett:Hi Glen, yes we run solid discs/rotors on Rolie....this is simply because they were the discs that came with the assemblies that Dutch Dick sent me...and they fitted straight on.

The TP Magna i got a vented rotor from, uses ~10". These are the front brakes that Peter Mc was part way through fitting.

BUT, i found that the calipers apprently fitted by (forgotten name but built the extended cab Wasp) are different to that fitted by Peter, and also the ones i got off TP Magna. There must be some model variances in calipers at least or in fact it was not off a TP.
Hence the reason for trying to pin down all the year and model numbers that parts come from, to save some grief.

TP Rear is rotor and hub combined so useless.

Sounds like, then, the Mitsubishi Sigma, GN 07/85-10/87 uses same diameter front rotor as TP Magna ?

And from your info, a rear rotor that slips over the hub. That would be very handy! Then, next issue is to find a suitable caliper. Perhaps the Sigma can be used also but like i found on the TP, the caliper and mounting bracket must be used together.

Sigma's are getting a bit scare in the yards. Were rear disks fitted to all of them ?

glenn

[PR91]

The TP Magna i got a vented rotor from, uses ~10". These are the front brakes that Peter Mc was part way through fitting.

yep. sigma is solid rotor front and rear tho. IMHO it doesn't make much difference, especially on a road car.

BUT, i found that the calipers apprently fitted by (forgotten name but built the extended cab Wasp) are different to that fitted by Peter, and also the ones i got off TP Magna. There must be some model variances in calipers at least or in fact it was not off a TP.
Hence the reason for trying to pin down all the year and model numbers that parts come from, to save some grief.

was George Cole. both cars are now owned by Geoff in QLD, user "Isabell Grand Tourer". if memory serves, but was a while ago, they could have been Commodore calipers, but that could have been the Wasp too..... Geoff will confirm or deny.

TP Rear is rotor and hub combined so useless.

yep.

Sounds like, then, the Mitsubishi Sigma, GN 07/85-10/87 uses same diameter front rotor as TP Magna ?

i would guess so, but not having done a magna conversion myself.... ????????
they used the same diameter wheels tho, so is probable.

And from your info, a rear rotor that slips over the hub. That would be very handy! Then, next issue is to find a suitable caliper. Perhaps the Sigma can be used also but like i found on the TP, the caliper and mounting bracket must be used together.

rotor goes straight over the wheel studs, like the drum itself.
i use the sigma bracket too, with a bit of a trim and slight mod to the mounting holes.
the caliper bolts on, and is a standard PBR caliper and mounting, so there's other cars around that used the same mounts with varying sizes of piston.... coz these late sigma's had borg warner diffs like alot of cars, and they used common caliper mounts.
i'm using VL Commodore for the increased size.

Sigma's are getting a bit scare in the yards. Were rear disks fitted to all of them ?

as written, all late sigma's with the larger (10in) fronts were disc rear, slip over hat type with the alloy bolt on bracket.

my race car has 4 spot Toyota Hilux calipers on the front, and with the VL rears, i use an adjustable bias valve plumbed into the rear circuit. that way i can limit the pressure to the rears and get the exact balance i like.
ATM it's set on about 75% of maximum.

[PR91]

so to highjack your thread Mark!
back on topic.... what's the latest over there?