the life of rolie

[PR91]

There's about 8 more down this way I can think of without really trying too that most on here know nothing of.

[Pombellett]

Rolie has found a new spiritual home......my old work mates at Goodwood have cut their last ties with this fine old historic circuit, and moved into glossy new premises.....and guess who was first on the lift?

Sharp eyed will just spot the extended sump just above the left hand lift arm, we've decided this is a little exposed and one of the first jobs will be adding some protection to it, in the form of some sort of deflefctor.

[Pombellett]

We had our final pre-season test the other day, and although it was damp in the morning and I got badly held up in the afternoon so there where no meaningful times set, the car ran well.
Temps and pressure spot on....all that remains to be done is a little tweek on the ignition timing, new boots and a decent dose of 'red mist' and we're set for the first race of the summer.
Some pics of the test.

Boss 302 'Stang in the background.

What is it with great big Yanks always in my mirror?....Bill Shepherd's Galaxie

I don't like photo shoots on test days, and inevitably we were last out.
What I do like though, is the prospect of Silverstone on the 1st of April...bring it on!

[Glenn]

keep up the great work, Mark. Just love those pics.

they used to race Galaxies here also. You would have to wonder how they handle but maybe brute power overcomes some size issues..........

[Pombellett]

When I started Glen, the Galaxies used to cook their brakes by lap 6 or 7.....by then though they were far enough up the road to not be troubled by us small fry......although sometimes it gave you the possibility of un-lapping yourself.....
...it's then you realise the sheer size of these brutes.....even when they were braking half way down the straight with their pads on fire you couldn't really see a way round them.
These days they've got more durable brakes which somehow last a full race, and with all those horses they are regular top 5 finishers.
Glad you like the pics because I've got a really special one from our last Revival....a pro photographer, Mittijs Diepraam, based in Holland very kindly gave me a copy of this the other day.

Not bad I think you'll agree.

[redback]

Well that is going to be my new desktop picture. Nice.
Thank you Mark and Mittijs.

Cheers,
Neil

[GerryBellettGT]

ALWAYS GOOD TO FOLLOW THIS STORY,AND YOUR PHOTO'S JUST GREAT,GOOD LUCK FOR THE YEAR HOPE ITS A KIND SUMMER FOR YOU,GERRY

[Bellett_EST]

Fantastic pics!

Racing style seems to fit on a Bellett.

[Pombellett]

Thanks guys.
You may be interested in the runners and riders for the race at Silverstone on Sunday.

I think our race will be with the two Vauxhalls.....when we tested, they seemed to have similar grunt but not quite the handling, it'll be important to out-qualify them.

[Dick]

Ha the racing season starts again. Don't forget to take your inboard video with you; we all want to see and hear Rolie perform.
Ps is Simon going to do some laps (Pirouettes) too?
Gr Dick

[Pombellett]

Good to hear from you Dick, and I'm sorry to say Simon has been banned from all bellett/ballet moves, his last effort at Brands flat-spotted ALL four tyres.
And you're right, must remember to charge and pack the GoPro.

[Pombellett]

A good day was had at Silverstone, and although we qualified badly, we ended up 24th from a full grid of 40 in the race.
The car ran strongly with good temps and pressures, but is definitely not giving us everything yet.....so further twiddling on the rolling road is necessary before we head off to Brands.
Here's a snap of us alongside music guru Chris Rea's mad, but suprisingly quick Moggie Minor.

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I'll post the in-car when I've done some editing.

[Stickman]

TOP SHOT !!

[Pombellett]

Here's the cut down in car footage.....I'm driving first with the blue gloves, and Simon is second with the black gloves.....proof, if it were needed, that fun can be had where ever you are on the grid.
https://youtu.be/Thhm4dpSuAQ
Although the incident just before 8.00 wasn't exactly what I call fun!

[Dean]

Not fun you say? Change of underwear more like it

Thanks for the video.

[Dick]

You must have had an little angel on your shoulder in that corner ! What could have happened in confrontation with that car.
About the race; you are being kept up by these Austins and overtaking them is not easy because they pull up just a bit quicker.
What about braking a little later and get in front of them? Is it possible to make the brakes a little better? Is adding a vacuum brake booster allowed?
Gr Dick

[Pombellett]

We're actually quite happy with the brakes Dick...maybe the operator could be a little braver! And a vacuum booster would definitely be frowned upon.

A quick inspection after the last race revealed we'd destroyed our newly ground camshaft.

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With no time to rectify this, the old cam was re-inserted before a trip to the dyno that revealed no great loss or gain.
So, we're kind of ready for probably our last outing of the season...good old Brands Hatch, along with my mate Simon......who'll hopefully resist the urge to pirouette down Paddock Hill bend again.
Here's the list of all the usual suspects.

Assuming good reliability and temperatures on Sunday, we shall talk materials hardness with the cam people, and then go on a search for more compression.

[Pombellett]

Temperature and pressure was good....despite a boiling hot day....we now, hopefully, have the reliability.

We finished a solid 15th from 30 starters, but as you'll see from this in-car footage we're still lacking in the old va va voom department.

https://youtu.be/ZuREIQOWZN8

The rest of the season in now shelved, and we're going to start another engine, but this time STARTING with reliability.

Hold tight.

[Pombellett]

I've not really found any decent shots of the race, but this one was probably worth waiting for.

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Massive great Jag looming.

[Stickman]

That is a cracker of a shot