Come in No.50 your time is up

[Andy]

Hi There, I go off on a few weeks holiday to New Zealand and when I get back the Triumph Cyberscene has changed forever! Looks like the new site is popular Dave, my employer is not gonna be happy there is now another site for me to cyber-skive on during the day  

 

My name is Andy (obviously) Vowell, I like racing Triumphs, I also like also Alfa Romeos and VW Vans, though not for racing. I’m probably best known in these circles for my Number 50 race Spitfire which has had a few good runs in the now sadly demised TR/TSSC championship. This car has benefited from web forums and sports a set of Dave’s Dellortos and a Nick/Josh inspired CV jointed Metro rear as well as a one or two other choice modifications.

 

I live in Somerset in the South West of the UK where the cider apples grow. I fix boats for a living and cars for pleasure and even manage a bit of mountain biking in between.

 

Now to cruise this board to see where I can join in, so many subjects so little lunchtime  :s

 

Andy

 

[mattius]

Welcome andy, your spit is very cool.

[DaveNotSoSideways]

Arite Andy.

 

Bet you enjoyed NZ, you're an NZ kind of bloke?? Any highlights? I enjoyed my stay there, especially the "lets do it something mad" attitude of the natives and lack of "uptightis".

 

Sure you'll find something of interest here.

 

Swinging Sixties next year?

 

 

[DaveNotSoSideways]

Oh and I'll have to twist your arm into trying to the "latest" race-spec Dellorto jetting  

[Andy]

Hi Mattius ta for that, I hope your screw removal went well (I’ve been reading the add lightness thread) I have a bit of metalwork in my leg that I’ve kept in to avoid the removal pains.

 

Hi Dave, yep loved NZ a real can-do place. Highlights were a Glacier helicopter ride (expensive but fun), Ice Climbing, hooning round a lake on a mates boat knee-boarding or on a rubber tube, and best of all just going for a lone swim in a bay in the very south and being surrounded by dolphins. Perfect.

 

And yes to racing Swinging Sixties this year, but after a snapped crank and a snapped front axle at the end of last year my car needs some tender loving care and I’m thinking about a steel crank and rods to give me an engine for the next 10 years. So I will probably not race much this year to save the funds for that. But when I’m back in the running I’ll be up for a bit of jetting, no arm twisting required.

 

Cheers

Andy

 

[mattius]

NZ sounds cool, keep us updated on the engine mods, i like it when people go crazy under the bonnet.

 

Screw isnt out yet, pre op analysis later on today, then op on the awesome date of valentines day, im hoping the single nurses will be working and be broody.

[Jony]

welcome andy!! NZ soundas ace! one place id love to go! steel crank and forged pistons eh? lovly jubly!! hope to see you out again here and there again this year, was good to meet ya a mallory last but flew by as i was having too much fun hooning around while you were busy playing with your CV set up! car looked ace though! cant wait to see it going full pelt!

[Mother Teresa]

Hi Andy. Good to see another hands-on go-faster merchant here  . I Look forward to seeing you again at Castle Coombe this year?

[Andy]

Hi Bruce,

 

Well I'll definitly be at Castle Combe Swinging Sixties in October, being my local it's unmissable. Hopefully I'll have a decent engine by then, rather that the smokey 7K rpm limited dog I had last year. It was so demoralising seeing all the cars I'd catch up round the twisty back of the circuit disappear once we hit the main straight

 

Jony, ta for the welcome. The work I spent that day on Mallory on the CV joint rear was well worth it, as a previous fan of the swing spiring I am now fully convinced and would recommend to any small chassis Triumph. You fitting them to your Spit?

 

 

[Jony]

no, im still on the swing, will be my next area to modify though once the engine is done, wrong way round i guess but need needs engine really so must come first!

[DaveNotSoSideways]

I remember the marked improvement at Mallory! Without giving too much away, what camber angle are you settled on now Andy?

[Andy]

Never any secrets in my camp Dave. I like to share.

 

4 degrees negative feels real good, very confident when flinging the car into a bend and controllable if/when it does start to drift.

 

I did spend the first few races moving the bottom inner wishbone mount higher and higher to get a sweet spot where the wishbones are at a slight downward angle to the wheels at rest. I know that was how I should have started out but my short rover uprights made it quite difficult. Well good now sorted though.

 

 

[DaveNotSoSideways]

My theory was correct (formed well before Mallory)! I take your word on the improvement as gospel.

 

There is some article written by some bloke called "ickov" published in 1989 in some mag, says to  do the OPPOSITE of what you have done. I always thought Ickov was talking rubbish...Wheels straight up no camber and the wishbone inner location RIGHT down...Remember those first few laps?

 

I had in my head as the IDEAL setup exactly what you describe and have done/developed towards!

 

Was working ok at the end of that day, so I am sure its working alot better now!

 

[knackerjack]

How do Andy I know the name and have most likely seen you race ........and will again.