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Hi all, Recently I bought a Northampton Motorsport/SBD 305bhp Duratec motor which came from a car that was shunted whilst sprinting. It came with most of the bits needed to finish it, including a very damaged Simpson exhaust. One the engine was in, it was easy to tell that the manifold was a bit of a banana: As well as the silencer being scrap: So I had to look at my options. I didn't like the design of any off the shelf exhausts, so that only left me with the custom route. I looked at Simpson, Powerspeed etc but all either were too far away, could not fit me in, or were laughably expensive. A friend recommended CSK Race Exhausts in Pocklington East Yorkshire. http://www.cskraceexhausts.co.uk/ I messaged on Facebook, got a prompt response and booked the car in. The manifold was built to SBD's specs with some CSK tweeks. CSK also re welded the Wunoff silencer as the welding on that was below par. I left the car with CSK along with the brief to keep to SBD's specs, even though I was really limited on space on the car, and keep it so I can get full lock as full compression. I'll let the photo's do the talking: Overall I'm blown away with the quality and Charlie and Louis were genuinely nice guys too. Charlie also did some welding on my engine mounts while it was there. I can't recommend these guys enough, so please check out their website and consider them for work in the future.

Well even with 21 years of Speed Series behind me the Shelsley weekend has to rank as one of the best events I have ever attended. Hugely enjoyable with a great mixture of driving at one of the world's most historic motorsport venues and meeting up with so many friends from current and past Speed Series seasons. Even able to have a chat with Chris and Richard Smith and Holly. None of this would have happened of course without the vision, time and effort from Graham Gluten-free Frankland and his helpers, Steve Robinson for an excellent after-dinner speech and MAC and their team of marshalls. Thanks Graham and to everyone else involved for a memorable weekend. Keith-the-Teeth!

Hi Folks Thanks to everyone for supporting the day on the hill and the celebration dinner! What a great job Steve Robinson did as guest speaker! I have had some great highs and a few lows during my 9 years in the Speed Series It was a great pleasure and privilege to be able to organise this memorable 21st Anniversary Event! I can only echo Marto's comments that we get some newcomers to the series as a result of this experience! Best wishes Graham

Fantastic weekend and well chuffed with my first visit to the 'Hill'. What a great location with such great history.

Here are some of the cars leaving the pub. mmmmmmm......wonder what all the horns where for.

I might even wear my AO shirt!

theres supposidly a few others booked on from another club so there should be a few 7style cars

Out yesterday in town when I saw an elderly lady with a hearing assist dog being very closely followed by a gypsy (a term I don’t use loosely) woman. I didn’t like the look of the gypsy’s attention so I turned and got in behind them. The gypsy woman threw some dust over the top of the elderly woman, making her stop. At that point, the gypsy pulled a device out of her bag and held it against the elderly woman’s handbag - obviously a crude RFID reader trying to steal her card info. In what was probably with hindsight the wrong thing to do, I jumped forward and grabbed the RFID reader out of her hand. Both women understandably cried out, for different reasons. The gypsy then tried to assault me to get it back, but even at my advanced age, I fended her off and started shouting for the police, which made her scurry off like a rat. After I explained what had happened to the elderly woman and encouraged her to buy a RFID blocking purse, I went to the police station, made a statement and gave them the device. No idea how much info the thieving c*** had in it. Last night I ordered a new RFID blocking wallet. I suggest you do the same if you already haven’t done so. You can’t trust banks to refund your money these days.

Yup, untill such time as “complete” solution can be sorted out, I’d take it seriously more steady at slow speeds and when it comes to launching! Just remember, those sort of power levels on sticky, grippy tyres will keep hunting out the next weakest spot, you will get to a point where that’s the chassis and rear diff mounts. The modern cars, running 200 + bhp from the factory, have considerably different and much more beefed up rear chassis sections to the early Sierra i dependant cars, which in turn was more beefed up that the early Escort diff in WF cast housing independant cars.

It didn't when it was booked !!

Pleased Holly and I came to see you all. Great day with wonderful memories. Thank you

A fantastic day and night at Shelsley, what a brilliant way to celebrate 21 years of the Speed Series A huge Thank You goes to @graham frankland for organising this event. I know personally how much time, effort and stress went into putting this together, so well done Graham great job. I would love to know if any of the non Speed Series members who drove the hill yesterday have been bitten by the bug and now want to have a go competitively????

Fantastic day so far! Lovely weather and atmosphere

With Shesley taking up a lot of focus i'm behind on Blyton..... AND NEED HELP! I need the following:- Start line people Paddock People BBQ organiser aka Brai Master Club Member for Saturday and Sunday (knowledge of blue book) ideally not related to a competitor a little or as much is appreciated... many thanks Panda

Hmmmm, tough one! Which blue is the FW?

Hi Gary that sounds good, I think I know the snack bar but I will keep you informed before we set off. Jeff

@Howsafe Workwear and Safety Equipmentstayed somewhere near recently

I still have a company car with tow bar, so I am making the most of it, so I will be joining you. See you Sat morning. Mick

Just wanted to echo whats already been said. Great weekend, Was really good to catch up with old faces and encourage new. Well done too all those who organised especial Graham. Hope it gives people an insight to our mad sport and its appeal and may be convince them to have a go. (you will be hooked like I was 21 years ago!) @Mighty Mart. Sorry to hear you didn't make it home. hope you get it sorted. Ian

http://www.trackactionphotography.co.uk/gallery_738239.html ill get my pictures off the camera tomorrow evening, and get them up for people to download etc.

Booked ! Always wanted to drive this circuit. Car running after the two (2.1/2) laps of Spa. Can anyone recommend accommodation ? Neil

All booked including one garage ,looking forward to it .

Hi Jeff there’s a few lads up for a meet up so if your aiming for Ullapool @ 6 pm we could aim to be at tarvie snack bar ( on the left) inbetween contin ( fuel stop ) and garve on the A835, we would aim to be there 4.30 ish after a wee run out and come up to Ullapool for a chippie n blether before running for home let me know how that works for yourselves gary

So far, we have: Me SteveH SteveL Mike Ben Andy Ross (Caterham) We just need some

Hi John, No experience but can help Saturday if I'm any use to you. Jim

As previously offered @John Williams - WSCC Competition Secretary, available both days so Happy to Start Line / Paddock. It's good fun so do come along and volunteer. It's free camping and you'll get fed and watered. Especially Sunday as I don't wish to man start line all day on my own again.

I'm sure you can mind read sometimes.

I think I may have solved my problem. Spoke nicely to someone in the Westfield Parts department, and they are sending me a small handful. Good service, so I'm happy to give them credit for it.

It was an epic weekend, and we didn't get wet! Thanks to Bob for the organisation, and to all who attended for making it such a great event - whilst it's great to see and experience the cars, these things are nothing without the people! I had a great time, enjoyed the barbecue (thanks Bob, Lorna and Dave), got my birthday cake (thanks John!) and travelled 751 trouble-free miles from start to finish. Lost the pack on the way back after the petrol stop at Fort William, got stuck in r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w traffic till just after Glencoe, but then found myself behind a mate in his Lotus Evora and we had a great drive from Rannoch Moor until he turned off for Killin. Home by 4:30. Fantastic fun! Thanks again Brian

Personal taste is the main one. FW is more “modern” looking and ZK more “classic”. Who knows which one may be more desirable in future? Could go either way but currently they both seem to be holding their price well. Personally i’d look into what is the exact spec, condition and build quality of each as that’s more important. If they truly are the same other than body type, then it’s up to you which one floats your boat.

As Mole appears to have gone under ground.. .. 20th July Donny day is with RMA. https://www.rmatrackdays.com/Track-Days

This is rich coming from me, but a touch more mechanical sympathy might help too... You shouldn't need to kick the clutch to get it sideways with 270bhp....

Just to add my thanks too. First time on a hill climb and was beginning to get the hang of it by mid afternoon. Still braked about 25yds too soon on the approach to the esses. Never mind, will be better next year! I would particularly like to mention the people from MAC for a great job in every way and to all those from WSCC too. See you next year - please??

I know and was a shame that snetterton got moved. Just a thought if so many enjoyed the event, when I was at Prescott a couple of weeks ago there were guys running in 3 wheeled japs not to MSA regs and had there own scrutineering But at a MSA national B event. Do you think we/ssot could look into something similar for the blyton weekend that way we could have people dipping there toe into speed events without the massive outlay up front. I suppose similar to Javlin sprint series but for just one event a year. Not to interfere with the speed series competitors or MSA regs but one class separately for a come and have a go, many people stay for the weekend after the track day anyway.

Thanks to all WSSC an MAC guys and girls who made Driving the Hill possible yesterday. It was my first time at any track event. Had a fantastic time plus a fantastic day for the 250 mile drive round trip to Selsley Wash.

The car was misfiring badly when I bought it, changed plugs and leads etc and it’s much better, just a this hesitation when first opening the throttle but when it clears it pulls very well. I did wonder if the carbs were to big and needed more air?

Hi Adge I was linked into the the hill radio during the day. This was my first experience of an insight to the other side of our sport and how diligent the marshals, medics and course control are! The one's we had at Shelsley yesterday to me were really top draw! I shall be putting our gratitude in writing to them all tomorrow! Thanks for your nice comments Graham

I seem to remember Ash - @Arm having drive shafts made for a similar set up, many moons ago, he might still have the details of where and what he had made. Ultimately, though, I would consider a long term plan. You are if I remember, running a tuned C20XE? Not sure just what sort of torque you’ve got, “race tuned” was mentioned, but that covers quite a range! You also say you’re running sticky tyres. The chassis was probably at that stage in its development, designed for 150 - 200 bhp and appropriate torque levels, all through the tyres of the day, basic sporty road tyres. This means in a more modern set up like yours, you’re just going to go through a phase of playing hunt the weak spot, till eventually, everything has been replaced. Whereas a lot of people that started with similar set ups, decided to cut their losses, and modify the chassis to take a (by comparison) “modern” Sierra diff, decent lobro type drive shafts and more recent style uprights to match, thus getting rid of all the main weak spots in one go, AND changing to parts more readily available.

Cracking run out to RAF Cosford, nice to see Bernie again plus a new face to our runs out, Kevin who now owns John D old car, John it still runs like a dream. Jeff

Excellent event I really enjoyed it. As I said after the meal, surely we need to try and make this an annual event now........

This surely has to become an annual event

Great tone you guys today. Many thanks for everthing....Gary Mick RonWindy

Great day really enjoyed it, first drive of C type so what an occasion to make that, thanks to all for organising

Who says they are UK bank accounts? The freedom to use our cards in hundreds of countries is surely a two way street...