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Now the adrenaline has dissipated I should probably tell you about my first race.... BRSCC MX5 Clubman Championship supporting the C1 24hr weekend. I've not been on track at Silverstone before, and the GP circuit is pretty long so I decided to do the test day the day before racing. It'll just be a like a track day right? Sure its raining, but I'm half decent in the wet so it'll be fine, right? Testing was in sessions - I pootled out ready to get up to speed. What followed was an absolute assault on the senses. Getting passed on the inside and the outside at the same time, while i'm trying not to fall off and learn which was the track goes. Mildly terrifying. After a couple of laps, I had a word with myself and decided to send it. The rest of the session was much better and I was a lot more comfortable, although I suspect this may have been that the fast guys had gone past so I was settling in with the drivers who were around my pace. As the day progressed, it dried out and I got happier and happier. Much more comfortable being in very close proximity and it was all good. Ready for race day. Didn't sleep, obviously. Got to the circuit around 730, scrutineering resulted in a couple of small jobs for the team. Very impressed with the scrutineers. I thought they'd be terrifiying ogres but he was so helpful - they really want to get you out there and keep you safe. Drivers briefing - dont remember much, surprised at how short it was and they basically said "guys, you have to stop crashing into each other". Next up, 15 mins of qualifying. Which to me, seemed pretty much like an actual race but with a rolling start. It was awesome, I didn't find myself with much space and probably should have backed off to get some, by the time I'd thought this it was half way through the session and I didn't want to sacrifice any laps (bearing in mind, its probably only 4 flying laps for quali). All going well, big smile on my face, I've almost done my first qualifying session! Then smiles turned to tears - the car lost power down the Wellington Straight and I could hear the distinctive noise of big end bearing failure. Gutted. In to the pits to lament. I qualified 19/33 though, which I was really pleased with. Catastrophic engine failure aside. Race 1 was in less than 2 hours. This was not looking good. The team didn't have a spare engine, even if they could get it swapped in time. Luckily, they 'obtained' a bottom end from somewhere and the plan was to put the old head on the new bottom end and get that in. It was clear race 1 wasn't going to happen for me, so got out of the way, let them get on with it and did what i do best - a cup of tea and a sausage butty. Race 2 was scheduled for 1640. Time was ticking... I'd have to start race 2 from the back of the grid, pretty disappointing but race 2 was looking less and less likely anyway The team told me to get suited up and get in the car. Its still on axle stands at this point and the "new" engine hasn't run. I'm strapped in, the other drivers are already in assembly. One of the lovely race people (?) is on the radio giving control updates, while I'm stressed AF. Engine starts, straight off the stands and round to assembly. Yes! I'm going racing!! Of course I got lost on the way to assembly, but figured it out after a wrong turn. They are making some checks on the car while we're waiting for green flag - a coolant leak is spotted...tools are dispatched, but its too late. The rest of the guys head for green flag lap and I'm stuck in assembly. I'm gutted, my racing dreams are over for today. . . . . . . . . Or are they? Jubilee clip tightened and the car is good to go, they'll let me start from the pit lane. I high tail it over to the pits from assembly, the nice flag man explains he'll turn the light green for me when the pack are through turn 1. Excitement building now, lights go green and off I go! Getting onto the track as the pack head through Maggots and Becketts, I think I'm about 3s behind the guy who is next to last. Engine seems strong though. I needn't have worried, I was on the back of them pretty much immediately and managed to get past 4 in the first lap. I was into my stride, this is so much better than track days. Trying to leave racing room, but passing on the inside and the outside. Managed to get on the power early, get a couple of overtakes on the long long straights and on the brakes. The short 15 min race was over in a flash. It was actually cut short to 13.5 mins because of delays earlier in the day. I managed to bring it home 23/33 which tbh I'm over the moon about considering the circumstances (racing driver excuse #72). I am still buzzing and absolutely hooked. Next outing Oulton Park on 23rd July, which I'm expecting to be different to silverstone but I cannot wait!!! ETA - I'd post a video, but the gopro fail

I’m in for this one👍

Yep deffo

Draft route is mapped out - another 200 mile run, with a good mix of A, B and single tracks and they'll be dead quiet, except for Westies coming in the opposite direction (some more loops this year to keep everyone second-guessing if they're on the right track). Next job is to scribe it into a route book and test it. So far, this is the only run scheduled for the rest of this year's McWesty calendar. South of the border types are more than welcome if you want 200 miles of near-deserted squiggly roads. Last time I looked online, there were still rooms available at the castle if you want to make a weekend of it, great if you have a significant-other who's not enamoured on the usual day-run blasts - they are just as involved in the day as the driver.

Naah - he was just using the motorbike emergency overtaking lane and the council forgot to clean it.

Meet at McDonalds, Bakewell Road, Matlock, DE4 3AU, 10am. After refreshments we will go for a buzz around the Peak District before stopping for lunch. Believe me when I say this, we WILL be stopping for cake! Who is joining us?

oh this is a family friendly name, particularly liked by young lads😀

Yes please. Count me in.

oh goody, I am glad you are coming Glynn, I have a name for your car and thought we could have a little naming ceremony, presuming you haven't already named it, I have never heard you refer to one?

No apologies needed@BillyPee:). You are the Xflow expert - not me!!

I've just watched your video and your solenoid is separate from your starter motor (rather than combined in the photo above). The solenoid is the squarish block on your bulkhead with the thick wires going to it. It is basically a switch that is activated by your ignition key and allows power to flow to your starter. Check your cables (and any grounds) and work through the system methodically and you will work out where the issue lies. If you can't get the starter motor to work when you power it directly then I have a spare (yours looks like a Lucas that I had on my xflow) that you can have for free (its heavy so probably best couriered via the Peak District group, sorry @AndrewBClarke 😀).

He wouldn't have won. He had all his luck for that for that week right there!

Straight home for some clean underwear I imagine...

@daveclow Thanks for your video posted on another tread. Logic is that your issue is either not getting enough power to the starter or the starter itself. Nothing mechanical as a bump start is effective. You can try jump leads from another car to check the effectiveness of the battery. If it starts this way then it is the battery and time for a new one. If not check the positive and negative leads and connections There is a connection on the starter where the positive joins and is a prime candidate for a clean and reconnect. Earthing is another point to check. If all of this doesn’t help, probably time to think about changing your starter. This isn’t too expensive or difficult. Think of an upgrade at this point to a high torque more modern type. They draw less current and are more powerful. Another thing to check (I can’t see from the video) is the sizing of your positive and negative leads. You loose power through a lead and you loose less through a bigger lead. Good luck Andrew

If you're driving that slow to collect the water maybe a moss planter will help 🤭

Reviving an old thread by updating it and condensing it down… #1: Any thread that is started where the author requests an opinion as to whether or not something they do or have done voluntarily is right or wrong, will end with the author concluding they were right, no matter how strongly the majority who gave said requested opinion disagree with the author's point of view. #2: Any thread where the author states they are looking to purchase a tintop and then lists the cars they are willing to consider, will end after considerable debate, further models not on the list being suggested, and the author buying something utterly different from anything discussed or not purchasing a car after all and sticking with their current transport. #3: Any thread that is more than three pages long will end with a subject totally different to the subject that started the thread. #4: If a thread asks for a serious opinion it will not receive it - moreover, if the word "serious" apears in the title, it is open season for silly answers. #5: When asking if option A or B is the better, the answer will always be that options C to Z are infinitely superior (depending on the respondent's deep seated fears and prejudices). #6: Whatever the subject, no matter how well thought out and reasoned the subject matter is, someone will take the diametrically opposed view just to be contrary. #7: Asking what your car is worth will always cause issues and invariably will not end well. #8: Threads including references to unconventional dashboard instrument arrangement can only end in one way (see @Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman). #9: There are more build diaries started than finished. #10: If you, presumably with the knowledge that you're mechanically incompetent, cack-handed, or just not interested in the oily side of things, make the simple mistake of asking about good garages / mechanics for Westfield related service work, prepare to duck and cover as the outrage at not "doing it yourself, it's easy" pours forth. #11: Any thread mentioning the word "Pinto" will also include the words "mighty", "anchor" and / or “boat”. #12: Threads asking which engine is best will only result in complete disagreement. #13: Threads arguing whether which of BECs or CECs are best will never be resolved. #14: In any thread that mentions driving a Westfield in poor weather conditions, those who don't will only say that those who do are "mental", and those who do drive in poor weather may only refer to everyone else as "wimps". #15: Whatever the tricky problem and no matter how many solutions are offered, the author with the problem will never come back and tell the members what was the actual solution to the problem was, leaving everyone following the thread wondering forever. #16: All Westfields for sale were built by retired engineers and were never driven on a track or in the rain. #17: Any claims to bhp figures, no matter how credible, will always be met with scepticism by other members unless supplied by an approved Westfield tuner and even then, those figures will have doubt cast upon their accuracy by members with identical engines producing less power. #18: Any member who starts a contentious thread that gets so out of control that it requires Moderator intervention will shortly afterwards post another thread entitled, “Where did my thread go?”. #19: Any post seeking to correct the grammar or spelling of a previous post will contain a grammatical or spelling error. #20: Using the Search facility will result in getting you so sidetracked looking at other interesting threads that two hours later, you will have forgotten what you were searching for to begin with. #21: An engine problem thread started in Tech Talk will invariably fail to state one or more of the following: engine type, engine size, or carbs or throttle bodies, distributor or ECU type, but will mention the age and condition of the battery. #22: The Westfield you really want to buy will inevitably be at the farthest geographical point away from your home, ie. you live in Aberdeen and the car you want to buy is in Cornwall. #23: When you buy your Westfield and arrive to drive it home, the weather forecast of bright sunshine will instantly change to thunderstorms, pouring rain, hail, and ten degrees colder. You may add your own below, remembering to number them for everyone’s future reference. (Please note that I reserve the right to edit as necessary or if it's not in keeping with the spirit of the thread - thank you.)

entry list here https://speedeventservices.wufoo.com/reports/z10wuv2x0wnscsl/

Wow, I’m genuinely blown away by the help guys. Thanks so much to you all. I’m a complete newb to all this and not a mechanic, but I could build you a nice website 😅 Collecting the car was 20+ years in the making and a bit emotional. I was going to build a kit with my late father but we didn’t get time unfortunately. He was a mechanic with a lifetime of knowledge so in his absence I’m extremely grateful for the help. I’ll keep you posted.

Thumbs up from bbc weather😀

#24: Despite swearing blind that, as a new owner, you won't change a thing, the engine, wheels, brakes and some bodywork will be for sale inside 6 weeks.

Could the clicking be the starter motor solenoid clicking and not powering the gear that shoots out to turn the flywheel. some times a little tape on the solenoid while some one is turning it over will bring it back to life, if that works then the issue is the starter motor. Image is not your starter but will help explain.

Still listed on the parts shop https://parts.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=543&search=Bonnet&description=true

I’m booked with Lionel.

Brilliant Andy! Roll up, roll up! Anymore?

Bump, just a reminder, no meet on Thursday, it’s next Tuesday, instead!

Try one of these, doesn't fly off and you get free fuel 😂

I actually started, last from the pit lane. I was suited, booted and strapped into the car ready to go while it was still on stands and the engine hadn’t run. Talk about close. Ended 23 out of 33 which I’m taking as a win! Biiiiiiig smile on my face! The bad news is, no go pro footage

Can’t make it - sorry. I’ll be at RAF Cosford with my two sons

Sorry peeps but June is looking a nightmare for me at the weekends ... multiple birthdays and Fathers Day are going to curtail my activities!

Sorry have to decline for tomorrow. My mother has been taken into hospital.

I also suffered with hi spec hubs being ****e. Machined wrong on the bearing race surfaces. Fitted a set of siltech hubs and issue went away. Mine was so bad it was not run able as it was. Was mm rather than fractions of a mm.