Robert Farley

I started my kit build in November '97 up to August '99 when it passed the SVA test.

Running a 2.0 litre zetec engine on twin 45 carbs with a combination of dunnell/raceline components,with a heavy duty ap clutch taking the power to a type 9 quaife clubmans box with quickshift gearstick. A standard live axle set up is out back with asalisbury lsd and a 3.89 diff ratio painted Audi/VW flash red with a black interior.

The car stayed like this until disaster struck later on when the water hose on the thermostat housing came loose wrecking the engine. This enabled me carry out the following engine mods: uprated head, vernier cam wheels, high lift cams, engine management re-mapped to suit above mods.

With the engine back together and run in I was off to guston hillclimb school, where after a few good runs I substained damage to one of the upper rocker arms due to a little trip into the scenery. All this led me to investigate the whole suspension set up, changing spring rates/lengths, upper rocker arms strengthen, lower rear links re-designed/strengthen, front suspension pick up moved, with all this I have been fine tuning the suspension during the 3000 miles I have covered.

I am happy with the current set up (which suits me) other planned mods include a quickrack for the steering, willwood 4 pot calipers on vented discs up front.

I've been competing (2002) in the ACSMC sprint challenge and ended up 2nd in Class 8 over the year (only 7 competitors so no award). However they are awarding me the OVERALL BEST NOVICE which will be presented at the Brooklands Museum on 2nd March . The nice thing is that this award is given over all classes , not just class 8 .

Will keep you informed of my 2003 fun & games.

I had my 1st sprint of 2003 at Silverstone on Sat' 5th April. The weather was sunny but quite nippy a.m. The Stowe circuit was used and the sprint course was two laps from a standing start ( 1.6 miles approx'y ) I've never driven it before and found it quite challenging to get the exit from the esses just right . Five corners altogether and travelling anti-clockwise , so four left handers and a right into the esses . Four corners were anti camber , so concentration was required ! Two short straights so never reached max' rev's in 3rd ( 112mph in my car ) All corners taken in 2nd after the standing start into the hairpin in 1st gear , not quite max' rev's so about 60mph before a quick stab on the '' middle '' pedal and back on the juice !
My first practise was 101 sec's(2 laps) and best of the day was 98.7 sec's, which put me in 6th place behind some quick guys. I was 2sec's clear of an Elise and just 0.3 sec's behind a very powerful Westfield with all the bells and whistles on (I asked him ? bhp but he didn't want to say ! ) An Elise did a 97 sec's / Exige 94 sec's / V ' quick westi ' 91.7sec's and the top slot was a Cosworth 2lt turbo westi ' 91.5! So all in not a bad day for my 1st ever drive on the Stowe circuit.
I'm in the same championship as 2002( ACSMC SPRINT CHALLENGE ) so it looks like being tough competition .

One high note though --- I managed to beat Alex Clark in his Fireblade Fury who has beaten my times at several events in 2002 .
My next event is Eelmoor near Aldershot on 20th April 2003 and Andy Bailey is coming along to support (probably in his Stylus )

My Blog

	I've just prepared the car for this season and the 1st outing is Silverstone on 5th April and then Eelmoor on 20th April (both are sprints) Seeing as it's had a wash and brushup, before I take it out on the road for the 1st time, since Goodwood Oct 2002, I took a few photos of car plus cup!!
	March 2003

These pictures are at Goodwood on a Sprint day