Goodwood on August 1st !

[stylussprinter]

Just sent for reg's of the BRIGHTON & HOVE Goodwood Sprint on August 1st . Hard to get an entry usually but entries are down for sprinting in general in 2009 so pretty sure I'm in

[stylussprinter]

Neither of my clubs were invited to this (FDMC & BARC SW) but this morning's post brought me confirmation of an entry accepted You could get into this one Kevin (Padley) whether your a member or not , unless you've already spent too much

A 2lt zetec engined Fury beat all the Exiges in the road going class at Goodwood this weekend and they had 2lt Toyota turboed engines

Come and help keep Stylus's in the news

[kevp]

Im unsure at the moment, as we may do Hethel on the 2nd. Goodwood is a lot closser though.

[stylussprinter]

Im unsure at the moment, as we may do Hethel on the 2nd. Goodwood is a lot closser though.

That would be a fantastic day for STYLUS having two at the same venue --- it would also stop people asking '' what is it -- a Ginnetta '' which is the usual oppinion of spectators and other drivers
Matt overheard a discussion about mine and that space framed Escort by some guys saying '' that Ginnetta's going to get blown away by that Escort ''

[stylussprinter]

The GTD40 driver said he'd be at Goodwood again on the 1st of August so that will be a tussle --- he's sure to be trying harder next time This event is run by the BRIGHTON and Hove Motor Club and they run a single lap sprint not a double which makes my lead over him in theory 0.67 sec , not nearly such a gap aye

[kevp]

Well I did get some entry forms. But at £220 for both of us do!!
Also Im going to Cadwell on monday with the bike, so kerbing the spending a bit. I may well call in though. Cheers

[stylussprinter]

Well I did get some entry forms. But at £220 for both of us do!!
Also Im going to Cadwell on monday with the bike, so kerbing the spending a bit. I may well call in though. Cheers

I'd be pleased to see you if you did it must be Llandow club day since we met last

[stylussprinter]

Just looked at the BRIGHTON & HOVE MC website Goodwood entries page and they appear to have put the GTD40 guy in a seperate class
My main competition will be Dereck Hodder in his 245bhp Westy . He got FTD at RUSHMOOR with a time quicker than my own PB there and is also high up in the Westfield series / slicks I think too. David Manser has a quick Escort with a '' big lump '' under the bonnet so maybe it's a Duratec
No doubt I'll find out on Saturday Maybe a trophy-less day this time

[stylussprinter]

All forecasts for Chichester/Goodwood say heavy rain all day until 5-00pm
I'm going anyway though . At least there's under cover pits --- just means Stuart will be on umbrella duty while I'm waiting in line so a hard day for him

[bluestu]

You never know they my may be wrong-should be a good day although i definitely haven't picked a good week to be off

Will be picking the TF up from garage today,which is good news as my all weather gear is in the boot

Depending on when i get a lift over to pick it up today,i may well be over later than planned tonight or first thing in the morning(will email you details of track day now and confirm later)

Stu.

[stylussprinter]

I've replied to your email Stu'

Seeing as I'm off to HEYFORD with Stu' for his Caterham day on Friday , I got the Stylus prepared and loaded/sheeted this morning. While greasing the U/J's on the prop' I found 1 or 2 mm ' play ' in the diff' nose bearing It was dry - no oil around the nose so missed it before . Anyway it's got oil and there's simply no time to get it out and rebuilt before Saturday
Goodwood will just have to be a trip around the track a bit steady or the whole diff' could crack and fall apart (It's alloy and bloody expensive ) They'll be no chasing a good ' time ' sadly
Now it's clear what that ' vibration ' was last time out when I thought it was the new front flip juddering on the airbox

The main thing is to get it home without further damage

[stylussprinter]

H'mmm , this is not my year Having got the car on the trailer and strapped tight ------------------- I saw the trailer had a flat tyre Got it sorted now but a right damn pain getting the wheel off with the car on the trailer AND it would have to be the wheel closest to the fence

[stylussprinter]

Well I had intentions of just getting the Stylus around the track safely without damaging the diff' any further plus staying on the track in the wet that was forecast
Firstly , the double driven Dereck Hodder Westfield wasn't 245bhp -- it was 285bhp , had very wide slicks plus a set of soft sticky wets
The Escort 2.3lt didn't arrive nor did the GTD40 5lt So --- it was me against the two Westy drivers. First practice , it didn't rain just spitted a bit but I went very steady with the bearing making lots of noise . Time was 100 sec's approx'ly , slow for me. The Westy quickest driver did a 92 sec The second was slower than me .Once again the ' seeding ' was all wrong , putting me behind two cars that I told them I'd catch ---- and I did I didn't bother asking for a re-run though , it would just slow the day up and make my first timed run wet maybe
Then it started pissing down ---- , then it was lunch time cos things were going very slowly organisation wise. I'd made up my mind to nurse it round in the wet conditions also not to further damage the diff' bearing ------- however ---- Rod Styles arrived , an old friend of mine just to chat . He got the full story then told me it could be adjusted I said great , I'll do that after next weeks Stylus meeting at mine Next he said , I'll do it for you now in the lunch time if you like Can't , I said --- no major tools etc for that job. No prob's says Rod , I've got my van here full of all my tools In 40 minutes the prop' was off , bearing adjusted and prop' back on --- brilliant
By then the rain was heavy so I decided to get the best run possible on my first timed run and leave it at that because it was getting worse all the time.
Again they got the seeding haywire , putting me behind two single seaters BUT then a RADICAL SR3 behind me Most were expecting to see me caught(including me ) but I finished the lap around the same gap between us as at the start ----- very steady through standing water plus running water across apexes. The bearing uttered no sound or vibration and my rubbish time of 118 sec's still beat the others in my class of 135 sec's and 126 sec's . They immediately loaded and left . I didn't take the second run either but stayed to collect my 1st in class award --- actually my first ever win in the wet
Now that the vibration's sorted I'll be pushing very hard next time out

Thanks '' Ned '' for turning up in the rain to support

[Ned]

Your more than welcome, apart from getting a tad wet it was a enjoyable morning/lunchtime, i`m glad you got the diff sorted.
Ned

[stylussprinter]

Matt D drew my attention to the FDMC forum / general chat , where Goodwood's resident chief marshal , Pete P , has congratulated me on the win in the wet Didn't realise he knew who I was , so it's nice of him to comment
I'll need to wear a cap next time so's I can ' doff ' it when I see him A pint might go down better though