Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Whether you call this racing or not, this is us at Mallory Park last week. It was really a testing day just to check that the car was finally set up and ready to race. But we took Roberto Giordanelli along to give us some instruction from his ever knowledgable mind, and also to scare me witless after running circles around some far more powerful cars! Sadly our day was cut short by a leaking tank, but each time out on the track makes us more aware of how competitive we could be. With lap times in mid-grid of our proposed championship, with no steel crank! Anyway, some photos.

Hi CC

Looks good.
Do you want to share what setup you are running?
I'm thinking about spring rates, ARB, tires and so on...

I just asked my Dad as I wasn't really sure of the spring rates. So...

Springs: 250 front, 150 back.
Shocks: Full stiff at rear, 50% stiff front. (Koni-Adjustable)
Tyres: 175/60 Yokahama Advan Tyres. (Would be nice if we could have bigger rubber, but arches don't allow..)
ARB (I guess thats Roll Bar): 26R GTS thickness I think thats 3/4" or something.

I don't know the real details of the set up, but I know that it's got toe-in on the rear wheels, and I think the front points pretty straight.

I'll try and answer any questions if you have them!

If any Elan racers are planning to visit the Wednesday test sessions this coming season; please give me a shout in advance, if you are interested in getting some decent photos of your car in action.

Quick bump for my previous post- if you are planning a work-out at Mallory on any Wednesday do give me a call. I was there today; despite the cold: 2x Matra Simca V12, Fergusson 4x4 F1, Lola T70, Aston-Martin Project car, lightweight E-Type, Ronnie P. F1, Lotus Cortina, Ginetta G4, Chevron B16...... etc. and this is only March!
Also, if you are racing this season at Oulton Park or the Donington Vintage/Classic meetings, let me know in advance and I'll take a few "snaps".



Damn; it was arctic!

Nice photograph Pete, well done.

Tim

Another couple of fantastic days at Snetterton and Cadwell this last week. Brakes completely rebuilt to TTR track spec over winter, as well as a few more steps to preparation (tow hooks etc). Hall & Hall had a testing day at Snetterton so was great fun trying to keep up with the old Maserati's! Then Aston works came along and showed all of us up!


Competition
Got Croft, Brands and Goodwood left for this year. Then coke box exhaust, and we're ready to go racing

Hey 1558 looks like you will have a nice motor when you complete your mods.

Some nice looking photo's as well, pity they are spoilt by the fresh range photography logo

Doug.

It's great fun We have been advised by George Wadsworth (who built the engine) and Ian Jones (who prepared the car) at Racing Fabrications not to actually do anything to the exhaust unless we are going to spend another 5k for another all steel engine. So as far as we are now concerned it's ready! Here's a few more from Cadwell the day before, almost taking off over the mountain Apparently lapping 1:58s consistently, so not too far back on the HSCC grid for comparison!

Now aren't they just nice photo's. Keep up the good work.

1558cc,

The car's attitude looks great in all the pictures. Did you machine the face off of the knock off nuts? Also, are those 5 x 13" panasports? They look wider.
Very nice car!

Mike

The Spinners are 26r Winged Style in aluminium, they've got drilled centres as all 26r type. The were made by Dave Hughes in Wales (I think) and although light (and cheap!) are a load of rubbish! We've had a wheel off at silverstone and at least 3 of them are broken in some way. They are now locked wired on, and we are moving to drilled federal nuts for convenience! I believe the wheels are 5x13" Aluminium Minilites on 175/60 Yokohamas! We've got Goodwood in less than a month, I can't wait!

Well following a wee bit of drama, involving melting brake pads (on track at Snetterton(!!)), we will be racing in the HSCC 70s Roadsports races this weekend at the Snetteton Autosport 3 Hours this Saturday. The car is no 84, and if anyone is there and takes any photos then please post them here! I will be taking/uploading an in-car video, and will post the links post race

1558cc wrote:The Spinners are 26r type. The were made by Dave Hughes in Wales (I think) and although light (and cheap!) are a load of rubbish!

That's a bit harsh especially if he didn't make them!

1558cc wrote:They are now locked wired on,

We always lock wired them in the old days!

Dave did make them. He has contacted my father and I and offered replacements, which was very kind of him. In the end they aren't forged, and will never be strong enough for the force required to torque them up. We have started using octagonal (federal?) nuts with the ends cut off as these are of similar weight (slightly more) than the spinners, however we have a wrench which much more reliably tightens them (no backing off to date).