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 My Pastime - spending my pension fund !! (currently 3488 views) |
| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:20:47pm |
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Some of you will be aware that my family is motor racing mad and we race in the Scottish XR2 Championship... What this means is that "we" sponsor our son Andrew and he gets all the fun except on test days when dad gets to drive 
It is actually a huge amount of fun and all the other drivers are a great bunch and from all walks of life... There's a selection of bankers, electronics engineers, a few mechanics, a property developer ( I think he's really a bricky) and others.. So it's very much a social thing as well...
What's more in racing terms it's not massively expensive. The XR2 we have cost about £3k to buy - so about the same as a Cappo - and we reckon the annual running costs including entry fees and general maintenance are in the order of £5k... Damage is the bummer though and that can easily add a lot of pennies to your costs even though the price of XR2 bits are a lot less than we pay for Cappo spares. Andrew had some spectacular "offs" last year although only one was actually his fault but that added another couple of £k to the bill...
As the guy who does all the XR2 bodywork said as he heard a whole load of tyre screeching and thumps over the tannoy "Ah - the glorious sound of another invoice being written".. 
If you're so minded take a look at Andrew's website... http://www.andrew-winchester.com and watch some of his in car videos on his media page... The August race and the second Oct race are good value..
In the meantime here's some photies ....
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:22:10pm |
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This is what happens when someone turns into you at 95mph on the main street believing they have the racing line !!!
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| Andy |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:28:47pm |
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Does seem a very cost effective racing series - until all the old Fiesta bits get used up but then they could just swap to XR2is!
I'd definitely recommened having a look at the videos. Fantasticly close bumper to bumper action. Just how motor racing should be! Any news on the MINIs Dick? |
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Last modified Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:29:07pm by Andy |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:32:14pm |
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There's a Mini series being run this year by the Scottish Motor Racing Club but we've decided to continue with the XR2 for this season at least. He was second in the Championship last year and wants to have a real crack at winning it in 07. He also came within 0.003 of setting a new lap record and is determined to beat that !!!
Kids eh ! |
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| Andy |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:34:52pm |
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| So not planning on doing both this year anymore? |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:36:54pm |
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Here's what happened to the guy that hit him ! Straight into the tyre wall, rolled it three times but walked away completely unscathed but somewhat embarrassed !!
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:40:53pm |
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Quoted from Andy, posted Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:34:52pm at here |
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So not planning on doing both this year anymore?
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No - not enough time and the meetings clash..... We'll be at Cadwell Park on May 6th and Oulton on July 28th in Englandshire so anyone near there should come along... |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:45:31pm |
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This was at Croft last year..... He got a puncture in the first race so started 9th in race 2 but finished 4th...... Not a good weekend > but a great track ...
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| Andy |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:53:19pm |
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| I'm definitely going to try to make at least one of them! |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:57:44pm |
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Final one for now..... This was fun... We were all in the Honda F1 garage at Silverstone ......... That's one of the Scottish Caterhams in the foreground.. A mere £35k's worth!! This guy ran into the tyre wall at Knockhill and lost his front left suspension... It cost £5k for the bits !!!
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Last modified Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:58:56pm by DickW |
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| Olyfan |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:59:12pm |
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| Can you post up that video clip Dick - it was brilliant |
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| Andy |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 4:05:50pm |
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October
August
Right click the above links and Save Target As |
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Last modified Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 4:06:48pm by Andy |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 4:07:31pm |
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Quoted from Andy, posted Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:28:47pm at here |
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Does seem a very cost effective racing series - until all the old Fiesta bits get used up but then they could just swap to XR2is!
I'd definitely recommened having a look at the videos. Fantasticly close bumper to bumper action. Just how motor racing should be! Any news on the MINIs Dick?
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Yes - it's the low cost end of motor racing which is why a lot of people do it.. This year we're expecting a grid of about 25 cars if everyone makes it and that's really good news for the future.
You're exactly right Andy... We reckon there's probably about three years to go on this series before they simply get too old to repair anymore. Although bits are still quite plentiful (my garage is full of body panels) some are getting more difficult to find.. Rear axles in particular are a pain in the neck to locate and most of the faster guys will go through at least one set in a season..
XR2i's - watch this space  ..They are reaching the right age.. i.e. cheap !! The other option is the Fiesta ST..... Two guys who now live in Englandshire (Londonish) are building ST to race down South.. One is the former Scottish XR2 Champion so we're all looking forward to see how he gets on..
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 4:12:30pm |
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Quoted from Olyfan, posted Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 3:59:12pm at here |
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Can you post up that video clip Dick - it was brilliant
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I also like the short clip from Silverstone that my other son Ben took on his phone ... It's Andrew being super opportunistic and stealing second place... He actually went on to take first place from the guy in the blue car but two laps before the end another guy span off on that same corner and Andrew had to swerve to avoid him as he hurtled across the grass...... Held second though so not a disaster but he was well peeved !!
That clip is here :
http://www.andrew-winchester.com/html/videos/XR2%202nd%20Place%20Move.MOV
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Last modified Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 4:14:12pm by DickW |
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| Andy |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 4:15:08pm |
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| If they don't fancy using the XR2is they could always go for the RS1800 or even the RSTs (although the costs will obviously rise with the latter what with the turbos) |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 4:55:41pm |
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I personally think it will be the XR2i mainly because of the cost but it also follows the XR2 tradition.. It's also not that much of a leap forward in terms of the technology so there won't be a major learning curve for the engineers in particular.
The whole ethos is based on keeping it affordable and practical.. |
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| crisp |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 5:04:37pm |
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Sorry did you say £3k for as little Clit?
Jeezz!
I'd expect that for an XR2i not an older XR2!
Great road holding on them things, though  .
Great fun .
I remember when I had my NovaSR (don't laugh this was 10yr ago) and I was following this guy in his XR2 (must have been the 1.8 as I know the more common 1.6 wasn't that fast as he overtook me and was a complete nutter at the time) and he pulled away from me on the bends on the A52 out of town going towards Notts and I was (falling) behind him doing 85+ only because I was nearly on 2 wheels!
Not many cars that can go round those bends at that speed.
He was doing at least 90/95mph by reckoning.
Most 'normal' cars then would shimmy a bit (and lean) at 50(vans)>60mph, and in the old MR2 I'd get round there about maybe nearly 80 without feeling it wanting to twitch (yes, I bottled it).
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 6:01:30pm |
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Crisp - we use the 1.6 XR2s... In my view that engine provides the best balance and overall performance. Yes - they do grip like manure to the proverbial blanket.. But it's quite interesting that even though they are absolutely identical in every other way there are some subtle differences in performance particularly in the wet between the cars that use either a bolted in or welded in roll cage.
The bolt in cages are much better because they are just that little less stiff......
Fortunately Andrew has a hybrid - part bolted part welded. |
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| crisp |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 7:45:53pm |
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Interesting bit about the roll cages there, Dick W.
Thought they were the 1.6's as from what I remember the 1.8's were somewhat rarer.
Only one around here then that I knew of.
Half expected you to have ago at the moniker, but hey , what the hell.
Very resilient little buggers they were.
One thing I did notice from 80's to early 90's engines was that increasing the engine size also meant a notable increase in weight and so off-the-mark performance was slower (or than expected), but top-end was so much better .
My old 14SR had a notably large dead-zone between 65 and 75/80 (4th to 5th) and many a slower car (like 214/2168v/16v or XR2/3) had caught up or even got past me by then (often just).
Had quite a few trying it on in 214/216/XR2/XR3/206-1.6GTis/Nova1.2i/1.4i back then  .
Oh, and that's with no mods , just sheer gonads a lot of the time.
You won some ,you lost some .
I don't drive like that now though  .
There's a nice old XR2i and XR3/RST comes around here regular - far better than the BoySaxo across the road . |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 9:59:55pm |
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The 1.6 engines produce just over 100 bhp and the cars have to weigh a minimum 845Kg at the end of the race including driver.. So their power to weight ratio is pretty good..
5th gear ... They never use it... In fact some drivers have fitted a stop to prevent them going into 5th or reverse. Unfortunately one driver did manage to get it into reverse at at Silverstone.. This caused him a certain degree of surprise and produced a very large invoice
Yes I did say £3k... That's about average for these cars.. Some are a lot cheaper and others are more expensive.. Depends on how well they've been prepared. |
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| crisp |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 10:32:27pm |
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Quoted from DickW, posted Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 9:59:55pm at here |
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Yes I did say £3k... That's about average for these cars.. Some are a lot cheaper and others are more expensive.. Depends on how well they've been prepared.
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Well, I supose that applies to a lot of cars l, though I'd not spend £3k on an XR2 when I can get a fairly decent early Golf or Golf cab for nearly half that!
But ewach to their won .
[qote]minimum 845Kg[/quote]
That's quite heavy, but I suppose the roll cage and that adds a LOT of weight, so for a track car ain't too bad!
What were they out of the factory in the 80's, about 550/600kgs (guess)?
Early/Mid 80's Escort was about 750kgs upwards if I recall?
My old 1.6Solara was nearer ~1.5ton?- take a hint don't try bump starting one on your own unless you're on a good (down)hill! Twice the weight of the-then Escorts, yet faster - or was it just the twin Webbers?
I know a lot of 7's weighed in at over 500kgs properly kitted for track use and my old SR was I think lighter ~450/500kgs out the factory?
(seen a few 7's at 350kgs and under ££££) |
Last modified Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 11:00:52pm by crisp |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 10:38:36pm |
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Absolutely !!! History helps though.. If a car belongs to someone who has done well in the championship then it can add a bit of a premium..
The laugh with ours was that the guy we bought it from was always middle of the field and wanted a better one so spent around £4.5k on another one plus another couple of £k respraying it and generally tidying it up and was convinced this would all help..
So he's now really pi**ed off that he's still in the middle field and Andrew beats him at every race. In fact we now hear he's given up and handed his car over to his son |
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| crisp |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 11:14:15pm |
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Quoted from DickW, posted Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 10:38:36pm at here |
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So he's now really pi**ed off that he's still in the middle field and Andrew beats him at every race. In fact we now hear he's given up and handed his car over to his son
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The driver really helps .
10years ago I had b@lls of steel behind the wheel and used to pull some crazy sh!t and more than hold my own, but now I'm no better than anyone else with a cr@p car and no bottle now, but I know it and drive accordingly.
If someone who's obviously (or should be) better than me comes up behind I'll pull back and over and let em go and good luck to them.
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 11:28:47pm |
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| That's the way it should be in racing !! Blocking people for no good reason ain't on and nowadays you can get black flagged for it.. |
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| crisp |
| Posted on: Sunday, March 18th, 2007, 8:39:21am |
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It's the way it should be on the road as well, but there's that many arogant and stupid and incompetant b@$t@rd$ about...... especially around here!
It doesn't help the local bobbies are only concerned with disturbances of the peace and raking it in from speed traps : they've never heard of "negative reinforcement" but that's what they're guilty of!
*sorry pet hates rant over*
When I get this bad shoot me please :
(Jeremy Clarkson/Spitting Image)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X91PXNR1emU
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Thursday, March 22nd, 2007, 12:59:43pm |
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Off for a day's testing at Knockhill on Sunday 25th..... Need to "run in" the engine after its winter rebuild so ten laps at reduced revs then VROOOM !!!!!!!!
Just heard one of the other drivers who was testing last weekend missed a gear and now has a head to rebuild
First race of the season is on the 8th April ..... Can't wait... |
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| Olyfan |
| Posted on: Thursday, March 22nd, 2007, 3:43:54pm |
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Good Luck!!!!!!
No bangs for you on Sunday I hope |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Thursday, March 22nd, 2007, 10:11:59pm |
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Test days are supposed to be gentle affairs.....
And if you believe that you'll believe anything |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Sunday, March 25th, 2007, 8:44:03pm |
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Well it was a fun day today at Knockhill.. Weather was good... Sunny but a bit breezy therefore chilly..
Andrew did four 25 min test sessions...The first was to run the rebuilt engine so no heroics allowed... The others were to play with different setups - mainly tyre pressure changes - and that worked out well... We gained 0.25 sec per lap from that so now lapping at a smidgeon over 64 secs without really pushing too hard..
We'd also borrowed a GPS based data-logger from a friend and stuck that in...Dad did all the wiring and nothing blew up !
It's very useful for working out how to optimise your lap times.. In broad terms what it does is look at all your laps. pick out the best sector times and then tells you what you should be doing... In Andrew's case it gave a lap time of just over 63 secs which doesn't sound like a hell of a difference but in racing terms it's a month of sundays... So he's now busy studying all that.. Great programme actually... I'm going to use it to see if I can optimise my time to the pub
We went through a set of tyres today so the last session was almost as if the car was running on slicks.... So a new set for practice on the 7th April which will scrub them in for the race on the 8th..
The really good news is that car was as intact at the end of the day as it was at the beginning.. So no panel beating needed.
One guy nearly copped it though... Got a little over enthusiastic and ran onto the grass and was bleeding lucky not to roll it... One of the photographers caught it beautifully so it will doubtless be up on his site later...
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| Andy |
| Posted on: Sunday, March 25th, 2007, 9:08:32pm |
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| Great to hear everything went well Dick. Wish Andrew all the best for the start of the season. Looking forward to hopefully getting along to one, or maybe both, of the meetings in Englandshire! |
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| Olyfan |
| Posted on: Sunday, March 25th, 2007, 9:10:03pm |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Sunday, March 25th, 2007, 10:14:52pm |
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| Thanks chaps...... I shall pass on your best wishes......... |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Tuesday, March 27th, 2007, 1:03:37am |
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| Olyfan |
| Posted on: Tuesday, March 27th, 2007, 7:35:30am |
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Enterprising photographer!
I drove one of those single-seaters at Silverstone once and really loved it. The Caterhams do appeal to me so much though. Just need a spare £50,000 for the car and the season. |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Tuesday, March 27th, 2007, 10:21:33am |
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The Formula Ford 1600s are a new series for this year... They use the old Kent (Cortina) type engine which is simple enough to look after.. Prices being paid for those cars have been on average about £7k which in racing terms is pretty good... One of the guys testing a new race prepped supercharged mini told me he'd paid about £20k!
Caterhams - Anywhere from £20k up to £35k for a CSR and perhaps £15k for a full season... They're great fun but not cheap to run ... One of them glanced off the tyre wall last year and bent their front left suspension.... It cost £5k just for the bits which is more than I paid for Andrew's XR2 !!!! |
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| Olyfan |
| Posted on: Tuesday, March 27th, 2007, 12:26:07pm |
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Round Silverstone in the 1600 single-seater in the wet was an exciting and intensely buttock clutching experience.
Yeh the Caterham's never a likely to be goer for me but I do love them The blue one old Perry was in on Top Gear was superb. Mind you the blue Noble was even more sublime.
As you may gather I have a thing about the colour blue!! My favourite Cappo was that blue one in North Wales - then he went and sold it!!!! |
Last modified Tuesday, March 27th, 2007, 12:26:37pm by Olyfan |
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| Andy |
| Posted on: Tuesday, March 27th, 2007, 12:31:28pm |
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| Those are some hefty divots made by that green Fiesta! |
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Tuesday, March 27th, 2007, 1:37:54pm |
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The JCB impersonator is another Andy ... He was very lucky not to roll it.. He said afterwards "well I was looking for the limit and guess what - I found it"
Ken - I agree... The Caterhams are great machines but of the guys who run them at Knockhill at least two are investment bankers, one has a property development business and another is a farmer running one of largest farms in the Borders.. You need deep pockets !!!
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| DickW |
| Posted on: Sunday, April 8th, 2007, 6:26:06pm |
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What an Easter weekend and what a result..... !!!
Qualified on pole - won the first race - got second in the second but to compensate got the fastest lap and to cap it all he set a new lap record....
Now leading both the main Championship and the Newcomer Championship...
Photos later.... ! |
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| Andy |
| Posted on: Sunday, April 8th, 2007, 6:31:09pm |
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| Nice one! |
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Cappuccino Owners Club › Gallery › Off Topic Album › My Pastime - spending my pension fund !! (Moderators: )
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