bennyboy
New member
Well, it's been a busy few days for the General. Earlier in the week I discovered a local classic and sports car show was happening today, so I thought I'd make some enquiries. Turns out we would be parked up for an hour or so, before heading off to a local track for a few laps, before returning to the original location (Marshall's Yard, Gainsborough for any locals...).
So I gave him a good clean yesterday morning and thought I would take the opportunity to weigh him after bringing the tank. I was running fairly low but it took a full 66.49 litres, so I'm guessing a 70 litre tank? Anyways, I weighed him a couple of years back when I first got him, and running a low tank but with a full stereo system install (including parsel shelf, numberous speakers and amps), all the original seats and interior gubbings, it came in at 1480kg - which I thought quite reasonable. So, now with no rear seats or any sound deadening whatsoever, lightweight front seats, a half-cage and no air-con condensor, he came in at.... 1740kg! On the same scales! I have to assume this is completely inaccurate and will endeavour to borrow some digital corner weighting scales from work to do a proper job.
So this afternoon we parked up and I guess I was pretty early so not so many there. But within an hour there was a 928, a 968, a Boxster, half a dozen TVR's, 2 or 3 caterfields, an E-Type or 2 and a rather track-scarred D-Type replica, compete with Jaguar racing 3.8V12! Then we duly trundled off to the track and I had an absolute ball!
I didn't even know it existed until this week. It would appear to be an old air field of sorts, and is used by a company called 'Rallydrive' for rally car experiences. Therefore, the surface is not entirely perfect. Where there is tarmac it is generally pretty good, but every so often there are a number of quite pronounced 'crators' which unfortunately are pretty close to the driving line. Once you learnt to avoid them though, there was plenty of fun to be had! Attached is the best image I can find of the track, but really we were only using the bottom right hand side. A fairly short track and fairly low speed too (I was seeing 100ish on the straightest bits), but some nice opening corners. And the car was absoultely fantastic. When we got there I was behind a couple of old classics that weren't really up for the crack, but up front an R1-engined Caterfield and the D-type replica had taken off, so by the time the 2 cars in front finally pulled off (didn't think it would be very polite to pass them) the D-type was on my tail. Well I have waited a long time for this moment and when that thing was in my mirrors, I just floored it. It was putting out 380bhp, so kept up on the straights, but in the corners I just left him - even with him running 18inch XJR wheels and adjustable suspension. The '44 was a complete hoot to drive, really adjustable and balanced, and more than willing to indulge in some lovely oversteer. One of the slower corners was given me some trouble though - a 25mph right-hander in second. A long, swooping bend in a fairly tight radius, I just couldn't get the front end to bite. I got around it a little by trail braking into the bend which was a little faster, but without (really) another gear to drop down into, it made achieving a fast exit pretty challenging. I'm only running -1 degree on the front, so I assume adding a bit more camber may help. Any more suggestions?
So, all in all, an absolutely fantastic debut for the General. No overheating and pretty strong brakes (didn't want to push too hard with the current plate lift I'm getting), but fun, fun, fun! Will hopefully get access to some track pics in the next few days, which I'll get up on here asap.
The bug has bitten. Don't tell the wife!
So I gave him a good clean yesterday morning and thought I would take the opportunity to weigh him after bringing the tank. I was running fairly low but it took a full 66.49 litres, so I'm guessing a 70 litre tank? Anyways, I weighed him a couple of years back when I first got him, and running a low tank but with a full stereo system install (including parsel shelf, numberous speakers and amps), all the original seats and interior gubbings, it came in at 1480kg - which I thought quite reasonable. So, now with no rear seats or any sound deadening whatsoever, lightweight front seats, a half-cage and no air-con condensor, he came in at.... 1740kg! On the same scales! I have to assume this is completely inaccurate and will endeavour to borrow some digital corner weighting scales from work to do a proper job.
So this afternoon we parked up and I guess I was pretty early so not so many there. But within an hour there was a 928, a 968, a Boxster, half a dozen TVR's, 2 or 3 caterfields, an E-Type or 2 and a rather track-scarred D-Type replica, compete with Jaguar racing 3.8V12! Then we duly trundled off to the track and I had an absolute ball!
I didn't even know it existed until this week. It would appear to be an old air field of sorts, and is used by a company called 'Rallydrive' for rally car experiences. Therefore, the surface is not entirely perfect. Where there is tarmac it is generally pretty good, but every so often there are a number of quite pronounced 'crators' which unfortunately are pretty close to the driving line. Once you learnt to avoid them though, there was plenty of fun to be had! Attached is the best image I can find of the track, but really we were only using the bottom right hand side. A fairly short track and fairly low speed too (I was seeing 100ish on the straightest bits), but some nice opening corners. And the car was absoultely fantastic. When we got there I was behind a couple of old classics that weren't really up for the crack, but up front an R1-engined Caterfield and the D-type replica had taken off, so by the time the 2 cars in front finally pulled off (didn't think it would be very polite to pass them) the D-type was on my tail. Well I have waited a long time for this moment and when that thing was in my mirrors, I just floored it. It was putting out 380bhp, so kept up on the straights, but in the corners I just left him - even with him running 18inch XJR wheels and adjustable suspension. The '44 was a complete hoot to drive, really adjustable and balanced, and more than willing to indulge in some lovely oversteer. One of the slower corners was given me some trouble though - a 25mph right-hander in second. A long, swooping bend in a fairly tight radius, I just couldn't get the front end to bite. I got around it a little by trail braking into the bend which was a little faster, but without (really) another gear to drop down into, it made achieving a fast exit pretty challenging. I'm only running -1 degree on the front, so I assume adding a bit more camber may help. Any more suggestions?
So, all in all, an absolutely fantastic debut for the General. No overheating and pretty strong brakes (didn't want to push too hard with the current plate lift I'm getting), but fun, fun, fun! Will hopefully get access to some track pics in the next few days, which I'll get up on here asap.
The bug has bitten. Don't tell the wife!
] Sounds great fun Ben, a slippery slope awaits 
