Eric's new ride

Eric recently purchased a 1972 Lola T300.  His old ride(T190)was damage earlier this year in New Zealand.  He plans on repairing it on then retiring it.  His new car was driven by Eppie Wietzes in 1972.  Eric hopes to have it ready for Road America in July.


How it looked in 1972
Photo credit Tom Schultz



This is how it looks today.



On the engine dyno

Being connected to the engine dyno.  Last time it produced 450 HP.  Got my fingers crossed.

Engine update

Talked to Jim yesterday.  The engine is just about done.  He needed the go ahead to have Brian weld the intake stacks.  I had riveted them, but it's much better to eliminate the rivets with a weld.  The engine should be on the dyno later this week. 

The 8 stacks on top of the carburetors had to be shortened so they would fit under the air box.  After cutting them I used a riveted to hold them together.  If one of the rivets broke, it would be pulled into the engine.  Much better welded.

Time to get started

The weather is starting to be a little nicer and I guess it's time to get back to the car.  Need to degrease the trans axle area and inspect. 

Little news

Heard from Brian, the exhaust repair work is done along with a few other items I left.  So I would imagine the engine should be done soon.
Still trying to figure out this pinball game.  It's a little more complicated than I thought, but very glad that most of it works.

The top part is the underside of the playing surface.

By 1976 the electo-mechanical games had reached their capability.  After this, all the games switch to printed circuit boards and electronic sound and scoring. 



Side project

A little side project while I wait for the engine.  Acquired this Grand Prix pinball game on one of our antique buying trips.  Found it out in Michigan.  It brings back memories, played this game with my wife(then girl friend)all the time.  This was even before I started racing.
The game is in good condition.  This was a one owner machine that never saw commercial use.  Little things need repair which I'm starting to learn.  But looks like a fun project.
Racing update:  
Nothing new to report, still planning on Lime Rock and Texas events.  No word from the F5000 Association.

 Williams 1976 Grand Prix pinball game, electro-mechanical machine.

A lot of wiring and electrical switchs.  This is only a third of it.

Engine update con't

Talked to Jim yesterday, the reason I was losing power was 6 bent intake valves.  This would reduce compression which would cut down on power.  The cause of the bent valves happens when I would miss a shift and over rev the engine.  The valve starts to float and hits the piston.  I think it's time to get a rev limiter or stop missing shifts.  Otherwise the rest of the engine looks good.

Lola engine update

We're traveling on the antique hunt out in Indiana and I was checking messages and received one from Jim.  He has starting to work on the engine and has found the reason I was losing power.  He don't tell why, but for me to give him a call.  That I will do today.  Very interesting.

2013 schedule

The October event in Austin, Texas  is looking more promising.  SVRA has announced that they have secured a date at the track.  We(F5000 group) have raced with the SVRA many times in the past and I do believe we will go as a featured event.  My prediction is you'll see the biggest group of F5000 cars yet.

Things are jumping in New Zealand

We'll it least one person I know.  Eric doing the bungee jumping. 

Fly time

Yesterday looked to be a fine day to go flying.  With the not so good weather in the forecast, I took advantage of the nice day. 

That yellowish orange line on the horizon is smog.  It gets caught in the temperature inversion.



Skiing anyone?



Avon Tires

After kicking the idea around of using my Goodyear tires one more season, decided to shelf that idea.  They only have one race on them but now the tires are 3 years old.  Sooner or later I'm going to have to run on the Avons.  I guess it's going to be sooner.

Eric update

At Hampton Downs Eric had the good fortune to meet and talk at length with Bruce McLaren's widow Patty.

McLaren is celebrating their 50th year and just released this video.

Eric update

Heard from Eric last night.  It's been up and down over the past couple of weeks for him.  As we already know, the first weekend was the fuel injection problems.  The second weekend the car was handling bad, but he sorted that problem out and finished all the races.  This past weekend everything was going good until the last race.  As Eric put it "the gearbox blew up".  So much damage that the gearbox has to be welded.  But it's already in the race shop being worked on.  Eric has this weekend off and then 1 more race event the week after.

Update

The shop has been transformed into repairing and painting the walls we use at antiques shows.  This is the only warm area in the barn and our next show is in February.
On the racing side, not much is new.  Did ship the exhaust system to Jim, but that's about it.  Looked at the racing results from NZ.  Eric finished all the events this past weekend.  It would appear the engine gremlins have left.  I think he has another event this weekend.  A whole lot of racing compressed into a short period of time.

Eric update

Sure sounds like Eric is having a better weekend than the last one.

Report by: Ross MacKay/Fast Company

Finally, enjoying a better run this weekend was American veteran Eric Haga. Last weekend the 72-year-old F5000 series original struggled with fuel and handling issues and didn't finish a race. This weekend he qualified in 25rd place and ran a strong race to finish 23th.

"It was a clogged pressure relief valve in fuel injection system," explained Haga. "But everything is fine now."