Beaver County Visitors Guide 2013

The Justice Bros. Lola has made it into the Beaver County Visitor Guide.  The photo was taken last year at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex by Matthew Little.  Matthew has been the lead photographer for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix since 2009.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day to all the Moms out there.

Austin, TX update

Here's a copy of the email I received yesterday.  This is the October event at the New Grand Prix track in Austin, TX.  Expecting a large turnout of F5000 cars. 

U.S Vintage Racing National Championship.

Congratulations, your pre-registration material has been received and I’m pleased to announce that you and your car have been accepted, pending the submission of the required registration material. The registration forms, provisional schedule and detailed event information will be sent to you by the end of May.

We have received over 550 pre-registration forms and thanks to fantastic support of the Vintage racing community are on our way to presenting the largest ever Vintage racing event in the United States. I encourage you to complete the registration materials as quickly as possible to insure your participation in this memorable event. Again, my congratulations on your acceptance, and I look forward to seeing you in October.

Thank you for your support.

Tony Parella
President & CEO

1975 Long Beach Grand Prix

In my never ending search for F5000 memorabilia I found some 8mm movie film from the 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix.  It was selling on ebay as "LB Grand Prix".  So I took a chance and bought it to find it was from the F5000 race in 1975.  I don't have a projector, but do have a cheap viewer for editing.  I took a photo of a few frames.  Now I have to have it converted into a DVD.  Should be much improved in that format.

Low and behold my Lola T192 is in the movies. 

Springs

When I dropped off the engine for Jim, I also left springs for Brian to test.  These are the ones the car came with.  Looks like 350lbs in all 4 corners(when new).  The shorter ones are for the front of the car, 350lbs and 400lbs.  The tall ones are for the rear, 330lbs and 350lbs.  Looks like I need new springs.  Keeping 350lbs in the front but rasing the rear to 375lbs.  This should be enough to keep my exhaust from hitting a Lime Rock.   

It's back!

The engine's back home.  Talking to Jim and looking at the dyno report it seems I lost a little HP.  But this might be misleading.  When the engine was first completed in 2009, Jim was using a old dyno and that was giving a reading of 450hp.  His new dyno might be more accurate.  On the plus side, I have more torque.  Almost equal to horse power.   I think in conclusion the engine should be about the same, nothing was done to increase or decrease power.  Won't know until race day.  There's more to report, but that's for another day.

Engine is ready for pickup

Jim called this morning.  Said the engine just got off the dyno and is looking good.  I'll pick it up tomorrow.

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.