Watkins Glen photos 2012

I've added photos from the Watkins Glen event that ran last year.  My Picasa album was full last year.  Now it has room for more photos this year.

Watkins Glen 2012

Just waiting

The engine bay is cleaned and polished, now just waiting for my clutch parts to arrive.  Once the parts are installed I and can put the engine back in.

Long Beach Grand Prix 1975 F5000

Here's the super 8 home movies of the Long Beach Grand Prix. My Lola does make a brief appearance toward the end, right after the pace car.

Dog rings

Just received the new dog rings from the outfit in Calif.  Below is a photo of what I think as the 3 generations of dog rings.  The one on the top is what you would find in the original Hewland DG300 gearbox.  The center one is a much later version made by Hewland, the type I've been using. On the bottom is the one machined in Calif.  It's a little different, only one way to see if it's better.  Go racing.

Clutch disc

As you recall, I've been cracking the clutch disc.  I talked to Jeff at Taylor Race Engineering.  He thinks  the gearbox shaft isn't centered to the crank shaft.   Maybe a bell housing issue?  I'll take a look.  Anyway, I have ordered 2 more clutch disc. 

Dog rings

I just found a new source for dog rings.  Half the price I'm paying now, that's a nice savings.  I've ordered 2.

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.