We take Fossa Ford Anglia trackside Saturday morning, From the first start she does not quite want to co-operate. Documentation done, scrutineering done.

Fossa Ford Anglia lined up for qualifying Pic: Annalie

We head out for qualifying. It is immediately apparent I was wasting my time with the sidedrafts. Those things take true specialist setting up on probably a dyno, money and time which I did not have. That 36DCD offering instant response and nice high rpm’s, Fossa pulling like a dream.

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Two evenings before race day we discover a collapsed left hand front spring. I adjust the chain limiting her movement and have a temporary not ideal resolve. Having taken Fossa for yet another wheel alignment session, she seems a bit more in control and I look forward to an exceptional race …… Then a strange noise, first I could not determine where that was coming from, questions start racing through my head, bearings, no, oil pressure is fine …… As I slack down heading back to the pits, Fossa backfires continuously under deceleration. Quite loud, I think to myself, if that is the noise I am hearing from inside the cabin all the way from the exhaust she must be incredibly loud outside …  Come to a stop inside the pits … open the bonnet to find number four exhaust branch pipe completely broken through as if cut … And a glance around shows her catch tank full of oil. Fossa’s swan song final race never happens.

The time has come for Fossa Ford Anglia’s final race. Six and a half years, 🙁 ….

We have been in the fortunate position to race from a very scary first race in July 2012 with appearances at Zwartkops Raceway, Kyalami, Midvaal, Redstar and Dezzi Raceway.

We are very grateful for the opportunities experienced, the awesome racing and the odd dice with our slower Anglia and me, the slower driver. We have seen cars start at the bottom rising through the classes as they and their drivers improved. We have seen the decline of competitors in our classes and spectators.

The total cost of motor racing. The unreliability of service providers which also do not come free, in whose hands you put your car, yourself and fellow competitors, the reason for all the DIY. The solo maintenance and repairs is really not fun anymore. For years other priorities and projects have taken a back seat, and the odd trip to a peaceful dam somewhere …

FOSSA FORD ANGLIA SAYS GOODBYE

A final all out service, tuning etc, and coming Saturday 3 November will be all out, balls to the wall racing with nothing to lose. Hou vas my bier, laat ek jou wys wat hierdie Anglia kan doen ….. Listen for some moaning of those semi’s.

I will keep Fossa as a road car and slowly at my leisure do some needed “repairs” and improvements and on completion plan to run her at four track days a year. I will keep the tuxracing.com website active for another two or so years with the odd updates on ol’ faithful, Fossa Ford Anglia.

To all our supporters, thanks, it was much appreciated, thanks a lot! It was fun and we will miss it. To all our fellow competitors, thanks for the camaraderie!! Cheers friends, will keep an eye on you at some of the cheaper events!

Special thanks to my wife for making all of this possible as sponsor, often mechanic and chief supporter.

Thanks to my son for the late nights …

Thanks both for your role playing as photographers for our website and lasting memories.

Regards, Fossa Ford Anglia – The Star, Annalie – The Tea-m Manager and Chief Sponsor, Chris – The Roach and Chris – The Driver.

Arriving early Saturday morning, settling quickly, documentation and scrutineering completed we ready for our first of two qualifying sessions. Managed to get the wheel alignment done, as per the technician, “must have been a bitch to control”. Was she really that far out?

Pre66 Little Giants Qualify and I am wondering how the wheel alignment is going to effect her handling. Initially she feels tricky but I seem to get used to it …. ? We only manage a best lap of 01:30.057

Pursuit Racing Qualify session we get a better lap of 01:29.450, I seem to get more “used” to that wheel alignment.

Pre66 Little Giants race one. And again I get more used to the alignment. I am placed just behind the Alfa of Louis. The Alfa and Fossa quite balanced over all with the Alfa fast on the straights and Fossa fast in the corners. Best lap 1:26.862

Pursuit Racing race one, To avoid breaking out as in our races at Midvaal, we nominate a time lower than our qualifying time, closer to our best lap time setting our target high. Fossa starts acting loose again ….. As is the way with the event it offers a lot of competitive catching. Best lap 1:27.729

Fossa Ford Anglia

Pre66 Little Giants race two, pretty much a repeat of race one, excluding the guys starting behind us due to not finishing race one and a “sleeper”, not arriving on time for the start of the race. Fossa becoming so a challenge herself with her handling, pulling in on the inside of Louis’s Alfa at a corner it feels as if Fossa’s back end wants to flip over. A first for us, racing with the under two liters, despite a worse lap time working very hard behind the wheel, we manage to only just not get lapped. Best lap 1:27.140

Pursuit Racing race two. Some more extreme fun racing with the Pursuit Racing guys. We manage not to breakout of our lap time, but our nominated time, a carefully calculated time, a bit too ambitious for a win. Fossa’s alignment have gone completely haywire. The bolts locking the settings not tightened properly. Our best lap, 1:27.300

Fossa’s next race, Historic Tour, Zwartkops Raceway, 3 November.