…….. again, a weekend came and went ….

Another weekend came and went. Our plans for testing at Super Trax day @ Zwartkops raceway fell victim due to withdrawal symptoms of the flu, the tires on our trailer that are perished, our puppy that had a bout of cat flu and funding.

Annalie, our Tea-m Manager is about to start saving for our next semi slicks. Yip, we work hard for the project.

We would love to race but are thinking of skipping the race at Kyalami on the 19th of October. Kyalami is a long track and looking at the wear on Fossa’s tires after our last race I can only imagine the wear on her mechanical parts.  It is also very expensive to enter and then also not a points race for the Pre66’s.

This may see us at Super Trax Day on the 20th of October and racing for points at Zwartkops on the 9th of November.

Not all doom and gloom, FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS …….

A first, a pic with Fossa's one wheel raised of the tar! : Pic - Dave Hastie

A first, a pic with Fossa’s one wheel raised of the tar! : Pic – Dave Hastie

Considering I was the only entry in class U in the race, why was I racing like this? No half measures!

Till next time, cheers!

All Fossa’s specifications

Engine: 681 1600 Kent 40″ oversize

290° Camshaft

Over size valves

Double valve springs.

Head ported

Lubrication: Oil pump standard

Cooling: Larger copper radiator, standard steel fan and add-on electric fan controlled from the cabin

Carburetor: 38DGAS Weber

Gearbox: 105E, Standard ratio

Differential: 4.444:1 with a Quaife ATB LSD (3.777 : 1  Destroyed during final race 2013)

Weight: 849 Kg, Approx 100Kg over weight

Suspension, Front: McPherson Strut Cartridge (Possibly Corsair)

Rear: Telescopic with blades

Brakes, Front: Disk brakes, dual pot, unventilated disk fitted with EBC Yellow Stuff

Rear: Drums, larger diameter than standard

Fuel tank: Standard 32 liter

Fuel pump: Dual Facet parallel electric pumps

Silence …… does not mean no activity!

The “silence” on the web site does not mean nothing is happening. Been under the “flu” and progress have been slow but steady.

Some “Top Secret” improvements have been made with the “Mystery Object” from Denzil Bhana in Zimbabwe, fitted. A quick lap around the block proved quite interesting producing some drifting that required a touch of counter steer. Being in a residential area I could not test to the limits and that is ultimately what is needed on track. More to be revealed after real testing. I am probably optimistic in some degree, but I think we could cut another four seconds on the short track, hello Zwartkops!

Yesterday we completed our home made gauge face plate and populated it with brand new gauges. Should help in monitoring Fossa’s vitals as they are now in easier view. The Kia radiator have been removed and the larger old fashioned copper radiator fitted.

The new face plate

The new face plate

Since we started the project we have received so many “gifts”. Some physical and some in the form of advise. And every one at the time that was “the right time” for it. When we just started, we had the challenge of getting narrower rims and with a event limit placed on us, we received a set of rims from the Ford Escort Club at “The Cars In The Park, Pretoria, 2012”. Proper preparation and we are still on those rims. Recently the distributor from the Locust guys via Gerdus Smit and now the “mystery object” from Denzil Bhana. To put a value to these gifts, very difficult and not within our budget.

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And then we decided to attend Piston Ring Club. It will also give us our second opportunity to go through the motions with our trailer. Being busy on Fossa till quite late Saturday, we only washed the cars this morning. Mistake? We could not go with dirty cars. Arriving at the meet quite late, the place was packed. No room for a mouse, not to mention a Fossa or a Cortina! Going in, heading to the normal placing of the Ford Cortina Club SA …….. slowly, a lot of people, slowly …… to find they have assigned that entire area to “flea market” stalls. There we were, at a dead end. Basically, with the complaining of a stall owner of blocking the view to her stall at what I understood to be primarily an event for “Car Display”, waiting for an opening to swing the Cortina and Fossa on trailer around to high tail it out of there!

The end of another weekend. Next planned events, 6 October, Super TraxDay – Zwartkops Raceway and 19 October, Race – Kyalami.