Deja Vu ……..

The usual, arrived at our second home shortly before six with a qualifying session shortly after seven. The track is soaked with the occasional rain drops being added to ensure it stays that way!

Fossa Ford Anglia on the back straight

It starts to clear up. We are the second group to qualify for position. We line up and when our turn arrives Fossa is the first on track. Take note: Our first real WET “race”. Down pit lane into corner two, and the semi slicks disagrees with my chosen speed and line. We do an unintended ninety degrees slip dance. The other cars pile out of the pits and past us before we can enter the queue again. For the first few following laps it is touch and go through the corners with drier spots appearing in places.

Fossa Ford Anglia on pit straight

Fossa once again struggles with breaking the 5000rpm barrier. I continue thinking we can resolve it prior to heat one …….

On our return to the pits, we find Johan De Kock waiting for us with his brother arriving soon after. Both of them skilled in 1600 Kent engines. A quick test with her timing seem to prove a massive difference while standing still and we increase her ignition timing at maximum centrifugal.

Race1: The track can be considered dry. During the warm up lap I discover that she still has that 5000rpm barrier but decide to run the session to the best possible. Her engine however decides different and on our second race lap the dreaded big end noise returns!

Stripping her engine proves the point. Not to despair. We already have all the parts to restore her previous block and Johan will be rebuilding the “experimental” block. We trust we will have her ready for Traxday at Zwartkops Raceway on the 12th of May.

Have you ever thought of “adopting” a historic racing car?

1. Spectator levels vary greatly from race to race with historic racing having quite a following.

2. Then there is the TV exposure. Ignition TV 189. Of course the leading cars get more exposure, but cars needing “adopting” are spread wide through the field.

3. Classic car shows, Charity car shows, ……. pending the type of “adoption” this can be free exposure.

Some things to keep in consideration. There are rules with regards with advertising on these cars which vary. In the Pre66 series cars are required to “look off the period” which will require possible alteration of logo’s etc. the branding may have to be “aged” and colours limited to “period”. Quite a nice challenge with the end result of proudly displaying your company’s branding on a piece of living museum!

Idea’s around “adoption”

1> Limited “adoption”

a) You may decide to cover the race entry fees

b) You may want to cover fuel costs

c) Repairs, mechanical and / or body work.

2> Full “adoption”

This will vary greatly pending the car you decide on “adopting”

The nitty gritty.

Local race entries for the remainder of the 2013 season, 3 x Zwartkops Raceway and 3 x Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, estimated R6450.00. There are also two races out of town, one at Phakisa Freeway and one at East London. For many not an option due to the great distances, fuel prices and accommodation.

Fuel costs also vary greatly on the car with a thirsty V8 gobbling up more liters than the four pots and the fluctuating fuel prices. Fossa’s usage on a race weekend average thirty to forty liters pending if we are fortunate to attend practice or not.

Repairs, the biggest variable. Fossa has proven extremely reliable in the beginning, doing more than three hundred laps at Zwartkops Raceway and completing a race day at the Midvaal Raceway with nothing more than maintenance. And then suddenly munching resources! Obviously the aim is to get her reliable again asap!

An idea on the value attached to the sport.

Fossa cost us an initial price. The project now stands at borderline ten times that amount. Fossa is in no way unique in this matter.

Any “adoption” assistance can help. Whatever assistance is received makes available funding which assist us with maintenance, repairs and improvements.

Points to consider. 1. We want to race. 2. We are passionate about the sport. 3. We try to preserve our cars for various reasons, i.e. most of these cars are quite valuable, rarity of parts, with a car out of the next race even if it is covered by your assistance means we can not race and for the ones who are chasing points will lose that opportunity. 3. Once again, refer to 1. – We want to race!

Join us and share in the anticipation, excitement and fun!

Three evenings available to complete, Fossa entered …….

Converting from a 681 to a 711 block provided some challenges …

711 Engine block as supplied by Johan De Kock

Look at the pistons exceeding the top of the cylinder block.

Partial assembly, Oil pick up pipe modified

Install to find engine block wider than the previous, modify engine mounts

With all the challenges completed we added the cylinder head …..

Engine complete

Initial head torque sequence completed, we set the valve clearances, start her to heat up, everything peachy. Then re-torque the head, rectify valve clearances and start. Then a feared tapping noise ……… the valves touching the pistons! After a phone call, Johan advise to increase the valve clearance gaps and this is applied. The engine is quieter with a slight tappet noise.

Is she ready to race? Well that is the question on our minds. Johan has secured a 2mm copper head gasket which might just give us the clearance we need. Time will tell, but it is almost a sure bet that she will make an appearance!