Fossa waiting for qualifying, first damp to wet track, new shock configuration, radiator etc to test, look at the company she keeps. Pic: Annalie Visagie
16 March, Good and Really Bad! And Fossa’s friends in “DARK PLACES”. And another Go-not-so-Pro failure ……
Qualifying: Kyalami started with rain to VERY wet. Our qualify slot was scheduled last and we enjoyed a damp track with some wet spots. The work done on Fossa’s suspension makes her feel much more stable and I found I can throw her through some of the corners. A weird noise at higher rpm’s made me wonder if she was pre igniting. The truth will show it’s head a little later.
Fossa, Ford Anglia in qualifying, Pic taken from the bridge, Annalie Visagie
Fossa being over taken by Jackie Scheckter in his “Battleship” Grey Galaxie! Pic: Annalie Visagie
Heat 1: Due to the suspected “pre ignition” I set her timing back six degrees at racing rpm’s. BIG MISTAKE! She lacks power and to get some speed I have to keep to lower gears with an attempt at extreme revs which she refuses to exceed five thousand rpm and I reciprocate by trying harder. And I for once had a black mark 1 Cortina in my sights. EPIC FAIL. We do manage to finish the heat.
Fossa lined up with some Mammoth company behind her. Pic: Annalie Visagie
Heat 2: We advance her timing with six degrees and some power is returned for my use. Something still does not feel quite right. We line up on the starting grid prior to our rolling start WITH THAT BLACK CORTINA in our sights! We get our starting orders, I let go of the clutch and Fossa promptly lifts her left front tire from the tar! Unfortunately that is her last spectacular move of the day as the “pre ignition” return and I retire her two laps in with what turn out to be a damaged big end bearing on piston no 1.
Fossa and THE BLACK CORTINA, one day soon ………! Pic: Annalie Visagie
We recently had some work done on Fossa’s radiator and sump at a engineering company. The work on the sump was to improve the condition of the sump plug thread. After their work done we had a greater challenge sealing the plug than before. Once again leaves me with serious reservations about using outside services. What to do? We can not grind a crankshaft ourselves …….
In a bit of despair one of Fossa’s friends in dark places, Shane Venter comes up with a solution with a complete secondhand sub assembly! Thanks Shane!
Shane Venter delivering a 711 engine block
Unfortunately the crankshaft is not in a condition to just do a slip-in, but we now have a desired 711 block that can be prepped as a backup.
The story does not end here, Johan De Kock, himself an “ex”-historic Mk2 Escort racer, has another sub assembly straight from a race car that can possibly used as a complete replacement.
And in the background time is running to our planned test, 7 April, Super Traxday, Zwartkops Raceway ……