GTMOC Newsletter June 2014 Who’s Who Editor’s column

Secretary My crossed fingers worked and Stoneleigh was blessed with about the best weather I can remember Bob Snooks there. I did get a bit cold on Saturday night when my 73, Plough Lane side of the airbed sprung a leak but otherwise it was Stoke Poges very comfortable. Buckinghamshire SL2 4JW What was not comfortable was some aspects of the organisation. How the Park could manage to have no 01753 662 951 0r 07730 703 180 restaurants open on Saturday evening is beyond [email protected] comprehension considering the number of people who come early. Last year they had a restaurant but failed to tell anyone. Even more incredulous was the number Treasurer of staff manning the bar on Sunday. A top rate band attracted lots of people and, notwithstanding the Steve Bliss dreadful acoustics, it was set for a good evening - apart 17, Marti Close from the queue of would-be drinkers stretching out of Melksham the door. Wiltshire SN12 7JA I had a very short shopping list this year but when I found that the man selling Superwrenches came from 01225 793 121 Portland where I was born I parted with my money. [email protected] Lets hope they live up to the hype and come in useful. The weather has also allowed a few joy rides although the Spyder’s hood has been more up than down. We Membership Secretary had one small setback when nasty noises at the back Juls Hickman developed which turned out to be the bearings of the 27 Cambourne Road alternator. Another dent in the wallet. Our most Rowley Regis interesting trip was to Portmeirion when we fulfilled West Midlands an ambition to drive the 7 through the The Village. B65 9EZ Our visit coincided with The Prisoner appreciation society having their convention but the weather was 0121 559 7856 too wet to see any antics. [email protected] The next copy date is the 10th August. As always, contributions of articles, reports, technical tips etc are needed. Text files in Word, Open Office or rtf please. Newsletter Editor Pictures do not have to be very high definition. Roger Brown Send contributions to: [email protected] Brownhill House Ruyton XI Towns Thanks to David Large, Bob Snooks, Steve Bliss, Shrewsbury Malcolm Jones, Dave Davies, Jim Davison, Colin Shropshire Howells and Mark Paddick for contributions to this SY4 1LR issue. 01939 261 121 GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM Fax 01939 260 626 [email protected] www.eleventowns.co.uk www.eleventowns.com Front page This is Kermit from the David Large stable photographed at Loton Park hill climb

2 Stoneleigh Stoneleigh this year was blessed with good weather.

Having asked to move the club area away form the Westfield Slalom I thought I'd better get the sail banners ordered so everyone could find the new club pitch easier. They only arrived on the Friday before the show [phew]. I hope those who came to the show approved of them.

Sunday saw 17 GTM's on the club area [slightly down on last year I think] but with Monday, usually a less attended day, having 12 cars, this made up for the shortfall on Sunday. Obviously people spread the attendance over the two days because of the good weather, so the overall attendance was about the same as previous years thanks mainly to the regular attending members.

Sunday was very busy as we had the AGM as usual at 2pm and in the late afternoon we started the clubs annual barbeque. Quite a few of us retired to the marquee, with the patio heater, when it started getting cold. Although a few hardy soles stuck it out outside. We were entertained by club member John Dickens with his guitar, and all joined in the sing a long. A good time was had by all, I think.

Thanks go to Steve, Anne, Marion and Phil & Sarah for their contributions in helping make the weekend go smoothly? and John for entertaining us.

Bob Snooks

The people by day

3 …and by night (photo Steve Bliss

Plus the cars

More car pictures from Malcolm Jones

4 After the AGM Julian Turner MD of Westfield Cars addressed the meeting with an update of the GTM project for this year. He stated that Westfield had produced, with government funding, a complete electric Libra using a Libra with no other modifications.

The company had been designing a new vehicle in partnership with a Malaysian company, DRB. Julian stated that DRB has now purchased Proton and been given Lotus. Because of length of time the project was taking and the difficulties in complying with foreign regulations such as airbags, which meant they would not be able to sell to the Asian market, Westfield have recently decided to concentrate on producing a new GTM for IVA. He was unable to give a date for production as there was several options and no decisions made yet. Julian stated one option was for a carbon fibre tub with bolt on suspension.

Julian stated that they hoped to get a car ready for the AutoSport show next January and expect a complete carbon fibre kit with all brand new parts to cost £25,000.00.

They would be cheaper options for part kits. At the moment it is expected to be a gelcoat finish . Julian said they will try to make as much as they can interchangeable with existing Libras although he could give no guarantee. He said that the company is expecting to produce 50 - 100 a year without the Asian market and more if European regulations change.

Julian stated that Westfield still have all the stock they inherited from RDM. It was suggested that Westfield held a GTM open day at the factory so members could look at the stock they held. Bob will contact Julian about arranging this.

AGM

The minutes of the AGM can be read on the Members Page of the club website www.gtmownersclub.co.uk Please note new password given later in the newsletter

5 Bumper fun

Remember driving the bumper cars at amusement parks or a fair, don't you? They were so much fun..... Well, now what do you do with old Bumper Cars? - and check out the license plates!) Yes, you read that right; these little beasties are street legal. They run on either Kawasaki or Honda motorcycle engines and co-opt vintage bumper car bodies into the most awesome form of -car we've seen in too long. There are seven of these little monsters floating around California and they're all the creation of one man, Tom Wright, a builder in the outskirts of San Diego who figured the leftovers of the Long Beach Pike amusement park needed a more dignified end than the trash heap. They were originally powered by two cylinder Harley Davidson Motorcycle engines but they rattled like heck because of the two cylinder vibration and Tom replaces them with four cylinder Honda or Kawasaki 750's And a couple have been measured as capable of 160 MPH, which is terrifyingly fast in machines with such a short wheelbase. By the way, they are almost indestructible in accidents! Thanks to Dave Davies for these pics

6 Thoughts on Glass Fibre Monocoque Coupes

Following our AGM at the Stoneleigh Show, Richard Oakes actually says he drew inspiration from Julian Turner (MD of Westfield Sportscars) gave us the original Lotus 7 when designing the Libra since an update on Westfield’s plans for a new GTM. We he sought to create a modern day club racer that could are led to believe that it will be loosely based on the be driven on the road and used the original Lotus GTM Libra but with space frame construction rather philosophy for performance through low weight and than a glass fibre monocoque. Available fully built or simplicity. He added his own design flair and possibly as a kit drawing parts from a single donor innovation into the mix. The Libra is characterised by vehicle. The target price for a factory built car is £25k, its torsionally stiff composite monocoque shell, front which is below current Lotus Elise starting level but and rear clamshells, a rear suspension layout with the same money as the Toyota GT86. It therefore needs double trailing wishbones and an engine-mounting to be pretty special if it is to compete alongside highly frame fixed to the rear of the monocoque. The tub and developed sports cars from the high volume clamshell configuration provides better accessibility manufactures. Crucially, for it to be a worthy successor to the mechanical components and cheaper crash to the Libra, the new car must have a roof and doors, repair than a full outer body monocoque. both that add significant expense in terms of development and production for a low volume manufacturer. It should be relatively small, lightweight and true to the Grand Tourer theme, i.e. good for long distance spirited drives in relative comfort. It should also be at home on the track. This is quite a challenge for a kit car company, where Lotus 7 derivative cars are always the safer bet and far easier to produce.

This got me thinking. What was the true spiritual predecessor of the GTM Libra? I know we had the Coupe, Rossa and K3, but in terms of small lightweight sporting coupes the car that most comes to mind besides the GTM Coupe is the Lotus Elite, which was The GTM Libra can certainly take some of its DNA the first road going Lotus from the then fledgling from the Lotus Elite, which used a highly innovative racing car company. It was also available as a kit. The GRP monocoque construction for the entire load- Elite had a glass fibre monocoque body with stressed bearing structure of the car, though the front of the roof (no convertible available!). It had a low frontal monocoque incorporated a steel subframe supporting area with air intake under the bumper lip, and a very the engine and front suspension. Although the Elite low drag coefficient of 0.29. The door shape did not was conceived and engineered by , it allow for wind-down windows, so the main side was styled by Peter Kirwan-Taylor who was a friend window opened outwards. In all 1030 cars were built of Chapman and an accountant by profession. The between 1958 and 1963, but it is reckoned that Lotus suspension was derived from the Lotus Formula 2 car never made a penny on the Elite and initially suffered of 1956 and used the weight saving ‘Chapman strut’ many production problems. Later cars used a steel at the rear, which came high up into the cabin. backbone chassis.

Hammond - “Nice car. What is it?” May - “Looks like a glass fibre mono-coque!”

7 The third glass fibre monocoque car design to enter from 1974 to 1981 and again made by Marcos production after the Lotus Elite and Berkeley Sports between 1991 and 1996. It was sold as a kit car 2-seater was the Rochdale Olympic. It was available utilising a GPR monocoque with running gear & as a kit or fully built and was produced from 1960 to subframes from a Mini. During its life it went through 1973. Around 400 cars were made. five versions with changes including sliding windows (Mark II), rear hatch and wind-up windows (Mark IV).

There have been many other interesting glass-fibre bodied 2-seater or 2+2 seater sports cars, although not necessarily monocoques. These include the Daimler Dart, Bond Equip, Elva Courier, Unipower GT and various and Ginetta models. TVR produced the Tuscan with a steel backbone chassis and a composite body that used a honeycomb structure to help provide a stiff, lightweight structure. Whilst TVR This was another attractive coupe, designed by were still in existence, they maintained that steel or Richard Parker, who was later poached by Colin aluminium bodies were not suitable for low volume Chapman to work for Lotus. The front suspension, production and also too restrictive for forming steering and engine mountings are carried on a steel complex curves. An interesting departure from glass tubular subframe, which is bonded to the inner wings fibre composite was the XPower SV 2-door and floorpan, while the rear suspension and the coupe that was built with a carbon fibre structural gearbox mountings bolt directly into the glass fibre body shell on a box frame chassis. Added to this were body without any steel reinforcements. The styling lightweight carbon fibre body panels. Economically showed some influence from early Porsches. the car was a disaster and very few were produced. Another notable GRP monocoque was the Clan Crusader, again a 2-seater fixed-head coupe but in this case with rear engine. It was conceived by a group of Lotus engineers (the ‘clan’), which nicely keeps the Lotus theme going.

Glass fibre composite or carbon fibre monocoques undoubtedly offer elegant solutions for lightweight 2-door coupes but come with production problems and associated expense. So, if Westfield does go ahead with the successor to the Libra it will have a space frame and could look like this….

Over 300 cars were produced between 1971 and 1974. Again the car was available either as a kit or fully built. The remarkably strong, yet ultra- lightweight, monocoque used marine ply for stiffening and passed MIRA crash testing. The Hilman Imp was used as the donor and provided the engine and front and rear suspension.

Marcos produced the Mini Marcos in limited Jim Davison numbers between 1965 and 1970. It was then produced by D & H Fibreglass Techniques Limited

8 Elan Valley

Jim Davison sent in these highly unusual views taken when travelling on the mountain road across the Elan valley in Wales. That road typifies the magnificent driving country that those of us living to the West enjoy. Come and join us sometime.

9 Technical MORE SPARKS Strange electrical problems continue to follow me as ALL FOR THE WANT OF A PLUG well. I had exactly the same misfiring problem as Malcolm just before the Birkin was sorned for last Having not been on the road all winter, I decided to winter. It then only got run for short periods until give the Coupé a trial run to ensure that it would make Spring and the problem did not reappear. However, the journey to Stoneleigh without mishap. My Brother fortuitously, I decided that as it had never had new lives about 45 miles from me down the M1 and so that plugs it would be treated. Reading Malcolm’s was the trip I chose, to stretch its legs. The car ran experience I now know that was a damn good move. very nicely and the engine was perfectly happy for 30 miles or so but then I was in trouble. Apparent Not that its behaviour was perfect. We parked at misfiring, jerking and jolting with a very un-smooth Portmeirion but, realising it was way off central in engine made for a very uncertain remainder of the the allotted space, went to restart. No chance, the journey. Having limped it home I spent the best part response was as if the battery was extremely low. of the following week trying to sort out why the engine However, the fan then came on (as it does) so there ran perfectly happily for about 30 motorway miles and was life. We took the bonnet off and when the fan then started breaking up, apparently on the ignition stopped tried again - it turned over half a revolution but maybe fuel vaporisation or whatever, while there and sprang into life. Next morning the starter spun was no overheating of the engine cooling system. I the engine just like normal with a fully charged cleaned everything down thoroughly, even changed battery and has given no trouble since. Can you have the high tension coil and repeated the same run as a very intermittent very poor battery to starter cable? before only to find the same symptoms. The day before the Stoneleigh meeting I decided to put in a A bit earlier Vanessa failed the MOT on a defunct new set of plugs and that was it, everything was then fog light. Systematic scientific investigation revealed sorted with no issues at all thereafter. that the line to the light from the fuse box was intact and the earth was good. However, there was a break somewhere between the switch output and the fuse box, plus there was no supply to the switch although the wire between fuse box and the switch input was OK. So, there were apparently two faults somewhere in the maze that calls itself a loom. How one break let alone two can occur in what is a static bound together unit surpasses my imagination - but answers on a e-card please. Getting another power input was simple enough and there were no problems putting in a replacement link to that the output reached the light.

With lights, action there was indeed light but also I have never before experienced the need for a set of smoke as the bulb holder got very hot. You can guess spark plugs causing such a catastrophic breakdown of the rest - prodded it, it fell apart, trip to shop for new ignition when they got hot. light. It doesn’t match the reversing light so get a new Anyway, all's well that ends well and we had a good one of those. trouble-free trip to Stoneleigh and back. I then left the lights on the Spyder and flattened the Malcolm Jones ( member 181, Coupé) battery. What a pain it is to simply but it on charge. At my time of life the spare wheel is very heavy and awkward to get out with the clamshell propped open.

Roger

10 LIBRA ENHANCEMENT Colin Howells has been spending the last couple of weekends fitting :- Front anti roll bar (finished around midweek next week). Rear lower defuser. Adjusting the rear z cars rear arms inwards a little to fit the 245 35 17 tyres/team dynamic pro 1.2 wheels (8"rim). New front brake lines. Camber/tracking setting up to be done through the Before arb fitted week. Go pro camera to be mounted inside interior ready for the 26th May Silverstone track day.

After arb fitment and tidying

Rear wheels and diffuser

Rear lower diffuser

New rear wheels 245 35 17 Pro 1.2 Tow eye undertray

11 …and for good measure, here is the engine bay

7 YEARS and 58000 MILES I removed the engine in the summer of 2012 and took it in to my local MG Garage to have new cam belts and water pump fitted . With the engine removed the rear wishbones and mounting brackets were easily accessible. I carried out the lengthy task of rubbing down these components together with the engine frame back to bare metal. For this painstaking work I used emery paper, a rotary stainless steel wire wheel attached to a drill and a small file. I then brush painted two coats of red oxide. Then, I flatted the red oxide down with 400 wet and dry . Finally, I sprayed two coats of black smoothrite.

During this intensive three weeks work I found the use of two tools indispensable: a nut splitter when stripping down the exhaust system, and a Dremel fitted with the flexidrive attachment and metal cutting disc enabled me to cut out the side of the nuts holding the down pipes to the exhaust manifold. A brilliant tool for accessing extremely awkward places.

It was an oversite on my part not to have recorded this restoration project with a series of photographs. I have, however, taken a few photographs before I swathe everything in grease. These show some of the modifications that I have carried out over the years.

I was heartened at Stoneleigh to hear Westfield’s ideas about a possible GTM project . My hope is that they use the Libra Monocoque and that the project will commence in the near future.

Mark Paddick

12 K3 INFO ROSSA WINDSCREEN Ex member Rupert Scrivener has passed to Bob Leon Pochin is looking into getting a heated Snooks a box file with some sales/tech information windscreen for his Rossa 2. Are there any other on The K3 and other GTM literature he gathered in owners who would be interested in buying in. He the 90's when he was thinking of building a car. He needs between 5 & 10 people to place an order, the asked me to pass it on to any interested ( K3 owning?) more people the cheaper it becomes - you know the club member. score. If you are interested contact Leon on [email protected] There is some sales literature/price lists and reports on the K3 as well as two magazine's featuring the K3. There is also a Rossa 1/11 build manual and a SHOE BOX GTMOC Technical manual [which covers the Coupe and Rossa 1/11]. As the build and tech manual doesn't We have a trip coming up that is longer than the actually cover the K3 these could go to a Rossa 1/11 usual two or three days and involves some dressing owner. for special occasions. This is likely to involve a surfeit of hats and shoes over the Spyder storage Contact Bob if your interested and he will either post capacity. See below an ultra cheap and waterproof it [at your cost] or take it to the next show for collection. solution. It is simply a £3 plastic box sprayed with the can of touch up paint and ply insert added to the lid. It can be held on with the straps normally used for the picnic hamper. KERMIT David Large bought the subject of our cover picture about two and a half years ago:- “It is a 1970 GTM Coupe which has been seriously modified. It has been spaceframed at the back and is fitted with a Kawasaki 1200cc engine producing as standard 185bhp. I used it with some success in sprints and hill climbs. Then we went for more power and fitted a turbocharger which uprated the output to 255bhp. I won my class in the Curborough championship! Early in the next season in a moment of over exuberance an exhaust valve broke which caused significant damage. It has taken a long time, but the engine has been fully rebuilt including items such as Carrillo con rods and Wossner forged pistons. It now needs a final trip on a rolling road to set up the turbo boost and fuelling and it will be ready for action again." For Sale and Wanted

I still have some Skoda Felicia bits available - rear doors, rear seats, headlight units, passenger airbag, bumpers, rear lights, electric mirrors, etc [email protected]

13 Regional Groups Membership Subs Due

The Southern group meet on the first Tuesday of the month at The Fishery, Elstree, Watford WD6 3BE. June The pub serves good, reasonably priced, food. 0764 NEIL WESTON 0991 GARETH WOOLRIDGE The venue was picked because it is handy for the M1 1067 DANIEL OHARA 1105 DON STEPHENSON and M25 as most of the regulars have about an hours 1108 ANDREW CORKE journey to get there. We are a friendly bunch and would 1249 PHIL BAYLISS love to have some other members join us. You don't 1281 STUART HARDS have to come every month but would be nice to see as 1227 NEIL HICKMAN 1252 WESLEY HOWELL many of you as possible. 1174 MARTIN REEVES 0446 CHARLES WESTBROOK Don Stephenson organises the East Midlands meet at 0509 ANTHONY PECK The Roman Way, Newark (junction of A1/A46) on the 0138 KEN DANDO second Tuesday of the month. 1294 DAVE DAVIES 1300 PETER JONES Mitchell Gaynor lives in Chorley and tells us that 1114 KEN ASHFORD Preston Supercar Club meets at the Phantom Winger pub at Fulwood, Preston. Meetings are on the second July to last Sunday of each month and all are welcome 0599 DARREN J. CLARKE 0785 STUART MARTIN 0869 ANDY BOARER The West Midlands Group meet at the Bell Inn, 0871 HOWARD L. YEOMAN Birmingham Road, Walsall, WS5 3JP. It's just north 0929 SANDRA BODDY of junction 7 of the M6, close to the end of the M5 and 1229 CHRIS BELLAMY on the A34 from Walsall to Birmingham, so is easily 1179 RAYMOND HASTINGS accessible from almost any direction. It’s an Ember 1203 MALCOLM PUGSLEY 1273 PAUL YEOMANS Inn, so does reasonably priced food and a range of 1301 SIMON OATES beers. Contact for meeting dates is Peter Cole - [email protected] August 0522 ALLAN SKELTON New member Bruce Calverley has a Spyder. He runs 1208 CHRISTOPHER BELL a club in West Yorkshire www.northernroadsters.co.uk 0882 TERRY YATES They meet on the first Friday of the month in Mirfield 1207 DEREK COOMBES (details on the website) and Northern based GTM 1282 MITCHELL GAYNOR 1260 MIKE HUNTER owners would be most welcome. 1302 LEON POCHIN 1303 STEVE GARLAND There is no GTM group in Shropshire/North Wales but members are welcome to join the Shropshire Alternative Car Club (www.shacc-uk.org) The June Web site meeting is an open evening on Tuesday 3rd at Whittington Castle. The club’s web site is www.gtmownersclub.co.uk Why not organise a gathering in your area? Volunteers Suggestions as to what you would like to be are wanted to act as regional organiser/convenor/or included still needed. So, ideas please or, even whatever you wish to call it. It should be a a very better, produce some content. Currently, the enjoyable job that is not too onerous. Members Only section has links to the newsletters and committee contact details. Let us know if you think there should be change there. Email to [email protected] GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM

The password to enter the members page is now yellow4fun

14 Club Regalia

All of the following regalia can be bought by mail order (postage and packing extra) with the exception of the mugs and glasses which are only available at shows. Please make your cheques payable to ‘GTM Owners Club’. All garments have an embroidered owners club badge and are available in several colours and sizes. Please phone/e-mail to check choices available. If you are thinking of purchasing items at a Kit Car, show please contact me beforehand so that I can ensure that I bring the relevant stock as space in the Libra is limited.

Waterproof jacket £44.00

Fleeces £27.00

Sweatshirts - Round Neck £13.00 Sweatshirts – V Neck £14.00

T- Shirts - Round Neck £8.00 T- Shirts – V Neck £9.00 Ladies T – Shirts £9.00

Polo Shirts £14.00

Baseball Caps £9.00

GTMOC Tax Disc Holders (stick on) £1.50 GTMOC Mugs £4.00 GTMOC pint glass £4.00 GTMOC Leather Key Fobs with enamel badge £3.00 GTMOC Enamel Badges £2.00 GTMOC Window Stickers (3” dia.) £1.00 Sold out GTMOC Embroidered Badges £2.00

Enquiries to Bob Snooks

01753 662951 or 07730 703180 e-mail – [email protected]

Prices are for stock items and are subject to change with new orders.

15 Events Calendar 2014

Information to date

JANUARY 9-12 Autosport International at the NEC

APRIL 27 Drive it Day

MAY 4-5 The National Kit Car Motor Show, Stoneleigh - club area, large marquee, AGM 2.00 PM and evening barbecue on Sunday

JUNE 1 Kit Car London to Brighton

13-15 Pageant of Power – Cholmondeley Castle

14-15 Le Mans 24 hour

26-29 Goodwood Festival of Speed

JULY 5-6 Le Mans Classic

19 Kit Fest at Castle Combe - Club area

25-27 Silverstone Classic - club area

AUGUST 10 Mini in the Park, Santa Pod Raceway - Club area?

17 Ace Cafe, London

30-31 Donington Kit Car Show - club area, medium marquee

SEPTEMBER 7 Shere Hill Climb, Surrey

12-14 Goodwood Revival meeting – bringing the 1940s, 50’s and 60’s to life!

27-28 Sywell Classic Pistons and Props

OCTOBER 25-26 Malvern Kit Car Show - Club area?

NOVEMBER 15 Total Kit Car Live, Brands Hatch

16 An engineer went to the police station to file a report for his missing wife:

Engineer : I lost my wife (misty), she went for shopping and still not reached home yet Inspector: What is her height? Engineer: I never noticed Inspector: Slim or healthy? Engineer: Not slim could be healthy Inspector: Colour of eyes? Engineer: I think Brown.. not very sure Inspector: Colour of hair? Engineer: Changes according to the season Inspector: What was she wearing? Engineer: dress, skirt & blouse... I don’t remember exactly Inspector: Was she going in a car?? Engineer: yes Inspector : tell me the number, make & colour of the CAR Engineer: Black Audi A8 with supercharged 3.0 litre V6 engine generating 333 horse power teamed with an eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission with manual mode. And it has full LED headlights, which use light emitting diodes for all light functions and has a very thin scratch on the front left door…. And THEN the engineer started crying….. Inspector: Don't worry sir, We'll find your Car...

GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM GTM

17