Fressingfield Oily Rag Club Newsletter October/November 2017 FORC: “A loose affiliation of motor sport enthusiasts”. Design Norman Reynolds October/November 2017 The View From The Editorial Desk Wednesday November 22nd: Only a week to go to our penultimate Stradbroke meeting of 2017: Steve Nichols in conversation with our very good friend Motor Sport Magazine features editor Simon Arron. If you aren't among the 100 or so who have already booked to come and hear Steve the following should convince you to hurry up and do it now! Following an early career with Hercules Aerospace Steve joined McLaren Formula One in 1980 becoming head car designer when John Barnard left for Ferrari in 1987. His first car, the McLaren MP4/3, with TAG-Porsche V6 Turbo, gave Alain Prost three victories in 1987. Prost's team-mate, Stefan Johansson also scored five podiums. Steve's second car the iconic MP4/4, this time powered by a turbocharged Honda V6, was driven to 15 victories from 16 races in 1988, by Prost and Ayrton Senna. At the end of 1989 Steve was tempted away from McLaren to Ferrari where he rejoined Alain Prost staying until December 1991- so our first Ferrari guest speaker! Steve was subsequently enlisted to help Sauber move from sports-car racing to Formula One before moving to Jordan as Chief Designer. Steve rejoined McLaren in 1995 assisting the team to move from the back of the grid to winning world championships in 1998 and 1999....if that wasn't all today Steve races in Historic FF2000 as well as making regular trips to play in historic racing back in USA! Another memorable evening in store I suspect... There was so much going on this summer that having showered you with Newsflashes we suspended the regular monthly FORC Newsletter which will now provide you with regular reading though the winter. Don't forget that you can catch up with pictures from all our events on the FORC Gallery web-page. All from me for now. Look forward to seeing you all at Stradbroke on Wednesday 29th November. Fun and safe Oily Ragging Steve The MG Car Club British Motor Heritage 4 Hour Relay Race Snetterton 1st October 2017 At last....... This event, a relay race for club racers. was introduced in 2007 for teams of from two up to six car and driver pairings, so you may run two cars with up to six drivers or six cars and drivers and anything in between. One car from each team takes the start and changes occur according to the teams' strategy. Only one car per team is permitted on the circuit at any time. The event is actually two races running concurrently with awards for 'on the road' scratch race positions, and a handicap race where credit laps are awarded according to the handicappers judgement of the expected performance of each team. A fluctuating (nothing to do with the water!) group of FORC Alfa Romeo racers Squadra Italia, have entered the race in each of the ten years, coming home with a trophy for a class win on five previous occasions, plus three awards for the best presented car in the judgement of the scrutineers. This year, after ten years of trying, they at last managed to win the handicap race outright! Photo Courtesy of Leigh Trevail At the awards presentation with victors caps, laurels, and trophies are from the left:- MGCC official, Jim Utting (3 Litre GTV), Steve Tappin (Team Manager),George Wright (Alfa 147),Stephen Chase (Alfetta),Henry Chase (Alfetta),Richard Drake (AlfaSud),Paul Webster(Alfa 156). The pit wall and garage crew this year were, apart from Steve Tappin, Norman Reynolds (Assistant Team Manager/Signalling), Leigh Trevail (Bossy Garage Boss), Richard Hopgood (Lap Scorer), Roger True (Drivers Support/Marshall), and Steve Wyatt (Mr Uttings personal pit signaller). This year, for the second time the team were sponsored by Kirk and Luke Miller of Italicar, and Richard Drake Motors (See the FORC Members Services web page). Throughout the ten years Squadra Italia have enjoyed friendly competition from FORC members in Richard Tinkler's 'Bumble Bee's' team of MGB's including Simon in the driver line up plus David Whitham, Paul Winbolt, Norman Storer, and Michael Pinner, in the pit- wall/garage crew. Photo Courtesy of Steve Wyatt Despite technical problems with their fastest cars The Bumble Bee's still picked up a class award. The One and Only Rally Challenge By Richard Leggett I purchased my 1976 1.6 Alfetta Saloon in 2003. It was advertised as an ex concours winning car but was in sad condition. I instantly made a start on restoring then, due to due to pressure of work, house move and restoring a house, the project stalled. I began to take an interest in the Historic Rally Car Register (HRCR) and the HERO events. It became obvious that I needed a different car for these events. Thus my attention turned to the 1.6 Alfetta again as a winter project in 2015. The car was finished in April 2017. Teething problems were ongoing when I spotted an ad for the 'One and Only Rally Challenge'. This looked great; Daniel, my co-driver was available that weekend so we entered as soon as we felt the teething problems were over. This event was completely outside my realm of experience. I studied the regs carefully, sought advice and come the afternoon of scrutineering I felt confident. The car sailed through scrutineering so we went home and got a good night's sleep. Sunday morning, 24th of September, we returned to Lynford Hall for breakfast and drivers briefing. This was very helpful and at times entertaining, setting the tone of the event. Our start time was 86 minutes later so we had time to get to know fellow competitors who were starting at similar times. The first test was in the grounds of Lynford Hall then a short drive to a farmer's field. ©M&H Photography Richard at the control in the farmers field. There was a 3 minute wait and into the next test. A short drive, the next test and so on with the wait between tests reducing to nil. This is what I love about rallying, it is all day, not just two short bursts of activity and lots of waiting. Tests were pretty rutted by the time we reached them as car 86. The soft sandy soil was easily moved by the tyres. ©M&H Photography The Tests became pretty rutted.... On test 2 as we exited a field and turned onto a smooth farm track the exhaust caught and separated: we popped it back together between test 2 and 3 and so on between tests. We were not carrying a piece of wire so that we could hold it together, this would have to wait until after test 14 when we would have the lunchtime halt. A wire coat hanger or similar is such an obvious spare part to carry to people who regularly road rally so no-one would think to mention it. I was fully confident that the springs I had installed on the exhaust system would continually allow flexing but hopefully prevent the fragile cast iron manifold from breaking. This was turning out to be one of the best events ever! Daniel my co driver was on fine form and was putting in his best ever performance. Obviously he had learned a huge amount on the 2 closed road rallys we had done in Belgium. What a great day. On Test 12 we came across a beached competitor so Daniel leapt out to warn the next car. I towed the beached car backwards until he was free and it was when we set off again that something was wrong. By the end of the test we knew that the clutch was slipping. We crossed the road and were straight into the next test. The clutch got worse. We struggled through test 14 and back for lunch. Sadly we decided our only option was to retire. Regardless it had been a great morning, we learned a lot and will be more prepared in future. The unnecessary boot - no longer available - which Alfa Romeo fit over the clutch fork and slave cylinder, would have prevented soil getting on the clutch plate. This was always going to be a learning experience but the car did so well that it was a shame to let it down by not fitting a rubber boot! I am sure that the organisers must have been very proud with how the event ran like clockwork. The number of marshalls and helpers was astounding. I felt that it was hugely successful and have not heard a single negative word about it. I will definitely enter if it is repeated again next year. ©M&H Photography Variety in the form of FORC member Julian Riley's Saab........ ©M&H Photography .........and James Portway's Riley Special What next? I have entered for the HERO Classic Marathon Greece! In preparation I have read Philip Young's book How to Prepare a Rally Car, and booked a consultation with Amazon Cars to advise on preparation. Then it will be my responsibility to interpret the information and do adequate preparation! Unfortunately John, my regular navigator, tells me he isn't available to join me so I am now looking for a co-driver! Editors note: If you or someone you know can co-drive Richard on the HERO Greek Rally we can forward your details. LOOK! Next events: Wednesday 29th November – Steve Nichols and Simon Arron at Stradbroke Community Centre – please book now! Wednesday 13th December – Stuart Rolt – Final event for 2017 – Booking open on-line now Your 2018 holiday planning guide: Please make sure you have the rest these FORC dates in your diaries! Friday 26th January – The 2018 Festive Fuelling.