MANX CLASSIC 2014

[BIRDIEMANGO]

HELLO CHAPS,

HAVE BEEN BUSY RESTORING/WELDING '83 900 T8.....THRU WINTER......SO MORE TIME READING,THAN 'POSTING' STUFF.....

DECIDED IT'S LONG OVERDUE,THE CLARION 99T,HASN'T COMPETED FOR A YEAR OR TWO......LIFE GETS IN THE WAY!

SO, JUST HAVE CONFIRMATION,I WILL BE COMPETING IN ' CLASSIC HILLCLIMB' ON THE ISLE OF MAN APRIL 25TH....

CLOSED PUBLIC ROADS....

http://www.manxmotorracing.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0KxUc0Aolw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZNf8d_-bnE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bf3r1Xy2ps

THINK I HAD BETTER TAKE THE TRAILER,AND DUSTPAN AND BRUSH


AND GET THE COMPETITION SEATS AND HARNESSES BACK IN......

[Geoff]

Looks like fun! I want to see a video when you get back that looks just like that third video you posted! What is that car?

When we were in Northern Ireland we could see the Isle of Mann. I tried to convince my wife to take the ferry over and see a motor sport event (I can't remember what was going on that weekend) but one international rally per week is enough for her

[BIRDIEMANGO]

HEJ GEOFF,MK 2 ESCORT.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bputjkV9td4

HOW MANY CARS CAN YOU IDENTIFY......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cmaoupfRFE

[Geoff]

I thought that's what it probably was but it's not easy to tell from the inside. We only have a few of those cars in this country.

I recognize almost every car in that video except one that looks kind of fuzzy in the parade at the end. That Puma really moves!

[BIRDIEMANGO]

OK,THE HISTORIC MOTORSPORT SHOW 'RACE-RETRO',TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR HERE IN THE UK,NEAR COVENTRY......

GOING BACK 7 YEARS,I TOOK THE 99 EMS......

MASSIVE RESPONSE

THIS YEAR HOWEVER,I SPECIFICALLY WEN'T JUST TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION/RELATED MEDIA REGARDING THE 1979 MANX RALLY....

SAAB&STIG BROUGHT THE CLARION 99 TURBO TO THE SEPTEMBER 1979 MANX RALLY....BUT THEY RETIRED VERY EARLY ON......

ALL BEING WELL,APRIL 25TH THIS YEAR WILL BE THE FIRST TIME,A CLARION SAAB 99 TURBO COMPETES ON THE ISLAND IN 35 YEARS.....

I FOUND,WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR......

LETS HOPE HISTORY DOESN'T REPEAT ITSELF....?


SIX WEEKS TO GO,AND I HAVEN'T EVEN GOT THE 99 TURBO OUT OF THE GARAGE YET? IT IS BURIED UNDER,TOOLS, NOS SPARES,AND DUST SHEETS FROM LAST AUGUST........

THIS ISN'T HELPING EITHER.......
http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=93577

[BIRDIEMANGO]

21 DAYS TO GO....

FOUND OUT WHY THE FUEL PUMP WAS RUNNING DRY,ONCE WE HIT ORANGE SECTOR ON THE FUEL GAUGE...

PARTS BIN,TIME AGAIN.....

AND THE MOTOR CLUB HAS PROVIDED A 'SLOW MOTION' VIDEO OF THE 'HILLCLIMB',I WILL BE DOING.......AS IT IS A NEW,PART OF THE 'TT' CIRCUIT,NOT USED BEFORE......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVYOWBEZ3G0

'FINAL INSTRUCTIONS' GET SENT OUT THIS WEEK,WITH ENTRY LIST ETC....

AND I WILL BE MARSHALLING,TO HELP OUT ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE 3 DAY EVENT.....

[Geoff]

One week to go! The road looks nice: smooth and wide

[BIRDIEMANGO]

FRANTICALLY GETTING THE CAR READY.....VERY LITTLE SPARE TIME,TOO MUCH WORK,NOT ENOUGH SLEEP............AND FOOD ,JUST SEEMS TO BE A 'FUEL' AT THE MOMENT......

RUNNING THE 99 TURBO IN 'ROAD GOING CLASS',
SO I AM NOT ALLOWED TO CHANGE THE SILHOUTTE OF THE CAR,I CAN REMOVE THE CARPETS,FREE CHOICE OF EXHAUST(NOISE LIMIT)&ENGINE POWER USING ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER BLOCK,MUST KEEP ALL THE SEATING,GLASS ETC......
TYRES MUST BE ROAD GOING(NOT SLICKS)CHOICE OF WHEELS IS FREE,AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT PROTRUDE PAST THE ARCHES.....SUSPENSION IS FREE,AS LONG AS ORIGINAL PICK UP POINTS USED....

CAR MUST BE 'ROAD LEGAL'.......




HIGHEST OCTANE PUMP PETROL HERE IS 99RON,GENERALLY AVAILABLE...HOW ABOUT IN THE STATES?

NEW BRAKE PADS,IN YESTERDAY,THEN 'COOK' THEM TWICE,(TEST DRIVE)TO GET RID OF THE 'FADE FACTOR'.......

NOW,HERE IS A QUESTION I HAVE BEEN PONDERING.....

THE 'ISLE OF MAN' IS ABOUT 60 MILES OF THE WEST/EAST COAST OF LIVERPOOL/BELFAST,SLAP BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF THE IRISH SEA.....

THE ISLAND IS 33 MILES LONG,13 MILES WIDE.....

SO IS THE AIR DENSITY FAVOURABLE,COMPARED TO THAT, ON A LARGER LAND MASS.......AND HOW NOTICEABLE WOULD IT BE,REGARDS,FAVOURABLE ENGINE POWER? WOULD IT BE ENOUGH,TO NOTICEABLY DECREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ENGINE 'KNOCK'...?

ANYHOW,CRACKING ENTRY LIST 125 CARS...RIGHT THROUGH FROM YEAR 1921-UP TO PRESENT...JUST A SELECTION:

AMILCAR,BUGATTI,FRAZER NASH....

AUSTIN HEALEY,TRIUMPH TR4,MGC SEBRING,MINI COOPER S

1965 FORD MUSTANG,1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO

JENSEN INTERCEPTOR,DATSUN 240Z, TR6,TR7 V8,MORGAN PLUS 8

FORD ESCORT MK1&2

PORSCHE 911,TVR, NISSAN 370Z GT

FORD GT 40,GROUP 'B' QUATTRO,IMPREZAS AND MITSUBISHI EVO...

HERE IS THE QUATTRO PREVIOUS....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V2K1X97cCI

[Geoff]

Fuel in the US is rated in the R+M/2 system instead of the RON system. Our 'premium', at least in the northeast is typically 91 to 93 R+M/2 (similar to 95 to 97 RON) but some stations have 94 R+M/2 (98 RON). You can get 100 R+M/2 at some gas stations, typically for race use. That's probably similar to 104 or 105 RON (?)

There are a bunch of Dolomite Sprints in your class. Maybe the drivers will be jealous of your similar but better engine

[joemac]

Hi Geoff, Hi Birdie, Good to see your Saab out doing something. Was meaning to come over at the international meeting to speak to you. Believe one of my team-mates Tim bought a set of door locks from you for his 900. Hope you put some video stuff up, would be good to see. And hello to all the Saab rally members as it is a good site for information and some good pictures! Good luck Birdie. Cheers, Joe.

[BIRDIEMANGO]

HELLO GEOFF,HELLO JOE........

GOT BACK THIS MORNING AT 01.30,ON THE LATE NIGHT FERRY.........

5 DAYS OF MOTORSPORT HEAVEN.....

ABSOLUTLEY NAKARD,HUGE WRITE UP TO COME......IN THE COMING DAYS

ISLE OF MAN..........ELLAN VANNIN


OK CHAPS,HERE WE GO......

LOADED UP,AND BOTH CARS PREPARED,I SET OFF WEDNESDAY 23 APRIL AT 11.00 HRS,FOR THE HOUR AND HALF DRIVE ........TO HEYSHAM, A SMALL PORT IN MY HOME COUNTY OF LANCASHIRE.....

IN THE MONTHS PREVIOUS,BACK IN JANUARY.....I HAD DECIDED TO ENTER THIS EVENT,DUE TO THE FACT MY PREVIOUS BUILT SAAB 99 EMS RALLY CAR,WEN'T TO THE ISLAND 3 YEARS AGO,AND THE NEW OWNER HAD TOLD ME ALL ABOUT THE 'MANX CLASSIC'.........

IT CONSISTS OF THE 'THREE HILLS CHALLENGE',GOING BACK TO THE VERY EARLY 1900'S,WHEN THE 'GORDON BENNETT CUP CAR RACES' WERE INSTIGATED ON THE ISLAND......

THERE ARE ALSO SAILINGS TO THE ISLE OF MAN,FROM LIVERPOOL? BUT THIS IS A VERY POPULAR EVENT,AND THE LIVERPOOL FERRY WAS ALREADY BOOKED UP,FULL OF COMPETITION CARS& TRAILERS,EVEN BACK IN JANUARY.......

MY INTEREST IN THE MANX,AND THE FAMOUS 'TT' MOTORCYCLE RACES,WAS STIRRED OVER CHRISTMAS BY 'GUY MARTIN',A LINCOLNSHIRE LAD WHOM HAD PARTAKEN IN A BBC SERIES,KNOWN AS 'SPEED WITH GUY MARTIN'....

THIS LED ME TO YOUTUBE,THE 'TT' AND FINALLY VIEWING THE ACCLAIMED DVD,THAT HAD BEEN MADE BY MANX FILM,REGARDING 'GUY MARTIN' &SEVERAL OTHER RIDERS,BID FOR VICTORY IN THE 'TT',I THINK IN 2010......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TT-Closer-To- ... 5d3f5100bf


IT BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES,THAT ONLY SOMEBODY WITH RACING BLOOD COULD UNDERSTAND.........

SO THE DECISION WAS MADE.......

SUCH IS THE COST OF GETTING CAR AND TRAILER TO THE 'ISLE OF MAN'.....AND ACCOMODATION....

I COULD ONLY AFFORD TO DO ONE OF THE EVENTS IN THE 'THREE HILLS CHALLENGE'........


THURSDAYS,'GOVERNERS SPRINT' STARTED FROM THE 'TT' GRANDSTAND& TECHNICALLY IS A 'SPRINT' ON A RELATIVLEY FLAT,BIT OF ROAD,WITH A FEW TWISTS AND TURNS,WITH ALONG STRAIGHT.....

FRIDAYS HILLCLIMB,WAS TO USE A VERY FAST PART OF THE 'TT' COURSE FOR THE FIRST TIME,KNOWN AS 'CREG WILLEYS HILL',PAST THE GLEN HELEN INN WITH BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.......USING 3RD/4TH GEAR BENDS THROUGHOUT.....

SATURDAYS HILLCLIMB,WAS TO USE THE 'LHERGY FRISSELL', A STEEP TWISTY CLIMB,(ALSO PART OF 'TT' COURSE) FROM THE TOWN OF RAMSEY,INCORPORATING THE HAIRPIN,WATERWORKS AND GOOSENECK COMPLEXES,TOWARDS THE MOUNTAIN PART OF THE COURSE....


AFTER SOME DELIBERATION,I CHOSE FRIDAYS EVENT.....
http://www.manxmotorracing.com/download ... t_2014.pdf

BUT,I HAD VOLUNTEERED TO MARSHAL,AT THE 'GOVERNERS SPRINT',ON THE THURSDAY AFTERNOON TO HELP OUT,AND TRY GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE SPORT.........?

[BIRDIEMANGO]

ARRIVING AT THE PORT OF HEYSHAM.....

SURROUNDED BY FELLOW NUTTERS

[BIRDIEMANGO]

MORE COMPETITORS,AND MUCH CONVERSATION,ABOUT ENGINES,SUSPENSION AND HOW LONG EACH CAR TOOK TO BUILD.....

I TOOK SOME TIME DEBATING,WHETHER TO TAKE THE TRAILER...OR NOT?

BUT AFTER WATCHING 'CLOSER TO THE EDGE'......

I TOOK THE TRAILER.....

£420 FOR BOTH CARS AND THE TRAILER ,RETURN TICKET
3 1/2 HOUR CROSSING,IOM SITS SOME 60 MILES OFF THE NORTH-WEST COAST OF LANCASHIRE....


TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA,I USUALLY TAKE THE CAR FERRY FROM SANDEFJORD IN NORWAY,TO STROMSTAD IN SWEDEN @ £25....

[BIRDIEMANGO]

CAN YOU SPOT THE MORGAN..... PLUS 8?

CROSSING TOOK HALF AN HOUR LONGER,THAN IT SHOULD....

I THINK WITH A FULL HOLD,AND HEADWIND...IT WAS HEAVY GOING?
DOUGLAS(BIGGEST TOWN ON THE IOM) APPEARED OUT OF THE MIST,AT THE VERY LAST FEW MINUTES....

[BIRDIEMANGO]

OFFLOADED FROM THE BOAT,I THEN HAD TO HEAD NORTH OF THE ISLAND, TO THE CAMPSITE I HAD BOOKED,WHICH HIRES OUT READY-ERECTED LARGE TENTS,WITH KITCHEN,PLATES,CUTLERY ETC......AND MATTRESSES,TO MAKE LIFE SLIGHTLY MORE COMFORATABLE AT MY AGE....

THIS WOULD BE HOME FOR THE NEXT 5 DAYS....

BACK IN JANUARY,I HAD TRIED TO BOOK A SMALL COTTAGE OR FARM FOR THE EVENT,BUT EVERYTHING WAS ALREADY BOOKED UP....

THE MANX PEOPLE,ALSO RUN A 'STAY ON A FARM' SCHEME,VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE I HAVE USED IN SWEDEN.....

IT IS CHEAPER TO STAY IN SWEDEN.....!!!!!!!!!

'GLEN WYLLIN' CAMPSITE,IS 300 YARDS FROM 'KIRK MICHAEL',A SMALL VILLAGE,THAT THE 'TT' COURSE ACTUALLY PASSES THROUGH,AS PART OF THE CIRCUIT.......

'KIRK MICHAEL' SITS RIGHT ON THE NORTH-WEST OF THE ISLAND,JUST METRES FROM THE COAST....

http://www.ttwebsite.com/map.php

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,THE LOCATION WAS IDEAL FOR THE 'CREG WILLEYS' HILLCLIMB I WAS COMPETING IN,JUST A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD.......ON THE FRIDAY.

IT WAS NOW WEDNESDAY EVENING,THE RAIN WAS POURING DOWN,AS I TRIED TO UNLOAD THE CAR,AND SET-UP THE GAZEBO.....NOT HAPPY

IT WAS NEARLY 23.00 HRS BEFORE I COULD GET THE KETTLE ON,FOR A SOOTHING CUP OF EARL GREY......

TIME TO HIT THE SACK,I WOULD HAVE TO BE UP IN THE MORNING AT 05.30 TO WASH THE 99T,GET SOME FOOD,AND EMPTY IT OF ALL THE SPARES,AND EQUIPMENT,READY FOR SCRUTINEERING LATER THAT MORNING.......?