Post by The Observer on Aug 5, 2011 11:25:29 GMT 12
OAS – 687 season review
Another season over and done. This year 687gm raced more than it has in the past, which is a real step in the right direction. More laps will hopefully mean more consistency as I get a better handle on the car, and my skills improve. After only racing three meetings last year (including south island champs) This year I managed to race 11 meetings (14 race nights) at the following tracks
• Greymouth (7 meetings and 1 rain out)
• Woodford Glen (Boxing Day)
• Blenheim (NZ champs x 2 days)
• Nelson (NZ GP x 2days)
• Westport (Queens Birthday x 2 days)
We missed the opening meeting of the year with getting the new motor in, and being short on time in the shed. Thanks to the OAS team, who as usual stepped up to the plate despite their hectic schedule and helped get me out there (which pretty much means I wouldn't have made it all unless they had all pitched in while I was still domicilled in Wellington).
The new motor was unreal – The Head Shop and Bryan Hartley had provided the flowed head, cam, Ross pistons, new AU Inlet manifold, Square peg spacer block, Performance Holley that had come off their dyno engine. Precession Regrinds in Nelson balanced and bored the block, crank, rods pistons and flywheel, and the expert team at OAS built all the special parts into a hot little reliable revver for me (even though they cursed the whole time about a four letter motor starting with F being built in the shop), and even painted the block OAS black. A huge thanks to Johnny old school and Tony O for there diligent work putting the race motor together.
coastphotos.org/Photo/plog-content/images/craig-b---speedway-2010---2011/greenstone-park-greymouth-23102010/dscf3645.jpg
It didn’t miss a beat, and seemed far to happy to rev. We are still working out the right gear set for it, as it has bucket loads of torque, but also screams its lungs out as well. Won races with both set ups, so we’ll continue to try things out as we go along.The goal for this season was slightly ambitious, to win a race at a track away from home. Had a 2nd and 3rd at Nelson, and a 4th at Blenheim, and a 5th (out of 39 cars, biggest race I’ve ever been in)at Woodford Glen, but it took until Westport to get a flag away from home, in a somewhat smaller field.
I missed the South Island champs in Dunedin this year unfortunately, but made it too the NZ and NZGP, as well as the local club champs and king of the coast meeting. Reviews of these meetings and photos etc are all included in the other reports on this page.
I guess the overall feeling from the meetings above are a combination of work in progress, and what might have been. The NZs had far too much excitement, and a terrible performance. The GP had good pace, but a big roll. Very pleased to make it out after that to start the next two races despite the damage, and to score a couple of 3rds and a 2nd the following night, and more importantly some retribution for the previous nights roll. NOt quite 1 all, but close too it
IN Greymouth I took some flags, and got greater consistency but didn’t win anything of note – did end up blocking a few times, and showed how out of practice I was at that! Still ended up 3rd on points for the season which showed a little bit of consistancy I guess.
anyway, enough of the past, on to the future.
There are a few things on the agenda for the off season – heres a shot at a quick list.
• Replace side rails and bumpers, outriggers, wheel gates and crush rails maybe.
• Investigate clutch, bell housing, gearbox options
• Change clutch master cylinder
• Alter clutch and brake pedal
• Build new exhaust system
• Repair all breaks in fiberglass body
• Recondition diff
• Change wheel bearings
• Build spares
• Cut of old body mounts, and tidy up current mounts
• Trim wing mounts
• Rewire dash
• Clean up engine bay wiring and plumbing
• Remount radiator overflow bottle – in fact, find suitable overflow bottle
• Come up with color scheme and cool graphics - even though I reckon its already the best looking rees car out there haha
• Get in Olly's way while he rebuilds 1967 VW since he has sold the tri rail
Another season over and done. This year 687gm raced more than it has in the past, which is a real step in the right direction. More laps will hopefully mean more consistency as I get a better handle on the car, and my skills improve. After only racing three meetings last year (including south island champs) This year I managed to race 11 meetings (14 race nights) at the following tracks
• Greymouth (7 meetings and 1 rain out)
• Woodford Glen (Boxing Day)
• Blenheim (NZ champs x 2 days)
• Nelson (NZ GP x 2days)
• Westport (Queens Birthday x 2 days)
We missed the opening meeting of the year with getting the new motor in, and being short on time in the shed. Thanks to the OAS team, who as usual stepped up to the plate despite their hectic schedule and helped get me out there (which pretty much means I wouldn't have made it all unless they had all pitched in while I was still domicilled in Wellington).
The new motor was unreal – The Head Shop and Bryan Hartley had provided the flowed head, cam, Ross pistons, new AU Inlet manifold, Square peg spacer block, Performance Holley that had come off their dyno engine. Precession Regrinds in Nelson balanced and bored the block, crank, rods pistons and flywheel, and the expert team at OAS built all the special parts into a hot little reliable revver for me (even though they cursed the whole time about a four letter motor starting with F being built in the shop), and even painted the block OAS black. A huge thanks to Johnny old school and Tony O for there diligent work putting the race motor together.
coastphotos.org/Photo/plog-content/images/craig-b---speedway-2010---2011/greenstone-park-greymouth-23102010/dscf3645.jpg
It didn’t miss a beat, and seemed far to happy to rev. We are still working out the right gear set for it, as it has bucket loads of torque, but also screams its lungs out as well. Won races with both set ups, so we’ll continue to try things out as we go along.The goal for this season was slightly ambitious, to win a race at a track away from home. Had a 2nd and 3rd at Nelson, and a 4th at Blenheim, and a 5th (out of 39 cars, biggest race I’ve ever been in)at Woodford Glen, but it took until Westport to get a flag away from home, in a somewhat smaller field.
I missed the South Island champs in Dunedin this year unfortunately, but made it too the NZ and NZGP, as well as the local club champs and king of the coast meeting. Reviews of these meetings and photos etc are all included in the other reports on this page.
I guess the overall feeling from the meetings above are a combination of work in progress, and what might have been. The NZs had far too much excitement, and a terrible performance. The GP had good pace, but a big roll. Very pleased to make it out after that to start the next two races despite the damage, and to score a couple of 3rds and a 2nd the following night, and more importantly some retribution for the previous nights roll. NOt quite 1 all, but close too it
IN Greymouth I took some flags, and got greater consistency but didn’t win anything of note – did end up blocking a few times, and showed how out of practice I was at that! Still ended up 3rd on points for the season which showed a little bit of consistancy I guess.
anyway, enough of the past, on to the future.
There are a few things on the agenda for the off season – heres a shot at a quick list.
• Replace side rails and bumpers, outriggers, wheel gates and crush rails maybe.
• Investigate clutch, bell housing, gearbox options
• Change clutch master cylinder
• Alter clutch and brake pedal
• Build new exhaust system
• Repair all breaks in fiberglass body
• Recondition diff
• Change wheel bearings
• Build spares
• Cut of old body mounts, and tidy up current mounts
• Trim wing mounts
• Rewire dash
• Clean up engine bay wiring and plumbing
• Remount radiator overflow bottle – in fact, find suitable overflow bottle
• Come up with color scheme and cool graphics - even though I reckon its already the best looking rees car out there haha
• Get in Olly's way while he rebuilds 1967 VW since he has sold the tri rail
