john 215 Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Hi, Was privileged to help out at Silverstone today with Mr Bert Smeets Le Mans car. This car is nothing short of awesome and it preperation to where it is now is a credit to Bert and everyone who has been involed in it. I jioned, Bert, Alec and his good lady Dianes (a very fine cook ), Chris, Trevor and Ian. We had a total of four sessions, there were 4 each for open wheeled cars and closed wheeled cars, the first was a shake down run, the second session was pi55ing down with rain so on went the wets, it takes a brave man to go out on track that had turned into a river in a twin turbo monster of a car! The third session was one of those horrible situation of a fast drying track, so what tyres do you go for SLICKS OF COURSE a testiment to years of rally driving i guess!!! The final session was on a largley dry track. Bert managed to put in numerous laps and even by timing him on my mobile phone stop watch was getting faster as the day went on, even in the rain lap by lap was he was quicker. We had the normal new car gremlins but nowt serious and never stopped the car running, and managed to start to play with ride hights a little and brake bias. This car is such an unknown that set up is very very very difficult as what can you compare it with One thing that came to light was the paint on the bonnet would lift with the heat just like a blister BUT on cooling healed itself!! you could almost watch it occure! There was a constant stream of people coming in and out having a look and a chat, showing a real intrest in the car. Any race series organiser would be mad not to include this car on the starting grid with the amount of intrest shown today. It sounds like and is like no other TR7 made EVER and was an honour to be there, highlight of my year A couple of pictures, lots more to follow for those intreted- THE TR7 V8 LE MANS CAR Bonnet off, engine pictures tomorrow Pulling away on a drying track Twin Turbo Rover V8 Power 'sees' of a BMW M3 and a Corvette As i said more pictures tomorrow for those intrested I would also like to thank all, pubilicly, for the chance to be involed with this car. Cheers John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Hi, Was privileged to help out at Silverstone today with Mr Bert Smeets Le Mans car. This car is nothing short of awesome and it preperation to where it is now is a credit to Bert and everyone who has been involed in it. I jioned, Bert, Alec and his good lady Dianes (a very fine cook ), Chris, Trevor and Ian. We had a total of four sessions, there were 4 each for open wheeled cars and closed wheeled cars, the first was a shake down run, the second session was pi55ing down with rain so on went the wets, it takes a brave man to go out on track that had turned into a river in a twin turbo monster of a car! The third session was one of those horrible situation of a fast drying track, so what tyres do you go for SLICKS OF COURSE a testiment to years of rally driving i guess!!! The final session was on a largley dry track. Bert managed to put in numerous laps and even by timing him on my mobile phone stop watch was getting faster as the day went on, even in the rain lap by lap was he was quicker. We had the normal new car gremlins but nowt serious and never stopped the car running, and managed to start to play with ride hights a little and brake bias. This car is such an unknown that set up is very very very difficult as what can you compare it with One thing that came to light was the paint on the bonnet would lift with the heat just like a blister BUT on cooling healed itself!! you could almost watch it occure! There was a constant stream of people coming in and out having a look and a chat, showing a real intrest in the car. Any race series organiser would be mad not to include this car on the starting grid with the amount of intrest shown today. It sounds like and is like no other TR7 made EVER and was an honour to be there, highlight of my year A couple of pictures, lots more to follow for those intreted- THE TR7 V8 LE MANS CAR Bonnet off, engine pictures tomorrow Pulling away on a drying track Twin Turbo Rover V8 Power 'sees' of a BMW M3 and a Corvette As i said more pictures tomorrow for those intrested I would also like to thank all, pubilicly, for the chance to be involed with this car. Cheers John The more pictures the better John and congratulations to Bert for "Taming" the monster! Stuart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
V8 Lady Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Brilliant day - memories of 29 years ago came back thick and fast - the beast definitely has a gremlin - rain - we had that at Le Mans all those years ago, enthusiam - definitely, awesome in a straight line but corners ? Well that's something else - so nothings changed there then. Impressive - certainly - curiosity getting the better of other competitors and mechanics alike. I have had a grin from ear to ear all day ! Fortunately I could wander around the circuit and take loads of pics so I shall now have to work out how to show them to you on here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 A most encouraging day for the first session on a proper circuit, albeit only the small circuit which doesn't quite allow the TR8 to stretch its long legs. No problems of consequence, just the usual teething hiccups, and steadily improving laps through the course of the day. Many thanks to John and to Chris Turner, both of whom are members of the TR Register and the TR Drivers Club, for their sterling efforts - they grafted steadily all day on the reborn old warrior, their assistance was priceless. Trevor Godwin of Coventry Automotive, responsible for much of the rebuild, was busy enough sorting the inevitable minor issues. Chris Snowdon of CSR giving useful input to the first stages of sorting the handling, a process which hopefully he'll be pursuing in the future. As for the V8 Lady . . . . just carrying on from where she left off first time around, keeping the team going !! And Bert ? Still grinning, hugely relieved, his blessed car works. It's cost an awful lot of money, it's got a long way to go yet, but it's working. After a lot of laps, and a few major twitches, the old nail decided to remind everybody of just who was boss by performing a mighty spin . . . . without any contact or damage, thankfully, at which point Bert wisely decided to call it a day. This isn't a car you can drive on 98% concentration, it's 100% or heaven help you, and it takes real effort. More than a few of the drivers in modern quick machinery looked over the TR, they'd been out on the track alongside it, whistled through their teeth . . . . and made comments regarding size of tackle and breakfast Weetabix consumption. Nuff said ! Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chris turner Posted June 27, 2009 Report Share Posted June 27, 2009 Thanks to both Alec and the V8 Lady for keeping everything running smoothly. I must add, the the food was super. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john 215 Posted June 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2009 Hi Managed to up load a few more shots, will jion the 21st century one day and get broadband on the tinternet thingy A couple of pictures of 'Engine Porn' note still running 'Dizzy' IMHO keep it simple and 'Old School' Large rubber for BIG power and HUGE torque in the wet! At least the fuel tank is easier to work on than standard car, about the only thing that is!! Dont ask about the bottle, i could tell you but then would have to hunt you down!!! 'Some Say' it sits a little high BUT to me anything that looks THAT GOOD CANNOT BE WRONG!!! More pictures to follow when i can find an hour or two to upload onto photo bucket!! Cheers John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted June 27, 2009 Report Share Posted June 27, 2009 Rides a little high? It's on tippy toes! Thnaks for the report, no doubt further adjustments will make it look more 'meant'. John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted June 27, 2009 Report Share Posted June 27, 2009 Hi John, you are of course absolutely correct ! No set-up data survives from the car's original days, so it's start from scratch again. Hence the initial high-rise suspension settings, which at least gives some ground clearance whilst the intrepid pilot investigates the reaction to excess input . . . . As it happens, Bert kept it on the island remarkably well in difficult conditions - bearing in mind that first time around the TR8 was never really broken-in, let alone tamed. For all its straightline acceleration and sheer speed, it was an exceptionally difficult car to drive. That hasn't changed. Yesterday's exercise was concerned primarily with the behaviour of engine and braking system, and as such it was successful - and a considerable relief. Sorting the handling will not be an easy, quick or cheap exercise - but at least Bert isn't short of willing professional helpers with relevant experience. The TR8 will get there in due course, but as you can doubtless imagine that won't be without considerable cost. The car was ever a money pit, and that hasn't changed either. At least it's running on the track, at last ! Just a pity that the infamous rumble is so muted by UK circuit requirements. Hopefully the budget will eventually stretch to another unsilenced exhaust system for circuits like Spa that don't pander to the Health & Safety tendency. Back in 1980 the TR8 had a unique exhaust note, you couldn't mistake it for anything else, that alone was worth travelling miles for ! Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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