Alfa Romeo Giulia GT

[rmerrell]

Here's my Alfa Giulia GT - nicknamed White Lightening due to my obsession with keeping it light as possible (though that's had to stop as, at 820kg, I'm already trying the patience of the series eligibility scruntineer)

I'm running Teenage Cancer Trust colours to support the charity that's doing such a great job for my son who is suffering from this hateful disease (I'm posting from the TCT ward as he has chemotherapy). It would be great if I could just get an engine that would run long enough to get me on the TV coverage. We're supporting BTCC this year so hopefully I'll be running by then to appear on ITV4...

I've not had any class wins yet but I'm about 100bhp short of the class-leading BDG-powered Escort. Loads of in-car race video on YouTube if you search on Alfa and Knockhill.

[Guy Croft]

Do you want to post the youtube link?

G

[rmerrell]

Thanks, Guy, but there's nearly 100 bits of footage up there. The one I'd like to show (my latest race at Cadwell with the current engine) I'm not allowed to share on public forums (MSV rule).

[Guy Croft]

How about you post a link here to even one of them - or your Youtube page, OK?

I'd like to look it up.

BTW

I rarely remark on personal things here (it doesn't often come up) though I know how much all our lives can be affected or dominated by hardship, tragedy and misfortune. I talk to a lot of folk and hear some terrible things. Yes, sometimes the lights do come on and life feels good but all too infrequently these days.

But, since you mentioned it I just want to say I am very sorry to hear about your son and - it's a small thing in the grand scheme - he's to have a Dad like you standing by him, and well done for 'flying the flag' with your car. Half my family have died of this ghastly disease. With the billions that have gone in to cancer research all over the world in the last 70 years I'm astonished it hasn't been cured yet. Maybe one day.

G

[rmerrell]

Great - OK, since this forum isn't exactly "public", here's the Cadwell race (please don't copy this link elsewhere) which will lead you onto my other footage - mostly from Knockhill (both my car and others - done for the TV coverage on MotorsTV)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_hY2TGkjlI

In this race I was running 5th (2nd in class to the BDG Escort) when the safety car came out (edited out) allowing the BDA Escort to catch me and gobble me up under power on the straight.

Thanks for your thoughts, Guy. Sorry to hear about your losses. Without dwelling on it, it's been a really tough year with a close family friend diagnosed with pancreatic cancer the same day as my son, Charlie. We lost Doug and another friend to cancer earlier this year and a colleague to necrotising fasciitis. Puts engine problems into perspective. Charlie's prospects are looking very good - in that respect, we are very lucky & we're staying very positive.

[rmerrell]

Racing tomorrow at the Knockhill Classic Speedfair.

80 laps on Sunday (2x quali 2x sprint races 1x mini-enduro), so a good opportunity to find out if my new engine build lives up to my hopes & expectations. I'll be taking loads of video, all being well, so, if Guy's agreeable, I'll post links up here.

[Guy Croft]

Sure Richard,

G

[rmerrell]

Well it went pretty well. I was consistently quicker than my fastest ever lap - by around 0.5s - after nearly a year away from Knockhill. I qualified 9th (ex 24) and finished 5th & 6th. I was running second in the enduro race (on lap 19 ex 30) when my propshaft came loose (forgot to tell installer to use Loctite).

Brutal weekend for engines - conrods on 3 engines made a bid for freedom - neighbour's Sud, a Ford Pinto (instant oil slick in front of me), and Davrian Imp engine (fortunately just behind me - see him wave me by the following video then see the slick (and the binned Elan) in the next lap)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxBnFWkd86Y

[WhizzMan]

when my propshaft came loose (forgot to tell installer to use Loctite).

Ouch! Much damage? I take it you aren't wounded. There is a lot of discussion going on about how to keep propshafts in place on the Alfa RWD race cars. The guibo's tend to give if something is wrong in the balance or alignment of the shafts and the shafts start slamming and shredding through the body of the car. I've seen pictures of horrible damage.

Other than that, good to hear you're improving. 0.5 seconds is a lot for such a restricted class.

[rmerrell]

Thanks for the concern but it was very minor. I use an alumium racing version so it was simply a bad (ish) vibration - pulled over to be on the safe side. The prop is still attached just loose. Should be a simple job to sort - I'll put in a new set of bolts to be on the safe side.

Yes - I'm pleased. The overall lap is only around the minute mark so harder still to find big chunks of time. Closing the gap towards the front though.

[Guy Croft]

Well-done Richard!

if things are 'looking up' on the engine front - I'd be interested to know - if you'd care to comment - whether you feel membership here has been worth the while?

G

[rmerrell]

Thanks, Guy.

Oh - absolutely no question that membership here and, in particular, your input has helped me understand and challenge the approach we are taking with my engine. A very direct example is the venturi size: we are running on 38s now rather than 36s. But I also have a much better understanding of the interactions and I'm taking what I get from the folk I'm working with very much less at face value. Beyond all of that, it has sparked my interest in the whole subject and I want to learn much more (and I will) - life's just a little hectic right now so some of my reading will need to wait until the winter nights begin to draw in (and my son's treatment is complete).

Now's a great time to say thank you for all the help I received in a very short time (days & weeks rather than months).

[Guy Croft]

Thanks very much Richard for your kind & welcome remarks.

Though I often wonder about the value of this site, it is a question I rarely ask.

G

[rmerrell]

Well the folk over on the Alfa Romeo Owners Club forum that pointed me in this direction clearly value this forum too. It was the emphatic nature of their suggestion that ensured I hunted this forum down & joined. Now I've found it, I don't doubt it has value.

[Rich Ellingham]

Great stuff Rich. Will have to make it to one of your races some time, last weekend was spent supporting my friend at Kames sprint in Ayrshire.

Rich