Standard 10

[wolfie]

My 5th RBRR and my favourite one so far.

We withdrew following water pump failure as we dropped down off Dartmoor shortly after Badgers Halt. We weren’t carrying a spare, the pump was brand new and it didn’t occur to me that it might fail, lesson learnt.

Having failed to get the car up and running for the 2016 RBRR I decided to embark on a full rebuild and respray and aim to enter the event in 2018. This too became a tall order as progress on the car has at times being painfully slow. In the past few weeks an enormous amount of time has been spent trying to get the car completed, with words of encouragement from Tim Bancroft ringing loud in my ears, we pulled out all the stops and tried really hard to get it done. The reality was that at midday on Friday we were still completing the final assembly and the only testing we had done was a few spins round the block that left us feeling positive about taking part. Living only moments from Wetherby Services our plan was a simple one, see if we could get to Knebworth in time and if we had any issues pull out when we reached Wetherby as we came back up North. We set off for Knebworth at 2pm on Friday and arrived at 17.45 only just getting time to say high to a few familiar faces and get signed on. Then we were on our way.

No one was more surprised than Chris & I to find the car Ran reasonably well and we succeeded in reaching JOG for breakfast with only a few minor niggles along the way. The car was running quite well but not particularly strongly. Then on Saturday evening as we came South from Stirling the car just got better and better, by the time we reached Gledrid it was working our confidence in actually finishing the even was high, we enjoyed a fabulous drive through Wales following a large pack of cars (with Tom Key at the rear) that we managed to follow them hustle our little car along through the Welsh countryside and not get left behind was an unexpected surprise and a memory I will cherish for quite some time. 

Reaching Lands End was another milestone and our thoughts were turning to Pimperne and those wonderful ladies and their cakes. Breakfast over and disaster struck, moving the car to take the obligatory photo in front of Lands End we noticed we had a water leak, from what looked like the water pump gasket, spanner’s out and a quick tighten, a bottle of Rad Weld and the leak was gone, but not for long and we struggled to reach Bude, our adventure coming to an end when we reached Dartmoor.

We tried desperately to fashion a solution but once we realised the bearing in the water pump had failed we knew we were out.

Then the CT community sprang into action and word got round that we were in trouble. Messages reached us quickly from those who had spare pumps to help us out. Before we knew it Nigel Abdullah had phoned to let us know that Keith Bennet had driven over to Knebworth and left a pump for us if we could get back there. The AA Relay driver was relieved to hear that he wouldn’t need to make the long haul upto Yorkshire and by 11pm we had reached the Premier Inn and were sat in the hotel bar reminiscing about the trip with Andy Cooke who had collected the pump for us.

We fitted it to the car this morning and drove home this afternoon. Total distance driven about 1950 miles in a car that had only around 6 miles on the clock when we set off for Knebworth on Friday.

Now a few thanks:

* to all on the organising committee this is an awesome event and the hard work you put in is much appreciated.

* to everyone who stepped up (particularly Keith Bennet) to assist us yesterday, we are very grateful

* to everyone who took time out to talk to us about the car and offer us encouragement, you made our weekend.

Chris and I will be back with the car in 2020, we have unfinished business.

 

 

 

 

[Greta]

Respect 

[Nick Jones]

Sorry to hear you were halted just after we saw you at Badgers Holt. It's a cracking little car that sits really nicely on those 5.5" wheels.  Hell of a proving run and prove it you did.  Most irritating to be let down by a new part!

Not surprised it was running better and better the further you went - with only 6 miles on it at the start the engine was still tight!  Finished running my PI in on an HCR and it was very much freer running afterwards,  but that had done nearly a 1000 miles when we started, so no comparison really!

I found myself browsing for standard 10s in my lunch hour.......

Nick

[Tim Hunt]

Really sorry to hear of the water pump failure Sean. I feel real sympathy since exactly the same failure of a pump that had been fitted only weeks before when I spotted a leak from the existing one put me out of the 1978 event. Since then I have always carried a spare but never needed it myself; I have been able to help out two others on events however. This is the first I heard of your issue, I sincerely hope the Spitfire pump is different and that mine would not have fitted!

I loved your little car and a DNF when almost 90% round will not stop me voting GEG 160 as my 'Car of the Event'.

Tim

[brianthesnail96]

We were pleased to see you in the hotel car park although saddened to hear that you hadn't quite made it all the way under your own power- nonetheless, it was a cracking effort and the car looked great. Can confirm that you weren't hanging around either!

Good to hear that your fuse issue seems to have been a one off as well :)

[Keith]

Glad you got home safely Sean. Like Tim I always carry a spare for the RBRR which is why I had that one kicking around.

Hence that pump has already completed one RBRR, albeit in the boot of my 12/50 in 2014. Hope it manages many more as part of your Standard Ten!

Cheers,

Keith

[Rubce]

Hi Sean

I was sad on Sunday when I read a message that said you were out. I was looking forward to having a chat with you before the start but that wasn't possible given your time of arrival. Then we dropped out at Stirling with an over fuelling issue and headed home at a our own rate so that ruled out chatting at one of the stops.

I believe my brother and Chris Jenkins both had a quick word with you at Wetherby on Friday evening? 

 

Like you we will be back in 2020

Regards 

Bruce

[Nick Jones]

I've got a 6 cylinder water pump in a very battered box that has done at least 3 10CRs...... in the boot.

Nick

[Tim Bancroft]

Sean,

Such a shame, but what a marvellous effort. How galling to be let down by a new part.

Love the car, looks great and we hope to see her in 2020, although, what about the GT6!!!!

Maybe the 10CR should be the car's next major outing?

 

 

 

[wolfie]

Tim

GT6 is going to take some time, but I will get there in the end.

Plan is to further improve the S10 following the RBRR, I have quite a list of things I plan to address, not to mention replacing the old interior which we threw back in for the RBRR.

1st on the list is to sort out crank case ventilation as the block was quite literally dripping with oil discharged via the valve cover.

Using it for the 10CR next year hopefully with my daughter is on the cards.

[Tim Bancroft]

Sean, I can hardly nag, my GT6 is still in the garage with its new Autosparks wiring loom sitting in the tailgate area!

 

I think all who saw the Std Ten were impressed. Please do not think me picky, but the rear did seem a bit high, new springs still to settle?

As for the GT6, all the best things in life are those that are earned and I am sure she will be lovely when finished. Spend alot of time on the GT6 achilles heel, cockpit heat...!

I intend to use the newly acquired TR6 for the 10CR, be nice to do a CT event with the roof down!

 

Good luck with the Ten and the GT6.

[wolfie]

Tim

your not the only one to have mentioned that the rear sits a little high.

however the fact we made it to the start at all was an achievement in itself.

the original springs were shot and yes I had new ones made, to the original drawings and spec

lowering the rear a little is on the list of things to do. I will see first if it settles a little.

i did consider flipping the axle to above the spring, however that would mean sacrificing the twin tale pipes, which I like so am reluctant to do.

i could follow Ken and Lloyd’s route and exit out the side just in front of the rear wheel, which by coincidence my father had also done on his ten back in the early 60’s. Problem is I like the rear twin pipes too much. If it doesn’t settle perhaps I could take a leaf out or maybe go back to Rossendale Springs and see if they can somehow relax them.

first thing to tackle though is improve venting of the rocker cover as it seems to have excessive crankcase pressure.

am looking forward to seeing your TR6

[Tim Bancroft]

Sean,

Springs: Seems wise to let them settle.

How is the noise from the exhaust, I hope not too loud?

When do you start back on the GT6: Does seem that quite a few GT6s are getting re-built, suspect the increase in prices for them is pushing this trend? 

TR6: Went to the Midlands in her yesterday, to the CT Autosolo. She is a well behaved car, runs cool and is very happy in traffic. The injection system is running a little too rich, so she does need tuning. As with all of these cars, I have a list in my head of mods I would like to do: get the gearbox re-built, lower her a little (just ordered new springs from TR Revington (Targa ones)), fit a 123 dizzy and electronic rev counter, change the wheels to 7J Minilites, polybush the trailing arms, re-build the drivers seat and a myriad of small jobs.

 

 

[thescrapman]

Tim, don't go too low, BTDT, almost lost the exhaust, put some spacers back under mine in the end.

 

[wolfie]

Tim

Surprisingly the exhaust is not at all intrusive

Noise from the gearbox in 1st & 3rd is though.

High on the list of improvements is to build a tunnel to conceal the remote gearshift and to add some sound deadening.

I picked up a rev counter today and a pair of front seats from a Herald at the weekend. They should be far more comfortable than the original S 10 ones whilst still looking period.

Apart from cleaning the car I have not spent anytime working on it since the RBRR, but plan to get back to some regular sessions on it starting this Wednesday.

[Tim Bancroft]

Quoted from thescrapman-

Tim, don't go too low, BTDT, almost lost the exhaust, put some spacers back under mine in the end.

 

Colin, no worries, springs I have just purchased will leave a ride height that is similar to that on Tom's TR6. By the way, love the mk2 2000 you used on the RBRR, looked really nice.

Sean: Great, hope that car is used on the 2020 RBRR!