Tim Hunt

I believe this is on Sunday 17th - right Mike? Any idea roughly what time? Our stand is number 105 in Hall 10. Tim

Yes, John's right. Dale taught me this tip years ago, works instantly like magic :) and no belt slip if it is correctly tensioned. Tim

Decent quality greaseable UJs are getting harder to find and it is pretty impossible to get at the nipple on the outer (sliding) axle shaft UJ in situ anyway. I am fed up with changing UJs at fairly frequent intervals and am considering CV type drive shafts on the basis that these are a better engineered design and will be maintenance free. Has anyone any experience of the Limora drive shaft and hub assembly for the IRS TRs? Are they actually made in Germany and hence well made or imported from the Far East as so much stuff these days  :( Tim

Funnily enough Andy I have a spare toothed belt, shipped very promptly by Chic Doig just before I left for the 10CR (super service). I have a non-toothed belt on the car at present but have used  a toothed one in the past and did not notice any increased or different noise as a result. Tim

A belated thanks from the drivers of car 46 to Ellis and his team for another superb event. Maximum respect to our American friends - what a great bunch of guys - for getting all their four cars round and thus confounding the sceptics (you know who you were). I am particularly pleased that my 4A became the only car successfully to complete all five official 10CRs to date AND the inaugural experimental run in 2003. It ran like a dream throughout without missing a beat and once again my tool bag remained closed, only 98 octane and oil being required. I saw 5,000 rpm in o/d top on a German autobahn with more to come and Barry and I were pressing on much of the time as many can attest. Despite this over the 2,200 miles door to door I recorded a true consumption of 32.4mpg overall, corrected for a known +1.5% odometer error. Tim

Quite right of course Mike, the "Mk 1" of any model only becomes popularly known as such on the introduction of a Mk11. Sorry about the exhaust stains on your smart strides, I tend to avoid standing/walking too close to tailpipes of occupied vehicles but should check out of courtesy before firing up! Tim

Was I mistaken Roger or did I spot Spitfire 4 on the boot of Christian and Ilke's pretty Spitfire. is it not a Mk1? Tim

My fan belts arrived at noon today by 1st class post and one is already stowed in the car just in case. Super service from Chic Doig Classic Sportscars of Fife. Tim :)

Thanks Colin, yes it's a fat one! I am glad Dave is joining us, I thought he was having trouble finding a co-driver. I am still hopeful the one I ordered will arrive before I leave. Tim

Thanks Colin, yes it's a fat one! I am glad Dave is joining us, I thought he was having trouble finding a co-driver. I am still hopeful the one I ordered will arrive before I leave. Tim

Checked rocker clearances yesterday (all fine) and thought whilst turning engine over I would take the opportunity of carefully inspecting the fan belt for any nascent split(s). Spotted the attached--hardly nascent! Reckon that would have gone en route to Dover somewhere, Fitted the one I had in stock and although I now have a new one fitted I am still twitchy about a Continental tour with no spare. Ordered yesterday on Ebay from Chic Doig, hopefully will arrive before I leave on Wednesday. See y'all in Coquelles. Tim

Correction Roy, we are booked on the 16.45 ferry so hopefully won't see you in Dover!! Tim

We are on 16.45 as well Roy, see you at Dover. Tim

Dimmer relay for stop lights redundant for a considerate C.T. driver Gary. I am sure we all drive with the official H.C. as our bible, (see para 114). Tim

The cost of fuel is becoming an increasing proportion of total 10CR costs from one event to the next. For newcomers my advice is to do a little Internet research on current prices in the various countries to be visited. This will immediately reveal that  it is best to avoid filling up in Italy or the Netherlands if possible. Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are the best bets. Be aware that fuel prices are at a huge premium on French autoroutes, it is definitely worthwhile to detour to a supermarket e.g. Carrefour, Le Clerc etc. where Super 98 unleaded can be up to 20 cents a litre lower than on the motorway and the equivalent of at least 5 pence per litre lower than the current UK price. I suggest you pre-plan fuel stops by studying the route in relation to the known range of your car (better to be pessimistic). If you look on www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr you will find a list of French petrol stations in your chosen area with current prices updated almost daily, You will also be able to see which stations offer a 24-hour service. Chip and pin credit cards are now almost universally accepted. Another helpful site is www.carbeo.com This has the advantage of listing stations in Luxembourg and Belgium in addition to France and you can search by town name, it is also updated almost daily. Hope this helps. Tim

I was just thinking of as smooth an outline as possible  to minimise drag for best fuel economy. Tim

Surely using a rally plate holder or fixing to bumper with cable ties would generate more drag than sticking them flush. Tim

For easier removal why not just stick plates on with masking tape round edge or, if bothered by aesthetics, blue or white electrical insulating tape, as I and others did last time. Tim

Stuart, the Gentry is a kit car based on Herald or Spitfire running gear and with a body similar in appearance to an MG TF of the 50s. The soft top is crude looking with sides screens, offering rudimentary weather protection at best. Tim

I recall an intrepid (foolhardy?) pair doing the event in a Gentry a long time back, maybe late 80s. Tim Bancroft would know for sure. That is the most unsuitable vehicle I can recall in my long RBRR experience dating from '74 Tim

Yes Russell, you certainly need to take care when driving without the transmission tunnel in place. I've done this a few times when having done work just to check all OK before refitting everything then having the balls ache of having to dismantle all over again on finding the  original problem not solved! It always amazes me how noisy the car is when running without the tunnel and just how effective it and the gear lever grommets are at absorbing the racket. See you in Coquelles, Tim

Colin's idea sounds good to me Joe. Pat Barber co-drove my 4A on the last  Round Britain Run. I am insured with Peter James (www.peterjamesinsurance.co.uk) and they added him to my policy just for the duration of the event. There was no charge but I did have to accept a £1000 excess to apply whilst Pat was driving. This is apparently usual for any driver not holding a full UK licence irrespective of their driving record. Really looking forward to meeting you guys in September. I am sure you will all have a blast, the 10CR is a great driving and social event. Tim

Super looking car colonel - it would indeed be good to see such a rare survivor on the next Round Britain. Be sure to get your entry in immediately on receipt of the entry form! Great pictures on your web page but I feel I should point out that based on your figures 0.0009343 is the fraction of cars that survive on the road. This equates to 0.0943%. Don't you just love a smart ass! Tim

Does anyone know where an engine hoist could be hired in the Herts/Beds area? Not for the TR actually but an acquaintance with a rather rare beast--a Saab Sonnet. Thanks, Tim

I totally agree with Nick. If the car is not making sinister death rattle noises I would first suspect the pressure relief valve. I have had exactly the same problem you describe twice over 40 years on my 4A and on both occasions it was caused by debris holding the ball of the relief valve off its seating. When you start from cold the high initial pressure from the thick oil can blow the crap out allowing the ball to seat correctly. I assume the set up is similar to that on the TR engine. Note the position of the lock nut on the threaded portion of the valve, this gives the correct setting which should be retained when you replace the valve.  Just remove the relief valve assembly complete from the head of the oil filter, strip it and clean out thoroughly with a lint free cloth. Replace the sealing O ring, preferably with one in Viton, which is highly oil resistant. On my car the debris that caused the loss of pressure came both times from a degraded O ring seal. Hope this solves the problem--let us know how you get on. Tim