Engine Punk

The winning vehicular contrivance as built as a rail motor I blogged about it before as When was the first motor race held? and am doing this little update because it is still not widely known that the first ever motor race took place on 26th August 1867. This means that this Saturday will be the 150th anniversary. I think one of the reasons it is not well-known is that it was an outlaw race and the motors in question were steam motors. Each steam engine should've had a man in front with a red flag but they were hurtling along at speeds in excess of 15 mph. The only reason we know about it is snippet in the Engineer magazine. Check ouy original blog post for more info. I just think this should be celebrated more widely. Partayyy!

If you go down to Bishop's Wood at Easter....  an Allard J1 emerges from the bushes (Photo : Richard Davies) In the weeks before Easter 2017, we had very little rain and the Land's End trial look set to take part in the driest conditions for many years. However, soon after setting off from Binky Towers near sunny Andover, we experienced heavy precipitation that was on occasions of Biblical Proportions. Note the capitals. I can't see anything phallic about a well-polished MCC badge Let's maximise the positive, though, it was by no means cold, what with 3.9 litres of foot warmer thundering away on the other side of a bulkhead so holey some cultures might worship it. I was just nice and without any religious fervour. Oo look a sideacr! And it's the Cox-Triumph with Pete Adams Felons Oak looked rough in our dancing headlamp beams but posed no problems and we made good time to Barcroft Control and Beggar's Roost. The old hill isn't as fierce as ...

Observe the Offy heads and ally manifold After a bit of a fallow period, we Candidi Provocatores pulled ourselves and our car together and entered the 2017 Exeter Trial. Binky had done a lot to the Allard J1 since we broke the offside halfshaft on Simms during the 2016 Exeter Trial. In addition to rebuilding the rear axle with the help and advice from Lee Peck, he had fitted an alloy inlet manifold and the Offenhauser heads made of a material our friends in the parish across the water call aloominum.  He also had the choice of a twin carb manifold but chose the single one for torque reasons and ease of adjustment. While the manifold was off he took the opportunity to adjust the tappets. These had been set quite wide for running in purposes and closing them up to the recommended 12-14 thou   made the engine a lot more lively. Previously, it was twice that as Rob was concerned about the fresh valve seats receding and burning a valve. The weather forecast was enc...