SRGTC Race and the Allcomers scratch race this coming weekend at Silverstone.

Team Principle Graham Walden will be at the wheel.

The meeting is organised by the Bentley Drivers Club and everything from pre war cars to modern Le Mans machinery will be in action.

We will be in the Garage block between 7a and 9c please pop in and say hello.

If you need a Helmet for trackdays or racing (fia and Snell 2010 approved) or are considering a Hands device either the Pro Carbon version or the more affordable Sport Version, Please Contact  Black Cat Helmets to discuss your requirents.

If you could mention Black Cat Racing when you contact them that would be great.

FIA / Snell 2010 /MSA Approved Crash Helmets and Hans Devices

Whilst not racing Graham has spent plenty of time trackside, both Instructing a Batch of New racers in car and running the team from the pit wall.

The Preparation for the race was a little hectic as Due to planning permission problems the race was brought forward a week. With a busy schedule of preparing cars already set out, time had to be found to prepare the car meaning many late nights.

Castle Automotive performance provided us with a fresh engine on the sunday, this was quickly installed and tested on TTP Performances rolling load on the Thursday morning before heading off to Donington later that night, ariving at 3am after collecting various parts of the car on route!

A Friday race is unusual but this was because we were on the test day of the World Touring Car race weekend.

The remaining Parts of the tuscan were Bolted on in the paddock, with out Much of the Black Cat Racing crew available due to Holidays ( we tend to schedule Holidays around the race calendar!) Many of the other TVR Teams mucked in to Help Graham who was there on His own, With Jamie From Castle Automotive perfomance also coming over to look after the engine.

With new tyres to scrub , a fresh engine and a driver who felt a little race rusty Qualifying was taken carefully easing the car and driver back into things, and learning the circuit. Hard to belive in 11 years of raing Graham had only been to Donington once before in 2005.

Race 1

Qualifying in the middle of the Class B runners Graham Had some work to do, but once the red lights went out it was business as usual with many cars dispatched in the first few laps, and assisted spin b Andy Race the class B leader would make things easier and we were quickly in 2nd place. A good fight With Kieth Vaugne-Williams, would eventually see a daring move set up 3 corners in advance and a move in to First in class, Andy Race also slipped past Keith.A hard push ( almost too hard at the old hirpin) would see a gap open up giving some breathing space to the flag. A win first time out in 12 months on a new engine was a great result.

Race 2

Race 2 would see us start at the Head of the Class B pack, at the end of a very long day. Into the first corner the car was very wayward resulting in a sideways moment, and the loss of a couple of places to class A and B cars. As the race went on the handling of the car got worse and worse, giving some very alarming noises through the craner curves at 120mph.

As we wer not going for the championship this year Graham took the decision to  park the car, a slightly disappointing finish but better to look after he car as we are not flighting for the championship this year due to other commitments.

Overall however the Team were more than happy with the way the day had gone. The car was put together in double quick time and the new engine from Castle Automotive performace hade been faultless.

We must also thank our major Sponsor  Rose & Krieger without who we would not be racing.

The problem with the car turned out to be a broken rose joint adjuster on the rear suspension. We’ve never heard of one of these breaking in 20 years of Tuscan racing so its a very unusual failure, but explains the handling issues with the car!

Thats all been fixed along with some worn cv joints, so next time out should be even better.

The main hurdle faced by Paul,Mike, Gary and Martin is some race finishes to get their licences up to the correct Grade, and also to learn some race craft

To gain this experience they have also purchased an FIA appendix K MG-A, and are Hiring a Sebring Sprite from Midland Classic Restorations.

Black Cat Racing and MCR have been preparing and running the cars together with providing instruction to the drivers.

So far we have had two very successful Test Days at Silverstone and Brands Hatch.

Last weekend was our first race together, and we are happy to report that both cars came back intact, and the drivers had some signatures on their licences to go with their beaming smiles.

Our next race with them is at Donington Park at the end of May, and we are aiming to start moving up the order a little.

The Seat “Sex Drive” competition winners were also out in the race, and managed to keep out of the way of the much faster competition, earning the respect of many of the other drivers.

It was very rewarding to see the Guys progressing throught the day, and the driving improving. The cars also held up very well.

One more test day is scheduled before their first race in May.

TVR TAsmin with 24v Cosworth Engine

As you can see it goes in quite neatly. With the basic engine block being the same as the original engine, the same engine mounts, bell housing and gearbox can be used.

The next step is to get the exhaust manifolds made, before we can look at the wiring and ecu.

We also have a new light steel flywheel to add to the engine and a twin plate paddle clutch.

Sports, Saloon and GT one hour challenge

on 1st and 2nd October 2011

www.race-at-spa.com

The car felt great and handled well, so we’re headed in the right directionThe Test was cut short though by an not entirely unexpected head gasket failure.

Not a big issue as we were still running the old 12v engine and have a brand new 24v engine waiting to go in.