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keith hamer Site Admin
Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 313 Location: Ellesmere Port
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 11:13 am Post subject: Lightweight Olympic |
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We are finally getting close to the end of the restoration on my lightweight Olympic, progress has been much slower than I would have hoped for mainly due to pressure of customer work which has to take priority.
For those who don’t know about this car it is the lightweight Olympic phase 1 built and raced extensively in the early ‘60’s by John Anstice-brown. The car has been completely stripped and the body repaired (the car didn’t need too much repair work to the body which is testament to the strength of the original design.) Even after some 50 years the bodyshell of the car was in surprisingly good condition considering that it is almost half the weight of a standard Olympic. All the components of the car have been restored prior to refitting, including the Lola front hubs, brakes etc. The car is running a pre crossflow Ford engine as it originally did when John raced it. I have always been keen to restore the car to as close to its original specification as possible and to maintain its integrity as a very historic and important piece of racing history,
The biggest issue has been the fitting of the roll cage to the very light/thin monocoque, we have worked hard to make this work withing the rules set out by the MSA and FIA.
We will hopefully be out testing fairly soon at Oulton Park, a circuit we know really well as it is only 30 minutes away and there are pictures of the car racing at that venue when John was racing the car. One of the things I feel it would be nice to do is to reproduce some of the period pictures. Simon will be racing the car and we intend to race with CSCC in there swinging ‘60’s series, we also intend to look at the Equip GT series with a view to entering some of there races. _________________ Working to increase the profile of Rochdale Cars
Last edited by keith hamer on Sat Mar 26, 2022 9:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
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keith hamer Site Admin
Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 313 Location: Ellesmere Port
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 11:14 am Post subject: |
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_________________ Working to increase the profile of Rochdale Cars |
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Alan Smith Registered User
Joined: 10 Jan 2016 Posts: 90 Location: Littleborough, Lancashire
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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Top job Keith. The car looks fab - I love the colour scheme. Thanks for the very helpful overview and update. Please keep us posted on when you are racing it, as it would be great to come along and watch. Well done on restoring and preserving an important part of RMP's history. _________________ Phase 1R Olympic
MM 1098 Engine & Gearbox |
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Gary Tipping Registered User
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 65
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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It will certainly be great to see the lightweight competing.
Keep us posted.
Cheers
Gary |
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keith hamer Site Admin
Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 313 Location: Ellesmere Port
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2022 8:20 am Post subject: Lightweight Olympic |
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Simon is currently putting some (road) miles on the car to give it a good shake down before we take it testing. We have arranged with the CSCC to take it to Anglesey this month for them to have a look and check it's eligibility for the Swinging '60's series but can't see a problem as Nick Smith has already raced 100 DPX with them.
We just need to decide on which class it will be best suited, however it looks like class 'F' as we will be running Dunlop Historic tyres as it did in period.
We had intended to build a full race 1380cc long rod pre crossflow engine for it which fits class 'B' however we may build a stretched 1500cc pre crossflow instead, dependent on the competition. _________________ Working to increase the profile of Rochdale Cars |
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Dave Phillips Registered User
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 5
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2022 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Well done Keith.
I would be interested to know how much it weighs all up.
And how that would compare with a standard Olympic with similar mechanicals. |
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keith hamer Site Admin
Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 313 Location: Ellesmere Port
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Posted: Thu May 05, 2022 8:23 am Post subject: Lightweight Olympic |
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Simon has put about 60 issue free miles on the car now, It's back in the workshop for a quick check over before we start to 'push it' a bit.
_________________ Working to increase the profile of Rochdale Cars |
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Alan Smith Registered User
Joined: 10 Jan 2016 Posts: 90 Location: Littleborough, Lancashire
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Posted: Thu May 05, 2022 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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Nearly there now Keith. Good luck. _________________ Phase 1R Olympic
MM 1098 Engine & Gearbox |
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