Blue Bandit

29/09/2009 12:52:37

Hi Everyone, just starting out.

Hi Everyone,

I'm Andy and hope to be joining you all on the Sportsman ET circuit next year. I bought a 1981 F-body Trans Am at the end of last year in a partially race completed state and have been working on it over the Summer to get it ready to race. I'd hoped to have had it ready to go this year, but a job change meant it was put on the back burner until the summer and until I could pick up something to tow it with.

Anyway, we finally got it down to Santa Pod a few weeks back for a RWYB event and all went well. It has the standard Pontiac 5 litre in it at the moment so it's a little feeble, but the chassis performed really well so I'm now confident about tuning it up a bit or getting a donor 6.6 litre to swap in.

Although I've been coming to Pod for years on and off with the VW camper scene, this will be my first taste of racing so any help and guidance would be most gratefully received. We're gonna try to get down to Santa Pod on the 17th/18th October and for Flame and Thunder for RWYB, so I think it would be a good time to get the car checked over to make sure it'll be OK for racing (Plus I can make any changes necessary over the winter). Is this check something I get done by the Santa Pod guys ? Do I need to let them know in advance ?

Any info would be great and look forward to next season

Cheers,

Andy

Hi Everyone,

I'm Andy and hope to be joining you all on the Sportsman ET circuit next year. I bought a 1981 F-body Trans Am at the end of last year in a partially race completed state and have been working on it over the Summer to get it ready to race. I'd hoped to have had it ready to go this year, but a job change meant it was put on the back burner until the summer and until I could pick up something to tow it with.

Anyway, we finally got it down to Santa Pod a few weeks back for a RWYB event and all went well. It has the standard Pontiac 5 litre in it at the moment so it's a little feeble, but the chassis performed really well so I'm now confident about tuning it up a bit or getting a donor 6.6 litre to swap in.

Although I've been coming to Pod for years on and off with the VW camper scene, this will be my first taste of racing so any help and guidance would be most gratefully received. We're gonna try to get down to Santa Pod on the 17th/18th October and for Flame and Thunder for RWYB, so I think it would be a good time to get the car checked over to make sure it'll be OK for racing (Plus I can make any changes necessary over the winter). Is this check something I get done by the Santa Pod guys ? Do I need to let them know in advance ?

Any info would be great and look forward to next season :D

Cheers,

Andy

Category:

Aveago (Admin)

29/09/2009 14:38:45

Re: Hi Everyone, just starting out.

Andy

Welcome to the Sportsman ET Forum and to the Sportsman ET Championships. It's always good to see new blood.

Well, you're doing all the right things, MSA Licence, SPRC Membership and of course the car. Once you have joined the SPRC you'll get a rule book with everything you'll need to know. As for getting your car checked out it's not Santa Pod's responsibility that would be down to you to find someone that you are happy with to check the car over. The day before any race meeting your car will be put through scrutineering to ensure that it's safe to race. If it's not then it's a long way to come to have to sit out the racing all weekend. And your entry fee will not be refunded so do find someone that does have a knowledge of these things. However, saying all that if the car is still stock inside, i.e. as it was when it come out of the factory and road legal then all you need to ensure is that you take a long your log book and MOT.

Have you done anything to the inside of the car? Do you have any safety gear? You'll need a fire suit, boots, gloves, and a helmet. Be aware a motorbike helmet is not allowed as they do need to be fire proof. I got all my safety gear from Demon Tweaks.

I might pop down to the Pod on the 17th/18th so let me know when you're going it would be good to meet up. The Flame & Thunder Show isn't a RWYB though. An invitation will go out on Eurodragster from Santa Pod. Then a selection of vehicles are selected from the replies to perform demonstration runs.

If you require any further information feel free to leave a post on here. We're a friendly bunch and I'm sure that if someone can help they will

Nigel

Aveago Racing
www.aveagoracing.co.uk

Andy

Welcome to the Sportsman ET Forum and to the Sportsman ET Championships.  It's always good to see new blood.

Well, you're doing all the right things, MSA Licence, SPRC Membership and of course the car.  Once you have joined the SPRC you'll get a rule book with everything you'll need to know.  As for getting your car checked out it's not Santa Pod's responsibility that would be down to you to find someone that you are happy with to check the car over.  The day before any race meeting your car will be put through scrutineering to ensure that it's safe to race.  If it's not then it's a long way to come to have to sit out the racing all weekend.  And your entry fee will not be refunded so do find someone that does have a knowledge of these things.  However, saying all that if the car is still stock inside, i.e. as it was when it come out of the factory and road legal then all you need to ensure is that you take a long your log book and MOT.

Have you done anything to the inside of the car? Do you have any safety gear?  You'll need a fire suit, boots, gloves, and a helmet.  Be aware a motorbike helmet is not allowed as they do need to be fire proof.  I got all my safety gear from Demon Tweaks.

I might pop down to the Pod on the 17th/18th so let me know when you're going it would be good to meet up.  The Flame & Thunder Show isn't a RWYB though.  An invitation will go out on Eurodragster from Santa Pod.  Then a selection of vehicles are selected from the replies to perform demonstration runs.

If you require any further information feel free to leave a post on here.  We're a friendly bunch and I'm sure that if someone can help they will

Nigel

Blue Bandit

29/09/2009 17:40:01

Re: Hi Everyone, just starting out.

Hi Nigel,

It's pretty much gutted inside and not road legal. The previous owner had removed all the interior and trim, lights, alternator, etc (basically anything not strictly essential to it moving)and had run it at RWYB a couple of times before. It's got a full welded in cage and Kirkey alloy seat with 5 point harness. It's a decent solid car and seems pretty well put together, when I got it I stripped the brakes as they were seized and cleaned everything up and got it all working again, plus a new master cylinder. I've subsequently added new ignition wiring, odyssey battery, plumbed in fire extinguisher system and numerous other little jobs to make it all ship shape so hopefully it won't need too much doing from a chassis point of view. I've attached a piccie of it to this post.

I picked up a Proban fire suit for the RWYB from AWS, so that should be OK. I'll need to get a proper helmet, gloves and boots next. I'll have a look on the Demon Tweeks site to see what they've got, what standard/type of helmet will I need ?

I'm planning to be there both days of the 17th/18th and the 31st/1st of flame & thunder (is the Sunday an open RWYB ?) so should see you there, weather permitting

Cheers,

Andy

transampiccie.JPG

Aveago (Admin)

29/09/2009 20:51:07

Re: Hi Everyone, just starting out.

Andy

The car looks great. And by the sounds of it ready to go. What's your PB?

The 1st October is a RWYB so fill ya boots. I will be attending the Flame & Thunder Show for sure and I'll also make an effort to get down and see you on either 17th or 18th.

The helmet I have is an OMP Forumla 4. It was, at the end of 2006, approx £250 but they have since redesigned it and up the price. Basically they have stuck bits of plastic on it and added £100 quid! I'm not too sure what the standard mark is. Ask the guys at Demon I'm sure they'll be able to tell you.

Cheers for now

Nigel

Aveago Racing
www.aveagoracing.co.uk

steve1999

30/09/2009 14:20:16

Re: Hi Everyone, just starting out.

hi i will also be joining sportsman et next year with my mustang gt like yourself im new to racing but been going to drag racing for years i wll be going to the rwyb on the 18/10/2009 may be meet up and have a chat steve

Ralphy - Corvette Racer
(Moderator)

04/10/2009 21:45:09

Re: Hi Everyone, just starting out.

Hi Andy,

Nice ride. Look forward to seeing you next season.

Ralph

ian jackson

06/10/2009 11:50:27

Re: Hi Everyone, just starting out.

Hi andy
I think myself and nick gay may be at flame and thunder weather permiting,we have both been in this mad sport for more years than i wish to think about and will be pretty able to look over car for you.
My workshop is in bracknell in berkshire if you are anywhere near we could go through the car for you F.O.C. of course
all the best
Ian & Carol TEAM JACKSONS MOT

P.S. You will need to get an RAC log book from the track
can explain about that later :cool:

Blue Bandit

09/10/2009 23:40:43

Re: Hi Everyone, just starting out.

Hi Ian,

Thanks for your offer, that's great and hopefully, if the weather's with us, I'll be at Flame and Thunder with the Trans Am. I'm actually not that far from you, I'm from Swindon, so if we don't bump into you at Santa Pod then maybe I can bring it down for you to cast your eye over it.
How do I go about getting the RAC logbook ? Do I get it at the track on the day or in advance and does it require any special scrutineering ??

Cheers,

Andy

ian jackson

13/10/2009 19:08:02

Re: Hi Everyone, just starting out.

Hi mate
i will try and find out a bit more about log book when i had my old jag checked i had to supply a photo of the car showing the front and drivers side.
they check the car over and send the form off to the rac which then send it to you and it makes life a lot easier when taking car for scrutineering......
P.S. Wont be going to the pod as it is the same weekend as shakey if you fancy shakey instead last year over the 2 days i got 24 runs YES 24 RUNS and left the track at 1pm
Paul satchell will be at shakey he is a scruterner there and he is one of most helpfull guys you could ever meet and its closer to you if your in swindon and cheaper
If you need anymore info call me on work number after thursday as on a MOT course until then the numbers on the home page

Ralphy - Corvette Racer
(Moderator)

15/10/2009 20:18:00

Re: Hi Everyone, just starting out.

Hi Andy
I am planning to be at Shakey for the Haloween event as well. As you live in Swindon, Shakey is closer for you and you will probably get more track time.
I don't live far from you in Latton, halfway between Swindon & Cirencester. So if you are not sure where Shakey is I could always show you.
Cheers,
Ralph

Blue Bandit

16/10/2009 13:56:25

Re: Hi Everyone, just starting out.

Hi Guys,

Shakey for the Halloween event sounds good, I'm definitely up for that and will be easier for me to get to. Looks like I won't be able to make the 17/18th at Pod as something has come up, so Shakey at the end of the month to meet up and have a last gasp shakedown is a great idea. See you there.

Cheers,

Andy