OK maybe you remember me asking for advice HERE

about turning the MK Indy Blade into a race car. Well I had the race on Saturday the 14th. There were a grand total of 8 cars that made it on the day. Most of us had fireblade engines, one CBR 1000 powered single seater and one big Vauxhall CEC. We had three races during the day and a brief practice – all of this was on a course only one of us had been on before.
In the races the big Vauxhall powered car walked away with it – we conservatively guess we're giving him about a 80-100Bhp advantage. My one aim was not to be trailing at the back of the pack uncompetitive. I managed to finish 5th and 4th in the 2 heats and 5th in the Final (I think those are right). It turns out myself and 3 of the other guys have very similar pace, and enjoyed some close racing. That bit was good. The not so good was waiting around all day for a total of 20 laps or so. Aghadowey track is small, but I got a real buzz from driving round it, trying to learn it on every lap, but I'm not sure I want to be sliding into a corner on the edge of control with 3 other head cases sliding into the same corner at the same time on a regular basis. I don't know, I'm glad it and I'm sure I'll do it again though.

THIS PICTURE GALLERY is courtesy of my mate Richard Crowe. He's a pretty decent amatuer snapper! Oh and I'm number 70!







[Edited on 16/10/06 by alister667]

[Edited on 16/10/06 by alister667]

Some good pics in there, but, how do you get to race without full roll cages - you look very vulnerable in there!

The race series seems to be, umm how do I put this, quite homemade. It's not affiliated with the MSA, there was very little in the way of scrutineering, no official liciences needed etc. Kinda dodgy!
A couple of the guys have cages. If I was going to do it regularily I'd look at fitting some kind of cage, mainly to stop a stray wheel or something coming in the front of the car at you.

Motorsport Old Skool Style by the looks of it.

Dread to think what the lawyers would say!

I know, you're absoluely right, it's a law suit waiting to happen!! As I said I got through it fine, not too sure about doing it on a regular basis. Some parts of the circuit you would not want to lose it on as there are banks, tyres and fences all over the show. Still I've done it once anyhow!
Currently there is no sevens / BEC class of wheel to wheel racing (in Northern Ireland), so we're talking to various promoters to see what we can get sorted out. Last year the main race series (The Sunday Series) shut down, leaving some folks in the lurch, so hopfully we can organise a cheap, entry level wheel to wheel racing series. We'll see.

[Edited on 16/10/06 by alister667]

Hi what ever happend to the striker race serise over there i was shure they used to let in other makes of simalar kitcars. Must admit i have not heard any thing of it for some time tho.

cheers matt

I have no idea. I saw their lap records mentioned on a recent Kirkistown pamphlet, but the only striker I know of this side of the water has to race in the same category as Radicals and Jades at Kirkistown - hardly level playing field.

[Edited on 16/10/06 by alister667]

Hi a striker with a cvh (the engine they had for thier champ) Vs a jade now that would be a challenge .

cheers matt

nice pics!!

dare I say it Matt...........strange how a CEC of all things managed to win against all those BEC's

Ah well, now, to be fair I was told since then the locost that won has build reciepts for £17k........
A fair bit more than any of the BECs going round there.
We now reckon he would have had maybe 260-280 Bhp! Mind you, as I said he was an excellent driver. We're thinking of making 2 classes for next year, under 1000cc (Naturally Asperated) and over 1000cc. That should allow all the blades, CBR1000s and even the odd R1 to compete and allow the Busas and VX Red Tops to have a go at each other.