Upgrades all round

Crikey, I didn't realise it was October when I last wrote on here, a lot has happened since then!

We now have the 998cc engine fitted in the Imp, with twin Strombergs, an R17 cam, Maniflow exhaust and a closer ratio box. These changes necessitated an upgrade to more hefty half shafts as well! We have taken it on a few test runs and are sorting out the inevitable tweaks needed to the mixture and a mystery minor oil leak, other than that it goes like a dream. We are going to check the decibel level though, as it seems quite loud....
 

Alex enjoying a wet Wiscombe. Photo by www.teltphotography.com

 

Our first planned event is the sprint at Clay Pigeon in Dorset on 30th March, and then a gap until the first Wiscombe hill climb at the end of April which marks the start of the season proper.

Both Alex and I have upgraded to Nat A licences this year, partly because we took all the trouble to get the upgrade card signed! Partly because it makes us feel as though we've arrived, and partly because it gives us more choice of which events to do. Often when an event has both A and B events on, the Nat B classes are very generalised into eg. all road going cars, so we'd be better off in the Nat A classes. We'll see how it goes this year.

Last year people who saw us may remember we usually had our elderly Pointer dog with us, who was happy to sleep in the back of the van, but sometimes came out for social visits around the paddock where allowed! Sadly we lost him in mid-December so will not have his company this year, it won't be the same...  We have decided not to get a new puppy until the end of this season; it had been a concern of mine that we are planning to do some further afield events this year and some sprints, and I'm sure it would have been an issue at some stage, and definitely would be with a pup!