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"hackleton (AT) hotmail (DOT) com" <brafield (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

That takes me back to my old days hanging out at Brafield Stadium. Me and my
mate used to hitch over there for every meeting of stocks and bangers. Those
piccies look like F2's. I used to like the 'exhaust-free' bubbling noise
that the V8 F1's made when idling in the pit enclosure. Happy days ...

Arfa

Takes me back to my Dad taking me to Aldershot and a couple of other places
that I can't remember (I was only 11 or so!), loving the bangers and the
demolition derby, being bored shitless by the stocks and superstocks, but
being covered in black 'stuff' - A mixture of tyre rubber, oil and soot.
Trying to remember that the colours of the roof was significant, and that
one bloke (with the best roof colour) always won :-)

Happy days indeed. I seem to remember seeing a 'grasstrack' event once -
Very exciting. Does it still exist?

Al.

"Al" <alnews67 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

As I recall, a white roof was a novice driver. Then came yellow, then blue,
then red. These came about as a result of racking up wins or placings. The
current world champion wore a gold roof for the year.

Arfa

"Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily (AT) ntlworld (DOT) com> wrote

there are other regional? variations like chequered roof (British champion)
and a stripe to show the highest points, etc.

I got up to highish yellow top in bangers, but just didn't have the
resources to get further, you need a breakers yard and a few paid helpers
plus lots of money and skill to win on a regular basis. At that time (early
90s) you needed about 3000 pounds to build a top engine and a car per
meeting, I ran on a shoestring and usually got about 6 meetings per car, I
was usually 'placed' and ran very reliable cars and tried to stay out of the
vendetta mentality. One of the most striking things about the whole scene
was the helpfulness between opponents in the pits, no holding back, we all
just got on and fixed stuff, if your own car was ready you would help the
guy next to you, lending bits, tyres, batteries etc. you don't find that in
the 'upper class' formula stuff, everyone is secretive and selfish.

Mrcheerful

"Mrcheerful" <nbkm57 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

specletatator - I were just a yooth like ) and I don't remember seeing any
chequered roofs or stripes, so maybe that was regional, or something that
came later. I do, however, remember drivers keeping bangers for virtually
the whole season. One that comes to mind was a lad called "Sooty" from down
Oxford way somewhere I think, who ran an old black Jag with stacks straight
up through the bonnet. I saw him run race after race with that car. We also
had a local team that ran a hearse. I saw it on its first outing when it was
pristine. Naturally, it was a 'target' right from the off, but they patched
up and wheeled that motor out for meeting after meeting ...

I haven't been for many years now. I would probably be disappointed as from
what I can gather, it has now become a commercialised 'motorsport' rather
than the good old days which, as you say, were characterised by a bunch of
like-minded lads just having fun. I guess you would have called it 'friendly
rivalry' rather than truly competitive 'racing'.

On a different note, quick question for you. My daughter came up from uni
today in her Ka, and told me that she had steering troubles. I had a little
drive, and it feels awful. Turning left is not too bad, although it doesn't
feel 'right'. A right turn is actually quite difficult to make, and the
steering doesn't readily re-centre, requiring you to haul it back. It feels
like there is something amiss with the power steering, but it is definitely
asymmetric. I chucked it straight in the village garage to see what they
thought. They have not come back to me yet, but in the meantime, I would
value any thoughts that you, or anyone else reading this, may have.

Arfa

"Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily (AT) ntlworld (DOT) com> wrote


Ka suffer from rack failure on a regular basis (just google for it) , main
dealer price is 900 pounds.
I don't recall if the Ka is similar to Fiesta here, but fiestas used to
suffer from the steering column jug failing which gave similar symptoms to
your description.

Mrcheerful

"Mrcheerful" <nbkm57 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

Curse these spell checkers, that should read uj (universal joint)

"Mrcheerful" <nbkm57 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

Thanks. I'll see what they have to say when I pop back in there today ...

Arfa