Richard Grove

Ooops - just read the paperwork Tim sent regarding entry to Barkston Heath on Saturday. "I need the registration nr, make and model of the vehicle that you will drive through the gates plus the names of those that will be with you. I need this information before 4th July. No details, no entry, not my rules but theymust be adhered to." Richard Grove Stan Grove R693CMJ Vauxhall Vectra Hope I am not too late !!

Dunc, I am in Willersey near Evesham, not to far away. Your welcome to come over for a chat. My 2B is pretty standard apart from the engine (Vauxhall 16V). Alternatively go to Newark show this weekend, there will be plenty of 2B's on show. Richard

June edition of KitCar magazine has an advert for Newark that says free entry to the drivers of all kit, classic, american and custom cars (only at the exhibitors gate). I assume passengers have to pay normal admission prices.

http://www.kitcarshow.co.uk/ Try this link - camping is free

Schumacher does but Alonso does not - at least that what it looked like when ITV did a split screen of the two drivers with the green & red bars to indicate braking & accelerating. I tried it but nearly drove off the track several times as I was concentrating on my feet and missed the turn in point.

Cam shaft oil seals replaced, new timing belt, tensioner pulley and guide pulleys fitted with allen type bolts. £5350 ono.

The Firefox almost qualifies for BEC status as it does now have Honda Fireblade throttle bodies!! 141 BHP on the rolling road and just under 500KG = about 280 BHP per ton. Main improvement over last year is the gearbox and limited slip diff which came off a Rover 220 Turbo. Much better traction and power delivery. The thing I love about the Firefox is absolutely no skill required - just point it in the right direction and put your foot down. I tried the Onyx rear wheel drive prototype and proved I am not a good driver by when I shuved it into a pile of tyres / telegraph pole! Richard

Just admit it Front Wheel Drive is better !! There is no doubt slicks will give you a couple of seconds advantage but the tyres I was using were very old and well past their best - I had already done 120 miles round Brands Hatch, 100 miles at Hullavington and 2 days at Barkston with them so they were pretty much shot. Not only that the track got pretty greasy at times with the odd splatter of rain. The Firefox may not look that good (Tim suggested it has the styling of a shopping trolley) but is is bloody fast and so easy to drive quickly. I am sure you will all be pleased to know that I have a nice new fresh set ready for July !! Richard

Have to admit that the track was a little greasy at times. I reckon the Firefox could get under 50 seconds on a warm/dry track. Richard

Thanks to John & Tim for organising another great event. Just got back home but feeling very sore (ribs & neck) after managing to spin and slide sideways into a rather solid bunch of tyres. Oh dear - not my car either - I was trying out the new Onyx prototype and forgot it's rear wheel drive !! Luckily just minor cosmetic damage to the car. Richard

I have been getting part worn 185/65 r13 mitchelin slicks for the Firefox. Cost about £50-60 for a set of four. Normally good for 2 track days i.e. about 200 track miles and the grip just does not compare to a road legal tyre as long as its dry of course . For road use I just use a set of cheap budget tyres.

Price reduced to £5850 ono. Collected donor car for my sons new project today so we really need to make some space now. On return from Stoneleigh I noticed the 2B was leaking oil from the camshft oil seal so have new seals to fit this week. Will also be fitting a new timing belt, guide pulley and tensioner pulley this week. Thanks Richard

New set of hydraulic valve lifters fitted today so engine is now sounding a lot better. Also done oil & filter change using 5-50 fully synthetic motorsport oil. Car will be at Stoneleigh Sunday and Monday if you want to take a look. Thanks Richard

Darren, I tried this morning from my dad's house (he only has dial up internet) and it would not work. Tried at home using broadband and all was OK. Richard

All, Renault are offering free tickets for Donnington again this year. I went last year and for a free day out it was fantastic. I recommend you get your order for tickets in ASAP. http://www.renault-sport.com/en/world_seri...resentation.php Richard

And the important bit

Time has come to TRY and part with my Hood. Since building the Firefox the Hood has not been used as much as it deserves and it does not make sense to keep spending money on tax, insurance etc. as it now spends most of its time parked in the garage. I am planning to concentrate on track days with the Firefox this year and am looking to start another project some time soon so the garage needs to be cleared. My wife could just about understand me having 2 kit cars but 3 would be pushing my luck!! The funds raised will also help to pay for the my son to participate in 14+ sprint competition at Barkston Heath. So here is your chance to get yourself a well built Hood with that little something extra - Vauxhall 16v. Robin Hood Project 2B kit purchased Dec-01. SVA passed and registered Jun-02. 9500 miles since SVA, 3500 miles since XE engine change. Loads of receipts, MOT certificates etc. Taxed to Sep-06. Will be sold with 12 months MOT. Vauxhall 2L “XE” 16 valve engine (170+BHP) ARP heavy duty rod bolts (rev to 7500 rpm) New main and end bearings QED baffled alloy sump Dellorto DHLA 45 carburettors with twin cable linkage QED alloy inlet manifold Alloy ram pipes Piper cross sock filters Facet red top fuel pump Filter King fuel pressure regulator Jaguar XJ6 rubber engine mounts 4 - 1 stainless steel exhaust system Wunoff re-packable stainless steel silencer (98db) Stainless steel exhaust manifold heat shield Vauxhall 8 valve distributor & ignition amplifier 82 degree thermostat Thermostatic controlled radiator fan Stainless steel expansion tank New Cam Belt Type 9 5 speed gearbox QED alloy bell housing Heavy duty clutch Mild steel chassis Stainless steel panels Double wishbone suspension with coil over dampers at front TR7 bucket seats Floor mounted pedal box Battery cut off switch CD player Four point Sabelt harnesses Stainless steel fuel tank Full weather gear (roof & side screens) Heater Ford alloy wheels Mini wiper system Mountney 10 inch steering wheel Claxton horn Braided stainless steel front brake hoses Spare Wheel Jack & emergency tool kit New battery, coil, plugs & HT leads If I was keeping it next job would be to fit new Coil Over Shocks on all corners. Over the winter one of the hydraulic tappets has got a bit “sticky” and is a little noisy until the engine warms up (common with XE engine) and there are some small cracks in front near side mud guard. Other than that everything is in good order and it will be getting an oil & filter change next weekend. £6500 ONO Contact me via e-mail - rich.grove@virgin.net

Showed this thread to my son Matthew - he wants in - He and his best mate are already scouring the local papers & e-bay looking for a car which they plan to have ready by the summer so that they can enter the last 3 events in Aug, Sep, Oct. Guess who is going to pick up the bill?

I had my Firefox K series with Emerald ECU and Throttle bodies mapped by RJ Bradley & Son near Oxford just a few weeks ago - they are recommended by Dave Walker at Emerlad for those who can't make the treck all the way to Norfolk. Excellent people and excellent results - When I arrived I just about had the car running on a base map but it was like a bag of nails - A morning on the rollers and it was singing. they charge £50 an hour plus VAT for the mapping service. Cost me about £175 in total. They are located a few miles from Chipping Norton at a village called Shipton Under Wychwood - Tel 01993 830214. If you want to know more contact me by PM and I will give you my tel number. Richard

I also heard on the grape vine that Onyx new offering is going to be a mid engined k series based kit called the Mongoose ???

Merlin 5EXI is mid engined K series based.

Not to everyones tatse but the Onyx Firefox is a super performer on track - I am pretty sure Onyx do a removeable windsreen & roof for it as well. I can just about keep up with the Bike Engined Sevens at Barkstone and it cost less than £5k to build - How much does a Dax Megabusa cost ?

I have nothing on this weekend so may well take a trip to Mallory in the Hood to watch the racing - anyone else thinking of going ?

Oh yes - mine was in the post on saturday !

Hi, If anyone is looking for a good rolling raod I can recommend RJ Bradley & Sons at Shipton Under Wychwood (near Oxford) Tel 01993 830214. The can do full ECU mapping for both Emerald and OMEX systems, Carb tuning etc. and charge £50 an hour. I took the Firefox to them yesterday to have my new Emerald ECU and Throttle Body set up properly mapped. I had got a basic map loaded and was able to start and drive the car but it was running like a bag of nails. After a couple of hours on the rolling road it was singing !!! If anyone is ineterested in doing a power run on the rolling road to get an official BHP read out they are happy to host club events - either 6 or so cars in an evening or upto 20 on a Saturday. They have recently hosted both Hillman Imp and Westfield owners clubs. Charge os £20-25 per car. Each power run takes 20-30 minutes. Official results for the Firefox were 141BHP at 6600 rpm (less than I expected I have to admit) but given that the car has been on a diet as well and should now weigh under 500KG that is 280+ BHP per ton. Can't wait to get back on track and try it out. Richard