Some time ago I was having a few beers with Tim and he mentioned that he had what he thought was a pretty good F1 he had built from a Slick 7 kit. He asked if I would like to give it a run around HSC to test it out as he does not get to run Retros a lot and was keen to get my opinion. I readily accepted his offer as I had been suffering a bit in the F1 class and he said he would send it up sometime.
Two days before the Geoghegan Trophy race he called me and asked if I was running and would I be interested in checking out his F1? Yes and yes I responded and so the car arrived by express post the next day.
It is a very interesting build I thought as I prepared the beast by swapping the spur to the other side, put a 9 tooth pinion on the donk and cut up about 10 grams of lead I suspected it may need for HSC. Of course it also needed a Hot Pink body on it if it was to be at its best (which entails me seeing and recognizing it in the melee)
And so to race day. The car was very smooth and quick and I was immediately going faster than my own F1 so the tuning began. This means adding lead in most instances as I have yet to get a car to drive reliably around HSC below around 124 grams. Sure you can drive a lighter car around there fast on a good lane in good conditions but to cut it across all 8 lanes in a race you need a smooth and reliable car that you can comfortably drive fast. I ended up adding around 9 grams of lead and cut the times by .15 sec with good feel. The rest is history - Top Qualifier with a very quick time and won the race against a small but classy field - thanks Tim.
Tim is not one who believes in the secret squirrel approach and so he has kindly allowed me to present the following pics of his build.
The most interesting feature of the chassis is that the centre section (with guide) is isolated from the front axle assembly similar to what used to be known as an iso-fulcrum design.
Here it is
OK - SORRY BUT I HAVE TO GO TO THE PUP NOW FOR MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA - - I WILL POST PHOTOS ETC TOMORROW
Back from Trivia - I know that you all will be pleased to here that our team comprising myself, my partner Philippa (Pip) and the demon bass player Vito Portolesi came in 2nd (generally we win about 60% of the time - brag brag etc).
The Pics
As mentioned the chassis is a build of a Slick 7 F1 kit (the second version with a one piece rear bracket).
- Bottom - its had a bit chopped off the front
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- This brace is critical and runs back to the face of the motor bracket - very neat.
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- The extra lead I added to the middle - the chunks in front of the motor and between the lead wires - the chassis was sweet to start so I just plonked it there on the basis that it should not affect the balance too much - seemed to work.
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- Independent fronts.
- 07-IMG_9786.JPG (71.99 KiB) Viewed 6428 times
- The Slick 7 has a really strong but simple back end design.
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- Attention to detail and added strength throughout the build as evidenced by the wire bracing in the bracket.
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- These independent fronts are supplied by Mike Swiss of Chicagoland Raceway. They are built for ball-races but Tim has used Slick 7 bearings to comply with Aussie Retro rules. They are held on a threaded axle with small nylox tpe nuts - really neat.
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- Now all it needed was a proper Pink Bod.
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- The view I was hoping to present to the other little drivers
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- Before the pedants strike for only having two colours on my interior (the rules state a minimum of three) I would like to point out the red "Panic Button" in the centre of the steering wheel which I supply all my drivers with.
- 01-IMG_9777.JPG (62.24 KiB) Viewed 6428 times
Thanks to Tim for the loan and the share of the car details.
I reckon it provides some fodder for thought for the builders out there as it is a little different and that's what it is all about (for me anyhow).
