Belle View 1973545 viewsGetting a helping hand from Mike Lewis (who lived a few houses along from Coventry Stadium). Slight difference in engine power - think I still had a 2.4 Jag in whilst Mike had a couple more cylinders and a tad more power!
New Car 1974540 viewsFord 383 Cu" being installed - at this stage, this was the engine aquired from George Stringer (probably a trade). I later purchased the Ford 383 cu" race engine and spares from Kevin Bollins (x124) which I fitted for it's practice outing (at Olten Park!) and first (and my only race with it!) race at Belle Vue on Boxing Day 1974
New car 1974529 viewsIn 1974 I finally decided to stop playing around and build a new car. I built this at home in Sockport (parents house!) under the carport. LD axles front and rear with LD leaf springs, engine was Ford 383 cu" with Ford commercial gearbox. In this pic, chassis is complete with axles mounted and I was just starting the roll cage. I didn't have a cutoff saw or burning gear at this time so I had lots of experience and blisters with my trusty hack saw - 1/2" plate for spring mounts too some cutting!
First time out 1973 Belle Vue517 viewsChassis ex Vernon Parker with new roll cage - I bought rolling chassis off Doug Cronshaw. He had purchased the car for the 389 Pontiac and he cut off the "shed" roll cage and put a new one on for me. All of �25 for the deal and Doug loaned me his towing ambulance for my first few meetings.
2.4 Jag Engine and box from scrappy for a fiver
New Car 1974517 viewsApart from the fact the roll cage sides were not plated and I used 3mm wall thickness box, my roll cage would meet present rules (a roof plate was fitted but would need extending to fully comply with spec now)
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New Car 1974445 views
New Car 1974405 views
Aycliffe 1974 borrowed 120 car224 views
Aycliffe 1974176 views
Belle Vue Pits172 views
Boxing Day 1974170 viewsFirst time out in my new car!!