1988 TVR 290 S Hedge Find Restoration

Gathering Update

I was pretty nervous to be embarking on a 400 mile round trip in the TVR, but to add to that the M5 had an accident about an hour before we were due to leave Exeter. This was causing massive delays so we decided to wait for it to reopen. After waiting 6 hours from the initial leave time of lunch time, we finally embarked on our trip. I was with my friend from The Rust Room; Ben in his ek civic hatch (H22 swapped). Up to Taunton the traffic was fine but just passed that it got real heavy, I was worried about the temperature of the TVR as always, but once again it proved to me that its absolutely fine. After almost 2 hours of stop start traffic to Sedgemoor services we finally got past it! The rest was plain sailing up the M5 with the TVR proving to be a comfortable cruiser through the night with plenty of legroom and a comfortable seating position. We arrived at Mallory at almost midnight, set up the tents and went straight to bed!

It was only in the morning that we got a proper look at the venue, Mallory Park is an awesome place to stay. Camping on the track is such a novel experience and you really feel like your part of the event throughout the weekend. I really enjoyed the quick 60 event, getting up close with the cars in the pits and chatting to the drivers. Not to mention the various spectating points around the circuit. I didn't realise the elevation changes as well, much more dramatic in person.










Then It was onto the Sunday and time for the tack. Ben had the early morning slot and I was in the late morning so I jumped in with him first. His civic is mega quick as its got semi slicks and full hardrace suspension etc. Although unfortunately he did make contact with the tyres on the long sweeping bend as some of you may have seen. Luckily it was purely cosmetic and he even managed to drive it home fine. Then it was my go in the TVR, I was taking it easy to start especially on "Bens" corner! The TVR felt really good plenty of power when I needed it but sometimes a bit too much on the hairpin where It went a bit hairy a couple of times!  One of those was on the more moist lap where the back end just drifted out but I manged to catch it then just dump the clutch and power out in 2nd.  The other time I think I got a bit heavy on the power and it still has an open diff so the back end came out then the diff grabbed it and sent me to the out field, but managed to skid to a halt before the grass so all good. I felt like I was getting better each lap and gaining more momentum out of the corners. That being said I always had the thought in the back of head about A: driving it home 200 miles and B: not binning it! Thanks to Ian for getting us a load of time out on the circuit and taking on board my comments from the Goodwood sessions. The drive back was fine as the traffic was light and could just cruise back, with some rough calculations I averages between 28 and 30 mpg  (excluding track time....)  so I'd call that a win. Here's a few of the shots that I've found from my time there....

Was lucky to catch this ! Fuel lines have perished already. Date stamped 2020 R9 rated injection hose. It's perished from the outside so not from ethanol imo. Heat from the engine bay has contributed as the stuff away from the heat is fine. Make sure you check yours!