tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Hoping to scavenge enough parts to put an engine together to finish this season !!! I have a brand new race engine from Noble for next year so just need something to get me through the last 2 meetings !!
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Jul 27, 2015 16:41:56 GMT
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Thanks guys , still a mountain to climb as once I have engine back I have to get it fitted the remapped !!! Going to be difficult before croft . For anybody interested we are also on Instagram Search tuxmanracing .
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Jul 24, 2015 21:03:20 GMT
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Well we might have a cunning plan !!! Trying to put an engine together out of all the bits , will have to use the std ford Pistons so power will need to be capped at 500 bhp but hoping we can put something together !!!
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Jul 17, 2015 18:38:32 GMT
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Thanks for the support guys !!! It's been a tough week . No plans to change the engine spec , it's been brilliant so far and there is plenty of power !! Mountune no longer make the Pistons we use so although the rods are ok I've nothing to go on them !!! To make matters worse Graham at Universal Turbo's has confirmed the front turbo is Badley damaged and the rear needs a service so the cost of 1K is another nail in the coffin for this year :-( Noble Automotive have been brilliant and offered me a full race spec engine which I can just about afford at 4k but it needs stripping and balancing along with the heads gas flowing , ARP bolts all new gaskets at a cost of 3K this I cannot afford so I guess this year is finished . Off away on holiday for a couple of weeks and I could do with the break !!! Will look again at the situation when I get back .
Thanks again for all the support it is very much appreciated , hopefully we can get her back to full health in the not to distant future . Simon
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Jul 16, 2015 19:25:08 GMT
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Std valves fitted , nothing else available !! Well a tough week all round , after Monday ripping everything apart to get the engine out it was a anxious few days wait as the engine builder stripped it down to asses the damage .............unfortunately it not good , the dropped valve has pretty much destroyed the whole engine ?? Can re use the cams , valve springs , inlet manifold , timing chains ect and sump , pretty much everything else is totally wrecked ? Pretty gutted as with no Pistons available and the second hand Noble engine I bought in good faith last year is also knackered I'm in the. curse word . Looks like that's the end of racing for this year unless something amazing happens . Hard enough accepting I have blown up my race engine then to realise I've been ripped off for £1500 by a fellow Noble owner hurts even more !!!
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Jul 13, 2015 17:34:50 GMT
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Thanks for reading , I never know wether people are interested or I'm just boring everybody to death !!! So today was a tough day , ripping the heart out of the Noble is never going to be fun , at home it takes me a week of carefully removing stuff , clipping everything out the way and labelling everything up , not today 5 hours to literally tear it apart !!!! Painful but a necessity with the time contrants !!! A hole where my lovely engine used to sit . Definitely a valve , dropped of the exhaust valve off number 6 cylinder !! Thankfully the turbo's look ok but will send them off to get serviced , oil cooler and all the pipe work will have to be binned . Just need the engine builder to see what he finds when he opens up the lump . Feeling pretty gutted at the moment :-(
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Thanks Dad , you have always been there when I needed help !! Great to meet you too Ian , sorry I did not have more time to chat . So the high's and Low's of Noble ownership continues !!! Last weekend saw a trip as prom delivery service for my mates son !! As per normal the Noble got lots off attention as we delivered him and coped with sitting in traffic for 20 mins queuing to get into the venue !!! Then on Sunday a trip to the largest local car show to Show her off and enjoy a day relaxing !!! She looked lovely in the sunshine and I was proud to show off the trophy's we have won . This weekend was round 4 of Time Attack at Oulton Park and as I loaded Friday morning I was nervous , it's a track I've never been too and it's also very high speed !!! We arrived mid afternoon on Friday to a splendid venue , warm and sunny the track looked brilliant !! Treated the good lady to a night in a local pub as a thanks for all the support , had a brilliant meal and Dawn enjoyed a half of Dizzy Blond beer .......... I'm saying nothing ;-) Saturday morning arrived grey but dry and as I headed out onto the circuit my guts were churning !!! I need not have worried the Noble took it all in her stride and within 5 laps we were starting to get it together , it's a lovely circuit and whilst a bit bumpy Its a lovely and flowing . Went out for second practise I really started to push , improving every lap the times were falling and I was getting confident with the track .....push push push a lap of 1.37 was on the cards when ......................bang the Engine let go ? Coasted into the pit lane feeling gutted !!! The engine is the heart of any car and mine has been the most incredible piece of kit , built by Martin Cheetham she has covered 18000 miles and done something like 9000 miles on track !!!! The abuse she has put up with has been prolonged and at times I have marvelled at just how good it has been , earlier this year she made 678 bhp on the dyno and the Noble has topped the speed charts all year !!! We removed a couple of plugs and found destruction :-( Looks like she has dropped a valve but difficult to know at this stage !!! 5 weeks until the next round of TA so it looks like we are up against it . Fingers crossed .
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Jun 27, 2015 21:00:09 GMT
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Well what weekend Brands turned out to be !!! Food poisining on the Saturday night and a high speed trip into the gravel at Druids ment it was a pretty exiting Time Attack event . Thankfully I qualified on pole in my class and after a a very hard final finished 2 just 7 tenths off first place !! Another trophy for the collection although the Noble looked a bit battered :-( So today a trip too Jetstream Motorsport ment a full service , brakes serviced , all the bottom panels removed to get the gravel out and some re-mapping !!! Also some trimming to the bodywork was needed to help clear the arches !! The boys from Jetstream help me massively and without there support I would not be racing !! Tomorrow will be a cleaning day ready for Oulton park .
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Thanks Jonk . It's been a fantastic adventure so far :-)
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Looking forward to brands , please come over and say hello , I use a covered trailer now so I can carry wet and dry tyres and also we sleep in it when staying trackside !! Helps keep the cost down and it's cool being trackside .
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Couple of wet laps in first practise running low boost .
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Great write up from Speed hunters .
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Last Edit: Jun 6, 2015 8:07:51 GMT by tuxman
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Thanks for all the positive comments guys , as I said before I never know if people are ready my ramblings :-) I must apologise as I missed answering some questions , yes the front of the car feels better although I've yet to have a full dry final the turn in U.S. better and mild under steer if very controllable with a bit of trail bracking . My daily drive is a Vito van so the Noble always feels bloody quick !!! Running cost are pretty light with brakes lasting 2 years , tyres last a full year without problem , oil change once a year is all that's needed . Brands Hatch next on the 21st June is the next ride out , can somebody please arrange for some sunshine !!
Thanks for all the support .
Simon
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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Well Snetterton was probably the hardest Time Attack meeting I have ever done !!! Torrential rain in the morning and changing weather all day ment it was a real lottery , qualified 2nd just 2 10ths of a second in front of 3rd but first place was 4 seconds away which was a mountain to climb !!!! The final was a single dry line around the circuit and pretty scary , still managed to top the speed charts in club class , 132mph across the start finish line felt pretty quick !!!! Happy to take second and pick up another trophy , I'm hoping Brands is dry as I'm getting fed up of rain !!! Some great photo's as well . Rear aero working well !! Love this shot !! Brands on the 21st June , please let it be dry !!!
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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May 29, 2015 21:22:29 GMT
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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May 29, 2015 18:47:55 GMT
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Finaly got our race team shirts ready for Snetterton this weekend :-)
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tuxman
Part of things
Posts: 567
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May 26, 2015 18:16:21 GMT
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Thanks for the offer unfortunately I need 4 !! The wheels seemed like a good deal at £200 for 4 but buy the time you add the tyres on they are getting expensive !!!
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