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Wednesday, 29 October 2014

So there we were.

Wow its been such a long time since I have found the inclination let alone the time to continue my blog so now is perhaps as good a time as it will get.

The year 2013 ended with a only a reasonable amount of successes throughout the year for both of us all said and done but most certainly nothing to write home about.  Probably the highlight of 2013 for me was my 3rd attempt with my Datti at the LUK 3-Hour held at Aldo Scribante where we not only entered the sprint races but the 3 hour endurance race as well.  Basically we used the sprint races to get used to the track conditions and worked out a lap time strategy from there for the endurance race.  On previous occasions to this event we ran bearings at both prior events with absolutely nothing to show.  To our absolute amazement we used far less fuel than we bargained for, killed only 5 tyres, destroyed the exhaust headers which left my ears ringing for almost a week thereafter and managed to get 3rd in the historic car category. What a fantastic achievement from a well prepared little car all thanks to my boet.  Third time lucky as they say!!  Other than that not really much to write home about for the year and we thought that come 2014 everything will be bright and rosy and a good year to look forward to all things racing considered.  Little did we know......

The opening round of the 2014 season commenced with the Festival of Speed held beginning  February with the little Datti managing to finish qualifying and both heats but by the end of the 2nd heat the Datti had all signs of having run a bearing while the 140Z suffered a cracked bore and was sidelined from the initial practice session already.  With the 140Z out for quite a while all while trying to source a good used L20 block the little Datti continued throughout most of the 2014 season with bearing problems.  By mid season I had become somewhat despondent as no matter how hard we tried we were let down each time by mechanical woes one after another.  To add insult to injury, medical problems soon became apparent with my boet making it even worse but give up he did not.  On the odd occasion we would finish a race only to suffer bearing problems yet again early in the next round while at the same time the 140Z had by now found and fitted a new engine block and was ready to race only to find out that the brakes were now no longer functioning.  Brake boosters were changed, overhauled, vacuum piping was replaced and untold adjustments were made to the brake peddle adjuster all without success.  Finally in October a 3rd reconditioned braked booster was eventually found and fitted and we had brakes on the 140Z only to then find out it was too much brakes and in-turn within 1 lap we had now warped the front discs.  An after hours call was made to arrange for the discs to be skimmed on the car whereafter a brand new set of EBC race pass were fitted.  Around 9pm on the Friday night the brakes were bed in and we demon by comparison to the previous pads and at last we had the 140Z ready for racing.


Brakes just skimmed.

Came race day and lo and behold the 140Z qualified in pole position and it was huge smiles for the first time in a long time.  Meanwhile the little Datti felt strong on the Friday only to run.......yes you guessed it, bearings during qualifying just as the chequered flag came out indicating the end of the qualifying session.  Race 1 started with a huge expectation as the Datsun 240Z of Richard Quixley was 2nd and really on song throughout th whole season.  By turn one the 140Z was first into the corner and opened up and sizeable gap on the 240Z.  It was game on we thought but 2014 was not finished with us quite just yet.  By turn 5 the 140Z seemed untouchable and past the start/finish he slowed and pulled off at the end of the main straight with a blown cylinder head gasket.  And so we found not one but both cars out for the remaining race of October.  With the current rand/dollar exchange rate not in our favour and with the postal strikes still in full swing it is unlikely that a head gasket will be found and imported in time for the final November race meeting and will thus sit out until the new season starts in February once again.  At least we live in hope.  The decision has been taken not to repair the little Datti and instead it will now be stripped of its parts and the running gear which will be used to now complete the new TOMEI Sunny replica.  This has been a project in the making for a number of years while slowly sourcing special and specific parts as used in the original car.

For now we are both done and dusted with a rather miserable end to the 2014 season although it must be said that the Friday 'braai nights' held throughout the season made up for all the bad times.  So while we now sit and wait with abated breath as to how the 2015 will dawn upon us along with certain envisaged technical rule changes to be strictly brought into contention we will wait until then.   Will the 2015 February International takes place, who knows??
This leaves me only to thank one and all for the great times spent together at track side but more importantly to thank my brother who throughout the season even while not feeling 100% medically fit still made every effort to ensure that I at least got onto the track.  You are truly appreciated.  As for the results, shit happens.

Thanks 'Boet'