omg colin you are so luck that it didn`t go on its roof, it was so close, was there much damage?
omg colin you are so luck that it didn`t go on its roof, it was so close, was there much damage?
Those pictures look brutal. I can't believe the angle of the car during the crash!
well, there's no doubting your commitment there colin....
considering the speed you were doing, the damage is quite light
if they ever do another png awards, you get my vote for bravest.
Good god you are the luckiest bloke I know. How that didn't flip, roll, spin is beyond me.
The noise and speed is unbelievable as well, I want one
Oh no Colin, all the effort you have put into the car and your unfortunate personal issues and now this has happened. Just hope you get it sorted over the coming months/year and get it back out there better than ever.
Regardless of the crash I still think you're a class driver for avoiding rolling that!
Awaits photoshopped photos.....
Nasty one that, glad you got out OK. The Nova stood up to it well. Hope you get it sorted soon.
Very lucky the front end didn't dig in!!
A real life Brown underpants moment.
Lucky the steering wheel is on the right side!
Nothing in the way of photos (sorry), but behind the scenes there has been work going on to get it repaired.
The front panel and both front inner wings were mangled, so the entire front end has been cut off just in front of the suspension turrets.
I've got a length of 32mm T45 tubing which will be bent up and made into a 'spaceframe' to take the front tie bars and the new engine mounts. We reckon this is going to trim another 5kg or so off the car.
Some new lightweight tie bars, track control arms and steering arms are being fabricated, which should get at least 2.5kg off. I may also try it without the front anti-roll bar.
And there's been some modifications to the rear axle, saving another 1.5kg.
I've ditched the floor mounted pedal box, and a Lotus Elise alloy pedal box is being modified to fit (2kg lighter as well). An electric water pump is going on in place of the old mechanical system, no weight saving there but it should be more efficient and it can be left to circulate coolant after the engine has been switched off.
The gearbox has been stripped, and I'm going to have my gearbox man alter the ramp angles on the LSD, and hopefully I will be acquiring a different Final Drive (CWP) to solve the problem of the short gearing. I have to pay a visit to Quaife in Kent for that though, and then pay for it somehow.
This morning I took the turbo unit to CR Turbos (New Milton, Hampshire), and they reckon it just needs a new compressor wheel, following the intake of dirt/gravel during the crash.
The engine is being stripped tonight to see if there's any damage to that - fingers are firmly crossed that it will live again.
Other than these things it needs repairs to the front wheel inner rim sections, the exhaust downpipe, plus a new radiator and intercooler. Oh, and body panels of course.
Finally I'm having an aerodyamicist friend of mine, Simon McBeath, review the whole car and see what he suggests for improvements there. Expect to see it next season featuring a front splitter and a rear spoiler.
Massive thanks to Martin Haresign (MARTSTDVAN off here), and to Mark Windley (Mark One Garage) at Tattershall, Lincs, for all their work so far. It's much appreciated at a stressful time for me as I'm moving house!
Last edited by novarally; 06-08-12 at 10:30 PM.
To contact me please use E-MAIL to colinesmith@aol.com.
thousands of Nova (plus other Vauxhall and motorsport parts) available.
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