985cc Turbocharged Nova Sprint Car

[BRoadGhost]

Fcuking BAD TIMES. Is it the diff again you think that's making it a bit unwieldy or is it because it doesn't feel as stable as you'd like?

[novarally]

Fcuking BAD TIMES. Is it the diff again you think that's making it a bit unwieldy or is it because it doesn't feel as stable as you'd like?

I'm blaming the gearbox/gear linkage.........I've been completely unhappy with the gearing since I fitted the new gearbox, which means at Hollow Bend and over the Finish line at Gurston Down I'm needing to use 5th gear (even though I've upped the rev-limit to 8,250 rpm, I'm still hitting the limiter in 4th gear).

As I approached Hollow Bend on this occasion, it refused to go into 5th, so I stuck it back in 4th, and either that unbalanced the car, or disturbed my concentration sufficiently that I strayed off the tarmac, and once on the loose stuff at 100-odd mph I was just a passenger. At some point whilst off the road, the throttle stuck wide open, so the car just kept on going. It would appear I hit a tree stump or similar in the undergrowth which launched the car upwards, and did a lot of the damage.

We've started stripping the car down now, and there are more things to add to the list of broken bits;

Track Control Arms
Offside front wheel and tyre
Turbocharger
Intercooler

It's getting seriously expensive.

[paul james]

Its such a shame to see that happen after all the effort you've put in.

[Mike]

Gutted for you mate. The first list alone looks expensive, let alone a new turbo pack & cooler aswell as other things!

[martstdvan]

Dont worry too much Colin the the nova is in good hands.
im sure you will be happier tomorrow when you see whats been happening over the last few hours

[novarally]

Dont worry too much Colin the the nova is in good hands.
im sure you will be happier tomorrow when you see whats been happening over the last few hours

Interesting.

Thank goodness I have staff........shame for them they don't get paid.

[burgo]

Interesting.

Thank goodness I have staff........shame for them they don't get paid.

I think you would be surprised at the amount of people who would jump at the chance to help you out, your a good honest bloke that just needs a break but isn't getting it, just seems to be one thing after the other so if there is anything people could do I'm sure they will.

It's at times like this it would help if it wasn't such a high spec one off car as people could help you out with parts but I doubt we have got anything of any use.

[Lewis.]

Ah that must be gutting, Colin, given your plans to store it, will you be returning it to its former glory?

[novarally]

Ah that must be gutting, Colin, given your plans to store it, will you be returning it to its former glory?

It will come back again, lighter and faster than before.

The only question mark is when that will be. Right now I simply haven't got any spare cash to undertake the rebuild, so for the moment it's been stripped down to fully assess the damage, and we're at the planning stage with how to best repair/replace, whilst at the same time incorporating some improvements.

The engine and gearbox were removed this afternoon, so I will post up some photos soon to show where we are.

[stupot89]

proper gutted for you colin hope you get it sorted soon and glad your ok