My pride and joy!

History

I bought the car in August 1998 as a rolling shell, configured for a Ford BDA engine and Hewland Mk9 gearbox. The car was originally supplied as an Imp based version and I set about converting it back to that specification, fabricating a new engine frame and obtaining new driveshafts from Tim Duffee, the first he had made for many years. I set myself a target of the Wessex sprint at Colerne in May 1999 and had the car ready just in time. In its former life I have discovered that the car was used for tarmac rallying from 1980 to at least 1986, and later for some sprints in the early 1990's. It was featured in Rally Sport magazine in Feb 1986, and the spec is still remakably similar, aside from the Imp engine/gearbox. The name, because he stole Caesar's engine

Specification

Engine: Second hand and at least 18 years old - It was in a Clan that competed at Wiscombe in 1981. 998cc normally aspirated Imp engine. Hartwell head with 1.40" inlets,1.12" exhausts, R23 Cam, the ubiquitous twin 40DCOEs on Janspeed combined manifold, Hartwell race conrods, everything lightened & balanced, block strengthening kit and so forth. Currently running with an electric water pump so no fan belt. Estimated 100-110bhp, would probably make 115-118 with a rolling road session if I ever get around to it. Peak power around 8600rpm, maximum revs 9500.

Gearbox: Imp box with 5 speed dog engagement gears and Limited Slip Differential by Jack Knight about to be fitted as the standard ones, even the SC/CR varieties are not strong enough, geared to about 110 mph in 5th on 20" diameter slicks.

Suspension: Davrian fabricated arms front and rear. Otherwise as Imp, with an additional pair of rear shocks, again by Davrian. Solid 0.67" front ARB. JK high ratio steering pinion to 2.25 turns lock to lock. 8x13 front wheels, 10x13 rears, revolutions and various others.

Brakes: Front 10.2" vented disks with Girling AR alloy 2 pot calipers, Rear 10.2" solid discs with Lockheed two pot calipers. Bias pedal box

Pictures

Prospect corner at Longleat 25th Sep 1999

Hairpin at Longleat 25th Sep 1999

Me (in blue) and Ian Hall (who built the first Mini engined Mk7a) sharing Davrian experiences in the paddock at Colerne, 30th August 1999, photo by Allen Harris

Top two pictures by Wheelspin photography (he asked me to say that)
More pics added as and when I get them.

My thoughts

When driving the car the first thing that strikes you is the amazing torsional ridgitity. It is difficult to believe that a car used for at least six years of stage rallying would still be this strong. I'm sure if it was a steel shell it would be shot to bits by now. There is no flex at all, even under high cornering loads. This translates into very stable high speed cornering, as it inspires huge confidence, despite the fact the slicks are old and hard, and the suspension is still set for a Ford crossflow hanging out the back, ie far too hard on the rear springs. The engine is far more tractable than the spec would suggest, the R23 is obviously not as wild as some would have it. 0-60 time is a shade under 6 seconds - not bad for under 1000cc. Fuel consumption is about 6mpg on full chat, when I had the engine in an Imp road car it managed between 15-25 depending on how I drove it.
It is a nice toy and I like playing with it!

Competitions to date

May Colerne (Bristol MC) - First event, managed 6th in class (of 6!) 91.80 seconds, 4 seconds slower than the next person, 8 seconds off the class winner. The timed runs were done with a 2" patch of canvas showing on one of the front tyres!
July MIRA (HSA) - Got some second hand, ex race slicks for the front, still rather hard but at least with some rubber on them. Second in class in 56, winner in a turbocharged version did a 52. Lost the fan belt at the end of my final run and boiled it going back to the paddock.
August Colerne (Bristol MC) - Much better, 4th of 6 in 86.42, 2.6 seconds behind the class winner (1400cc Mod prod). There was a half way spilt time at this event, and my car was slower than everyone else in the first half, which consists of two long straights, but quicker through the second which has several very high speed bends.
September Longleat (Woolbridge MC) - Wet, second gear parted company with the rest of the box and I drove like a lemon. Good fun with the New Davrian Register there though. Got the tow car stuck in the paddock! Meeting abandoned