The return of Bertie

All chat, general/off topic/banterish and questions relating to the BX16valve.
Gary C
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Post by Gary C »

Off to Brands this weekend for 3 races. Have replaced the front spheres, return pipes and bottom joint on the suspension.

By the end of the season will have changed everything at this rate!
Gary C
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Post by Gary C »

Qualifying was terrible. At the back again.

During the day made progress, although I thought it was over half way through the first race, when a cheeky move to pass the guy in front by tagging on to the back of a faster car through Druids resulted in a thumping from a Honda. Racing incident.

Lap time best were in the 58s same as last time out so fairly happy considering driving with damaged steering joint.

We were sitting 10th in the Tin Tops and 13th in the modified championships before the weekend hope to have an update on new positions in a couple of days.
Gary C
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Post by Gary C »

Back to Brands for the 3rd time this year. Qualifying was better. The car having had the front geometry set up by Andy and Tom at Classic and Race was turning in a lot better on the tighter corners. Some of the other drivers need lessons about yellow flags - faster car or not they should not be coming by me in the yellow zone.

Race 1 was going ok for about .... 20 seconds before a Clio lost it big time at the hairpin and shot off backwards towards the barrier. You know who was between him and the barrier. Rear door pushed in, sill damaged, arch wrapped over the tyre, fuel tank shifted, etc but we carried on to the finish. Several other incidents during the race eventually brought out the red flag - hmmm.... more lessons on flags required as a Ford passed at racing speed before getting the message. Got through the other 2 races without any real incident - good dice in race 3 with Cliff Pellin who kept it clean and fair.

Next meeting is Lydden which we'll miss as Bertie needs a lot of tlc and more. Hope to be back on track for Snetterton event.
Gary C
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Post by Gary C »

Now 9th overall in Tin Tops championship and 11th overall in Modified saloons championship. Hope we can stay in the top 20 of both even if we miss Lydden.
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Adrian E
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Post by Adrian E »

That's a bit of a bugger Gary - poor old Bertie!

Presume the sill damage isn't particularly structural given the cage? Just a pain in the arse to resolve and get everything aligned again?
Gary C
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Post by Gary C »

Incident at Druids was captured on camera - charliewooding.co.uk under 2013 - 130525 Brands Hatch - then 130525 Quaife - click on pic of Bertie leading the pack - then page 2
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Timmo
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Post by Timmo »

nice pic on page 5 too! And some sideways on p6!! Love it!!!
infact, i think you feature on every page! :-D
Timmo 8)

After all i am the Cornish one!

Its Because its French!
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frog
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Post by frog »

This picture is too good not to post, fantastic!

Image

Image credit: Charlie Wooding charliewooding.co.uk
Gary C
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Post by Gary C »

Bit of snap oversteer but I've still got the wheels pointing roughly in the right direction. Lairy moment probably a result of the accident damage (Race driver's book of excuses number 27).

Missed Lydden as expected. An entry has gone in for Snetterton - not sure how pretty the car will look as we're concentrating on the mechanical bits.
Gary C
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Post by Gary C »

Snetterton is Saturday only.
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djoptix
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Post by djoptix »

Love that picture. You're on the C5 steels I see, how are you finding them? No issues?
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Gary C
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Post by Gary C »

No issues at all. They were on the Xsara before swapping them onto Bertie so have done quite a lot of race miles. They do have the proper Citroen bolts fitted.
Gary C
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Post by Gary C »

Snetterton last weekend was a bit fraught.

Qually found us 36th of 38 albeit under our target time.

Race 1 was interesting as a suspension joint loosened and the whole front end shimmied at speed also the drive shaft was trying to burrow its way into the drop link. Still moved up to finish 28th again under target time for best lap.

Race 2 i did not have a clue what was going on with the car for half a lap until I realised that the seat had moved (turned out a seat bolt had sheared). After that it was head down to take 26th and another second of our best lap time.

The new fuel tank/pump setup worked well. So before Brands GP we only have to sort out front end stuff, sort out some more of the bodywork which we are still trying to tidy up from last Brands race, usual checks, change brake pads, repair seat bits etc.
Gary C
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Post by Gary C »

Digitex TV is up and running.

Check out web tv section page 2 under Alfa Romeos, Quaife etc about 24 mins in is the proper stuff with soggy Bertie at Brands Hatch at the end of last year.

On page 1 under Quaife Intermarques Bertie features in the first race and is seen pulling in and passing 1 by 1 the group headed by the yuk green Honda, then about 26 mins in for further glimpses of Bertie in action at Brands back in April.
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