Playtime at Goodwood

[a8hex]

yesterday was the annual XK and E-Type track day at Goodwood. I took very few pictures this year, didn't have much time but here are a few I did manage to take.


This make a wonderful sight as it flies past you.



The "Golly Green Giant" as it is known to readers of the Gazette.


Lowdrag's wonderful toy stretching it's legs in the sun shine.


An XK140 OTS


Dave's wonderful looking 140DHC. Amongst such a lovely line (me biased?) I'm not sure that this isn't my favourite shape. This one is of course the perfect colour.




As Dinkel would say "In the office" It's a hard life but someone's gotta ... The ash cloud had lifted enough to allow him to spend the day at Goodwood. The owner of an XKSS who was planning to be there wasn't so lucky and was still stranded I believe.


I spent very little time behind the camera. Work commitments had kept me away most the morning. Then the brakes decided they weren't really quite upto coping around the track now that the "new" engine is working. Fortuneatly Chris Window from Winspeed Motorsport was there to sort things for me. Tried a few things, then CKL were able to supply us with some more suitable front pads. More work to do, but it meant I could at least play, which was the whole idea. Many thanks. So all in all I didn't get to do as much photography as normal. But hey given the choice of being passed by a D when you are on the pit wall and having it storm past you while you are doing a ton, you can't really blame me.

[graemel]

Just wonderful

[Hooli]

Lovely pics & totally understand why you'd rather play than take pics, I would too given the choice!

[Motown Junk]

just looking for some calico to tear....

[a8hex]

There are worse things to tear. One of the XK140s had a big off on the Lavant straight near the kink. Went into the tyre wall backwards. Luckily it was one of the race cars with proper seats and so the driver was OK. The thought of a big accident in the XK doesn't appeal. A backwards one would probably snap your spine across the seat back.

[lowdrag]

Just back home with the C-type and have about 500 pictures to sort through. I'll post some later when I've done with them. A great day we had and couldn't have wished for better weather too. Thanks of course to CKL.

[a8hex]

lowdrag said:

Thanks of course to CKL.

From me too...
Not only for organising another great day but also for coming up with a set of brake pads that could cope.

[a8hex]

Lowdrag, you didn't get any pictures of my car did you? I thought I saw you on the pit wall as a flew past.

[lowdrag]

Yes Ken, but Irfanview is currently converting 467 photos to internet size so hold on a bit until I upload! In the meantime here's one of Robin I rather like:-



Edit:-

Had a quick sort and here are two:-

Edited by lowdrag on Monday 26th April 11:23

[lowdrag]

I'll keep adding more as I adjust them:-

Stephan's new toy


Yourself at chicane Ken:-



And a couple more:-

Edited by lowdrag on Monday 26th April 12:05

[a8hex]

Great thanks Tony, I've never managed to get ones that show me driving before. The ones from the professionals there tend to concentrate on getting the whole car.

That's a nice one of the D with your C in the background. I like the one of the Tojeiro too.

[Le Mans Visitor]

Be sure to post up lots of your pictures please Tony.

[lowdrag]

Note the tad of opposite lock

Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 27th April 07:20

[a8hex]

more great pictures, thanks Tony.

Could I beg for an close up of the bonnet strap arrangement from the XK120 in DSC_5462.jpg, A full res crop of the buckle would be nice. I meant to go over and take a good look and picture it. I looks much the best arrangement I've seen. XK120s don't have a big issue with bonnets, but XK150s do!

[Elderly]

lowdrag said:

That's a lovely e-type - looks remain 'classic', yet obviously it's 'fit for purpose'

How feasable is it to have a road legal e-type that will be also be competent as a track day car?

[lowdrag]

Frankly, not at all difficult; I've done many a track day in my bog standard E-type and it holds it's own. But, a coupé, with modern brakes like Coop-ercraft and semi-racing pads, good tyres and you are in for a treat on the track. You can go as far as you like modernising the suspension but IMHO Spax adjustables will do the trick anyway. I turn mine three clicks on the D-type for track days to stiffen it and reverse the process for road use.

[a8hex]

In past years there have been a number of obviously "normal" road E-Types having a wail of a time on the track. I didn't get so much of a look around this year so I'm not sure whether there was one this time. I first took my XK150 onto the track without making any modifications and had a brilliant day playing with it. Standard brakes, standard suspension and standard tyres. Great fun. Just be prepared for things to show up afterwards. There were people of the track with totally standard XKs and I know they've enjoyed themselves.

Since then the car has been modified somewhat. It now runs a 4.2 engine and is rather more powerful than before. I was having problems with the brakes this year and so was braking earlier and longer, which didn't give the brakes the chance to dissipate the heat so well and ended up cooking the pads that have been fine in the past, including last year with the 4.2 installed but not running as well as hoped (or as now).

I'm sure you'd find a standard E to be a whole lot of fun.

[neutral 3]

Lovely looking Opalescent Green ? F.head E . I will have another one day. And yes a Modified one (particularly a F.Head) still makes a good road car. A standard one can be a big disapointment.

[Elderly]

Thanks for the responses lowdrag, a8hex & neutral 3.

I don't want to hi-jack this thread so I shall be starting a new one shortly

[lowdrag]

Incidentally, that FHC has raced three time at the Le Mans Classic and has been "offed" quite severely twice at the event. I have a lovely photo of itat Mulsanne setting off to Arnage:-



Having spun off and while waiting to rejoin the track, another E-type lost control and went straight into the back of it:-



Here's the other one which was the first imported into France in 1961:-