Castle Combe Action Day

[miniman]

This has cropped up on another thread, but I thought I'd start this to get a show of interest on a PH get-together at the Castle Combe Action Day on Saturday 27th September.

I'm very local to CC so I'd be glad to organise stuff like a BBQ etc...

Ted - what are the implications of doing something "official"? i.e. is it better for you if we just have an unofficial get together?

[PetrolTed]

By all means get together and please feel free to organise it via the forums. Can't make it 'official' really as I don't have time to get involved in the organisation etc.

Have fun

[miniman]

No worries. Can we have a PH banner?

[WildfireX0]

Miniman, I'd be up for CC, not local, but I could come down for the weekend, maybe try and get my S on the road for that weekend, if not I may need a ride.

Anyone going from Newcastle?

[Paul V]

I’m up for meeting at combe, you’ll need to ask them for tickets soon. I still have Ted’s banner from SMD so could take it with me with his permission.

The number for combe is 01249 782417 speak Maria Fisher, she’s the action day organiser.

[Fatboy]

miniman said:

No worries. Can we have a PH banner?

Sounds good - I'd be well up for that. As for a banner, my mini has quite a good one on the windscreen

My Mini


>> Edited by Fatboy on Thursday 7th August 17:47

[Paul V]

Did you manage to contact combe about this?

[miniman]

Actually I was just about to bump this thread to the top and ask if there were any more takers. I'm off to the US for 2 weeks this Sunday so I need to get organising if it's going to happen.

Any more up for it?

If it's just a few of us, then I'll ask CC how we can get a little corner of carpark set aside for us.

[minimax]

I'm up for this as is wildfireXO so put us on the list!

ps is a central oil pickup really that essential? please give your opinion as I may have to get one if I'm to be ragging it!

[robp]

minimax said:

I'm up for this as is wildfireXO so put us on the list! ps is a central oil pickup really that essential? please give your opinion as I may have to get one if I'm to be ragging it!

whats that then?

I guess it picks up oil......centrally......eeerrrrrr
explain please!

[minimax]

robp said:

minimax said: I'm up for this as is wildfireXO so put us on the list! ps is a central oil pickup really that essential? please give your opinion as I may have to get one if I'm to be ragging it! whats that then? I guess it picks up oil......centrally......eeerrrrrr explain please!

IIRC a mini picks up oil from the sump to one side - this means to rag it severely round long corners may result in oil starvation, resulting in one ed up engine...that's IIRC of course...

[Fatboy]

I'm still up for it - mmay be able to get my brother and a couple of his (mini owning) mates along.

Don't the A+ blocks have a central oil pick-up as standard?

[miniman]

I did another track day at CC last year and I had a number of "ooh " moments as the oil pressure gauge hit zero round some of the corners :shock:

[phil hill]

Fatboy said:

(snip) Don't the A+ blocks have a central oil pick-up as standard?(/snip)

In a word NO !! Oil pick up pipe is part of the gearbox, and no A-series ever had a central one fitted as standard. Unfortunately it's an engine-out job to fit, and if you are taking the 'box off and you either have or intend to have a modified motor, it would be prudent to replace gearbox bearings, syncro rings and uprate the diff pin while you're there. This is all in an ideal world of course.

Before I changed my gearbox I could get oil pressure warning lamp on navigating a local roundabout hard !! On my first trackday at Cadwell managed to get it illuminated round Barn and down the hill towards the start line. (Barn is a downhill right hand bend). Didn't kill the motor, but it's not too clever either. I have a 22psi pressure switch rather than the usual 5psi one.

Don't forget the oil temp is likely to be higher when ragging it on the track, resulting in lower viscosity, therefore lower pressure. I've not driven CC so can't comment (it's a bit of a trek from Lincolnshire in a straight cut gear'd mini.....) but seem to remember it's big and open with fairly shallow angle corners. You might be ok, so long as the lamp goes out again when you are on the straight.......

[miniman]

phil hill said:

I've not driven CC so can't comment (it's a bit of a trek from Lincolnshire in a straight cut gear'd mini.....) but seem to remember it's big and open with fairly shallow angle corners. You might be ok, so long as the lamp goes out again when you are on the straight.......

Spot on, that's a good description of the track. There are a couple of chicanes, but otherwise it's quite flowing. I had low pressure on some of the tight corners for a couple of seconds but no problems on the straighter bits.

I would also concur that the viscosity thing is true as the hotter the engine got, the lower the pressure and the more problems in corners. The action day, I think, give max 5 laps at a time so it shouldn't get too hot...

[Paul V]

Make sure your oil is full even slightly over, that way you stand a chance of keeping the oil pressure under cornering.

I sent you a mail earlier.