my 1303 beetle

[btcc93]

Originally Posted by redturner37

Blue book used to say that unless the cage was from an approved manufacturer, it had to have a small hole, forget the size though.............

It was a 6mm hole and the reference to it disappeared in the 2009 Blue Book. According to the higher authorities at the MSA it is no longer required, a detailed specification of the specification must however be provided. How do I know this? because I had a lengthy dispute last year over a new cage, that was fitted by one of the cage makers that feature in the Blue Book, which scrutineers informed me required this inspection hole.

I quote from the final communication I received on this matter in summer 2009 :-

"There used to be a requirement for the drilling of a 6mm hole in the underside of the tubing for the main hoop but this requirement was taken out at the end of 2008. There is no FIA requirement for such a hole to be provided so you could have a situation where a ROPS complied with FIA International requirements but not with MSA requirements.



We are confident that whilst there was a requirement it was one that was rarely complied with and served no real purpose. To have a tube so holed means that the inside is no longer a sealed void and thus more susceptible to corroding from the inside outwards. I’ll get the VSWG to look at it again but as the current regulations stand there is no requirement for tubes to be holed."

[Bunman]

Nice one Judgie, not enough saloons like this on our hills and sprints. Great stuff.

[redturner37]

Originally Posted by btcc93

I quote from the final communication I received on this matter in summer 2009 :-





We are confident that whilst there was a requirement it was one that was rarely complied with and served no real purpose. To have a tube so holed means that the inside is no longer a sealed void and thus more susceptible to corroding from the inside outwards. I’ll get the VSWG to look at it again but as the current regulations stand there is no requirement for tubes to be holed."[/I]

What a load of old tosh, corrode from the inside, would take years and years in a closed car. As for not being complied with, why weren't scruts checking these holes to make sure the tube was the correct wall thickness. As for serving a useful purpose, I know a 'kit' car running round with a roll over hoop made from exhaust tubing. My comments to the owner resulted in a 'When they found out. I will change it'.......

[judgie]

sorry didn't mean it to sound like a advert for what i do. was asked the question so i answered.
really looking forward to getting back out on the hills again its been 2 years since i used it in anger, last meet was loton park. I will have to dig out the times it has run.

[judgie]

bit of news, looks like i might be getting some wind tunnel testing as part of a tie in with a car i'm helping to build for a collage. They want to put a beetle in a wind tunnel to see what really happens at speed in a beetle, see if all the storys of it being a wing are true. might have some proper data about my areo mods

[judgie]

well have done some work on the race car. engine is out and top end is off, have found the oil burning problem. one of the circlips has come out and scored the barrel pretty bad, lucky the spiral lock clip didn't come out compleatly and make more damage. new barrel ordered and a new set of rings on the list as well.
gearbox out , zf lsd fitted and box back in.
new wings trail fitted to make sure they cover the new wheels, they do so there of for paint now.
started mocking up for the airbox and made the card templates for the alloy box, soon as the alloy sheet comes in i will get that cut out and tigged up.
still tyring to work out what to do rear spolier/wing wise. would like to keep the big f3 lola wing but dont the rules will allow for this year.
engine should be built back up in a few weeks then it can go back in, got a few fuel lines to replace as over the last 2 years its been sitting they have gone brittle.
mocked up the new fuel tank filler, its now going to be mount in the bonnet as when it was in the front 1/4 panel if you went fast round a left hander the fuel would run up the filler tube and come out the cap, all over the car and rear wheel. think this was the reason for the spin at loton park last time out. never happened with road tyres but the change to slicks.

[judgie]

more progress. have sourced some alloy compersite[sp] sheet so i can make the flat floor and rear defuser. have also spoken to the msa about my rear wing and they have confirmed i can still use it so just have to make some better mounts for it as never like how i had done the temp ones 3 years ago.

[judgie]

had the car out at the retro rides gathering @ prscott weekend just gone. got a few runs which proved some of the mods have worked and threw a another problem to light.
the lsd is working well and combined with the 17" wheels and track wets works very well, lots more grip than the old 15" rally slicks i did run.
had to replace a barrle on the engine as last time out i had a circlip make a break for freedom taking the barrle with it. cnat get the rings to seal on the new barrle so looks like another top end tear down is needed and a new set of rings, will be going back to total seal rings as i have never liked the hastings rings in there, have had sealing issuses with them since i fitted them. never had any problems with the total seal ones.
was good to get back out in it and has given me the kick to get it sorted properly ready for next year.

[grahamb]

It looked to have an abundance of grip on Sunday, just a shame about all the smoke.

[judgie]

yep was very happy with the amount of grip just have to learn to drive it again, after 2 years of it sitting in the garage and the changes i have forgoten how to drive it!