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Lotus Europa Forums => The Paddock => Topic started by: LotusJoe on Tuesday,June 19, 2012, 05:20:38 PM

Title: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: LotusJoe on Tuesday,June 19, 2012, 05:20:38 PM
A nice Europa Twin Cam showed up at the last VARA race in Button Willow. Nice to see the little cars out racing.
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: BDA on Wednesday,July 25, 2012, 06:43:16 PM
Interesting place for a tow hook!
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: EuropaTC on Thursday,July 26, 2012, 12:13:07 AM
^^^^ +1 !

Not only have they welded a tow hook to the back of the speedo, but they've also trapped the mechanic in the engine bay..... :)





Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: benbeames on Thursday,July 26, 2012, 01:34:58 PM
"Where's Timmy?" 
"I don't know.  He was here when we were putting the engine in. . . ."
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: Mecky on Tuesday,July 31, 2012, 03:33:27 PM
Does this car have rear drum breaks? Looks like that on the picture.
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: LotusJoe on Tuesday,July 31, 2012, 03:39:34 PM
Does this car have rear drum breaks? Looks like that on the picture.
Yes, stock rear brakes
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: Mecky on Tuesday,July 31, 2012, 03:44:58 PM
What kind of race is this car driving? On Circuit tracks? Sprint or endurance?

Could you see, if the front brakes were original, as well?
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: LotusJoe on Tuesday,July 31, 2012, 04:07:12 PM
What kind of race is this car driving? On Circuit tracks? Sprint or endurance?

Could you see, if the front brakes were original, as well?
This car races in a club called VARA (Vintage Automobile Racing Association) They race various circuit tracks throughout California. Typical season is 7 to 8 races per year. Front brakes are stock as well. Vintage racing requires that the car can only be raced with modifications that would be appropriate for that car during the period in which it was originally raced. 
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: Mecky on Thursday,August 02, 2012, 02:10:23 PM
What kind of race is this car driving? On Circuit tracks? Sprint or endurance?

Could you see, if the front brakes were original, as well?
This car races in a club called VARA (Vintage Automobile Racing Association) They race various circuit tracks throughout California. Typical season is 7 to 8 races per year. Front brakes are stock as well. Vintage racing requires that the car can only be raced with modifications that would be appropriate for that car during the period in which it was originally raced.
I read in another thread that you are racing, as well. Are you racing your Europa TC Special with 2.0 Zetec engine?
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: LotusJoe on Thursday,August 02, 2012, 04:18:06 PM
I race a 1973 914 Porsche and a 1973 BMW 2002
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: twncmracer on Saturday,February 16, 2013, 10:49:26 AM
just ran across this "new forum"; This is my car.  This is a VARA pic of it on the track; and of the head after a radiator hose vibrated off. the head's been repaired but the engine's still being rebuilt. Mecky, if you're monitoring this, my car is prepared following this  preparation manual: 
http://gglotus.org/ggtech/europa-racecar/europaracer.htm (http://gglotus.org/ggtech/europa-racecar/europaracer.htm)

topper
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: EuropaTC on Saturday,February 16, 2013, 11:01:34 PM
Ouch !   I bet that was noisy.....

Brian

(and welcome to the forum)
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: twncmracer on Sunday,February 17, 2013, 11:49:31 AM
acutally just a loud crack, but the temp. gauge is what caught my attention. One of the guy's at tech later mentioned that it's a good idea to have a low pressue warning light on the water line so as to avoid this kind of serious damage. now he tells me.....


topper
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: cal44 on Monday,February 18, 2013, 02:14:54 PM
Topper,

Who is doing the head work?  On one of engines here a similar issue happened.  Looks like someone got a tiny pavement breaker and had his way with the chamber.

Diggin' on your race car.  Don't see many on the track.

Mike
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: twncmracer on Monday,February 18, 2013, 09:02:42 PM
head repaired by john at Omni tech enging. in washington. it looks good, hopefully it will hold.
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: EuropaTC on Monday,February 18, 2013, 11:15:48 PM
That looks great, the combustion chamber looks as good as new !  Nice to hear of these skills still being around.

Brian
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: twncmracer on Saturday,April 06, 2013, 12:32:22 PM
oops,resize the pics...
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: twncmracer on Saturday,April 06, 2013, 12:42:19 PM
but lost the text!ok here's the rest:

Posting pics for Mecky to see.  Car is prepped as per   http://gglotus.org/ggtech/europa-racecar/europaracer.htm

Brakes are very good. Never had any fading problems; Rear pads are stock size w the backing plate from the Triumph herald sedan/ front is from Triumph GT6;Using standard race pads for "street legal" tires. the pads for slicks would be too aggressive.
Cooling shows the full ducting and diversion tube to the oil cooler which is in the L front fender well. the radiator is the stock one. I've never had cooling problems with this setup.

The car runs well. I'm not that experienced as a driver, but with the race engine (prior used just the stock build in order to get some learning experience) it'll keep up with the datsun 240Z's on the straight. The Z's  currently are the front running cars. I'm running US style vintage road racing.

topper
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: Mecky on Sunday,April 07, 2013, 03:21:18 AM
Hi,

thank you for posting the pics. This airbox looks impressive. I like it.

How do you set up the brake proportioning? Would you tell me the diameter of pistons of your master cylinders? (Maybe as PM, so that your opponents don't get to know your secret)
We installed a balance bar braking system now as well, but are not able to test it on track before our first race in three weeks.

Best regards

Stefan
Title: Re: Europa TC at VARA - Button Willow CA
Post by: twncmracer on Sunday,April 07, 2013, 04:06:38 PM
Brake proportioning is set to 50/50 front rear; I haven't done any specific testing at this % , but  I'm not locking up more towards the front or rear. I don't run  in the rain. My car weighs  about 1,450 pounds w 1/8 tank of  gas.  Brake cylinder sizes are both 5/8";