KS's hillclimbing odyssey

[anglophone1]

Fab Keith- when's the first event!!

[KS]

Gurston Down at the end of March, possibly. Otherwise Wiscombe mid-April.

[hot66]

The bug must have bitten hard

[DustyM]

You’re picking up speed down the slippery slope Keith. Hope 2022 goes well for you.


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[anglophone1]

Gurston Down at the end of March, possibly. Otherwise Wiscombe mid-April.

I did a school day there in 2018 - fab!

[KS]

The bug must have bitten hard

You’re picking up speed down the slippery slope Keith. Hope 2022 goes well for you.

I can never leave anything alone, which is why I have to admit I could probably never restore a car back to stock. But I admire those who do.

I have to admit that, after 25 years of not competing in a vehicle of my own in any form of motorsport, and following a pretty traumatic couple of years, I find hillclimbing a breath of fresh air and can't wait for the new season to start – who knows, I may even finish higher than second to last in my class!

[911hillclimber]

Two things shaped my hillclimbing approach in 1991.

Join a Championship you can reliably follow (location, car Class etc). In my case, the excellent Midland Hillclimb Championship which I still do.

Focus on PB's and the Class results will follow.

Very hard to just do one meeting and hope to do well time and again.

Down the list but important, you need a car that stands a chance if your goal is to win the Class at least, and that is a very slippy slope to get on, so beware.

I started in my 911 way back, but it was not the best car for the class, it needed almost 2 x the power, then the turbo cars came in (Cosworths) and then the turbo with 4x4, the EVO's and the Subarus.

I did 'ok' in the 911, far far better in the Subaru, and best ever in the Lola.

I had a very hard going job in the last 30 years, and going hillclimbing was the very best thing I ever did for myself and the family.

[KS]

Been down this route with drag racing in the past. It is a slippery slope...

I run in the ASWMC Championship, which gives me plenty of events/venues to choose from, within reach of home. This year I ran a PB at every round, but know very well that can't continue forever!

If I really wanted to stand a chance in A3 Production, I'd buy an Alfa 4C or a Toyota Yaris GR – or at the very least, an Audi TT or S3. I love running the 914 as it's different and attracts favourable attention. All I'm interested in is beating my own personal goals, the first being to go sub-50 at Wiscombe. We'll see...

[Ollie]

That all sounds very promising Keith. Bet you're glad you found that bearing when you did!

[Darren65]

.......the first being to go sub-50 at Wiscombe. We'll see...

.....in the bag by the sounds of things!

[KS]

If anyone's interested (or not too easily scared...), here's a brief video of the 'rod knock' that manifested itself just prior to the last meeting and subsequent engine strip. Note how it lasts for two or three seconds then disappears. On start up it's no longer audible. In the background, though, you can hear the characteristic low 'JE piston slap' (which disappears when the engine is warm).

https://youtu.be/V3JCQg6R6rQ

[911hillclimber]

Sorry if I've missed it, but have you found out why that bearing is done-for?
Presumably oil starved?

[Gary71]

Sounds like it goes as soon as the oil pressure gets to that bearing, a lucky escape!

[KS]

Sounds like it goes as soon as the oil pressure gets to that bearing, a lucky escape!

Too true!

Sorry if I've missed it, but have you found out why that bearing is done-for?
Presumably oil starved?

No - can't help thinking a faulty bearing shell as there's no evidence of heat, which would have suggested oil starvation. It's getting to be a real problem these days finding quality bearings for air-cooled VW engines. Back in my day, used to use KS bearings (what else! Ha ha!) but these days everyone tends to use Silverline, but they're marginal at best. Graham Rawlings has set aside a set of Mahle bearings for the engine build, which are great quality and not that easy to find. Number three rod bearing is the last to get oil, so the most likely to suffer from low pressure when first starting the engine. I'm thinking about installing an ignition switch, so that I can spin the engine over on the starter to get oil pressure before firing it up, just to be extra safe...

[Bruce M]

If you get any oil pickup issues in a long corner, that bearing would be the first to suffer?