The AA Silencers Capri is finally going back together. The inside and engine bay have been painted and lots of weight taken out. There have been various changes to the oil and cooling systems plus fuel system. The Aerodynamic underfloor is ready for construction and the exhausts need finishing but it’s taking shape ready for the start of the next race season.
AA Silencers was out in force at this years PPC show. We ran several cars there and drove the Practical Performance Car magazines Porsche on their behalf as the other magazine staff members were rather busy organising the event. Several staff members and customers drove on track in array of cars and the AA Silencers Capri was busy all day long giving passenger rides. The trade stand was busy with enquiries ranging from geomtry set up information to aerodynamic devices and engine conversions.
As AA Silencers is busy with Practical Performance Car Magazines racing efforts this year our Capri is not needed on track. We decided this would be a good time to give it a bit of a freshen up and try to squeeze out a bit more speed. As always the main item on the agenda was weight saving but also to improve the aerodynamics and get rid of the rust that can creep in to any older car.
The solution was simple, identify any bits of the car you don’t need and cut them off, especially if there’s any rust in them. The shell has been multipointed and the cag extended and a complete new aero underfloor has been designed. There’s a huge amount of work to do but it shoudl be worth it when the car gets back on track. Here’s some pictures for the mean time
I have long been a reader of Practical Performance Car magazine http://ppcmag.co.uk/ and it was my pleasure to be invited to drive along side one of the editors Kev Leaper as he tested the often dangerous waters of motorsport. Motorsport isn’t dangerous becuase of the accident’s but because it is seriously addictive and may harm your bank account. There’s so much more to going racing than driving a car and the preparation and comittment in cost and time often dampens peoples enthusiasm very quickly.
Kev’s Porsche had seen some track day action but needed a lot to get it up to race spec. Racing is the ultimate test of any machinery and the Porsche showed it’s frailties. Fortunately both it and it’s owner showed their potential too, and Kev has bags of enthusiasm for motorsport.
There’s a long road ahead but it’s a joy to be part of it. Buy your copy of PPC Magazine and follow the tales.
If you had spent lots of thousands of pounds on a shiny new race engine you’d want to keep it safe. When this ZR Trophy spec race car was fitted with it’s new 200BHP Janspeed built K series the owner was told he must be careful not to let the oil overheat.
Oil temperature has never been a problem in the past due to the oil/water intercooler fitted but now an extra oil/air cooler was required to satisfy Mr Engine Builder. Space behind the bumper wasn’t a problem but mismatched pipe threads, odd bore sizes and torturous pipe routes meant this job used a whole weeks worth of swear words in one day. It all went together in the end and now if the engine goes bang we know it’s the driver’s fault… Not that racing drivers ever make mistakes of course.
The Capri has been resting over the winter but development has slowly been taking place. lighter rear brakes have been developed and some more weight has been trimmed from the shell. Wider wheels have been added and some modifications were required to get them in and still be able to turn the wheel! All of the glass bar the windscreen has now been binned in favour of plastic which again is a huge saving in weight and even the wing mirrors have shruk in the name of weight loss and better aero efficiency. The aero package has extended further than the mirrors though and the car now has a front air damn and rear wing, plus a few other cunning tweeks here and there. Now it’s time for more power so we’ve got a new engine in development which will hopefully give us an extra 100BHP or so. Fingers crossed
Had a bit of rush on with 4×4’s. Had a few in for the usual high ground clearnce systems or just something a bit freer flowing but one was an all out racer. Sledge hammer simplicity and brute force that must’ve been great fun on the rough. Made a custom exhaust system with 3 breakaway joint so that if it gets grounded or snagged it will only pull off part of the system and not damage the rest. Looked good and sounded great.
2008-Capri- work began in earnest on AA Silencers next race car.
What was originally a 1.6 Ford Capri came in for some major work. This started by completely stripping it to a bare shell. All major areas of rust were tended to, all none structural metal was removed and a roll cage fabricated. Fibre glass wings, bonnet and tailgate were fitted and a new lightweight wiring harness was made. A new cross member was fabricated for the front to relocate suspension and steering components plus engine mounts for the new engine. An inlet manifold was fabricated from scratch to take an as yet untried inlet system combination and an ECU was sourced for the ignition. The wiring loom was made for the ECU and all necessary sensors sourced and brackets and adaptors made to fit them as required. The engine was fitted and rigged with a temporary cooling system. A dash was made and wired in to monitor everything and countless other jobs were completed to make all of these parts resemble a car and stand a chance of working. In late 2008 the key was turned and it fired in to life. All of the prototype systems functioned and the car could be driven. Although there was a huge amount of development to be done the ground work was laid for what would be a tremendous racing car.
2009- Capri- Endless development has continued with the Capri. Wheels tyres, brakes, suspension pick up points, axle and drive ratios, gearbox, differential, anew cooling system, a new lubrication system, more weight loss, aerodynamic aids, a new fuel delivery system, a new exhaust, more testing and more set up work and finally it is ready to race! Fingers crossed for the end result but hopes are high.
September 2009- the big day has arrived, the first race for our capri. It was a 3 hour treck up to Cadwell Park near Skegness and we set up for the compulsary nights camping, BBQ and beer. 6am soon came around and the team were in full force preparing for Qualifying. The reward for their efforts was 3rd in class and no dramas with the car. It was a tremendous result from a new car at its first showing and all eyes were set on the race. Tension was high as everyone felt it was too good to be true, everyone knew there were always teething troubles and we were all waiting for them. A good start kept the car out of trouble and a super smooth pitstop jumped us up in to 2nd place. The car worked perfectly to the flag and the result was better than anyone could’ve imagined. Smiles all round on the long drive home and a thankfully short check list before the next race.
The Capri was put to good use at the final race of the year at Snetterton. There were many new cars entered in out class and Snetterton is an open fast circuit favouring big powered cars, so we were concerned we may be at a disadvantage. Despite being down on power to the big Jaguars, Porsches, Lotus’s and Ferrari’s we still qualified 4rd in class. A good start and hard fought opening laps brought us up to 3rd and closing on 2nd place when suspension failure led to an early end to the race. New suspenson was designed and built as the car had to run the following week at a magazine’s track day. The car impressed and we may be running cars for the magazine ext year. Watch this space. It was good to see several customers at the track day and is something we are hoping to build on in the new year.
