Firstly, what happened at Thruxton? Archie’s gearbox seized up at the workshop on the Friday morning, preventing loading and making that truck unusable. So much time was spent trying to rectify these faults, that it was not possible for the team to meet the final scrutineering deadline on the Friday with Frankie either. So, the team was not at Thruxton.
The 3 testing sessions on the Friday at Pembrey:-
Archie’s new number 40 truck was idling quite happily in the paddock waiting to join the trucks and head to the track for the first session of testing when it mysteriously stopped all on its own. This meant that Archie missed the first Test session. The wiring fault was soon detected and repaired ahead of session 2. But when the time came to move again Archie experienced gearbox issues, and it was not possible to get the truck out onto the track without further work being undertaken. However, Archie did make the third test session on the Friday, but locked up his brakes, and slid gracefully off the track.
Following another engine rebuild after the diesel issues experienced at Brands Hatch, we were hopeful that everything had been cured with Frankie. However, during the first test session Frankie was still emitting a quantity of diesel with an unknown cause. Between the 1st and 2nd test session the team made a few adjustments, but diesel was also being emitted during the second test session and, although substantially less during the third session too.
During the evening the injectors were removed yet again from Frankie along with the fuel supply tubes, and the spacing washers were fully inspected, again. It was noticed that some of the spacing washers had become a tiny bit compressed, which had possibly led to the diesel leak. A full set of new spacers was fitted, and this appears to have cured the problem, for now anyway!
Archie’s truck was given a complete going over by both the team, and the Scrutineers, to ensure that the vehicle was safe to race, and in full compliance with the regulations.
So, to Saturday and race day.
Simon and Frankie lost boost during qualifying, due to a hose, which while quickly corrected, could not be done in pit lane, thus ruining any chance of a good grid position.
For Archie, of course, it was the first time out in a “ground up” new race truck.
Race 1
During race one Archie broke both a front leaf spring and a shock absorber leading to significant handling issues. With a lot of hard work between race one and race 2 these were both replaced and the truck made it out for the second race but only just in time after sterling team efforts.
Frankie also suffered from a few minor technical issues with an oil leak, a faulty electronic gear leaver and a leaking water fill valve which generated a significant water feature at one point in the race!
Race 2
Again, significant technical issues prevented the trucks being competitive in race 2.
Archie and #40 had a power steering pump failure, causing Archie to stop with no power steering assistance and very little steering at all.
Simon and #41 continued to have boost pipe issues although this was repaired trackside, but the truck was starting to suffer from a significant vibration causing Simon to pull off into the pit to check why this was occurring.
During the Saturday evening further work was undertaken on both trucks particularly Archie’s front suspension and water cooling to help with traction and handling. The engine and gearbox mounts on Frankie, #41 were also fully inspected and tightened to prevent, hopefully, the significant vibration.
Sunday:
Race 3
Simon and the number 41 truck we’re still suffering with significant vibrations from the drivetrain and given the cost of gearboxes and additional parts it was decided that the race truck should play no further part in the meeting. When the truck was stripped, back at the workshop after the event, it was found that the friction surface of the clutch pressure plate had completely separated from the housing and this was the cause of the vibration. A picture of the failed clutch pressure plate can be found in our gallery.
Archie however in the new #40 truck was achieving good lap times and improving his time consistently during the race with what is, of course, a brand new truck.
Race 4 and Race 5
With Simon out of the meeting with the vibration, it was left to Archie to compete in the 4th and 5th race. During both races the new truck had boost pipe failures significantly reducing its power and performance. It is to be remembered that this is a brand new race truck built by the team during the winter and this was its first meeting on the track, so a few issues are to be expected. That being said it is clear that the boost pipe design will be reviewed and modified before the next race meeting!
However, with all the struggles that the team had faced over the previous three days it was wonderful to be presented with the “team trophy” for the Pembrey event. It was at least one piece of “silverware” to leave the meeting with as an acknowledgement of all the effort put in by all the team members during the weekend.
A disappointing weekend overall, but we will be back of course, stronger maybe, but certainly not so tired! So onwards, upwards, or just sideways (knowing us) – see you there.
A huge thank you to our supporters, we will be back !
Check out our “Gallery” page for more pictures from the event!
THANK YOU to ALL our wonderful sponsors, especially LPM and TTP; to the businesses who help us out in kind, or with cash (although we accept cheques too of course!), we could NOT do this without you ALL. No matter how big or small your help – this team of family and friends could not do this without YOU. YOU made it possible for Simon, and Archie, putting father and son on the track. THANK YOU. (but we always need more help of course).
Please check out our “Partners” page to find out more about our sponsors.
See us all, cheer on Archie and Simon and “THINK PINK” at the Circuits if you can – we are always happy to chat and show you our race trucks. Unless we are repairing them of course, in which case best to give us some space to work safely.
If you cannot visit the track, then remember to check out the “BARC” live feed on YouTube – or of course on “catch up” later.
CTS#41 and CTS#40; Simon, Archie, John, Colin, Sam, Toby, John, Lou, Olivier and Kev.
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