The list of group C reprobates entrants has changed a bit this year, but still looks very well represented when compared with recent years. It seems the usual suspects will be there for the season opener, the V8 clan and Simon in the mighty midget followed by 2/3rds of Team Neaves. (which is incidentally usually the order on the track…) Dan will be MIA for most of this year while he concentrates on his web design business – shamelessplug.com.

After the brilliantly close battles at Snetterton the V8 clan have been busy adding superchargers over the winter months in order to overcome the -5bhp deficit to the Team Neaves cars. This year they are also opting for pictures of half-naked men on the sides of their cars instead of women – a change maybe designed to intimidate the opposition?

Hutch is rabbit-ing (somebody stop me!) away trying to weld fibreglass and metal together after the Midget was eaten by a blind BMW racer at the back end of last year. Lets hope the famous Midget makes it for Brands!

The list of modifications for the Team Neaves cars is literally to long to list here. Suffice to say the major changes are; Carbon Fibre Chassis, Hyabussa Engine Conversion, Dual Steering Wheels and an ex-Formula 1 quick lift jack. Early testing results are good and the Team have knocked over a minute off the class lap record at Brand Hatch.

Now for the class virgins;

Alan Brooke will be putting the eagerly anticipated 700bhp K-Series powered Metro through its paces for the first time at Brands, while in a surprising change of events brother Dave is opting to change absolutely nothing on his car.

Paul Luti will be piloting the 1000bhp lightened MG ZS of Ewart Kitson again after a good run at Cadwell. Rumour has it the underpowered ZS has spent the winter in a stable gorging itself on hay, so should be one to watch – especially when given to Paul, the not-so-tamed Scottish Race Driver.

Jonathan Wills is new to the series with Team 78 Racing and his 160 MG ZR, which will be the first ever entered in Group C. Isn’t it great to see some variety!

Dan Ludlow isn’t really a class C virgin, nor is he actually in Group C but is now sharing the helm of the Lunar Racing powered MG ZS, which after a winter in the stable with Ewarts ZS is now 200bhp up on last year and 3 tonnes lighter. Anthony Reid recently tested the car at Brands and got a very respectable lap time of 0.244 seconds, making it another one to watch.

Rockingham

Joking aside, Ollie’s pre-season testing at Rockingham was a nightmare. The weather was awful and half the BTCC grid were there to hold him up on the straights. But we did notice a great deal of diff oil coming out of the diff casing, which turned out to be a tiny pin hole in the axle. At £200 for the days testing, it was worth it just to find that out.

Further more, Ollie learned that the rain is scary, and to respect it…

In closing, we’re looking forward to the season opener at Brands as I’m sure you are. Hopefully it won’t be a copy of the processional F1 first race and we’ll get some good close racing…

It’ll be great to see all the faces again and we’ll see you soon.

Team Neaves

PS. Anyone who’s down for testing on the Friday is welcome to join us at the local boozer in the evening.

Initially the idea was to try and make a team comprising one of each of the K Series engined cars in the Peter Best Championship, there are however a couple of gaps in the model range and hopefully enough people interested to get a couple of teams together.

Any K Series MG is welcome, no matter how big or small. If you’re interested then please leave a comment or use the contact section of the site and let us know!

Team Neaves

PS. There is a rumour that a ‘team talk’ will be held in the nearest pub on the saturday night before the race

Just take a look at the latest photos…

 
That’s right, us Team Neavesers have been working hard on our cars, and they are nearing completion. As you can see the engine, cooling system, fuel system and brakes are pretty much complete. The electrics are almost in, dash sorted, and wheels on the car.

There has however been a terrible side effect of all this progress. Unfortunately, I am now suffering a condition identical to the one Ollie has had for years, and one I believe Jonesey has made reference to before… Yes its ‘short arms & deep pockets syndrome’

To go over a few of the bits for all you tech heads here’s a run down of what’s been done since the last post. The engine has gone in with some gentle re-working of the engine bay (you’ll remember the cut-outs from Blaine’s) and we’ve fabricated our own mounts. The Frontline bell-housing and TranX SCCR gearbox slotted together nicely and fit onto a modified gearbox crossmember that holds it all in place. The running gear is completed with the edition of a TranX slippery clutch diff.

The cooling system is largely courtesy of Brise Engineering; Tim made some really great alloy pots and pipes to link it all together – more from Tim later… The radiator support is a Team Neaves special (ally and rivets) and it’s all joined with some nice blue silicone hoses. Keen eyed readers will notice the oil cooler is mounted upside down to aid the airflow through the car, it does have its drawbacks though, as I’m sure bleeding it will be like trying to get a Montego Estate through scruteneering

You’ll see the masterpiece that is the fuel system in the boot, again our friend Tim made miracles happen with ally and built us some nice swirl pots. Tim also made the tanks which are foam filled, baffled and have collector pots – this should help keep fuel surge at bay.

Wheels and tyres are the latest edition to the car, Rim Stock sorted us out some 15×7s that fit snugly in the B’s ample arches when wrapped in Toyo R888 Super soft rubber.

Well that’s all for now, but keep you eyes peeled for more. With any luck the cars will be started up soon, and believe it or not one keen fan has requested we film it! Of course, this momentous occasion will surely be filmed by the Media arm of Team Neaves racing (that’s my right arm to you and me). We’re looking good for the rolling road on May 8th too, which we will videoed and You Tube’d also.

For any readers that are interested in coming to the first race you can arrange tickets here. You can come and see us on the day too as long as you don’t point at us and laugh at how slow we are!

Maverick