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A
fterthedisappointmentofSpeedweek 2018 – (Seepreviousarticlein
UniqueCarsissue#420)Tim,FrankieandtherestoftheBalingTwine
RacingTeamreturnedtoOrange,NSW,fromLakeGairdner(akaThe
BigWhiteDyno),determinedtocorrecttheproblemwhichhadkilled
theracemotorin2018.AnalysisfromtheGoProandon-boarddata
loggerensuedanda freshenginewasbuiltfor2019.
A dynoinCowrawasusedtotesttheengineknownas‘Murphy’–
becauseMurphywasanoptimist.It featured44mmWeberdown-draftcarbies,
Waggotcamshafts,forgedpistonsandothermods.Murphyblewa headgasket
atalmostthelastdaybeforedepartureforthelake,1600kmfromOrange.A
quickheadgasketreplacementandcrossingoffingersfollowed.
I metupwiththeminPortAugustacompletewitha secondsparesetofhead
gasketspurchasedfromthelocalAlfapartsdealerinAdelaide.Thetriptothe
lakewasquitepleasantwiththeroadhavingbeengradedinanticipationofthe
increasedvolumeoftrafficexpected.Firstupwasthedrivers’briefingthatTim
attendedandtosetupthepitsonthelakewithhelpfromengineerGregHurst
andsonMurraywhoisa dieselmechanicbytrade.
Fullofhopefora betterrunthanin2018,Timlinedupfora shake-downrun
onMonday,thefirstdayofcompetition,followinga toughsessionwiththe
scrutineers.It seemstheirunderstandingofthemodificationsmandatedfor
Tim’srollcagein 2018 andTim’simplementationwereatoddswitheachother.
Aftera lengthyinspectionthecarpassed,howevertheyimposeda limiton
thecarof 135 mphwithTim’ssafetybeingtheirprimaryconcern.Atleastthis
yearthelimitimposedwouldbeenoughfora recordtobesetshouldthecardo
thespeedrequiredofjustover126mph.Thereisnodenyinghoweverthatit was
a disappointingoutcomegiventheextraworkputinduringtheyear.
Inpart,thetyrannyofdistanceisresponsiblefortheresultbecausewith
onlyonemeetinga yearandthatina veryremotelocationthereisnoreal
ABOVE Salt
and Alfas aren’t
usually good
playmates.
TOP RIGHT
Aliens have
taken over the
yellow Sud.
LEFT Makeshift
repairs at a
makeshift race
venue.