Manky Monkey Motors

Flap & I spent yesterday afternoon freezing our socks off at my brother's workshop on a farm outside Marlborough, pulling the engine out of a Jag. Big brother Steve was toasty warm inside, TIG welding his new drag car chassis. Very impressive stuff. Very expensive stuff. A thousand quid's worth of tubing has gone into this so far. Amazingly lightweight though, which is obviously what he's after in a race car. Very strict race regulations mean the welds can't be dressed in any way but Steve's made a beautiful job of them. So that's where all the talent in the family went. A little dispiriting when Flap tells me he's picked the wrong brother to be mates with!  :'(
Hope I'm not revealing any secrets, but the body will be similar to the previous "Black Pig" but based around a Moggy Minor shell. Wonder what the owners' club will make of that?! This is the first time Steve's taken it out of the jig & propped the wheels in place to see what it looks like.

I'm with Flap.  Oi, Flap - let's go and be friends with that nice Steve!

 :'(
You DID want the boot struts I spent so long taking off the Jag didn't you?

Steve tries the cockpit for size. His mate John holds the roll cage top tube in place to check for headroom. It's claustrophobically tight in there.

The upright board halfway down the chassis marks the rear of the engine.

Quick Wizzkitt, lets go and leave the Manky world of the Monkey  :)

You pack the cakes, I'll start the engine... Don't look back!

 :'(
You'll be sorry -both of you. Don't leave me. We can work it out. I can change. I love you...Flap.

We already know that.

Wizz
*Wandering off ... sniffing ... unloved... *

I'm a magnanimous Monkey. I love everyone -in a manly, ruffty tuffty kinda way. :D

Been to see 'Brokeback Mountain' have you?  ;D

Wizz
Running Away

No, I don't like chaps in chaps. More a Wallice & Grommit type myself. Written that Duel review yet missus? Sent the fastest Indian piece off to Yodles?

Neat swerve of subject there, Mankster. No and no. I'll email Yoda the copy of the Fastest Indian when I'm back in the office, and will write Duel up. Coincidentally, turned on BBC Radio 7 when I went to bed last night and the sort story of Duel was being read on the radio. Very good, it was.

In pic race car 6.jpg, the frame looks bent in the middle :o :o :o

I liked The Manksters. Herman was my favourite. "Car 59 where are you", now that was a classic series. Spooky coincidence wasn't it Wizz? How on earth do you tell that story on the radio? Can't imagine it somehow.
Yes indeedy U.T, the frame DOES bend in the middle! I asked Steve the same thing. He said the height at either end is fixed by the wheel diameter, the regulations give a minimum frame height of 4 inches & keeping things as low as possible makes for a more stable machine. So the mid-mounted motor sits down tight to the tarmac. It's a scary looking beast even before the engine goes in. I'd love to say I'd piloted one of these things but would never have the guts. Big bro's either very brave, stoopid or crazy -or all three.

I've read the short story, but this reading of it was surprisingly good, although it helped if you'd seen the film (which was faithful to the story).

I'd like to say he is very well insured,but it doesn't cover him for motor sports.
Who mentioned cake? You can be our friend if cakes involved.

Mrs Steve

'Ello Mrs S.
What's the news on the broken car?
Flap & I will bring extra cake next time we visit the workshop. We always carry a spare bakewell or two for emergencies.

Hi Manky

I have just made a call and been informed it's as bad as he thought, asked him to take some piccies for you but the battery is flat in the camera.
On the bright side we're not due to go racing again until mid May,so plenty of time to fix it.

Bakewell tarts yumiee.

May? I thought you'd be out every weekend now. When does the season actually start then?
Just been chatting to Yoda. I'd like to set up a regular race diary in the Motors, 4 wheels section, with a report on each meet charting the Pig's progress through the year. Would be nice to include some pits/startline photos too so make sure that battery's charged up before you next go racing!
Also waiting for a piece on the build up of the new chassis please!  ;D

A quick snapshot of the chassis so far.

Couldn't you have cut the end of that for your sofa frame? They've all got their backs turned...

Would've been better than the lash-up Flap & I came up with. It'll be fine once it's prettied up & bit & powdercoated though! Evening Wizz. Lousy timing -I'm just orft to beddy byes.

Visited Steve again last night. He's busy fabricating the motor mounts now.

I tried to get into tig welding a while back but had to sell the wellder cos of the pub. BUT i've got a full bottle of gas (about 5ft hi) to anyone who wants it FREE!!!!

carl

Argonshield? Not sure what Steve's using, but if he can't use it we'll pinch it off you for our MIG. Thank you.

can't remember what it's called but i got it for ali and stainless welding, did steel ok 2. ~ my welding was crap i must say! BUT i did make a bracket for the pub sign that still holds true!!
it's bloody heavy, give us a shout if you want it

carl

Argonshield's a blue bottle with a green stripe around it. That's what we use -gives a much nicer weld than straight CO2, as used in your cellar I'd imagine. The bottles cost about 25 quid to get refilled, plus you have to pay for a yearly account with the supplier, so a free one would be very useful!

interesting, i'll TIG me customers! no, come n get it, don't give me daft ideas or maybe .....

Flap & I'll be over your way next week. Picking up a rented trailer from Trailertech on Friday morning. If we get a chance we'll call in on the way.