Well, how did all this start.....

I've always been a bit of a petrol head, and during my younger years lived close to Santa Pod in a town called Rushden. Unfortunately I never got the chance to see what went on, though hearing them was a different matter!. After moving further south to Dunstable, thoughts of Santa Pod disappeared from my mind until I bought an Astra GTE 16v, and along with a friend decided to have a look at a RWYB. The first time looking down the 1/4 was an interesting experience - so much so, that I forgot to change from 1st to 2nd gear - thank god for rev limiters. A 16.8 sec ¼  resulted. This had me hooked, and following a quick trip to my local tuning emporium - and leaving with a wallet much lighter, I managed to run regular 15.1's - amazing what a chip change, full exhaust and manifold, air filter and softer compound tyres can do.

It was around this time I started buying Street Machine again and renewed my interest in all things RWD. I bought a Rover SD1, very low, very wide and very loud - unfortunately never getting better than a 16.8 sec ¼ from her, which is a shame as the wife thought she was a lovely car (the SD1 not the wife!). A beautiful car for stomping up and down the motorway, but the gearing was totally wrong where it counted for me, on the ¼!

This led me to looking on EuroDragster where I noticed an ad for a TR7 V8. The Engine spec sounded reasonable so I popped up to Northampton to the home of Bob Doignie (he of the Flying Doctor pop) to have a look. Bob started the engine and I..... well had to buy her (when will I learn!!). The car duly arrives and takes up residence in the garage where I start a year long restoration - unfortunately I had under estimated the work, and following an accident at the beginning of 2003 (involving 4 axle stands, a set of ramps, a badly damaged garage door and a VERY early morning hooked up to an ECG at the L&D Hospital) I decided to pass the work out to a proper restorer. This ended up in a quote for around £2.5 k just for the welding - and a hard decision to make, do I stay with the car (as I had purchased everything needed, from wheels to seats, fuel tanks to brake pipes) or do I cut my losses, and see if there was anything else out there?

So back onto EuroDragster I go, noticing an advert for the ex Super Gas car the Mopar Menace. Popped round the M25 to have a look, and could see the potential... well it had run a 9.4 1/4 in 1992 - so it must be good.... right? (rose tinted specs ahoy!) though no running engine to sway me this time as it was sold as a rolling shell. Hugh suggested I talk to Kevin Taylor at CRAP Racing (and for those laughing at the back Capri Racing And Performance) to carry out the work. This started out as a simple fitment of the Rover lump and box (from the now non-existant TR7), fit new rear half shafts, manufacture and fit a prop shaft, and sort the suspension. On my many many trips round the M25 we decided on a few changes… remove the engine, gear box and prop shaft and move the whole thing back around a foot, cutting and refitting the bulkhead and transmission tunnel... and while your at it, hell might as well stick a TH350 in there!!

Then make a complete custom front suspension, and have to remove it when I take the wheels down for a trial fit. Otherwise things were progressing OK, or so I thought, until we decided on a rear disk conversion - where did that get fitted in, and a new dash (my idea - as it made it easier for cutting the bulkhead - my excuse and im sticking by it!). Oh - and nearly forgot - the door bars are the wrong size, so that's something else that needs doing. Otherwise everything is going to plan (though not sure who’s) , and I am very grateful to Kevin for all the help and guidance so far.... now I just have to pay him... someday or should that be somehow!

To bring you reasonably up to date, after much discussion we decided that the Rover lump should be sold (as we couldn't realistically get the power/torque required) and decided to go for a Big Block Chevy - so the engine and box got pulled for the 3^rd time and new mounts and plates remanufactured for the BBC and a TH400. Hopefully this should all come together at the middle / back end of 2004 (though I said that in 2003,and Im sure I will say it in 2005).Now to raise the funds for a engine capable of 550+ bhp and a TH400 that can handle it!

All that remains is for me to thank Kevin, who without has knowledge and guidance, I would be stuck with a car in need of more work than I could have handled!

Back to Index