the life of rolie

[gt orphanage]

FINGERS CROSSED it's a good box it came from 1 of the 2 cars that were on offer on the forum from rockhampton 2 part cars I sent the half cut with Rolie to try and make the container price a viable option so I am glad it paid off

[Pombellett]

It certainly did Greg....some people laughed at my "spares package" when it arrived. Oh how wrong they were!

[CQGT]

I saw those 2 cars. Bodies unservicable. Mechanically not bad.
I asked Greg last year whatever happened to them.
His reply was. 'Some of the cars you see here have parts off of them 2.'
Now I know where the motor and box went.

Dave.

[Pombellett]

Well, we've been playing musical gearboxes in the last few weeks. After damaging the original we gave the one out of the front cut the once over and replaced the bearings, only to discover the gate was back to front.
After a certain amount of research, including trawling back through the forum and pestering Greg and other Bellett luminaries, we've concluded we have a box from a column shift car.
The forks and selector rods being different, and the Revival looming, I've switched back to a spare 'original' box I got sent from the boys in Finland just in case.
This tested OK on Friday, so we're ready to go for the Revival in a couple of weeks.
Can't wait..........

By the way, has anyone successfully converted a column shift car to floor shift?

[opr-910]

Yes i have converted one , all you have to do is swap selector rods and forks.(on all syncro box) hope this helps.

[Pombellett]

We tried this straight away, but the only other box I had was Rolie's original.....3 syncro, and so the forks are different.
But thanks anyway OPR, at least we now know it's easy once the right forks and rods are found.

[Pombellett]

When we were at Spa a French classic car mag showed some interest in Rolie...here's the result....I imagine this will set Dave off, it seems the French can't spell Bellett either!!

french mag.jpg (4.2 MiB) Viewed 177099 times

Incidentally we have the Revival next weekend and our 'celeb' driver for the first race is 1969 British Touring Car champion Alec Poole. I look for to meeting with this experienced racer.

[Dick]

Although you are all asleep at the moment? There is a change for you all to see Rolie race live on the Goodwood Revival.

See this link http://www.goodwood.co.uk/revival/reviv ... aming.aspx

Raciing the St Mary's Trophy on saturday at 14.00 UK time and sunday at 12.30

groetjes Dick

[Farmer]

Well, we've been playing musical gearboxes in the last few weeks. After damaging the original we gave the one out of the front cut the once over and replaced the bearings, only to discover the gate was back to front.
After a certain amount of research, including trawling back through the forum and pestering Greg and other Bellett luminaries, we've concluded we have a box from a column shift car.
The forks and selector rods being different, and the Revival looming, I've switched back to a spare 'original' box I got sent from the boys in Finland just in case.
This tested OK on Friday, so we're ready to go for the Revival in a couple of weeks.
Can't wait..........

By the way, has anyone successfully converted a column shift car to floor shift?

My first Bellett in '76 was a column teardrop. I kept the bench seat, but simply took the column top off the box & dropped the stick in. The 1-2/3-4 gates were reversed, but as I learned to drive in this car, it seemed natural. Everyone else's 4-speed was backwards!
Foils mates who try to drive away in your car too - makes 'em look hopeless!
I imagine you'd adjust pretty quick, my second Bellett was a standard floor shift and I don't remember missing gears.

Could be a problem in the heat of competition though.

Makes me wonder about left hook cars - are their gates reversed? Everything else is!

Cheers, Matt.

[Dick]

Left hand drive cars have the same transmission, we only change gear with the right hand ....

Here are some pics of the saturday race:

[GTtoo]

Just love it Pom Rollie shines in a line up that takes us back to 60's/70's racing era.

One would think the French would get it right tho, Bellet with one T . But hang on, everyone does it for some reason.

The instructions for the Bay to Birdwood historic classic cavalcade in South Australia, also has Bellet on the grounds map

Again, great expose and superlative effort. We are so enjoying your journey.

B.

[oz_toffa]

Got to agree with GTt00
you guys are doing an amazing job over there with the Bellet (t)
and like us all who would love to be there in person, enjoying the trip even if it is only by blog and photos.
and i finally realized i can read French, as long as it relates to things mechanical and technical.
one of our local classic racing identities over in Western Australia ran a number of different cars over quite a few years, and said the Bellett was the only one, not to have a drive train failure. They are built like a brick dunny!

keep up the great work and the postings as well. We all love it!!!!!




OZ

[Pombellett]

WE DID IT. Once again Rolie punched above his weight. Look at this......

Rev result.gif (58.77 KiB) Viewed 176943 times

Absolutely thrilled with the result, for more reasons than may be obvious. More to follow.

[redback]

Good work Mark - well done!! There are a quite a few fast cars BEHIND you.

[gricey]

Top effort for a car that came out of the scrub in coonabarabran not that long ago . Congrats mate . Well deserved . Gricey

[Pombellett]

Cheers guys, yes we're really pleased, but especially as Alec Poole my 'celeb' driver comfortably took a Lotus Cortina in his wet qualifying, and in the dry I just about held on to one for the second half of the race....we're definitely getting somewhere.
I'll post the in car stuff as soon as I've edited it, Alec's drive in the wet is especially impressive.
The only photo I managed to take is this one when we were setting up. More will follow I'm sure.

IMGP3605.jpg (2.53 MiB) Viewed 176886 times

Stewart Imber's big Merc is on the left and Paul Clayson's VX 4/90 is on the right, hidden is a pretty Fiat 1500 Abarth. This , the organisers, assumed would be the back of the grid. Someone likened us to the 'bad kids on the back seat of the bus'!!

[oz_toffa]

you guys must be causing a real stink in the pits when the last runners are coming in Mid Field!!!

i think you have the advantage over the cortina with better handling and a little more
horsepower massaging will keep you well in the top 15 next round.

look out for the burnt orange flash as it passes you


Well done guys!


OZ

[Pombellett]

Thanks again Oz.
The Revival was its usual spectacular self, with loads of fantastic cars and planes...love this photo of a P51 and Spit.

PLANE.jpg (92.48 KiB) Viewed 176854 times

The back drop to this great shot shows that once again the weather wasn't great for Sunday and once again it rained hard for the showcase race, the TT.
Have a look at this epic footage from Kenny Brack's GT40 qualifying in the wet.
http://youtu.be/1jF__B1xpJY

[Pombellett]

Not quite so frenzied, but a little more relevant to other Belletteers, is the footage from Rolie....

http://youtu.be/hXxhpmB4pEE

And a nice 'period' style snap of the St Mary's grid winding it's way around the back of the circuit on the first lap.

St Mary's.jpg (231.07 KiB) Viewed 176807 times

[GTtoo]

Your performance is WICKED Rollie is WICKED

Massive result for you guys, and for Bellett nuts all around the world to enjoy!!

Kenny doesnt mind a little opposite lock, even in a straight line . That thing (GT40) is developing mass GRUNT

B.