the life of rolie

[Glenn]

Talking of British winters, just to let you know, what with Covid there's not much going on here in the UK...check out the famous Paddock Hill bend at Brands Hatch at the moment.

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Tricky tyre choice.

Bit different from the boiling hot day when Big Simon did this at Paddock Hill!!!!!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/79BbtoqL1Cw

whoooops..... he got it together at the end though.....

[Pombellett]

Well, the UK winter is pretty much over, and Covid is nothing more than an irritation...so we thought it time to pull the old car out of the mothballs and wake him up with a shakedown at Goodwood.
Apart from the inevitable leak here and there and a small gearbox issue, consistent 1.45s was the pleasing result....I also rather like this shot taken on the day...

Compare this with the shot of Mac at the same spot back in 65

[Dick]

Hi Marc,
Great picture indeed, would be great if you manage to replicate the japanese number plate too!
About the 1.45 s : if I can remember well you were doing 2 minutes + on Good Wood in the beginning?
That is a big step
Gr Dick

[Farmer]

Great pic! Nice to see you are able to get back to your passion. Normal life is returning.
Matt.

[Pombellett]

We got a late invite to Lydden Hill with the Bellett, and so Simon and myself and the crew trundled down to Kent to compete in four short 15 minute races between us.

Apologies for the rather camp pose, but in my defence it was very hot!
In the end, including practice and qualifying Simon and myself put in 106 untroubled laps, finishing 5th from 15 and 9th from 16 respectively.
I say untroubled, I did have this little moment at the start of my first race.
https://youtu.be/kmUwRBHqPoU
'Biting the seat' I think they call it.

[Farmer]

Looking good mate, glad you're having fun.
Cheers, Matt.

[Pombellett]

Kind words Matt, although 'looking good' might be pushing it a bit!....I've finally got a few shots of the race, and some of them I must admit do look good. Hope you like.

Being such a short circuit, you're always in amongst it.

[Glenn]

Kind words Matt, although 'looking good' might be pushing it a bit!....I've finally got a few shots of the race, and some of them I must admit do look good. Hope you like.

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Being such a short circuit, you're always in amongst it.

rsz_jsb_5552.jpg

rsz_jsb_5414.jpg

Long long time since I saw an early Cortina. But it looks way wider than a Bellett ??

[Pombellett]

Yes Glen, wider by a few inches....although there was still not enough room at one point, and there was a little rub.

IMG_2279 (1).jpg (55.29 KiB) Viewed 255294 times

The car looks odd without a wing and a door....makes it easier to get in and out of though!

[Asroc66]

Rubbing IS Racing
J

[Glenn]

Yes Glen, wider by a few inches....although there was still not enough room at one point, and there was a little rub.

IMG_2279 (1).jpg

The car looks odd without a wing and a door....makes it easier to get in and out of though!

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That will polish out, as they say.

[Pombellett]

Polishing as we speak Glenn!
Have a look at this.....my old mate Polara Jim finally got bored of the blank panel on the back of the car. So he investigated getting a replica plate made to match the original. (See top of this page)

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He found an outfit in Germany that specialised in Japanese plates and came up with this, apparently even the colour's correct for the region where the plate was issued.

plate2 (2).jpg (80.93 KiB) Viewed 254834 times

It won't make us any quicker, but I reckon it'll complete the look of the back end.

[Earthp]

Perfectttttttt

[Pombellett]

Still no joy selling the old racer, so we took it to the famous Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb this summer. Thought the Bellett community on the forum might enjoy this 40 seconds of fun.

https://youtu.be/S5_2kgKLI4g?si=z1J1xBi9XxmargZv

[Glenn]

Thanks for the update, Mark, and great pics.

Glenn

[Glenn]

Thanks for the update, Mark, and great pics.

Glenn

[Pombellett]

Hi All,
I'm the happy new custodian of Rolie -
(Mark also handed over the pombellett moniker as the site refused my registration ?!)

As is the way in this day and age with transitioning - Rolie is now called Suzi and identifies as she/her

I've had a lifetime of competition car building and development, mostly in Hillclimb (I met them at Shelsley Walsh)
Looking forward to developing this Bellett - albeit Suzi wishes this to be in a more feminine manner

This is my first foray into circuit racing at the ripe old age of 62 - so very excited

Cheers
Carl

[Pombellett]

On our way home

[Pombellett]

First job over the winter is to sort out the GBH inflicted by Mark's nephew at Gurston Down hillclimb - apparently the youf had a disagreement with a tyre barrier.

Looks to be only panel damage, nothing that a gentle bit of persuasion with a Porta-Pack cant fix