F350 Grids

[Eddy Wright]

What grids are expected in F350 this year, and what teams are in ?

[martyf350]

me and dave smith (d+d engineering)on a bike provided by allen + john steele
paul owen/phil parkes
*liam abbott/callum lawson
allen is also fielding his outfit with a different rider

10 weeks til the first round any more for any more??

[neandethal]

we'll be out on our banshee if the freezing weather hasnt done any damage, getting Young(?) Mr Abbey to do some engine work to make it more reliable...... see you at cadwell.

[lrb1]

hopefully we,ll be out if all goes to plan

[G JONES]

What grids are expected in F350 this year, and what teams are in ?

Planning a return Ed ?
We hope to be out again - as long as I can flog enough TZ stuff to pay for it
I had hoped to build a new chassis for start of season - but not very likely now - hopefully get it sorted a bit later in the year - then you can buy my Shelbourne

[Eddy Wright]

Just interested at the moment Gordon. Whats the best Engine nowadays is it still the TZ ?

[G JONES]

Just interested at the moment Gordon. Whats the best Engine nowadays is it still the TZ ?

Yes
That's the quick answer - there should be alternatives - but nothing has shown up as being better yet...

[little chud]

Gordon, I agree that there are no proven alternatives yet but what the class needs is for someone like Ed to build and run a banshee for a year. Prove they are the future of the 350 class and jobs a good un.

TZ - great when built well and plenty spent on them, not so good when corners are cut. "good" bits are hard to find, and very expensive.

banshee - proven to be good in solo's and quads. cheaper to build but not proven in sidecars.

IMHO

jc

[G JONES]

Gordon, I agree that there are no proven alternatives yet but what the class needs is for someone like Ed to build and run a banshee for a year. Prove they are the future of the 350 class and jobs a good un.
banshee - proven to be good in solo's and quads. cheaper to build but not proven in sidecars. jc

You are probably right John - I've got most of the stuff I need to build one - just need time and money to go any further...(as always) - and as I already have most of the engine parts I need to keep the TZ running for a while - I have to go that way...

[martyf350]

definately tz engines i agree the parts are few and far between but look at last years championship
1st steve brooks/jan tyrell tz350
2nd allen steele/myself tz350
3rd paul owen/phil parkes tz350
4th alan longshaw/john longbottom ypvs 350

the first 3 in the championship all had engines built by bsk racing (allen steele).i dont doubt that 1 day there will be a succesor to the tz engine but at the moment only 2 people have tried the banshee engine with very mixed/costly results

[Eddy Wright]

What about a Rotax Motor ?

[G JONES]

What about a Rotax Motor ?

You have a good question there - the rotax should have been a good option - you will remember probably better than me - but I can only remember - I think Colin Hopper ? using a rotax back in the day...can't remember anyone having particularly good results with one - although in the Kart world they are successful - or at least were at one time.
If you are prepared to take a wider look at the two stroke world - there should be lots of good options - with the GP 250 class having been killed off by the big H - there ought to be lots of 250 motors being "thrown" away
I am convinced that if even a fraction of the development time / money was spent on putting a 350 motor together with "newer" technology - then with a good handling, light chassis - you would have a very competitive outfit...mind you - as there is a ban on using a two stroke at the TT - what's the point ? - maybe not worth anyone doing for a domestic championship ?
There's still lots happening with two strokes in other areas - just seems in this particular sport - we seem to have been convinced that bigger is better...

[Eddy Wright]

No bigger is not better, and I agree with you about big H and the 2 strokes. The F350 class or F2 as it was is without doubt one of the best classes of racing sidecars we have ever had. The grand prix class (F1 nowadays) with 2 stroke 500cc engines was the dogs.
But things move on, and now we have 600cc ,and 1000cc or bigger? I'm not sure F1s. Its still good but differerent.

But the Japs like the concept of two strokes, and they are still working on development, (Lots of power cheap production) and some time in the not too distant future they will come back. I just can't wait until they do a 500cc turning out power of a 1000cc and light in weight. 350cc with more power than a 600cc. Am I dreaming? Watch this space.

[G JONES]

But things move on, and now we have 600cc ,and 1000cc or bigger? I'm not sure F1s. Its still good but differerent.

Yes - ok - will agree on that

some time in the not too distant future they will come back.

Nice to have someone else with that opinion - I usually run for cover just after I've brought up the subject myself

I just can't wait until they do a 500cc turning out power of a 1000cc and light in weight. 350cc with more power than a 600cc.

Now we're talking

Am I dreaming? Watch this space.

No - you're not dreaming - I think it's quite possible - but I'm not good at watching space - so do tell us more... (please)

[neandethal]

Now i'll try and not sound defensive, but.........
The Banshee and its many permutations have lots of potential but as the TZ engine took a few years to get to the top of the pile so will the banshee/YPVS, and as far as i know we are doing our own spannering and not shelling out £££££ to others to do our prep, so it will take longer.
I tried to get lea Gourlay to assist with my engine work but he is way too busy doing TZ's etc and it just isnt going to happen. I am hoping to get Mick Abbey to come to the party.
I am happy to offer my outfit to Eddy for a practise session/one race to prove the capability of the engine as he knows the chassis as it was once his! His skill is well above mine and happy to admit it but would like to prove the sceptics wrong about the potential of engine.
perhaps you would like to PM me Eddy?