Well progress on the new 53a has been a bit slow recently with many other tasks taking priority. Even now at 11.30pm I should be doing some programming work rather than updating the site. It doesn't unfortunately look like I will be driving the new car at the very beginning of the season, especially as we just found out that the first practice is in just a couple of weeks.

So I actually found a battery for the old car, cranked the starter over a few times to make sure everything was still turning. Then 2 short pumps of the throttle and the car came instantly into life, pretty good send it hasn't been running since April. This now means that come the second practice, or maybe the first, at least I can get out on the track. If there is time we might put the new heads and cams on the engine in the old car. But to change heads it means the engine just about has to be removed, so we will just have to wait and see. Hopefully the only parts I will need to move from the old 53a to the new car will be the engine and ignition, which will leave a good strong rolling chassis which will just need an engine to get it running.

The main priority however is to get the new car running, currently I am trying to find a PG steering box, and a Speedway Engineering Quick Change diff with a hollow axle (complete including hubs, birdcages etc). If anyone has either of these I would be interested in hearing from you (53a@marxmotorsport.com).

So here is the car at the moment, the engine mounts are complete and I started making the dash. As this chassis is a copy of 73a we have noticed very quickly how much more space the Toyota V8 takes up over the Chev V8 (in 73a).

While on the other side of the workshop Lance was busy try out a new bonnet design.

He reckoned the iron was there to stop the sparks covering the engine while he cut the roll cage off. While that might have been the case I do wonder if he is trying to start a new trend...what do you think?

Hopefully if my workload drops I might be able to find and upload the pictures showing a cross section of the Toyota V8 cylinder head, I am sure someone might find the viewing interesting.

Until next time....MadPhil