Friday 1 August 2014

What we have got up to in the Hols....

Sorry about the hiatus in blog postings, pressing family matters have taken over during the last few months - so here is a quick update.

Fame - the Veteran Car Club awarded us the Mercedes Benz Racing Trophy for 2013 - given for best performance of an Edwardian car at a Vintage Sports Car Club event - for our showing at Prescott Hill Climb.

Insulation problems - after the first test run in May, all the lovingly applied new boiler insulation fell off - the glue used to temporarily hold it in place failed and in the process offgassed and wrecked the ceramic paper insulation.  Gave up and re-insulated with double sided aluminum foil superwool instead, which does a fine job.

Carbonisation - still having problems with tiny particles of carbon repeatedly  blocking the burner nozzles and killing the car's performance - the 'steam enema' installed during the winter is helping to keep the problems under control. Probably need to start experimenting with kerosene fuel instead of 50/50 petrol/diesel.

Cylinder Oil consumption was deliberately set high by the restorers, now cutting it back from about 40 miles per litre to the Stanley recommended level of one (US) gallon per 400 miles - roughly 100 miles per litre. The cylinder oil pump adjustment is very sensitive, got it to about 88 miles/litre at the moment.

Hood (Top in US parlance) - slow progress, the new laminated bows arrived in June, and will be fitted to the top sockets asap; will also get the car booked into the coach trimmer again f or the hood to be made up.

More fame - we were awarded 'best car in show' at the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum  Classic Car show in June.