After our disasterous last race, and the dissapointment of losing the Group B Championship by 1 point, we needed to reflect and take a very close look at the car. Our friend, and Team Car Body man Dennis, kindly paid for a diagnostic trip to Redline's Rolling Road. Transpires, at the last race, we were down to the Grand Total of 180 Horses, which was a far cry from the 460 we thought we had. We also had a closer look at our electrics, another huge cause for concern, and an explanation to many of the anomalies we had seen in our Maiden Year.

So to work:

The Rear Beam was replaced by a Grp A item, fully adjustable and stronger. We know this will put the finishing touches to the progress we made over the last year, in conjunction with our set-up man Colin Smith. We also uprated to AP 6 pots courtesy of Jack, with PF 01 pads.

Took the engine up to Cossy Guru Harvey Gibbs. It didn't take long for Harvey and Tim to find out that our "Race engine", wasn't all it should have been, and in his opinion could never had made 460 BHP. Much wailing and knashing of teeth, followed by the realisation we had been properly tucked up when we bought the car, although the previous owner strenuously denies he knew any of this, and will be following it up with his own suppliers. Just a few treasures were a Transit water pump, standard oil pump, 7 layer (yes I repeat ) a 7 layer headgasket, I could go on but it gets embarrasing. On the plus side the Cams were ok, the head was well worked and we have Valve springs worthy of an F1 car?????.

Picking the engine up was a real treat. With a very gracious donation from GibboRacings Auntie Yvonne, Al phillips, and all our pocket money, we were able to let Harvey weave his magic. Al didn't know much of what was happening, as his mind was firmly on His close family, but there was one of those moments you treasure. With Harvey chuckling away, the Gibbo's trying to look non plused, Harvey wound up the Dyno, and lets say that we were all very pleased, and Al was quiet for almost a whole second, nuff said.

Meanwhile Dennis and Ann set about repainting the car, and a lovely job they've made too. We like orange, so we went with it, just a new Black roof.

Now the wiring, or the joke, masquerading as a loom. We thought we had better do a section at a time, but quickly realised we had to rip it all out and start again, suffice to say that it wasn't far from catching fire. The fan wiring was 'the best' fried doesn't do it justice. All done now, uprated, safe and everything working as it should, and a few more warning lamps for good measure.

First Test session. The car rebuilt, off to Colins for set up. Then after a quick trip up to Harvey Gibbs to iron out some oil breather issues, and an Alternator fault (more crap wiring that we missed off the Ford loom). We were off to Brands, pit booked. Didn't want to do anything before the sighting laps, so waited for the off. Formalities out the way, and disaster, the thermostat housing was jetting anti-freeze, were did that jem come from? To cut a long story short, Uncle Kevin arrived with a gasket, after several failed attempts, to seal it up with jollop. The housing was a lemon, that has now been skimmed flat, but a whole morning lost, although some good lessons learnt. On a slippery track, not ideal lets say, there was alot of dry teeth from cheesy grins, and Al really wasn't able to push hard, Happy Days at last.

The second testing session was a whole new ball game altogether. After an initial problem with a loose pipe on the Boost Gauge, Al was able to get the hammer down. We were blown away by the power of the car, that we finally managed to hook up with great handling. Needless to say this was our finest hour to date. The Boys hard work, Harvey's engine, Colin's set up, , and everybody's contributions all came together on this day and the car, and Al, were just unbelievable. We are confident that the Saph had never been that fast round Brands Indy Circuit. Bring on the QMN.