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New engine goes in the Abarth Fiat 1500

After a very successful test session yesterday it was back in the workshop. Owner Guy Harman and racing driver Rupert Keegan put the car through it’s paces yesterday at Goodwood Motor Circuit in preparation for the 72nd Members Meeting at the end of March. They said the car has transformed since we made some adjustments to rear suspension and removed the brake servo. Today saw the installation of a new hot engine with a fully re-worked cylinder head and a new camshaft profile. Monday 3rd of March will see the little Fiat back out at Goodwood for another pre-race shake down.

Abarth Fiat 1500 engine install 3 Abarth Fiat 1500 engine install 2 Abarth Fiat 1500 engine install Abarth Fiat 1500 engine install. CCK Historic Guy Harman Rupert Keegan

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Fiat Abarth 1500 on the rolling road

The Fiat is almost ready for it’s Revival debut. The new engine is in along with twin Weber carbs, bespoke intake and exhaust manifolds have been fitted as well as an LSD and bespoke competition half shafts. Today we will get the new engine tuned up and run in before we go testing. Guy Harman will be sharing the drive with Rupert Keegan.

Fiat Abarth 1500 Fiat Abarth 1500 Weber DCNF 40 Fiat Abarth 1500 rolling road tune Fiat Abarth 1500 2

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Mustang shake down with Rupert Keegan

We were back at Goodwood with the recently completed ’65 Ford Mustang for its first shake down with former Hesketh Formula 1 driver Rupert Keegan. The car ran extremely well with only a few small issues to dial out. Some adjustments to the brakes helped improve things and now the vehicle is back in the work shop it will undergo a few more tweaks before its next outing. The car is scheduled to make it’s race debut, since restoration, later this season.

Rupert Keegan Mustang frontRupert Keegan Mustang rearRupert Keegan Mustang Goodwood 2Rupert Keegan Mustang Goodwood

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Sun shone on Silverstone for HRDC Touring Greats

After endless weeks of snow and grey weather things finally brightened up a little for the first race of the HRDC 2013 calendar at Silverstone on Saturday. We were there supporting Julius Thurgood and Rupert Keegan as they campaigned “Bumble” the ZA Magnette qualifying 12th and finishing 9th overall and 2nd in class B. James turner piloted the Zodiac solo this weekend. The old Ford was running quicker than ever achieving 3rd place in qualifying and holding 2nd place in the race until a loss of oil pressure forced retirement with less than 4 minutes left on the clock. Next stop is back up to Silverstone for the HRDC Allstars race on the 21st April. Photographs courtesy of Peter Baker Retro-Speed. Full report can be found here.

Jaguar of Peter Burton heads the Touring Greats startJulius Thurgood and Rupert Keegan with BumbleFord Zodiac MK2 of James TurnerJames Turner waves to the crowd

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HRDC Mallory Park finale.

The last race of the HRDC 2012 season was held last Sunday at Mallory Park. We were there with Dave Griffiths in the Standard Vanguard, James Turner in the Ford Zodiac, Ian Burford in the Sebring Sprite “Lumbertubs” and sharing the drive in “Bumble” the MG Magnette was Julius Thurgood and Rupert Keegan. Dry conditions and some sunshine made for a very pleasant close to the season. Racing was top class as usual with some strong results from all of our drivers. In the Touring Greats race Dave Griffiths moved further up, qualifying 11th, finishing 8th overall and 2nd in class B. First in class B and 4th overall was James Turner in the Zodiac. Julius Thurgood managed to weave his way from 19th up to 14th in the MG Magnette. In Grand Touring Greats Ian Burford made a big jump up the grid qualifying 7th and finishing 6th. Rupert Keegan drove “Bumble” in the Allcomers race finishing 7th. We have had a great year and have thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the competition that Julius Thurgood and the HRDC has provided. We are looking forward to 2013 and another great HRDC season.

photos courtesy of Kelvin Fagan