Break Away From The Pack in 2022 |
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GLORY DAYS Classic Motorsport and the BURLWOOD Motorsport Club are all about enjoying life on the move, breaking away from the ordinary everyday world in pursuit of automotive Nirvana - on the track, at classic car shows, on forest roads or down two-lane country blacktop - wherever it leads us and we love to share the experience with our friends.
OUR WORD FOR 2022 is OPTIMISM: hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something.
Looking ahead at the promise of warmer weather and salt-free roads, we cannot help but be cautiously optimistic regarding the opportunity for a return to motoring and motor sport "normality".
That said, over the past two years, our own plans have been quite heavily impacted by the pandemic and its proximity limiting effects. As a result, our signature event - "BRITS ON THE LAKE Classic Motoring Revival" was scrubbed because of its large crowds and the potential for transmission of the dreaded bug. Regrettably the virus also caused cancellation of the running of our 1000 Islands International Rally and most of our established events and also new venues that were in the planning.
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CHANGING GEARS FOR THE ROAD AHEAD
All of this forced "inaction" lead to much thought concerning our events and as Bob Seager wrote "What to leave in, What to leave out".
Going forward, there are new plans, new events and new roads.
I hope that you will come along for the drive. Cheers!
Bob DeShane
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The summers of 2020 and 2021 passed by under the cloak of silence, fear and lock-down brought on by the pandemic. Could I build BRITS back up to its former glory after a two-year suspension?
This created a great deal of empty time for me which is time that I was not used to. All of this "time off" resulted in a great deal of reflection and consideration about what I might like to do in the foreseeable future.
I decided that time is passing me by, just as it is every other mortal.
Having wrestled with that idea made it clear that a change was in order.....
We should focus on having more fun!
Well, I will tell you that personally, I have a lot more fun behind the wheel than grinding along through the administration, organizing and oversight of big events.
Considering that pulling off a successful show for hundreds of cars, their owners and thousands of spectators requires a lot of determination and hard work. All this while balancing a variety of municipal government and business organizations concerns the securing of sponsors. Also, there is the rather enormous organizational effort involving the dedicated effort of many people, family and friends. That in it self collectively absorbs much time that could otherwise be directed to having new experiences and more fun for all concerned on the organizing and operational side of the equation.
Accordingly, I have formed made the decision to Accordingly, with a new and revised outlook on my motoring and motorsport future, I have made the decision to simply allow BRITS ON THE LAKE to fade away into the past, to take up residence with a list of other fond memories.
Visit the website to check out the historical photos of BRITS ON THE LAKE Classic Motoring Revival.
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While the pandemic has had a devastating effect on our events planning, at BRITSPEED Special Tuning, we are busier than ever! I think that fact in itself is a strong signal that the passion for classic British cars cannot be kept down by a virus and it speaks to the resiliency of you, the owners and custodians of the cars.
Here at the BRITSPEED Special Tuning shop, we are ready to help you to prepare your car for the season. As you may know, we operate our own parts supply and service department, specializing in classic British car parts and services. We stock and have access to a wide range of service and repair parts as well as performance enhancing items for virtually all British makes. We are always happy to discuss anything regarding your car's service, maintenance and performance improvement.
NEED PARTS FOR YOUR CLASSIC BRITISH CAR?
While we are working on developing a fully functional on-line catalogue, we are still providing parts for all British cars including the very special A-Series powered offerings like Sprites,Midgets, Mins, Minors, etc.,etc. So whether you drive an MG or one of the fabulous little A-Series cars or a Triumph, Healey, Jaguar or any other British Classic, we can supply quality parts and accessories for repair, restoration or performance improvement.
Send us an email or call or text us @ 705-878-5422. We'll be happy to help.
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On its way back into the chassis is the big 4.2 Litre Jaguar engine and gearbox assembly. |
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Pouring over the gearbox internals, is none other than Jamie Shelton. |
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One of the several jobs that we completed during the pandemic lock-down is a complete top to bottom gearbox rebuild on this '69 E-Type. Of course this entails an engine/gearbox - ectomy, strip down and rebuild using new parts.
Delving into the inner workings of British cars these days turns up all sorts of strange things. Just like the philosopher Forrest Gump said "Its like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get" and in this case, we found this to be oh, so true! Everything from Robertson head, course thread fasteners to a severely cracked bell housing to damaged bearings, totally and mercilessly worn out baulk rings, speedo drive gears and unbelievably bent shifter fork locating pins.
The good news is that it is now all back together and just like - or better than - new thanks to our brilliant Cog Artist, Jamie Shelton, some very skilled machinists, with Ian Cook on wrenches, and new UK-sourced parts from our reliable suppliers.
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SPOTLIGHT ON A-SERIES CARS
A great deal of my personal motoring and motorsport life has been centered around A-Series cars. As a matter of fact, my first car was a 1959 Morris Minor two-door saloon. I have owned driven and raced over thirty Minis, including one of Canada's best ever Vintage Racing Minis - the Don Sobering built "Baker Racing" #96. I raced that car quite successfully for over 10 years at Mosport, Shannonville,Waterford Hills,Watkins Glen, and Summit Point.
Also, there is my Mini Marcos 1380. I still have that car from my days as the North American Marcos Agent for Marcos Cars owner, Jem Marsh. My son Craig and I drove that car from Dave Jackson's Commonwealth Motors in Oshawa,Ontario to Los Angeles and back in ten days in 998cc. The purpose of the trip was promotional and we gained a three page centre-fold article in Dave Destler's "BRITISH CAR MAGAZINE", announcing Marcos Cars return to North America.
Then there is a 1964 Morris Mini Traveller 850, waiting for restoration and a 1958 Austin A35 destined to be a hotted on road car, a 1965 Austin Healey Sprite that is being transformed into a track-day car and last but not least a 1971 Morris Minor Traveller (Woody) that is just finishing up on a total restoration.
This is all to say that I have a great love of A-Series cars and especially their motive power unit, the ubiquitous and extremely hardy A-Series engine. They were the backbone of the British Motor Industry, not to mention their giant-killing prominence in both racing and rallying circles.
So......Often overlooked and considered the runt of the family, It is time to give the A-Series a place of honour and we're going to do that. Read on.
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Mark your Calendars and watch this spot for details on A-SERIES DAY celebrations! |
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SOCIAL MEDIA - NEW FACEBOOK PAGE |
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We have created a new place for everyone who loves the little guys. Austin, Morris, Riley, Wolseley, MG, Austin Healey, Turner, Lotus, Marcos, GTM, Unipower and heaven knows how many other British cars received their motive power from the little A-Series powerplants. If you own or have owned an A-Series powered car or if you are a fan of A-Series cars, check out the A-Series Society on Facebook. Join and contribute to the discussion. Send along your photos and tell your stories! |
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Did you know?
Austin Motor Company's small straight-4 automobile engine, the A-Series, is one of the most common in the world. Launched at the National Motor Show, Earl's Court on October 17th, 1951with the Austin A30, production lasted until 2000 in the Mini. It used a cast-iron block and cylinder head, and a steel crankshaft with 3 main bearings. The camshaft ran in the cylinder block, driven by a single-row chain for most applications, and with tappets sliding in the block, accessible through pressed steel side covers for most applications, and with overhead valves operated through rockers. The cylinder head for the overhead-valve version of the A-series engine was designed by Harry Weslake – a cylinder head specialist famed for his involvement in SS (Jaguar) engines and several F1-title winning engines. Although a "clean sheet" design, the A series owed much to established Austin engine design practise, resembling in general design (including the Weslake head) and overall appearance a scaled-down version of the 1200cc overhead-valve engine first seen in the Austin A40 Devon which would form the basis of the later B-Series engine.
Through the Years
The A-series humble origins as the motive power for the new "Baby Austin" A-30 progressed to motivate a plethora of British Saloons, Sports and Commercials over the years including cars manufactured under licence in far-away places like Italy, Australia, South Africa, Japan and Brazil.
Most of the cars were the basic workhorses of the post-war era. The Austin A30 and Morris Minor sedans were designed to transport postwar British families and the engine’s 803cc displacement churned out 30 horsepower.
The A-series soon got sportier, though, as the factory upped displacement to 948cc when placing it in the 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite. Mini and high-performance Mini Cooper variants soon joined the A-series ranks, and displacement eventually maxed out with the 1275cc version found in the 1966-’71 Austin-Healey Sprite, 1966-’74 MG Midget and 1969-’80 Mini. A revised engine, known as the A-Plus, would remain in production through 2000.
A-Series Motorsport
Without a doubt one of the most popular power plants in the history of sports car racing is the venerable A-series engine. Throughout its nearly 50-year lifespan it appeared in such vintage racing icons as the Austin-Healey Sprite, Mini Cooper and MG Midget–plus limited-production cars like the Turner 950 Sports, Mini Marcos and UniPower.
Today, various racing associations have allowed earlier Sprites and Midgets to run the 1275cc engine, making them a ubiquitous combination–except, of course, in more stringent programs and classes that require the original-sized engines.
For more interesting reading about the A-Series: Click here
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2022 EVENT SCHEDULE
Subject to change and expansion.
Watch the website for new events!
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AUGUST 7th -
WING COMMANDER'S RALLY/TOUR
TO BE A ROLLING CAR SHOW
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In place of the cancelled BRITS ON THE LAKE Classic Motoring Revival, this Sunday will be filled with something different. Old Nigel has decided to tweak his annual "Wing Commanders' Rally Tour" which is normally held on the Saturday preceding BRITS. Instead, the event will move to Sunday and become a ROLLING CAR SHOW!
Nigel figured that if the spectators can't come to the Revival, we will would take it to them! He is designing a route that will weave through Port Perry and the surrounding small villages so that folks can view the rolling show from their front lawns, ends of their driveways or farm lanes.
Participants in the rolling car show will love the attention as they exercise their motors and enjoy spreading the joy of British motoring throughout the community.
Registration will be open soon and will be restricted to 100 cars.
Entry is FREE!
Watch the website for more details to follow.
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LINDSAY TO BRIGHTON RUN
WATCH OUR NEWSLETTERS FOR INFORMATION ON THE
2022 EVENT SCHEDULE
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2022
LINDSAY TO BRIGHTON RUN
Saturday October 8th
We have great news!
Regretfully, we missed out on our planned event in 2021 due to the pandemic. The good news is that the event will return for 2022!
Meet up with your friends old and new for the pre-start morning gathering at our shop, fresh coffee and delicious donuts. Then, enjoy a great drive complete with "rally style" directions through beautiful fall landscapes on sinuous roads before arriving at the Whistling Duck on beautiful Brighton Bay and the opportunity to join in the fine post-run sharing of festivities and conversation.
Registration will open September 1, 2020
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2022
INTERNATIONAL A-SERIES DAY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16th
Arrangements to be announced
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NEW PRODUCTS ANNOUNCEMENT |
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PIPERCROSS AIR FILTERS
BRITSPEED becomes the Canadian distributor of the leading performance air filters in the world - PIPERCROSS FILTRATION.
PIPERCROSS offers a full line of advanced air filter products with applications covering a broad range of motorcars and motorcycles. This includes most classic British cars.
The filters are long lasting and washable and they look great, Most importantly, the filters flow very well, which is important for the health and performance of your car's engine regardless if it is in stock form or in the ultimate race configuration.
If you are interested in getting the best performance and/or economy from your car, look to PIPERCROSS, the world's fastest filters and let us help you.
For application information, checkthe PIPERCROSS website:here
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Join our growing BURLWOOD Motorsport Club
You can be a "HOT SHOE" too!
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Join BURLWOOD Motorsport Club
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You can spend 20 bucks on a lot of useless things. But when you join Nigel Shiftright's BURLWOOD Motorsport Club, you'll become one of the privileged few with the right stuff. And just so as you get the recognition you deserve for layin' out your dough, Nigel is going to send you a handsome membership card and you'll get discounts on club apparel,just like the "HOT SHOE" t-shirt pictured above and on events and other club offerings. Plus, you'll receive the sizzlin' hot Club Newsletter,
the "Hot Shoe".
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Thank you for being one of over one twelve hundred enthusiasts who read these posts regularly. Please, share with the motorheads in your circle!
Let's all think positively about the 2022 season!
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