The 510 Realm

I am going as long as it is not pouring rain. These new tires aren't exactly hydroplaning resistant.

Looks like the weather gods are letting up. The torrential downpour projected for today was just rain early this morning and it’s now a sunny evening. Only a trace of rain projected for tomorrow now with afternoon and evening showing sun. So the BBQ is ready! See you locals tomorrow for those that can make it.

Keith; I have burgers, dogs and chips here - but I will put out a donation box for those so inclined. If your vegetarian, GF or .... supply your choice and the grill awaits

Looking forward to tomorrow.

The only thing keeping me away is I can't find a big enough basket to put the 510 in!!

You cats and kittens have fun!

Thank you Byron, Joyce and Barry for hosting and cooking up some great food for us all!

Nice to see everyone, as we head into a season of driving and events. As some of you know I am now retired after 48 years in my industry. It was so nice on a week day to just roll over to my car and have the luxury of TIME to get a few things ready on it, without a rush.

Traffic was sure heavy through the Cloverdale corridor and the along Dewdney Trunk, no surprise for rush hour I guess. I think in our modern world that the term “rush hour” needs to change. It is anything but, more like hurry up and wait.

As I am now storing my car at a different location, last night was a test to see how, if at all, I may have disturbed any neighbour's. I think I am ok from the sounds of it. That small muffler just took that bark out of the exhaust.
I swear on the drive home last night everyone that pulled up beside me wanted to race, crickey! A young fellow with an N on the back in a new STI, a “kid” in an older Accura with fart can exhaust, and an older gentleman in a Cadillac CTS. I really did have to resist the STI, I have kicked the crap out of those things before.

The new O2 sensor really pointed out how tired and lazy my other one had gotten, leaded fuel is not meant to go through them, so life is measured in hours. I maybe had 100 hours on mine and I noticed that all last season it was not right. I go through about 200 litres of Avgas a season, so it had about 800 litres go through it.

I will post up soon our first drive a nice shakedown cruise before some long distance stuff. Winthrop will be on the calendar, just not sure when we should do that. As we head into tourist season we would really have to be stupidly early to get a good run going down. Last year’s September run was beyond perfect and part of me would like to do the whole loop back up through the Okanagan. We will have a discussion on that.

Thanks again,
Keith

And some more

And last

why is my seat in Berts car ? im so confused ..... looks like a great turn out and a few new cars.

That is Jamie Mitchell's car! I just had this discussion with my wife...so many Bert clones...

We originally built 3 510's like mine...Tracey's and Georges. Then Jamie Built his, Cam Thorkelson the Pissan Nissan, Dave Doan's...all had the same flares and Specialty air dam and other than Cam's, were all variations of red's.

I used to really get that back in the 80's as to who's car was actually seen, as I did some Westwood stuff so people were not sure who's car they had seen. caused a lot of confusion over the years.

its your cars stunt double.

For historical reference, here are the original permutations as they had just finally rolled out of the shop at Andy's in 1984. We went up to Westwood for photo op and testing. These were taken on the upper pit area.

Andy built all the flares and air dam molds.

Keith, why did Tracey’s race car sport a rear bumper, “paint” protection? weight bias trick...?

BTW congrats on the mention of your retirement.

Jim

Thanks Jim! Hope your doing well over there.

Both Tracey and I, likely were some of the last of a modified street, yet almost full blown race car, that drove our cars to events, raced, and drove them back home. Her and I would race that last link up to Westwood, she had killer bottom end and I would reel her in at the top. How lucky was I that I was able to be competitive with trailered Mod cars, then have the fun of driving it home! Same with Tracey, which she did till she sold the car. We would do the 7 hour Enduro and other than that one year, where we were 2ND overall to a Sports Racer, when a rod let go, she drove it back to the shop.

The bumpers were our concession to being legal for the road...ha!

I was so close to making my car into a full blown, as light as possible race car like Dave Christie's 510 and the Honda Civic, but, fortunately the specter of having to buy a trailer...then...the reality that my Ford Aerostar was NOT able to tow ( Colin Jackson had one, with towing package, and it ate the transmission towing HIS 510) put me right off. Now I am reaping the reward of not having done that. Tracey's car now languishes in a garage and Dave Christie's 510 is slowly returning to elemental iron.

As we also have seen now, our 510's have done the big jump in price, so a streetable 510 is where the money is at.

I had a big smile on my face driving back from Byron’s!

Very nice photos Keith, thanks for posting. A lot of cars I have never seen before.

Any engine pics? I am a freak for mechanical!

No engine pics, I guess as we see these cars all the time and I have engine pics, was a non-issue at Byron's.

I will endeavor to do better next time, for you non-local enthusiasts!

Hey, no worries Keith, having fun and visiting is #1!