astonjenks Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 For those who don't know me I used to race Astons and yesterday was sent this great photo of me racing at Brands Hatch a few years ago. The actual shot is approaching Druids. I managed to win this race (the field are somewhere behind) and topped 175mph on the straight. Thsi car is a very special car with 650bhp and weighing 1150Kgs and was very quick! Regards AJ 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martijnp Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 AJ, this is a cool picture! And I do love that car (I love all Aston Martins) 175 mph approx 280 kilometers per hour, that's fast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormTooper4 Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Niceone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted January 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Thanks Guys Yes it is fast but not top speed as the straight on the circuit runs out before the power and gearing did :-) I had never seen this photo before yesterday so was really pleased to be sent it. This is a still shot of her. AJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordanf1 Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 #epic my MAN ! great too see an AM Racer ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenTLe Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 How much I love that world... I put my hands in engines since I was 12yo and still loving it! PS: that radioactivity patch: have you placed tritium tubes anywhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted January 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Thanks again guys. The Radioactive patch was derived from the Original Aston Martin Robin Hamilton car that was raced at Le Mans in 1977 & 79. This car is actually the sister car to that one having been originally built by the same team for racing. I best show you an engine shot then! This is an AM V8 engine bored to just under 7 litres. She is lowered by 100mm plus and set back in the engine compartment by some 300mm for perfect weight balance across the axles. She runs on 4 twin choke webbers and as mentioned puts out 650bhp. AJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenTLe Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Lovely! The car frame has nothing to share with the commercial one looks like... It seems that the only thing that make you possible to say that you race with an AM is the engine and some other details, isn't so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted January 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 This is another Aston that I raced a couple of times in the Brittish GT Championship a DBRS9 as raced at all International Endurance Events. Similar power, lighter, much better brakes and moddern technology/gearboxes :-) AJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted January 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 In answer to that not at all. It had to be an original Chassis, body, axle, engine and gearbox. The modifications were carried out during the late 70's and early 80's and it is now recognised as a very special Historic AM racecar. Below is a 1980 Standard V8 Vantage which is how this one originally left Newport Pagnell in the 70's. One can clearly see the similarities. AJ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenTLe Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Gorgeous car. I so much love those cars from the seventies... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted January 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 And my goodness, what great investments they make, if anyone wants to know anything about Astons I am your man!!! AJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 The AM Vantage ... one of the most handsome cars ever created. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted January 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 The worlds fastest 4 seater in the late 70's early 80's. AJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kernow Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Wow, just wow. No other words needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraggle42 Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 <drool> I'm happy that you got that picture of you racing it Andy, must bring back great memories! That engine's superb, a heck of a jump in power from standard. Were the internals replaced with forged parts, high compression, etc? And don't those bell mouths allow a lot of dust, etc, into the carbs and cylinders? I'd so love to have a serious go at some sort of racing but would struggle to finance a simple track day car at the moment - maybe a very simple buggy at grass tracking events for a year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted January 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Thanks my friend The carb trumpets have a gauze lower between the manifild and trumpet to colect any debris. Also the bonnet scoop is closed so air is directed via the front nostrils. Everyone should have a go, not neccersarily in one of these (be great though) but on a circuit to see what a real driving machine and driver can do. So far as the engine goes, yes, the internals are forged and very special including titanium parts, think £50k for a rebuild and you get the idea and depending on how you treat her, a rebuild every other year! AJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Great pics of You racing, the V8 engine and the machine. That seventies AM Vantage is a beautiful car by any standards and back than it was crazy fast compared to anything else on the street. And with much less police and traffic, You sometimes could actually have fun on some backroads as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donerix 2.0 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Great pictures. I would drive that AM Vantage today in a heart beat. Actually once looked at one when I still lived in Germany. It was cheap but unfortunately not well cared for. Nice to see some racer here. Did some Formula Opel-Lotus (and GM-Lotus in the European Championship) myself when I was young and raced with the likes of Mika Hakkinen, Alan McNish and HH Frentzen (Schumi was still in Formula Ford back then, but already showing his potential). Also did some F3, Porsche Cup and 24-hours races. And then I had my first son and the money went to diapers instead of slick tires …. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted January 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 I know that one! :-) 4 children later and my racing boots are truly hung up! AJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chronoluvvv Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 heck, i never knew we had such superstars among us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikki6 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 'Straight' is an interesting word for it!! Lol. There's not a straight bit on that track! Pic sounds great AJ, tricky corner Druids too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted January 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Thanks S That was the Grand Prix circuit at Hawtjorn Hill before Hawthorn bend! AJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike on a bike Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Looks great Andy! Cool stuff................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Great photos, and That is a truly beautiful car. having grown up in the 50's and still a young guy in the 60's and 70's I can remember some of the really outstanding cars that were built back then. Certainly short on amenities and comfort that we know today, but boy were they fun to drive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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