Our FIA historic race car...

For the uninitiated, FIA Appendix K regulations dictate that a car is built as it was in period - in this case pre 1966. There are various race series for FIA cars in Britain and Europe, such as the Top Hat series. The Goodwood Revival meeting also favours cars that at least look (until - in the case the Anglias - you open the bonnet to find a bunch of Webers) like FIA cars. In some UK race series FIA cars run in their own class - alongside much more highly modified cars. So they get their doors blown off... But are much "nicer" cars... Other cars running in Appendix K include Mini Coopers, Lotus Cortinas & Ford Galaxies and Mustangs!

We bought the car in 1998 from Lawrie Goodwin, a veteran of touring car racing in period, who had thought of going historic racing, but ended up (extensively) restoring he car as a "cafe racer" - cage etc but a standard 997cc engine. Prior to his ownership it had been a rally car (and still bore some of the tell tale signs of that life!).

The first proposed outing was the 1998 Crystal Palace Sprint (what a great event) and prior to this it was sent to Safety Devices for a full cage, Chris Weedon for various modifications - but still with 997cc it wasn't very quick!

It looked lovely though, and was entirely period, which may be why we were lucky enough to be invited to the first (1998) Goodwood Revival Meeting.

Having gained the invite more speed was required however. At this stage John Colyer (long standing Anglia enthusiast) actually offered me a full race 1220cc engine. It had been in a Classic Saloon Car Club car - and blown up - but had been beautifully built initially. A quick rebuild with new bearings etc following and the car was suddenly rather quicker!

Unfortunately at Goodwood it managed to spew out all its fluids on lap two of the race proper, having gotten progresively quicker during the practice sessions.

Still a fantastic weekend though, and some fantastic support from new found friends.

Over the winter it seemed we needed more power, so another "freshen up" and various other work at Barwell Motorsport (the follks who run the Astons at Le Mans) followed, and we entered the very first Top Hat race at Silverstone with great anticipation, sharing the car with Dave Lillywhite (of Octane magazine). Quicker, although needing to be quicker still, so various parts gathered and more work planned.

And then...

During the Coys Historic Festival Test Day (and while on Honeymoon)... I manage to roll it! Only undented panel the bootlid...

Oh dear!

Which brings us to the rebuild that is perhaps of interest to vistors to the site.

First job was to find a good shell - and we got very lucky here, with the best shell John Castell (Anglia guru) had ever seen. It then headed down to John's workshop is Sussex, along with the remains of the crash...

Since then (1999!) it's been a long time coming back!

John Castell has prepared the shell - see pictures of some of his "trick" mods.

Barwell Motorsport have built the engine yet again, Kevin at Milton has done suspension bits - more of that later ...and lots of other detail bits!

Some things I've learned that might be useful to folks building an FIA car:

SUSPENSION
Kevin Wood at Milton is the man you want!

FIA regs mean you need to run "standard" size front springs rather than Kevin's smaller ones, but he can make you up a set of Mk II Cortina struts using these springs and with better inserts & adjustable spring platforms. The latter are not really allowed, but are very useful to set up the car & then you can weld them. Kevin can also supply solid top mounts - but poly ones work better. You can also get Superflex poly bushes for everything else.

Milton also supply rose jointed TCAs - and again, not really allowed but good for setting the car up. The Dunlop M tyre used for the FIA is quite a tall tyre - your set up may be quite different to any you have used previously.

Double front anti roll bars are a lovely period mod - but not allowed. Milton's "quick" drop and steeering arms are however, and make a big difference.

If you are building a car from scratch might be useful to look at fitting all this up to see if the tyres foul the leading edge of the wheel arch - horrible to find out after the car has been painted...

The real "problem" is the back - you can't do anything! Get Leda to uprate the lever arch dampers, stiffer leaf springs (although some advise against this) and poly bushes is about it.

FIA regs seem (!) to allow a rear anti roll bar - up to you how liberally to interpret that!