Just to show something weird, this is a picture of the motor mounting "system" in my TSR FV car. The engine is an actual stressed member of the chassis, sort of like the "Cosworth" in an old Lotus 49! (Or most modern racers!) Two chassis tubes run under the engine and bolt up to the bottom of the trans through a pair of billet aluminum mounts. the weird part is the front of the engine is secured by the exhaust port studs! The roll bar triangulates the installation by bolting the brace directly to the web on the top of the gearbox and the shocks and entire suspension loads are carried by the single lateral "beam" that mounts on the top two transmission/motor mount bolts. While unorthodox to say the least, Mr. Brian Stewart, 1969's Canadian FV Champ, (who won in a modified Kelly, I've been informed) figured it'd all work well enough to carry off another Formula Vee title in 1970! Alas, it was not to be.
D.S.

Well! I was just thumbing through the hoard when I came across this pic of me and the wee FV racer I've been restoring. This was taken last November, just after my first successful test-drive/shakedown in the beasty. I hope to have the thing all done and sorted in time to take it out to a few vintage racing events this year. The car is a 1969? TSR Formula Vee. It was made by Brian Stewart and I'm told it may be the car he won the Canadian FV Championship in, but that has so far not been substantiated. I purchased it many years ago and have been fiddling with it for the past 7 or 8 years. I just started getting serious about the resto within the last 5 years. As it stands now, we need final paint, a fire extinguisher system, proper race rubber and setting up. It does run and drive and it's loads of fun. I can't wait to try it on a proper racetrack. I hope to be out for the VARAC test day on the end of April at Dunnville, Ontario and with any luck, perhaps we can make it to the Vintage Festival at Mosport in June. Watch this space, we'll keep you all posted!
Cheers!
D.S.

The Meaning of "Hoard" ...

So, why "Hoard Words"? To define: "Hoard: a stock or store of money or valued objects, typically one that is secret or carefully guarded. An ancient store of coins or other valuable artifacts. An amassed store of useful information or facts, retained for future use. a cache, stockpile, stock, store, collection, etc."
It's been said by many people close to me that I am a "pack-rat" and tend to never throw things out. This is pretty well true, I suppose because, over the past 50-odd years I have managed to collect quite a lot of "stuff". Some of it's good, mostly it's junk, some is in the form of real objects and others are merely object lessons. So here at "the Hoard" we will put all and sundry on display and see what happens. From time to time, I may even offer for sale or give-away some of the prized pieces of "the hoard". Who knows?
Doug S.

Getting started

O.K. So here I am at getting started on my new "Blog". Now being of the "Older" generation and a total neophyte at this sort of thing, everyone will just have to just bear with me while I get my self up to speed with this stuff. I thank you for your patiernce. For those with no patience, I guess you'll just have to move on. At any rate, I plan on posting things about my life, my art, my cars, my thoughts, and similar or interesting things by others that may strike my fancy from time to time. All comments are welcome, at least for now. I must warn you however, if you offend me, I may get my feelings hurt. So, to get started... I shall blog on!
Cheers!
Doug S.