Visit To Team Dynamics
On Tuesday 11th September, members were welcomed to Team Dynamics Motorsport's fantastic new head quarters in Droitwich. Over 50 IAM visitors and guests were greeted with refreshments in their new luxury entertainment suite overlooking their prestigious workshop. Following the usual safety briefing which we are all now accustomed to, James Ridges Team Manager gave a brief introduction to the current projects Team Dynamics Mortorsport are involved with.
These include preparation and track side race support for: British Touring Car Championship, Team Honda Civics, John Cooper Works Mini Challenge race by Matt Neal and Dan Cammish, and five cars for Matt Neal's sons Will and Henry Neal.
Their special projects include the development of the worlds fastest sit on lawn mower for Honda, plus restoration and race preparation of privately owned MK1 Lotus Cortinas.
Two short videos were shown which included in car footage of an accident involving Matt Neal's Honda, highlighting the strength and build quality of Team Dynamics.
Members were split into two groups for the workshop tour which took us through from start to finish of race car preparation. The first area contained cars stripped back to their bare shell and to lighten them, parts are cut out. Oddly then, weight is added back in the form of driver roll cage protection and body strengthening. New light-weight body panels are produced in a variety of materials from carbon fibre, hydro formed aluminium and plywood. Bodies are then reassembled and go through to the paint shop.
Meanwhile, aircraft quality pipes, fittings and materials are used to build engine and subframe assemblies. These sophisticated systems enable fuel, cooling and brake lines to be built and stored fully pressurised, so complete sections can be swapped out track-side in a few minutes.
Other areas of interest were the early Lotus Cortina build area. There were a number of cars in various stages of build, from acid dipped body shells full of tin worm to finished cars just back from events. The winning Cortina from the recent Goodwood Revival was in the workshop, complete with 'For Sale' sticker. I don't think anyone had the guts to ask the price. Under wraps (which we had to remove) next to these classic Cortinas, was Matt Neal's brand new Honda NSX supercar. The only other people I know with one of these is Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno.
Next was Honda's Mean Mower V2, which was in pieces having further modification to the four cylinder 999cc Fireblade motorcycle engine and ECU module. The engine is currently fettled to produce 190bhp at 13,000rpm, which is equal to 1000bhp/tonne (that's more than a Koenigsegg One and Bugatti Chiron), the mower is capable of hitting 150mph as it cuts your garden lawn.
The main workshop contained the BTCC Honda Civics and John Cooper Works Minis. All the cars were in various states of rebuild and overhaul between weekend meetings. Members had the opportunity to get up-close and personal with the cars, trying seating positions in the cars and attempting pit speed wheel changes. Whilst some of us with team work felt good achieving a sub 30 second wheel changes, we were soon put right by team technicians Craig and David by being able to complete the task in less than 12 seconds on their own. I don't think they'll be recruiting any of us just yet.
The evening can be deemed a success, due to the fact that by 10.30 they literally had to throw the last few members out of the workshop so they could go home.
Many thanks to James Rodger's Team Manager, Ben Durrell Marketing Manager and Craig and David Technicians, for a great informative and entertaining evening.
Article by Paul Tomlinson
These include preparation and track side race support for: British Touring Car Championship, Team Honda Civics, John Cooper Works Mini Challenge race by Matt Neal and Dan Cammish, and five cars for Matt Neal's sons Will and Henry Neal.
Their special projects include the development of the worlds fastest sit on lawn mower for Honda, plus restoration and race preparation of privately owned MK1 Lotus Cortinas.
Two short videos were shown which included in car footage of an accident involving Matt Neal's Honda, highlighting the strength and build quality of Team Dynamics.
Members were split into two groups for the workshop tour which took us through from start to finish of race car preparation. The first area contained cars stripped back to their bare shell and to lighten them, parts are cut out. Oddly then, weight is added back in the form of driver roll cage protection and body strengthening. New light-weight body panels are produced in a variety of materials from carbon fibre, hydro formed aluminium and plywood. Bodies are then reassembled and go through to the paint shop.
Meanwhile, aircraft quality pipes, fittings and materials are used to build engine and subframe assemblies. These sophisticated systems enable fuel, cooling and brake lines to be built and stored fully pressurised, so complete sections can be swapped out track-side in a few minutes.
Other areas of interest were the early Lotus Cortina build area. There were a number of cars in various stages of build, from acid dipped body shells full of tin worm to finished cars just back from events. The winning Cortina from the recent Goodwood Revival was in the workshop, complete with 'For Sale' sticker. I don't think anyone had the guts to ask the price. Under wraps (which we had to remove) next to these classic Cortinas, was Matt Neal's brand new Honda NSX supercar. The only other people I know with one of these is Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno.
Next was Honda's Mean Mower V2, which was in pieces having further modification to the four cylinder 999cc Fireblade motorcycle engine and ECU module. The engine is currently fettled to produce 190bhp at 13,000rpm, which is equal to 1000bhp/tonne (that's more than a Koenigsegg One and Bugatti Chiron), the mower is capable of hitting 150mph as it cuts your garden lawn.
The main workshop contained the BTCC Honda Civics and John Cooper Works Minis. All the cars were in various states of rebuild and overhaul between weekend meetings. Members had the opportunity to get up-close and personal with the cars, trying seating positions in the cars and attempting pit speed wheel changes. Whilst some of us with team work felt good achieving a sub 30 second wheel changes, we were soon put right by team technicians Craig and David by being able to complete the task in less than 12 seconds on their own. I don't think they'll be recruiting any of us just yet.
The evening can be deemed a success, due to the fact that by 10.30 they literally had to throw the last few members out of the workshop so they could go home.
Many thanks to James Rodger's Team Manager, Ben Durrell Marketing Manager and Craig and David Technicians, for a great informative and entertaining evening.
Article by Paul Tomlinson
