In this episode of Starting Grid, we talk to Paul Hyrst about becoming a mechanic and Rob Hallam gives advice on having a Triumph Spitfire as your first car. We also see how dragster Paul Jackson is getting on.
Later in the show, pals Chris and Dan add a few spicy extras to Chris' Citroen Saxo VTS to make it perform to the max! We'll also take a trip to Oulton Park to see how the University of Central Lancashire is getting on there!
There's also more advice for that all-important test drive before you buy a car!
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss a video!
------------------
Enjoyed this video? Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE the video and get involved with our community by leaving a COMMENT below the video!
Check out what else our channel has to offer and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to Men & Motors for more classic car and motorbike content! Why not? It is free after all!
Our website: http://menandmotors.com/
---- Social Media ----
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/menandmotors/
Instagram: @menandmotorstv
Twitter: @menandmotorstv
If you have any questions, e-mail us at talk@menandmotors.com
© Men and Motors - One Media iP 2023
Later in the show, pals Chris and Dan add a few spicy extras to Chris' Citroen Saxo VTS to make it perform to the max! We'll also take a trip to Oulton Park to see how the University of Central Lancashire is getting on there!
There's also more advice for that all-important test drive before you buy a car!
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss a video!
------------------
Enjoyed this video? Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE the video and get involved with our community by leaving a COMMENT below the video!
Check out what else our channel has to offer and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to Men & Motors for more classic car and motorbike content! Why not? It is free after all!
Our website: http://menandmotors.com/
---- Social Media ----
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/menandmotors/
Instagram: @menandmotorstv
Twitter: @menandmotorstv
If you have any questions, e-mail us at talk@menandmotors.com
© Men and Motors - One Media iP 2023
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00 Welcome to Starting Grid.
00:23 Coming up in tonight's programme we revisit Paul Jackson.
00:25 In our weekly guide of how to get into, we take a look at car mechanics, as well as show
00:29 you how to go about modifying your new car.
00:32 But first we'll take a look at something you may not have thought about as a first car.
00:42 So you've passed your test, you've been saving your money up for months and it's time to
00:45 buy your first car.
00:46 Now you've got to have something with a bit of street cred, but 1 litre Peugeots, Fiestas
00:50 and Saxos don't quite have the edge.
00:53 So until you make your millions in your first job it looks like you're going to have to
00:56 get your mum's Nova and cover it in plastic spoilers.
01:00 Lovely.
01:01 But there is an option that's completely different, won't break the bank and you've probably
01:04 never even thought of it.
01:25 A Triumph Spitfire, that's right a Triumph Spitfire because classic cars are not just
01:30 for use by old giffers in tweed jackets or eccentrics at the weekend.
01:34 Now I've actually had this car since I was 18, which is years now, and in all that time
01:39 it's never let me down and it hasn't cost me a fortune in parts or insurance.
01:44 So if you do fancy buying something like this I'm going to give you a few pointers about
01:48 what to look out for before you stick your trunks on and you dive in.
01:59 Now one of the biggest enemies for old cars is rust.
02:02 Now this Spitfire should have metal body panels but a lot of people bodge them with filler,
02:06 but the easy way to check is get a magnet, if it sticks on chances are that's going to
02:10 be metal, particularly on the sills because they get all the water and rust away and that's
02:15 going to be fine.
02:19 So what about the engine?
02:20 Well it's very unusual for a car this age, 23 years, to have full service history, but
02:25 it doesn't mean it's not been well looked after.
02:28 A big folder full of bills is a good start but there's a few simple checks you can do
02:31 yourself.
02:32 First of all the oil, check it on the dipstick, it should be nice and clean and also the oil
02:36 filter, if it looks as though it dates back to the arc then you're heading for trouble.
02:41 Air filters again, they should be quite clean and new and all your pipes and fuel pipes,
02:45 give them a squeeze, if they're rock hard and cracked, well chances are it's not been
02:49 looked after.
02:50 Grease nipples, that's woken you up again hasn't it?
02:53 It's not something you've got to do after the programme, but old cars like this have
02:56 grease points, particularly on the suspension arms and on the steering, which need to be
03:00 regularly maintained, if they're not it means they could shear off mid roundabout.
03:06 Now the simplest test you can do to check if your engine's not so bad is look at the
03:09 exhaust or more importantly the smoke that does or doesn't come out of it and to do that
03:14 start your car up, give it a bit of a rev and as long as that smoke isn't thick black
03:22 or thick blue then you should be okay.
03:24 Now these cars need to be run on leaded petrol or lead replacement unless they've been converted,
03:29 run them on leaded and all the engine seals corrode very, very quickly and wear out, which
03:34 is a major job to replace them.
03:35 Now it's not the end of the world if the interior is a bit tatty on your car, most
03:48 of these panels bits of carpet are available very cheaply and these seat covers, I actually
03:52 fitted those myself.
03:54 Change the gear knob, more modern steering wheel and oh yeah I stuck three grams with
03:57 the stereo in it.
04:07 And the last tip and one of the hardest things to check is your chassis, you don't want any
04:10 corrosion at all on there so ideally take it down to your local garage, let the guys
04:15 stick it on a ramp and have a good look at it for you.
04:17 So we've got cheap parts, we've got cheap insurance, for me it was actually 90 quid
04:21 fully comp for the year and that's through a specialist classic insurance and if the
04:25 car is over 25 years you don't pay any tax.
04:28 So you can either go for one of these and get a bit of style or if you don't want to
04:32 listen to an old git like me going on about old cars, start bolting the kitchen sink to
04:36 your Nova.
04:36 Come up to the start line, you're going to want to get your car up to speed, you're going to want to get your car up to speed.
04:43 Come up to the start line, you've got your pre-stage, you've got your stage, you sit
05:10 there, press a button, that injects loads of nitrous, brings it up on you, you sit
05:14 there going bub, bub, bub, bub, when I want to go, I let go of the button, go for the
05:19 hatch.
05:28 Shift it into second, get towards three quarters of a track, over the drive, pull that back,
05:33 third gear in the gearbox.
05:37 Coming towards the end of the track, parachute, pull that back, let the parachute go, let
05:41 the engine come down, stick it into neutral, it's all over.
05:56 Come on dudes, come on mate.
06:00 Gapping the exhaust here, split it so you're losing all the power of the turbo in doing
06:04 anything, bolt it back together and go out there and try and get another go.
06:08 Are you fairly happy with that one?
06:10 Well no, ten's, nah that's not good.
06:12 What's ten to you, is it nothing?
06:13 It's not nothing, no, just, we want to run nines, eight, do you know what I mean, but
06:17 nah, we'll get there.
06:19 Well I'm not disappointed, it'd be nice to, we just need to get it so it holds together,
06:23 we lost all that turbo, there's no point in having the turbo on the car for that, and
06:26 the turbo gives us pretty much half our power so it was just running on what the engine's
06:30 capable of and not what the turbo is.
06:32 What did you get?
06:34 What?
06:36 Yay!
06:38 Go on my son, launch alright yeah?
06:42 Yeah, go on.
06:44 Wicked, he's first twelve, he's got my old engine, and he's got it in, basically he had
06:49 a still normal beetle before, and it was too heavy, he kept breaking gearboxes so I've
06:54 got him to buy that race car, and he's got a twelve out of it.
06:58 But he pooed his pants, twelve's fast.
07:02 Superb.
07:03 I guess for your mind at that speed in only ten seconds.
07:07 You're concentrating on everything you've got to do and then it gets to the end of the
07:09 run and you think like, wow am I at the top?
07:11 Yeah.
07:12 Like, let's do it again sort of thing.
07:15 I'm all hyped up now, I want to go straight back round like.
07:17 You want to run back down?
07:18 Yeah.
07:19 It's a shame the exhaust came off, I heard it come off instantly as soon as I left the
07:22 line near it, I heard it blow and then it was just like, no power.
07:28 It's all good fun.
07:30 The clock is ticking as the dragster needs to be ready for the next two qualifying races.
07:34 For Keith, repairing the exhaust is a relatively simple task.
07:38 The engine is a complicated assembly and there are far greater problems that could affect
07:42 the performance.
07:43 For the dragster team, even behind the scenes, speed and concentration is paramount.
07:48 [music]
07:51 [music]
07:53 [music]
07:55 [music]
08:07 [music]
08:22 [music]
08:24 [music]
08:28 [music]
08:32 [music]
08:36 A successful run in the nines is a fantastic time and leaves Paul in a prime position to
08:40 reach the final stages.
08:42 However, his third race proves to be a major disappointment.
08:46 [music]
08:50 [music]
08:52 He got the wheels up and he was way ahead of Paul Jackson.
08:54 Paul Jackson needs to keep going and use that turbo.
08:56 Although he loses the race, Paul is offered a lifeline due to the winning driver jumping
09:00 the green light and being disqualified.
09:02 A place in the final stages provides a glimmer of hope, but could be dashed with the apparent
09:08 serious damage to the car.
09:10 Whilst changing gear, it appears the engine's intercooler suffered an explosion, splitting
09:14 the casing.
09:16 [music]
09:18 (upbeat music)
09:21 (upbeat music)
09:49 - Fancy yourself as a bit of a budding car mechanic,
09:52 engineer maybe?
09:52 Well we chatted to Brian Hurst,
09:54 car mechanic and all round good bloke for his advice.
09:58 - My name's Brian Hurst, I'm a mechanic,
10:00 just finished my apprenticeship.
10:01 Me dad was a mechanic and it's just something
10:05 I grew up around.
10:05 Found it very easy when I went to college
10:07 and just stayed on it from there.
10:09 I worked in a smaller garage before I went to college.
10:14 Just worked in a smaller garage
10:15 and then I left there and went to another place
10:18 and then I left there and went to college.
10:20 I was at college for three months
10:22 and then they found me a placement,
10:24 was here and then I've been here ever since, three years.
10:27 You won't get the quality of training
10:32 working in a smaller garage,
10:33 you get a better type guaranteed
10:35 and if you're working for someone big,
10:37 maybe they'll send you off to their type,
10:39 specific training for that type of car,
10:40 that type of make.
10:42 In a smaller car you get more variance
10:43 but you get a lot of bad ways and a lot of bad tricks.
10:47 Go to college, get a training agency to take care of you.
10:51 Make sure you do join college,
10:55 then you're guaranteed your placement.
10:57 There you have it.
10:59 Hope that's helped.
11:00 Next week we show you how to get into Speedway.
11:03 We're off to take a break now
11:11 but when we come back we'll be catching up
11:12 with the university as they go through
11:14 their qualifying stages.
11:15 We'll be taking a look at how to make your car
11:17 look the business and give you some test driving tips.
11:20 See you after the break.
11:21 Welcome back.
11:31 In a minute we'll be catching up with the university
11:33 as they go through their qualifying stages
11:35 and showing you how to make your car look the business.
11:37 But first let's take a look at the fifth of our guides
11:40 to buying your first car.
11:42 Hello and welcome to your weekly guide
11:44 to finding your first set of wheels.
11:46 Okay, so you've chosen your car.
11:48 You've had a good look round it
11:49 but now it's time to take it for a test drive.
11:52 Like good comedy, timing is imperative.
11:54 Don't agree to drive such an important potential purchase
11:57 around a rush hour in town.
11:58 You need quiet roads plus a variety of roads too.
12:01 A neat and tidy car is a good idea.
12:04 But you can't just go for a test drive.
12:06 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:08 So, you need to be prepared for the worst.
12:10 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:12 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:14 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:16 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:18 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:20 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:22 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:24 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:26 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:28 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:30 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:32 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:34 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:36 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:38 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:40 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:42 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:44 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:46 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:48 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:50 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:52 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:54 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:56 You need to be prepared for the worst.
12:58 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:00 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:02 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:04 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:06 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:08 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:10 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:12 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:14 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:16 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:18 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:20 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:22 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:24 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:26 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:28 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:30 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:32 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:34 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:36 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:38 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:40 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:42 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:44 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:46 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:48 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:50 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:52 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:54 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:56 You need to be prepared for the worst.
13:58 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:00 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:02 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:04 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:06 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:08 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:10 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:12 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:14 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:16 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:18 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:20 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:22 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:24 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:26 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:28 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:30 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:32 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:34 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:36 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:38 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:40 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:42 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:44 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:46 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:48 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:50 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:52 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:54 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:56 You need to be prepared for the worst.
14:58 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:00 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:02 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:04 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:06 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:08 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:10 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:12 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:14 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:16 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:18 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:20 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:22 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:24 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:26 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:28 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:30 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:32 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:34 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:36 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:38 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:40 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:42 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:44 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:46 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:48 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:50 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:52 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:54 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:56 You need to be prepared for the worst.
15:58 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:00 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:02 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:04 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:06 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:08 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:10 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:12 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:14 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:16 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:18 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:20 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:22 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:24 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:26 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:28 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:30 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:32 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:34 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:36 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:38 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:40 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:42 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:44 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:46 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:48 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:50 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:52 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:54 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:56 You need to be prepared for the worst.
16:58 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:00 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:02 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:04 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:06 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:08 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:10 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:12 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:14 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:16 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:18 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:20 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:22 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:24 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:26 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:28 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:30 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:32 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:34 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:36 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:38 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:40 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:42 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:44 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:46 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:48 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:50 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:52 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:54 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:56 You need to be prepared for the worst.
17:58 You need to be prepared for the worst.
18:00 You need to be prepared for the worst.
18:02 You need to be prepared for the worst.
18:04 You need to be prepared for the worst.
18:06 You need to be prepared for the worst.
18:08 You need to be prepared for the worst.
18:10 You need to be prepared for the worst.
18:12 You need to be prepared for the worst.
18:14 You need to be prepared for the worst.
18:16 We've been following the lads in the race team
18:38 at the University of Central Lancashire
18:40 for the last few weeks and finally
18:42 it's race day for the team.
18:44 Let's see how it went.
18:46 When I'm preparing for a race
18:54 it depends really on how I've qualified
18:56 how I look at the start of the race.
18:58 You try and work out as many different options
19:00 off the start line
19:02 where you can gain a place, how you can defend
19:04 if you make a bad start.
19:06 You've got to look at all options before you start.
19:08 During the build up to the race
19:10 the university has had to overcome
19:12 several problems including gearbox problems
19:14 and brake performance issues.
19:16 Working hard throughout the night
19:18 the team ensured the car was fit to race
19:20 the following day.
19:22 The team also faced a guessing game as to which tyres
19:24 to use for the race because of the changing weather conditions.
19:26 Just bleeding the brakes to make sure there's no air
19:34 left in the pipes because
19:36 obviously air is the gas
19:38 that compresses more than the oil
19:40 so if it compresses more
19:42 the brakes won't be applied as good as it needs to be
19:44 so just trying to get the air out of the system.
19:46 [Music]
19:48 [Music]
20:17 Working together as a team
20:19 the students were able to work to ensure the optimum
20:21 set up for the race.
20:23 Final adjustments were made to the car including changing gear ratios.
20:25 With all the changes made
20:33 Garen is ready to race.
20:35 [Music]
20:37 [Music]
20:39 [Music]
20:41 [Music]
20:43 [Music]
20:45 [Music]
20:47 [Music]
20:49 [Music]
20:51 [Music]
20:53 (upbeat music)
20:55 (upbeat music)
20:58 (upbeat music)
21:00 (upbeat music)
21:24 (upbeat music)
21:27 (upbeat music)
21:35 (upbeat music)
21:42 (upbeat music)
21:48 (upbeat music)
21:54 (upbeat music)
21:56 (upbeat music)
22:00 (upbeat music)
22:06 (upbeat music)
22:12 (upbeat music)
22:18 - That's all that we've got time for this week,
22:24 but here's what's coming up next week.
22:26 The university team go racing
22:27 and we check in with Paul Jackson
22:29 to see how he's getting on.
22:30 See you next week.
22:31 (upbeat music)
22:35 (upbeat music)
22:42 (upbeat music)
22:45 (upbeat music)
22:48 (upbeat music)
22:50 (upbeat music)
22:53 [BLANK_AUDIO]