Bring Back Castrol R

[barncooseboy]

If you ask fans from yesteryear the thing they really remember is the smell of Castrol R hanging in the air, the smell disappeared when the era of the JAP engine was superceded.

 

Why dont tracks do what the lads of the 60s used to do, add a good dollop of Castrol R to the tractor fuel tanks to bring the smell back.

[Tsunami]

If you ask fans from yesteryear the thing they really remember is the smell of Castrol R hanging in the air, the smell disappeared when the era of the JAP engine was superceded.

 

Why dont tracks do what the lads of the 60s used to do, add a good dollop of Castrol R to the tractor fuel tanks to bring the smell back.

The fans who don't like the tractor grading could be satisfied, and might ask for more tractor racing and cut out the bikes.

[A ORLOV]

The fans who don't like the tractor grading could be satisfied, and might ask for more tractor racing and cut out the bikes.

Even better if the tractor does not have a silencer, bring back noise to make up for the reduction in bike exhaust decibels.

[steve roberts]

I recall reading an article that the late Rob Woffinden placed some Castrol R into his petrol driven lawn mower so as to enjoy the evocative fumes whilst cutting the grass!

[pugwash]

I cook chips in it.

[Reviresco]

Bought the girlfriend some of this for Christmas...

 

[speedibee]

I recall reading an article that the late Rob Woffinden placed some Castrol R into his petrol driven lawn mower so as to enjoy the evocative fumes whilst cutting the grass!

I have been using second hand castrol R in my mower for years , i use it my strimmer and hedge trimmer as well . my mrs said to me your'e a bit obsessive mowing the lawn . I said I dont think I am , she says yes you are ,mowing the lawn 5 times a day is obsessive in anyones book !!

[Ray Stadia]

If you ask fans from yesteryear the thing they really remember is the smell of Castrol R hanging in the air, the smell disappeared when the era of the JAP engine was superceded.

 

Why dont tracks do what the lads of the 60s used to do, add a good dollop of Castrol R to the tractor fuel tanks to bring the smell back.

Not sure what you mean. Up until their demise, Rayleigh riders were mainly using 2 valve Jawas, apart from dear old Terry Stone and all the riders used castor based oil. The non use of castor based oil is a relatively recent thing, possibly started by Gary Havelock who I think was sponsored by Mobile to use synthetic oil. I even think there is a synthetic oil which offers a castor oil smell. For me it is an important part of speedway enjoyment, but then I would be considered an old f4rt!

[Stoke Potter]

The new Belle Vue will be installing some Speedway Air Conditioning which will be piping the aroma into the main stand...

[Nobblytriers]

From what I was told, the newer engines aren't total loss engines and the use of 'R' in the new engines causes them to clog up as it thickens with continuous use. A shame, as that smell was part of the appeal, as all us oldies know.

[steve roberts]

Bought the girlfriend some of this for Christmas...

 

I'm intrigued?

[speedibee]

From what I was told, the newer engines aren't total loss engines and the use of 'R' in the new engines causes them to clog up as it thickens with continuous use. A shame, as that smell was part of the appeal, as all us oldies know.

My son has always used castrol R and still does , when his engines go for service theres very little sign of wear , and no sign whatsoever of clogging . the oil gets thinner as it gets hot . and when it is replaced after 5 races its almost as clean as when it went in . the reason why some riders are using synthetic is the cost , with Castrol R now £15 a litre its an expensive game . Jawas need 500 ml for max 7 races £1.15 a race . Gms have 800ml capacity but still need to be chucked after 7 races , so thats nearer £2 a race .part of the reason for the lack of smell even when an engine is running Castrol R , is that modern engines have much better piston rign to Bore clearance , so all the oil gets scraped back down the bore to recycle . old japs had poor tiolerance so quite a bit of oil remained in bore and got burned . even a fully restored jap or jawa will smoke like a kipper and that smoke is the sweet smell of burning castor

[Ray Stadia]

My son has always used castrol R and still does , when his engines go for service theres very little sign of wear , and no sign whatsoever of clogging . the oil gets thinner as it gets hot . and when it is replaced after 5 races its almost as clean as when it went in . the reason why some riders are using synthetic is the cost , with Castrol R now £15 a litre its an expensive game . Jawas need 500 ml for max 7 races £1.15 a race . Gms have 800ml capacity but still need to be chucked after 7 races , so thats nearer £2 a race .part of the reason for the lack of smell even when an engine is running Castrol R , is that modern engines have much better piston rign to Bore clearance , so all the oil gets scraped back down the bore to recycle . old japs had poor tiolerance so quite a bit of oil remained in bore and got burned . even a fully restored jap or jawa will smoke like a kipper and that smoke is the sweet smell of burning castor

Perhaps the answer could be to put a bit of castor oil in with the methanol, which may help the engine life also! Assuming methanol and castor oil mix, but I imagine it does as I am sure some 2 stroke grass track riders running on methanol use castor oil as a pre-mix. Not sure if it is ok to mix castor and synthetic, if the main lubrication of the engine is synthetic?

[speedibee]

Perhaps the answer could be to put a bit of castor oil in with the methanol, which may help the engine life also! Assuming methanol and castor oil mix, but I imagine it does as I am sure some 2 stroke grass track riders running on methanol use castor oil as a pre-mix. Not sure if it is ok to mix castor and synthetic, if the main lubrication of the engine is synthetic?

 

Perhaps the answer could be to put a bit of castor oil in with the methanol, which may help the engine life also! Assuming methanol and castor oil mix, but I imagine it does as I am sure some 2 stroke grass track riders running on methanol use castor oil as a pre-mix. Not sure if it is ok to mix castor and synthetic, if the main lubrication of the engine is synthetic?

speedway engines only have 1 lubrication . there is no primary and secondary , you put 500 ml of oil in , it gets pumped round the engine then you drain it and chuck it away .or save it and bung it in your mower methanol and castor dont make very good bedfellows since methanol has water in it and turns the castor to cream . and adding R to Meth with affect the burn inside the engine and affect the vaporization process in the carb . resulting in a lack of power . modern engines rely on everything to be timed and metered exactly . the result of messing with anything is usually an expensive bang . you cannot mix synthetic and castor . if you want to change from one to the other you have to strip your engine and clean all traces of whichever .

[Gresham]

Why is Castrol R so attractive to the human brain? Creosote is another one.

 

I don't think it's related to memories of speedway perse...the actual aroma itself is very appealing.

 

Never understood why....

[ruffdiamond]

I like the smell of grilled bacon,,, surely it would'nt be too difficult to bang a couple of rashers on the cylinder head before each race ,,, but maybe have to check that it would'nt offend any 'non bacon' folk first

[SPEEDY69]

Adding something to the fuel is of course against the rules! However, I know that many pros used to add either water or oil to the fuel to flatten the performance. Have used both synthetic and castor oils with little difference in performance or engine deterioration. Personal choice due to cost/sponsors etc. but with less smoke being emitted then I agree with earlier post that that's principal reason for lack of smell these days.

[Ray Stadia]

Why is Castrol R so attractive to the human brain? Creosote is another one.

 

I don't think it's related to memories of speedway perse...the actual aroma itself is very appealing.

 

Never understood why....

I am not keen on the smell of creosote, but do like the smell of castor, however, sometimes and according to my nostrils, in a concentrated form, i.e. lots of bikes chucking it out, it can smell like excrement!

 

Foot note:- Smith & Allan Racing Castor, £27.50 per 5 litres

Edited February 4, 2016 by Ray Stadia

[steve roberts]

Adding something to the fuel is of course against the rules! However, I know that many pros used to add either water or oil to the fuel to flatten the performance. Have used both synthetic and castor oils with little difference in performance or engine deterioration. Personal choice due to cost/sponsors etc. but with less smoke being emitted then I agree with earlier post that that's principal reason for lack of smell these days.

Remember the days when riders added nitro to the fuel to enhance engine performance before it was banned.

[Reviresco]

Remember the days when riders added nitro to the fuel to enhance engine performance before it was banned.

 

Was this the reason John Louis was disqualified from the British Nordic Final in 1973? I can remember JL being disqualified after getting enough points to qualify for the next round, but can't remember the exact reason now. Always thought 1973 could've been his best year in the World Championship.