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Newsletter # 14 30 June 2010

RENAULT Sport & A lpine EXPO

Brisbane – 9 July to 18 July 2010 What’s it all about? If you missed the earlier RSAE Newsletters and are wondering what

the RSAE is all about, please read pages 12 & 13. Whatever happened to ‘Something Old, Something New’ on the front page?

Since this is the last issue of RSAE Newsletter, I thought that the front page should show two photos of the sensational new RenaultSPORT Megane 250!!

RenaultSPORT – THE BEST AFFORDABLE SPORTING CARS IN THE WORLD!!

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Something New, but unfortunately not for Australia – the cute and practical RENAULT Modus

Something Old - RENAULT Type K- 1902

This was the first four cylinder Renault and it was the first Renault built specifically for racing. Previously, Renault had raced their small two cylinder cars using the patented ‘direct drive’ for added efficiency. By the end of 1901, it became obvious to Renault that they needed more than two cylinders of about one litre to beat their competitors, some of which with 10 litre capacity.

The new four cylinder engine was effectively two two-cylinder blocks mounted end to end on a common crankcase with a three bearing crankshaft. Two versions were built, one with 100mm bore and 100mm stroke for 3,146cc and the other with the same bore and a 130mm stroke for 4,090cc. The smaller engine is listed as developing 24bhp and the larger one 31bhp. All up weight was only 600kg, so performance by 1902 standards was very good. The later racing versions no doubt produced more power, but no figures are available.

In 1902, Renault Freres entered three Type Ks in the voiturette (small car) class of the Paris to Vienna road race. This was the race where Renault really enhanced their reputation for superior speed and reliability. The race was won outright by Marcel Renault driving No. 147 with his riding mechanic Vauthier in the time of 15hr 47min 43sec! Poor Vauthier had to shelter behind a leather screen to avoid stones thrown up by other cars, but this discomfort did not last for long, because Marcel Renault was the leader from fairly early in the race! Louis Renault also competed in a Type K, but could only finish in 13th place after suffering repeated tyre trouble. Although four litre does not sound like a light car engine capacity today, in 1902, Renault was competing with many cars of double or treble the engine capacity!

In 1901, Renault had competed in the 552km Paris to Bordeau road race, with a 1, 2, 3 & 4 result. The other result was 350 orders for Renault, at a time when this was a significant quantity for any manufacturer. That year Renault also won a 1, 2, 3 result in the Paris to Toulouse race and 1, 2, 4 & 5 in the Paris to Berlin race. The idea that racing sells cars was obvious even at the turn of the last century. It is not recorded how many cars Renault sold through the Paris to Bordeau victory in 1902 in the Type K. Unfortunately, Marcel Renault was killed in a Type K in the Paris to Madrid race in 1903. This soon resulted in a transition from the Renault Freres (brothers) partnership to a Renault company owned entirely by Louis Renault.

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Another Aussie A110

There are only about 16 Alpine A110s in

Australia, making them quite rare beasts.

Mark Duder in WA has one that is rare

full stop, and unique in this country – a

1600 SX. In this issue of the RSAE

newsletter Mark tells us a bit about his

car…

Now that I have retired, my Alpine is

starting to take shape. The whole back

section has been glassed on and I have

just replaced two fibreglass panels inside

the front RH wing. and fixed a myriad of

minor fibre glass issues. The seat bases

have been redone with marine ply and

basically the next step is to get the body

painted before re-assembling everything

again. I am an expert in putting it

together only to find that to fix

something, I have to take it all out again.

This Alpine is build # 78 of this last

evolution of the A110, the 1600 SX

(VH) and has the square tube chassis

and rear suspension of the A310. The

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843 engine is from the R16 TX, it has a 385 model gearbox and the drive shafts are from a Peugeot 504.

The engine and gearbox were totally rebuilt by Colliers in Sydney and it was fortunate that they actually

still had a set of R16 TX 1647 cc pistons and liners in their loft.

The engine mounts and rear body mounts are quite different from earlier models. When I bought this

car I only had about 70% of it. Thank goodness for the web and for eBay! Next step is I would love to

find out more of the history of this car from its previous owners. It was registered 5027 GY 92, Isle de

France and was originally white in colour.

I have had wonderful support and encouragement from other A110 owners here in Australia and

overseas, and encouragement is most important as the restoration process can get you down form time

to time. Richard Mann and Colin Stark in Victoria, and in the UK Mike Horton have all been

inspirational to me, as were many others. To own an Alpine is obviously a passion, a club, a fraternity”.

Cheers from Mark Duder in Perth

In conclusion, Mark says: PS: Good luck with the gathering and I would have loved to be there. Make sure plenty of pics are taken.

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Eolia – Another Alpine competitor?

When in 1953 at the Paris Motor Show French industrialist Andre-Georges Claude was unable to find a

lightweight, high performance French car, he decided to build his own with the emphasis on quality,

comfort and safety. His Satecmo company, based in the French capital, already specialised in supplying

tuning equipment for the Renault 4CV. Claude, an enthusiastic driver who had competed in the Tour de

France, Alpine Rally and the Mont Ventoux Hillclimb, had also raced a Satecmo modified 4CV in the 1951

Le Mans 24 Hours. Modified versions of the latter's components were the obvious choice. For the chassis

he designed a box section unit incorporating the Renault's coil spring/swing axle suspension at the rear,

but with the addition of two diagonal radius arms, while at the front the 4CV's twin wishbones were

employed with an anti-roll bar; telescopic dampers were fitted all round.

Power came from a Renault Dauphine 845cc engine, mid-mounted, and modified by Alpine tuner Marc

Mignotet to produce 69bhp at 6,200rpm, which was mated to a Claude designed, non-synchromesh five

speed gearbox with 'reverse gate' change, a unit also built under licence and used by French specialist

sports car producer Alpine. Retardation was by twin circuit aluminium Monopole drum brakes.

Clothing all of this was a lightweight, aerodynamically efficient and magnesium alloy body with the A-posts

specifically positioned to create the minimum of blind spots and with two prominent and distinctive vertical

fins either side of the rear window, all of which had been successfully tested in Paris' famous Eiffel wind

tunnel. Underneath, the body was smooth-surfaced to further help airflow while the interior was

pressurised like that of an aircraft - the Plexiglass glass windows were permanently fixed closed - and

heated and ventilated by air fed though purpose-made ducting.

Although completed in 1954, it wasn't until October 1958 that this one and only Satecmo was finally

officially approved for the road. Given the model name Eolia, after Eolius, the god of the winds in classical

mythology, it was certainly no slouch and was capable of 104mph and with acceleration to match. But

although Claude had aspirations of putting the car into limited production for sale in America and also

courted Renault to produce the Eolia as a luxurious competition model, nothing came of either idea; nor

did his hopes of running the Satecmo at Le Mans. Claude's technically advanced car thus remained

forever a one-off and, having fitted specially-made ventilated front disc brakes in 1960, he eventually sold

the Satecmo to a young engineer seven years later. Little used by him, it remained in storage in south-

west France until it was discovered by the current owner in 2004 who, together with his son, finally

acquired the car in 2006.

This car was extensively featured in the April 2007 issue of Classic & Sports Car magazine. They found

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that the car was a highly distinctive and quintessentially French sports car, beautifully and professionally

built with extraordinary attention to detail and presented in excellent original condition. It was finished in

dark blue with blue interior and had just 14,000 kilometres on the odometer. Classic and Sports Car

magazine thought that the Eolia was an unique machine that would be eligible for, and no doubt most

welcome at, many European historic events.

……………………………………………………………...… A group of Renaults wait for the start of the 2007 Forest Classic Rally (John Elliott won his class in an Alpine GTA)

……………………………………………………………………………………

Tinkle, tinkle do I hear, When changing out of second gear! Don’t gloat because it’s a Ford. Renault engines are very strong, but when modified, not completely ‘bullet-proof’!

Don’t let this happen to you at the track day!

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RENAULT WIND - A COMPACT, INVENTIVE, FUN TO DRIVE COUPE-ROADSTER

Renault Wind and its unique, electric, rotating-roof concept bring a breath of fresh air to the world of open-top motoring. “Renault Wind extends the brand’s range with a new model wholly dedicated to the pleasure of its occupants inviting them to enjoy an alternative way of driving. Through its concept and the technology it employs, Renault Wind is an ingenious illustration of Renault’s new brand signature, ‘Drive the Change’” Renault Wind targets customers looking for a compact everyday car and, as a two-seat coupé-roadster with a length of 3.83 meters, it slots into the Renault range between Twingo and Clio. Thanks to its ingenious, electrically-operated roof system, which pivots open in just 12 seconds, Renault Wind boasts unprecedented versatility: in the lowered position, the roof panel rests above the boot, meaning that boot volume is always 270 dm3 VDA, whether the roof is up or down. Renault Wind has head-turning looks. Its blue-tinged gaze, muscular profile and rear-end forms, give it an emphatically modern profile. Unique styling details include the roof-cover cowls, chrome exterior door mirror housings and badging on the side which recalls the rotational movement of the roof-opening mechanism. Meanwhile, there is an unmistakable ‘cockpit’ feel about the interior. The instruments are reminiscent of the world of motorbikes, the sport seats feature integrated head rests, while the low-set driving position and sporty layout of the controls are typical of roadsters. The expertise of Renault Sport Technologies (R.S.T) in the realm of motoring enjoyment needs no introduction, and Renault Wind has benefited extensively from the expertise of R.S.T’s engineers. The new coupé-roadster is built on the same platform as Clio 2 R.S., and its chassis is perfectly suited to the power outputs of the two engines that are available for the

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car, the TCe 100 and the 1.6 16V 133hp. One of the chief accomplishments of R.S.T’s engineers is that they have achieved the best weight to body-rigidity ratio for a coupé-roadster, allowing Renault Wind to provide an outstanding ride plus very low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Renault Wind takes full advantage of Renault's expertise in the fields of active and passive safety too, while the excellence of its chassis and its powerful brakes ensure exceptionally reassuring handling. Renault Wind will go on sale in July 2010 in the United Kingdom and Slovenia, and

from September in its other western European markets. It is not known whether Renault Wind will make it to Australia.

2010 is the 30th anniversary of the release of the mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo!

A highly modified 4CV at Dieppe

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Thanks and Acknowledgement from Humble Scribe

This will be the last Newsletter before RSAE.

It is appropriate to confirm what should have been evident to all readers of RSAE Newsletters – Our Newsletters did not seek to meet the standards of academic or literary publications. They were produced solely to create interest in and provide information about RSAE. They were produced by volunteers and created no income for RCCQ or for anybody else involved.

It is appropriate therefore, to acknowledge the great amount of help that I have received in preparation of the RSAE Newsletters. Special thanks go to:

• Al Kelly, for contributing articles, editing, liaising with other contributors and providing

advice.

• Ernst and Sonja Luthi, for contributing two articles

• Richard Mann, for contributing an article

• Colin Fuller, for contributing an article

• Mark Duder, for contributing an article

• Bob Gray for contributing many photos and much other interesting material

• Rob Ringe, for writing an entire Newsletter and editing of others

• Graham Nordling, for editing and distribution of the Newsletters

• Tim Moores of Club Alpine UK, for providing information about the Alpine/Renault

relationship

• Roy Smith of Club Alpine UK, for providing information about the Alpine/Renault

relationship. Roy Smith is author of a number of authoritative books about Alpine and Renault. Details of these books can be found at: www.veloce.co.uk

• Many other members of RCCQ, who provided advice and help in various ways

Without the generous assistance of those people, the RSAE Newsletters would have been both fewer and of a far lower standard.

Thanks also go to the many authors, publications and photographers whose work I ‘borrowed’. I have tried to acknowledge the source of such material, but I know that in many of cases I have slipped up. Sometimes it was because I had not recorded the source and such acknowledgement was not possible. Unfortunately, in some cases, it was because of general slackness on my part! To those authors and sources that missed out on their proper acknowledgement, please accept my sincere apologies.

Phil Harrison

Humble Scribe

…………………………………………………………………...

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The Driving Centre at Norwell will be host to the RSAE Track Day on Monday 12 July

RSAE Track Day on Monday 12 July.

8.00am - Arrive at Norwell, sign on and enjoy a cup of complimentary tea or coffee.

8.30am - Welcome by Renault Marketing Director, Sylvain Martin-Villa and others, plus briefing by a senior

Driving Instructor from The Driving Centre.

9.00am - Form into groups to rotate at 45 min intervals around the following activities:

• Circuit training, with each group in a new Renault. Initially a Norwell Expert Instructor will

demonstrate safe and effective techniques applicable to both circuit and road driving. Each

member of the group will have the opportunity to drive around the circuit in a new Renault.

• ABS Brake and Steer, with each group again in new Renaults. Here you will learn the feel of ABS

in action and how to best use it to avoid accidents, both on the road and track. Each person will

have the opportunity to take the wheel of a new Renault for this segment!

• Skid Pan Competition: A circuit will be set out on the skidpan. Each participant will have the

chance to compete over three timed laps, driving a new RenaultSport Clio (probably). There will be

penalties levied for hitting the witch’s hats, but otherwise, the fastest time wins!!

• Small Track Exercise: Each participant will drive a new RenaultSport Clio (probably) for a timed

run around this tight track. That sounds easy? Well there are a couple of challenges – firstly, the

track is tighter than many go-kart tracks, and secondly, the Clio will have a wok mounted on the

bonnet, with a tennis ball inside. If the tennis ball comes out of the wok, you have to stop and put it

back in, all while the clock is still running! Smooth driving will win here!

• V8 Supercar Workshop Tour: The Norwell complex is used as a base by Paul Morris. The tour

will allow you to see what goes on in the building and race preparation of a V8 Supercar.

12.45pm - Lunch and presentation by Sylvain Martin-Villa and others. (We are still finalizing arrangements

for lunch, but we expect to be able to provide you with a good lunch at a moderate price)

1.45pm – Sprint and Regularity Session. Here you will have the opportunity to drive your car around the

circuit for either timed Sprint or Regularity Runs. There will be no racing as such, except against the clock

if you wish. If you don’t want to go fast, you can still participate in the Regularity Runs at your own pace.

4.30 – 5.00pm – Wrap up and Departure.

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IMPORTANT!

The track day will now be run under an AUSTRALIAN AUTO-SPORT

ALLIANCE INC. (AASA) permit. This introduces the following new requirements:

• All participants will be required to sign an Indemnity Form. • Every driver participating in the afternoon session on the track must

have a current AASA Clubman Driver’s Licence. If you already have one, please bring it with you on the day. We can sell you a licence on behalf of AASA, for a cost of $20 for the day, or $55 for a whole year. A blank AASA ‘Application for Competition Licence’ form is provided with this Newsletter. Fill it out now so you don’t have to do it on the day.

• Helmets must be worn by drivers during the afternoon track session. We can provide a number of ‘loan helmets’ at no cost, so there is no need to bring your own!

• Driver’s arms and legs must be covered by clothing and closed shoes must be worn during the afternoon track session.

• All vehicles for the afternoon session must undergo scrutineering to ensure that they are in ‘track-worthy’ condition. A self-scrutineering form will be provided for new condition vehicles, but all vehicles may still be subject to inspection.

• All Queensland Registered vehicles must bring documentary evidence of a Compulsory Third Party Insurance Extension specifically to cover

this event. *1 Your insurer should provide this at no/nominal cost, but you MUST arrange that before you come to the track. This requirement does not apply to other vehicles.

• For insurance reasons, a special area will be set aside as a pit area for unregistered vehicles. Those vehicles must be unloaded and reloaded in this area and must not leave the area except to visit the track proper.

• Noise restrictions apply. If neighbours at Norwell complain about the noise, we have to stop running, so it is better to be quiet and not generate the complaint in the first place.

*1 – I have just arranged BY PHONE, for the CTP insurance extension for my RS Clio and R19 at a cost of $10 each. This is easier and quicker than writing a letter. Phone numbers are: RACQ Insurance – 131905 Allianz Insurance – 1800 816868 Others – I suggest that you look for the number on your renewal notice or in the telephone book.

Our thanks go to Renault Australia for their generous sponsorship of this event, and to Jamie Cartwright of Cartwright Motor Group, Southport, for the provision of the new Renaults and other sponsorship of RSAE 2010.

Bonus!! - We can’t promise it yet, but if you come to Norwell, you might just see a new unreleased RenaultSPORT model!

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What is RSAE 2010 all about!

In June 2004, six members of the Renault Car Club of Queensland (RCCQ) attended the Alpine Recorde du Monde at Zolder racing circuit in Belgium. That event involved 667 RenaultSport, Gordinis, Alpines etc, from 52 car clubs and 16 different countries! With the Alpine Recorde du Monde as inspiration, the RCCQ held the very successful Renault Sport & Alpine Expo – 2005! We are now staging an even larger event, the RSAE – 2010!

The Itinerary for RSAE 2010 is:

• Friday 9 July – Welcome Function 7.00 – 9.00 pm. Your Registration Pack will include:

In this registration package you will find:-

Lanyard and name badge for each registrant.

Please wear your lanyard and name badge (including all entry and welcome

drinks tickets) at all times during the Expo.

Function tickets.

Included in the lanyard are:-

Two tickets for each registrant for a welcome glass of wine, soft drink or a

beer at the Friday night Welcome Function.

If prepaid one ticket per registrant for the day run luncheon.

One ticket for each registrant for a welcome glass of wine, soft drink or a

beer at the Saturday Night Gala Dinner.

One ticket for attendance & welcome glass of wine, soft drink or a beer for

each EXTRA person registered for the Gala Dinner on Saturday night.

A RSAE 2010 sticker which entitles the registrant’s car entry to the Grand

Display of French Cars

One ticket for each registrant to attend the Pizza/Wine farewell on Sunday

afternoon/evening.

Other inclusions are:-

Registration receipt

If ordered, one Polo shirt

Programme detailing events, time, date and location

Route instructions for day Saturday

Auction catalogue

Layout for photo shoot on Saturday morning

Voting paper for entrant’s choice for most popular car at Expo

Renault Pen

Renault desk memo holder

Other goodies

It is important you check the contents to check that they are correct. If there

are any issues, please raise them with the Registration Desk and we will try

to solve them as quickly as possible.

The Committee wishes you all the best as you attend the RSAE 2010. We

are sure you will have an enjoyable and rewarding weekend as you

experience the fellowship, interesting speaker and wonderful hospitality of

the RCCQ, Brisbane.

For registrants who are travelling to Sydney on Tuesday there will be a

briefing and distribution of road maps at the Sunday farewell.

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• Saturday 10 July – Scenic Drive on some picturesque and challenging SE Qld roads with an official assembly photo shoot and lunch at beautiful Binna Burra Mountain Lodge in the Mount Lamington National Park. The photo to the right shows Antarctic Beech trees in Lamington National Park near Binna Burra. These trees are a reminder that Australia was part of Gondwanaland! This is about the northernmost point in Australia where Antarctic Beech trees can be found.

• Saturday 10 July Evening – Gala Dinner 7

pm Robertson Gardens - includes a Q & A Session with Bruce Collier, …. plus a Renault memorabilia auction.

• Sunday 11 July – A Grand Display of French Cars starting at 8:30 am at Brookfield Pony Club Showgrounds, followed by a casual dinner for RSAE participants.

Optional additional events are:

• Monday 12 July – Track Day at ‘The Driving Centre’ at Norwell.

The following activities will be available before lunch: * Safety Training on Skid-pan * Circuit training lead by experienced racing drivers * ABS braking training * Short circuit novelty event * Tour of V8 Supercar workshop In the afternoon, this will be followed by the opportunity to drive your car on this

interesting 2 km circuit for timed or regularity laps – What a day!!

Thanks to generous sponsorship from RENAULT AUSTRALIA, the cost for the whole day is only $50* per person. Thanks also to Jamie Cartwright of Cartwright Motor Group for the provision of cars and other sponsorship.

*Does not include lunch * Cost for first 50 registrants only. Late registrations may attract a late fee!

* Due to the requirements of AASA, all track participants will need an AASA licence at a cost of $20 for the day, or $55 for a whole year. If you already have one, don’t forget to bring it.

To put the cost of the day into perspective, the cost of our morning’s activities at Norwell would normally be $199 per person. You pay one quarter that price and get the Sprint and Regularity Session as a bonus!!

• Tuesday 13 to Friday 16 July – Transit to Sydney along some interesting back roads. • Friday 16 July – Dinner with our colleagues from Renault Car Club of Australia

(RCCA). • Saturday 17 July – Day run in the Sydney environs followed by dinner, again kindly

organized by our colleagues from RCCA. • Sunday 18 July – Participation in the Sydney All French Car Day.

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You don’t have to have the latest RenaultSPORT to participate in RSAE 2010 - ANY Renault will do, or just an interest in Renault. Everybody is welcome!! However, we do NOT expect a Dacia/Renault Logan, to make it along to RSAE 2010, although it would be very welcome!

We do however, hope for a R12 Gordini like the one pictured below!

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The photo above shows the ‘gasworks’ of a R12 Gordini! Perhaps we’ll see a couple of R4s?

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…. or a Laguna 2 estate?

RSAE is only one week away, so ….

PLEASE REGISTER NOW!

Please complete a Registration Form and send it to us ASAP. If you are interested in RSAE 2010 and want more information, please get in touch. Also, determine your work/holiday plans & make your accommodation bookings early. It may help to keep an eye on the various forums, including: http://renaultinaus.17.forumer.com/

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1864981&da=y

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/1936651/rsae-2010-flyer-3-pdf-may-28-2010-8-04-pm-182k?da=y

Questions? Contact us at ‘enquiry@renaultclubqld.com.au’ or telephone Ian Both (07) 3279 0509 or Phil Harrison (0419 885513).

RSAE 2010 - the best RENAULT

event in Australia ever! Australia