Rev Barry's Intro

Let me just reply to this before I take some photos.
I use Pirelli Extraflex (I think !). I use 1, 1 1/2, and 2 in. wide. (I do not use 1in now).
As the years go by the rubber stiffens up quite a bit; tho' in initial setting up it stretched for a while in use.
I mount the bands in multiples of 2 with a double yoke which has a centre piece for the pull rods. See the pictures when they arrive.
I think Alan's diagram in his book is 'iffy' when he outs the bands round a pivot, even with needle race inside. I have always put my rubbers in straight pull.
I try to get round the rising rate characteristic when working out my wheel rate by sitting that end of the car on bathroom scales, pulling it down 1/2 in, then lifting it 1/2 in, and I assume (!!!) that the difference in the scales is more or less the lb/in figure, obviously divided by 2 for each wheel.
Originally I got multiple bands sewn in about 1/8 in increments: Now I put a single loop in one end and wrap it round the two pivots and lock it with clamping spikes.
If you take a single loop and pull it down against scales you will see the curve; my own guess work is not to stretch it more than 50% on the car.
My weakness is that I still use shock absorbers and the quadrants etc. add to the weight. Part of the reason for the Sh.Abs. is that if the bands broke (they never have in 24 years) then the Sh.Abs. stops me hitting the ground !
I will send this for now without any photos as the chaos in changing engines since the weekend makes photos awkward to do anything about. Thus much of what I have said will not become clear for a day or so !
Barry Whitehead.