Roadrace cars... vintage, nostalgia, historic

Lime Rock Park 2008.

 

I don't have that book but do want to own it someday. I do have the Dick Wallen board track book, and it is great.

 

Right after my dad finished the restoration...

 

HAHA! Same time!

 

Lots of cool old roadracers here: http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/

 

My dad's personal race car...

 

What would you like to know?

My dad restored it for Bruce Leven here in Seattle in the early 80's. It certainly may have been restored again since that time. When my dad restored it back then, we finished it and took it to Monterey and the car ran at Laguna Seca and then we took it to Pebble Beach and showed it on Sunday. I say "we" only because I was with my dad while he was doing this although I was only about 7 or 8 years old.

 

A profile shot would be great.

 

You're correct. It's a 2C. Slightly later than the Chaparral 2 they raced in 63,64 & part of 65. The 2C was the later 65 & 66 version and didn't have the gills. Here's my Revell/Monogram 1/32 scale 2C slotcar.

 

A few groups of pics shot by my Dad at Greenwood Roadway, Warren County, IA (30 miles S. of Des Moines).
The track was only open from 63-66.
Enjoy!

Found a lot of good info on the track (& a bunch more pics) at the following site.
http://www.chuckbrandt.com/greenwood.htm

 

Here be a few more . . .

 

& a few more . . .

 

I am cuirous as to what shocks and sway bars they used to make them handle on the straight axles. I beleive the early MG's would be the ones to look at. Remember a book from high school by Felsen that had a story about one.

 

Lever-action shocks were common on the British cars, and changing the thickness of the oil in them was standard practice.

There was also a spring-loaded valve inside you could mess with, IIRC.
You could also destroy a shock by using too thick oil in too cold weather--break it right off.

Tires were so narrow that lean was not such an issue, and you saw lots of wheels lifted right off the ground.

 

My Boss used to own and race this very famous Cobra, it was in the 1963 Le Mans 24 hrs.

Nick.

 

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Here are late-30s BMW 328 production chassis with special bodies, made for distance racing -- Mille Miglia, Rome-Berlin and Les Mans.

The BMW Museum now owns all these but two, and is very generous about showing and racing them.

 

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I love this thread.

Just a different aspect of traditional hot rodding. Anyone doubting it should go back and look through the old magazines from the 50's and 60's.

 

Man does this ever bring back some great memories. I owned two Saabs and 95 (station wagon) and 96. Both were V4's. My wife and I rallied the 96 quite often back in the '70's. I always wanted a two stroke. Had the chance to buy an 850GT once but was young with few resources beging a public school teacher so I had to pass on it. Lately I have begun to lust after another old Saab built for racing. One day maybe......

 

This thread is absolutely fantastic. Thanks for starting it and thanks for the rest of you for keeping it going. Too much cool stuff to comment on everything. Brings back a lot of memories.

 

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I was drawn to this photo.... I searched and found this explanation of the incident as well as a good photo sequence... it turned out OK for the driver.

http://type550.com/history/special-spyders/the-miracle-of-the-avus/

 

I can't get the link to work at the moment ......internet is a slow as hell today...... guess it must be all that turkey ! !


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Grab yourself a chair and a cup of tea....Lots of photos of racing in the U.S. here..

www.racingsportscars.com/cars.html