Showing posts with label Auto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Auto. Show all posts
Wednesday, 1 June 2016
Saturday, 16 April 2016
Sunday, 20 March 2016
Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Friday, 5 February 2016
Wednesday, 13 January 2016
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
Friday, 29 May 2015
Friday, 22 May 2015
Monday, 20 April 2015
Monday, 14 May 2012
GALPOT Weekly #30
Welcome to GALPOT Weekley #30 a review of the daily posts on the 'Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' blog.
This week I started off with a visit to the Spring Performance Car Action day at Castle Combe, which despite unseasonal inclement weather was an all blingin', slamin, surfin' and driftin' affair as exemplified by the Nissan Skyline drifting the wrong way through Camp Corner above.
Tom Killeen took out patent's on the design features of the monocoque Killeen K1 designed in 1950 and built for the 1953 season. It was Colin Coopers privilege to own the Killeen from 1979 to 1985 and he can be seen at the wheel above at Donington Park in 1983.
MK III Ford Cortina's were the subject of Wednesday's blog. The base 1300 model above, seen in Malta, is one of the lightly face lifted TD models introduced in late 1973 I did not know it at the time of the original post but a Ford Cortina features in a car chase in the 2011 Robert De Niro action movie 'Killer Elite'.
Like Europe's Ford Cortina the contemporary US Ford mid size car has featured in a relatively recent action film in the later case the 'Easy Handler' car gave it's name 'Gran Torino' to the Clint Eastwood thriller.
Ferrari Fridays post was dedicated to the memory of the most entertaining open wheel driver it has been my privilege to ever see in action.
The famous twin wing Lotus 76, which I looked at in yesterday blog, featured an electrically operated clutch and caused quite a stir when it was first shown to the public in 1974 however it proved to be a huge disappointment and nowhere near as competitive as the venerable Lotus 72.
Today's post reviews the Auto Italia Day at Brooklands last weekend where the AC Zagato AC 378 GT was one of a number of vehicles I had not seen before.
Thanks for joining me on "GALPOT Weekly #30", I hope you will enjoy catching up through the links and that you will join me on "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres" in the week ahead when I'll be covering last Bank Holiday Mondays action packed race meeting at Castle Combe, on Wednesday I'll be starting a new regular "Continental" feature looking at cars made built in Europe starting with a Panhard. Don't forget to come back now !
This week I started off with a visit to the Spring Performance Car Action day at Castle Combe, which despite unseasonal inclement weather was an all blingin', slamin, surfin' and driftin' affair as exemplified by the Nissan Skyline drifting the wrong way through Camp Corner above.
Tom Killeen took out patent's on the design features of the monocoque Killeen K1 designed in 1950 and built for the 1953 season. It was Colin Coopers privilege to own the Killeen from 1979 to 1985 and he can be seen at the wheel above at Donington Park in 1983.
MK III Ford Cortina's were the subject of Wednesday's blog. The base 1300 model above, seen in Malta, is one of the lightly face lifted TD models introduced in late 1973 I did not know it at the time of the original post but a Ford Cortina features in a car chase in the 2011 Robert De Niro action movie 'Killer Elite'.
Like Europe's Ford Cortina the contemporary US Ford mid size car has featured in a relatively recent action film in the later case the 'Easy Handler' car gave it's name 'Gran Torino' to the Clint Eastwood thriller.
Ferrari Fridays post was dedicated to the memory of the most entertaining open wheel driver it has been my privilege to ever see in action.
The famous twin wing Lotus 76, which I looked at in yesterday blog, featured an electrically operated clutch and caused quite a stir when it was first shown to the public in 1974 however it proved to be a huge disappointment and nowhere near as competitive as the venerable Lotus 72.
Today's post reviews the Auto Italia Day at Brooklands last weekend where the AC Zagato AC 378 GT was one of a number of vehicles I had not seen before.
Thanks for joining me on "GALPOT Weekly #30", I hope you will enjoy catching up through the links and that you will join me on "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres" in the week ahead when I'll be covering last Bank Holiday Mondays action packed race meeting at Castle Combe, on Wednesday I'll be starting a new regular "Continental" feature looking at cars made built in Europe starting with a Panhard. Don't forget to come back now !
Sunday, 6 May 2012
GALPOT Weekly #29
Welcome to GALPOT Weekley #29, the 2012 season is now well underway and this is reflected in the increased numbers of events I and the GALPOT team have been attending of late.
The week started with a trip to a soaking Prescott where the 2012 Avon Tyres MSA British Hillclimb Championship got underway, Scott Rayson driving the mighty Chevrolet Special sand racer above did not come close to making the top 12 run off but was the fastest of the four sand racers present.
Colin Cooper took no shortcuts when he hand cut the tubing for his Kayne Special III seen above at Oulton Park, the car was designed for towing his Kayne Special II to events but it turned out to be a handy competitor on the hills and in speed events.
On Wednesday I looked at the Ford Corsair 2000E, one thing I forgot to mention was that in 1967 Eric Jackson and Ken Chambers took part in an epic race racing their Ford Corsair from Cape Town to Southampton against the RMS Windsor Castle. There are many myths about the events surrounding this competition for the full accurate story I highly recommend reading the Damn Long Way posts and disregarding almost everything else that has been posted on the internet regarding this http://damnlongway.com/blog/records/racing-the-windsor-castle/. Following up this story it has transpired that the story of the Corsair setting records at Monza is a myth that appears to have started in the Ford publicity department. I have amended the original Corcair post in the light of these findings.
Thanks to Kerry Williams Thursdays GALPOT blog paid a trip to last weekends Classic Motorsports Mitty presented by Mazda at Road Atlanta, which taught me about the BRE TR 250K which I had never seen or even heard of before.
For Ferrari Fridays blog I visited the set of Ron Howard's movie 'Rush' a film about the rivalry between James Hunt (#11 McLaren) and Niki Lauda #1 Ferrari, the scene above is a reenactment of the 1976 Spanish Grand Prix from which John Watson in the #28 Penske has just retired with a blown engine.
The Lotus Europa Special, featured on Saturdays GALPOT blog, was originally conceived as a limited edition with for a production run of just 200 but the demand for the model led to a total production number of 3130 big valve Lotus Type 74's.
Today's post review's last Saturday's Bristol Italian Auto Moto Festival where one of the stars of the show was this Lancia Volumex powered FIAT X1/9.
Over the Bank holiday weekend I have already visited the Auto Italian Car Day at Brooklands and will be visiting Castle Combe tomorrow and will be posting blogs on these events along with features on the Patent Monocoque Killeen K1 once owned by Colin Cooper in the days ahead.
Thanks for joining me on GALPOT Weekly #29, I hope you will enjoy the links and that you will join me again at 'Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' blog during the week ahead. Don't forget to come back now !
The week started with a trip to a soaking Prescott where the 2012 Avon Tyres MSA British Hillclimb Championship got underway, Scott Rayson driving the mighty Chevrolet Special sand racer above did not come close to making the top 12 run off but was the fastest of the four sand racers present.
Colin Cooper took no shortcuts when he hand cut the tubing for his Kayne Special III seen above at Oulton Park, the car was designed for towing his Kayne Special II to events but it turned out to be a handy competitor on the hills and in speed events.
On Wednesday I looked at the Ford Corsair 2000E, one thing I forgot to mention was that in 1967 Eric Jackson and Ken Chambers took part in an epic race racing their Ford Corsair from Cape Town to Southampton against the RMS Windsor Castle. There are many myths about the events surrounding this competition for the full accurate story I highly recommend reading the Damn Long Way posts and disregarding almost everything else that has been posted on the internet regarding this http://damnlongway.com/blog/records/racing-the-windsor-castle/. Following up this story it has transpired that the story of the Corsair setting records at Monza is a myth that appears to have started in the Ford publicity department. I have amended the original Corcair post in the light of these findings.
Thanks to Kerry Williams Thursdays GALPOT blog paid a trip to last weekends Classic Motorsports Mitty presented by Mazda at Road Atlanta, which taught me about the BRE TR 250K which I had never seen or even heard of before.
For Ferrari Fridays blog I visited the set of Ron Howard's movie 'Rush' a film about the rivalry between James Hunt (#11 McLaren) and Niki Lauda #1 Ferrari, the scene above is a reenactment of the 1976 Spanish Grand Prix from which John Watson in the #28 Penske has just retired with a blown engine.
The Lotus Europa Special, featured on Saturdays GALPOT blog, was originally conceived as a limited edition with for a production run of just 200 but the demand for the model led to a total production number of 3130 big valve Lotus Type 74's.
Today's post review's last Saturday's Bristol Italian Auto Moto Festival where one of the stars of the show was this Lancia Volumex powered FIAT X1/9.
Over the Bank holiday weekend I have already visited the Auto Italian Car Day at Brooklands and will be visiting Castle Combe tomorrow and will be posting blogs on these events along with features on the Patent Monocoque Killeen K1 once owned by Colin Cooper in the days ahead.
Thanks for joining me on GALPOT Weekly #29, I hope you will enjoy the links and that you will join me again at 'Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' blog during the week ahead. Don't forget to come back now !
Friday, 9 September 2011
Ciao Enzo - Ferrari F40
Today's Ferrari Friday blog is dedicated to the person who first suggested Ferrari Friday blogs to me many months ago, Jr Cracker, otherwise known to me as Mike who's Birthday it is tomorrow.
image upload
The Ferrari F40 what was technical tour de force intended to bring together 40 years of learning and achievement in one road vehicle to celebrate the first 40 remarkable years in the story of Ferrari S.p.A.
With a tested 200 mph capability the F40 held the title of worlds fastest production car, when it was launched in 1987, to underline it's technical superiority.
The F40 was not only the companies most powerful and fastest car, but at US$ 400,000 in 1987, it was also the most expensive car Ferrari had ever offered for sale.
1,315 examples of this type were manufactured between 1987 and 1992 the last of them selling for a rumoured US$1.6 million.
Many of the technical specifications were advanced from the Ferrari (288) GTO including the twin turbo V8 engine which in this application was increased to 3 litres / 183 cui producing 470 hp.
Keeping such a powerful motor cool in such a small vehicle required ventilation through the rear screen.
Until 1990 F40's like this particular 1989 example, seen at the Italian Auto Moto Festival, were bereft of power sapping catalytic converters.
During Bonneville Speedweek 2006 Amir Rosenbaum recorded a top speed of 226 mph in his lightly modified F40, standard versions could reach 120 mph in just 11 seconds faster than both the Lamborghini Countach and Porsche 959 which were it's main competitors.
Enzo Ferrari knew when setting out the specifications of the F40 that this would be his final engineering statement and it was indeed the last vehicle bearing his own name that he was to commission before his death aged 90 in August 1988.
Thanks for joining me on the F40 Edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
image upload
The Ferrari F40 what was technical tour de force intended to bring together 40 years of learning and achievement in one road vehicle to celebrate the first 40 remarkable years in the story of Ferrari S.p.A.
With a tested 200 mph capability the F40 held the title of worlds fastest production car, when it was launched in 1987, to underline it's technical superiority.
The F40 was not only the companies most powerful and fastest car, but at US$ 400,000 in 1987, it was also the most expensive car Ferrari had ever offered for sale.
1,315 examples of this type were manufactured between 1987 and 1992 the last of them selling for a rumoured US$1.6 million.
Many of the technical specifications were advanced from the Ferrari (288) GTO including the twin turbo V8 engine which in this application was increased to 3 litres / 183 cui producing 470 hp.
Keeping such a powerful motor cool in such a small vehicle required ventilation through the rear screen.
Until 1990 F40's like this particular 1989 example, seen at the Italian Auto Moto Festival, were bereft of power sapping catalytic converters.
During Bonneville Speedweek 2006 Amir Rosenbaum recorded a top speed of 226 mph in his lightly modified F40, standard versions could reach 120 mph in just 11 seconds faster than both the Lamborghini Countach and Porsche 959 which were it's main competitors.
Enzo Ferrari knew when setting out the specifications of the F40 that this would be his final engineering statement and it was indeed the last vehicle bearing his own name that he was to commission before his death aged 90 in August 1988.
Thanks for joining me on the F40 Edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Friday, 12 August 2011
Baby Testarossa - Ferrari 348 TS
On Monday I looked at the GMC Syclone that was faster than a Ferrari, up to the 1/4 mile, today I am looking at the Spyder version of the Ferrari 348 that Car & Driver pitted the Syclone against in a road test.
The Ferrari 348 replaced the Ferrari 328 in 1989,
taking many of it's striking styling queues from the Testarossa launched in 1984. The side mounted radiators meant passengers did not get toasted by the radiator pipes that ran alongside the cabin of the earlier 328 which featured a radiator mounted in the nose.
The 300 hp V8 motor was mounted longitudinally with a transverse gearbox ahead of the rear wheels, the opposite configuration of the earlier 328 which featured a transverse V8 engine and longitudinal gearbox.
While the Syclone proved faster than the 348 up to the 1/4 mile it soon ran out of puff when it reached 126 mph meaning this is the view Syclone drivers would get of the Ferrari as it powered up to 166 mph in a straight race.
8844 of these vehicles were produced from 1989 to 1995.
Thank for joining on this Ferrari Friday edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
The Ferrari 348 replaced the Ferrari 328 in 1989,
taking many of it's striking styling queues from the Testarossa launched in 1984. The side mounted radiators meant passengers did not get toasted by the radiator pipes that ran alongside the cabin of the earlier 328 which featured a radiator mounted in the nose.
The 300 hp V8 motor was mounted longitudinally with a transverse gearbox ahead of the rear wheels, the opposite configuration of the earlier 328 which featured a transverse V8 engine and longitudinal gearbox.
While the Syclone proved faster than the 348 up to the 1/4 mile it soon ran out of puff when it reached 126 mph meaning this is the view Syclone drivers would get of the Ferrari as it powered up to 166 mph in a straight race.
8844 of these vehicles were produced from 1989 to 1995.
Thank for joining on this Ferrari Friday edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Monday, 4 July 2011
Grand Prix City - Donington Park Museum
(Ayrton Senna & Juan Manuel Fangio)
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to drop in to the Donington Park Museum, home to the Donington Park Grand Prix Collection. Donington Park dates back to at least the Doomesday Book compiled in 1086 and is one of the longest established deer parks in the UK.
(1939 Auto Union Type D)
After serving as a Prisoner Of War camp for German officers in World War 1, a race track was built in 1931 for £12,000. The track played host to Grand Prix races featuring the Mercedes and Auto Union 'Silver Arrows' Grand Prix cars, Tazio Nuvolari driving an Auto Union during practice for the 1938 British Grand Prix fatally struck a stray deer.
(1942 Trippel SG 6)
During World War 2 Donington Park became home to 50,000 vehicles as the largest military transport depot in Europe. In 1971 local building magnate Tom Wheatcroft took over the Donington Park circuit and 8 years later racing was resumed after a nearly 40 year break. The highlight of the resumption of racing at Donington was almost certainly the 1993 European Grand Prix.
(1958 Vanwall VW9)
Tom Wheatcroft alongside his property developing business had a passion for racing, collecting vehicles associated with the circuits pre war history, vehicles used in WW2, during which Tom served in a tank regiment and British built Grand Prix cars.
(1973 March BMW 732)
He also sponsored and entered talented drivers, including Derek Bell, Richard Morgan and in particular Roger Williamson whom Wheatcroft financed in Formula 3 and 2 and an ill fated Grand Prix drive in which Roger met his untimely demise in a horrific accident during the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix.
(1970 McLaren Offy M15)
The Donington Park Museum houses the largest collection of McLaren
(1973 Williams - Ford FW 02)
and Williams vehicles outside of these two prestigious manufacturers own collections.
(1975 Hill - Ford GH2)
I spent several memorable hours going round the museum housing a veritable feast of some of the highs and low's of British Grand Prix endeavour. Situated just of the M1 near Nottingham, at just £8 a visit, I'll look forward to dropping in again when the opportunity next presents it's self.
Slightly off topic, wishing all GALPOT readers in the USA and US readers abroad Happy Independence day.
Thanks for dropping today's Donington Park edition of 'Gettin' a lil psycho on tyres' i hope you'll join me again tomorrow for a look an Independence day cruise in the UK. Don't forget to come back now !
Sunday, 26 June 2011
When Colleen's away .... - Allard J2 - 1513
Today's story begins in the sun fried podunk called Bell on the west side of an arid ditch called Los Angeles River in California, where 'Okie' George Wright drifted in 1919 and started a wrecking business that transformed over time to become the world first speed shop called Bells Auto Parts for competitors running Model T's.
Just before the second world war a lanky redheaded kid called Roy Richter from Maywood California, a perfectionist with a genius for pattern making and fabrication started building a reputation at Cragar, a company owned by George White , manufacturing Leo Goosen designed cylinder heads and at Bell Auto Parts where Roy built his first Saxon midget, then raced it successfully.
Roy moved to Detroit where he continued to manufacture dirt track cars, but in 1938 after a racing tour of New Zealand, Roy settled again in California where he built an extremely successful Offenhauser powered midget for Sam Hanks, the eventual 1957 Indy 500 winner aboard the Belond Exhaust Special.
During the war Roy worked in the aircraft industry and his former employer George Wright of Bell Auto Parts passed away, Roy took the opportunity to lease Bell Auto Parts, raising the money by selling his Model T.
After the war a huge demand for racing equipment was unlocked as hundreds of thousands former forces personnel who had built up an enthusiasm for all things mechanical during the war now had the time and disposable income to explore their curiosity to go faster and further.
(Photo Courtesy Bernard Dervieux)
Bell Auto Parts took full advantage of it's position as a distributor of performance parts and diversified with a mail order catalogue. Roy with an eclectic taste in vehicles midgets, desert streamliners and sports cars became the California distributor for Allard cars and imported this vehicle the 3rd J2 built and the 8th ever imported to the USA.
(Photo Courtesy Bernard Dervieux)
Allard J2 1513 was shipped to the USA without a motor, as was customary, and Roy installed a Cadillac 331 cui V8.
(Photo Courtesy Bernard Dervieux)
On one occasion when Roy's wife Colleen was away he took his #1 Allard J2 down to the US Navy airship base at Santa Ana and entered a race with amongst others a couple of XK120's driven by Phil Hill (#18), and Jack McAfee (last row), Tom Frisbey (#3) Allard K2, Basil Panzer (#2) Allard J2, and Sterling Edwards (#10) Edwards R26.
Roy won the race and when his wife came home he is said to have confessed all and promised never to race again.
In 1953 Richter diversified his interests into the manufacture of safety helmets hoping to capture the market occupied by English Cromwell leather head gear which he distributed. The success of the Bell 500 was followed by the first helmet to meet Snell standards the Bell 500 TX helmet in 1957.
Roy followed the diversification into safety equipment with a response to the 'strength and style deficiency' in after market performance wheel market sold under the Crager brand name he had acquired from the White estate.
(Photo Courtesy Bernard Dervieux)
In 1954 William 'Bill' Leach acquired Roy's J2, now painted white, from a third party, Bill raced the car without much success and sold it in 1956 to pursue his interest in horse racing.
(Photo Colin Warnes)
Bernard Dervieux, acquired Roy Richter's J2 1513 in 2000,
(Photo Colin Warnes)
it is still fitted with its Cadillac motor
(Photo Colin Warnes)
powerful enough to provide plenty of excitement 60 years after it's debut win.
(Photo Geoffrey Horton)
Earlier this year the #1 J2 -1513 was seen at the Dessert Classic, apart from its non period yet apt Cragar wheels,
(Photo Geoffrey Horton)
the car is in original immaculate shape,
(Photo Geoffrey Horton)
a fitting testament to the extraordinary figure who first owned her Roy Richter.
My thanks to Geoffrey Horton, who initiated today's blog, Colin Warnes, of The Allard Register, and Bernard Dervieux, the owner, for sharing their photos.
Further thanks to Frank, Woody and David at The Nostalgia Forum, to Mr Holland at The Cadillac Forum and Brock Yates of Car & Driver for background information.
Hope you have enjoyed this 'Roy will play' edition of 'Gettin' a lil psycho on tyres' and that you will join me again tomorrow for a trip to the Atwell Wilson Museum. Don't forget to come back now !
Just before the second world war a lanky redheaded kid called Roy Richter from Maywood California, a perfectionist with a genius for pattern making and fabrication started building a reputation at Cragar, a company owned by George White , manufacturing Leo Goosen designed cylinder heads and at Bell Auto Parts where Roy built his first Saxon midget, then raced it successfully.
Roy moved to Detroit where he continued to manufacture dirt track cars, but in 1938 after a racing tour of New Zealand, Roy settled again in California where he built an extremely successful Offenhauser powered midget for Sam Hanks, the eventual 1957 Indy 500 winner aboard the Belond Exhaust Special.
During the war Roy worked in the aircraft industry and his former employer George Wright of Bell Auto Parts passed away, Roy took the opportunity to lease Bell Auto Parts, raising the money by selling his Model T.
After the war a huge demand for racing equipment was unlocked as hundreds of thousands former forces personnel who had built up an enthusiasm for all things mechanical during the war now had the time and disposable income to explore their curiosity to go faster and further.
(Photo Courtesy Bernard Dervieux)
Bell Auto Parts took full advantage of it's position as a distributor of performance parts and diversified with a mail order catalogue. Roy with an eclectic taste in vehicles midgets, desert streamliners and sports cars became the California distributor for Allard cars and imported this vehicle the 3rd J2 built and the 8th ever imported to the USA.
(Photo Courtesy Bernard Dervieux)
Allard J2 1513 was shipped to the USA without a motor, as was customary, and Roy installed a Cadillac 331 cui V8.
(Photo Courtesy Bernard Dervieux)
On one occasion when Roy's wife Colleen was away he took his #1 Allard J2 down to the US Navy airship base at Santa Ana and entered a race with amongst others a couple of XK120's driven by Phil Hill (#18), and Jack McAfee (last row), Tom Frisbey (#3) Allard K2, Basil Panzer (#2) Allard J2, and Sterling Edwards (#10) Edwards R26.
Roy won the race and when his wife came home he is said to have confessed all and promised never to race again.
In 1953 Richter diversified his interests into the manufacture of safety helmets hoping to capture the market occupied by English Cromwell leather head gear which he distributed. The success of the Bell 500 was followed by the first helmet to meet Snell standards the Bell 500 TX helmet in 1957.
Roy followed the diversification into safety equipment with a response to the 'strength and style deficiency' in after market performance wheel market sold under the Crager brand name he had acquired from the White estate.
(Photo Courtesy Bernard Dervieux)
In 1954 William 'Bill' Leach acquired Roy's J2, now painted white, from a third party, Bill raced the car without much success and sold it in 1956 to pursue his interest in horse racing.
(Photo Colin Warnes)
Bernard Dervieux, acquired Roy Richter's J2 1513 in 2000,
(Photo Colin Warnes)
it is still fitted with its Cadillac motor
(Photo Colin Warnes)
powerful enough to provide plenty of excitement 60 years after it's debut win.
(Photo Geoffrey Horton)
Earlier this year the #1 J2 -1513 was seen at the Dessert Classic, apart from its non period yet apt Cragar wheels,
(Photo Geoffrey Horton)
the car is in original immaculate shape,
(Photo Geoffrey Horton)
a fitting testament to the extraordinary figure who first owned her Roy Richter.
My thanks to Geoffrey Horton, who initiated today's blog, Colin Warnes, of The Allard Register, and Bernard Dervieux, the owner, for sharing their photos.
Further thanks to Frank, Woody and David at The Nostalgia Forum, to Mr Holland at The Cadillac Forum and Brock Yates of Car & Driver for background information.
Hope you have enjoyed this 'Roy will play' edition of 'Gettin' a lil psycho on tyres' and that you will join me again tomorrow for a trip to the Atwell Wilson Museum. Don't forget to come back now !
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