GALPOT Weekley #17/13

Welcome to GALPOT Weekley #17/13 a review of the last seven posts at "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres". The week started on Pick Up Monday with a look at this '59 Chevrolet Apache 31 Fleetside that featured new for '59 Jet Pods heralding the arrival of the rocket powered 'Space Age'. Tuesday's potted 4 part Morris history continued with this Morris 1800 (ADO 17) that has been upgraded to recreate a marathon rally car of the type that competed in the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon and 1970 World Cup Rally. Wednesdays posts featured a review of 'Petrol In My Blood', by marathon driver Peter Jackson who set amongst many, world records for driving from London to Cape Town and driving around the world. Americana Thursday's blog featured this '84 Lincoln Town Car which if I have understood fb commentator Joe's rap, "ultimate tuna boat", correctly indicates that back in the day this was a vehicle that lured plenty of attractive young females within. The driving rosta for this Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 59/60 which was featured on Ferrari Friday includes Dan Gurney, Jean Behra, Phil Hill, Cliff Alison, Oliver Gendebien and Paul Frére the last two of which won the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours. Yesterday's post featured three Lotus Elise Series I's, which derived their model name from Lotus chairman Romano Artioli's grand daughter Elisa. Today's post concludes a four part look at McLaren and features this McLaren F1 GTR which was the first of the second series of F1 GTR racers built in 1996 that had but one outing at the 1996 Le Mans Test Weekend but appears never to have been raced in anger. Thanks for joining me on this 'GALPOT Weekley #17/13' edition of "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres" I hope you have enjoyed catching up using the links in the text and that you will join me daily during the week ahead. Don't forget to come back now !

The Lil' Car That Scared The Fat Cat - Doretti #1196

The Doretti was designed by former Bristol Omnibus apprentice Frank Rainbow while he was working for the Tube Investment Group. In January 1953 Frank was given 9 months to design and build the first Doretti car by Eric Saunders, managing director of the Swallow Coachbuilding Company which became part of the TI Group in 1946 after spawning S.S. Cars in 1934 which became Jaguar in 1945.



In 1952 Eric met Arthur Andersen of the Rome Cable Corporation, who was interested in the production of a vehicle specifically designed for sale in the USA and discussion turned to the production of a car to be designed by Frank with bodies to be made in Wales.



Using his connection with Sir John Black at Standard Triumph, Eric Saunders secured a supply of Triumph TR2 running gear for the Swallow Doretti, a name derived from a marketing company operated by Arthur Andersens daughter Dorothy Deen and Paul Bernhart which was to market the car.



Frank completed the first car with a Reynolds 531 chrome-molydenum steel tube chassis on schedule and it was exhibited alongside a Triumph TR2, which Doretti parent Cal Specialities Company was also responsible for distributing.



From 1954 to 1955 around 280 Doretti's were built in a factory with a maximum of just 18 employees.



The success of the Doretti frightened Jaguar, which was by now a large customer of the same TI Group that facilitated the birth of the Doretti, into giving Tube Investments an ultimatum to disengage from the Doretti project or loose the Jaguar account. Doretti production halted overnight on the receipt of the ultimatum and thus the Doretti name lives on in around 180 of the cars that are thought to have survived.

Hope you have enjoyed today's Cal Specialities Company edition of 'Getting a 'lil psycho on tyres' and that you'll join me again tomorrow for a look at another European sports car that changed the image of it's manufacturer forever. Don't forget to come back now !

It's a lot of car ! - Lola T310

1972 proved to be the year that the Penske turbo Panzer dominated Can Am in much the same way as the hitherto mercurial McLarens.



The original 1966 Can Am series champion constructors Lola had started with fresh from scratch designs in 1970, '71 & '72, the vehicle seen here is the Lola T310 from 1972.



To overcome the under steering (push) characteristics Jackie Stewart had complained of driving the stubby L&M Lola T260 during 1971, Eric Broadley & Specialised Mouldings developed this body work, measuring 4.527 meters / 180" long by 2.172 m / 85.5 " wide, in a wind tunnel to hug one of the largest Can Am monocoques ever built.



The monocoque was full width and unusually full length so that the engine could be mounted without the need of a separate steel sub frame.



David Hobbs was given the responsibility of driving the T310 for Carl Haas during the 1972 season but the car was completely outclassed, David managed just one season high 4th place and came in 7th in the final '72 Can Am standings.

The car was sold at the end of 1972 and Jerry Hansen managed to win a minor race at Atlanta, the car ended its competition days in the 1977 5 litre/ 305.5 cui Can Am series in the hands of Bruce Langson.



Power for the T310 came from the mighty 8.1 litre / 494 aluminium Chevrolet V8, according to World Champion and twice Can Am champion Denny Hulme the motor was good for a maximum of 760 hp, regrettably this top estimated performance was completely outclassed by the conservative estimated 1000 hp plus the turbocharged flat 12 cylinder Porsche's were kicking out at the time.

You can see and hear the T310 driven by Bobby Rahal in 2008 in this splendid little youtube clip.

Hope you have enjoyed today's Can Am edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres and that you'll join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !