Showing posts with label The. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Thursday, 11 February 2016
Saturday, 2 January 2016
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
Sunday, 20 September 2015
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
Friday, 14 August 2015
Saturday, 30 May 2015
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Saturday, 13 April 2013
GALPOT Weekly #13/13
Welcome to GALPOT Weekley 13/13 a review of the seven blogs posted at "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres" from March 25th to March 31st.
First up on the Monday was this cool metallic blue '51 Bonus Built Facelift Ford F1 Pickup.
The Singer B37 Sports, as featured on Tuesday, was a victim of a change in corporate strategy in 1937 which meant only 12 of these 6 cylinder cars got built.
I can pretend otherwise I froze my backside off marshaling at The Great Western Sprint, Wednesdays post tells what else happened.
If you'd asked me before last year I'd never have guessed that the Cadillac Catera was built in Germany quite simply because I had never heard of much less seen one before.
Ferrari Friday's blog featured this 250 GTO chassis #4153GT which was driven to victory in the 1964 Tour de France by Lucian Bianchi and Georges Berger.
Saturday's post featured this Peter Stevens styled '88 Lotus Esprit fitted with a post '93 Julian Thompson styled bumper/spoiler.
Jackie Stewart drove this Tyrrell #006, featured on Sunday to victory in the 1973 South African GP after crashing his own car and taking it over from his team mate Francois Cevert.
Thanks for joining me on this "GALPOT Weekly #13/13" edition of "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres" and thanks to all those who have spread the word by sharing by blogs on fb, Ryan ;-), and pressed the "Like" button when the blogs have appeared on the "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres" facebook page. I hope you will join me daily during the week ahead, don't forget to come back now !
First up on the Monday was this cool metallic blue '51 Bonus Built Facelift Ford F1 Pickup.
The Singer B37 Sports, as featured on Tuesday, was a victim of a change in corporate strategy in 1937 which meant only 12 of these 6 cylinder cars got built.
I can pretend otherwise I froze my backside off marshaling at The Great Western Sprint, Wednesdays post tells what else happened.
If you'd asked me before last year I'd never have guessed that the Cadillac Catera was built in Germany quite simply because I had never heard of much less seen one before.
Ferrari Friday's blog featured this 250 GTO chassis #4153GT which was driven to victory in the 1964 Tour de France by Lucian Bianchi and Georges Berger.
Saturday's post featured this Peter Stevens styled '88 Lotus Esprit fitted with a post '93 Julian Thompson styled bumper/spoiler.
Jackie Stewart drove this Tyrrell #006, featured on Sunday to victory in the 1973 South African GP after crashing his own car and taking it over from his team mate Francois Cevert.
Thanks for joining me on this "GALPOT Weekly #13/13" edition of "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres" and thanks to all those who have spread the word by sharing by blogs on fb, Ryan ;-), and pressed the "Like" button when the blogs have appeared on the "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres" facebook page. I hope you will join me daily during the week ahead, don't forget to come back now !
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Worth Getting Up At Dawn For - Volvo 480ES
One day in April 1987 I spent the day at Donington Park where Volvo Concessionaires officially introduced the '87 model range to members of it's dealer network. This was the first opportunity many of us would have to drive the much anticipated Volvo 480ES.
Unlike Volvo's previous coupé the P1800 which was based on an existing Amazon platform, the 480 was a completely fresh front wheel drive design by Robert Koch, John de Vries and interior by Corien Pompe. The 480 platform would then later be used for the 440 hatchback and 460 saloon variants.
The car bristled with idea's new to Volvo including a Porsche tuned transverse 90 hp engine and front wheel drive, engine management by Electronic Control Unit, digital dash instrumentation, and a Lotus tuned suspension that gave the car staggering road holding.
By the time the car was launched the pop up head lights were not strictly necessary as the European Laws that had required them to meet a minimum head light height had been repealed, however this change in the law came so late the design remained unchanged.
During the course of the day I had the opportunity of driving the car around the Donington Park Circuit with a racing instructor at my side and I simply could not drive the car anything like fast enough to explore it's road holding potential, it went every where I wanted it to go safely regardless of the speed I was doing.
Some weeks later I was given the 480 ES, seen here, for a week in exchange for getting up at some improbably early hour to go and drum up some business at New Covent Garden Fruit Vegetable Market in Central London.
From 1986 to 1995 80,463 Volvo 480 ES, Turbo and 2 litre / 122 cui variants were manufactured at the former DAF works at Born in the Netherlands.
Thanks for joining me on this New Covent Garden edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Unlike Volvo's previous coupé the P1800 which was based on an existing Amazon platform, the 480 was a completely fresh front wheel drive design by Robert Koch, John de Vries and interior by Corien Pompe. The 480 platform would then later be used for the 440 hatchback and 460 saloon variants.
The car bristled with idea's new to Volvo including a Porsche tuned transverse 90 hp engine and front wheel drive, engine management by Electronic Control Unit, digital dash instrumentation, and a Lotus tuned suspension that gave the car staggering road holding.
By the time the car was launched the pop up head lights were not strictly necessary as the European Laws that had required them to meet a minimum head light height had been repealed, however this change in the law came so late the design remained unchanged.
During the course of the day I had the opportunity of driving the car around the Donington Park Circuit with a racing instructor at my side and I simply could not drive the car anything like fast enough to explore it's road holding potential, it went every where I wanted it to go safely regardless of the speed I was doing.
Some weeks later I was given the 480 ES, seen here, for a week in exchange for getting up at some improbably early hour to go and drum up some business at New Covent Garden Fruit Vegetable Market in Central London.
From 1986 to 1995 80,463 Volvo 480 ES, Turbo and 2 litre / 122 cui variants were manufactured at the former DAF works at Born in the Netherlands.
Thanks for joining me on this New Covent Garden edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Goodwood Revival #3 - Volvo P1800S
The Volvo P1800 designed by Pelle Peterson, is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary along with the E-Type Jaguar this year, surprisingly in the UK the Volvo was the more expensive of the two models.
Like the E-Type the P1800 was launched at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show, with a 4 cylinder 115hp B18 motor this 1967 model is capable of 109 mph.
The producers of the thriller TV series The Saint initially approached Jaguar to see if they would supply a couple of, the much in demand, E-Types for the show, after they were turned down they asked Volvo for a couple of P1800's who obliged by supplying two British bodied, built by Jensen, P1800's for the first series and a Swedish built P1800S for a later series.
The actor Roger Moore star of The Saint, which immortalised the P1800, liked the P1800 so much he bought one.
In the late 80's I came very close to taking on a P1800S as an investment, a second look at the car in daylight revealed I'd need to double my investment just to stay ahead of the rust, the following year the economy tanked. Wonderful cars full of character that the P1800's are, I'm glad I played it safe on that particular occasion.
Thanks for joining me on this Simon Templar edition of 'Gettin a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you join me again for some Goodwood Americana tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Like the E-Type the P1800 was launched at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show, with a 4 cylinder 115hp B18 motor this 1967 model is capable of 109 mph.
The producers of the thriller TV series The Saint initially approached Jaguar to see if they would supply a couple of, the much in demand, E-Types for the show, after they were turned down they asked Volvo for a couple of P1800's who obliged by supplying two British bodied, built by Jensen, P1800's for the first series and a Swedish built P1800S for a later series.
The actor Roger Moore star of The Saint, which immortalised the P1800, liked the P1800 so much he bought one.
In the late 80's I came very close to taking on a P1800S as an investment, a second look at the car in daylight revealed I'd need to double my investment just to stay ahead of the rust, the following year the economy tanked. Wonderful cars full of character that the P1800's are, I'm glad I played it safe on that particular occasion.
Thanks for joining me on this Simon Templar edition of 'Gettin a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you join me again for some Goodwood Americana tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Saturday, 10 September 2011
16 Blocks of Classics ! - Carmel by the sea Concours d'Elegnce 2011
Here in the UK the Autumn is already closing in with days of rain. To cheer myself up with a hint of California sunshine I thought to share with you these fabulous photo's from last month's Carmel by the sea Concours d'Elegance kindly sent to me by Geoffrey Horton.
I understand for the day of the event sixteen blocks in central Carmel are closed down and given over to that part of the motoring fraternity that is fanatical about presenting their cars built between 1945 and 1989 in better than new condition. First up a Cadillac powered 1955 Allard J2R.
When I first started reading 'Motor Sport' in 1973 the car to have in touring car racing was the 3.0 litre / 183 cui BMW CSL which in full works Group 2 specification with 'batmobile' rear wing fairly wiped the hitherto dominant Ford Capri off the top place on the winners rostrum of the European Touring Car Championship. A #55 Jaegermeister sponsored 3.0 CSL looking very much like the car in Geoffrey's photo, but without the 1974 IMSA GTO spec vented flared wheel arches, driven by Derek Bell and Harald Ertl, won the RAC Tourist Trophy on the 23rd Sept 1973.
I have already posted a blog about the unique 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Boano Convertible, that was declared the winner of this years Carmel Concours, so with best wishes for the Birthday boy most of you know from his posts on this blog as Jr Cracker here is a Ferrari 250 GT Boano chassis 0553 GT which has gone through several colour changes and engine changes but after a twenty plus year gap now has it's original motor safely re-installed. Last sold in January 2008 for US$ 975.000.
The 1957 Indy 500 was won by Sam Hanks in the Epperly Belond Exhaust Special, Jack Turner driving the #19 Bardahl Special a Kurtis 500G started 19th and came in 11th last man to complete the full 200 laps.
I believe this wonderful Lola T70 Mk 2 is the only car to have ever to have won a Can Am race powered by a Ford V8, a 302 cui motor fitted with Westlake heads, which Dan Gurney used to take honours in the second ever Can Am race at Bridgehampton in 1966. John Surtees won the 1966 Can Am series in a similar, but Chevrolet powered, Lola T70 Mk 2.
The vintage and history of this Morgan 4-4 is still a mystery to me but nice to see someone flying the motherlands flag in a swinging sixties style.
My thanks to Geoffrey for his wonderful photos, I hope you will join me in wishing the man behind GALPOT's Ferrari Friday's, Jr Cracker, a very Happy Birthday !
Thanks for joining me on this Jr Cracker birthday edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I'll be taking a close look at a rare Aston Martin by Touring. Don't forget to come back now !
I understand for the day of the event sixteen blocks in central Carmel are closed down and given over to that part of the motoring fraternity that is fanatical about presenting their cars built between 1945 and 1989 in better than new condition. First up a Cadillac powered 1955 Allard J2R.
When I first started reading 'Motor Sport' in 1973 the car to have in touring car racing was the 3.0 litre / 183 cui BMW CSL which in full works Group 2 specification with 'batmobile' rear wing fairly wiped the hitherto dominant Ford Capri off the top place on the winners rostrum of the European Touring Car Championship. A #55 Jaegermeister sponsored 3.0 CSL looking very much like the car in Geoffrey's photo, but without the 1974 IMSA GTO spec vented flared wheel arches, driven by Derek Bell and Harald Ertl, won the RAC Tourist Trophy on the 23rd Sept 1973.
I have already posted a blog about the unique 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Boano Convertible, that was declared the winner of this years Carmel Concours, so with best wishes for the Birthday boy most of you know from his posts on this blog as Jr Cracker here is a Ferrari 250 GT Boano chassis 0553 GT which has gone through several colour changes and engine changes but after a twenty plus year gap now has it's original motor safely re-installed. Last sold in January 2008 for US$ 975.000.
The 1957 Indy 500 was won by Sam Hanks in the Epperly Belond Exhaust Special, Jack Turner driving the #19 Bardahl Special a Kurtis 500G started 19th and came in 11th last man to complete the full 200 laps.
I believe this wonderful Lola T70 Mk 2 is the only car to have ever to have won a Can Am race powered by a Ford V8, a 302 cui motor fitted with Westlake heads, which Dan Gurney used to take honours in the second ever Can Am race at Bridgehampton in 1966. John Surtees won the 1966 Can Am series in a similar, but Chevrolet powered, Lola T70 Mk 2.
The vintage and history of this Morgan 4-4 is still a mystery to me but nice to see someone flying the motherlands flag in a swinging sixties style.
My thanks to Geoffrey for his wonderful photos, I hope you will join me in wishing the man behind GALPOT's Ferrari Friday's, Jr Cracker, a very Happy Birthday !
Thanks for joining me on this Jr Cracker birthday edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I'll be taking a close look at a rare Aston Martin by Touring. Don't forget to come back now !
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Allard + Farrell + Maserati = The Farrallac MK2
The origins of the Farrallac featured today lie in the Allard J2, chassis J1911registration JWP 800, that rising star Peter Collins purchased and took delivery of in Kidderminster on March 29th 1951.
[Photo supplied by David Hooper copyright holder unknown, this photo will be credited or removed upon request]
Peter Collins seen above, possibly at Westwood Park, on the left drove JWP 800 to victories at two national events held at Gamston and at least one more at Croft where he set an outright lap record.
After passing through the hands of a businessman in the Midlands JWP 800 ended up in the hands of cycle manufacturer Don Farrell who with his wife Stella, a champion cyclist, used the car to compete in hillclimbs and sprints.
In order to improve the stability and straight line speed of the cycle winged J2 Don built an all enveloping body for the vehicle and with the unoffficial aid of Allard draghtsman, later Chief Engineer, Dave Hooper fitted the car with wishbone front suspension.
The Farrallac Mk1 was used by the Farrells for two years until October 1959 when crossing the finishing line on a hillclimb near Marlow, having set Fastest Time of the Day a track rod broke which consequently sent the car over a barbed wire fence rendering JWP 800 beyond repair and left Don Farrell nursing his wounds in hospital.
While recovering Don planned The Farrallac Mk2 which he subsequently built in 1960
[Photo Courtesy David Hooper]
using the 400 hp 5980cc Cadillac engine,
Alvis gearbox and some of the suspension salvaged from JWP 800 which were fitted to a new twin tube chassis along with Alfin drum brakes.
David Hooper tells me the rear body work came from a J2
while the front was sourced from a Maersati.
With a top speed of 165 mph
The Farrallac Mk2 was campaigned by the Farrells covering standing 1/4 miles in 12 seconds.
In the mid sixties the Farrallac Mk2 passed into the hands of Burno Ferrari who replaced the Cadillac motor for a Ford then the car disappeared,
resurfacing in the hands of Tony Bianchi in the late 1970's.
Tony spent seven years bring the car back to health finding a Cadillac engine and fitting it with "Offy" cylinder heads from a stock car. Tony still owns the Mk2 33 years later.
Bob Bull the passenger above tells me he saw an indicated 160 mph as he hung on to his helmet flying along Silverstone's Hangar Straight.
My thanks to Bob Bull, Colin Warnes of the Allard Register, Allard Chief Engineer David Hooper, Simon Taylor, Classic and Sportscar Magazine (July 1985), The Nostalgia Forum members C Drewett, and Fuzzi for their photo's and help with information for today's blog.
Thanks for joining me on today's Farrallac edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' join me again tomorrow for another visit to Castle Combe. Don't forget to come back now !
[Photo supplied by David Hooper copyright holder unknown, this photo will be credited or removed upon request]
Peter Collins seen above, possibly at Westwood Park, on the left drove JWP 800 to victories at two national events held at Gamston and at least one more at Croft where he set an outright lap record.
After passing through the hands of a businessman in the Midlands JWP 800 ended up in the hands of cycle manufacturer Don Farrell who with his wife Stella, a champion cyclist, used the car to compete in hillclimbs and sprints.
In order to improve the stability and straight line speed of the cycle winged J2 Don built an all enveloping body for the vehicle and with the unoffficial aid of Allard draghtsman, later Chief Engineer, Dave Hooper fitted the car with wishbone front suspension.
The Farrallac Mk1 was used by the Farrells for two years until October 1959 when crossing the finishing line on a hillclimb near Marlow, having set Fastest Time of the Day a track rod broke which consequently sent the car over a barbed wire fence rendering JWP 800 beyond repair and left Don Farrell nursing his wounds in hospital.
While recovering Don planned The Farrallac Mk2 which he subsequently built in 1960
[Photo Courtesy David Hooper]
using the 400 hp 5980cc Cadillac engine,
Alvis gearbox and some of the suspension salvaged from JWP 800 which were fitted to a new twin tube chassis along with Alfin drum brakes.
David Hooper tells me the rear body work came from a J2
while the front was sourced from a Maersati.
With a top speed of 165 mph
The Farrallac Mk2 was campaigned by the Farrells covering standing 1/4 miles in 12 seconds.
In the mid sixties the Farrallac Mk2 passed into the hands of Burno Ferrari who replaced the Cadillac motor for a Ford then the car disappeared,
resurfacing in the hands of Tony Bianchi in the late 1970's.
Tony spent seven years bring the car back to health finding a Cadillac engine and fitting it with "Offy" cylinder heads from a stock car. Tony still owns the Mk2 33 years later.
Bob Bull the passenger above tells me he saw an indicated 160 mph as he hung on to his helmet flying along Silverstone's Hangar Straight.
My thanks to Bob Bull, Colin Warnes of the Allard Register, Allard Chief Engineer David Hooper, Simon Taylor, Classic and Sportscar Magazine (July 1985), The Nostalgia Forum members C Drewett, and Fuzzi for their photo's and help with information for today's blog.
Thanks for joining me on today's Farrallac edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' join me again tomorrow for another visit to Castle Combe. Don't forget to come back now !
Monday, 2 May 2011
When Kyle Wins Kids Win - Happy Birthday Kyle Busch
Today the 2nd of May is a very important day for one 13 year old NASCAR fan Lexie from Huntley, IL. Lexie is a Kyle Busch fan and she along with many others will be celebrating Kyles Birthday today !
As we shall find out Lexie takes Kyle Busch fandom way beyond going to the races with her Mom & Dad or vegging out in front of the television with a couple of lemonades and a family pack of M&M's on Friday, Saturday and or Sunday whenever Kyle races in the Camping World Truck, Nationwide and or Sprint Cup series. Remarkably for someone so young Lexie understands how with a little effort she can make a difference to those less fortunate than herself.
Recently Lexie kindly finished her homework early so that she could answer some questions about her interest in NASCAR, Kyle Busch and her work for the Kyle Busch Foundation for 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' and here is what she had to say about how her interest in Kyle Busch got started and progressed.
"I started watching NASCAR in 2007, and chose to root for the M&Ms car, so when Kyle started driving the M&Ms car in 2008 I became a Kyle Busch fan.
I met Kyle at Slinger Superspeedway, WI, at an autograph session. He was really nice and answered a lot of fans questions, and even took the time to pose for a picture with me right before he got in the car for the race.
That’s when I started liking him as much for the person he is and not just because he has a really cool sponsor. It also didn’t hurt that he is awesome to watch driving on the track and always does his best to win every single race.
[The best thing about being a Kyle Busch fan is] anticipating the performance of the Kyle Busch Show before every race. It doesn’t matter what track he is at, I know he has good chance for a great finish. The best single moment was THE BRISTOL SWEEP! [ Kyle won all three series races over one weekend at Bristol last August, becoming the first person to accomplish the feat].
I first got involved [with the Kyle Busch Foundation] in 2009. The Kyle Busch Foundation supports children’s group homes across the United States. These children have been removed from their home situations for various reasons, and often arrive at their group homes with literally nothing but the clothes they are wearing. The [group] homes supported by the KBF provide a safe, stable environment for these children.
One of the items on their wish list was books, and since I love to read I thought that would be a great way for me to help. Through 3 book drives over the past two years I donated over 10,000 books to be distributed to children who need them.
[Lexies first drive raised 270 books, her second 2177 books enough to fill the family Mini Van and her third over 8000 books requiring a truck to deliver them from Huntley IL to Mooresville NC !]
I have had my efforts written about in the local papers as well as on the Kyle Busch website. Everyone at the Kyle Busch Foundation has been very appreciative and they are really great to work with. After one of my book deliveries, Kyle gave me an engraved Tiffany bracelet. For me the recognition isn’t so important as knowing that I am doing something to help kids that are just like me that have had some hard times.
[Lexies modesty overlooks a couple of television appearances, a medal awarded by the Daughters of the American Revolution in recognition of her achievements earlier this year, and that she has sat atop Kyles pit box next to Kyles wife Samantha during the odd Nationwide event ! ]
After last year[s book drive], I found out that one of the things on the homes’ wish list was gift cards to stores like Dollar General, Target, and Wal-Mart, so that they can directly buy the things that their kids need. [So for 2011] I decided to donate a $5 gift card for each win that Kyle gets in each of the three NASCAR series [during the season]. My parents said they would match whatever I donated.
I am saving all the cards and sending them in to the Foundation at the end of the season, just in time for the holidays. I know how loyal Kyle’s fans are, so I thought it would be fun to challenge them all to donate any amount they choose, even if it is just $1, for every win, and send it directly to the Foundation, at the end of the season.
With as much as Kyle Busch wins that should mean a lot of gift cards for the kids at the homes he supports! If anyone wants to get involved, they can find out the details at my website www.lexiesdrive.org or at the foundation website: www.kylebuschfoundation.org. There is also a tab for Lexie’s Challenge on the Kyle Busch Foundation Facebook page. If anyone would just like to make a donation to the Kyle Busch Foundation, the address is: 351 Mezeppa Road, Mooresville, NC, 28115"
Lexies birthday message to Kyle reads "Happy birthday Kyle! Looking forward to seeing you celebrate in victory lane! I am always proud to be a Kyle Busch fan!!!!!!"
I can't help but admire Lexies attitude and grit, so far this season Kyle has won 7 races in all NASCAR series that's $35 that Lexie has pledged to the KBF !
I hope you'll join me in supporting Lexie and finding away to participate, however great or small, in Lexies 'When Kyle Wins Kids Win' Challenge and in wishing Kyle Busch a Happy 26th Birthday.
I'd like to thank Lexie for finding the time to tell us about her interest in NASCAR, Kyle Busch and her work with the Kyle Busch Foundation and her Mom Tracey (aka CheckerdFlagStilettos) for the fabulous photographs.
Hope you have enjoyed todays Kyle Busch Birthday edition of 'Gettin' a lil psycho on tyres' and that you will join me again tomorrow ! Don't forget to come back now !
STOP PRESS !
I was up at 4 am this morning watching Kyle pull his second Birthday Weekend Cup Victory at Richmond, kudos to Kyle, his fans and another great victory for the kids !
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