Monthly Archives: May 2012

Hilly Country Gathering – Classic Motorsports Mitty presented by Mazda

For the last 36 years Classic Sports and Racing Car enthusiasts have been gathering year for the Classic Motorsports Mitty for what is now claimed to be the oldest such gathering on the east coast. Kerry Williams kindly sent Steve Arnaudin his photo’s of last weekends event with permission for them to be used here.

Chevrolet Corvair, Road Atlanta, Classic Motorsport Mitty

Among the classics present was this 1st generation convertible Chevrolet Corvair.

Chevrolet Corvair, Road Atlanta, Classic Motorsport Mitty

One of 15 racing Corvairs present the #51 above is a second generation model distinguished by it’s arrow like shape when seen from above.

Ford GT40, Road Atlanta, Classic Motorsport Mitty

While I cannot speak for the historical authenticity of either of the vehicles above, they look like a pair of Ford GT40’s of the type Ford would come to dominate Le Mans with during the mid to late 1960’s.

Ford GT, Road Atlanta, Classic Motorsport Mitty

Robertson Racing is based in Braselton, GA, not far from the Road Atlanta track from 2008 until 2011 they raced Kevin Doran built Ford GT’s in the GT2 category of the American Le Mans Series. The highlight of their four years in the sport was a 3rd in class finish at Le Mans in 2011. The car with the yellow stripes appears to be chassis #JE5-004066-002 and the one with the red stripes appears to be chassis #JE5-004066-004.

Penske PC17, Road Atlanta, Classic Motorsport Mitty

All thought the Penske above is carrying the #8 as used by Rick Mears on the 1987 Penske PC16 the sidepods are more reminiscent of the 1988 PC 17, if you happen to know which car this is, or who is driving it please do not hesitate to chime in below.

TR250 K, Road Atlanta, Classic Motorsport Mitty

The first of two vehicles I have never heard of before are the Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) TR 250 K concept vehicle built in 1967 around a Triumph TR6 chassis and motor, some would have you believe this car should have been developed into the Triumph TR7.

Hennessey Venom 1000, Road Atlanta, Classic Motorsport Mitty

Finally I’d like to suggest that if your 500 hp Viper is feeling a bit tame and you happen to have US $187,710 in spare change you might take car & cash over to Hennessey who will double the horsepower with a pair of Turbo Chargers and give the body and chassis some modification and leave you with a Hennessey Venom 1000 timed from rest to 200 mph in just 20.3 seconds by Road & Track, now that is what I call ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ !

My thanks to Kerry Williams for permission to use his photo’s and to Steve Arnaudin to think to forward them.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Hilly Country Gathering’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you join me tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

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“We’ve Got A V In Our bonnet” – Ford Corsair 2000E

The UK Ford Corsair sharing mechanical components with the Cortina, Classic and Capri was a midsize car launched in 1963.

Ford Corsair 2000E, Bristol Classic Car Show

Drawing on styling queues from the contemporary US Ford Thunderbird it was initially powered by a 1500cc 91.5 cui Ford Kent engine.

Ford Corsair 2000E, Bristol Classic Car Show

In 1964 twins Tony & Micheal Brookes set 13 World Speed Records in Italy for 1500 cc / 91.5 cc cars in a Corsair GT managing to average over 100 mph over a distance of 15,000 miles / 24,000 kms.

Errata 12 05 08 It has transpired that the record setting at Monza by a Ford Corsair is a myth that started with a Ford Corsair sales booklet. It would appear that a team of five drivers Eric Jackson, Ken Chambers, John Beckhart, Michael Bowler and John Maclean go to Monza and set some records in a Ford but in a Ford Zodiac IV not in a Ford Corsair. Apologies for any confusion caused.

Eric Jackson and Ken Cambers did however narrowly beat the RMS Windsor Castle in a race from Cape Town to Southampton in 1967. Owners of the Windsor Castle, Union Castle, were apparently gracious in defeat pointing out that all though they were not as fast as the Ford Corsair their passengers traveled in considerably more comfort.

Ford Corsair 2000E, Bristol Classic Car Show

In 1965 the Kent straight four motor was phased out in favour of the Essex V4 which led to the strap line “I’ve got a V in my bonnet”, the Essex V4 in both 1663 cc / 101 cui and later 1996 cc / 121.8 cui forms was out of balance configuration which led to rough idling and course characteristics making a mockery of the strap line “Smooth Silent V Power” that was also used when the V4 Corsair was launched.

Ford Corsair 2000E, Bristol Classic Car Show

Performance of the V4 was down with a maximum of just 95 mph achievable even with the larger engine as seen in the 2000E variant seen here at the 33rd Bristol Classic Car Show.

Ford Corsair 2000E, Bristol Classic Car Show

The 2000E, executive, featuring dechromed sides, leaving the door handles looking oddly exposed, upgraded cabin fittings, lots of dials, and reversing lights, was undercut the Rover 2000 model against which it was competing for sales by £310, £1357 for the Rover against £1047 for the 2000E.

Ford Corsair 2000E, Bristol Classic Car Show

With vestiges for the Jet Age styling prevalent in the 1950’s the Corsair was in production until 1970 with 310,000 units built.

Thanks for joining me on this “We’ve Got A V In Our bonnet” edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again, tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Towing and Competing – Kayne Special III

A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to meet MG Special Builder and Frogeye restorer Colin Cooper. Today I am looking at his third, and final, Kayne Special III.

Kayne Special III & Kayne Special II, Oulton Park

Colin originally conceived the Kayne Special III as a towing car for his Kayne Special II as seen above at Oulton Park in 1983 and his Killeen K1 which I’ll be looking at next Tuesday.

Kayne Special III, Baitings Dam

Photo Copyright Frank Hall 1984.

However since he was taking part in events which allowed a driver multiple entries he decided to see what the Kayne Special III could do. Colin is seen above at Baitings Dam in 1984.

Kayne Special III, Castle Combe

Kayne Special III was designed from scratch to Colin’s own design between 1981 and 1983.The green radiator cowl seen on the Kayne Special III above at Castle Combe like the more substantial safety cage was fitted after Colin sold the car.

Kayne Special III, Castle Combe

Colin cut all of the square section tube chassis members with a hacksaw, no short cuts were taken with angle grinders, tacked all the members together and then had the chassis frame mig welded by a friend.

Kayne Special III, Castle Combe

The 3.5 litre / 215 cui V8 motor came from a Rover SD1 complete with an automatic transmission which was attached to a rear axle sourced from an MG B. Note the steering column needs two universal joints to avoid fouling on the right hand bank of cylinders, this feature resulted in the Kayne Special III being unsuitable for anybody to drive with shoes size 7 1/2 or larger.

Kayne Special III, Castle Combe

Running on 14″ MG B wire wheels at the front and 15″ MG C rear wheels at the rear and with a 0-100 mph capability in the region of 15 secs Colin could tease motorcyclists with his beautifully finished Kayne Special III.

Kayne Special III, Castle Combe

With the automatic transmission Colin could drive the car to within 1 second of the times he achieved with the Kayne Special II. By 1984 Colin had fitted a manual transmission.

Kayne Special III,

Colin sold the Kayne Special III when he retired from competition in 1985 for £2,700. The present owners and drivers of the car are John and Jonathon Biggs.

My thanks to Colin Cooper for sharing his memories and providing his photographs and to Chris Winstanley for allowing me to use Frank Halls photograph.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Towing and Competing’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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