Monthly Archives: October 2013

Over Budget & Over Weight – Ford Thunderbird SC

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In late 1988 Ford launched the tenth generation Ford Thunderbird featuring; a 140 hp (Canadian) Essex V6 motor, 4 speed automatic transmission, independent suspension on all four wheels and rear wheel drive and a 19 gallon fuel tank. The combination of independent suspension and rear wheel drive was shared with just two other North American models the Mercury Cougar and Chevrolet Corvette.

Ford Thunderbird SC, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

While the new car was lauded by the press behind the scenes at Dearborn the team responsible for the car were were heavily criticised for building a car 250lbs / 110 kgs over the target weight and $900 over the the target cost price. Anthony “Tony” S. Kuchta who was responsible for the MN12 platform shared between the Thunderbird and Cougar that featured the independent suspension and rear wheel drive that accounted for a large part of the overruns voluntarily retired early 6 months after the 10th generation Thunderbird’s launch, because the Ford Management directed their criticism at his staff rather than him personally.

Ford Thunderbird SC, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

Today’s featured ’91 Thunderbird is fitted with a 210 hp supercharged version of the (Canadian) 3.8 litre / 231 cui Essex V6 which boosted the rest to 60 mph time from around 11.2 second to 7.2 seconds. In 1991 a 5 litre / 302 cui V8 option was also introduced with a rest to 60 mph time of 9.2 seconds.

Ford Thunderbird SC, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

The Thunderbird SC came with all round vented disc brakes with anti lock system, 16″ x 7″ wheels, adjustable shock absorbers, limited slip differential, 5 speed manual transmission and speed sensitive variable assist steering.

Ford Thunderbird SC, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

In 1990 on a week long vacation in Connecticut with some friends I hired a regular Thunderbird and was amazed that it could easily seat 4 adults and two kids, when we all piled out of the car our hosts just fell about laughing telling us the view reminded them of a scene from 101 Dalmatians.

Ford Thunderbird SC, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

In 1992 outside shot owner driver Alan Kulwicki won NASCAR’s Sprint Cup at the last race of the season with his Tenth Generation Thunderbird bodied car baring the legend “Underbird” on the front splitter.

961,624 Tenth Generation Thunderbirds were built between 1989 and 1997 the model range received minor exterior detail changes and upgrades in 1992, 1996 and 1997 the last year of production. The model was discontinued from 1998 until 2002.

Thanks for joining me on this “Over Budget & Over Weight” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Autumn Classic – Castle Combe

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Castle Combe Circuits second Autumn Classic closed the racing season at the Wiltshire circuit for the second year running a couple of weeks ago and it proved again proved a big hit with the spectators more of whom used the event to dress up 30’s to 50’s costume than I remember last year.

Ecurie Ecosse, Commer, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

After arriving I made my way to the paddock for a Big Boys Breakfast while the practice sessions were getting underway. Above the 1959 Ecurie Ecosse 2 stroke diesel powered Commer Transporter and many ex Ecurie Ecosse team cars, including the 1960 Cooper T49 Monaco, 1961 Sebring Austin Healey Sprite and the rear engined 1962 Tojeiro-Buick Coupé will all be coming up for auction at Bonhams in December.

Triumph Special, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

There were many interesting vehicles in the car park including this sports car about which I know nothing apart from the fact it said “Triumph” on the tax disc, if you know more please do not hesitate to chime on below.

Mods, Rockers & Cops, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

After practice and before racing commenced there were several demonstrations including the one seen above featuring a selection of “mods” on their scooters and “rockers” on their motorcycles with “rozers” in hot pursuit aboard a Wolseley and Triumph Herald squad cars.

Maserati 250F, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

Nick Mason’s Maserati 250F arrived a later than intended and sadly sans Nick, but it made a welcome appearance on the track, unfortunately the PA was a little weak at Old Paddock when I took this photo so I’m not sure who was at the wheel, if you know chime in below.

Aston Martin DB3, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The Historic Aston Martins got the afternoons racing underway, Martin Hunt driving a Fraser Nash Le Mans Replica did well to lead from second on the grid for the opening lap but it was Chris Woodgate, seen above qualifying his Aston Martin DB3 #DB3/6 on pole in the early morning mist, who led from lap 2 until the finish, while Hunt fell back to finish an eventual fifth.

Norman Dewis Trophy, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

Grahame Bull and Anthony Reid locked out the front row for the Norman Dewis Trophy for Jaguars with the #12 E Type and #33 XK120 respectively. Reid made a great race of it taking the lead on lap 2 and then again from lap six to 18 until he was slowed by a puncture which left Bull with an unassailable lead.

Big Healey Challenge, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The Big Healey’s provided the second biggest grid of the day and by far the fiercest competition which saw five competitors trying to go unsuccessfully line abreast into the Bobbies chicane at one point ! Above the #73 Chris Clarkson / Ted Williams, #16 Eric Wolley / Dan Cox and #98 Nils-Fredrick Nyblaeus / Jeremy Welch cars fight over blagging rights for the best entry line into Tower Corner. David Grace and Anders Schildt were declared the winners after Dan Cox driving the fastest car in the race went backwards into the barriers, without injury, at Tower.

VSCC Pre War Sports Cars, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The rather more leisurely VSCC Pre War Sports Cars race was won by Frederic Wakeman from pole abourd his Fraser Nash Super Sports but only after past a fast starting HRG driven by Andrew Mitchel who led the opening three laps. The brothers Blakeney-Edwards provided the scrap of the race Simon in the #4 Fraser Nash Shelsey got the better of Patrick in the #3 Fraser Nash Owlet Saloon to home 3rd. The brothers are seen congratulating each other on their return to the pits.

FISCAR, 50's Inter Marque, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

Andrew Sharp, seen leading in his #45 Aston Martin DB2 a above, from third on the grid managed to lead every lap of The FISCAR 50’s Inter Marque, but only after he had managed to build up a big enough to make his compulsory pit stop 5 mins before the end of the race. Nike Thorn and Johnny Todd driving the #44 Austin Healey 100S did well to finish just 0.07 seconds behind Sharp, from second on the grid, on a thrilling closing lap.

Miller Oils Formula Junior, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The biggest grid of the day was provided by the Miller Oils Formula Junior Championship competitors. Jack Woodhouse qualified on pole in his #84 Lotus 20/22 and won the close fought race by half a second from Peter Morton who started alongside him in the rare #75 Lightning Envoyette seen above on the opening lap.

50's Lightweight Sports Racing Cars, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The final race of the day was for 50’s Lightweight Sports Racing Cars had eight entries of which just seven took the start. But it only takes two cars to make a race and Alex Quattlebaum proved it by taking the win from 4th on the grid in his #10 Leco MG after a race long battle with 2nd place starter Brian Arculus in his #17 Lotus IX. Brian might have won the race had he not switched his lights on which appeared to have an adverse effect on the smooth running of his motor. Alex is seen making his final pass on Brian 2 laps from home above.

And so the 2013 season of Motorsport that began with the sad loss of circuit saviour Howard Strawford, drew to a close at Castle Combe in Wiltshire, roll on 2014 !

Thanks for joining me on this Autumn Classic edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at a 1990 Thunderbird. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Porsche Odds and Ends – GALPOT Automobilia

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Last week I came across some Porsche related Automobilia taken from a couple of MotorSport Magazines dated from 1968 to 1976 which are now for sale on my lightpress e-bay page.

Porsche 911T, MotorSport Front Cover

This April 1968 front cover of MotorSport magazine features an image depicting Pauli Toivonen and Marti Tiukkanen driving a Porsche 911T to victory on the 1968 San Remo Rally. In 1968 Pauli won five rallies driving a Porsche 911T on route to winning the 1968 European Rally Championship.

Porsche 911 Models, Motorsport

In the same April 1968 issue I found this article/infomercial about Porsche 911 Models offered by the factory to the UK market, it lists prices for the; 912 Coupé, 911T Coupé, 911L Coupé and 911S, Coupé, Sportmatic transmission option for all 911 models. Mention is made of the competition 911R which was built to special order only without any price being mentioned.

Porsche 911 Models, Motorsport

By 1970 MotorSport photographer and correspondent Micheal “MJT” Tee had clocked up 50,000 miles in his 911, the first to enter the UK fitted with Weber carburetors as standard. MJT concluded the 2 page report seen above with the words “the best”.

Autofarm, Motorsport

Finally by 1976 some Porsche 911’s were getting on for 13 years old which led well led club racers and Autofarm founders Josh Sadler and Steve Carr to accidentally uncovering a huge market for after market parts and servicing for customers who could not afford official Porsche dealer parts and labour rates. The article above written by MotorSport journalist “C.R.” out lining Autofarm’s expertise was published in January 1976.

Thanks for joining me on this Porsche Odds and Ends edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be recounting tales from the last meeting of the season run at Castle Combe earlier this month. Don’t forget to come back now.

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Group B Race Car – Porsche 961#WP0ZZZ93ZFS010016

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One afternoon soon after taking over as CEO of Porsche AG American Peter Schultz noticed a chart on the wall of the office of his Chief Engineer Dr Helmut Bott which outlined the developement schedules for Porsche’s three models the 924, 928 and 911, the first two extended far into the future while that for the 911 came to a stop in 1981.

Porsche 961, Le Mans 24 Hours

Schultz took a marker pen and walked over to the chart and drew a line extending the 911’s development clear off the chart, much to the relief of Dr Bott who set about initiating the design of a new concept car which would become a flagship for the future development of the 911 called the Porsche Gruppe B.

Porsche 961, Le Mans 24 Hours

The Gruppe B, which was first seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October 1983 was designed with new GT regulations for race and rally cars in mind and made use of emergent all wheel drive technology and a version of the Bi Turbo 750 hp 3.2 litre 195 cui flat 6 with 4 valves per cylinder in water cooled cylinder heads that had been developed for the 1978 Porsche 935/78 known as Mody Dick.

Porsche 961, Le Mans 24 Hours

The Gruppe B was developed into a rally raid version called the 959 which won the Paris Dakar Rally at it’s second attempt with René Metge and Dominique Lemoyne in the cockpit in 1986. A US$ 225,000 road version of the 959 appeared in 1985 of which 300 examples were built up until 1987.

Porsche 961, Le Mans 24 Hours

Porsche also developed a single road racing version of the Gruppe B, today’s featured car, known as the 961. It had been anticipated that several manufacturers would build Group B race cars but in the end only the Ferrari 288 GTO saw the light of day and then only as a street car.

Porsche 961, Le Mans 24 Hours

The Porsche 961 made it’s competition debut at the 1986 Le Mans test weekend with twice Paris Dakar winner René Metge sharing the wheel with Claude Ballot-Léna, because there was only one 961 in existence instead of the mandated 20 required for Group B the 961 was entered in the even more relaxed IMSA GTX class. Metge set 10th fastest time in the official Le Mans Test Session but the car retired from the first of two sprints with transmission failure.

Porsche 961, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The 961 still running in the GTX class, then appeared at the 1986 Le Mans 24 hours, as seen in the top two photographs, for which it qualified 26th and came home a respectable 7th. The only Group B runner in this race was a venerable BMW M1 a design dating back to the 1970’s which crossed the finish line with it’s hazard lights on to a huge cheers from the crowd but 60 laps behind the 961 and unclassified due to running it’s last lap too slow.

Porsche 961, Goodwood Festival of Speed

In October 1986 Günter Steckkönig and Canadian Kees Nierop drove the 961, now entered as a GTP Prtotype in the Daytona 3 Hour endurance race for which they qualified 29th and came home 24th after experiencing multiple tyre failures on the banked section of the track.

Porsche 961, Goodwood Festival of Speed

For 1987 the 961 carried the Rothmans livery like it’s sister Group C 962C’s and was driven at the Le Mans Test day by Steckkönig and Claude Haldi who set 16th fastest time with the car now entered in the rationalised IMSA class.

Porsche 961, Goodwood Festival of Speed

A month later Haldi was teamed with Metge for the Le Mans 24 hour race and after the Porsche team ran out of 962C’s Nierop was added to the 961’s driving strength in place of Steckkönig too.

The #203 961 qualified 31st on the grid and was running as high as 11th when around 2/3rds distance Nierop crashed at Indianapolis corner after experiencing a gearbox problem. While trying to return to the pits the 961 caught fire and eventually came to a stop and retirement.

With no sign of any Group B competition on the race track Porsche abandoned the 961 with just one example built and never having actually entered the car in the class it was designed to compete in. The 961 was subsequently rebuilt for the Porsche Museum and demonstrations, it is seen in the last four photo’s at Goodwood Festival of Speed running on out of period pattern BBS wheels.

Thanks for joining me on this “Group B Race Car” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me for a look at some Porsche Automobillia tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Lightweight Evolution – Porsche 911 SC RS

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At the around the time that Porsche were building the three all wheel drive Porsche 953 cars for their successful debut Paris Dakar campaign in 1984, they also built a series of 20 2 wheel drive evolutions of the Porsche 911 SC known as the 911 SC RS or 954 models for customers to compete in the Group B class for highly evolved / modified versions of production cars of which at least 200 examples had been built.

These 20 evolution SC RS models featured modifications including extensive use of light weight aluminium panels that replaced steel items for the hood / bonnet, doors, fender / wings, and boot / trunk lid. Additionally the SC RS models were fitted with aluminium safety cages Porsche 911 Turbo brakes, with new castings for the rear calipers required to work with the coil over suspension that was tethered at the rear so that the rear suspension did not drop beyond a prescribed limit when the rear wheels left the ground.

Porsche 911 SC RS, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Porsche sold the 911 SC RS evolutions to customers at over double the price of a standard 911 SC with motors that produced 250 hp in touring trim and over 270 hp when fitted with a competition exhaust. These cars were considered the heirs to the by now legendary 911 RS and 911 RSR models of the early mid 1970’s.

After winning the 1981 World Rally Championship as co driver to Ari Vatanen in a Rothmans sponsored Ford Escort RS1800 Dave Richards hung up his helmet and did a deal with Rothmans for his new venture Prodrive to prepare and run works Porsche 911 SC RS’s, officially registered Porsche’s UK importer in Reading, for Saeed Al-Hajri of Qatar and British co driver John Spiller to compete in the 1984 and 1985 Middle East Rally Championships (MERC) which the pair won two years running with 18 overall victories.

Porsche 911 SC RS, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Alongside the MERC programme Prodrive entered selected events in both the World Rally Championship, in which Al-Hajri became the first Arab to score points and European Rally Championship. Amongst other Prodrive 911 SC drivers Finn Henri Toivonen won five European Championship events and but for a back injury, which nearly ended his career, might have become 1984 European champion.

Other drivers who rallied 911 SC’s included; Frenchman Bernard Béguin, Brit Roger Clark, Irishman Billy Coleman and Belgians Robert Droogmans and 1984 Belgian Rally Champion Patrick Snijers.

Porsche 911 SC RS, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Porsche and Prodrive went their separate ways in 1986. Porsche was busy preparing their Group B 959 Rally Raid and 961 racing models, while Prodrive forged new relationships with MG and BMW before linking up with Subaru in 1990 with whom they became synonymous through the 1990’s thanks to a successful world championship rally programme. Today Prodrive is best known for it’s links with the Aston Martin racing programme, David Richards being Chairman of both companies which are not structurally financially interdependent.

Readers interested in restorations might find the link to this blog on the restoration of another ex Prodrive Porsche 911 SC RS of interest, the price quoted for the new aluminium fenders / wings alone makes a visit a must.

Thanks for joining me on this Lightweight Evolution edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psychoontyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow, when I’ll be looking at Porsche’s, indeed the worlds only, dedicated endurance racing Group B programme. Don’t forget to come back now !

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For Those Who Go – Porsche 953

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In 1977 Terry Sabine got lost on his motor bike in the Lybian desert while taking part in the Abidjan-Nice Rally. Upon his return he promised to share his fascination with the desert with as many people as possible by creating “A challenge for those who go. A dream for those who stay behind” which took the form of the Paris Dakar (PD) a 10,000 mile mostly off road rally raid event.

Porsche 953, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Paris Dakar is run for motor cycles, 4 wheel vehicles up to 3,500 kgs / 7,716 lbs vehicles over 3500 kgs / 7,716 lbs with numerous sub divisions within the three basic classes. All service vehicles must be entered as competitors.

Porsche 953, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The first event was run in 1979 with the four wheel class won by Alain Génestier and Joseph Terbiaut driving a Range Rover, other winning vehicles up to 1984 included an Volkswagen Iltis, Renault 20 and Mercedes 280 G by multiple Grand Prix and Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur in 1983, all of them were all wheel drive vehicles.

Porsche 953, Goodwood Festival of Speed

In 1983 Porsche built 3 cars for the 1984 event based on the 911 SC RS, a type I shall look at tomorrow, with 3 litre / 183 cui motors producing up to 300 hp, but featuring mechanical all wheel drive and over 12 inches of suspension travel to cope with the sand dunes in the Sahara desert. These three cars are known as 953’s but at the time were also variously referred to as 911’s, 911 SC RS 4×4’s or any combination there of.

Porsche 953, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Rene Metge and Dominique Lemoyne driving the #176 won the event at Porsche’s first attempt, Ickx and Brasseur came home 6th in the #175 while Roland Kussmaul and Erich Lerner finished 26th meaning all three cars survived the challenge.

Porsche 953, Goodwood Festival of Speed

In 1987 the #175 and #177 cars were repainted green for the Folténe team led by former Grand Prix driver Jacques Laffite who shared the ex #175 Ickx car with Pierre Landereau which appears to have retired from the event at the earliest opportunity once a minimum of sponsor obligations was met, while the other car driven by Jacques brother in law Jean Pierre Jabouille and G.Levent retired after hitting a bolder.

Toady’s featured car, seen at the Goodwood Festival of Speed is owned by the Porsche Museum, it carries an odd combination #176 with the names of Ickx and Brasseur on the roof and I have been unable to determine exactly which of the three 953’s this is.

It is possible today’s featured car might be the car Laffite drove in 1987 and Ickx drove in 1984, but it would appear more likely to be the repaired Jabouille car from 1987 that Kussmaul and Lerner drove in ’84, if you know please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Porsche went on to develop all wheel drive on its 959 and 961 twin turbo competition models, Metge and Lemoyne won the 1986 PD with the 959. The all wheel drive system was then used in the Carrera 4 road model range.

Event founder Terry Sabine was killed with 4 others in the 1986 PD when his helicopter crashed into a sand dune during an unexpected sand storm.

The PD became the Dakar in 2009 and relocated to Argentina after political tensions led to the abandonment of the event in 2008.

Thanks for joining me on this “For Those Who Go” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at another Porsche 911 variant. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Ferrari Road Treasures – Blackhawk Museum

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A couple of weeks ago Geoffrey Horton kindly asked me what kind of cars I was looking for pictures of and I responded that I was desperately short of Ferrari’s, as you can see from today’s Ferrari blog, and will see in next weeks blog Geoffrey has come up trumps and saved Ferrari Friday single handedly probably up until Christmas. Here is a preview of some of the Ferrari road cars that will feature in the coming weeks.

Ferrari 342 America Vignale Cabriolet, Blackhawk Museum, CA

The Ferrari America series started in 1950 was designed to meet the requirements of Ferrari’s customers who wanted a little more than a racing car adapted for the road. The America cars featured more leg room and head room but were still powered by motors derived from Ferrari’s racing programmes. This 1952 Ferrari 342 America Cabriolet features a unique, as in one of, body by Vignale and is powered by a 230 hp Lamperedi designed V12.

Ferrari 375 America Coupé, Blackhawk Museum, CA

Following the 23 342’s came the Ferrari 375 America with a larger and more powerful Lampredi V12 which produced 300 hp. This 1953 Vignale bodied Coupé is one of two, regular readers may remember reading about the other one nearly a year ago.

Ferrari 375 MM Ghia Coupé Speciale, Blackhawk Museum, CA

Sporting it’s original salmon paintwork and with just over 8000 miles on the clock this unique, one of, 1954 Ghia bodied Coupé sits on a 375 MM chassis designed for racing. It was the last Ferrari chassis to be fitted with Ghia body.

Ferrari 400 Superamerica, Blackhawk Museum, CA

In 1961 the Ferrari 400 Superamerica made it’s debut at the Geneva Motorshow with a downsized 4 litre 244 cui V12 which produced 340 hp. The second series Superamerica’s like the 1964 example seen here was built on a slightly longer chassis. Only 47 Superamerica’s of all types, Coupé, Cabriolet and Spider were built up until 1964.

Ferrari 500 Superfast Coupé, Blackhawk Museum, CA

In 1964 the 500 Superfast Coupé was introduced to replace the America series cars, like the earlier models the Superfast was only built to order and now powered by a 5 litre / 302 cui motor giving 400 hp.
This 1966 example is a series 2 500 Superfast with Pinin Farina Coupé body, the 33rd of 37 Superfasts built up until 1967.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this Ferrari Road Treasures edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when GALPOT’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Porsche 911 resumes. Don’t forget to come back now !

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