Monthly Archives: December 2014

Snorkeling Down Under – Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

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Chrysler group CEO Tom LaSorda launched the new wider third generation ‘JK’ Jeep Wrangler at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit by driving it up the steps of the hosting Cobo Convention Centre and through a plate glass window just as his predecessor Robert Lutz had done when he launched the Jeep Grand Cherokee in 1992.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Chantal Binding, Reynolds River, Litchfield National Park

Third generation Wranglers, descendents of the originals built by American Bantam, are built in short wheel base 2 door or long wheel base 4 door Unlimited form like the 2009 model seen in these photographs taken in Australia.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Australia

This particular vehicle called Rockzee belongs to my friend Chantal who for several years has been working far off road with communities in the Australian outback where often a lone tree or an unusual pile of rocks in the landscape are her only navigation aids.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Darwin, Australia

Rockzee is powered by a VM Motori 4 cylinder 2,766 cc / 168.8 cui turbo diesel R428 double over head cam (DOHC) motor, note Chantal has recently had an air intake snorkel fitted for trailing through even deeper waters than the Reynolds River in Litchfield National Park seen here.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Chantal Binding, Reynolds River, Litchfield National Park

Enjoying her off roading at work Chantal bought Rockzee 3 years ago from a Doctor in New South Wales and had the ARB Bull Bar and spot lights fitted, to enjoy off roading in her spare time.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Chantal Binding, Litchfield National Park

Next Chantal hopes to get the suspension adjusted to lift the chassis by 3 inches so the that the wheel arches can accommodate some more serious off road tyres.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Alice Springs, Australia

Since recently relocating from Alice Springs to Darwin Chantal has hooked up with like minded Jeep enthusiasts the NT (Northern Territories) Jeepers which was founded by Andy Swaka, any one passionate about the four letter word JEEP can get in touch with the NT Jeepers on the facebook page linked here.

My thanks to Chantal for sharing her photographs taken at Alice Springs and in Darwin and for arranging for us to see the photographs taken by Andy Swaka’s partner Brenda who took the photo’s of Rockzee wading through Litchfield National Park.

Thanks for joining me on this “Snorkeling Down Under edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a California Highway Patrol car. Don’t forget to come back now.

Wishing all Psychoontyres readers and contributors a Happy and Healthy New Year.

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Straddling Hostilities – Delage 3 Litre Course

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In 1932 Delage launched it’s D6 series which featured independent front suspension, hydraulic front brakes and a six cylinder motor of 2.1 litres / 128 cui.

Delage 3 litre Course, John Warden, VSCC, Loton Park.

Like the Delahaye 135 series, which initially used cable operated brakes, the Delage D6’s were available with a variety of chassis lengths onto which coach builders, like Charon would build a body in what ever style a customer required.

Delage 3 litre Course, John Warden, VSCC, Loton Park.

By 1936 D6’s were available with motors just over 3 litres / 183 cui when Delage started building the 3 Litre Course model for competition.

Delage 3 litre Course, John Warden, VSCC, Loton Park.

Records show that one such car entered by Ecurie Walter Watney driven by Louis Gérard and Georges Monneret finished second at the Le Mans 24 Hours and on the other side of the hostilities in 1949 entrant and driver Henri Louveau sharing a 3 litre D6S with Juan Jover from Spain repeated the feat at the same venue.

John Warden’s 3 Litre Course shown in these photographs taken at a VSCC meeting at Loton Park is listed in the programme as a 1937 model, the DVLA records show the car as being built and imported to the United Kingdom in 1949, their are myriad reasons for such a discrepancies arising, if you happen to know the real reason please do not hesitate to chip in below.

Thanks for joining me on this “Straddling Hostilities” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psychoontyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now.

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Sculpture On Wheels – Maserati Alfieri

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The Maserati Alfieri is a concept car which refers to the history, traditions and roots of the brand while projecting it’s future in Maserati’s centenary in year.

Maserati Alfieri, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Alfieri name pays tribute to the engineer Alfieri Maserati who with his brothers Bindo, Carlo, Ettore, and Ernesto founded Societa Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati in 1914.

Maserati Alfieri, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The underlying inspiration that set the mood of the Centenary Alfieri concept car was the Pininfarina bodied Maserti A6GCS 54.

Maserati Alfieri, Goodwood Festival of Speed

A team of around 15 designers, led by former Pininfarina employee Marco Tencone, was responsible for the styling of the Alfieri.

Maserati Alfieri, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Beneath the Alfieri body work is a chassis based on a shortened Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale chassis.

Maserati Alfieri, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Power for this concept car comes from a Ferrari derived 4.7 litre / 286 cui V8 producing 460 hp.

Maserati Alfieri, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Since it’s first viewing at Geneva earlier this year Maserati have announced plans to put the Alfieri into production for 2016 with a convertible to follow in 2017.

Thanks for joining me on this “Sculpture On Wheels” 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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For The Whole Family – Eagle 74A #74A004

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After building Eagle Mk5 chassis, based on the ’67 Belgian Grand Prix winning Eagle Mk 1, for two consecutive Formula A champions Lou Sell (’68) and Tony ‘A-Z’ Adamowicz (’69) Dan Gurney’s All American racers refrained from building any more Formula A renamed Formula 5000 cars until 1974 while he focused on his Indy programme.

Eagle 74A, Michael Lyons, Gold Cup, Oulton Park

At the end of 1973 AAR built a Formula 5000 Eagle 74A show car which I believe has never been raced, three more 74A’s followed two for the Jorgensen Steel supported works team and one, today’s featured chassis #74A004, that was built for Francisco Mir Racing based in Santa Monica, California.

Eagle 74A, Michael Lyons, Gold Cup, Oulton Park

Francisco Mir Racing entered #74A004 for Nestor Garcia Veiga to drive in the second and third rounds of the 1974 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 championship. Nestor came recorded a 6th place finish at Mosport but failed to qualify for the final at Watkins Glen.

Eagle 74A, Michael Lyons, Gold Cup, Oulton Park

With sponsorship from Mr Marty Italian Lella Lombardi was then employed to drive #74A004 at Ontario California where she finished 14t after finishing 5th in her heat ahead of her team mate James Hunt running in a Mr Marty Lola T332.

Eagle 74A, Frank Lyons, Silverstone Classic

Hitherto ’74 works driver Elliot Forbes-Robinson drove #74A004 at Laguna Seca where he retired and at the final round of the ’74 Championship John Morton drove the car to a seventh place finish.

Eagle 74A, Michael Lyons, Gold Cup, Oulton Park

Mike Koslowski bought #74A004 in 1975 the only result I have found for it in his owner ship was a did not start, DNS, when he entered Ron Dykes, who qualified 23rd, for the race that turned out to be the last ever SCCA USAC Formula 5000 event at Riverside in October 1976.

Eagle 74A, Frank Lyons, Gold Cup, Oulton Park

The ownership trail of #74A004 continued in the USA until 2002 when Ian Giles brought the car to the UK. Since 2005 the car has belonged to the Lyons family, son Michael Lyons with the black helmet is seen driving the car at this years (2014) Gold Cup meeting where he came second in the first race and won the second. Father Frank Lyons is seen driving the car at Silverstone in 2012 and Oulton Park in 2011, Mother Judy Lyons has also raced this car on occasion.

Thanks for joining me on this “For The Whole Family” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Maserati Monday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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CAD/CAM Body – Mitchell Special MkII

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The last in the current series of Bristol Special blogs features the Mitchell Special Mk II concieved by Andy Mitchell of Mitchell Motors in Wiltshire as the ultimate Bristol.

Mitchell Special Mk II, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

In 2008 Andy started by designing and building an FIA safety compliant space frame which makes use of axles, suspension and and steering from a wrecked Bristol 401.

Mitchell Special Mk II, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

The block for the 1971cc / 120 cui motor was sourced from an even older Bristol 400. Apart from the block and cylinder head castings everything else is modern competition spec running to electronic ignition and an Eaton supercharger which brings the power up to 200hp.

Mitchell Special Mk II, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

With the chassis and motor completed Andy approached an acquaintance Stuart Brown to design the body. Stuart had just finished 3D imaging every component of a Bugatti type 35 for The Bugatti Trust and was in possession of all the 3D imaging software needed to design a body for Andy on his computer.

Mitchell Special Mk II, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

Andy started by taking Stuart of 50 50’s period sports cars he liked and another 50 of vehicles from the same period which he did not like.

Mitchell Special Mk II, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

With the necessary measurements of the chassis Stuart came up with a design that went through 21 stages of refinement in consultation with Andy to arrive at the final design seen on the car today.

Mitchell Special Mk II, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

It took just seven months for the body to be completed starting from Andy’s initial consultation with Stuart, which also included e-mailing the 3D images to woodworkers who fed the information into their CAM (computer aided manufacture) machine which cut a full size plywood buck around which Andy could from the aluminium body.

In May 2010 Andy started taking part in competitive VSCC (Vintage Sports Car Club) and AMOC (Aston Martin Owners Club ) events with his Mitchell Special Mk II, seen in these photographs at the Autumn Classic meeting at Castle Combe, recording at least one win and several placings.

Thanks for joining me on this “CAD/CAM Body” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an Eagle. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Tenth Of Twenty – Ferrari 365 GTS #12307

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The original 4.4 litre / 268 cui single overhead cam version of the V12 Ferrari 365 motor was introduced to Ferrari’s road going range in 1966 with the Ferrari 365 California in 1966.

Ferrari 365 GTS, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

14 365 California’s were built up until 1967 before the; 365 2+2, 365 GTC Coupé and today’s 365 GTS Spyder models were launched in 1968.

Ferrari 365 GTS, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

This 1969 example is one of just 20 365 Spyders built and so far as I have been able to ascertain is quite possibly the only one to have resided in the UK although not all the histories of all 20 GTS’s is known to me at this time.

Ferrari 365 GTS, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

If as I believe the chassis number of this car is #12307 then it is the tenth of the series built and was delivered new to a customer in Rome and #12307 remained in it’s homeland until 1999 when the car made it’s way to the UK via an auction in Gstaad.

Ferrari 365 GTS, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

1979 World Champion Jody Schekter can be seen being driven through the streets of an undisclosed Italian looking town in #12307 when it still carried Roma plates on this link.

Ferrari 365 GTS, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

All 20 365 GTS models built between 1968 and 1970 are Left Hand Drive, LHD, and at least four of them are red so if perchance you know this car is not #12307 please do not hesitate to chip in below.

Thanks for joining me on this “Tenth Of Twenty” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the last in the present series of Saturday Bristol Specials. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Merry Christmas – 1937 Dodge Fire Engine

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About five or six years ago it was a great privilege to become acquainted with a NASCAR fan and Marblehead Kim Tucker who’s partner Tommie is a fireman. It is a great thrill and honour that the photo’s for today’s Christmas blog come from Kim.

1937 Dodge Fire Truck, Farmersville Volunteer Fire Company, California,

In 1937 the State of California Department Of Forestry (CDF), today known as Cal-Fire purchased today’s featured Dodge fire engine, it was delivered new to CDF/Tulare County Station 10, located in Farmersville, California.

1937 Dodge Fire Truck, Farmersville Volunteer Fire Company, California,

It was later replaced by a modern engine and sold to a church group for their camp in the local Sierra Nevada mountains.

1937 Dodge Fire Truck, Farmersville Volunteer Fire Company, California,

When the Farmersville Volunteer Fire Company heard that the Dodge was no longer being used by the church camp, they made arrangements to trade their 1953 fire engine for the 1937 Dodge to use in muster competitions.

1937 Dodge Fire Truck, Farmersville Volunteer Fire Company, California,

The by now rotten tyres and hose were replaced, the motor rebuilt, and the Dodge was given a fresh paint job; other than that, there has been no restoration.

1937 Dodge Fire Truck, Farmersville Volunteer Fire Company, California,

The 1937 Dodge’s water pump can pump water at the same rate as the pump on the 2014 Dodge Patrol unit that Farmersville Fire Department, now known as Station 83, put into service within the last few months.

1937 Dodge Fire Truck, Farmersville Volunteer Fire Company, California,

The Farmersville Volunteer Fire Company, which is not part of the city government, but was set up to help support Farmersville, use their 1937 Dodge for parades, such as the Farmersville Memorial Day Parade and to transport Santa Claus to the annual Christmas Tree lighting, where the children of the town can see Santa and be given a small gift bag donated by local organizations.

My thanks to Kim Tucker for sharing her photographs and to Pat Taylor, the chap with the big grin driving the Dodge, for sharing his information about the fire engine.

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

Wishing all Psycho On Tyres readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

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