Monthly Archives: August 2015

It’s Primal – Maserati 3500 GT #101.686

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When he was 24 Francis G Mandorano had the opportunity to visit the Ferrari and Maserati factories in Italy where he got the Maserati Bug.

Maserati 3500 GT, The Desert Classic, Palm Springs,

A couple of years later he bought his first Maserati red 3500 GT

Maserati 3500 GT, The Desert Classic, Palm Springs,

Francis the owner of today’s featured 1959 Maserati 3500 GT chassis #101.686, describes himself as a one trick pony, his passion is for Maserati 3500 GT’s of which he now has several.

Maserati 3500 GT, The Desert Classic, Palm Springs,

#101.686 is believed to be one of five cars sold in Mexico City.

Maserati 3500 GT, The Desert Classic, Palm Springs,

In 2002 the third owner of 101.686 Sam Bardor sent the six cylinder engine sent to Mr Maserati Ken Doughtery for a $25,000 rebuild.

Maserati 3500 GT, The Desert Classic, Palm Springs,

With 220hp coming from the all aluminium straight six engine Frank reckons he can get up to 26 mpg on the highway from this car which he calls “The Latina”.

Maserati 3500 GT, The Desert Classic, Palm Springs,

The car is still in it’s factory Bianco Neve colour and has a red leather interior with plenty of room for the long legged driver.

Maserati 3500 GT, The Desert Classic, Palm Springs,

Francis bought #101.686 in 2011 and had it fully restored to it’s present condition.

Maserati 3500 GT, The Desert Classic, Palm Springs,

He says of the car “It’s really a work of art” going on to say that his favourite part of the car is the noise concluding “when you have it on stainless steel exhaust and it’s tuned properly it’s primal”, which you can enjoy a little of on this link.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing these photographs taken at the Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance, Palm Springs, a couple of years ago.

Thanks for joining me on this “It’s Primal” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another Peugeot. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Increased Unsprung Weight – Tyrrell Cosworth 007

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With the retirement of Jackie Stewart and the untimely death of his team mate Francois Cevert the Tyrrell Racing Organisation started the 1974 with two new drivers Patrick Depailler who had made two starts for the team as a third driver in 1972 and Jody Scheckter, who took the seat originally destined for Gerry Birrell and then Roger Williamson both of whom were killed after Jackie Stewart had told Ken Tyrrell of his decision to retire early in 1973.

With two relatively inexperienced drivers coming into the team Derek Gardner opted to design a much simpler car with a longer wheel base, all round inboard brakes and a chisel nose than the Tyrrell 006 with which Jackie and Francoise had so much success in 1973.

Tyrrell Cosworth 007, Donington Park Museum

Jody drove the #007/1 to two victories in Sweden, where Patrick was a season high second and at Brands Hatch in 1974.

Jody had an outside shot at the title at the beginning of the season finale 1974 US Grand Prix where he retired with a fuel system issue having secured third place in the championship.

Tyrrell Cosworth 007, Donington Park Museum

For 1975 the design of the 007 was revised with the radiators being angled back on the vertical plane dispensing with the need for side pods to house them and with outboard front brakes being adopted which adversely affected the unsprung weight of the car.

By now Ferrari were really hitting their stride and Jody managed just the one win at his home South African grand prix which when backed up with a second place finish in Belgium, third in Britain and 6th at Watkins Glen added up to a disappointing distant 7th in the championship.

Tyrrell Cosworth 007, Donington Park Museum

On the plus side while the performance and reliability of the 007’s was tanking Derek Gardener was working on one of Formula Ones more spectacular curiosities for the 1976 season.

At the time of writing I am not sure which of two possible 007’s today’s featured car seen at the Donington Park Museum, is. I believe it is, or was, owned by American Jeffrey Lewis, it is possible that it is either #007/7 which was unraced in period or #007/4, which was built in 1974 for Patrick and converted to the 1975 spec by TRO for Patrick to race in 1975, both of which appear to presently belong to Americans.

Having seen a 007 a few years ago in the Scuderia Gulf Rondini colours for whom Alessandro Pesenti-Rossi drove #007/4 in 1976 I suspect today’s featured car is most likely #007/7, if you know different please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Thanks for joining me on this “Increased Unsprung Weight” 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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Okay Yah – Ford Capri 2.8i

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Several years ago I related how a school friend’s #44 Ray’s Toys Ford Capri 2.8i Production Saloon car gave me my first hands on experience of motor racing at the Willhire 24 Hours run at Snetterton in June 1985.

Ford Capri 2.8i, Silverstone Classic

Wandering around the infield at Silverstone Classic last year I was pleasantly surprised to bump into the very car that won the 6th running of the Willhire 24 Hours, having seen it go past many times from the pit lane it looked amazingly familiar and it was almost as if the race had finished the day before, such is the condition of the car.

Ford Capri 2.8i, Silverstone Classic

I believe the #43 Okay Yah Capri was first registered EVU400Y on the 15th of April 1983, I am not sure exactly when former short oval track Speedworth International Superstox driver Roy Eaton decided that his company, RE Developments based in Winnersh, Berkshire, should turn the car into a Class B, up to 3 litre / 183 cui, production saloon racer, but I believe he may have run the car in the 1984 Willhire 24 Hours in which he finished 3rd.

Ford Capri 2.8i, Silverstone Classic

For 1985 Roy chose as his team mates a former short oval track Hot Rod and Super Rod ace David Oates and an oval promoter with some rally cross experience John Clark.

Ford Capri 2.8i, Silverstone Classic

Opposition at the sharp end of the race came from two brand new cars a well funded Ilford Ford Escort RS Turbo driven by Mike Smith and Lionel Abbott which got as high as 2nd before dropping back to sixth and a very controversial, because of it’s cost and 16 valve heads, Mercedes Benz 190/16 driven by ex Formula One driver Mike Wilds, Mike Knight, Gerard Sauer and the cars sponsor Martin Carroll.

Ford Capri 2.8i, Silverstone Classic

The two Class A Rover Vitesse V8s and two Class A turbo charged Mitsubishi Starions might have edged the multitude of Capris present on paper, but they did not have the staying power to go the full distance at a race winning pace.

Ford Capri 2.8i, Silverstone Classic

The Mercedes did lead the race on occasion, but superior pit work by the RE Developments crew helped the Yokohama shod #43 Okay Yah Capri, which had been leading at 17 of the hour marks of the race, to cross the finish line two laps ahead of the Carroll’s Mercedes , completing 970 laps during 24 hours of racing in what was considered to have been the best Willhire 24 yet.

Thanks for joining me on this “Okay Yah” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking a Tyrrells 1975 Formula One challenger. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Best Closed Car – Ferrari 166 Inter Touring Berlinetta #043S

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Any one lucky enough to have attended the 1950 Torino Saloon might have stumbled, across todays featured Ferrari 166 Inter chassis #043S fitted with a Touring Berlinetta chassis body.

Ferrari 166 Inter Touring Berlinetta, The Quail

Like the sister 1948 right hand drive chassis #017S I looked at a couple of years ago chassis #043S also went to Milan where a Dr Moretti became the first owner.

Ferrari 166 Inter Touring Berlinetta, The Quail

At some point unknown #043S went to the United States an remained there until 1987 when it migrated to The Netherlands for a couple of years.

Ferrari 166 Inter Touring Berlinetta, The Quail

Brit Danny Donovan had #043S restored at the turn of the century, he changed the colour from red to dark blue and had the car registered HPP 5, a registration currently assigned in the UK to a 1969 Gold Mercedes 280 SL.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing these photographs at The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering a couple of years ago where the car was nominated the Best Closed Car.

Thanks for joining me on this “Best Closed Car” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”. I hope you will join me again when I’ll be looking at a 24 hour race winning Production Saloon car. Don’t forget to come back now.

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Continental Falcon – Mercury Comet Cyclone #4T27K546286

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In 1964 Mercury introduced the second generation Mercury Comet which featured a few front and rear end Lincoln Continental styling queues on a body that does not differ greatly from the second generation Ford Falcon also introduced in 1964.

A Cyclone performance package was offered for the Comet which included a 4,736 cc / 289 cui V8 producing 210 hp in 1964, but only 200 hp the following year despite an upgrade to a four barrel carburetor for the latter.

Mercury Comet Cyclone, Silverstone Classic,

Bill Stroppe and partner Clay Smith got started running a manufacturer sanctioned Lincoln / Mercury west coast race shop after impressing Ford’s top brass at the 1947 Henry Ford Memorial Regatta with their Miss Art Hall a Mercury flat head six power boat.

Bill won an SCCA championship with a Mercury powered Kurtis 500S in 1952 and prepared four car teams of Lincoln Capri’s which swept their class on the Carrera Panamerica in 1952 and 1953.

Mercury Comet Cyclone, Silverstone Classic,

After producing police packages for Mercury’s and working with Autolite during the 1957 to 1963 ban on manufacturer involvement in racing Bill Stroppe returned to the tracks with his stock car team who’s drivers included Parnelli Jones, Dave MacDonald and Darel Dieringer that found most of it’s success on the USAC circuit and at Pikes Peak.

Bill also produced a string of successful drag racers for Frank Christman and others and even convinced Parnelli – Jones to extend his career into the 1970’s to drive his successful Baja Bronco off road vehicles.

Mercury Comet Cyclone, Silverstone Classic,

Exactly what Bill Stroppe Racing Associates involvement with Roger Wills ’65 Cyclone historic racer chassis #4T27K546286, seen in these photographs, was is not clear at this time, if you know please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Roger has shared his Comet Cyclone in historic endurance events with 2 time European GT Champion and IMSA GT Champion John Fitzpatrick, 5 times Le Mans winner Emmanuele Pirro and current works Porsche driver and fellow New Zealander Brendon Hartley.

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

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Super Saturday Winners – Silver Jubilee Silverstone Classic

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Today’s post features all the winners on Super Saturday of the Silver Jubilee Silverstone Classic Meeting, after an aqueous qualification day Saturday emerged as a beautiful sunny.

Lotus, Sam Wilson, Lotus Andrew Hibberd, Silverstone Classic

The action kicked of with the Historic Formula Junior race which was won by the blue #53 Lotus 20/22 driven by Sam Wilson, from 2nd on the grid, seen above being challenged by 4th place starter and 8th place finisher Andrew Hibberd’s red #79 Lotus 22 going into Copse on the opening lap.

Stirling Moss Trophy, Silverstone Classic

Gregor Fisker did a great job driving, the GALPOT Banner car, #46 Ferrari 246S from fifth on the grid to the win he is seen above chasing 3 Knobbly Listers and a white stripped Costin Lister while being pursued by the #25 Lotus by A. Wolfe and I. Vercoutere on lap 5 of the 21 lap / 50 minute race.

Warwick Banks Trophy, Silverstone Classic,

Three Mini’s secured the top three spots for the Warwick Banks Trophy race in the wet conditions, however they were soon swamped by more powerful Lotus Cortinas, BMWs and Alfa Romeos after the start. Richard Meaden in the #63 Lotus Cortina leads coming out of Village above on the opening lap while eventual winner triple British Touring car champion Matt Neal driving the #152 Lotus Cortina, he shared with 2012 British Touring Car Champion Gordon Shedden, has made up 7 places from 14th on the grid going into the third corner of the 50 minute / 18 lap race !

Kidston Trophy, Silverstone Classic

Andrew Hall driving the #69 Frazer Nash Supersports made a super start from 5th in The Kidston Trophy race for pre war sports cars to lead for a couple of corners before Gareth Burnett in the big green #52 Talbot 105 took command for the opening 7 laps of the race. A slick driver change helped Fredric Wakeman and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards take the lead and win the race in the #11 Frazer Nash Super Sports, seen on the extreme left of the photo above in third place.

Tyrrell 012, Martin Stretton, Silverstone Classic

Despite qualifying his #44 Tyrrell 012 nearly 5 seconds faster than Sam Hancock’s yellow #55 Fittipaldi F5A, Martin Stretton, seen above, had to eat Sam’s dust for three laps before pulling away to win the FIA Masters Historic Formula one race by just under 2 seconds.

Honda Dodd, Audi, Wrathall, Silverstone Classic,

12th place starter Frank Wrathall in the 1989 #39 Audi 80 Quattro is seen above lining up to overtake James Dodd driving the 1999 #1 Honda Accord for the lead which Frank would not relinquish on lap 4 of the Super Touring Car race.

Cooper T51, Harvey, Cooper T53, Nuthall, Silverstone Classic,

Racing an open wheeler for the first time since breaking his legs in a Formula Ford car early in his career was 1992 British Touring Car Champion Tim Harvey, who is seen above passing Will Nuttall in the #10 Cooper T53, for the lead on his way to winning the Maserati Trophy race driving Roger Wills #1 Cooper T51.

Jaguar, Nicholl-Jones, TVR, Whitaker, Silverstone Classic,

Mark Whitaker driving the #46 TVR Griffith starting 4th on the grid for the JET Trophy race had left the two Minis that qualified ahead of him way behind and as seen above already had pole sitter Matt Nicholl Jones #85 Jaguar E-type well in his sites as he exited Woodcote for the first time, Mark won the 9 lap race by nearly 18 seconds.

FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars, Silverstone Classic

Martin O’Connell driving the #4 Chevron B19 seen in second above never dropped out of the top 4 on his way to winning the FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars race from the #60 Lola T70 driven by Marino Franchitti and Richard Meaden seen above in 4th place.

Jaguar E-Type, Martin O'Connell, Silverstone Classic

There was little time for Martin to savour his victory as he had a pressing appointment on the 13th row of the grid to start the International Trophy race in his E-Type Jaguar, on lap 11 of the one hour 25 lap race he took the lead and stayed there to claim a second consecutive victory.

11 Nissan / Jaguar_9462sc

Steve Tandy starting from pole in his IMSA Spice, seen in a distant third above, held the lead on the opening lap of the evening Group C race but relinquished it to the #27 Nissan R91CK of Bob Berridge and #17 Jaguar XJR14 of Christophe D’Ansembourg, Bob held the lead for three laps before Christophe, seen in second place above, took the lead on the 4th lap and held on to it for the remainder of the race.

Thanks for joining me on this “Super Saturday Winners” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another Mercury. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Diesel Record Breaker – Peugeot 404 Diesel

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The Pininfarina styled Peugeot 404 was launched in 1960 and by 1964 it was available with 4 different body styles and a 63hp diesel engine option.

Peugeot 404 Diesel, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

In 1965 Peugeot built today’s featured single seat 2163 cc / 130 cui 4 cylinder diesel powered 404 prototype to help publicise the capabilities of the at the time relatively under used, outside the commercial vehicle arena, alternative to petrol.

Peugeot 404 Diesel, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

In June 1965 Peugeot took the car to Montlhery outside Paris and set a new 5,000 km / 3106 mile diesel record by averaging 99 mph.

Peugeot 404 Diesel, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

One month later the motor was replaced with a smaller 1,948 cc / 118 cui 4 cylinder diesel and the car was driven at an average speed of 100 mph for 11,000 km / 6,835 miles around Montlhery, in all the record breaking car captured 40 world diesel records.

Peugeot 404 Diesel, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

A 1965 group test of diesel powered cars from Peugeot, Mercedes Benz and Austin showed the 63hp diesel Peugeot comfortably out performed it’s competitors in every area except fuel consumption at which the Austin was the more miserly.

The 404 Diesel which still belongs to Peugeot is seen in these photographs at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Thanks for joining me on this “Diesel Record Breaker” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at all 11 Super Saturday winners at this years Silver Jubilee Silverstone Classic. Don’t forget to come back now !

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