Tag Archives: Wood

No Enthusiast Should Miss – Ginetta G.15 Coupé

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For trade stand No. 157 at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1967 Ginetta prepared a vehicle that they said “No enthusiast should miss”, the new Ginetta G.15 was billed as being capable of 100 mph and achieving 40 mpg with ‘fantastic’ road holding and all for the low price of just £849 in kit form.

Ginetta G15, Prescott

However Ginetta had over sold them selves since they had not sorted out their supply chain out sufficiently to start production until 1968. However once they got going according to Ginetta’s engineer Ivor Walkett “we could not build them fast enough” for a while Ginetta moved into a new factory to cope with the demand which eventually was just short of 800 units.

Ginetta G15, Prescott

Built around a steel space frame with glass fibre pannels the G.15 used proprietary Triumph Spitfire front suspension and like the later Clan proprietary rear mounted engine and suspension from the Hillman Imp. Ginetta also had the car type approved for turn key sales.

Ginetta G15, Russell, Prescott

The G.15 was a big hit on the tracks and hills, Chrysler engineer Brian Tavender used his in sprints with is own specially prepared motor and gearbox, until an accident at Castle Combe in 1975 Barry Wood was successful running a works backed car in the modified sportscar (Modsport) class while 3 years after production had ended in 1974 David Beams became 1977 Production Sports (Prodsports) Champion with his G.15. Two years later Alison Davis repeated the Prodsports feat to become the first woman to win an overall circuit racing championship.

Ginetta G15, Prescott

The end of G.15 production in 1974 was brought about by the usual suspects for the period, dreaded Value Added Tax (VAT), a three day working week due to fuel shortages, with the additional threat of the end of supply of the Hillman Imp motor. Several G.15s were built for the US market with Volkswagen motors and Ginetta considered using a Skoda motor to replace the Hillman unit before cutting their losses and calling it a day for the model. Subsequently Ginetta moved back to their original factory.

Today’s featured G.15 belonging to Andrew Russell was seen at Prescott a couple of years ago.

Thanks for joining me on this “No Enthusiast Should Miss” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an early turbocharged Bristol. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Where Do We Go Now ? – Silverstone Classic

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Last Saturday it was back to Silverstone for the third time in a month, but this time for the Silverstone Classic a three day event.

Silverstone Classic

Silverstone Classic is billed as the largest participant motorsports event in the United Kingdom.

Silverstone Classic

Sponsors of the event BMW brought a long a big wheel, unfortunately I get vertigo on a step ladder so I was not able to sample the, by all accounts, spectacular view from the top.

BMW 3.0 CSL, Silverstone Classic

I’m not too sure when the fad for lurid paint scheme’s started on road cars in Germany, but I do remember it quite vividly when I visited the country in 1974, above this particularly cool post July 1973 ‘Batmobile’ BMW 3.0 CSL was on display outside the BMW hospitality unit.

Wilson, Lotus 20/22, Hibberd, Lotus 22, Silverstone Classic

Racing got underway promptly at 9 am with the Formula Juniors who were racing for the Peter Arundell Trophy. The race was hotly contested between the #53 Lotus 20/22 of Sam Wilson and #79 of Andrew Hibberd, after trading places many times, Andy won the 9 lap race by just over half a second.

Formula Ford, Silverstone Classic

Callum Macleod won the Balvenie Trophy for Historic Formula Fords by nearly five seconds, above a gaggle of Formula Fords exits Maggotts Corner and heads for Beckett’s corner in a scrap more typical of the class.

Smith, Ward, Costin, Lister, Silverstone Classic

Gary Pearson led the opening laps of the Stirling Moss Trophy for Pre ’61 sports cars in his knobbly Lister Jaguar, but Oliver Bryant in a Lotus 15 soon chased him down for the lead and an eventual victory shared with Grahame Bryant. Meanwhile Chris Ward and Andrew Smith came through the field from 11th to finish second 2 seconds adrift in the lush Costin bodied Jaguar powered Lister seen above.

Ford Ranchero, Silverstone Classic

Out on the old Hanger Straight UK Street Machines were holding a shootout in which this ’64 Ford Ranchero was taking part.

Priaulx, Solomons, BMW1800Ti, Silverstone Classic

Former British Hillclimb Champion and three time World Touring Champion Andy Priaulx led the opening stages of the Sir John Whitmore Trophy for Under 2 Litre Touring Cars in this BMW 1800Ti, but it was Leo Voyazides aided by former Merzario engineer Simon Hadfield that came through to win in a Lotus Cortina. Priaulx sharing with Richard Solomons came home fifth.

Lyons, Surtees, TS9, Silverstone Classic

Judy Lyons in her Surtees TS9 gives us a wave as she prepares to take part in the FIA Masters Historic Formula One race for which she qualified 3rd from last and finished last three laps down. Judy’s husband Frank finished 16th driving a Hesketh 308E while her son Michael won the race driving a former Longhorn Indycar chassis now in Williams FW07 spec as raced by Rupert Keegan in 1980.

Wills, Panayiotou, Mercury, Comet, Cyclone, Silverstone Classic

Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield won the Trans-Atlantic Touring Car Trophy, by over 16 seconds, sharing a Ford Falcon. The Mercury Comet Cyclone above was shared by Roger Wills and Chris Panayiotou who finished 6th.

Wood, Tec Mec, Bronson, Scarab, Silverstone Classic

Tony Wood qualified the #27 Tec Mec Maserati on pole for the Froilan Gonzalez Trophy for HGPCA Pre’61 Grand Prix Cars, but Julian Bronson sitting alongside Wood on the grid in the #30 Offy powered Scarab made a great race of it and came through to score the open wheel Scarabs second ever victory, having won a similar race at Pau in France a couple of weeks ago.

Voyazides, Hadfield, Lola T70, Mk IIIb, Silverstone Classic

The #6 Lola T70 Mk IIIb chassis #SL76/153 won the FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars race giving Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield their third victory of the day. The car appears in the colours used by Carlos Avallone in South America.

Lola T400, Silverstone Classic

Michael Lyons second victory of the day came when he drove this ex Vels Parnelli Lola T400 chassis #HU7 a to dominant victory in the Peter Gethin Trophy for Formula 5000 and Formula 2 cars.

Wood, Cologne, Ford, Capri, Silverstone Classic

Neil Smith driving an ALFA Romeo 156 won the Super Touring Car Trophy by just over 2/10ths of a second from Frank Wrathall driving a Vauxhall Cavalier, above is the circa 1974 Ford RS3100 of Ric Wood which came in 13th overall winning class G and setting fastest lap in class.

Minshaw, Brabham, BT4, Hughes, Cooper, T53, Silverstone Classic

The skies turned dark as the pre 1966 1.5 litre / 91 cui Grand Prix cars came out to play for the Jim Clark Trophy. Jason Minshaw is seen above driving his Branham BT4 being chased by Jonathon Hughes in his Cooper T53. Jason crossed the line first on lap 4 after which the race had to be abandoned as a summer storm dropped huge quantities of water on the track.

Heidsieck, Trophy, Silverstone, Classic

After nearly an hour the storm had passed and the marshalls had swept most of the excess water away. However as the Piper Heidsieck International Trophy for pre’66 GT Cars came out rain started again, but we got a start after the grid had followed the pace car around for a couple of laps. The TVR’s of Mike Whittaker and Owen O’Neil lead the field through Farm, above as the race gets underway. Conditions got progressively worse and the race was called after 45 mins of the scheduled 60 mins had run. John and Gary Pearson were declared the winners in their E-type Jaguar from Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield who missed a fourth victory of the day by 13 seconds in their AC Cobra.

Unfortunately, but completely understandably, the one race for Group C Sportscars I had got up for at 5 am specifically to see scheduled to run at sundown, had to be scratched as the rain in Spain continued to teem down mainly on Northamptonshire, England.

Exhausted by a day full of close racing, as I headed back to the car, I heard the familiar Guns ‘n’ Roses lyric “Where do we go now” wafting across from the stage where The Guns and Roses Experience were playing, to which my answer was unequivocal, “A warm and safe place”.

Thanks for joining me on this “Where Do We Go Now ?” 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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More Fuel – McLaren Ford M14A #M14/2

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Going into 1970 things were looking up as McLaren Cars entered their seventh year. The team had won three consecutive Can Am Championships, 2 for Bruce McLaren and one for Denny Hulme, the inaugural European Formula F5000 championship with Peter Gethin and four championship Formula One races one for Bruce McLaren and three, including the last race of 1969, for Denny Hulme.

In addition to these racing programs for 1970 McLaren were to embark on an Indy program with the new turbocharged McLaren Offy M15 and were contracted to run an Alfa Romeo V8 powered car alongside their new Ford powered M14A Formula One car.

McLaren Ford M14A, Goodwood Revival

The new M14A was an improvement of the 1969 McLaren M7C, itself based on a Formula F5000 M10A chassis with McLaren M7A Grand Prix winning suspension.

The main feature of the new car was the narrower internal dimensions of the monocoque which were necessary to accommodate larger fuel tanks required by the ever more powerful and thirsty Ford Cosworth DFV V8’s.

McLaren Ford M14A, McLaren Manchester, Knutsford

The McLaren M14A was used in all but one race in the 1970 Formula One championship season. It’s best result was on it’s debut in South Africa where Denny Hulme finished second, driving I believe today’s featured car. Bruce McLaren matched that in Spain where he also finished second. After the Monaco Grand Prix where Denny finished forth disaster struck as first Denny was badly burned after his car caught fire in testing at Indianapolis and then a couple of weeks later Bruce was killed while testing the M8D Can Am car at Goodwood.

The team consequently missed the Belgian GP and reappeared at the Dutch Grand Prix with Dan Gurney driving the lead car #M14/1 and 1969 European Formula 5000 champion Peter Gethin making his Formula One championship debut driving today’s featured chassis, both cars retired. Denny Hulme still suffering from burned hands was back in time for the French Grand Prix alongside Dan Gurney and the pair came in 4th and 6th respectively.

#M14/2 is seen at the McLaren Manchester show room in Knutsford above.

McLaren Ford M14A, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

Dan Gurney retired from Formula One after retiring from the British Grand Prix where Hulme finished a remarkable 3rd. Peter Gethin was back in the team for the German Grand Prix where Denny again finished 3rd. Denny retired from the Austrian GP but at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix he came home 4th. Peter Gethin scored his first World Championship point at the Canadian Grand Prix where he finished 6th and Denny rounded out a painful year with a third in the Mexican Grand Prix finishing 4th in the Formula One Championship points table.

Incredibly despite his injuries Denny had also won 6 of the 10 Can Am Championship rounds enough to win the 1970 Chamionship his second Can Am Crown and McLaren Cars 4th consecutive championship aided by a further win from Peter Gethin who also won a second consecutive European Formula 5000 title driving a McLaren. The US, New Zealand and South African Formula 5000 thousand championships were won by John Cannon, Graham McRae and Bob Olthof respectively all also driving McLarens.

McLaren Ford M14A, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

For 1971 #M14/2 was driven by Peter Gethin to two second place finishes in non championship races at Oulton Park and Brands Hatch, the best championship result Peter had from 3 championship start in the car was 8th in the 1971 Spanish Grand Prix.

Jackie Oliver joined McLaren for the British Grand Prix where he qualified #M14/2 22nd but a bungled flag drop saw Jackie crash into Graham Hill at the start causing instant retirement for both and a £50 fine for Jackie. The cars final works appearance was at the 1971 Italian Grand Prix where Jackie qualified 13th and finished 7th in a close fought race won by Peter Gethin now driving a BRM.

McLaren Ford M14A, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

#M14/2 next appeared with a Formula 5000 Chevy stock block V8 motor in the hands of Tony Dean who’s best result was a 10th place finish in his first start in the car at Mondello Park. On his seventh and final attempt, which included retirements from races at Elkhart Lake and Brainerd, to race the car Tony failed to qualify for the non championship 1972 John Player Challenge Trophy at Brands Hatch.

In 1973 at the same venue Willie Wood failed to qualify #M14/2 for the Formula F5000 race or non championship Race of Champions and was not classified in a further appearance at Oulton Park. Allan Kayes then bought #M14/2 was also unclassified at Brands Hatch, finished 11th at Oulton Park and then retired, failed to qualify or failed to start in 12 further races most of which were rounds of the 1974 European Formula 5000 championship.

Thanks for joining me on this “More Fuel” 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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Congratufreakinlations® – Grand National Roadster Show.

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The last week of January saw neighbours Gary L Wales and Johnny Martinez attend the 64th Grand National Roadster Show at the Fairplex in Panoma, California. Johnny Martinez has kindly agreed to share his photographs of the event with us today.

La Bestioni V, Grand National Roadster Show, Fairplex, Panoma, CA

Gary L Wales was showing his 1919 American La France based La Bestioni V, the chains of which are spun by a 14 litre / 854 cui 6 cylinder motor. Gary was awarded the Novelty Vehicle Trophy for his creation.

Queens Last Revenge, Grand National Roadster Show, Fairplex, Panoma, CA

The Queens Last Revenge a triumph of the art of low riding.

Ford Model A Coupé, Grand National Roadster Show, Fairplex, Panoma, CA

I’m sure this colour green would not have been available in 1932 when this Ford was originally built but it is nicely set off by the white soft top panel in the roof.

So Cal, Grand National Roadster Show, Fairplex, Panoma, CA

So Cal so low some of us might need the sun roof to see where we are going.

Ford Woody Monster Garage, Grand National Roadster Show, Fairplex, Panoma, CA

Jesse James and his West Coast Choppers is probably as well known in this country for yomping across Lord March’s Goodwood Estate in his Trophy Truck as he is in the USA for his television show’s which include Monster Garage in which this 1950 Ford Woody was resurrected, I love the old school 1/4 mile dirt track style bumper on the front.

Volkswagen Type 2, Grand National Roadster Show, Fairplex, Panoma, CA

While California is by no means the home of surfing it is associated with much surfing activity so the presence of a couple of split screen Volkswagen Type 2 campers can be no surprise, these two appear to date from somewhere around 1964.

Ford Pizza Van, Grand National Roadster Show, Fairplex, Panoma, CA

It’s not every day I see a Pizza Wagon with two Rootes Superchargers and outsize slick tyres, this example is billed as a 1919 Ford C Cab and was built by Bob Schoonhoven and is said to feature Dan Wood suspension, unfortunately the Pizza Van is a show car and not street legal.

Cruel Intentions, Chevrolet Impala, Grand National Roadster Show, Fairplex, Panoma, CA

Johnny reckons the Cruel Intentions Chevrolet Impala convertible above is probably the only car you would get away with displaying upside down.

2BSOLOW Lincoln Bubble Top, Grand National Roadster Show, Fairplex, Panoma, CA

The curious amalgam of Johnny “Lunchbox” Cash parts above started life as a 1955 Ford and sits on a 1988 Lincoln Town Car chassis. 2BSOLOW is also known as a 1955 Ford Beatnick Custom it was built by Gary “Chopit” Fioto as a tribute to Kustom pioneers Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and Darryl Starbird. The the 350 cui Chevrolet powered Bubble Top has won numerous awards and was recently estimated to be worth a high $125,000 at auction in 2011, but did not sell.

Ford Model A Pickup, Grand National Roadster Show, Fairplex, Panoma, CA

Finally we come to Johnny’s ’29 Ford Model A pickup which I featured a couple of weeks ago.

After four months of meticulous preparation Johnny is seen here with the Rod Pickup – pre-1935 award which he won at the show, as his friend Merritt Sanger trade marked on facebook “Congratufreakinlations®”.

But that is not quite the end of Johnny’s story as some of you will remember I spent a couple of weeks at the end of last month to vote for Johnny’s ’29 Ford Model A pickup in the Gold Eagle Cool Ride of the Month contest. After a close fought battle with daily swings of less than 1% making the difference in the lead over several weeks Johnny’s friends including several GALPOT readers finally pushed his ’29 Ford clear on the last day to win the 2013 January Gold Eagle Cool Rides on line contest by just over 1%. On behalf of Johnny I’d like to thank every one who participated. Johnny will be receiving a $150 dollars worth of Gold Eagle products to help him keep his Pickup in top condition.

Johnny’s Ford has now won 28 awards in 31 months.

My thanks to Johnny Martinez for sharing his photo’s from the Grand National Roadster Show and congratulations again on another two well deserved wins.

Thanks for joining me on this “Congratufreakinlations®” 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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FI = 1 H.P. per CU. IN. x 283 – Chevrolet Corvette C1

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With the arrival of the enthusiastic Zora Arkus-Duntov in GM’s engineering department, the famous Chevrolet small block in the engine bay and some competition in the form of the Ford Thunderbird, Chevrolet ramped up it’s commitment to building and American sports car in 1956 by replacing the first iteration of the Corvette which was considered low on performance, high on water leaks into the cockpit and less than a true sports car.

Chevrolet Corvette, Avenue Drivers Club, Bristol

Banished for ever in 1956 was the 155 hp triple carburetor Blue Flame six cylinder engine, the Corvette from 1956 on was strictly a V8 powered vehicle.

Chevrolet Corvette, Avenue Drivers Club, Bristol

For ’56 there was all new bodywork, replacing the first generations body that was close to the original concept Corvette first seen in 1953.

Chevrolet Corvette, Avenue Drivers Club, Bristol

The bold sculpted sides behind the front wheels really helped the second iteration two tone Corvette stand out from the crowd.

Chevrolet Corvette, Avenue Drivers Club, Bristol

As did the faux air scoops on the front wing/fender.

Chevrolet Corvette, Avenue Drivers Club, Bristol

There was a hard top hood option and the much improved soft top had a power assisted option as did the roll up glass window’s.

Chevrolet Corvette, Avenue Drivers Club, Bristol

The three speed manual transmission became standard but the, inferior performance wise, Powerglide automatic remained an option. The cockpit controls fittings and instrumentation of the ’56 and ’57 ‘vettes remained similar to the original Corvette cockpit.

Chevrolet Corvette, Avenue Drivers Club, Bristol

Following in the footsteps of 1953 Gutbrod and the 1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL in 1957 the GM Rochester constant flow fuel injection was an option for the Corvettes small block V8. This innovation while not widely taken up, 1040 FI units were sold, took the power up to 290 hp, however for marketing purposes the car was said to have 1 hp for every one of of the small block V8’s 283 cubic inches.

Chevrolet Corvette, Avenue Drivers Club, Bristol

Thanks to Zora Arkus-Duntov ’57 Corvettes could be ordered with ready to race options including the fuel injection, heavy duty suspension and if the advertising is to be believed even the power windows were said to be lighter than the manual window mechanisms.

Among the race outright Corvette winners in 1956 were Bob Stonedale, Mansfield, Bark Henry, Road America, Bill Pollack, Buchanan Field, Robert Bennet, Mansfield and most successful of all in ’56 was Dick Thompson who won at Beverly, Seafair, Thompson CT, and Palm Springs.

In 1957 Corvette drivers winning outright are known to have included Ruben Ciriacks and Peter Talbot at Hawaii, Ned Yarter at Willow Springs and Bakersfield, Jerry Parsons at Smartt Field, Bob Drake, Santa Barbra, Dick Thompson, Cumberland, Eagle Mountain, Marlboro, Viginia, Road America, Bob Byrd, John Masterson and Lloyd Gray at Cotati, Jim Jeffords, Milwaukee, Lloyd Porter at Bakersfield, Bark Henry, Lime Rock and Montgomery, Dean McCarthy, Watkins Glen, Jerry Austin, Pomona, Santa Barbra, Riverside, Palm Springs and Paramount Ranch, Bob Bent Cotati and Arcata, Leonard Butscher, Thompson CT, Fred Windridge, Watkins Glen and Bridgehampton, Dan Gurney at Riverside, John Wood, Willow Springs, H. C. Hoppe (Ladies Races) Bakersfield, Willow Springs and Orange County, Hugh Woods and Cal Bailey at Hourglass Field, Jack Bates and Frank Cairns at Pomona, John Voevodsky and Bill Moore at Phoenix and finally Elgin Holmes who won at Willow Springs and Orange County.

With Duntov’s vision the American sports car had finally arrived.

Thanks for joining me on this “FI = 1 H.P. per CU. IN. x 283” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

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