New Pre '79 Historic Class at Mondello

Motormouth

Thought I'd start a new thread here as a few of us have unintentionally hijacked the Dream Car garage thread talking about racing cars and Mondello History etc!!! :rolleyes:
Anyway, the HRCA have changed their cut off date from Pre 74 to pre 79 allowing Production saloons and GT/Modsport cars back on track!!
Anyone out there got something suitable?? Capri, Commodore, Mini??
I currently have a Spaceframe Rawlson Imp, a Fiat 127 racer and a Mk1 Golf GTi, all race prepped......
What does anyone think would be the ultimate pre '79 car??

AsphaltRisin'

My idea of the ultimate classic race car would be a fully race tuned Capri 3.0S, or mk1 3litre GT. Triple carbs, race cam, long stroke crank, rebored, engine rebuilt, every possible thing lightened and balanced. steel timing gear, heads ported and polished...
Basically full ultimate race spec.
With all the running gear/ suspension/ brakes to suit.

Will be a long time before i can afford if ever... but there's something so cool about a full race spec capri.

Redrocket

Definately race spec capri

MercMad

AsphaltRisin' wrote: »

My idea of the ultimate classic race car would be a fully race tuned Capri 3.0S, or mk1 3litre GT. Triple carbs, race cam, long stroke crank, rebored, engine rebuilt, every possible thing lightened and balanced. steel timing gear, heads ported and polished...
Basically full ultimate race spec.
With all the running gear/ suspension/ brakes to suit.

Will be a long time before i can afford if ever... but there's something so cool about a full race spec capri.

..........sounds like a really fun car. I once had a spin in a Zakspeed Capri RS3100 .......the wide arch one, fantastic car !!

What way will they work it, will there be weight penalties or what ? I reckon a Mk1 Golf would be a super little race car but I'd prefer something bigger a RWD with a musical engine...................maybe a Batmobile just to keep those Capri's on their toes !! :cool:

Motormouth

They ran it as anything goes last year but they are talking about a number of sub classes for '08, possibly split by lap times into 3 classes, with a number of reviews during the season.
There was a Mk1 Capri out towards the end of this year, glorious sound, big arches the lot, was going quite well and the guy who has it reckons there's more to come. (You might know him from your FF1600 days Brian, Tommy Doherty?) I'm selling the Golf (Mk1 1600 race prepped but road legal with 130bhp) cos I have too many machines at the moment so if anyone fancies it, pm me, or have a look at it on adverts.ie
There was also a Davrian Imp, a quick 1275GT Mini, and a coupla Modsport Midgets out last year.
Slicks aren't allowed though........

corktina

id like to have a go in my 2.8 V6 (bored out to around 3 litre and piper cammed) cortina mk3..... (or my 3 litre Cortina mk4. posssibly...)

MercMad

Motormouth wrote: »

They ran it as anything goes last year but they are talking about a number of sub classes for '08, possibly split by lap times into 3 classes, with a number of reviews during the season.
There was a Mk1 Capri out towards the end of this year, glorious sound, big arches the lot, was going quite well and the guy who has it reckons there's more to come. (You might know him from your FF1600 days Brian, Tommy Doherty?) I'm selling the Golf (Mk1 1600 race prepped but road legal with 130bhp) cos I have too many machines at the moment so if anyone fancies it, pm me, or have a look at it on adverts.ie
There was also a Davrian Imp, a quick 1275GT Mini, and a coupla Modsport Midgets out last year.
Slicks aren't allowed though........

...........actually I know Tommy Doherty myself, havent spoken to him in years but wouldn't mind seeing that car race !

bo-bo

ive got a 3.0 S capri which im rebuilding at the moment - id love to race it when its finished.

DaveCol

Hi Motormouth!
Haven't seen you for years!

Would I get away with using this for the new class???

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/WZA60/DSCF0047.jpg

Motormouth

http://www.glueck-ober-pech.com/

))A Capri 3.0S and a Mini 1275GT would both be eligible guys, but you gotta fit a cage, extinguisher, seat, belts cut-off switch etc. More details on www.motorsportireland.com

DaveCol

It has been around Mondello before, but only on a parade lap with the Irish Mini Owners Club!

nastysimon

I'd say a Reliant Scimitar Se5a would be a good idea. The engine can be tuned fairly easily. It's a 3.0 and 210bhp is fairly do-able without having to change to OHC, 24V heads or supercharging (it's the same 3.0 as the Capri). The suspension is quite good and should allow for better handling than a Capri (it does as standard anyway). The single biggest thing in their favour is that they're cheap as chips.

Spitfire

Nastysimon,
I have access to 4 Scimitars should you wish to follow through on that thought.
Se5
Se5a
Se6 x2
All are available.Let me know if you are interested.
I think that any glassfibre car with a large reasonably light engine would be ideal for that series.
Things like TVR, Gilbern & Marcos spring to mind.
I would love to get hold of a GT40 or Cobra replica and see whether they would be allowed.:D

Motormouth

http://www.glueck-ober-pech.com/

))Yeah, there was talk of a class for kitcars of a certain vintage but before you all minimise this and start bidding furiously on Ebay (haven't we all?!), the regs are not finalised yet for '08
Capris, Dolomites and Commodore G/SEs would be fantastic though!!!
Minis, Midgets, Fiat 128 3p (someone must have one of those with a cage?) X/19, Fiesta Supersports, Kadett 1.3 SR, Mazda RX-3, Kadett GT/E, Escort RS2000, loads and loads of options here...............

Brian Nolan

Hi Leo

Good idea to start a new thread about the pre '79 class.

With reference to PJ Fallon Racing team along with Formula Opels class didn’t he run Alan Johnston in a Raynard Formula Ford around '93 under the Golden Pages banner.

Yes Mondello's 40th anniversary race meeting will be worth watching with drivers like Steve Griffin, David Hall, etc.

If you could dig up somewhere for me to buy or hire e.g.:
MG Midget, Mini, Dolomite Sprint, Avenger, Commodore G/SEs, Kadett 1.3 SR, Escort RS2000 or Capri, I would indeed be tempted to dust off the helmet and overalls.

Regards
Brian

Motormouth

Hi again Brian, glad you joined the thread. That was actually Ali (Alistair) Johnston in a Swift SC92 FF1600. Yeah, PJ supplied the car and the funding (Golden Pages) but, and I might be wrong, the Johnstons ran the car themselves. Alan Johnston dominated the Fiat Ritmo series for many years at Mondello, still has the car, and has just discovered that the Ritmo (designed by computer, built by robot, remember that?) was introduced before the end of '79!!!!!!
Know a guy has a few modsport Midgets and he isn't too dear, I'll make a few calls for you. Alternatively, if my Imp is up and running any time soon, the 127 will be vacant, along with its recently purchased twin 40s and 4 branch manifold!!:cool:
If you were looking to buy something, EBay.co.uk can be seriously cheap for pre '79 racing cars..............

DaveCol

Brian,

I know of a Mini, Miglia spec I think, that was for sale a while ago. Irish reg. I will see if it is still around

S.I.R

i plan on helping a friend build a mk1 escort for track days on Mondello ! ... but i dont think it will be done till '09 thanks to a serious lack of funds...

if any boards members are racing , make sure to brag that your racing as i'd love to be 1 of many fans there cheering the boards guys on

Brian Nolan

Hi Leo

Thank you for your warm welcome to this thread about the pre '79 class.

With reference to PJ Fallon Racing team - I remember that Ali Johnston had a Swift SC92 FF1600 and that PJ supplied the car and the funding from Golden Pages. Yes you are right the Johnstons ran the car themselves.
However, Ali drove a yellow Raynard ’92 for a period in 1993, I was amused by what constituted a new model which as far as I could see was only a slight change in bodywork and maybe one or two improvements to the suspension.

Ali gave up racing to purse a career with the BBC Northern Ireland.
I remember that Ali’s father Harry raced a Crossle 30F years earlier.

I do remember Alan Johnston in the Fiat Ritmo series for many years, as a close friend of mine raced in the Ritmo class at that time.

Leo, I might take you up on the offer of the Fiat 127 with its twin 40s and 4 branch manifold!


Regards
Brian


Ps: To Davecol thank you for the information about the Mini (Miglia spec). Yes I would appreciate it if you would enquire if it is still around.

Motormouth

http://www.glueck-ober-pech.com/

))@ DaveCol,
stick a cage in that 1275GT, you know it makes sense!!!
A Capri 3.0S or a Mk1 Escort would both be great pre '79 cars, with loads of cheap tuning potential for both!!

@ Brian,
Yeah, I remember that Reynard, Derek Cunneely drove it for PJ before they split, had a slightly higher nosecone than the other 88/89 ones. By that stage the Swift SC92 and Van Diemen RF92 were the cars to have anyway. Mind you, the FF1600 lap record stands to David Wright in an '89 Reynard to this day!! (I'll PM you about the 127) As for your friend, in the Ritmo class, I think that class was so big at one stage, we all knew someone racing in it. Friend of mine just bought a Ritmo racecar which he is restoring, and has just bought a 145+bhp 1500 engine on twin 40s from me for it!!

Anyone know the whereabouts of any of the old racing Ritmos or 128 3ps??

superboy

Nah, what ye want is a 63 Galaxie 500XL, with the full 427 cubic inch Cobra engine!!! OH YEAH!! or a Dolomite sprint!!

DaveCol

Brian,

Yes that Mini is still available. Will PM you the contact details of the owner and you can check it out

Motormouth

QUOTE=superboy;54505943]Nah, what ye want is a 63 Galaxie 500XL, with the full 427 cubic inch Cobra engine!!! OH YEAH!! or a Dolomite sprint!![/QUOTE]


Yeah, a Galaxie would be the job!! Mondello might be a bit too twisty for a big yoke like that though!

Have a look at this saloon race from Crystal Palace in 1971:
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=kY5zdnGvT0c
Fantastic Stuff!!

superboy

oh my GOD that was amazing!! I had forgotten all about that Viva!! Gerry Marshall was some man to drive. The Camaro had the power though.

Hifive

That/those two are the best u-tube videos I've ever seen.
What a battle. The Might of the V8 Camaro vs the small but nimble Escort rs 1600. And great to see Gerry Marshal (pre Big Bertha) piling on the pressure.
I don't think I can ever watch formula one again.
Great post. Thanks Motormouth.

Motormouth

Yeah, great stuff. Marshall gets a fantastic run through the last corner every lap but the Viva is way slower than the other two down the straight!
Enough interest in pre '79s guys, and we might be able to re-enact this kind of stuff next year!!!

Motormouth

Here's some more classic action. Brands Hatch this time. A famous race run in The Brands Hatch School Escort Mexicos in '71 for the then F1 team Managers....
Listen out for Frank Williams, Ken Tyrrell etc etc...........
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LHTqivVJsM

MercMad

Linky doesn't work !

Motormouth

Sorry, try this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LHTqivVJsMU

MercMad

Ta !!