The Other Cars of USA7s Members (Non-Se7ens only)

[slowdude]

So my temporary work car has done the 6k miles in 4 months that it needed to do. The hail damaged 3 series is set to go.

 

I was able to find an X3M40i in Boston Green Metallic (same color as the Cat- it's a BMW individual color), but individual colors are off limits to employees (even though the car is a dealer reject- customer ordered it and then backed out).

 

So instead, I was able to find another green BMW, which I pick up on thursday.

 

I'll give you all a hint. It's (naturally a BMW) with 4 doors and has a green / tan build.

 

Any guesses? @NSXguy I think I posted it to IG, so you're exempt!

[panamericano]

Looks like Bruce's Lola leads the pack.  OK, Foyt's Lola.  Poster on auction at https://ontime.mecum.com/auction/232/item/scca-1944-1969-race-poster-36976/

 

[Bruce K]

3 hours ago, panamericano said:

Looks like Bruce's Lola leads the pack.  OK, Foyt's Lola.  Poster on auction at /

 

Nice to think of a fellow forum member like this.  However, the blue car is not a T70 - I don't think I see one in the entire pack.  The # 6 car could be a McClaren, but hard to say, as I don't believe the poster artist was especially interested in a precise depiction.  The # 1 car is closest in configuration to a Lola T70, but lacks the air intakes on the tops of the quarters, and also the brake cooling inlets on either side of the radiator inlet.  The XKE has front brake cooling inlets that I have never seen on any XKE.   And car # 66 has 8 open exhaust pipes of incredible shortness, which terminate directly behind the driver's head - I have never seen this arrangement in any sports car, for good reason - can you imagine the carillon of bells ringing in your head after just a few laps in # 66?  I believe the artist was more intrigued by the color, feelings and sensations of a tight knot of roaring roadsters, elbows out as they round a curve.  If this poster was a '69 effort (as the banner across the track and graphic style suggest), the event couldn't be a vintage race, as many of the cars in the field were too new at that time.  And yet, it looks like a vintage Allard and Cunningham bringing up the rear - again, emotion over accuracy of details.

Edited February 17, 2023 by Bruce K

[CarlB]

9 minutes ago, Bruce K said:

again, emotion over accuracy of details.

Totally agree with this statement, but I think the number 1 car is a Sarab. 

[Bruce K]

30 minutes ago, CarlB said:

Totally agree with this statement, but I think the number 1 car is a Sarab. 

I think you meant Scarab.  The # 1 car has a shape similar to both a Lola T70 and a Scarab.  I mentioned the differences between the captioned car and T 70 in my last post.  Regarding Scarabs, every image I can scrounge up shows elevated bodywork behind the driver's head (I am forgetting the precise name for this hump).  The protrusion I refer to may have been just a stylistic element, of a method of managing air flow.  This "nacelle" is missing in the poster image of car # 1.  Again, I think the artist wanted to capture the emotion, the excitement, the awesome sound and fury.  It was not a historical record.

[CarlB]

I totally agree the artist was not trying to represent the cars perfectly. The paint on the car I believe is the artist interpretation of a Scarab that looks like the cars raced by Reventlow. The gentleman who put the team together that created the car. Art is subjective. I also believe the artist was trying to create a time line. And the Scarab placement is appropriate between a Allard and a I think a M8 McLauren. 

[speedwagon]

the body work behind the driver's head is a leftover from USAC did not allow visible roll bars or cages on sprint cars hence the roll protection was inside the hump streamlined.  We have come a long way.

[bball7754]

Car 66 is, I think, clearly a Chaparral 2.  The exhaust placement is accurate, although the actual pipes may have been longer.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaparral_Cars

 

I think the intent of the painting was to show the evolution of race cars from 1944 to 1969, as CarlB stated.

Edited February 18, 2023 by bball7754

[Bruce K]

3 hours ago, bball7754 said:

Car 66 is, I think, clearly a Chaparral 2.  The exhaust placement is accurate, although the actual pipes may have been longer.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaparral_Cars

 

I think the intent of the painting was to show the evolution of race cars from 1944 to 1969, as CarlB stated.

You did you research more assiduously than me - the exhausts of that particular model of Chaparral's were indeed vented in the depicted manner, and the depicted car appears to be a Chaparral.  The fact that this exhaust routing did not become commonplace verifies my observation - all those short pipes exiting behind your head would be intolerable for any protracted period of time.  I think yours and CarlB's point is also taken regarding the timeline of sports cars, though the artist's intent was concealed from me by the imprecise chronological order of the cars - the two newest up front, the two oldest in back, and a mish-mash in-between.  Still, a timeline of sorts, and commendable forensic work on your parts.

 

I wonder why Jim Hall went with those short dragster pipes in that particular evolution of the Chaparral?  It seems a formula for reduced power due to insufficient back pressure, as well as premature valve burnout:

 

[bball7754]

No real research required, the Chaparral 2 is burned into my brain from when I first saw it as the Cox and Monogram scale cars.

 

This article resonated with me, and it even mentions the T70! 😊

 

https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/childhood-dream-realized-jim-halls-chaparrals-at-the-american-speed-festival/

[Bruce K]

On 2/19/2023 at 12:17 PM, bball7754 said:

No real research required, the Chaparral 2 is burned into my brain from when I first saw it as the Cox and Monogram scale cars.

 

This article resonated with me, and it even mentions the T70! 😊

 

https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/childhood-dream-realized-jim-halls-chaparrals-at-the-american-speed-festival/

@speedwagon and @CarlBConnections!  I read Rob Schreiber's article in Hagerty.com (cited above by bball7754) with similar interest, as I also raced slot cars as a kid.  A great Italian family down the street (VERY Italian - their entire back yard was a vegetable garden, and once I opened up a closet in their house because I'd heard a noise, and discovered a GOAT!).  The father was a fully westernized professional musician, and he wanted his sons to swing with the newest things, so he built a gigantic 4 or 6 lane slot cart track that encompassed the entire basement.   I remember a transformer the size of a microwave oven.  Any time I was invited into that basement, it was an eight-year-old's equivalent of passing through the pearly gates.  I had to cut their front lawn for an entire summer to afford an appropriate car for that track - some swoopy Ferrari that I can't recall any more.

 

More connections - last year's Speedfest at M1 Concourse - I attended it!  Perhaps more accurately, my car invited me, because my car was politely invited to attend, and someone had to drive her.  One of the organizers had seen my 935 Porsche cruising M1, and extended an invitation.  I saw the Can-Am cars up front, nearer the entrance.  They were marvelous - brought back images of Watkins Glen, along the  Back Straight, tight against the rail, getting my eardrums thwacked by dopplering straightpipes.  Also saw the old Indy roadsters - I remember listening to men die on the radio during Indy 500 broadcasts, and those old roadsters with single belts over the lap and inadequate short roll hoops gave silent testimony to the reasons why.  Brave, foolish men, with F1 drivers succumbing at a rate of one per race at the peak.  The Speedfest was great, and I hope to go again this year, and bring my own Can-Am car! 

 

One oddity:  The author of the article stated that M1 declined to call their track a "race" track, preferring the appellation "performance".  I cannot find that reference anywhere in the M1 literature.  They claim to have hired renowned track architect Martyn Thake to design it, and also state that their new track belongs with the best "circuits" and "road courses" of similar length in America.  Based on the speeds and competition I've witnessed on that track, it is, indeed, a "race" track, with lots of runoff, armco, tire barriers and so forth.

Edited February 25, 2023 by Bruce K

[Stevensonjr]

In 1984 I saw an ad for a Cobra replica built as a production road car in Brazil. It came with a hard top and a soft top and a 302 Ford V8. A local dealer here started to import them as the “GlasPac Cobra”. I believe He brought in about 9 cars before the DOT said they didn’t meet standards for new cars so he stopped bringing them into the US. I bought one of the 9 and I’ve put 13,000 miles on it in 39 years. It’s one of the best handling and riding street cars I’ve ever owned. When Ford Racing came out with the 302 based, 507 Hp 363 cu in engine about 8 years ago, I installed one and added a Tremec 5 speed trans to go with it. I also added a heavy duty hydraulic clutch. I put a posi in the Dana 44 rear with upgraded Curry axles. The car is 4” longer than most Cobra replicas in the cockpit and wheelbase and weighs 2550 lbs. the acceleration compares favorably with my Viper and managing wheel spin is the main handling chore. Cheers, Bill

[Bruce K]

Yes - Your beautiful car looks a lot like the South African Backdraft Racing Roadster.  Similar weight, with more voluptuous appearance and superior accommodations compared to original Shelby Cobras due to the lengthened wheelbase.  I owned a Backdraft several years ago and have similar fond memories.  Backdraft offered a full racing suspension including six-pot Wilwoods, heims and double-adjustable shocks, and I added the package to my car.  After that, it became my best-handling sporter to date.  A change I recommend for you is Cobra Racing seats with headrests (to prevent broken necks in the event of a rear collision) and a second roll hoop to protect the passenger.  The Cobra seats come with appropriate "Cobra" logos stitched into the seatbacks.  I sold my Backdraft to a deserving veteran in New York (who still proudly drives it today - hello, Michael Earl) to make room for my 935.  Images below:

 

Edited February 26, 2023 by Bruce K

[Stevensonjr]

I’ll go to the other end of the performance spectrum with my 1941-42 Jeep. It was restored by a fellow in Kansas who years ago bought up a whole field of surplus MB and Ford jeeps at a Government auction. He would then provide on order a 41-42 Willys or Ford Jeep restored with military parts. I keep mine in a hangar at my ranch and my Grandchildren all learned to drive a standard trans vehicle up and down the airstrip where there is nothing to hit!

photo is wife and I surveying hurricane damage at the ranch

[Bruce K]

Gorgeous!  An essential tool familiar to most men of our greatest generation.  I ran CJ's equipped with front-mounted rotating brushes to remove snow from public sidewalks for years.  Indestructible little bastards!

[MV8]

I like the clean, basic glaspac cobra. It seems all the kits were molds pulled from the flared 427/ERA 289 body. I like the narrow 260/289 body the best.

 

I remember the classifieds offering info on buying mil jeeps cut in half from the gov. I have a postal DJ5 which is 2wd with a 727 transmission but I have an AW4 electronic overdrive for it and CJ5 disc brake front axle, xfr case and 4 spd if I ever want to convert. Keeping RHD. Each one of the slotted mags was a different design/application/offset.

[mrmustang]

2 hours ago, MV8 said:

I like the clean, basic glaspac cobra. It seems all the kits were molds pulled from the flared 427/ERA 289 body. I like the narrow 260/289 body the best.

 

I remember the classifieds offering info on buying mil jeeps cut in half from the gov. I have a postal DJ5 which is 2wd with a 727 transmission but I have an AW4 electronic overdrive for it and CJ5 disc brake front axle, xfr case and 4 spd if I ever want to convert. Keeping RHD. Each one of the slotted mags was a different design/application/offset.

 

I've owned many Jeeps, CJ5,CJ7, Wrangler, later Wrangler (2K being the last), along with a few Cherokees.....All fun in their own right....Eventually, there may be another, but nothing in my sights at this time.

 

Dig the Fiero in the background, I've been hands on in a number of V8 conversions with them.

 

As for the Glaspac, it was actually a splash mold taken off an early Arntz/Butler Cobra (CSX3193), then adjusted to fit their chassis dimensions, with the EM and Midstates splashing off of a Contemporary (CSX3045) and not a ERA (CSX3252).

 

As a side note, I  recently sold my 289 roadster (SPF), in lew of keeping my ex-track prepped ERA 289 FIA, the roadster was fun, but even with a scant 325hp at the rear wheels, and the 70 series, size limited (flairs and wire wheels), the car was only fun when driven sedately (I have 120K miles behind the wheel of my cobras, both track, and street), but get in the wet, or if the temps were below 45 degrees, it was a bit too squirrely for my tastes. Even my 7's handled better in the cold weather than the roadster...The 289 FIA, was just more of my personal choice between the two.

 

 

Bill S.

Edited February 26, 2023 by mrmustang

[Croc]

22 hours ago, Stevensonjr said:

I’ll go to the other end of the performance spectrum with my 1941-42 Jeep. It was restored by a fellow in Kansas who years ago bought up a whole field of surplus MB and Ford jeeps at a Government auction. He would then provide on order a 41-42 Willys or Ford Jeep restored with military parts. I keep mine in a hangar at my ranch and my Grandchildren all learned to drive a standard trans vehicle up and down the airstrip where there is nothing to hit!

photo is wife and I surveying hurricane damage at the ranch

 

You are not the only one in the se7ening community that is into Jeeps.  This is a photo of Tom Carlin's of Birkin USA.  It is kept in the Birkin facility.  Needs a ton of work but does drive.  Leaks oil really well too!

 

I think it is a Willys rather than your Ford?

 

[MV8]

9 hours ago, mrmustang said:

Dig the Fiero in the background, I've been hands on in a number of V8 conversions with them.

 

Bill S.

Back in the late '90s, I installed an early 4.3L-v6 4v from an astrovan using a v8 archie bell adapter and pre-'86 sbc crank adapter with the muncie 4spd so no hole in the inner fender or electric pump. Possibly the first 4.3l v6 since most everybody was only fitting sbcs and Archie was reluctant to sell just the parts I needed. It now has a chevy cobalt 5spd with the integral slave which works perfectly with the fiero master once the line is adapted. I designed the rear trans mount bracket to fit the fiero mount, added a modified cobalt front trans mount to the cradle, and made a bracket that bolts to the 4.3l head and accepts the fiero dogbone. It uses a 327 short water pump and single groove pulleys for clearance with two, dodge truck engine mounts below the crank on each side. I designed the shift linkage at the trans to work with the throw of the 4 spd shifter and made adapters so the 4spd shifter would accept marine steering cables for shifting. I also made a few tools to make pulling the drivetrain out without a lift much easier and corrected the rear bumpsteer. Plenty of power and quiet torque for me. Surprising mileage too with the deep overdrive and lots of torque. 

Edited February 26, 2023 by MV8

[Stevensonjr]

Croc, my Jeep is a WWII Willys MB, the Jeep at the Birkin shop is a later model, or at least the grille is. It might be one of the first commercial models, a CJ2. The headlights are post WWII. 
No matter what model it is, the fun factor is there, so are the leaks. If it’s not leaking, you are out of oil, brake fluid or antifreeze etc.