phile@pwcs.stpaul.gov (Philip J Ethier) (02/21/90)
> > > Speaking of bizarre engine swaps, I saw a porsche 914 with a chevy V8 > for sale in the want ads last week. > > I once saw an MG TD with a Chrylser V8 & Torqueflite transmission... > > ...complete with pushbutton controls for the trans. on the dashboard. > > - Ralph > There used to be a shop in California, I think, that made a specialty of 914 V8s. They used the stock transaxles and cautioned their customers to be gentle in first gear. phile@pwcs.stpaul.gov -- Login name: phile In real life: Philip J Ethier Phone: 298-5324
guy@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (Aran Guy) (02/23/90)
Bob's comment on my comment: -> The Offy-Midgets you see advertized refer to Offenhauser powered race ->cars, you know the type, they go in a counterclockwise direction around ->this itty-bitty circle and they bump into walls and things. All four tires ->are different sizes and they couldn't make a decent right hand turn if ->the owners life depended on it. Oh, they ain't British. They are definitly not british, but they can turn right if provoked. One keeps winning the vintage races at Lime Rock, seems like every year. And there are usually a few Can-Am cars, old Indy cars, F-[1,2,3] cars, etc out in the field as well. It's got to be discouraging to be out there in $$$,000 worth of vintage Lola-Mk ? and ghet beat by a dirt track midget with one forward speed and no clutch.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I've seen the ESPN shows which has this car racing in it. (Speedweek?) This car is a midget which has been modified back into what is almost a normal racing car, i.e. equal sized racing tires, differential, properly set up front end. I believe this started out as a joke entry sometime back in the fifties in the Formula Libre class (Anything Goes...) and actually placed fairly well in the hands of the very competent driver. Now vintage racing is a whole 'nother ballgame, since the main object is to not hurt the cars. Who actually wins is a matter of how much damage one is willing to put up with. Parts are awfully cheap at Bubba's Discount Autoparts..... Aran (Yeehah! Let's go rile us up some Furriners in their fancy cars!) Guy
richard welty <welty@lewis.crd.ge.com> (02/23/90)
They [Offy Midgets] are definitly not british, but they can turn
right if provoked.
One keeps winning the vintage races at Lime Rock, seems like every year.
then Aran Guy said:
I've seen the ESPN shows which has this car racing in it. (Speedweek?)
This car is a midget which has been modified back into what is almost
a normal racing car, i.e. equal sized racing tires, differential,
properly set up front end. I believe this started out as a joke entry
sometime back in the fifties in the Formula Libre class (Anything Goes...)
and actually placed fairly well in the hands of the very competent
driver.
i saw this car in the Formula Libre recreation that was run at the
BMW vintage races last fall at LRP; apparently the 1959 Formula
Libre race in question was one of the first appearances of this
particular midget. evidently, the driver decided that an Offy
Midget could be modified to run well at LRP, and got a sponsor
to support him. the 1959 race included, among other things,
Stirling Moss driving a Maserati (well, the driver was British,
anyway), a Jaguar D-type (at least that's a British car), Denise
McCluggage driving a Porshe RSK, and the original (prototye)
Corvette Stingray. they got all of these cars, or cars nearly
identical to them, to show up for the recreation. it was all
pretty neat. they also got Moss and McCluggage to show up and
drive.
most of the british interest at these races, though, is in the
form of mini-Coopers and various and sundry Lotus vehicles
(sevens, elevens, etc.) racing on the track, and the amazing
collections of british car stuff for sale in the swap meet
area.
richard