alpines
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Sunbeams at Sebring

To: Louis & Laila <bwana@c2i2.com>, alpines@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Sunbeams at Sebring
From: Ian Spencer <ian@sunbeamalpine.org>
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 10:05:53 -0400
>The second, and only other Alpine in the race was driven by Theolodi
> and Kneeland. IT was a Harrinton Lemans, but as Jerry Titus discribed it,

It wasn't a Harrington Le Mans...It was (or is) a Series 'A' like my
blue one.

Ian Spencer wrote:
> 
> The Theodoli Harrington is now owned by Bob Avery. It's restoration is
> near complete. Anyone interested in reading about it can visit the
> feature back issues on www.sunbeamalpine.org.
> 
> Louis & Laila wrote:
> >
> > Chris,
> >      Yes, Sunbeam Alpines were raced at Sebring in 1963 and did pretty darn
> > good. The first car was the Hollywood Sports Car, built by Doanne Spencer
> > for the Sports Car Graphic projects.  This car was primarily a SCCA sprint
> > car modified for FIA rules. They put the windsheild back on and added a
> > hardtop, aluminum doors, hood, and trunk. They had a very good race and were
> > very fast, but they lost over an hour total (3 seperate trips) in the pits
> > replacing an axle (It was 1/8" too long so they cut it with a hacksaw!), and
> > they also wrecked it twice because they lost the brakes!
> >      The car was driven by Jerry Titus, Dave Jordan, and Jim Adams (Of the
> > famous Spencer/Adams Tiger project) as a backup. They managed to get 3rd in
> > class behind the Porches. Their car was faster than the Rootes prepared cars
> > used in the previous Sebring races. Had they not lost an hour, they may have
> > had a higher overall placing, but still would have been behind the porches
> > for third in class since the porches were covering the same lap 21 seconds
> > faster than the Alpine!
> >      The second, and only other Alpine in the race was driven by Theolodi
> > and Kneeland. IT was a Harrinton Lemans, but as Jerry Titus discribed it,
> > may have been lighter, better streamlined, and had Weber carbs, but it was
> > no where near the speed of the Doanne Spencer built Alpine.
> >      Since the Alpines were incapable of beating most of the cars in their
> > class, the strategy was simple: Hold a conservative red line of 6000 (6800
> > was the Maximum conservative in sprint racing), then determine class
> > standing at the 9th hour when most of the cars are out of the race, then
> > seek out and pass as many cars as possible with a red line of 6500. This
> > strategy worked for both Alpines, especially the Theolodi/Kneeland car which
> > nailed 4th place within a few minutes of the races end. And thats all I got
> > to say about that.
> >      I really would like to know whatever happened to that car (HSC #50
> > Alpine) Anyone know?
> >      Anyone copy tis to Video?
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > .  There may have been a Sunbeam or 2 in the
> > > Daytona race, but I missed the beginning where they
> > > pan all the cars.
> > >
> > > Chris
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________
> > > Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
> > > http://mail.yahoo.com/
> > >
> 
> --
> Ian Spencer <www.sunbeamalpine.org>
> '61 Series II Alpine B9104704 LRX
> '61 Harrington Alpine B9104782 OD HRO
> '62 Harrington Le Mans BH9115930 OD LRX
> '62 Harrington Le Mans BH9117497 OD LRX
> '63 Series 3 Alpine B9204386 GT LRX

-- 
Ian Spencer <www.sunbeamalpine.org>
'61 Series II Alpine B9104704 LRX
'61 Harrington Alpine B9104782 OD HRO
'62 Harrington Le Mans BH9115930 OD LRX
'62 Harrington Le Mans BH9117497 OD LRX
'63 Series 3 Alpine B9204386 GT LRX

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>