It is possible that you can run your TR6 at SOVREN events. While the site
says otherwise, typically the qualification is not by actual production
year but by model introduction for cars that didn't change much (which
certainly applies to TR6). I recommend that you double-check with the
Competition Chairman, Starke Shelby at (425)-483-5758. They might allow
you to make changes to a TR6 that was physically produced in 74 to make it
qualify as a 69. I don't know what those changes might be other than
bumper designs. There isn't anything technical that I'm aware of. Other
than that, toss a roll cage in, get some driving lessons, and go! There's
a fine tradition of trailering your racing tires behind your daily driver
that still lives in Sovren. I've been tempted to build my cheater TR3 into
that kind of car. There's a guy who races a very fast Healy 3000 who does.
He has a top-level AAA membership that tows him home on the rare occasion
that he busts something.
Sovren used to be very loose about rules until the Porsche guys got into a
snit about all the engine fiddling going on in that group. Porsche folks
tend to wear their undies a few sizes too tight. If nothing else you can
race in SCCA vintage grids, which accept anything short of 2003. I could
probably qualify my Radical in the SCCA vintage. The only downside is that
it's typical SCCA racing--no social aspect. Veni, Racem, Departum (I came,
I raced, I departed) as Julius Penske might say.
Peyote is a TR3 in drag. 1959 TR3 running gear and frame, with a tube
structure grafted on over it and a body made from surplus road sign
material without benefit of a compound curve. Pretty it's not, but it's
also not slow.
You should try to make the spring Sprints (may 10-11) for a low-key event,
or the Pacific Northwest Historics July 4-5-6 for a more exotic event.
They get a great draw with lots of wonderful cars to look at because the
Portland Historics is the next weekend at PIR. Both July events feature
car corrals for the car clubs, parties, and the PNW usually has some great
garage touring--either at John Shirley and Greg Whitten's garages (packed
full of every Ferrari you ever lusted after) or at the Pat Hart collection
(packed full of every car you ever lusted after, including the TR250K, the
flying shingle, and lots of other wonderful toys).
-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Arnold [mailto:chuck.arnold@oracle.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 1:54 PM
To: Bill Babcock
Subject: Re: Peyote Rocks!!
Cool Bill. I hope to make it to some Sovern's this year to meet you and
see the car. I think about two seasons from now I will try to get a TR
for Sovern and become a racer rather than a car club lapper. Reading
their documentation leads me to believe a 1969 is the only 6 that will
qualify [do not know Peyote's Breed"]. I have a 74 TR6 that I hav e built
out as best I think I will. Got 160 HP and 180 lbs of torque on the
rolling road dyno last week [pretty happy with those results, but believe
there is more there between webers jetting and timing adjustments]. Its
got a 300ZX viscous limited slip in it now, so I can hardly wait to see
what I do at PAcific Raceways [May 4]. OF course, I do need to learn a
whole lot more about driving to ever be competitive.
What would you recommend for a Tr for SOVERN? I know my n6 intimately,
but not much about other models.
Thanks and congratulations,
Chuck
Bill Babcock wrote:
> I drove Peyote in the Sovern "defrost kickoff" this weekend. Had a
> great time. the new limited slip diff is wonderful--I could drive hard
> out of corners that I previously tiptoed through looking for traction.
> The bump steer elimination project also paid great dividends, though
> at first I was disappointed. In the first practice I still found the
> nasty kink and bump near the end of the front straight at Pacific
> raceways was still upsetting the car a lot. But I finlly figured out
> that it was still a bump, and I was trying to compensate for the
> wiggle I got banging over it at high speed. I relaxed and held the
> wheel with just my fingertips, and the car tracked perfectly straight.
> The steering input was coming from ME not the suspension travel.
>
> I think I've done better lap times at Pacific, but probably not during
> the first race of the year. I can't find my lap times from last year
> for the new course. My qualifying time was 1:44:something which was
> about three seconds a lap faster than second place. After three laps
> in the race I lifted and waved the guy in second past--he's got a
> Healy 3000. So I played cut and thrust until the last lap, and then
> decided to do a fast lap for time and just ran away.
>
> Second race I asked to start from the back so I could have some fun. I
> didn't want to just charge through, so I hung out in the back for the
> first lap to let all the cars spread out and settle down, then I ran
> through them. I got up to the top three after about four laps--a Lotus
> 11, a Elva, and the big healey. Passed them, then waved the first two
> past and chased them awhile and finally repassed them. I meant to wave
> them past for the last lap since it doesn't feel right to push the
> heck out of them with a far faster car and then blithely take the win,
> but I must have miscounted the laps. I passed the transponder wire in
> first and waved them past only to see the checker at the flag station.
> Ah well, at least they got the checker first if not the official win.
>
> I need to get them to move me up a group or two, though when the
> Poopers are at the track I have a race on my hands in this group. My
> time would still have taken first in the Historic class and would have
> been top five in the sports racers and formula cars and third in the
> big bore against a raft of cobras. What a car!
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