The MORGAN that finished sixth (almost fourth) in the Porsche race at
Monterey was the same driver that humbled Stirling Who two years in a
row. Brian Howlett driving a 1962 Plus 4 in quite stock trim.
The 4/4 that finished WAY back was highly tuned including dual side
draft webbers.
Gerry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stuart Ross [SMTP:stuross@nac.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 1998 6:09 AM
> To: Armando Picciotto; 'William Zehring'
> Cc: morgans@Autox.Team.Net
> Subject: RE: Just for Fun
>
> Three summers ago I headed west for all of the auto related events
> connected with Pebble Beach week. At the Monterey races, I was
> thrilled to watch a Morgan driver actually beat the great Sterling
> Moss. I can't remember who the driver was, but he was driving a +4
> ('cause I too am a Plus 4 owner). So it stands to reason that the +4
> would be the most likely candidate. I don't know what modifications
> the rule book allows on cars, but I have seen some very quick 4/4s
> with Webers and Lotus heads, etc. I wouldn't be totally surprised at
> the 4/4 being faster than the +4, and again, the drivers in these
> vintage races have a variety of levels of experience and skill. But,
> what the heck...if Morgans of any type beat Porsches...we should be a
> happy group!
> Stu Ross (63 +4) Three/Four Morgan Group & MOPS
>
> ----------
> From: William Zehring
> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 1998 8:19 AM
> To: Armando Picciotto
> Cc: morgans@Autox.Team.Net
> Subject: Re: Just for Fun
>
> Armando writes:
>
> >I guess I really shouldn't be doing this, but the temptation is too
> >great. I have a feeling that the list will be very busy shortly.
> >
> >I attended the Monterey Historic Races this past weekend and, in the
> >fourth race on Saturday, there were two Morgans racing against a slew
> of
> >Porsches (about 20 of them). One of the Morgans was a +4 and the
> other
> >one was a 4/4. One of the Morgans came in sixth, leaving
> approximately
> >15 Porsches in the dust. The other Morgan ended quite far back in
> the
> >pack, although the driver's gallant effort and performance was
> applauded
> >by all. Anyone care to guess as to which Morgan placed 6th?
>
>
> What I am about to say will not likely shock many of the veterans of
> this
> list. ;-)
>
> While I smile at Armando's subtly worded message (and just a tinge of
> sadism, too!), I am quite confident in suggesting that the 4/4 placed
> 6th
> in the race. My reasons for this hinge on the glorious racing
> herritage
> that the ford pushrod four has, and the probable superior handling of
> a
> lighter engined car. After 25+ years of racing in formula ford, and
> in
> marques and venues (Morgan, Lotus, just to name two) its important to
> keep
> in mind that there are oodles of 'go fast' bits for the ford engine
> and
> that there are oodles of ford engines (so if you go really fast, and
> throw
> a rod or something you don't really have to worry). The kent engine,
> in
> race trim, can belt out an astonishing number of horses, for its
> diminutive
> displacement. All of this is what a racer wants in his/her engine;
> the
> ability to pump it up and the confidence that he/she will race again
> in the
> event of a major failure.
>
> Permit me to quote from Peter Egan's column, in the September, 1998
> issue
> of Road and Track:
> "I don't have a racing car this year. I'm taking the summer off
> to do
> "other things." Which is a code phrase that lazy or unemployed
> musicians
> and race drivers use when they mean "absolutely nothing worth
> mentioning."
> But when I get another car--and I will--it will probably have a
> 4-cylinder
> Ford engine in the back, open wheels, a Hewland gearbox and a
> reclining
> seat, without enough room in the footwell.
> If its an older one whose paint scheme and shape make me think
> of Jim
> Clark, or Jack Brabham, that might be okay too."
>
>
> Okay, so the engine isn't in the back in a 4/4, and the wheels are not
> open, and in point of fact there seems, at least for me, to be plenty
> of
> room in the footwell of me mog, Egan's list begins with the mill; the
> glorious Ford Kent engine. That's why I always say... the 4/4 is the
> THINKING man's Morgan!
>
> Now I guess I have to wait and hear from OMB, etc, and then, finally,
> from
> Armando.
>
> Cheers,
> Will Zehring
>
> p.s. if the 4/4 was the slower car, well... it had to be driver error!
>
>
>
|