In researching the history of my Elva, 20,000 spectators at Continental Divide
Raceway in Colorado was reported by Sportscar magazine in 1960.
Cheers, Henry Morrison
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________________________________
From: Kas Kastner <kaskastner at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 1:00 PM
To: Bill
Cc: Henry A. Morrison; Friends of Triumph
Subject: Re: [Fot] New Cars, New Parts
Just for the record when I was racing my TR-3 at Santa Barbara the field of
cars was over 300 and well past 25,000 spectators each day, lots of college
kids. Pomona not quite as many entries but well over 200 and spectators over
20, 000 again. This was the middle and late 50's
, Now there are a lot more things to do so the spectators have drifted away and
the cars have worn out and proved to expensive to keep up so they have
diminished, but it was GRAND in its day like a lot of old stuff.
Never be beaten by equipment.
Different strokes I guess. I don?t care what the other cars are as long as I?m
having fun. A CRX ruined the aesthetic? How many people were watching the TR3?s
run back in the day. I used to go to Thompson and Limerock to watch the sports
car races. Me and thirty other people. Sepia toned nostalgia is safe because it
doesn?t have to be real.
I know plenty of snobs who just think anyone who isn?t doing what they do is
wrong.
Solipsistic?
I would keep vintage racing if I were racing with TR's and MG's etc. I went to
a race and finished between a X1/9 and a RX7 and said why am I working so hard
to keep my Elva running? Can I race a Dodge Neon or other POS?
At the Last VSCDA event there was one Honda CRX in the field. Were these ever
raced? Wait I know they were but NO ONE cared to watch. The CRX ruined the
aesthetic of the field. Please forward my message to the owner and tell him to
get a real car.
I grew up in the 80's the cars sucked, they still suck. 1000 years shall pass
and they shall still suck. I know very few people who long for those cars and
do not wish to associate with them. Old bad wine, is still bad wine.
Remember a Snob is merely one who appreciates that which is, good.
I do appreciate all Triumphs.
Cheers, Henry Morrison
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________________________________
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 10:43 PM
To: Paul Ricco
Cc: Henry A. Morrison; Friends of Triumph
Subject: Re: [Fot] New Cars, New Parts
I?m trying to figure out what Henry is disagreeing with, or what Paul is
saying. If you?re leaving vintage racing, why would you care what the rules are
or what cars the organizations permit? And if vintage racing is dying, then how
is accepting 80?s cars selling out for the entry fee? If you started racing in
86, then the cars from 1950 (probably older than whatever you raced) were 36
years old. Cars from 1980 are 38 years old. Does vintage mean just those cars
that were cool when you were a kid? That?s a bit too solipsistic for me.
Henry,
Well put. We have really enjoyed 30 years of vintage racing and club racing.
However, I am seriously considering retiring from Vintage Racing after this
season and going back to club racing. I loved the open spirit of CanAm in the
day, but that is not what I got into vintage racing a vintage 60?s era sports
car for.
We may give our race TR4 a well deserved frame off restoration and it can be
preserved as closely to the way it was raced during the late 60?s and 70?s as
possible. It can enjoy some restful retirement time with some of the others
that we really care for. We can focus our energy on prepping another race car
for Midwest Council or SCCA Club Racing, and not have to deal with some of the
dilemma?s that we are facing with car prep for vintage. Most club racing
organizations have made it very simple. If the rule book does not say that you
can make a specific modification, than you cannot make it. It makes things a
lot simpler.
Paul
I just can't disagree with this statement more.
1. Vintage racing is dying. There are way fewer cars and races than there
were in 1986 when I started.
2. The newer cars and drivers scarcely know what a road course is. Car
culture was different after '72 and especially now, just look at the current
Fast and furious movies that sell the current car culture.
3. how many old TR gearboxes from my personal collection would you like
to have delivered to your place tomorrow? Or buy some of the ones on ebay for
$150, that seems to be the going rate.
4. Clubs that accept cars from the 80's are selling out for the entry fee,
and in doing so driving me away in the process.
Have a great racing season,
Henry Morrison, Albuquerque, NM
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________________________________
It is good to see that other clubs are allowing newer cars into their races.
VARA has been doing this for several years so that we could survive, keep the
club solvent and the cost of racing reasonable. The future of vintage racing
is an expansion to cars from the 80?s and 90?s, they are long past their prime
in other venues, cheap and they bring in new drivers. They are in fact
?vintage?, like our cars were in the 80? and 90?s. More important, these are
the guys and gals that lusted for a certain hot car of the that era and now
have older kids and the bucks to go racing. Without these folks our sport will
pass along with us.
The same is true of parts. Much of our equipment is worn out and not
maintainable without great cost and effort any longer. Gear boxes are an
example. I am down to my last good transmission case for my dog box. When
that goes, or the gear set is toast, I am making the switch to a modern box
(same ratios) that I can maintain. Like many of us I have missed races because
of transmission failures. Tony runs a Ford 8? because he doesn?t want to get
hurt, and it is bullet proof for racing, even has a weight penalty. A gear
box switch is inevitable if we want to keep our cars on track at an expenditure
of time and money that makes sense.
There are tons of other parts that make engines last longer (and yes they make
more power). An old TR motor is nothing but half a Chevy Small Block; those
guys spent hundreds of millions developing motor parts that we can take
advantage of. Same is true of blueprinting techniques, there are much better
ways to build engines than ?back in the day? and if you read a book and learn
how to do it the bloody lump lasts twice as long. Last time I had my motor out
I could have put the coated bearings with 25 races on them back in. At 36
races I had <5% leak down on the rings and valves. Started out building the
old school way, with old school parts, those days are over as I don?t have the
time to spend five days in the shop for every day at the track.
Oil. There is no such thing as cheap racing oil. Modern oil is the best it
has ever been and makes the motor last. I had technical help from Lake Speed
who is the ?man? for Joe Gibbs Driven race oil. The stuff is $18 a quart but
will last 500+ miles in the car (4-6 race weekends). Just change the filter
after every race and add on quart, total cost $30.00. I can run all the way
down to 27 wt. (mixing) but just run the 30 wt. racing oil even at +100 degrees
in the desert and the oil pressure is always spot on. Tight clearances, light
oil and great bearing life, well worth the cost.
My point in all of this is that ?vintage? racing is changing, both the cars and
the people. We are going to have to accept and adapt or slowly see our sport
fade. They willalways be a special place for those cars with a 50 year race
history, prepared exactly like it raced in 1965. For the rest of the grid,
and those of us that don?t have cars with history, there are going to be cars
with certain changes that get us to the track. Besides some of us are just
SoCal Hot Rodders at heart with a touch of ?good ole boy? NACAR ingenuity. Now
I need to get back to work on that 85% scale TR-4 body in aluminum, or possible
carbon fiber???..Everyone have a great 2018 season racing!
Ken
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