Jim, a nice '68 Z28 would turn my head!
My '66 Barracuda, the Backa-ruda, gets a lot of looks and comments. And a hoot
to drive.
A friend has a really nice Pacer, if you can call a Pacer nice! 3 on the tree.
Well preserved. Both her and the car!
I'll get the Backa-ruda out as soon as the current blizzard lets up. Also
awaken the TR6 from its slumber.
Cheers, Bill
PS: to all my fellow Irishman: Happy St Pat's Day.
----- Original Message -----
From: JAMES GRAY via Fot
To: Henry A. Morrison via Fot ; Bill ; Paul Ricco ; Henry A. Morrison
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Fot] New Cars, New Parts
You nailed it Henry, cars of the 80's sucked then and now. I think along with
that they just didn't have the charm
and audacity our cars were born with, the ability to turn heads still today.
My car is registered for the street and when I have it out on the road it
really gets attention. I got pulled over by a cop once just so he could see it
up close. You won't get that kind of attention in an IROC camaro.
I have this picture of a fully flared IMSA AMC Pacer in my mind I can't get
out...
jim g
On March 16, 2018 at 10:40 AM "Henry A. Morrison via Fot" <fot at
autox.team.net> wrote:
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
Sent from Outlook
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Bill <Bill at ponostyle.com>
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.
On Mar 15, 2018, at 2:50 PM, Paul Ricco via Fot <fot at autox.team.net>
wrote:
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
On Mar 15, 2018, at 5:32 PM, Henry A. Morrison via Fot <fot at
autox.team.net> wrote:
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
Sent from Outlook
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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