Hi, I sold the Ginetta with the twin cam engine, but had I kept it, I would have
put in a 1500 cc push-rod engine and prepared it to the SCCA spec for the car.
When I bought the car (almost 10 years ago), it came with a twin-cam engine, and
that is how it had been racing in England. You might also be interested to know
that the Ginetta that raced at Sebring in 1964 had a 1720 cc twin cam
engine--obviously the justification that most Ginetta owners would use for
running a stroked twincam, and one I used also. At the time I bought the
Ginetta neither I nor SOVREN even knew what a PCS was (nor did anyone care).
About 9 years ago, a reputable engine builder was working on my engine and had a
stroker crank which had come from a well-known west coast racers 26R--the owner
in a fit of "Getting Right with GOD" had put in a correct crank so this one was
available at a low price. My comment was: "No one in SOVREN cares about the
displacement of our engines, I am in to saving money, and I wouldn't mind more
power so go ahead and put it in." Obviously things have changed. SOVREN has
taken the "high road." We all have gotten educated as to what is correct and
proper, and I firmly believe that we should do the "right thing." I don't know
what the current owner has done with the engine, but I do know that the Ginetta
will be raced in VARA where they are less strict. If you want to look at my
Formula Jr., you will find it is totally correct as per Monoposto regs except
that I have soft compound Dunlop instead of hard compound tires. Likewise my
new Elva Mk. 8 is being prepared as it was delivered from the factory. Besides
believing in what we are doing, I don't think that you can be in a position of
telling people to get their cars correct if the one you are campaigning isn't
legal. What about your car(s)? Dick
Dan Mullin wrote:
> In keeping with the spirit of "the way it used to be"......Dick did you ever
> put the proper (read stock) engine back in the Ginetta...the way it used to
> be? What's good for the goose is ...well you get the idea.
>
> "Richard E. Buckingham, Jr." wrote:
>
> > Hi Jim, I was intrigued by your comment,
> > "Well, boys, I think we often have selective memory about the "good old
> > days."
> >
> > I was not fortunate enough to have raced in the good old days so I only
> > know what I have heard (taking into account memory vagaries - additions or
> > subtractions) as well as what I have seen in publications from the era, I
> > have come to believe the following: prior to 1967, SCCA had production
> > classes and modified classes. All of the things that you mention occurred
> > in "modified" cars. It was spelled out in the PCS exactly what could be
> > done in the way of modifications for the production classes, and and if it
> > wasn't specifically allowed, then you couldn't do it. What is mentioned
> > below, I believe refers to the "modified" classes.
> >
> > > <The
> > > engines were bored and or stroked up to over 1500cc, modified for Jag
> > > valves, American engine valve guides, higher compression and or oversize
> > > pistons, sometimes with highly modified crowns, milled heads, bigger
> > > carbs, ram tubes, headers, exotic valve shapes, removing the protruding
> > > valve guides, and more. They twisted those little jewels to over 8,000
> > > rpm! Chassis mods included gearbox, driveline and rear axle mods,
> > > lightening the bodies, fiberglas and aluminum body panels (from the
> > > factory, no less), wide wheels, brakes, etc. etc. etc.>
> >
> > Most cars running in SOVREN are production based cars that have been made
> > into Vintage race car--in other words, they have no racing history. We
> > feel that they should be prepared to the rules of the era (either SCCA or
> > FIA). Most cars use the SCCA PCS (Production Car Specifications) which
> > clearly spell out what can be done. We encourage modified cars (of the
> > era) to run with us i.e. the Monsterati and Old Yeller series as examples,
> > but do NOT allow members cars to be built to the "modified" specs if they
> > have no history of having been a "modified" car. Obviously the "sky would
> > be the limit" and people would be using modern knowledge, experience and
> > materials to create modified cars which never existed. We think
> > modifications made for safety such as billet steel axles are totally
> > acceptable and are not violently opposed to the more modern roll cages
> > except that they don't look vintage, and some owners may be more interested
> > in stiffening their chassis rather than in making the car safer.
> > Modifications that are done inside the engine (where they can't be seen and
> > easily checked--such as titanium valves and rods) are left up to the
> > scruples and pocketbook of the owner. Visible and fairly easily checked
> > performance enhancements such as modern brakes, Jerrico (S?) transmissions,
> > wider wheels and lower profile tires are inspected for and are not allowed.
> >
> > There certainly are several different philosophies around the country as to
> > car preparation. Our club is trying to get as close as is reasonable to
> > "the way it was." We are not trying to re-write history, but rather
> > re-live it.
> >
> > Dick Buckingham - Race Chairman of SOVREN
> >
> > PS I feel that with our "tightening" of the car preparation rules,
> > competition has gotten tighter and the racers are enjoying it more.
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