[Dutton]

When the time came to get this project moving from theory into practice, Fran tasked the most senior RCR employee, Mark Montayne, with the project. Those who have visited RCR and have been able to meet Mark likely found him to be a fairly quiet guy but there’s a lot more to him. The first two qualities needed to work at RCR are a great sense of humor and a sharp mind – and Mark has plenty of both.

Mark has been around racing for most of his life - first with his father and later with Fran - and clearly learned quite a bit during those years. In late May of this year, I spent a week at RCR, working side-by-side with Mark on the chassis build and can report that not only is he a damn good designer/fabricator, but he has an exceptional ability at solving a three-dimensional challenge to success the first time through. This is one sharp cowboy.

On the last day of my visit, I climbed into the chassis to fit the seat and pedal assembly. That worked well enough, but I found that the shifter REALLY sticks out there and, for me, was a little uncomfortable. After talking it over a bit with Mark and Fran, I wondered aloud if there was a way, any way, to recess the right side fuel tank enough to move the shifter a few inches out of the way. Some weeks later, what should arrive via email but some photos which pretty much tell the story about the gearshift relocation and tank mod. When I got Fran on the phone, he was understandably very proud of what Mark and his team did, and I couldn’t agree more. Getting into and out of the car will be vastly easier and the fit, finish and attention to detail is to the usual RCR high standard.

Check out those cool Smiths gauges in the first pic, too...