Southern Festival of Speed.

**brianstewart** · 02-17-08, 05:32 PM

Just a few pics from the SFOS to share....

Ross Nicol · 02-19-08, 08:25 AM

Here are some pics I took.See if you can work out which pics contain our website identities Russ Noble and Jac Mac. Donna (the most unbelievable female pitcrew i've ever seen) is wearing the knitted Tibetan headgear.Cleaning stones from the tyres with bare hands is her trade mark and I will have her crew for me any time, just have to entice her to OZ.2nd March at Sandown Donna if you can make it.
Weather was terrible and those gusting winds reminding me why I left Invercargill way back in 1973.Highlights of the trip:
1/Visiting Russ Noble in Christchurch, his car has a way to go
2/Meeting Lim again
3/jousting with Russ over who will be quicker next year.
4/Meeting Jac Mac, Donna, Brian Stewart, John Shand and viewing his work on the mono.
5/ Seeing & hearing the CanAm cars at Teretonga terrific.
6/ Gatecrashing a wedding
All of that in 5 days not bad.

Ross

Keith Hardy · 02-19-08, 09:33 AM

At first I thought the person in the Tibetan knitted hat was Jac Mac but now I'm pretty sure he's the guy in the 1/3rd from last picture with the Mohican haircut.

Russ Noble · 02-19-08, 01:18 PM

Ross is right about Donna........she can put her shoes under my workbench any day!

But she's already turned me down 27 times, doesn't seem to be a lot of hope there........

You'd better stay on your toes Jac Mac, every racer I know has designs on your princess.......

SFOS is a great series and provides the opportunity for an annual catch up with kiwi forum members. Invariably there are some like Ross from overseas every year too. It's always great to meet them, catch up on their projects, attempt to out-psyche the opposition etc. February is the highlight of the year for me.

Cheers

Dave Deerson · 02-19-08, 07:07 PM

Hey Ross,
Does that TVR belong to Jack Ondrak from Canada?I'm pretty sure that's the one he sent me a pic of last year.I know he is at the SFOS this year.If you see him,say hi from me-I own his old race car,an old Pontiac Fiero tube frame GTU car.
Dave Deerson

Jac Mac · 02-19-08, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Deerson

Hey Ross,
Does that TVR belong to Jack Ondrak from Canada?I'm pretty sure that's the one he sent me a pic of last year.I know he is at the SFOS this year.If you see him,say hi from me-I own his old race car,an old Pontiac Fiero tube frame GTU car.
Dave Deerson

Hi Dave,
Small world eh! Yes , I will pass your hello on to him, he seems to like those Fiero's.

Jac Mac

kiwi ka · 02-20-08, 01:40 AM

Brian
That Mclaren #74 is that a replica M8B.
Cheers Russell

KevinB · 02-20-08, 02:21 AM

Guys

Excellent pictures from SFOS. More if you got them please.

Did no GT40s or replicas turn up ????

Anglia Fastback - Now that brings back some memories!!!! What Engine ???
In late 60s early 70s there was a couple of V8 powered Angleboxes racing.

Jac Mac · 02-20-08, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinruthbox

Guys

Excellent pictures from SFOS. More if you got them please.

Did no GT40s or replicas turn up ????

Anglia Fastback - Now that brings back some memories!!!! What Engine ???
In late 60s early 70s there was a couple of V8 powered Angleboxes racing.

No GT40's, but if rumours are correct we could be going from a famine to a feast with possibly three at next years event.

The anglia fastback has a pushrod 4cyl I believe, did not take part according to results etc.

You can check them out at Results Frame

Click on the races etc at LHS of page.

Im feeling quite good- The TVR managed 9 wins from 9 starts & lowered its class lap record three times during the weekend- gotta make hay while the sun shines as a couple of GT40 pilots are apparently going to put an end to all that, I might have to go both days next year!!

Jac Mac

Russ Noble · 02-20-08, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russell k

Brian
That Mclaren #74 is that a replica M8B.
Cheers Russell

Russell,

I think that's a genuine M8E. It's only we impoverished Kiwis that build replicas and look alikes!

Note the short cross ram manifold on Brians photos of the #9 M6B. That motor is reputed to have 900 hp and is listed as 6600cc. Not knowing anything about Chevs, I wouldn't care to comment on the veracity of those figures but it had heaps more straight line grunt than the others.

Below is a pic of an M1B body that is going to be built up as a fully correct car. Apparently an original chassis has been located in the States for it and the McLaren Trust has supposedly given it's blessing to this project. A long way to go I fear.

Russ Noble · 02-20-08, 04:23 AM

The Lycoming Special. One of the most successful of the early NZ homebuilt specials. Built by Ralph Watson in the mid fifties and technically advanced for its day.

At Wigram in 1960 Bruce McLaren was offered the Lycoming to drive in the Lady Wigram Trophy Race when the engine in his Cooper Climax cried enough on the morning of the big race. After fitting the racing Dunlops from his Cooper, and I think removing the mudguards, McLaren drove to a strong fourth with failing brakes in the final stages. The winner was Jack Brabham in a Cooper Climax, runner up David Piper in a Lotus. Most impressed with the cars ability, Bruce sent the owner a set of disc brakes by way of thanks.

Russ Noble · 02-20-08, 04:46 AM

Another McLaren connection. This sweet little Brabham BT21 replica is prepared and raced by Wal Wilmott and, along with Eoin Young, they had the distinction of being the first two employees of McLaren Racing.

Gary Kadrmas · 02-20-08, 02:48 PM

Beautiful pictures, and thanks for sharing!!!!

**brianstewart** · 02-20-08, 11:28 PM

M8E,M6B and Lola T163 in full flight approaching the end of the front straight (apparently somewhere around 160-180 mph! Awesome). Yes, the wee Anglia is a 1640cc pushrod - but it flys. It was having a great dice with a MkII Lotus Cortina and a Vauxhall Firenza until it dropped a cylinder. As for V8s there used to be an Anglia Corvette, originally raced by Alex Dickie and later by Neil Doyle of Methven. The story goes that Neil used to test it on the 13 mile long straight that runs past the family farm and regularly top 160mph. The good old days. He'd be shot for trying that now.... I wonder what ever happened to it.

kiwi ka · 02-21-08, 02:50 AM

Brian, as you can see from the attached pictures, I had an interest. The designs of the M8B M8D and M8E almost appear out of order with the E looking more like the B as a progression. Its a shame that those CanAm imports were not able to run in the North Island.
Cheers

Russ Noble · 02-21-08, 03:24 AM

Russell,

Here's the explanation for the M8E configuration :-

The M8E was the Trojan production car for the 1971 season, the M8F designation went to the Team McLaren works cars. The M8E body shape was based on a combination of the M8B and M8D. The M8E has a 4-inch narrower track, with a smaller more robust fiberglass body than the M8D and instead of the side fins, it had a low strut supported rear wing, making a weight savings of 22 pounds. The prototype M8E was tested briefly by Denny Hulme at Goodwood in 1970 before the batch of customer cars were built.

SPECIFICATIONS
Make:	McLaren
Model:	M8E Can-Am
Year:	1971
Color:	Yellow
Engine:	Alloy Chevrolet
CC:	8095
Power:	700 bhp
Transmission:	Hewland LG-500
Brakes:	Lockheed Discs
Length:	153"
Width:	74"
Height:	36"
Weight:	1800 lbs