Getting to test drive past dreams!

[Lionheart]

I just found 'Test Drive' in the Car Dealer section in GT Legends....!

I tested the little 914 and DANG! I went back, sold my Mini Cooper, had enough, went back to the dealer, and purchased the Porsche 914. But then I found I couldnt race it in the Cup series, so I am waiting.. arrghh...

I tested a couple of more as well. The GT-40 is brilliant, and like a real Viper, you almost have to use 2nd gear to start out in. The antique Ferrari (I believe the 275) had a superb sound pack. And not to mention, a fave classic of classics.... The Alfa Romea sedan with the rear bumper off........ ooo lah lah! Not a wedge, but just filled with drueling memories when I was gifted to see one now and then. Just something about those lines that was just inspiring and... awesome...

If only they had the first edition of Countach S, the early 500... arrghh.... (Not to mention the 400 GT Lambo or a Lancia Stratos Zero.. )

[wombat666]

Nicest Countach of the lot that 500 ......:d
Bill, had my first 'Historic' race meeting with the GT40R a couple of weeks ago.
Run at the famous/infamous Bathurst circuit in New South Wales.
Not Elkhart Lake and about the same length, around 4 miles.
On the very long 'ConRod Straight' I had 285K on the clock ..... :kilroy:
by the tacho, not on the speedo!
Certainly sharpens up one's reactions and situational awareness!!!!!!

[Lionheart]

LOLOL... I can only imagine..

Did you get alot of wind noise at that speed?

[wombat666]

Most of the non mechanical noise would be 'road noise' rather than 'wind noise'.
However, there was plenty of 'wind noise' inside my Nomex ...... the pucker factor is pretty high at that speed ....... :d
Need to gear it up a bit more as well, pulling close on 7500RPM at the halfway mark is a tad disconcerting, to say nothing of what might be happening inside the block!
Phase 2 'tuning' will see a set of Webers replacing the Holleys and maybe the 'New' (as in replica!) Weslake heads being bolted on.
One day I'll grow up ...... maybe!:d

[Lionheart]

LOLOL.... Dont let that happen... (Grow up that is).

Sounds like you are setting it up for track time. Are you going for a particular class of roadracing?

Out here, we have the SCCA, 'Sports Car Club of America'. Great fun and many classes to join. I have thought about it back in my younger days, but I was too busy trying to start my own little kit car company.

Fiats, Alphas, and Lotus'.... Those were the days...

[wombat666]

LOLOL.... Dont let that happen... (Grow up that is).

Sounds like you are setting it up for track time. Are you going for a particular class of roadracing?
Out here, we have the SCCA, 'Sports Car Club of America'. Great fun and many classes to join. I have thought about it back in my younger days, but I was too busy trying to start my own little kit car company.
Fiats, Alphas, and Lotus'.... Those were the days...

Well do I know the SCCA series Bill, from way back when I used to read 'Road&Track' from cover to cover!!
All dressed up for the Dutton's Historic Rally ...... the 'Boy Racer' stripes etc are removable vinyl, and will NOT be a fixture!
Made a few cosmetic changes and a couple of mechanical alterations but I prefer my original plain yellow finish.
I'm running in several of these events as well as a special 'Classic' class in the 'Marque Sports Car Series'.
Part of a CAMS sanctioned series which allows replicas to compete with other street legal sports and GT cars......some of the present generation aren't as quick as their owners thought!
The ultimate aim is to compete in the Targa Tasmania, next year if we get our entry accepted, which is a week long 'rally' run over closed road stages in Tasmania ...... :d
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8089/image7my6.jpg

[eddie]

Would love to get behind the wheel of this Mark IV, would be one heck of a ride!!:ernae:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v138/Thony/BeautifulMkIV-1.jpg

[Panther_99FS]

Would love to get behind the wheel of this Mark IV, would be one heck of a ride!!:ernae:



There is no "just" argument against your statement.....:ernae:

[wombat666]

There is no "just" argument against your statement.....:ernae:
Rod Leach, the UK 'Ford GT Guru' and general lover of wretched excess when it comes to things automotive (he owned a dual turbo 427 Cobra for years!) was not impressed by a Mk.IV that passed through his dealership.
The main strength of the Mk.II and Mk.IV (in his opinion) was durability.
The 427 was understressed for Le Mans and the cars were built like Battleships, but they were never as nimble as a GT40 and not really quick around Sebring, the only other event the Mk.IV competed in. (and won BTW)
That said, I wouldn't knock back a drive in one, but I'd rather have a go at the unraced Pete Brock designed and built 427 Daytona Cobra Coupe .... :d
or one of the JWA Ford 'Mirage' GT40 offshoots.

[Lionheart]

Man, Wombat! That car just radiates speed.....!

Dang, I didnt know this thread was still going on strong....!

That is Carrol standing next to that red racer! Quite a few years ago.

The Daytona Coupes by Peter Brock were awesome. A very 'pure' design. If you can get ahold of a set of body panels from one, you are one lucky guy. I can look into it if you like. A guy here in town collects anything to do with Peters creations and might have a set of panels for sale.

I had a chance to meet Peter. A very cool guy. Kind of reminded me of Carrol Shelby in a way. Quiet, reserved, smiling, clean cut, tall... Good person to know.

[eddie]

Here's a question for you wombat, I heard of a Ford racer from the lines of the GT40, and it was called the "Ford J" car, ever heard of it? I was under the impression it was a testbed for the Mark IV, but not really sure?

Eddie

[eddie]

Found the answer on the term "J" cars, it was a technical name given to the MkIV series, a lot of great info on GT40's and MkIV's can be found here-

http://www.gt40.org.uk/Gallery/MkIV.htm

A pic of the original "J" car.

[wombat666]

Here's a question for you wombat, I heard of a Ford racer from the lines of the GT40, and it was called the "Ford J" car, ever heard of it? I was under the impression it was a testbed for the Mark IV, but not really sure?

Eddie
The 'J Car' was the Kar Kraft follow on to the GT40.
Quite advanced in concept, honeycomb aluminium tub, initially 'glued' instead of riveted, to be fitted with an automatic box (which never happened), the car was a giant problem and required so much reworking that it debuted a year later than planned.
The great Ken Miles was killed testing the car, which threw doubt over the structural integrity of the tub, being subsequently reinforced and riveted as well as epoxied, while the aerodynamics were pretty horrible, expected as the shape of the car was a 'Styling Studio' exercise.
Because the J was so long in development, Ford opted for the 427 powered MkII, which went on to win the 1966 LM 24 hour.
Once the MkIV (not GT MkIV) evolved it did the job, winning the only two events it entered.
Me, I think the JW Mirage project would have been the better way to go, a lighter and more aerodynamic GT40 powered by a developed small block.

[eddie]

Thanks for that info wombat, that's really interesting! Didn't Jim Hall try a auto transmission with one of his Chaparrals too? Not sure how well that went, I do know that the one version of the Chaparral, he was trying out these huge fans of some sort on it, but it had problems from the start because they were picking up so much debris from the track, IIRC.

I've been looking all over for a link I had at one time concerning the "J" Car, and finally found it! I couldn't believe when I read that the chasis only weighed 86 lbs!?! Incredible! This is the same page I found the Mk IV photo I put up earlier. I was reading in a forum somewhere, that dealt with the real orignal Mk IV's and some of the early GT40's, where these cars are on display and who owns them! Almost looked like a GT 40 museum! They were talking about the Mk IV, I believe the one that won LeMans in 1967, was brought out for a demo run at Lemans in 2000 or 2001, and it was running just as well as if it was new! Can't imagine the upkeep or the cost of a special car like that,lol Wish I could have seen that though! Always loved the GT 40's and the Mk IV! A great time in racing for Ford!

More info and picks on the Mk IV-

http://www.supercars.net/cars/694.html