Armando writes:
>I guess I really shouldn't be doing this, but the temptation is too
>great. I have a feeling that the list will be very busy shortly.
>
>I attended the Monterey Historic Races this past weekend and, in the
>fourth race on Saturday, there were two Morgans racing against a slew of
>Porsches (about 20 of them). One of the Morgans was a +4 and the other
>one was a 4/4. One of the Morgans came in sixth, leaving approximately
>15 Porsches in the dust. The other Morgan ended quite far back in the
>pack, although the driver's gallant effort and performance was applauded
>by all. Anyone care to guess as to which Morgan placed 6th?
What I am about to say will not likely shock many of the veterans of this
list. ;-)
While I smile at Armando's subtly worded message (and just a tinge of
sadism, too!), I am quite confident in suggesting that the 4/4 placed 6th
in the race. My reasons for this hinge on the glorious racing herritage
that the ford pushrod four has, and the probable superior handling of a
lighter engined car. After 25+ years of racing in formula ford, and in
marques and venues (Morgan, Lotus, just to name two) its important to keep
in mind that there are oodles of 'go fast' bits for the ford engine and
that there are oodles of ford engines (so if you go really fast, and throw
a rod or something you don't really have to worry). The kent engine, in
race trim, can belt out an astonishing number of horses, for its diminutive
displacement. All of this is what a racer wants in his/her engine; the
ability to pump it up and the confidence that he/she will race again in the
event of a major failure.
Permit me to quote from Peter Egan's column, in the September, 1998 issue
of Road and Track:
"I don't have a racing car this year. I'm taking the summer off to do
"other things." Which is a code phrase that lazy or unemployed musicians
and race drivers use when they mean "absolutely nothing worth mentioning."
But when I get another car--and I will--it will probably have a
4-cylinder
Ford engine in the back, open wheels, a Hewland gearbox and a reclining
seat, without enough room in the footwell.
If its an older one whose paint scheme and shape make me think of Jim
Clark, or Jack Brabham, that might be okay too."
Okay, so the engine isn't in the back in a 4/4, and the wheels are not
open, and in point of fact there seems, at least for me, to be plenty of
room in the footwell of me mog, Egan's list begins with the mill; the
glorious Ford Kent engine. That's why I always say... the 4/4 is the
THINKING man's Morgan!
Now I guess I have to wait and hear from OMB, etc, and then, finally, from
Armando.
Cheers,
Will Zehring
p.s. if the 4/4 was the slower car, well... it had to be driver error!
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