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Re: [Fot] Why the dearth of Spitfire vintage racers?

To: <britbits@netzero.com>, <fot@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Fot] Why the dearth of Spitfire vintage racers?
From: "Norlin Engineering" <norlinengineering@comcast.net>
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 08:36:53 -0700
We're lacking Spit's here in the PNW as well.  Back in the 70's there were a
dozen or more Spitfires actively racing SCCA and only a couple of Spridgets.
Currently in our SCCA vintage group. I am the only Spitfire running against
at least a half dozen Spridgets.  Only a couple of those have a true racing
heritage, the rest are converted street cars.  At Sovern's CRC last year
there was one other Spitfire, again a car with great cred's.

I think the reason for the difference is how easy it is to convert a street
Spridget to racing.  You can get virtually everthing you need from Moss
Motors.  Spitfire race parts such as rear axles, race springs, shocks, etc
are available if you know where to look, but the main suppliers just carry
street performance parts, not race parts.

That being said, I agree that the Spitfire makes a far better race car than
the Spridget for all the reasons stated earlier.  For one thing, we can keep
all the wheels on the ground.  On the flip side, I think the Spridget makes
a better street car.

What I can't understand is where all the old race prep'd Spit's are.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: fot-bounces@autox.team.net [mailto:fot-bounces@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Jim
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 8:40 PM
To: fot@autox.team.net
Subject: [Fot] Why the dearth of Spitfire vintage racers?


Just got back from a weekend of vintage racing with the Corinthians Vintage
Auto Racing group as the new track near Dallas (Eagle Canyon Raceway) and
one burning question popped into mind:

What's the ratio of Spitfires vs Austin Healey Sprite/MG Midgets in vintage
racing?

In CVAR there's a gent named Roger Williams that originated a "Spec Sprite"
class in CVAR, (basically a post 1970 Spriget bodyshell with barely warmed
over 1275 and a $35 Firestone spec tire) and directly built a bunch and
encouraged others to build more.  Those cars have bounced between FP and
Spec Sprite over the last 10 years depending upon owner's budget and
willingness to be honest.  So that may skew the numbers a tad.

This weekend there were roughly 12 Spridgets (8 FP and 4 Spec Sprite)..  And
only 1 Spitfire in FP.  In 15 years I've only ever seen 4 different
Spitfires (3 round tail and 1 squaretail "Mk IV" ;) and never witnessed more
than one Spitfire running at a time.

On the flip side, if I counted cars using Spitfire (ok, Herald) based front
suspensions the ratio gets turned over, when you condider the Loti, FF, and
token TVRs that show up from time to time.

Back to the subject line, is it purely the rear swing axle/diff issue?



Cheers,

Jim
Dallas



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