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Re: Race Cars Out There (long)

To: Susan Hensley <susan@grotecon.com>
Subject: Re: Race Cars Out There (long)
From: John Matthews <matthews@sj.bigger.net>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 16:14:48 -0700
Cc: Triumph Mailing List <triumphs@Autox.Team.Net>
Organization: Serena Industries Inc. http://www.moonglowmall.com
References: <33CD1CB9.294F@grotecon.com>
Susan Hensley wrote:
> 
I am buying a Spit Mk3
> F Prod SCCA road racer this fall, and was wondering how many other Spits
> and other TR racecars there are still out there.  Would you please post
snip

Hi Susan,

Welcome to the list!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes there's a few racers here, there's also an autocross list on this
server, and some other racer specific lists on the net (I'll check on
addresses if you like).

Lucky you, going F prod racing!!! It's a great class with lots of
competition from the spridgets. 

Right now I'm building my '61 Herald into an OSP auto-x car. So far I've
done the suspension and brakes, and I'm in process on my engine swap.
First I took out everything that I didn't need, and painted the inside
of the car. 

The rear suspension has a de-cambered spring, spherical end radius arms,
KYB gas-adjust shocks, and a custom built camber compensator to
eliminate the jacking effect of swing axle design. The front suspension
(which is completely apart right now) consists of competition springs,
Koni shocks, and a 7/8" sway bar. I'll be installing nylon bushings with
urethane rack & sway bar mounts. I'm really glad I tore it completely
down because I found a broken weld underneath one of the suspension
turrets. 

Once I get the welding done I'll be putting in the new engine. I'll be
running a stock 1500cc motor from a '77 Spit. This should give me about
twice the HP as the tired 1147cc and lots more torque. I'm going to
modify my aluminum bellhousing to run the single rail tranny, and likely
install a trick clutch. 

I replaced the rear windows with lexan, added a race seat, and
eventually I'll install a roll cage and fuel cell. Brakes are big
Spitfire calipers front and stock rears with stainless braided hoses.
I'll probally change to a dual circut master cylinder, and carbon/kevlar
pads and shoes too. This all rolls on top of 185x13 Yokohama A008's,
auto-x compound.

Wow, that's a lot of stuff.........
I've been working on the car for about 2 years now, and I expect it'll
be another year or 2 before it's done. Of course I drove it around the
street for a year before doing most of this work, and I expect to still
be street legal when it's finished.

I'm a member of SCCA's San Francisco Region, and I crew for two other
cars that compete regionally. One's a G-production Spitfire, and the
other is a GT-3 GT-6 (or is that a GT-6 running GT-3)?????  <8^).

If you want more info drop me a note.

Cheers,

John Matthews
'61 Racin' Herald

P.S. Racers, check out our website!!! http://www.moonglowmall.com



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