The Roaring Season

by **khyndart in CA** » Mon Nov 09, 2020 11:52 pm

The concrete barriers that were installed were from what was used at the Dallas F1 Grand Prix in July 1984.
This was the time the US was building temporary race tracks for Formula One in cities such as Long Beach, Detroit, Dallas and even in a
parking lot in Las Vegas !

One of the glory days at Green Valley Raceway was the 1967 Trans- Am race which produced this fantastic finish as the closest in Trans Am history.

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On This Day in Trans Am History: Gurney edges Jones by "three feet"

https://racer.com/2020/04/16/on-this-day-in-trans-am-history-gurney-edges-jones-by-three-feet/

This race was also covered well by Jon Mello with Jerry Melton photos at this site.
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=8946.0

(Ken H)

by **khyndart in CA** » Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:48 am

About 20 years later in 1984-86 the Green Valley Raceway was shut down and the area has been developed.
One of the last big races held there was this 1984 SCCA Trans-Am series race. October 28 1984.
One can appreciate the Melton photos taken before all the concrete barriers were installed. (As one reader put it as a "Crap" course !)
Enjoy the video clip.
[video=youtube;PxDYqSx-IZw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxDYqSx-IZw[/video]

(Ken H..)

by **khyndart in CA** » Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:34 am

Closing out Jerry Melton's Green Valley Raceway photos with some TR 4 action.

Gary Bishop enjoyed driving his TR 4 there in February and June1966.

Thanks Jerry Melton.

(Ken H.)

by **Roger Dowding** » Sun Nov 08, 2020 10:13 pm

Ken H,

Saw a nice TR3 yesterday, and a TR4A, *** as well as a BJ8 model Austin Healey with the Rego " ROGBJ8 ", at the Tauranga Vintage Car Club " Car Show and Swap Meeting " at their Clubrooms on Cliff Road, - an old Bowling Club. You may know the place ?
There were in excess of 100 cars there, photos to come .. probably on the Vintage thread ..

This by David Tomlinson - a Rolls Royce guy. " ROGBJ8 " and friends..

I Post a lot about Healey's but am a TR man as well -
Cheers
Roger

by **khyndart in CA** » Sun Nov 08, 2020 8:17 am

TR 3 action on the track and in the pits.

In for a pit stop.

(Jerry Melton photos..

by **khyndart in CA** » Sat Nov 07, 2020 8:17 am

Back to SU and Zenith-Stromberg carbs and a bit of British at GVR.

A MG TC at speed.

A Morgan.

Some AH Sprite action.

(Ken H)

by **khyndart in CA** » Sat Nov 07, 2020 8:03 am

Thanks for that info. Roger.

Not all of them are in pristine condition.

But you may have missed out on this one.
https://bringatrailer.com/2016/04/14/see-where-they-rust-1967-vetta-ventura/

You would be pretty cool running down to the Omokoroa store in a Vetta Ventura / Apollo.
I remember the guy that played in the A/C-D/C band lived near Omokoroa in 1990 and he would cruise down to the store in his genuine Ford GT 40.

(Ken H..)

by **Roger Dowding** » Sat Nov 07, 2020 3:19 am

Ken H,

Car looks familiar ! - The same car -
There was a similar looking " Buick " powered Sports Coupe built in the early 1960's - remember seeing a story / road test in a Road and Track or other US magazine. Apollo GT.
Magazine bought with my pocket money whilst still in short pants at High School- 1961 - just started at KBHS in form 3

Photo of a couple of the cars recently from the link below.

Looking at the Ken H link the open car could be one as well !

" https://mycarquest.com/2011/08/the-apollo-gt-italian-craftsmanship-powered-by-buick.html "

A related story to the Hemmings one post #303 Vetta Ventura ,,

Ken H- this is the Road and Track article I remember,
- in your link , Cheers.
Think I still have the magazine, somewhere - in the archives.. boxes in the garage - as ERC does, but not so many at the moment.

** Interestingly Buick used the name Apollo as a model in the 70's /80's -maybe even earlier.

KBHS - Kelston Boys High School, Kelston West Auckland

by **khyndart in CA** » Fri Nov 06, 2020 8:25 am

A rare car competing in the 1966 Enduro race at GVR was a 1966 Vetta Ventura 5000 GT.

(Jerry Melton photo..)

This was an American car that looked like a Ferrari 275 GTB.

More about the Vetta - Ventura at this site.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/italo-american-delight-1966-vetta-ventura-5000-gt

( Ken H..)

by **Bruce302** » Thu Nov 05, 2020 8:47 am

and a friend had the same setup, briefly, on his 350 HT Monaro.

by **Paul B** » Thu Nov 05, 2020 8:28 am

Robin Tanner had a set of those on his 39 Corvette Ford Coupe.

by **Ray Bell** » Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:04 am

Definitely the crossover DCOEs...

They always look so good and they go well too.

by **Paul B** » Sun Nov 01, 2020 10:22 pm

Love those Webers Ken. Cant choose which ones I like best!
The 63 Vette split window is such a beautiful car, it was my favourite when I was a kid and still is.
Keep well
Cheers

by **khyndart in CA** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:26 pm

Thanks Roger, that was a very nice gesture. Perhaps we can hit Taupo tgether in Jan. 2022.

Note in 1963 at Sebring before fuel injection had been sorted out, the two types of Webers on Ford and Chevrolet.

1963 Ford Cobra carburation at Sebring.

1963 Corvette Grand Sport carburation at Sebring.
( Was that in the days of gallons to the mile or miles to the gallon ? )

(Ken H)

by **Roger Dowding** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 3:36 am

Ken H - of course I have " borrowed " the Jerry Melton photos, and the coloured ones you have posted.

PS ..
Taupo
Had plans to get there 23 - 24 January but things have gotten [ as they say in the US of A ] in the way.. Will be in Auckland.
Was going to stand in for you in 2021 but again an Epic Fail

Cheers

Roger

by **Roger Dowding** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 3:34 am

Ken H, my Man..
Thanks for the Corvette Grand Sport photos - I had a question about the first post #292 race # 00 what was the Chassis number but in post #293 you answered it - Chassis #003.
Have a great interest in the GS cars that started when I bought the Dave Friedman book " Corvette Grand Sport " at the Orange County Fare in 1988.
The copy with its now faded spine binding - too much sun sits with several other Corvette Books, and close by are my 10 1;43 scale models.
One each of Chassis' #001 and #002 the Roadsters and all three Coupes #003, #004, #005 in their Nassau 1963 guise - the first races, and then 5 others being 003, 004 and 005 from other races including Sebring 1964.

The Book front cover

There is a famous quote by A J Foyt when passed by one of the Grand Sports at Sebring in 1964 -
" What was that damned Dinosaur ? It went by me like I was stopped ".
The photo and quote - back cover

A couple of them at Sebring in 1964 - photo from the book - with the models in front.

and as you always say
" Thanks for your input.
Cheers,
Ken H "

Roger

by **khyndart in CA** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 1:46 am

Paul,
I got my piece that mentions the 256 ci engine, from this site which I have found reliable.

https://www.oldracingcars.com/fa/1966/southwestdiv/

Thanks for your input.
Cheers,
Ken

by **Paul B** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:32 pm

Ray Bell wrote:That's certainly not the engine in that car, then, nor should it be if there was any logic...

The 221 came out in 1962 or 1963, it was a very much lighter engine and held a lot more promise. It went to 260 before too long, then 289. The inlet port spacing in the photo is much more in keeping with the 221/260/289 family engines.

Ford was playing around with the 221/260 block and developed some variant racing engines in the early 60s. I have some literature on them somewhere, they did a lot of modifications and it was a very high revving motor. They even used a modified 272 Y block rocker assembly in one engine. many failures too. Likely it may have been that engine?

by **khyndart in CA** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:01 pm

The #1 car at Sebring in 1963 was 003, which Mecom had sold to Ed Sevadjian from Arlington, Texas.
Sevadjian raced it in SCCA's SW Division.in 1965.

The Grand Sport as it is today.
type Racing Car
production years 1962 – 1964
engineers Zora Arkus-Duntov
production 5
engine V8
position Front Longitudinal
aspiration Natural
block material Cast Iron
valvetrain Pushrod OHV, 2 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed 8 Sidedraft Weber 58mm
displacement 5358.57 cc / 327 in³
body / frame Fiberglass Body over Steel Tube Frame
driven wheels RWD
front tires Goodyear 8.20×15 Stock Car
rear tires Goodyear 8.20×15 Stock Car
front brakes Girling Discs
rear brakes Girling Discs
front wheels F 38.1 x 20.3 cm / 15 x 8 in
rear wheels R 38.1 x 20.3 cm / 15 x 8 in
steering Rack & Pinion
f suspension Wishbones w/Transverse Leaf Spring, Shock Absorbers
r suspension Transverse Leaf Spring, Shock Absorbers
curb weight 863 kg / 1900 lbs
transmission Borg Warner T-10 4-Speed Manual
1960s1962ChevroletChevrolet CorvettecorvetteV8

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Untold Stories of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport #003
Ultra-Rare Racer: Untold Stories About One of the Most Illustrious Corvettes Ever — the ’63 Grand Sport.

http://www.superchevy.com/features/1507-untold-stories-of-the-1963-chevrolet-corvette-grand-sport-003

Note the rather colorful descriptions of what it was like to drive this car and perhaps that is why
Ed Servabjian had his crash at the Green Valley Raceway in 1965.

(Ken H..)

by **khyndart in CA** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 7:34 am

In 1965 Ed Servabjian came to GVR with his 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport # 00.

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Ed battled throughout the race with the handling and braking issues.

Finally toward the end of the race, Ed had the rear brakes lock up which took him off the track.
As shown in the local newspaper.

(Jerry Melton photos )

(Ken H..)

The Roaring Season

SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

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Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Apollo GT .. **l

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Corvette Grand Sport ..

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

Re: SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton