Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival. June 2-3 2017

[Steve Holmes]

The Bizzarrinis and Bocar XPS was a very nice era of car, The 1964 Kellison ASTRA J-5 Coupe Sports Car was an interesting design, This was the Mk2, the mk1 had single headlights, I believe was designed in 1959. very revolutionary for the time.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]44170[/ATTACH]

I stumbled upon a Kellison for sale recently, though a different and much less attractive model than the one posted above: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/6182627318.html

[khyndart in CA]

One of the noisiest cars at Sonoma was this "Peerless Racing"1970 Camaro that was prepared for IMSA GT racing to challenge the European competition at the long distance races at Sebring and Daytona etc. With its 478 c.i. aluminum 8-Cylinder engine it had "heaps of grunt" when raced by original driver Craig Carter. As you will read in the history it was a salvaged flood car and competed between 1972 to 1981.
It is a good and mean looking machine.

# 56 Peerless Racing Camaro heading toward turn 1 at Sonoma. Driver Jeff Abramson.
(Ken Hyndman photos )

A good history of this car is found at this Fantasy Junction site when it was for sale.

http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/1873-Chevrolet-IMSA%20Camaro%20GT-478%20c.i.%20aluminum%208-Cylinder



(KH)

[khyndart in CA]

I have some more from Sonoma but the last few days have been interrupted with power outages, road closures and be ready to evacuate.
This may help you appreciate a cold and wet winter because we have suffered through the reverse here.
Last Tuesday was July 4th and to celebrate Independence Day a friend with a MGT series and I in my '62 Cooper decided to represent the English in the local parade. His dog kept the kids amused and also guarded my Mini. In the background you will notice the mountains between where we live and Santa Barbara. On Saturday a vehicle fire started a fire that has quickly got out of control and burnt over 7000 acres including some of our favorite trails and campsites. We live about 10 miles away and ash is on everything.
It will be a long drive to work in the coming days. Here are some photos as these helicopters work day and night.
I hope you don't mind a California update.

Once again enjoy the cold and rain as this is awful.

(Ken Hyndman and photos)

[Ray Bell]

I saw a news item this morning about fires in the US, Ken, but they didn't actually say where they were...

And there was talk of them going into British Columbia, so I gathered they were in Washington.

[khyndart in CA]

Sonoma. June 3 2017.
When I saw Michael Malone drive past in this good looking sports car, a 1966 Elva Mk 8, it certainly brought back memories for me of my days at Trojan Works. Bill Meace was the director of racing at both Elva and Trojan and he interviewed me for a position in 1972 and bravely took me on with my very limited experience. Many of the Elva crew stayed on to work at Trojan building customer McLarens. They were a good bunch of experienced race car builders who did not treat me too badly as being the only "Colonial" amongst them at that time. Here are some photos both old and new.

(This is the area where Bill Meace interviewed me.)

(This was the busy Trojan Racing workshop in about 1971 )

(Ken Hyndman )

[Oldfart]

Ken, have you had contact in recent times with Roger Dunbar? (Elva cars)

[khyndart in CA]

Rhys,
I have heard of Roger but have never been in touch. He has done much to keep the Elva brand alive.
There are some interesting history facts including the "Kiwi Connection" with Bucklers in NZ at this site.

http://www.elva.com/securemailer/elva-contact.php

(Ken H )

[Oldfart]

A task he had a while back was to spread ashes for Frank at a venue in the US.

[khyndart in CA]

This vehicle was built by Bill Janowski in 1957 from a 1939 Ford chassis and a Chevy V-8 engine.
It is called the "Monsterati" and it still goes well, now driven by David Swig.
More details can be found at this site.
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13755/Monsterati-Special.aspx

( Ken Hyndman photos )

I really have taken too long on my day at Sonoma.
Here are 16 pages of what a professional photographer can do there at this site.

http://www.sportscardigest.com/sonoma-historic-motorsports-festival-2017-report-photos/

Cheers,
Ken H

[ERC]

Great stuff Ken! I was always an Elva fan in their heyday when Elva Couriers were quite plentiful. There was one for sale here in Auckland not so long ago, but way out of my price range. I have only seen one in or maybe two in NZ. Must check my pics of the late John Fernyhough's Collection, as there may have been one in there.

The Courier GT I had never seen until the 2009 Goodwood Revival.

Methinks Sonoma raceway has to be added to the bucket list - just when I thought I'd ticked everything off!

[khyndart in CA]

1966 Ford GT 40 Mk 2
" MKII Coupe
Chassis Num: 1051
This unit, Registration SNO 250D, was shipped September 13, 1966 and the #P1051's engine was noted as 'High Performance with Webers' and delivered to Ford of U.K., as a press car. It was featured on the 'This car you have to be measured for' Ford GT sales brochure and in the December 15, 1966 Motoring News. It was displayed at the Paris Auto Show in October of 1966.

This road car has been used first as a "Press car" by Ford UK . It was seen in the magazine Motoring news of Dec. 1966. originally in Gold it stayed that way until the early 80s. Resprayed for a while in Gulf color it returned soon to an almost identical gold. 1051 was raced in historical events now equipped with Hallibrand wheels instead of its original Borrani wire wheels. In 1993, after a crash, 1051 was rebuilt by Racing Icons to full Gulf specifications, using some parts from 1008 which went to be restored to its 1965 specs. The only difference being painted in the original Gulf dark blue instead of the iconic light one. The car can be seen regularly in vintage car races.

The current owner, Chris MacAllister purchased the car in May of 1983. (Chris owns the Caterpiller distribution rights for the entire state of Indiana. If you want to buy a tractor or piece of heavy construction equipment in that state, you have to buy it from him. But as I mentioned he is very humble and friendly. )
A complete restoration/metamorphosis by Racing Icons was performed in 1993, to MKI Gulf specs, with the car being fitted with vented rotors, roll cage, roof vent, and wide rear bodywork from P/1008. It is finished in dark blue Marigold Gulf team colors and it continues to be actively vintage raced.

More on this car at this site.
http://motormavens.com/ford-gt40-chassis-1051/

(Ken Hyndman photo )

Sometimes things don't quite according to plan.
[video=youtube_share;iN-J4Jydnkc]https://youtu.be/iN-J4Jydnkc[/video]
Note the wonderful Gurney / Weslake engine sound.

(Ken H )

[Terry S]

This vehicle was built by Bill Janowski in 1957 from a 1939 Ford chassis and a Chevy V-8 engine.
It is called the "Monsterati" and it still goes well, now driven by David Swig.
More details can be found at this site.
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13755/Monsterati-Special.aspx

[ATTACH=CONFIG]44436[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]44437[/ATTACH]

( Ken Hyndman photos )

Cheers,
Ken H

Ken there is a great 8 page article on the Monsterati in the current July issue of Vintage Racecar magazine.

Fascinating reading.

[khyndart in CA]

Thanks Terry,
I was snapping away at cars I knew very little about at Sonoma and it has been fun to research and present their history.
I will have to read that magazine.
Cheers,
Ken

[John McKechnie]

Ken- Since you a mini Cooper man, this is just for you-

http://www.driven.co.nz/reviews/classic-cars/little-mini-with-a-curious-history-set-to-fetch-140-000/

[seaqnmac27]

[video=youtube;94qndagH3yo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94qndagH3yo[/video]

[seaqnmac27]

[video=youtube;WJSDRacEbUg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJSDRacEbUg[/video]

[khyndart in CA]

Sonoma. June 2017.
John Miller driving back to the pits in his 1956 Devin Triumph # 189.

(Ken Hyndman photo )
I did not know much of the Devin specials until I read about them at this interesting site. This may explain the Ferrari type sticker on the car at Sonoma.
Bill Devin "The Enzo Ferrari of the Okie Flats"
Devin Enterprises Inc. was operated in El Monte, California in the 50's and 60's . Bill Devin built a car that had the style, sophistication, and performance of a Ferrari but sold for less. The prancing horse demanded a high price due to its pedigree; Devin decided to exploit the market and offer a nearly identical vehicle at an affordable price. The Devins's raced successfully against Ferrari's, Lister's, and Maserati's. The 1956 SCCA National Champion was a Devin. Devins ran in 136 SCCA races between 1955 and 1963, winning First 32, second 8, third 3. On top of that, Bill also invented of the "Belt Driven" OHC.

Some good reading and photos here about Devins.
http://www.devinspecial.com/


(Ken Hyndman )