The Ford GT 40, part IX

I am sorry that I have not had the time lately to keep up on my posting. I have changed my work days to four in a row. I usually work any where between 10 to 13 hours on a shift come home, sleep and then get up and head back to work. Tonight is my last night of working this week and then I have three nights in a row off.

I am putting on 4 more pictures of qanother Ford GT 40, this one is a Mk II and was pretty quick.

I am in the process of sorting through all of my photos of racecars and putting them into folders so that I can put them on cd's. If anybody would like a cd I am selling them for $10.00 including postage. Let me know what you are looking for and I will see what I can do.

Paul

The Ford GT 40 part VIII

The Ford GT 40, part VII

I really should take the time and proof read what I write. "The Gord GT 40" is not what I meant to say in my last post. I guess I was in too much of a hurry. We are watching Alexis this week and Terri is out doing some errands and I have both kids to take care of today before I have to go to work at 2:30. Again I am posting 5 more photos of GT 40's that I came across at Miller.

THe Gord GT-40 part VI

I came across all of these GT-40's at Miller, some at the Shelby club meet and some at the vintage sprts car races that have been held at Miller. I will also get around and include the Cobra's and GT-40's that Larry has in in collection.

The Ford GT 40, part V

More Ford GT 40 pictures.

Ford Gt 40 part IV

It is a strange time since I went back to work. Time, time, time it seems that I just don't have enough of it. I want to keep things simple for the next couple of weeks. I am going to try and post pictures hopefully every other day of Ford GT 40's. Here is the first set.

The Ford GT 40 Mark IV

The Ford GT 40 Mark IV just about has to be the iconic American race car. This car has power, style, a winning history. The list of drivers is just unbelievable and I am not even going to try an list any of them. This paricular car is owned and driven by Tom Malloy of California. Mr Malloy apparently has a very nice colection. At this race he brought the Gurney Eagle GTP and this GT 40 Mk IV. Last year he also brought a MacLaren M6. Oh ya in his trailer this year he had the Dan Gurney F-1 Eagle, a Mercedes Benz 300 SL and a Kurtis 500 sports car. I understand that at the Monteray Classics this year he had an Indy Offy roadster. This man is a collector of the first order, but most important of all he drives his cars and apparently enjoys driving them. Note the stone chips on the front of the GT 40 Mk IV.

Benetton Ford F-1

I have a few pictures of a Michael Schummacher Benetton Ford F-1. These pictures were taken in practice just before the engine blew. Oh well! Another 60 grand, Easy come easy go.

Lola B2K40

I do not have a lot of information on this car. It is a Lola B2K40 and I think it ran in the SR2 class. I do not have any information on the engine. The owner driver is Martin Snow, Utah.. Whatever it is a nice car.

Lotus 7

Lotus 7:

Colin Chapman built his first car in 1947; this car was based on the English Austin 7 saloon car. The body was made of alloy and plywood. Lotus cars progressed with the Austin based cars through the Mark 5 that never reached production. The Mark 5 was to have been a 100 mph Austin engined sports-racing car based upon the Mark 3. The Mark 6 was Colin first car that was sold mostly in kit form and with a tubular chassis. The Mark 7 replaced the Mark 6 in 1957 and is still in production as the Caterham.

The original 7 as designed by Colin Chapman used the anti-sway bar as part of the lower control arm of the suspension. Colin always believed in “adding lightness.” If one part could do two jobs then that made for a lighter car.

This is a no frills car. No doors, not much of a seat, heater (if one was available), and a top was optional, if it wasn’t necessary to make the car go fast Colin really didn’t want it. As I recall the 7 was not one of Colin’s favorite cars, but it was nearly his bread and butter for years.

The Lotus 7 weighed in the area of 1,000 pounds give or take depending on the engine chosen. Engines were mostly up to the buyer and they ranged from the 948 cc engine from the Sprite to the 1,500 cc Coventry Climax.

The Cobra is probably the most copied car in the kit car industry but the Lotus 7 has to be second as the most copied car. You can obtain a new car from Caterham or you can choose from one of the many copycat companies and pick any engine from a Mazda rotary to a Chevy V-6. You can but a book on how to build your own car. In my poor humble opinion nothing beats the original or the Caterham.
The Lotus 7 has been compared to a motorcycle with 4 wheels.

Ducati 1098

For a little change of pace I have some pictures of a Ducati 1098 motorcycle that was racing last March at Miller. It is a racing motorcycle and Italian and red. What more can you want from a motorcycle. I believe that Ducati is the Ferrari of motorcycles, BMW is...well, the BMW of motorcycles. I think that you have to agree that this is one pretty scooter.