The special saloon Vauxhalls
#1
Posted 17 November 2012 - 17:16
Viva HA
Alan Wright
Han Akersloot
Viva/ GT
Gerry Marshall
Eddie Heasell
John Pope
Brian Davidson
A guy who's name i cant recall sponsored by Prestige Ltd , he lost a wheel at the hairpin at Snetterton on one occasion.
Firenza/Magnum
Gerry Marshall again
Tony Davies
Chris Simm or Simms
Tony Whibley
Bill Dryden
Before these were the VX4/90' S
John Sutton
I know we can go on with super saloons but lets draw the line before them.
Do you know of any others and what do you know of these drivers/cars
I am sure that there was a second Firenza north of the border, ?
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#2
Posted 17 November 2012 - 17:31
Bernie Harris (5 litre)
Mike Newman (2300cc)
Graeme Walker (2200cc)
Firenza/Magnum:
Mike Newman (2300cc)
Phil Clark (2300cc)
George Constantine (2300cc)
Graeme Walker (2300cc)
Paul Haywood-Halfpenny (Baby Bertha)
John Pope (5340 Magnum)
Graham Wallwork (2066cc Turbo Magnum)
#3
Posted 17 November 2012 - 18:06
I remember a HA Viva in the '60s that was fitted with a Ford lump too, not sure of the driver, or if already named...........
Edited by sterling49, 17 November 2012 - 18:07.
#4
Posted 17 November 2012 - 20:08
#5
Posted 18 November 2012 - 09:10
Many Vauxhalls have been used in special saloons here are a few that i remember
Viva HA
Alan Wright
Han Akersloot
Viva/ GT
Gerry Marshall
Eddie Heasell
John Pope
Brian Davidson
A guy who's name i cant recall sponsored by Prestige Ltd , he lost a wheel at the hairpin at Snetterton on one occasion.
Firenza/Magnum
Gerry Marshall again
Tony Davies
Chris Simm or Simms
Tony Whibley
Bill Dryden
Before these were the VX4/90' S
John Sutton
I know we can go on with super saloons but lets draw the line before them.
Do you know of any others and what do you know of these drivers/cars
I am sure that there was a second Firenza north of the border, ?
Warwick Banks in the Mangoletsi VX4/90
Edited by Sharman, 18 November 2012 - 22:09.
#6
Posted 18 November 2012 - 18:34
#7
Posted 18 November 2012 - 19:38
Phillip DeFreitas
Is that the ex Cricketer?
#8
Posted 18 November 2012 - 20:07
NoIs that the ex Cricketer?
#10
Posted 18 November 2012 - 20:44
How did i miss Dave Millington i must have seen him a lot in the 70 's .
#11
Posted 18 November 2012 - 21:52
Come to think of it most of the production Torana 6 road cars were probably faster than most of the cars mentioned above. Especially ofcourse the XU1s which had between 185 and 202 hp standard and weighed under 1100 kilos.
Really they were a dreadfull car, all the controls did not line up, steering wheel goes one way, the pedals another and the seat belt fell off your shoulder all the time.
But they made a good racecar as they had small frontal area and were light. And some basic engineering fixed a lot of the standard chassis flex.
I know, I raced one as a Sports Sedan [Special Saloon] for over 20 years which evolved into a very quick car with a 6 litre Chev.
#12
Posted 18 November 2012 - 21:56
PAR
#13
Posted 18 November 2012 - 23:01
#14
Posted 18 November 2012 - 23:03
It started out with a Holden six, I think that got supercharged, but then he got serious and put a bog standard Valiant Charger 6 into it and made it really fly.
#15
Posted 19 November 2012 - 05:48
#16
Posted 19 November 2012 - 11:22
Viva
Brian Atthews
Denis Bissell
Firenza
Piggy Thompson
Gerry Johnstone
Stan Burge
Mervyn Dornford
Was Jeff Allams Viva a Special Saloon too?
#17
Posted 19 November 2012 - 12:06
#18
Posted 19 November 2012 - 12:41
A few other drivers of special saloons for you:-
Viva
Brian Atthews
Denis Bissell
Firenza
Piggy Thompson
Gerry Johnstone
Stan Burge
Mervyn Dornford
Was Jeff Allams Viva a Special Saloon too?
Yes Gregor, his team mate was John Elliott. Bill Coull is another one I recall from Scotland I think.
#19
Posted 20 November 2012 - 16:25
no one has mentioned Jackie Patterson (Firenza) from N.I. yet....he and Des Donnelly (Viva) raced at Ingliston quite a few times around 72/73...
already mentioned...other regulars in Scotland were Bill Dryden (Firenzas), Gerry Marshall ( Firenza), Graeme Walker (Viva/Firenza) and Bill Coull (Viva)...
a couple from Croft around '75
Mike Newman Firenza
Graham Wallwork Magnum
just noticed...Alan's already mentioned those two!...
Cheers Ian
Edited by IanMH, 20 November 2012 - 16:34.
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#20
Posted 21 November 2012 - 07:59
I think I remember that one, most of the class A cars seemed to have been taken straight out of the showroom if the handling -or should I say lack of handling - into Old Hall is anything to go by. From my viewpoint at the straight-on point on the outside bank it was in turn hilarious and fightening - I don't think let go of the fire extinguisher the whole racethere was a race for just Vauxhalls at Oulton on 7th July 1973...
Cheers Ian
Edited by ExFlagMan, 21 November 2012 - 08:00.
#21
Posted 25 October 2013 - 08:54
I see John Pope's Vauxhall Magnum Aston Martin-engine special saloon is currently on e-bay. £30 grand. Sorry, I can't do links but it's in the Classic Car section and maybe someone will oblige with a link? This thing was somewhat ferocious in it's day.
#22
Posted 25 October 2013 - 09:58
I see John Pope's Vauxhall Magnum Aston Martin-engine special saloon is currently on e-bay. £30 grand. Sorry, I can't do links but it's in the Classic Car section
Sorry John, it has now ended
http://www.ebay.co.u...=p2047675.l2557
#23
Posted 25 October 2013 - 16:21
Bedford's Alan Brodie - V8 Viva?
#24
Posted 25 October 2013 - 20:03
Jackie Patterson , northern Ireland , ran in local events and I think ingliston
#25
Posted 08 November 2013 - 15:44
Here's a man happy in his work! Supersaloons at Lodge, Oulton Park 1975 ; this one has not been published before.
Thanks to PAR for telling Mr Arron Jnr. that there may still be hidden gold out there!
Edited by elansprint72, 08 November 2013 - 21:47.
#26
Posted 08 November 2013 - 15:57
I'm not sure of it's origins but Andy Gardner has been racing this Firenza for a while.
#27
Posted 08 November 2013 - 17:42
I'm not sure of it's origins but Andy Gardner has been racing this Firenza for a while.
UltraVAUX...I see what he did there....
What's under the bonnet?
#28
Posted 08 November 2013 - 17:56
UltraVAUX...I see what he did there....
What's under the bonnet?
A 4L AJ16 Jaguar engine.
#29
Posted 08 November 2013 - 22:46
A 4L AJ16 Jaguar engine.
Isn't that treason? Surely only Vauxhall, Chevrolet, Holden and other GM engines are the only kosher ones!
#30
Posted 09 November 2013 - 00:18
So, it's a fairly recent bitsa?
#31
Posted 10 November 2013 - 00:57
Thank you for the very interesting thread.
#32
Posted 11 November 2013 - 14:48
#33
Posted 29 December 2014 - 12:02
Great thread, been looking for info on Andys Firenza on and off for a while. Had a great tussle with it on the 2011 BMH 4 Hr caught on incar cam.
12:59min to 19:30min. Think the uncharacteristically hot day was getting the better of the engine judging by the smoke
#34
Posted 30 December 2014 - 00:58
Great thread, been looking for info on Andys Firenza on and off for a while. Had a great tussle with it on the 2011 BMH 4 Hr caught on incar cam.
12:59min to 19:30min. Think the uncharacteristically hot day was getting the better of the engine judging by the smoke
Just the external lubrication spraying on the hot bits,,, it is a Jag. Not as bad as many, you can still see through your windscreen!
#35
Posted 30 December 2014 - 04:05
Wonderful stuff, that vid, thank you.
Found myself getting frustrated, frequently......