Old vans in motorsport
#1
Posted 21 April 2011 - 21:35
Has any members got any old photos of Old Vans and pick-ups that were used by racing teams, I remember Lotus had a Thames 400e flat bed to carry a race car.
I run a site for old vans at www.oldclassicvans.co.uk
Thanks Gary
#3
Posted 21 April 2011 - 21:48
There is a thread about transporters, it's usually on the front page but sometimes slip to the second or third.
In addition to that, there's one of the 'personal photos' threads that's about tender vehicles etc.
Check them out, you might well find something. I do recall there was one serious posting a few years ago of an early post-war Dodge, about a 5-tonner, with a van body used by one of the famous race teams of the time. Or was it a Fargo?
#5
Posted 22 April 2011 - 06:52
#6
Posted 22 April 2011 - 07:05
Roger Lund
#7
Posted 22 April 2011 - 07:28
Whilst not "used by teams" as such, do not forget that in the late 1950s Tony Lanfranchi raced an 1172cc Ford Thames 300E van, possibly for its lighter weight compared with the saloons, sans windows, IIRC, for reduced wind resistance, a moot point considering drag perhaps. Brian Redman used a Minor 1000 Traveller/van?, his company car working for the family brush business, and the glorious Rev Rupert Jones rallied a Mini van in the early '60s when not in a works BMC car
Roger Lund
JUSTIN LAW, Transit at FOS, Linguard Goulding used his mothers Hillman Minx estate at Enniskerry Hillclimb , PaulChadwick raced a mini woodie at Bishopscourt .
#8
Posted 22 April 2011 - 07:39
I thought the film was on YouTube, but I cannot find it now...
#9
Posted 22 April 2011 - 07:54
Ensign, you wag. A small wholemeal, six croissants and something crusty for the weekend please.
#10
Posted 22 April 2011 - 07:55
#11
Posted 22 April 2011 - 08:17
This was our contribution to racing old vans in the sixties.When it was sitting on the grid at Mallory the BRSCC came over and told us that if did any good it would be excluded from the results!We opted to rebuild it as a saloon, it later went on in others hands to be a successfull Mini Miglia racer.Whilst not "used by teams" as such, do not forget that in the late 1950s Tony Lanfranchi raced an 1172cc Ford Thames 300E van, possibly for its lighter weight compared with the saloons, sans windows, IIRC, for reduced wind resistance, a moot point considering drag perhaps. Brian Redman used a Minor 1000 Traveller/van?, his company car working for the family brush business, and the glorious Rev Rupert Jones rallied a Mini van in the early '60s when not in a works BMC car
Roger Lund
#12
Posted 22 April 2011 - 10:41
#13
Posted 22 April 2011 - 10:47
I'm sure the vehicle you are thinking of will be the Dennis Poore Dodge, Ray, newly restored and on show at Race Retro this year.Check them out, you might well find something. I do recall there was one serious posting a few years ago of an early post-war Dodge, about a 5-tonner, with a van body used by one of the famous race teams of the time. Or was it a Fargo?
http://forums.autosp...hl=dennis poore
http://www.flickr.co...dwin/5478653805
#14
Posted 22 April 2011 - 11:20
On a personal note, servicing on an Alpine Rally in the early '80s we borrowed a Mitsubishi van from Pedders in Melbourne, which was fitted with a 2.6L engine. From what I recall it still had the standard van running gear which limited top end speed, but acceleration was sensational.