62 replies to this topic

[Bruce R Moxon]

Anyone (Ray?) have any idea what this car is?

The owner bought it without a log book. Damon Beck says it's too neat to be a Porter (dear God!)







And if anyone feels like be a smarty, I mean the white and green car in front, not Terry Freckleton's immacculate Nota.



Bruce Moxon

[Stephen W]

Is it the long lost Arkansas Chug-a-bug? The reason I ask is the neat exhaust that allows the car to cross streams!

[ErleMin]

I think its great but that shouldn't surprise you.

[Ray Bell]

Not a bad picture of Gronky...

I've never seen it before, but I reckon it has the aerodynamic properties of a brick. Not only that, it seems very strange to me that someone would put up that much rollover bar and still not have it above the driver's head!

[GD66]

Am I to believe that he has a clear face shield attached to the goggles ? Ye Gods, this is a pretty ordinary effort all round, even to the dodgy numbers. The driver looks suspiciously like Billy Bowden, the questionable cricket umpire. In all, shocking !

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
I reckon it has the aerodynamic properties of a brick.

I think that is very cruel to bricks!

[petefenelon]

Dear Lord - I'm sure it's safe but what a shed!

[Stephen W]

The more I look at this photograph the more i am convulsed with laughter. I do think the body language of the driver of Car 83 says it all!

[Van Diemen Driver]

I think I've seen worse looking cars. I am not sure about the safety of this device though... look at the safety belt. It looks it is about to fall of the drivers shoulder...

[Rosemayer]

Christ the nose is held on with duct tape and what are those tires for mud and snow?

[David McKinney]

Maybe the tape's covering the gaps after the car's beautifully sculpted aerodynamic nose came off?
I still think, laugh as we all might, at least the guy's out there racing

[David M. Kane]

Amen David!

[TooTall]

That thing is wrong on so many levels. How old do you think the helmet he's wearing is? Looks to have about 1/4" of padding. Maybe 1970? 1975? And the driving "suit" looks to be a single layer of nylon. To call that car a "backyard special" is insulting to backyards everywhere. I love the duct tape and copious amounts of overspray on everything including the shocks and the brake lines. It brings to mind a term I first heard used on this forum by Mr. Nye, i.e. "gormless"!

Kurt O.

[Lotus23]

That bodywork reminds me of an FMod homebuilt I encountered ages ago: not a compound curve in sight!

[petefenelon]

I'm always suspicious of cars with that excessive a roll bar on them too - gives you the impression that someone expects it to be used....;)

[sterling49]

It's not the winning it's the participation..........at least he is having a go.......but it is plug ugly!

[JacnGille]

Maybe that car is the originator of the term "test mule".

[Rosemayer]

Bruce Moxon remember this quote?

Oops. Forgot another Formula Vee.

Anyone else remember the Porter? So bad only one ever made it to a race track, and it was sent home by the scrutineers. A total of six were sold.

The chassis jig was a pair of saw horses. The body mould was a hole in Jack Porter's backyard lined with concrete. The fibreglass bodies actually had indentations from the bits of blue metal in the concrete. The steering wheel was oxy-cut from a piece of steel plate, then trimmed with split garden hose.

Apart from that, it was terrible.

[race4aliving]

Look at the shifter But the guys out there racing and judging by the look on his face he's enjoying it.
God Bless him.
That man truly is a "racer"

[Barry Boor]

but what a shed!

Oi! My shed has just been insulted!

[David Beard]

Why is there lots of seemingly left over seat belt drooping out of the cockpit?

Actually, I don't think it is that bad...

1. It doesn't have a raised nose.
2. There is no evidence of sponsorship spoiling the colour scheme.
3. You can tell it apart from other cars.
4. You can see the driver.
5. It can't be ridiculously expensive.
6. It has no wings.
7. It has the number 27.

[Keir]

In my days of racing vees, I'd seen some pretty interesting "cobble ups" !!

..... but that is obscene !!

[brucemoxon]

Originally posted by Rosemayer
Bruce Moxon remember this quote?

Oops. Forgot another Formula Vee.

Anyone else remember the Porter? So bad only one ever made it to a race track, and it was sent home by the scrutineers. A total of six were sold.

The chassis jig was a pair of saw horses. The body mould was a hole in Jack Porter's backyard lined with concrete. The fibreglass bodies actually had indentations from the bits of blue metal in the concrete. The steering wheel was oxy-cut from a piece of steel plate, then trimmed with split garden hose.

Apart from that, it was terrible.

Yeah, I remember.

So we all agree it's ugly. "As a hatful of armpits" is the clean version of the expression. "When it fell out of the ugly tree, it hit every branch on the way down."

I don't know the bloke's name - he runs in regularity events, which don't require 'proper' driving suits (but probably should).

I think to all it 'agricultural' would be to insult every plough, tractor, harvester and mule ever.

BM

[plannerpower]

Perhaps it's not a Formula Vee at all; it could have been a motorkhana special.

There were a few such specials in the heyday of motorkhanas.

[Option1]

More like a bananakhana special.

I'm still trying to figure out if the nose is made out of cardboard and duct tape or if it really is sheet metal cut with tinsnips and duct tape. Obviously, I'm only sure about the duct tape.

Neil

[fbarrett]

Nice rear view mirrors.

Frank

[macoran]

Originally posted by fbarrett
Nice rear view mirrors.

Frank

But.....they don't match !!! Would Bernie approve ?

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by Option1
More like a bananakhana special.

I'm still trying to figure out if the nose is made out of cardboard and duct tape or if it really is sheet metal cut with tinsnips and duct tape. Obviously, I'm only sure about the duct tape.

Neil

The nose is made out of bent metal, probably aluminum, as is the hood.
It is interesting and refreshing that a few free spirits still roam an earth being swalled by people who think others must think, act, and be as they are.

It is a fine automobile in this day of same ****, same pile.
Bob

[Option1]

True Bob, true.

Neil

[brucemoxon]

Originally posted by plannerpower
Perhaps it's not a Formula Vee at all; it could have been a motorkhana special.

There were a few such specials in the heyday of motorkhanas.

Hmm - excellent point. Certainly worth asking a few questions in that area.

And motorkhanas are still going - fields are small because nobody knows about them or something.


BM

[plannerpower]

Someone may be able to put you in touch with Warren Tite; a dedicated motorkhana expert from "back-when", he may know something.

He dusts-off his Tahmoor Special on occasion for GEAR days, I believe.

[Bruce R Moxon]

Originally posted by plannerpower
Someone may be able to put you in touch with Warren Tite; a dedicated motorkhana expert from "back-when", he may know something.

He dusts-off his Tahmoor Special on occasion for GEAR days, I believe.

I know Warren. That's a good idea.

I've sent the photo to Andrew Collier and he's sent it to Wayne Griffiths.

You never know. That's a good lead, thanks.



Bruce Moxon

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by macoran


But.....they don't match !!! Would Bernie approve ?

So long as the mirrors were the correct period then yes. Mind you he might not approve of the rest of the car!

[chequer57]

Gee this must be close to ugliest too

http://cgi.ebay.com....em=320671913482

Edited by chequer57, 17 March 2011 - 04:15.

[Ray Bell]

The starting price is right...

As long as he delivers it, of course.

[seldo]

Bruce Moxon remember this quote?

Oops. Forgot another Formula Vee.

Anyone else remember the Porter? So bad only one ever made it to a race track, and it was sent home by the scrutineers. A total of six were sold.

The chassis jig was a pair of saw horses. The body mould was a hole in Jack Porter's backyard lined with concrete. The fibreglass bodies actually had indentations from the bits of blue metal in the concrete. The steering wheel was oxy-cut from a piece of steel plate, then trimmed with split garden hose.

Apart from that, it was terrible.

I actually drove it (Porter) at Amaroo private practise. John Porter wanted me to be his "works" driver but after 1 lap I politely declined and backed away, grateful to have escaped with my life....
And I have to say - for me to have declined the offer of an "arrive and drive" arrangement took a lot of strength....but just shows how strong our self-preservation instincts really are...

Edited by seldo, 17 March 2011 - 04:22.

[E1pix]

The starting price is right...

As long as he delivers it, of course.

You guys are overlooking many, many great things about this machine.

I will list the Top 10 below for your education:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

[GMACKIE]

Anyone (Ray?) have any idea what this car is?

The owner bought it without a log book. Damon Beck says it's too neat to be a Porter (dear God!)







And if anyone feels like be a smarty, I mean the white and green car in front, not Terry Freckleton's immacculate Nota.



Bruce Moxon

The expression on Terry's face [even though you can't see it all], pretty well says it all! Even Mr Medley looks concerned about something?

[Marc Sproule]

Thanks to all of the posters above.

I haven't laughed that hard in some time.

Outstanding thread!!!!!

[eldougo]

[quote name='Bruce R Moxon' date='Mar 4 2008, 19:55' post='3030747']

Gronky .... Looking towards the Clerk of Course ????? Is this thing allowed out or is it April fools day .....And No83 saying Oooooo Please don,t take a photo with me in the back ground.

Edited by eldougo, 17 March 2011 - 05:24.

[Terry Walker]

Note the engineering elegance of the finishing strip around the nose, highlighted by finest quality duct tape.

[Levin68]

Well, he's had a chance to enjoy many more competitive laps around race circuits than I have. Regularities are perfect for 'run what ya brung'. If he's a decent driver he can beat anyone, even in something as apparently crude as this. Perfect plan for racing on a tiny budget it seems to me.

[Amphicar]

I think I recall a Luigi Colani desgned Formula Vee that looked really odd and ugly. Not really a surprise - Colani also designed the Eifelland F1.

[Amphicar]

I think I recall a Luigi Colani desgned Formula Vee that looked really odd and ugly. Not really a surprise - Colani also designed the Eifelland F1.

Yes - this is it - previously posted on the "ugly non-F1 open-wheelers" thread by Milan Fistonic



Did this horror ever race? If so with what results?

[stevewf1]

Looks like one of the mirrors was found lying around in his garage, while the other came from his neighbor's garage. Or perhaps his wife is looking for her make-up mirror... I'd feel a little better if the driver had done up his belts a little better - if that was possible...

Bet he didn't spend much money on this.

[Lee Nicolle]

That is not a Vee. it is a motorkhana/autocross special. That is almost certainly at a sprint. I can remember uglier ones than that with strong 1600s that were a good bit faster around mallala than any Vee on street tyres. And faster up Collingroe too. Butt ugly yes, very practical yes. Can be used in any form of club motorsport and usually are.

[Chezrome]

That is not a Vee. it is a motorkhana/autocross special. That is almost certainly at a sprint. I can remember uglier ones than that with strong 1600s that were a good bit faster around mallala than any Vee on street tyres. And faster up Collingroe too. Butt ugly yes, very practical yes. Can be used in any form of club motorsport and usually are.

The fun thing would be to get a really good driver in the car... and then let him smash the competition!

[Bloggsworth]

This is a man after my own heart, who metaphorically shaves in the morning and never looks in the mirror again till the following day, not concerned by appearance only by function.

[GMACKIE]

Appearance isn't everything. Enno Buesselmann's Trips Vee was a good example - when I first saw that car, I thought "That can't be all that quick, it's too rough-looking".

Big mistake! In the hands of Enno [one of the best Vee drivers around,IMO], that car was right up there with the best. And what a great sport he was too - he loaned me a pair of rear tyres [for what turned out to be my last Vee race] one day at Warwick Farm. After coming in 2nd behind Berni, I had to beg forgiveness from Enno, who came in 3rd. He just congratulated me! A true Gentleman.

[brucemoxon]

Gee this must be close to ugliest too

http://cgi.ebay.com....em=320671913482

'Been in weather.'

Mm-hmm. And a fair bit of salt water too, maybe?


Did it ever have a roll bar?


Mind you, probably worth the $60 it's at now for a pick at the parts.




Bruce Moxon