2019 Phillip Island Classic - March 8 -10

Be still, my beating heart.

Ref: Bollyblog

Thanks Stephen .  Those dawn shots of yours are certain keepers!
 
Some more:

and the crowds parted ...


Mazda's Cosmo rotary, with some Italian thing in the background (it couldn't be worth much, the keys had been left in the ignition!)


Another Mini Cooper, but not an 'S' (twin tanks, sliding windows, long gear lever - 1100?)


Yes Virginia, it is a 351

The red Fiat thing is common in comparison to that brap brap thing.

And the yellow Chev is worth more than anything else in this series of shots,

The poor old Clevo needs some cold air. It would be horrendously hot back there. And they are a big lump of iron.The car was fairly quick between off road excusions!

And probably a bit breathless sharing with that fag packet in front!

Ooops  sorry Lynton for that misattribution!!
 

If indeed it's still running the 997 then very rare indeed, as so many have been re-engined. Coopers were all single tank and sliding window doors, prior to Oz Cooper S production. I realise it's a personal thing, but just wish they didn't put (possibly) reproduction Newton Commercial UK style trim in an Australian Cooper though.
 
 
Stephen

Stephen, that car was definitely twin tank, at least it had twin fillers so I assume there was a tank on both sides. Are you saying that this car (if original) was produced concurrently with the 1275 'S'? Answering my own question, if that was so, it would surely have wind-up windows .  I saw no information on the car, so can't speak for the engine, I was relying on the absence of the 'S' badge to distinguish it from that car.  Perhaps it is some hybrid Mini/Cooper/Cooper S?

Is there any Mini that is what it should be?  Most seem to be  modded over the decades.

If nothing else rusted or crashed CooperS  transplanted into an 850 shell.

There is / was a Cooper S van around in Adelaide. An all blue one.

And more CooperS around now that what were made! A bit like Falcon GTs and XU1s.

Ed, The BRG Cooper S beside your earlier, blue Milano shot is definitely an Aussie twin tank Cooper S. But the Osmond & Saxon Green Morris Cooper, isn't showing the neck of a RH tank (and at the angle of your photo, it would be visible if it did). Plenty of non-Cooper S have had them fitted, but not originally built that way.

BMC Australia at Zetland, Sydney started building Completely Knocked Down (CKD) Morris Coopers from the UK, in final quarter of 1962. As things changed with the kits in the UK, they were applied to the Aussie cars too. An example going from 997cc to 998cc engines. But there was progressive changes due to more Australian content being sanctioned by the Australian Government's Plan A that the then Aussie car makers were trying to contend with. Hence when you study these cars in fine detail the changes are huge.

In Australia, Cooper and Cooper S were never built concurrently. The sliding window Cooper was phased out before windup window Cooper S was introduced into Australian production in the 3rd quarter of 1965. I've seen many windup windows fitted to sliding window shells over the years, but the door jamb and striker plate areas are different on each of them in originally built form.

As that Morris Cooper sits in your photo (despite the obvious mods), with full valance front panel, stainless steel mouldings around the sliding door frame (Morris 850 didn;t get the mouldings) and colour scheme, it fits the 1962/63 Australian production period. Of course that doesn't make the full picture of a genuine Morris Cooper shell (and I'm not provoking that this car isn't).

Of course, all that gets thrown out the window if you bring fully UK-built production into the equation. Because all Minis built there were on a ration of sliding window doors for the first 10 years of production. Plus will complicate things even further.

Stephen

This is getting way off the main reason for this PI thread...

However, in relation to Lee's comment, I say no there isn't more Cooper / Cooper S about than originally built. But you must do your homework before forking out wads of dollars for one to be convinced it's genuine. Aussie Cooper / Cooper S are now spread around the world and yes they, like Falcon GT's and any other performance car have been faked for various reasons, including those that couldn't afford one and slowly modified another base Mini. Then there's those, that do rebirth a car and onsell to someone without full disclosure. So a potential buyer not having done their homework can easily be burnt. That's fraud

Stephen.

Ive been around Mini`s my whole life, I dont like over restored Mini`s (although I appreciate the work that goes into them,)... a Mini has to smell like a Mini, not like vinyl and paint. 

There was a genuine barn find Cooper S at Mini fest here a few years ago. Literally pulled out of a garage after decades of storage. It had the mechanical`s repaired but the body work and interior left alone, and it is incredible. I could smell it 20 meters away. It smelt like a Mini, and is a genuine time capsule.  (not my photo, but public on facebook). 

Edited by stuartbrs, 22 March 2019 - 07:52.

This is getting way off the main reason for this PI thread...

 

However, in relation to Lee's comment, I say no there isn't more Cooper / Cooper S about than originally built. But you must do your homework before forking out wads of dollars for one to be convinced it's genuine. Aussie Cooper / Cooper S are now spread around the world and yes they, like Falcon GT's and any other performance car have been faked for various reasons, including those that couldn't afford one and slowly modified another base Mini. Then there's those, that do rebirth a car and onsell to someone without full disclosure. So a potential buyer not having done their homework can easily be burnt. That's fraud

 

Stephen.

On BMC I will bow to your greater knowledge, but Falcon GTs, GTS 350 and XU1 there is only 2000 left of the original 1500!!

And yes plenty of faker shakers etc sold as real ones. As a dealer and enthusiast I have seen oh so many. And seen the ID plates advertised on Ebay and Gumtree etc. And it appears nothing is ever done about it.

Somebody pinched the one from my old Sports Sedan, a genuine LC XU1 so it may well be back on the road!!

When I advertised it for sale I had no end of crooks wanting to buy and restore it!!!! Roof, front half of the rear quarters and some of the floor is all that was left of the original car. 

Thanks Stephen. I would have sworn that I saw two fillers, and that was what created the confusion in my mind - sliding windows Vs twin fillers. But you are right (of course) the RHS one should be visible in the photo, it isn't because it is not there, and hey presto the confusion resolved!!

Edited by GreenMachine, 26 March 2019 - 10:53.

A Twin Cam, in what by today's standards is a very bare engine bay


The blown Torana, with signatures!


Posting photos is a tiring business, I think it is time I went to bed ...

Isn't that a strange exhaust arrangement on the Milano?

Any more pics to make it clearer?

Isn't that a strange exhaust arrangement on the Milano?

 

Any more pics to make it clearer?

6 into 3 into 1(or it might be 2) ............... same as 4 into 2 into 1 on a 4 cylinder ......... isn't it ?????????

Agreed, 4 into1 and 2 into 1.  They are robbing a good deal of power.  So are the open ram tubes when it gets fed a diet of sand and rocks

A pretty car though.

You're right, Erol...

6 into 3 into 1. 1 & 6, 2 & 5, 3 & 4 teaming up. That works out.

It's not sharp exactly where I want it to be sharp, but there's still something about this shot.......

Malcolm Oastler puffing smoke as he heads up to the Hay Shed on Saturday morning, and about to put it away for the rest of the meeting.

This Imp engine was in the back of (I think) a Bolwell - it was parked on the other side of the rope at the Bolwell gathering.

Post 110 Bolwell GT.
Are there any shots of the whole car, please?.
Presumably this was a period mod, so what year would that have been?
It is intriguing that the engine is in the standard position, rather than tilted upwards as was commonplace.
Was that due to period regs for the class, or a simple fitting convenience?
Was/is the engine still 875 or taken out to the usual 998cc, or larger via local mods?.
Info sought for separate period marque research item.
Many thanks
Roger Lund

http://www.imps4ever...ls/bolwell.html

The site also provides further links to more info.

Edited by Wirra, 23 March 2019 - 16:02.

Roger, there was no info (that I saw) about the car, so I cannot provide more details.  On review of my files, the car was in the shed with a collection of Bolwells but poorly placed for photography, then it appeared at the outside display - this is the best of my photos of the whole car.
 

This was the car from the UK that broke r/f suspension heading into Honda on from memory Saturday. I feel a broken stub axle.

John Gillett in the TC Special

Max Pegram in the Gemini

Simon Meyer in the Sprite trying to outbrake Matt McGraith in the Alfa........

OK, next lap then.......

Edited by lyntonh, 25 March 2019 - 08:00.

That was close!

Maybe not next lap either?

Sprite would be half a second a lap faster with the roll bar at a decent height.

That Alfa was pretty and I normally hate black racecars. Suited that one.

Isn't that a strange exhaust arrangement on the Milano?
 
Any more pics to make it clearer?

Agreed, 4 into1 and 2 into 1.  They are robbing a good deal of power.  So are the open ram tubes when it gets fed a diet of sand and rocks
A pretty car though.

Ray, just seen your query.  Lee has it. I presume they merge into a single pipe.

Ray, if you right click on the image, go to properties, copy the address and paste it into your browser window it will take you to a full size image in my gallery which is much clearer, but there are no other photos of the arrangement.  I'd prefer not to paste the link directly.

Ed, I've just noticed a quick fix required for the top photo caption of post 110 (of all your great engine photos), that's the Talbot Darracq engine.

Stephen

Mostly for my own amusement.......

John Mann in the Camaro, Andrew Williams in the Torana, and Ben Wilkinson in the Mustang.

Four different laps in the same race, at Siberia, on the Saturday morning.

Two photos of the same slide..............

Originally posted by GreenMachine
Ray, just seen your query.  Lee has it. I presume they merge into a single pipe.....

"6 into 3 into 1, here's the photo slightly enlarged:" - it certainly works.  Bloody quick car.

6 into 3 int 1 ... the primary pair have 360 deg separation of pulses and the secondary pipe pulses are at 120 deg.

A few different ways and even then the power and torque characteristics required make yet more variations. And then different 'fads'  can do even more. On V8s for instance with 'pan warmers' with primary pipes going under or over the engine. Very popular twenty years ago. 

And most of us are stuck with off the shelf or what actually fits in your car.

And what is excellent on the towcar are useless on the racecar and vice versa.

I have dabbled a couple of times with exhaust from the headers on the dyno. Holden 6 speedway engine with 2x2" into 1 2.5" V 2x2" pipes. The first gave best power but the other gave a far better spread of power. Which you need to make it come off corners.

 On the 351 Ford interference fit 1 5/8 primarys into 3" collector and 3" pipes. Good low end but kills the top. V 'tuned length' 1 3/4 primary pipes into again 3" collectors. With 3" [the same] pipes. Better from about 4000 up. I also tried with the balance pipe behind the gearbox and it made very little difference. But did take a little of the 'crack' off the exhaust note.

A friend with a very healthy street GT Falcon had some side pipes like the GpC cars [and even now Supercars] generally used and actually lost power over the full 3" out the back exhaust. Same dyno same operator.

He had intended to Supersprint it but I think got scared. It does have 500 rwhp. 

Mostly for my own amusement.......

 

John Mann in the Camaro, Andrew Williams in the Torana, and Ben Wilkinson in the Mustang.

 

Four different laps in the same race, at Siberia, on the Saturday morning.

 

 

Andy eventually got through, hard work in the Torana that is about 200hp ,,,edit probably closer to 300,,,short of the Chev. I think the Mustang got through as well. Excellent dice.

Checkout the roll on the front tyres on the Chev, almost down to the Hoosier white letters. The rear are a bit better but also about 2" taller. They are a bias belt tyre. Made for historics primarily. I guess a period tyre as they defenitly are not modern!!

The radials on the Torana are a lot better and lot narrower as well. Though evidently that brand are good for one meeting!

After that John sort of went backwards in later races.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 28 March 2019 - 00:35.

To help with future reference just posting the link to speedy27's huge file of 1335 PI Classic photos on flickr. Well worth a look if you've a got some spare time.

https://www.flickr.c...157704235164102

If others know of flickr or facebook acounts with PI photos then please add the link.

Stephen

For Cooper997. VIn car vdeo of the sports cars from more or less back of the field - mainly Sports 2000 down our end but some big stuff up the front.  Please excuse the spelling and other mistakes in the captions.  Must have been pretty late at night when I edited it!  Also it is race 2 not race 1! 

https://www.youtube....h?v=fKu36XgBjXc

Those Sports 2000s are fairly slow. At least 10 year newer, midengined  2 litre yet only playing with a 1300 clubbie.

Which is faster through the corners and under brakes.

And Benda has not raced for so long he is back on P plates.

As would I if and when I ever race again.

Those Sports 2000s are fairly slow. At least 10 year newer, midengined  2 litre yet only playing with a 1300 clubbie.

Which is faster through the corners and under brakes.

 

And Benda has not raced for so long he is back on P plates.

As would I if and when I ever race again.

Similar horse power (they have a controlled engine like FF, I understand that cams were checked this meeting too).  More Torque of course.  Narrow tyres, heavier too but much better aero (they have aero, clubbies have negative aero or something..).  Good fun,  Closer around Mallala and Winton (I hope). 

Clubmans are just too good for them...

Simple cars, easy to sort by part time drivers, light and with just the right amount of rubber.

The Sports 2000s have the Pinto engine, don't they, and are restricted to original carby and stuff, right?

Pinto? This is Oz. 2 litre Cortina/ Escort engine.

Good stuff Bob, keeping the Sports 2000s honest, Thanks for adding the link.

Stephen

Like the ex race, one owner Bolwell Mk7 posted earlier in this thread, here's a couple of Friday morning 'earlier starter' Nagaris' for the weekend's Bolwell gathering of the flock.

Stephen

Originally posted by Lee Nicolle
Pinto? This is Oz. 2 litre Cortina/ Escort engine.