In the latest 'Rear View Mirror' column on Atlas (excellent as always), Don Capps presents a background to the 1966 to 68 Grand Prix seasons. In it mention is made of the Sadler that ran in the 1960 Formula Libre GP at Watkins Glen.
Can anybody here provide some information on this car? The only details I have on this car are from Doug Nye's "Autocourse History of the Grand Prix Car 1945 to 1965". Is the description of the car and events in Nyes book accurate enough, or is there more to the story!
Regards,
Kirk.
The Sadler
Started by
KzKiwi
, Jan 27 2001 21:01
7 replies to this topic
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#2
jarama
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Posted 27 January 2001 - 23:23
Kz,
"A front engined Formula Junior car built at St.Catherine's, Ontario in 1959 - a Canadian single-seater is a rarity. It had a simple multi-tubular chassis with a BMC A Series engine mounted at an angle to the fore-and-aft line, so that the transmission passed alongside the driver. There was a live rear axle, but the coil spring/damper units of the suspension were neatly tucked in the bodywork of the high Elva-like tail."
Extracted from "A-Z of Formula Racing Cars", by David Hodges, Guild Publishing.
"A front engined Formula Junior car built at St.Catherine's, Ontario in 1959 - a Canadian single-seater is a rarity. It had a simple multi-tubular chassis with a BMC A Series engine mounted at an angle to the fore-and-aft line, so that the transmission passed alongside the driver. There was a live rear axle, but the coil spring/damper units of the suspension were neatly tucked in the bodywork of the high Elva-like tail."
Extracted from "A-Z of Formula Racing Cars", by David Hodges, Guild Publishing.
#3
GT Action Photo
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Posted 27 January 2001 - 23:45
Bill Sadler, of Ontario, Canada, was one of the first
independent constructors on the North American Continent
to build and race a refined sportsracer around the
Chevrolet V-8 Engine and a four - speed transmission, as
early as 1956.
Bill Sadler built some amazing race cars, which were continually more advanced than Jim Hall's or Roger Penske's and perhaps even Chevrolet's research vehicles from
Frank Winchell's R&D Department and Duntov's CERV Cars.
The Sadler sportsracers had reliability problems because
of their advanced innovations like the homebuilt two-speed
trans axle,based on a Halibrand quick-change center section,
with an extended case holding the slider forks and reverse
gear eccentric.
With kind regards,
Gary Trobaugh
independent constructors on the North American Continent
to build and race a refined sportsracer around the
Chevrolet V-8 Engine and a four - speed transmission, as
early as 1956.
Bill Sadler built some amazing race cars, which were continually more advanced than Jim Hall's or Roger Penske's and perhaps even Chevrolet's research vehicles from
Frank Winchell's R&D Department and Duntov's CERV Cars.
The Sadler sportsracers had reliability problems because
of their advanced innovations like the homebuilt two-speed
trans axle,based on a Halibrand quick-change center section,
with an extended case holding the slider forks and reverse
gear eccentric.
With kind regards,
Gary Trobaugh
#4
Felix Muelas
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Posted 28 January 2001 - 14:29
What´s one of these threads without images?
;)
Felix Muelas
;)
Felix Muelas
#5
Roger Clark
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Posted 28 January 2001 - 17:46
THere were, I think, two Sadlers in the October formula Libre race at Watkins Glen.
The first was known as the Gorries Sadler Corvette. It was entered by David Greenblatt and driven by Bill Salder. He stopped on the 12th lap with a broken brake line. It was repaired and Greenblatt took the car back into the race on the 70th lap.
THe other car was described as Sadler's new formula Libre car. It was driven by Peter Ryan. Autospport:
"Built in three weeks and finished only houts before the race, this car stole the show for mechanical interest.
"THe product of Canada's top constructor is powered by a Chevrolet engine mounted in the rear driving a Halibrand quick-change centre sectiooon through hydraulically actuated clutch and no gearbox.
"It has independent suspension and disc brakes all roundwith the rear brakes mounted inboard.
"Stirling Moss took a turn at driving the car on practice day and although he said he prefers an oversteering car (the Sadler car understeers due to the husky anti-roll bar up front) he found that it handled better than hiLotus on the rough section of the course.
"Despite the engine's tremendous torque, the car proved to be slow coming out of the corners and Sadler now plans to install an extra gear to provide the necessary acceleration."
The first was known as the Gorries Sadler Corvette. It was entered by David Greenblatt and driven by Bill Salder. He stopped on the 12th lap with a broken brake line. It was repaired and Greenblatt took the car back into the race on the 70th lap.
THe other car was described as Sadler's new formula Libre car. It was driven by Peter Ryan. Autospport:
"Built in three weeks and finished only houts before the race, this car stole the show for mechanical interest.
"THe product of Canada's top constructor is powered by a Chevrolet engine mounted in the rear driving a Halibrand quick-change centre sectiooon through hydraulically actuated clutch and no gearbox.
"It has independent suspension and disc brakes all roundwith the rear brakes mounted inboard.
"Stirling Moss took a turn at driving the car on practice day and although he said he prefers an oversteering car (the Sadler car understeers due to the husky anti-roll bar up front) he found that it handled better than hiLotus on the rough section of the course.
"Despite the engine's tremendous torque, the car proved to be slow coming out of the corners and Sadler now plans to install an extra gear to provide the necessary acceleration."
#6
Ian McKean
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Posted 29 January 2001 - 20:16
I saw a special at Prescott in the 1950's probabbly 1956 or 7 which I think was called a Sadler Special. It was a V8 sports racing car, I thought it came from the US, but could easily have been Canada.
I visualise it as being blue, but my memory may be playing tricks. It definitely had an extraordinarily short wheelbase. About 6 foot, I would guess. It had the look of a home-built car rather than a proper racing car constructor's job, but everyone has to start somewhere, so this is not meant as a criticism.
Can anyone confirm if it was the same Sadler?
I visualise it as being blue, but my memory may be playing tricks. It definitely had an extraordinarily short wheelbase. About 6 foot, I would guess. It had the look of a home-built car rather than a proper racing car constructor's job, but everyone has to start somewhere, so this is not meant as a criticism.
Can anyone confirm if it was the same Sadler?
#7
David McKinney
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Posted 29 January 2001 - 20:37
Bill Sadler spent a year in the UK with one of his Chevy-powered sportscars around 1956/58. I seem to rememeber he did well at the Brighton Speed Trials with it
#8
GT Action Photo
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Posted 29 January 2001 - 23:46
Bill Sadler did spend a year in England working for
John Tojeiro,and Bill picked up a good education in suspension design and made suspensions that were easily
adjustable to experiment with toe-change and camber-
change curves.
The last race cars Bill Sadler built were two (2) Mk.Vs
and then he went to work for Westinghouse.
With kind regards,
Gary Trobaugh
John Tojeiro,and Bill picked up a good education in suspension design and made suspensions that were easily
adjustable to experiment with toe-change and camber-
change curves.
The last race cars Bill Sadler built were two (2) Mk.Vs
and then he went to work for Westinghouse.
With kind regards,
Gary Trobaugh
