Jump to content


Photo

Classic Supermodifieds/ Sprintcars. Mt Gamber 11/12 3 16


  • Please log in to reply
7 replies to this topic

#1 Lee Nicolle

Lee Nicolle
  • Member

  • 11,038 posts
  • Joined: July 08

Posted 13 March 2016 - 04:40

I ran in the spirited demonstration of Classic Super Modifieds at  Borderline Speedway Mt Gambier this weekend.

 

These classic cars had a lot more character than the modern stuff as all were home built generally using wrecking yard parts. Parts that were common in that period were Austin A90/ Morris J van diffs, Morris Minor torsion bars, Mk 2 Zephyr radiators and transverse front leaf springs from a variety of road cars. And some of the drivers drove and or owned in the day too. Some cars are replicas as the originals have been lost.

Most cars are using modern suspension arms, shocks and ofcourse modern tyres as the tracks are a lot rougher and hookier these days.

 

We were supported :p by the Australian 360 Sprintcar Championship which was won and only just by South Aussie Luke Dillon in the WA 53 car from Mathew Read and Cameron Gessner third. Other supports were on Fri night standard sedans and on Saturday night late model 'sedans' That feature was won by ?  And featured? Paul Stubber of GpN and March Indy car fame in historics. Who was very hard on the gas and crashed a lot!  Though that describes the category as the cars are very power full and very large on a small track.

 

This is some pics of the  classic cars that were running. dont mind the pics, taken in the dark while a track grade was happening. Track curator Bill Barrows felt sorry for us!  So our last run was on a nice smooth track.

Super Mods first, the classic Sprinters ran in seperate heats.


Edited by Lee Nicolle, 13 March 2016 - 05:09.


Advertisement

#2 Lee Nicolle

Lee Nicolle
  • Member

  • 11,038 posts
  • Joined: July 08

Posted 13 March 2016 - 04:56

b

The 10 car is Kevin McCallum who was a long time Sprintcar competitor. 302 Ford Cleveland.

 

9, is the Brett Sommerville, NT wingless racer driven car, 318 Valiant power. This is a later Supermod that has had a LOT of upgrades from the 70s when originally built as a lot of these cars did.

 

SA21 is my own car. The ex Garry Williams 75 76 Holden 6 powered car.

Austin diff, Morry torsion bars and 95E Anglia front spring. And yes it did run composite wheels in the day. This car is very original to the period as it was never very modified. Last raced 82 and hopelessly out of date.

I struggled with some original components,,, brakes are FJ Holden front brakes adapted to the Austin diff. I had to replace a wheel cylinder Saturday as the original was leaking. This after buying a resleeved one during the preceeding week.Grrr

 

NT13, driven by Mr Catford, another ex NT car with  350Chev power. Again Austin diff and Morris bars

010.jpg008.jpg012.jpg013.jpg


Edited by Lee Nicolle, 13 March 2016 - 12:35.


#3 Lee Nicolle

Lee Nicolle
  • Member

  • 11,038 posts
  • Joined: July 08

Posted 13 March 2016 - 05:53

c

V13 ex Graeme McCubbin slant 6 Valiant powered car. If my memory is right this was originally from Phil Hereen here in SA and was known as the Violent Valiant sponsored by Clem Smoith Motors then a Chrysler dealer, there was a similar car the Vicous Valiant driven by Richie Summers, this late 60s.

 

S42, a car that was very succesfull in its day.73-78. Injected 360 Mopar with W2 heads and 3" quick change. It was driven by Bob Aylesbury and the owner and current driver Dave Germein. This car was succesfull on both dirt and the AIR bitumen bowl.

 

S97, another very succesfull car. A Zeke Agars built car for Peter Denton in the late 60s, This car won one version of the Aussie title in 70. Dodge DA body. 327 Chev originally with quad sidedraft Webers which just would not cop the modern rutty tracks. Uses a Holley now. Homemade [heavy] quick change diff based  [as they all were] on a Ford V8 diff. Peter restored this car [after being found in the Tennant creek dump] and drove it for a decade or so as a classic.

This car went to Doug Sunstrom and was driven by [among others] US import Garry Patterson.

Now owned and driven by Shane McConnell. 

 

S49, one owner! Built by Glen Catford late 60s and resurected a dozen years ago by Glen. 272 Ford motor and gearbox and Austin diff. And very quick still.

In the background is Glen Catford [blue suit] and Peter Denton [white cap]

 

 

 

011.jpg016.jpg014.jpg015.jpg


Edited by Lee Nicolle, 13 March 2016 - 06:03.


#4 Lee Nicolle

Lee Nicolle
  • Member

  • 11,038 posts
  • Joined: July 08

Posted 13 March 2016 - 05:56

a

SA30 This car is a replica but the owner is original!  Front axle is the original spare! And he still has the original towcar!

Mal Sommerville, 313 Chrysler with triple 97s, a early Halibrand quick change and Morry bars yet again.

 

SA18. The ex David Vears 350 Chev powered car. This uses J Van diff and Morry bars set up in cross bar form.

Current owner Mark Blyfield who is a regular GpN XU1 competitor.

 

SA1. another replica, built and driven by Rob Vella this the Phil Herreen Valiant V8  with SIX Stromberg 97s powered car from about 71. This was built with assistance of Phil and his then crew. Again Morry bars supporting a quick change.

018.jpg017.jpg019.jpg


Edited by Lee Nicolle, 13 March 2016 - 06:18.


#5 Lee Nicolle

Lee Nicolle
  • Member

  • 11,038 posts
  • Joined: July 08

Posted 13 March 2016 - 05:59

009.jpg021.jpg020.jpg023.jpgm

Sprintcars. These are all late 70s early 80s low bar cars. Cut off is 1984.

I know less about these cars.

 

 V22.  Graeme Pitcher,  Chev, 4 bar, quick change

 

V16, ex Nipper Lacey OTR chassis.  4 bar. Injected 350 Chev and quick change. driven by Dillon Catford.

 

S88 This is probably late 70s and was owned but never raced by Bill Wigzell. Chev, quick change.  I believe this was around 79 or 80. Owned/ driven by Chris Brown.

 

T2. Ex Tim Moncrieff from Tassy. This is transverse front cross bar  rear  chassis with injected Chev and quick change.. I think this was originally raced as a Modified Sprint Car and was very good car in that crossover period.

Driven by Jim Duggan.


Edited by Lee Nicolle, 13 March 2016 - 06:32.


#6 E1pix

E1pix
  • Member

  • 23,429 posts
  • Joined: January 11

Posted 13 March 2016 - 06:22

Very nice, Lee, thanks for posting this!

#7 Dipster

Dipster
  • Member

  • 572 posts
  • Joined: April 10

Posted 13 March 2016 - 07:32

I very much enjoyed looking at these pics and reading your descriptions of the cars. Thanks for taking the time to get the pics whilst probably busy! 



#8 Lee Nicolle

Lee Nicolle
  • Member

  • 11,038 posts
  • Joined: July 08

Posted 13 August 2016 - 04:27

I have found 4 clips on You Tube for this event. Done by JR Productions &Media.  Search You Tube  for' Classic Supermodifieds Borderline Speedway'  and you will find it. Ditto for the Classic Sprintcars.

A nostalgia buzz for those that followed speedway in the day.