Any info on the Bruce Collier built R8G with a Supercharged motor used in the the NSW Rallycross series at Catalina?
Bruce Collier Supercharged Renault 8 Gordini
Started by
Fred.R
, Aug 18 2018 10:28
7 replies to this topic
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#2
Ray Bell
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Posted 18 August 2018 - 10:35
Was it supercharged?
His non-supercharged engine had Repco SR454 pistons, the head wasn't fully worked out to hemispherical chambers, merely relieving around the inlet valve into the squish area, I think standard valves but with much reduction in materials, it had a windage tray and if I recall it was an A6 cam.
Naturally it had two 45mm DCOE Webers, and the head was actually from a 16TS.
His non-supercharged engine had Repco SR454 pistons, the head wasn't fully worked out to hemispherical chambers, merely relieving around the inlet valve into the squish area, I think standard valves but with much reduction in materials, it had a windage tray and if I recall it was an A6 cam.
Naturally it had two 45mm DCOE Webers, and the head was actually from a 16TS.
#3
Ian G
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Posted 18 August 2018 - 23:43
The specialist Forums would be your best bet.I met Bruce a couple of times in the early 1970's when i had the Rally Bug,i noticed one of his cars(replica?) for sale a few years back.
http://www.aussiefro...8-gordinis.html
Edited by Ian G, 18 August 2018 - 23:45.
#4
Lee Nicolle
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Posted 19 August 2018 - 01:17
Was it supercharged?
His non-supercharged engine had Repco SR454 pistons, the head wasn't fully worked out to hemispherical chambers, merely relieving around the inlet valve into the squish area, I think standard valves but with much reduction in materials, it had a windage tray and if I recall it was an A6 cam.
Naturally it had two 45mm DCOE Webers, and the head was actually from a 16TS.
It would have been easier to use the 16TS engine then.
As Steve Blee did with his R8 in the late 70s at Tailem Bend Rallycross. A very quick simple and functional car for rallycross.
#5
Ray Bell
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Posted 19 August 2018 - 10:07
Yes, it was undoubtedly a 16TS engine...
But the OP mentioned that it was a Gordini engine. The R12 Gordini engine wasn't far removed from a 16TS engine, just placement of ancillaries, though the mods for use of Alpine pistons meant that the chambers were gouged out to full hemispherical shape and that's where the Repco piston design, though they were clumsy heavy cast pistons, paid off.
But the OP mentioned that it was a Gordini engine. The R12 Gordini engine wasn't far removed from a 16TS engine, just placement of ancillaries, though the mods for use of Alpine pistons meant that the chambers were gouged out to full hemispherical shape and that's where the Repco piston design, though they were clumsy heavy cast pistons, paid off.
#6
Ian G
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Posted 19 August 2018 - 11:15
This excerpt is from a Archived Post on 'Frogs',can't find the original so it may have been edited since.
"
A Bob Watson moment - Aussiefrogswww.aussiefrogs.com/forum/renault-forum/103578-bob-watson-moment.html
Mar 13, 2013 - Bruce Collier used to regularly compete at Catalina during that time in an R8 Gordini as I understand. Legend has it of him rolling .... He had the previous seasons supercharged R12G motor in it and it flew. He didn't quite get ..."
#7
Fred.R
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Posted 20 August 2018 - 08:50
Thanks Ian it was from "Frogs" forum that the suggestion was made that "Bruce Collier built R8G with a Supercharged motor" the suggestion was it may have been a supercharged 16 TS motor in the R8 Gordini, so it may have been a supercharged R12 Gordini engine, thanks for finding that
#8
Ray Bell
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Posted 20 August 2018 - 11:15
It was never supercharged, to my knowledge, and I was a regular visitor to his workshop at that time...
His son, Andrew, posted the last post on that thread:
No mention of supercharging there, and I don't know exactly when he went to a 1.8-litre set of pistons and sleeves. Bruce was pretty determined that the Repco pistons were way better than the Alpine stuff. Maybe that was later in the car's career?
I wonder what Greg Mackie would say about the 'Porsche-powered Veedubs'? I'm not so sure that there were, but that they were very much enlarged VW engines.
Also, Christine Cole's Mini was orange, so I don't understand the 'purple people eater' reference early in the thread. It was entered by Gus Staunton's business, 'Roadsafe', and became a part of BMC's advertising campaign with a slogan like, "Mini - you don't have to prove a thing!"
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His son, Andrew, posted the last post on that thread:
There was definitely an R8 at Catalina Rallycross in the early 70's! I used to drive it back to the paddock area from the dummy grid as a 12 year old kid! What a buzz it was too. Completely gutted, all plastic windows, no muffling, single seat with front mounted radiator pipes running through the inside of the car! The car wasn't an R8G, just a fully strengthened normal R8 body with an 1800cc Alpine engine which is now in our motorkhana special......many mods later! Father Bruce was one of the Division 1 top runners, regularly knocking off the Porsche powered Veedubs.
No mention of supercharging there, and I don't know exactly when he went to a 1.8-litre set of pistons and sleeves. Bruce was pretty determined that the Repco pistons were way better than the Alpine stuff. Maybe that was later in the car's career?
I wonder what Greg Mackie would say about the 'Porsche-powered Veedubs'? I'm not so sure that there were, but that they were very much enlarged VW engines.
Also, Christine Cole's Mini was orange, so I don't understand the 'purple people eater' reference early in the thread. It was entered by Gus Staunton's business, 'Roadsafe', and became a part of BMC's advertising campaign with a slogan like, "Mini - you don't have to prove a thing!"
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Edited by Ray Bell, 22 August 2018 - 12:00.
