Willburn, Gerry wrote:
>
> The MORGAN that finished sixth (almost fourth) in the Porsche race at
> Monterey was the same driver that humbled Stirling Who two years in a
> row. Brian Howlett driving a 1962 Plus 4 in quite stock trim.
>
> The 4/4 that finished WAY back was highly tuned including dual side
> draft webbers.
>
> Gerry
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Stuart Ross [SMTP:stuross@nac.net]
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 1998 6:09 AM
> > To: Armando Picciotto; 'William Zehring'
> > Cc: morgans@Autox.Team.Net
> > Subject: RE: Just for Fun
> >
> > Three summers ago I headed west for all of the auto related events
> > connected with Pebble Beach week. At the Monterey races, I was
> > thrilled to watch a Morgan driver actually beat the great Sterling
> > Moss. I can't remember who the driver was, but he was driving a +4
> > ('cause I too am a Plus 4 owner). So it stands to reason that the +4
> > would be the most likely candidate. I don't know what modifications
> > the rule book allows on cars, but I have seen some very quick 4/4s
> > with Webers and Lotus heads, etc. I wouldn't be totally surprised at
> > the 4/4 being faster than the +4, and again, the drivers in these
> > vintage races have a variety of levels of experience and skill. But,
> > what the heck...if Morgans of any type beat Porsches...we should be a
> > happy group!
> > Stu Ross (63 +4) Three/Four Morgan Group & MOPS
> >
> > ----------
> > From: William Zehring
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 1998 8:19 AM
> > To: Armando Picciotto
> > Cc: morgans@Autox.Team.Net
> > Subject: Re: Just for Fun
> >
> > Armando writes:
> >
> > >I guess I really shouldn't be doing this, but the temptation is too
> > >great. I have a feeling that the list will be very busy shortly.
> > >
> > >I attended the Monterey Historic Races this past weekend and, in the
> > >fourth race on Saturday, there were two Morgans racing against a slew
> > of
> > >Porsches (about 20 of them). One of the Morgans was a +4 and the
> > other
> > >one was a 4/4. One of the Morgans came in sixth, leaving
> > approximately
> > >15 Porsches in the dust. The other Morgan ended quite far back in
> > the
> > >pack, although the driver's gallant effort and performance was
> > applauded
> > >by all. Anyone care to guess as to which Morgan placed 6th?
> >
> >
> > What I am about to say will not likely shock many of the veterans of
> > this
> > list. ;-)
> >
> > While I smile at Armando's subtly worded message (and just a tinge of
> > sadism, too!), I am quite confident in suggesting that the 4/4 placed
> > 6th
> > in the race. My reasons for this hinge on the glorious racing
> > herritage
> > that the ford pushrod four has, and the probable superior handling of
> > a
> > lighter engined car. After 25+ years of racing in formula ford, and
> > in
> > marques and venues (Morgan, Lotus, just to name two) its important to
> > keep
> > in mind that there are oodles of 'go fast' bits for the ford engine
> > and
> > that there are oodles of ford engines (so if you go really fast, and
> > throw
> > a rod or something you don't really have to worry). The kent engine,
> > in
> > race trim, can belt out an astonishing number of horses, for its
> > diminutive
> > displacement. All of this is what a racer wants in his/her engine;
> > the
> > ability to pump it up and the confidence that he/she will race again
> > in the
> > event of a major failure.
> >
> > Permit me to quote from Peter Egan's column, in the September, 1998
> > issue
> > of Road and Track:
> > "I don't have a racing car this year. I'm taking the summer off
> > to do
> > "other things." Which is a code phrase that lazy or unemployed
> > musicians
> > and race drivers use when they mean "absolutely nothing worth
> > mentioning."
> > But when I get another car--and I will--it will probably have a
> > 4-cylinder
> > Ford engine in the back, open wheels, a Hewland gearbox and a
> > reclining
> > seat, without enough room in the footwell.
> > If its an older one whose paint scheme and shape make me think
> > of Jim
> > Clark, or Jack Brabham, that might be okay too."
> >
> >
> > Okay, so the engine isn't in the back in a 4/4, and the wheels are not
> > open, and in point of fact there seems, at least for me, to be plenty
> > of
> > room in the footwell of me mog, Egan's list begins with the mill; the
> > glorious Ford Kent engine. That's why I always say... the 4/4 is the
> > THINKING man's Morgan!
> >
> > Now I guess I have to wait and hear from OMB, etc, and then, finally,
> > from
> > Armando.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Will Zehring
> >
> > p.s. if the 4/4 was the slower car, well... it had to be driver error!
> >
> >
> >The dark spectre of sabotage must have been at work here......;-)
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