Larry, Bob, Andy, et al
Interesting little thread you started Larry. I cross posted to the vintage race
list but no-one
there has come across the vehicle mentioned - consensus appears to be that it
is a poseur (no
negative connotations intened - had I the wherewithal I'd do the same) - the
stickers were
available to the general public and there doesn't appear to be records or
recollections of the
car running at Le Mans in '69 (it would have to be '69 as the '68 race was in
September).
If it was a Plus (Mk2 - whatever), it whould of course have had the rotoflex
rear suspension - I
missed that one. Altho' on a pool table like Le Mans Bob's right, the swing
axle probably could
be made to get around pretty well (truck springs and lots of negative camber).
The chapman strut
rear end Andy mentioned was set up on the ill fated GT6R that never made it to
Le Mans. The
factory rally team Spitfires, sister cars to the Le Mans Spits, ended up in the
hands of various
privateers (most of whom had factory connections of one sort or another) and
raced succesfully
with all manner of mods such as this done on/to them.
As far as a GT6 having a go at Le Mans, unfortunately by 69 they were pretty
much obsolete for
that level of competition - the GT6R engine was planned for about 175 peak
horsepower. It would
have been up aganst two litre cars like the Alfa T33 and Porche 907/910/911
which were cranking
out 250 to 275 reliable ponies. Even on index of performance it would have been
up against the
super slippery little Renault Alpines with their sewing machine engines. Still
it would have been
great to have one of our own take a last kick at the can. Who knows - Jagaur
came back after all
those years ... maybe ... (oops - don't want to start up that resurrection
thread again - forget
I said that).
Does anyone know of a sorce for the "Triumphs at Le Mans" tape? Classic Motor
books only lists
the Sebring tape and I would very much like to see the Spits at Sarthe.
Sorry for the ramble - guess I'm just a historic racing junkie at heart.
Scott Mc
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