<VV> Fiberglass race cars

[Mel Francis]

Thanks James, just one correction, in that the GT3 we have, does not have a 
LM Corvair
center section, just the roof panel itself, mounted on top of a full 
spaceframe.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mel_francis/6609421841/in/photostream
click on the photo for full size

Hey, Happy New Year to all VV'ing this eve...

Mel Francis
Oconomowoc, WI


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James P. Rice" <ricebugg at mtco.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2011 4:32 PM
Subject: <VV> Fiberglass race cars


> Joe:  Not that I know about.  See Jan 2004 Communique for everything I 
> know
> about Corvair powered sporsracers.
>
> Problem would be where to race them back in the day...or even today.  They
> would classified as a sports racer and run against obsolete Can-Am cars
> then, which were available if you wanted them.  The frontal area/aero of a
> Corvair is also a issue given the small engine size.  Which reminds me,
> obsolete Trans-Am cars were becoming available with the same frontal area
> and 3 times the horse power back then also.
>
> Autocrossing was in it's infancy back then.  Track days hadn't been 
> invented
> yet.  Given the lack of a place to run them, and lack of competitiveness 
> if
> you tried, nobody built a fiberglass bodied tube frame Corvair, aka: a
> Corvair funnycar for roadracing.  So far as I know.  There wasn't anyplace
> to race such a critter if you built one, and better car choices if you
> wanted to go fast.
>
> Warren's car is built up on a EM floor pan per the SCCA rules at the time,
> with a tube frame doing most of the work.  The body is mostly f'glass he
> made or adapted to fit the short wheel base.
>
> The car Mel refers to is a SCCA GT3 car, meaning a steel LM Corvair center
> section with cage and tube frames extending front and rear from it.
> Suspension design is free.  There are several such GT3 cars within the
> Corvair community.  The Mel's did run at Sebring in a SCCA race or two, 
> but
> not the 12 hr.
>
> But I've had the same thought/idea about a Corvair funny car body on some
> tube frame creation, and said nope.  Beyond my bankbook on several levels,
> use of my time and probably skill sets.  If I was to go off the deep end,
> I'd get a Opal GT and figure out how to stuff a Corvair suspension and 
> drive
> train into it.  But that aintagonahappen either!
>
> And it would not be as good as the Monza GT recreation Mel is working on 
> to
> go with the Monza SS he's done.  Sounds like a session for the Mar 23-24 
> PCG
> Performance Workshop just announced in the Jan/Feb Communique.
>
> Historically Yours,
>                   James Rice
>                   CORSA member since mid-70's
>                   Former Chairman of the Competition Committee
>                   Member of original CPF Advisorary Committee
>                   CORSA/CPF BoD member and CPF Liaison 1999-01
>                   Occasional contributor to the Communique
>
> *******************************
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:33:35 -0500 (EST)
> From: Joe White <jwcorvair at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: <VV> Corvair drag racing of old !
> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>
> Has anyone ever used a fiber glass funny car shell on a tube frame road
> racer?
>
> Joe White (62 four door, 66 PorVair)
> CORSA, RMC
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:46:17 -0600
> From: "tim mahler" <flat6vair2 at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: <VV> Corvair drag racing of old !
> To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>
> Describes Warren LeVeque's red early roadster that has been at several 
> past
> conventions including 2011 Denver.  Rides on a 95 inch wheel base. I think
> Warren ran it at Roebling Road in 2009.
>
> not sure if any late model versions have been made.
>
> tim mahler
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:12:25 -0600
> From: "Mel Francis" <mfrancis at wi.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: <VV> Corvair drag racing of old !
> To: "Joe White" <jwcorvair at aol.com>
> Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>
> Most GT3 cars were steel bodied, but this one is a tube-frame Corvair road
> racer, raced back in the '90s at Sebring, FL.
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/mel_francis/6523938521/in/photostream
>
> Mel Francis
> Oconomowoc, WI
>
>
>
>
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