356 Race Car

[neilbardsley]

Finally after many months of negotiating, dinners and pleading/ begging emails it has arrived, the sister car in the DDK race team.

Thanks must go to John Ruston, Mike Smith, Steve Wright for all of their advice and patience and, of course, to Le Patron G without whose generosity it would not have happened.

A busy filling in race entry form

Sanjay

More information please!! Spec, seller & story. Plus of course more pictures!

[Lightweight_911]

Sanjay - glad it finally 'panned out' - first time I've seen that car for many years (when it was red & driven by Adam R).

[one-two]

Ah, it's that one! Will be great to see it out again.

[sanjay]

To answer some questions a vague spec of the car is as follows, this is from an email from Mike Smith, I hope he doesn't mind me posting it, as it was from his memory and he hasn't seen the car for many years:


'I think that the car that you refer to was actually built by Barry Curtis -


It would probably have had a 17mm Front roll bar
A Skirmants Rear Camber Compensator
Koni Shocks
Car would have been slightly lowered but NOT excessively
Gears would have BBAB (Speedster Ratio`s)
Probably a large Fuel Tank with twin Bendix Fuel Pumps
The FIA requirements - Electrical Cut-out + Fire System + Rear Hazard Light
A Roll Cage
The Rev Counter at that time was digital one made by Stack
It may or May not have had Plexiglass Rear 1/4 Windows and Door Windows
Other weight reduction would have been the removal of underseal
Its Race Motor which really was the heart of the package
1600 cc producing 141 Hp'

My pal Adam and I race a 1980 SC in the CSCC along with help from Mike Chare ( 26 years old and already 10 years a Porsche mechanic, VW nut and contributor to Ultra VW alongside KS) and Chris Sargent at GCR Central.

Having discussions during a post race beer and reading Steve's inspiring blog we were all keen to do something historic. My dear friend and Porsche Collector, Le Patron, casually mentioned that he had a 356 race car collecting dust for years not 1/2 a mile from Robert Barrie !

Well, there not collectors for nothing, it turns out that Le Patron, does not sell and money is not the motivating factor, but thanks to Mike Smith and JR, who told me to persist, wear him down and if needed to annoy the hell out of him. It finally worked and he has 'donated' the car to the cause.

It turns out the car is quite well known and was raced by Adam Richardson, he sold it to Germany and Le Patron bought it about 15 years ago rebuilt it and painted it silver, life took a change of direction and it got parked.

In the interests of breaking ourselves in gently and with time against us we have entered Silverstone Classic alongside Steve and Ian, please come say hi and support team DDK


Sanjay

[Mike Smith]

I have just heard that Barry had another stroke last night and is currently laid up in Dijon Hospital

[Lightweight_911]

Sad news - I he hope comes out of it OK.

[KS]

Sh*t! Bad news about Barry. If you see/speak to him or his family, please pass on my best. Haven't seen the old bugger for some time now...

[john ruston]

356 ready for LMC and we may have a spare ticket

[steve wright]

Sad news about Barry C, hope he's making a good recovery....

Good luck this weekend John. After seeing Philips 904 recent footage and Mike Hawthorns period movie in the D-Type I've the utmost respect for anyone who races at Le Mans - its bloody FAST. No wonder requires a special set of ratios as there's a long time spent bouncing off the rev limiter otherwise!

It's been quiet on the race car front for us as we've been licking our wounds after another disappointing showing at Donington in the Fiscar race. Fuel starvation issues and poor running mean we've now had two DNF in our last two races and we've been unable to pinpoint the issue. Fine some of the time, hanging back and not pulling the next leading to it stopping altogether. We've done all the obvious things like plugs, coil, checked the pump for flow, checked valve clearances an everything internal. Thankfully there's no damage to the motor. So we're zero timing the last system and ripping out all the fuel system. We've a sneaking suspicion its the old ally race tank which is of unknown vintage, suspicious quality and leaky. It's foam filled and suspect the foam is breaking down, getting sucked into the tank outlet. Or the pump is dying under the stress of race conditions. I should add it only occurs in the top of the revs in 3rd and 4th so it's likely fuel flow issues or fuel starvation. I've stripped everything and Ian is putting it back together this weekend, then it's off to Cadwell Park for testing before putting it on the rolling road with the chap you suggested John. Hopefully we'll then have a more powerful motor than doesn't gasp on the sixth lap! Oh the ups and downs of racing Next race is Silverstone Classic in the Pre-63 race so that should be a good one.

[john ruston]

We now know even with slower track you can do 5 43 round Le Mans in 356.

Both gareth Burnett and Woll Stephens did it yesterday.

The Pre A's weekends over having been impeded by an idiot in a Le Mans Rep leading to damage but Stephens car going very well.

Other Brit 356's seem to be off pace but today another wet one so we will see what happens.

Zoo here and perhaps event is getting to big for its own good

[neilbardsley]

We now know even with slower track you can do 5 43 round Le Mans in 356.

Both gareth Burnett and Woll Stephens did it yesterday.

The Pre A's weekends over having been impeded by an idiot in a Le Mans Rep leading to damage but Stephens car going very well.

Other Brit 356's seem to be off pace but today another wet one so we will see what happens.

Zoo here and perhaps event is getting to big for its own good

It looks like you were running well during qualifying but I stopped by on Saturday and Robert said the car was out. Unfortunately I think the Stephens car was involved in a crash too later on Saturday/early Sunday?

[john ruston]

Bill Stephens was collected by a stupid bloke in an Alfa and has done extensive damage to Speedster.

Bill is battered but OK

We were screwed by an idiot in a Le Mans Rep.

All not lost as our Talbot won G1!

[Gary71]

John, Which 356 at CLM is yours?

[john ruston]

The quick one!

Seriously no 14

[Gary71]

Ahh, The one I have no photos of!