356 Race Car
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:35 pm
I'd spent years agonising over when the right time was to go racing, and realised that there was never a good time. So 18 months ago I started what turned out to be a loooong search for the right car. Gosh I looked at some rubbish. And some expensive rubbish at that. In the end my search went via Mike at PRS Services (thanks Mike!) to Vic Skirmants in the US. Both the race cars he had were too highly developed for FIA regulated racing, but he did have a customer cars that he had built and maintained that was for sale. Happily it fitted the bill perfectly and it arrived last week, so Christmas has come early to the Wright household (at least it has for me)!
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/fc66ad49.jpg)
Once back at the workshop Ian Clark (who is sharing the driving and doing the spannering) and I looked over what I had bought - Having never bought a car sight-unseen I was REALLY worried that I was buying a turd despite Vic's reputation. Happily we were able to breath a sigh of relief as the car is better than I expected.
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/23a54823.jpg)
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/16f84040.jpg)
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/78a4d045.jpg)
The car features an FIA spec fuel tank (centre-filler), lightweight battery and plumbed in fire-extinguisher:
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/e50faf9b.jpg)
It has Speedster-style seats which we'll probably replace for a modern seat:
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/c926d46e.jpg)
The car also features a few VDO guages (oil pressure and temp). You can see we're trying different steering wheels as the original is HUGE!![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/0674ca9b.jpg)
It's got a rollcage (note the VSCCA scrutineering stickers) but we will probably put a full six point chromoly cage in with under-dash bar and side intrusion bars too![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/a4c1c9d7.jpg)
The engine is a Barry Curtis race engine on Zenith's that have been tweaked by Vic Skirmants. I've not too many details on the engine but it pulls happily to 7,500rpm and having looked up her skirt when servicing she has Carrillo's, dual valve springs, titanium valve caps, chromoly pushrods, etc so she is built to rev.![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/engine2.jpg)
The gearbox is a 741 unit (I think) with BBAA gears so a good compromise for racing.
It also features genuine GT/550 spyder 60mm brakes which is a real plus, plus adjustable Koni's all round![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/5a494516.jpg)
Nice door gaps and panels, although it's obvious it's had some repair work which isn't surprising given it's a 50 year old race car! Having said all that it's got all it's original panels (the engine lid is an ally unit) but I've got the original hanging on the wall)![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/35fa92ee.jpg)
Some nice racer touches such as the split mirror to get the best visibility on the circuit as possible![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/61d708a5.jpg)
Obviously we've got some work to do to get it road-legal (neither Ian or I want to be driving it for the first time when sitting on the grid!). Oh and I should said we plan to race it in the HSCC Guards series, so time is tight as the first race is April!
Comments (and helpful hints on tweaking the car for racing) welcome. Cheers, Steve
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/fc66ad49.jpg)
Once back at the workshop Ian Clark (who is sharing the driving and doing the spannering) and I looked over what I had bought - Having never bought a car sight-unseen I was REALLY worried that I was buying a turd despite Vic's reputation. Happily we were able to breath a sigh of relief as the car is better than I expected.
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/23a54823.jpg)
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/16f84040.jpg)
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/78a4d045.jpg)
The car features an FIA spec fuel tank (centre-filler), lightweight battery and plumbed in fire-extinguisher:
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/e50faf9b.jpg)
It has Speedster-style seats which we'll probably replace for a modern seat:
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/c926d46e.jpg)
The car also features a few VDO guages (oil pressure and temp). You can see we're trying different steering wheels as the original is HUGE!
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/0674ca9b.jpg)
It's got a rollcage (note the VSCCA scrutineering stickers) but we will probably put a full six point chromoly cage in with under-dash bar and side intrusion bars too
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/a4c1c9d7.jpg)
The engine is a Barry Curtis race engine on Zenith's that have been tweaked by Vic Skirmants. I've not too many details on the engine but it pulls happily to 7,500rpm and having looked up her skirt when servicing she has Carrillo's, dual valve springs, titanium valve caps, chromoly pushrods, etc so she is built to rev.
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/engine2.jpg)
The gearbox is a 741 unit (I think) with BBAA gears so a good compromise for racing.
It also features genuine GT/550 spyder 60mm brakes which is a real plus, plus adjustable Koni's all round
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/5a494516.jpg)
Nice door gaps and panels, although it's obvious it's had some repair work which isn't surprising given it's a 50 year old race car! Having said all that it's got all it's original panels (the engine lid is an ally unit) but I've got the original hanging on the wall)
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/35fa92ee.jpg)
Some nice racer touches such as the split mirror to get the best visibility on the circuit as possible
![Image](http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/kiwisteveinuk/356%20race%20car/61d708a5.jpg)
Obviously we've got some work to do to get it road-legal (neither Ian or I want to be driving it for the first time when sitting on the grid!). Oh and I should said we plan to race it in the HSCC Guards series, so time is tight as the first race is April!
Comments (and helpful hints on tweaking the car for racing) welcome. Cheers, Steve