Rootes '64 LeMans effort and Shelby

Duke Mk1a said:
Leave Korea on 5 August, 25 days...but who is counting.
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Will you make the Tiger party at Monterey? I'll buy.

In addition to the 9 Tigers racing I expect between 40 and 50 spectator Tigers in the Tiger Car Corral. We'll probably have more Tigers at Monterey than we just had at SUNI.

bt
at the beach
 
at the beach said:
Duke, the oil pan you got from Shelby was the oil pan you ordered. I'm not too sure how well the Rootes guys did their ordering. After all Rootes could have ordered 289s for all the Tigers, not just for the MkIIs.

The street Cobras came with stock looking pans. For racing the Shelby race shop cut holes on each side and extended the pans with a rounded outer edge. The standard Cobra race pan would simply not fit in a Tiger. (The front corners would extend several inches into the cross member.) Something else had to be done. I have not seen any billing paperwork from Shelby for any Tiger oil pans. I don't know what the Shelby Tiger used for an oil pan - I should ask.

The whole LeMans effort was over about the time (June, 1964) that the first Tigers were starting to roll off the Jensen modification line. In the USA, the Shelby Tiger had just won its first race but that was on its 4th? outing including several major crashes.

I have not seen any documentation nor have I been able to spot a picture of the pans that Rootes used. I vaguely remember a picture taken in the Competition Department with a Tiger over a pit and a stock looking pan was in the picture with piston rods sticking out of it. I can't remember if that picture was a Coupe or a rally car. Any help?

bt
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I don't know if this is the picture you were thinking of, but it does give a peek at the front of a pan on a competition engine that Ernie Beck is working on:

so2rs0.jpg
 
No crystal ball, but

Here is my $.02

WE have the privilege of 20 /20 hind sight (at least we like to think so...),
THEY did not.

I have seen a picture of the LM cars WITH a BIG oil pan, off the car.

I'm surprised it has not popped up here.

The pan was / appeared to be an extra long sump, but no baffling was seen / visible.

...clearly not enough.

As far as Tires and brakes, The LM cars DO in fact have VERY similar rotor sizes as the Cobra AND the SAME calipers.

Tires, both have 15".

ANYONE who KNOWS racing KNOWS that luck (smart, dumb, free, or High$)

tends to trump just about everything.

There are countless races where the best car / driver combo did NOT win.

...Shelby knew this.

Back in '64 there was a LOT yet to be learned about the NEW small block Ford!

...And Shelby, et,el had a better handle than just about anyone else.

...surely better than ROOTES.

Was Shelby worried? Not likely. Was he concerned? My guess is yes.

Did he give away any secrets? Not a chance!


DW
 
hottigr said:
I don't know if this is the picture you were thinking of, but it does give a peek at the front of a pan on a competition engine that Ernie Beck is working on:

so2rs0.jpg
Click to expand...

Thats one of the rally cars... they were post LM. I know the date and time of that pic is listed in the "making of a sports car"" book
 
What Wife wouldnt want time in San Francisco?

Duke Mk1a said:
Man, sure wish I could. Gotta spend some quality family time for awhile. My better half is not much into loud, fast, stinky cars
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Your sales pitch needs work...

Golden Gate, Napa, Monterey, Hwy 1, Carmel, big sur...

Hell, since you R/R drivetrains in mere minutes, I could further subsidize your appearance out here.... Why stop at just engine installs?

I completely get the family time, my longest stints have been weeks away, can't imagine. But if there were a time to talk tiger, the historics this year will be it. As nice as I'm sure SUNI was, nothing compares to Monterey that week. Especially with your race mod slant.

And yeah I'm pretty dern (selfishly) serious about making it mutually worthwhile.

There's also great Asian food out here too. :rolleyes:

At any rate, THANKS for your service Duke, and should there end up being any slack, you might be surprised at just what could be accomplished.
 
Are we talking Monterey Car Week 11-17 August? Soooooo want to attend, should just be over jet lag. I'll speak to the Mrs. but I believe my son starts school on the 11th so she would be a no go. Me heading out a week after getting back could be sticky to say the least. No way would I drive the Tiger out so soon after one year of storage.

http://www.montereycarweek.com/index.html
 
at the beach said:
Will you make the Tiger party at Monterey? I'll buy.

In addition to the 9 Tigers racing I expect between 40 and 50 spectator Tigers in the Tiger Car Corral. We'll probably have more Tigers at Monterey than we just had at SUNI.

bt
at the beach
Click to expand...


This year the Concours on the Avenue http://www.carmelconcours.com/
will have a special Tiger class with 10 Tigers accepted and the HSC 55 Tiger will be on display.

Moondoggie
 
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