1975 Long Beach Grand Prix

In my never ending search for F5000 memorabilia I found some 8mm movie film from the 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix.  It was selling on ebay as "LB Grand Prix".  So I took a chance and bought it to find it was from the F5000 race in 1975.  I don't have a projector, but do have a cheap viewer for editing.  I took a photo of a few frames.  Now I have to have it converted into a DVD.  Should be much improved in that format.

Low and behold my Lola T192 is in the movies. 

Springs

When I dropped off the engine for Jim, I also left springs for Brian to test.  These are the ones the car came with.  Looks like 350lbs in all 4 corners(when new).  The shorter ones are for the front of the car, 350lbs and 400lbs.  The tall ones are for the rear, 330lbs and 350lbs.  Looks like I need new springs.  Keeping 350lbs in the front but rasing the rear to 375lbs.  This should be enough to keep my exhaust from hitting a Lime Rock.   

It's back!

The engine's back home.  Talking to Jim and looking at the dyno report it seems I lost a little HP.  But this might be misleading.  When the engine was first completed in 2009, Jim was using a old dyno and that was giving a reading of 450hp.  His new dyno might be more accurate.  On the plus side, I have more torque.  Almost equal to horse power.   I think in conclusion the engine should be about the same, nothing was done to increase or decrease power.  Won't know until race day.  There's more to report, but that's for another day.

Engine is ready for pickup

Jim called this morning.  Said the engine just got off the dyno and is looking good.  I'll pick it up tomorrow.

Eric's new ride

Eric recently purchased a 1972 Lola T300.  His old ride(T190)was damage earlier this year in New Zealand.  He plans on repairing it on then retiring it.  His new car was driven by Eppie Wietzes in 1972.  Eric hopes to have it ready for Road America in July.


How it looked in 1972
Photo credit Tom Schultz



This is how it looks today.



On the engine dyno

Being connected to the engine dyno.  Last time it produced 450 HP.  Got my fingers crossed.

Engine update

Talked to Jim yesterday.  The engine is just about done.  He needed the go ahead to have Brian weld the intake stacks.  I had riveted them, but it's much better to eliminate the rivets with a weld.  The engine should be on the dyno later this week. 

The 8 stacks on top of the carburetors had to be shortened so they would fit under the air box.  After cutting them I used a riveted to hold them together.  If one of the rivets broke, it would be pulled into the engine.  Much better welded.