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sam christie
United Kingdom
3056 Posts |
 Posted - 16/04/2017 : 20:40:12
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Spotted on eBay - does the M.G. still exist?
Sam |
Edited by - sam christie on 16/04/2017 20:42:03 |
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Cris DaBica
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - 17/04/2017 : 02:31:30
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This photo is from the 1937 A.R.C.A. race. Tom Dewart, finished in fifth place. The car is red, TA1326, and is in Vermont with its long-term owner.
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Edited by - Cris DaBica on 17/04/2017 02:36:45 |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3056 Posts |
Posted - 17/04/2017 : 08:31:28
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Thanks Christian. It is good to know the car still exists.
Sam |
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PeterL
United Kingdom
1709 Posts |
Posted - 17/04/2017 : 14:20:20
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| Yes but much more interesting is what is the white car behind it??? |
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Cris DaBica
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - 17/04/2017 : 14:40:15
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That is one of two Willys Specials. Both are still missing. One is believed to have found its way to South Africa, I think. I'll have to check my notes.
Of the 22 or so MGs that ran in the ARCA, approximately 7 are accounted for. There may be many hiding in plain sight, but the problem is that the records of Rand, the Colliers, and others who imported the cars in have never turned up in all the years people have been very actively searching for them.
quote:
Originally posted by PeterL
Yes but much more interesting is what is the white car behind it???
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PeterL
United Kingdom
1709 Posts |
Posted - 17/04/2017 : 15:27:57
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Thanks... they look J2 based. Is there any more info on them? Very pretty little car...
Cheers
P |
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Cris DaBica
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - 17/04/2017 : 16:32:36
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Here's some of what I know about those cars:
Langdon Quimby, the 1934 ARCA Champion in a stripped down Willys 77, partnered with Arthur Pickett, the New York distributor for Willys-Overland to build a team of somewhat purpose-built cars for 1935. Quimby’s 1934 car (we’ll call it #1 as it was both the car that carried the #1 number and was also the first of the Willys cars built) was used as the basis for one of the racers while Pickett came through with another (#2.) #1 maintained a 100” wheelbase (I’m not sure if this was the stock wheelbase for a 77) but #2 was shortened to 92”. Barron Collier, Jr., who probably introduced Quimby to Pickett, coordinated the transformation of the cars into racers: the bare chassis were re-bodied into sort of upright, Indy junk formula 2-seater form at the General Sheet Metal Company in NY while significant engine modifications (in the form of new aluminum cylinder heads, and some hot rodding) were performed at Zumbach’s.
Collier drove the #1 car while Quimby chose #2 (ARCA number 11) for the season. I am not sure if any other modifications from stock form were made to either car.
Results for the Willys Team in 1935:
ARCA Grand Prix of the United States of America; Briarcliff Manor, NY 6.23.1935
#2 L. Quimby: 1st Place
#1 B. Collier, Jr.: DNF (Fuel line)
ARCA Cape Grand Prix; Marstons Mills, MA 6.29.1935
#2 L. Quimby: 1st Place
#1 B. Collier, Jr.: 2nd Place
ARCA Climb to the Clouds; Mt. Washington/Gorham, NH - 7.14.1935
#2 L. Quimby: 2nd Place
Early in the summer of 1936 the cars were again re-bodied by General Sheet Metal, this time into the single-seater form. Preparation of the cars was done by the Collier/Rand "Motor Sport" organization. The chassis maintained their ARCA numbers from 1935.
ARCA Climb to the Clouds #8211; Mt. Washington/Gorham, NH - 7.26.1936
#1 L. Quimby: 1st Place Overall
#2 Bob Heller: 4th Place Overall
ARCA Round the Houses Race; Alexandria Bay, NY; 8.15.1936
This was a handicap race with the Willys both being placed at heavy disadvantage to the rest of the field.
#2 B. Heller: 2nd Place
#1 B. Collier, Jr.: DNF
After the 1936 season the #2 car was sold by Pickett to South Africa. The #1 car (now ARCA number 7) would go on to compete for one more season before it disappears from competition records.
ARCA Climb to the Clouds; Mt. Washington/Gorham, NH - 7.11.1937
#1 Miles Collier: 5th Place
ARCA Round the Houses Race; Alexandria Bay, NY; 8.7.1937
#1 B. Heller: DNF (Crashed; car ran in the race as number 3)
This marks the last mention I’ve found for these two cars in ARCA competition. Some of the regional notes and newsletters list cars for sale but I have yet to see any that mention the #1 car; Joel Finn notes that the Collier ‘Ardent Alligator’ Riley Special ended up with the engine from the #1 car at one point.
Interestingly enough there were at least two other Willys 77s that ran in ARCA races, one run by Bob Love, the other by Eb Lunken.
(Info from various ARCA publications as well as Joel Finn’s American Road Racing-The 1930s.)
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Cris DaBica
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - 17/04/2017 : 16:50:33
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| Please note: I believe the photo of the red TA that I posted above may have been taken by Peter Ross; apologies for not crediting that. |
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Brian Watson
United Kingdom
188 Posts |
Posted - 18/04/2017 : 19:01:24
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Does anyone have a plan of the circuit?
Brian |
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Cris DaBica
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2017 : 01:52:42
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The course ran clockwise. The race ran for five years (from 1936 to 1940.)
quote:
Originally posted by Brian Watson
Does anyone have a plan of the circuit?
Brian
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Brian Watson
United Kingdom
188 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2017 : 20:58:59
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Thank you, Cris.
Corner of Bolton Avenue and Church Street by the looks of things.
Lovely picture.
Brian |
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Round the Houses Alexandria Bay August 1938 or 39
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