Showcasing Creative Technology – Citroën Survolt

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At the Geneva Motor Show in 2010 the Citroën stand showed the Survolt concept sports car, designed showcase the companies Creativity and Technology, to the public for the first time.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

The zero emissions Survolt is based on the Citroën Revolte hybrid concept supermini that was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009 with styling influenced by the 2008 GT by Citroen petrol powered concept sports car.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

The cockpit features a large amount of glass, that hides a chrome finished safety cage within the cabin.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

The low slung motorsports heritage of the design means that the vehicle is as difficult to enter and exit as one might expect of any purpose built competition vehicle.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

Unlike the hybrid Revolte the Survolt is only powered by two electric motors with a combined output of 300hp.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

Silently the Survolt will accelerate from rest to 62 mph in less than 5 seconds and on up to a top speed of 160 mph.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

The batteries are believed to give the all wheel drive Survolt a range of 120 miles between recharges.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

It is believed Citroën are looking at founding a one-make racing series based on a production version of the Survolt.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

Limited production of the Survolt is believed to be a possibility from 2018.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

If you cannot wait that long to try the Survolt virtual versions are available on the Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Asphalt 8: Airborne and GT Racing 2 games by Gameloft, on Racing Rivals by Glu Mobile or Driveclub for PlayStation 4.

Thanks for joining me on this “Showcasing Creative Technology” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be going for a test drive. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Blue Merc – Mercedes Benz 36/220

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According to this linked German report Malcom Campbell decided to buy a Mercedes Benz 36/220, otherwise known as a 710 SS after his own Bugatti T43 caught fire leaving Rudolf Carraciola to win the 1929 Tourist Trophy aboard a 36/220 entered by EJ Knight.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

However to the best of my knowledge Malcolm Campbell did not take part in the 1929 TT though his T43 did retire after a pit fire from the 1928 TT which was won by Kaye Don driving a Lea Francis Hyper S.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,
World Land Speed record breaker and racing driver Malcolm Campbell took delivery of a 36/220 in 1930 and raced it on three occasions up to 1932.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

His best known result with the car, which I believe was painted blue, was a 5th place finish in the 1930 Irish Grand Prix that was won by Rudolf Caracciola, who was now his team mate, in a similar car in July.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

One month later Malcolm finished 10th place overall and 1st in the over up to 8 litre class in the 1930 Tourist Trophy that was won by Tarzo Nuvolari driving an Alfa Romeo.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

Malcolm’s last known appearance in his Mercedes Benz was at the 1932 1000 mile race at Brooklands from which he and Chris Staniland retired with a broken piston.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

Today’s featured white car was billed at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed as Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 1930 Mercedes Benz 710 SS Rennsport and according to the DVLA website this car was registered in the UK on the 7th of May 1931.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

The DVLA website also reveals that this car is no longer powered by the original supercharged 7036 cc / 429 cui, but rather one of 5128 cc / 312.9 cui capacity.

Thanks for joining me on this “Blue Merc” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a seriously futuristic Citroen. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Mini Midget – MG ADO34

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With the runaway sales success of the front wheel drive Morris Mini Minor / Austin Mini it is not surprising to learn that the British Motor Corporation (BMC) looked at building roadster sports versions of the Mini to be marketed under BMC’s sporty brands MG and Austin Healey.

MG Longbridge ADO 34, British Motor Museum, Gaydon,

Today’s featured concept vehicle was devised under the project code ADO34 between 1960 and 1964.

MG Longbridge ADO 34, British Motor Museum, Gaydon,

The car was built with two Mini sub frames and powered by a 1275 cc / 77.8 cui Mini Cooper S engine.

MG Longbridge ADO 34, British Motor Museum, Gaydon,

The cabriolet body was designed, built and fitted by Pininfarina in Italy.

MG Longbridge ADO 34, British Motor Museum, Gaydon,

Alongside today’s featured ADO34 known as the Longbridge version distinguished by it’s rounded rear wheel arches MG at Abingdon also styled an ADO34 closer to the MG B at the front with rear arches closely resembling the MG Midget with a almost horizontal edge along the top of the wheel.

MG Longbridge ADO 34, British Motor Museum, Gaydon,

A coupé concept version was also built under the project code ADO35, while the Austin Healey concept version was built with the project code ADO36, none of which went into production.

MG Longbridge ADO 34, British Motor Museum, Gaydon,

This particular vehicle seen at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, was registered on the road for sixth months as a 1966 model from March 7th 1990.

Thanks for joining me on this “Mini Midget” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Mercedes Monday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Speedway To 500 F3 – JBS Norton Mk 1 #RAC/002/51/AC

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In 1950 Alf Bottoms switched from being a two wheel Speedway star at Wembley to a racing driver with James Bottoms & Sons being responsible for modifying the 1947 Cowlan 500 Formula Three car, originally built by R.L. Coward and Geoff Lang, with help from Chris and Noel Shorrock into the first JBS.

JBS Norton Mk 1, Richard Utley, Silverstone,

Alf and brother shared the driving duties with Alf being the more successful scoring several out right wins as did Miss Elisabeth Store who drove the JBS to victory in the ladies race in October.

JBS Norton Mk 1, Richard Utley, Oulton Park,

For 1951 JBS not only updated it’s design to incorporate double wishbone front suspension and adonised aluminium body, but also put the design into production building somewhere between 13 and 20 cars.

JBS Norton Mk 1, Richard Utley, Castle Combe,

During the season JBS drivers included Alf, Ron “Curly” Dryden, Les Leston, Don Parker, Winco Frank Aikens, Dick Richards, Ron Frost, Jack Westcott, Ken McAlpine, Peter Collins, John Habin, Allan Moore, John Coombs and André Loens.

JBS Norton Mk 1, Richard Utley, Castle Combe,

Despite the deaths of Alf, in an accident at the Luxembourg Grand Prix, and Ron “Curly” Dryden in an accident at Castle Combe JBS scored 120 podiums during the year with Peter Collins and Don Parker finishing 3rd and 4th in the 1951 British F3 Championship behind Cooper drivers Eric Brandon and Alan Brown.

JBS Norton Mk 1, Richard Utley, Castle Combe,

Chassis #RAC/002/51/AC is seen in these photographs with Richard Utley at the wheel, Silverstone top, Oulton Park second and Castle Combe the remainder, Richard who raced a Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica, Tojeiro 1100 and Lotus XI between 1955 and 1962 also worked with John Tojeiro on the 1100 and later Bob Hicks on the MK1 Caravelle Formula Junior car.

Since returning to historic racing in 1987 Richard has also co founded C&R Engines with Charlie Banyard Smith to re-manufacture long stroke Manx engines of the type that powers his JBS.

Thanks for joining me on this “Speedway To 500 F3” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Replica Prototipo – Bertone X1/9

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After acquiring Lancia in 1969 the FIAT group found it’s self with two marques competing for honours in the Rally competition, Lancia with the Fulvia that was to be replaced by the Ferrari powered Bertone designed Lancia Stratos HF in 1973 and Fiat with the Pininfarina styled 124 Spider that would be replaced in 1975 by the Abarth 131.

Just as those competition models were being changed Abarth also built the Abarth X1/9 Prototipo for evaluation in competition.

Bertone X1/9, Silverstone, Classic,

The X1/9 was designed to exceed the latest US crash test standards so the chassis was immensely strong however it was also a little too heavy for the initial standard FIAT 128 based single overhead cam 1300 cc / 79 cui engine that produced 75hp.

Abarth elected to replace it initially with a 200hp 1,834 cc / 111 cui twin over head cam engine 16 valve lifted from the competition 124 spider and later examples with a 1,756 cc / 107 cui version of the same engine.

Bertone X1/9, Silverstone, Classic,

So far as I have been able to discern the Abarth X1/9 Prototipo’s only offically appeared on two events in 1974 the first was the Tour d’France where three cars were entered of which the #122 shared by Fulvio Bacchelli, Piero Sodano and Sergio Barbasio was the only finisher in 8th place.

A month later Fulvio partnered by Piero Scabini was teamed up with Ferrari Formula One driver Clay Regazzoni and Gino Macaluso for an attack on the Giro Automobilistico d’Italia from which both cars retired with engine failure.

Bertone X1/9, Silverstone, Classic,

In all it is believed that alongside the original 1973 Prototipo four further examples were built 3 of which were used in competition in 1974 and the fourth is believed to have been built as a Stradale road car.

The Abarth X1/9 programme gave way to the Abarth 131 programme which secured FIAT three World Rally Championship titles in 1977, ’78 and ’80.

Bertone X1/9, Silverstone, Classic,

The Replica Prototipo seen in these photographs at Silverstone Classic, was built on a 1988 FIAT X1/9 manufactured by and marketed as a Bertone X1/9, but imported as a FIAT, with a 1500 cc / 91.5 cui single overhead cam 8 valve engine.

Thanks for joining me on this “Replica Prototipo” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Closest Thing To A Vette – Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro

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When Chevrolet revealed it’s Camaro pony car in 1967 it envisaged most would be sold with either Standard, Super Sport SS, or Rallye Sport RS options packages, but to meet the requirements for participation in the SCCA Trans Am series, mandating a maximum engine capacity of 302 cui / 5 litres, a small number of Camaro’s were offered with the Z/28 option package, an option so rare many smaller Chevrolet dealerships did not even know it existed.

Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

For 1968 Chevrolet gave the Z/28 a marketing budget with the strap line “Closest thing to a Corvette, yet” emphasising that that it came “on like a Corvette for a lot less.”

Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The 302 cui V8 with a 4″ bore and 3″ stroke had a compression ratio of 11:1 which when fed by the 4 barrel Holley carburetor with fuel distributed by a tuned aluminium manifold produced 290hp at 5,800 revolutions per minute.

Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Handling was aided by either quick or fast ratio steering racks, multileaf rear springs with bias mounted shocks, 15″ x 16″ wheels with Nylon cord Wide Tread GT high performance tyres and power disc brakes to order.

Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The rear spoiler was an optional extra and the stereo rally stripes were described as having no mechanical function but a great psychological value.

Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

When Car Life tested a Z/28 in 1968 they concluded it was an “easy car to drive very fast”, the ’68 Z/28 seen in these photographs at Goodwood Festival of Speed was first registered in the UK on July 1st 1991.

Thanks for joining me on this “Closest Thing To A Vette” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for FIAT Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Triple London Championship Night – Wimbledon Stadium

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Thanks to a recent fb friendship struck up by Ray Miles in Florida and Rob Hughes in Liverpool I was alerted to the Triple London Championship Night which ran at Wimbledon Stadium couple of weeks ago.

Ford Escort Mk2, Andy Steward, Classic Hot Rods, London Championship, Wimbledon,

Thanks to a soccer match in Chelsea I got snarled up in traffic and missed the first heats for the Junior Micra Stock Cars, Superstox and 2.0 Hot Rods, but made it just in time to catch the first heat for the beautifully turned out Pinto powered Classic Hot Rods which featured a great battle for the lead between the #198 Mk2 Ford Escort driven by Andy Steward and the #45 Austin A40 Countryman driven by Craig Boyd which went Andy’s way.

Superstox, London Championship, Wimbledon,

The Superstox action featured a bit more bumping and boring for which the cars are better equipped, unfortunately I arrived too late to get a programme and the only thing I can tell you is that the race was won by John Saunders, who also won the first heat and that the green #454 seen above finished 5th in heat to having finished 4th in Heat 1, if you know who the driver of the #454 is please do not hesitate to chip in below.

Nissan Micra, Samuel Dobbs, Junior Micra Stock Cars, Wimbledon

Samuel Dobbs is seen above on his way to a win in the 2nd heat of the Junior Micra Stock Cars which with all their additional safety equipment and what appeared to be standard suspension have some interesting handling characteristics.

Vauxhall Tigra, Robert Gamble, 2.0 Hot Rod, London Championship, Wimbledon

Robert Gamble seen in his #133 Vauxhall Tigra above held on to win the 2nd Heat for the 2.0 Hot Rod’s from the #71 Citroën Saxo driven by Gordan Alexander.

Barry Lee, Kenny Ireland, Wimbledon Stadium

Four time Hot Road World Champion Barry “#351 Leapy” Lee, and Scottish Saloon Stocks, Superstox & Hot Rods champion Kenny Ireland are seen on a lap of honour above they were joined as guests of honour by 1976 World Champion George Polley and 1980 World Champion Mick ‘Duffy’ Collard.

Ford Anglia, John Bowring, Classic Hot Rods, London Championship, Wimbledon,

Craig Boyd retired his Austin early in the 2nd Classic Hot Rods heat, leaving Andy Steward to an easy win once he had battled his way into the lead, the race featured a fantastic race long scrap between the Ford Anglia’s driven by #101 John Bowring, #924 Stuart Wright and #911, seen on the outside, driven by Harry Steward who crossed the finish in 6th, 7th and 8th places respectively.

Nissan Micra, Robbie Bruce, Junior Micra Stock Cars, Wimbledon

Repeating his heat one Junior Micra Stock Cars win in the final was Robbie Bruce seen above three wheeling his way around turn 2 aided by second place finisher #340 Will Blazer.

Citroén Saxo, Gordan Alexander, 2.0 Hot Rod, London Championship, Wimbledon

Gordan Alexander fought his way to the front to claim the 2.0 Hot Rod Final in his #71 Citroën Saxo the #565 driven by Dan Smith and the #39 driven by Rick Parnell who were both also pedaling Citroën Saxo’s.

Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2, Lee Wood, Wimbledon Stadium,

Lee Wood is seen above leading Mick ‘Duffy’ Collard during a demonstration run for the fans in their immaculate replica World Championship winning cars.

Ford Escort Mk2, Andy Steward, Classic Hot Rods, London Championship, Wimbledon,

Andy Steward retained his Classic Hot Rods London Championship title despite the best efforts of Craig Boyd in his repaired #45 Austin seen lifting an inside wheel above.

Jason Cooper, Superstox, London Championship, Wimbledon,

Jason Cooper is seen above taking the flag in the Superstox final at the end of an entertaining evening at Wimbledon Stadium which I hope to visit again before it is scheduled to be swallowed up by dreaded property developers.

My thanks to Ray Miles and Rob Hughes for giving me the heads up also to Rob for event programme details, to keep up with news on Classic Hot Rods follow Rob Hughes dedicated fb page linked here, news on Spedeworth events at Wimbledon and their other venues can be found on this link.

Thanks for joining me on this “Triple London Championship Night” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Americana Thursday. Don’t forget to come back now !

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