Man, the last thing to catch my eye before I left the Mitty Sunday was a stunning white XJC! I passed it on the grounds and couldn't turn around to track it down. White with a red interior, black vinyl roof, all the windows down and it was just stunning! It looked like they were meant to look when new. Burned an image in my memory. Might anyone know who it belongs to? I'd love to know more about it.
The Mitty was a wonderful weekend once again, if you're within a few hours it's worth the effort to be there.

 

What's Mitty?
(';')

 

I agree, what and where is this Mitty??

I don't know of it down where I call home.

An XJ C is awesome anywhere though.

 

Sorry Guys...

The Mitty at Road Atlanta - Road Atlanta

It's one of the coolest race weekends on the planet!

 

Don't know about Mitty but looking at the pictures I am reminded of 1966 CAN-AM series with Jim Hall and his Chaparral, John Surtees driving a Lola t 70, Bruce Mclaren and so many others... Aluminum big blocks with webbers and cars that weighed in at 15-1600 lbs.. those were great days and I am sure Mitty must be the same, love these old cars from yesteryear

 

Yep Alyn,
Featured marque for the event was Ford, and the featured race was Can-Am. Cool to go down into the pits and watch them work on these awesome machines!

 

yes man! those were outragous cars and times, you havent arrived until you see and HEAR 15-20 800-1000hp Cars all get on the loud pedal at the same time comin onto the straight-away at a race track!

BIG/BIG block Chevys, with full open exhausts only couple feet long, YOWWZAA!

seimoligists say it actually vibrates the ground(AKA earthquake).

 

only pic i have of one of the great cars, JIM Hall 1966, and his SUCKER car, they banned it right away, when he was 1/2 track ahead of other cars in just one lap!

used 2 small blower motors a suck air out from under the car, pulled the car down to the track surface, way more traction and grip in corners or straights.

he also had the movable wing connected to the gas pedal, pedal down wing flat, off the pedal wing up and applying more downforce to the axle housing uprights!

guess he was a little ahead of the times and other racers, i call it out of the BOX thinking.

 

He probably should have played with them for a while before showing his whole hand.

Or perhaps he just couldn't resist.
(';')

 

Two comments:


1, I never saw Jim Hall's cars in completion, but
read of them with huge interest. One, smart
as all can be. Two, a fellow Texan.


Another jump was his decision that shifting
gears was drawing attention from more important duties.
Steering and breaking. So, the cars got two speed
race prepped Powerglides. Way ahead of the others.


2. Way back when, my son built a "23 T" from scratch.
AkA "Tom's Low T". Powered by a very much modified
460 Ford. Thunderous, shakes the ground....


Lots of innovations. Ford truck inspired split front axle,
sorta like the Allard version. VW inspired torsion rear, supplanted by
coil overs.


Radiators astern, EF fans to cool.


Joke:
On completion, he trailered it to a local CHP place to get a
VIN assigned and stamped in. The younger CHP's admired it!
A veteran motorcycle guy opined, "I can't wait to see it on the street, and "write it up"!


Younger CHP response, "yeah, if you can catch it!!!"


Well, as a Dad, I'm glad it and the super hot Suzuki bike are in retirement....


Carl

 

Carl, I Luv it!!
(';')

 

Always been a fan of old time Can AM racing. I was 22 in 1966 and an avid fan of these cars / races. I remember the Hap Sharp comment (the other guy who was on the team with Jim Hall and drove these cars as well) complaining about how much heavier the car would be if they repainted the cars before the big race as was the plan. I believe the 2 speed auto was from a Corvair. I guess with heavy duty parts - just guessing. I was lucky enough to be camped near by the pits at Mt. Tremblant St. Jovite in Quebec. During the Can Am races that year. Very exciting times Big years for Ford Cobras and the Shelby Mustangs Mark Donahue with Camaro Z 28 cars
Here are some pics I had on my hard drive somewhere. Couple of good links.

 

Alyn, you have GOT to make this event next year! You would be in heaven.

Geez, that 66 Chaparall looks awesome. These cars in a pack are truly breathtaking, the sounds are something you never forget.

 

Ugh, my machines have no sound???
And, even with my challenged ears, I'll bet I could enjoy that noise!!


Check out this month's "Hot Rod" magazine. Lots on those days in Can Am and more.


Oh, the two speed Powerglide was in many GM renditions of the
day. Drag racers used/use it and versions of it as well.


Jim Hall's idea was that if the driver were relieved of clutching an shifting, he could pay more attention to power application, steering and braking. Faster lap times. Oh, and less weight!!! Simpler also meant less maintenance and failure potential...


At the expense of the fun of shifting at the right time and fast....
or seemingly so.

Carl

 

How come you do not hvave sound on your computer Carl ? Do you have speakers and are they plugged in? You have got to hear the Chaparral coming to life and warming up ..incredible

 

(GASP!!)
Oh My, Alyn!!
I'm gonna tell husband I want one of those (Chaparral engine)!
I'm Especially impressed with Explosive, Instant Start of the McLaren!
I don't think Nix could hang onto her credibility if she sounded like that though.
And then there's the problem of all those holes in that pristine hood.
(sigh)
(';')

 

lnb, performance minded people usually have a different perspective about cars, and almost 99% of Jaguar owners do not race or use its racing heritage!

 

Well, yeah, but that leaves it to our 1% just to make things interesting.
(';')

 

Can you imagine being behind that beast on the racetrack? Think of the dust/debris...

 

After a lap or 2 the track would be very well vacuumed, cleaner than it ever was, but all the other cars would be a lap down,,, so maybe if dust and debris was a concern, they could have had him run a few practice laps to overcome that problem ,,,But like lemmings they (competitors) looked for an excuse to ban him and the car and save their investments they had in their own cars, which became, in a minute ...obsolete! The new Chaparral was so far ahead after a lap or so, they actually banned the the car and the technology. Typical.