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PV, 120 (Amazon), 1800 General Forum for the Volvo PV, 120 and 1800 cars |
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Volvo PV444 wins 1957 Petit Lemans at Lime Rock!Views : 87937 Replies : 281Users Viewing This Thread : |
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Mar 4th, 2018, 02:31 | #1 |
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Volvo PV444 wins 1957 Petit Lemans at Lime Rock!
OK, now I am inspired!
I consider Lime Rock my home track. People have been pestering me to get the Volvo out to wallow race in the "preservation class". The only things I need in order to run, besides a car that runs, is an exterior emergency shut off, seat belts and some numbers. Already have the fire extinguisher, the helmet and fireproof suit. http://touringcarracing.net/Races/19...Le%20Mans.html The PV 444's perforance in 1958 wasn't so shabby either. http://touringcarracing.net/Races/19...Le%20Mans.html In 1957, I was only 9 years old and was oblivious to cars/racing until recently. In the 1957 race, I recognize the name Gordon MacKenzie finishing in 8th place driving an Austin A35. He was a member of my club, the VSCCA, and just passed away last year. In the 1958 race, I recognize the name of Walter Cronkite, the famous American newscaster, with a dnf with a Goggomobile TS 400 - whatever that was! |
Mar 4th, 2018, 02:55 | #2 |
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Good spotting!
Who knew? https://bringatrailer.com/2017/07/26...l-ts400-racer/ https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/200...t-page-1/?_r=0 Last edited by c1800; Mar 4th, 2018 at 02:58. |
Mar 4th, 2018, 12:05 | #3 |
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I mostly knew Cronkite as reporting on the Vietnam War on the evening news.
Who would have known he had this other side. He must have had one sense of humor to show up for a race with that Goggomobile. |
Mar 4th, 2018, 12:43 | #4 |
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Here's a link to the 1957 SCCA race school at Lime Rock. A little bit of PV444 action at about 9:13.
https://youtu.be/YnxQ-ArSF8g Here's a link to a video of me chasing a PV544 at Lime Rock in 2014. Car driven by Shaun Henderson. Sadly, he rolled the car the following year and I think it was a total loss. It took me forever to catch up, Volvo action starts at around 11:00 but heats up a bit at around 13:00. https://youtu.be/u76Cg-dX1FE |
Mar 6th, 2018, 13:21 | #5 |
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OK, here's today's burning question.
The tire shop guy said that my steel racing wheels tires are out of round. I thought he meant that the rims had been bent in some accident with a curb. But instead, they appear to be off center. I took what I assumed to be the two worst wheels (by extent of balancing weights) and mounted them on the front hub (itself about 0.16 mm out of round) and gave them a spin. It appears that the "worst" wheel is about 3.54 mm off center and the second one is about 1.5 mm off center - in other words, they track out and back in in one long arc. These are heavier steel racing wheels, not stock. Any theories on how to straighten? Or should I just ignore and run them "as is"? Although used on the MGA (4 lug nuts), it seems that I might be able to use them on the PV 444 (5 lug nuts) as well, but I haven't tested the fit. Nevertheless given the status of my MGA motor (blown), I might be compelled to run the Volvo in the VSCCA "preservation class" to get my "fix". |
Mar 6th, 2018, 20:16 | #6 |
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Saab 99 Minilite look alike will fit the MGA. Should be able to find a set of those at a modest price if you are allowed to use them that is. Your "racing" wheels sound as if they are fit for the bin. If the centres are off-centre there is no cure and you will be lucky to find anyone who can straighten them if otherwise OK. They can be spun up in a big lathe and forced back in line but you then need to heat treat them as well or they will just go back to the previous shape. Look for better wheels. Late MGA/Twin Cam but not knock-offs. There are also some expensive Dunlop wheels for the MGA.
Class rules for wheels will probably apply for the PV but you might be able to getaway with early solid centre 1800 wheels which are 4 1/2". |
Sep 20th, 2018, 12:54 | #7 |
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Do you know of Chris Rudnik AKA "Ricer Miata" (off of You Tube) he was there a few days ago, and comes from your neck of the woods?
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Sep 21st, 2018, 20:37 | #8 |
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Well, I suppose I know of Chris Rudnik now.
It appears he likes to burn rubber and drift. I'm more conservative in my driving. Found this video of a PV544 racing at Lime Rock. It's from 5 years ago. I believe the car had been raced by the driver's father in the 1960s, and then it sat in a field for years before he pulled it out and restored it to the way his father drove it back in the day. This might have been his first outing with the car and he is a bit faster now. I make a guest appearance in the video between 0.55 and 1.11. https://youtu.be/ut5YP8sAmzo Of course, at that point I was already in last place having pulled over into the Sam Posey Rest Area as evidenced in the first few minutes of this video. https://youtu.be/9GLKH7Q-5GM Last edited by blueosprey90; Sep 21st, 2018 at 20:45. |
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Sep 22nd, 2018, 09:02 | #9 |
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Looking at the gear lever position was that a three speed box or did the car spend most of the time in third? Lovely sounds. The wet looked horrendous!
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Sep 23rd, 2018, 03:19 | #10 |
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You should have seen the earlier race when it was pouring. And I have an open cockpit no less!
The backside of the track is definitely third gear, as it is uphill. He was in fourth quite a bit as well. |
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