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Post by chris13w on Mar 13, 2009 23:44:16 GMT 12
Blondy seemed to be able to be 1NZ in anything though - and the more different the better... (Like his last 1NZ Corvette, which seemed pretty lashed together - had front suspension copied off a US IMCA modified, with its Camaro style bottom arms that point forwards - so have funny camber gain curves and only used on an IMCA because they HAVE to use that front clip - but he still made it work)!
Strange that Rover is so heavy now though, as it had all alloy running gear - and even the front wheels were tiny 13" ones with Cortina spindles to save weight!
Had some tricky stuff for its day though - things like an OEM style water pump run off a toothed belt on the midmount gearbox if I remember rightly - anything to get the weight to the back.
Also used to have an airfoil section roof I think - although that had gone by the time it was raced out of Wellington.
The good old days when clever people looked at things in wreckers yards and came up with good ideas - rather than just ordering from an AFCO catalogue!
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Post by scotty 911w on Mar 14, 2009 6:50:45 GMT 12
chris 13w said:The good old days when clever people looked at things in wreckers yards and came up with good ideas - rather than just ordering from an AFCO catalogue! aint that the truth  |
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Post by porry41 on Mar 14, 2009 7:00:53 GMT 12
thats what i meant by mechanical nitemare every things down the back used to brake axles & loose wheels alot .its a wonder it didnt push more on front .but i remember a saloon car up at the old claremont track in perth had a east/west 350 chev in the rear .fuel tank.batteries radiator up front .& could this thing fly always went to outside & just drove around every thing .think this is why a lot off the older saloons here turned to custard when they took out the commercails & fitted quikechanges .  |
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Post by chris13w on Mar 14, 2009 13:07:07 GMT 12
Possibly because they lost a good percentage of rear weight by putting the diff on a diet?!
Having said that though, my Corvette goes a whole lot better with a Q/C than its old Commercial - losing about 50KG in unsprung weight definitely makes it handle better on a rough track - and the lower gearing makes it much more responsive to the throttle too, making it easier to get through a corner.
But then I don't have 650HP I'm trying to get to the track, so rear weight is not such an issue!
Those old supers that turned to custard probably still relied on VW torsions all around as well though - so another thing that they probably needed bringing out of the dark ages...
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Post by dps on Mar 16, 2009 14:04:38 GMT 12
Blondies last car (2002) the corvette...
was that run by Lance Jennings? (was black 'Sovereign Haulage' 96a) for a few seasons before he got his current red corvette?
I Can remember Black 96a corvette looked very similar to the blondie machine..
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Post by chris13w on Mar 16, 2009 20:50:33 GMT 12
Yes, that's the one.
Where did it go to after that, haven't seen it again - is it a Saloon now, or sitting in a shed somewhere??
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Post by Devilracer on Mar 16, 2009 20:58:21 GMT 12
Lances car prior to his current one is now back in the hands of Greg Powell as 98H, it did go to Wellington as 98W.
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Post by chris13w on Mar 16, 2009 21:04:27 GMT 12
No, that one's his Harris chassis, he ran the ex Blondie deal for a couple of seasons after that while he got his current one built.
I last saw the Blondie Corvette at the NZ's in Blenheim I think.
Was it a Blondie/Gordge combination?? (Had a Gordge look to the chassis, but then the weird IMCA type front suspension as well, which no other Gordge I've seen has).
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Post by dps on Mar 17, 2009 16:32:04 GMT 12
No, that one's his Harris chassis, he ran the ex Blondie deal for a couple of seasons after that while he got his current one built. I last saw the Blondie Corvette at the NZ's in Blenheim I think. Was it a Blondie/Gordge combination?? (Had a Gordge look to the chassis, but then the weird IMCA type front suspension as well, which no other Gordge I've seen has). looking back on the archives I found this pic of the Blondie corvette  So After Lance Jennings raced it did it get sold on from him? |
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Post by chris13w on Mar 17, 2009 17:49:28 GMT 12
Love the ironic Ford badge on the scoop!!!
And if you look closely you can see the plastic machine gun mounted ahead of the driver - Snoopy and the Red Baron style!
Think it had a car stereo faceplate on the dashboard too - for the times on Yellow no doubt....
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Post by chris13w on Mar 17, 2009 19:42:22 GMT 12
This is the same car with the body off, last year I saw it run - NZ's in Blenheim (was that 2005)?  And closer look at the front:  It looks like a lot of Gordge fronts - but then also different in so many details??? Hope the pics come out - first time I've tried uploading! |
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Post by chris13w on Mar 17, 2009 19:43:38 GMT 12
Oops - that's what happens when you forget the resize step!!!!!!!
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Post by dangerstranger on Mar 17, 2009 20:53:22 GMT 12
I know that the last Corvette that Blondie drove and won the champs in, is for sale on 'Trademe' and there are a few pictures of it when it was painted black, and Lance Jennings drove it for 1 season and Allan Wakeling drove it for a meeting at Baypark and all of the above drove for the 'Sovereign Motor Sport Team' hope this is of some help.  |
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Post by Devilracer on Mar 17, 2009 20:54:10 GMT 12
No, that one's his Harris chassis, he ran the ex Blondie deal for a couple of seasons after that while he got his current one built. I last saw the Blondie Corvette at the NZ's in Blenheim I think. Was it a Blondie/Gordge combination?? (Had a Gordge look to the chassis, but then the weird IMCA type front suspension as well, which no other Gordge I've seen has). You are right and if you check trade me, youll find it for sale with a large price tag, also on there is Lances current car. |
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Post by dangerstranger on Mar 17, 2009 21:17:55 GMT 12
The pictures taken at Blenhiem was the season after Blondie drove and his last new champs was at Napier, Lance Jennings was driving it and was top qualifier but the cam had a hissie fit and wrecked the finals night by not starting in the race, as to the price tag, I believe there is $20-30.000.00 of spares go with the car, so it sounds like a very good price to me, when I grow up I hope I can afford 1. ;D
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Post by chris13w on Mar 17, 2009 21:33:10 GMT 12
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Post by dps on Mar 17, 2009 21:45:57 GMT 12
Cheers chris13w & dangerstranger!
well that answers my question about the blondie corvette!
its still out there & on trade me at the moment!!
Awesome pics of the black Lance jennings 77h/96a on there car was
very high pitched at the back like blondies SD1 rovers... a mean looking super saloon!
notice under Lances car hes got "owner retiring" will be a big loss to the Super saloon class for next season considering he is still at the top of his game..
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Post by chris13w on Mar 17, 2009 21:57:28 GMT 12
But what does the fan do?  Air cool the engine block??! Take mechanics fingers off in the pits??? Surely they were having a laugh! |
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Post by dangerstranger on Mar 18, 2009 21:20:05 GMT 12
HMM When did Mark Pitcher car win the nz champs and if it was 1 nz, who drov it, what year, ? |
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Post by chris13w on Mar 18, 2009 22:12:53 GMT 12
Cardwell's 1NZ time before last, then Brian Cummerford 88W (before his current Gordge) then Pitcher 9W.
Had some updates since then - well, if you've seen it you would know - its had everything - what an awesome car!!!
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