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Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

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News and Rumours (MGB GT V8)
Posted by: Moderator
Date: April 15, 2011 06:00PM

So... I was able to drop in at V.I.R. for Friday evening and Saturday morning of last week before excusing myself to attend a Saturday evening wedding in Charlottesville. One of my first priorities was to get with Les Gonda and see what he's done with his MGB GT V8 since I saw it last September. The engine is upgraded with a higher compression ratio, but the really interesting news is that he's installed a recirculator in his brake system! Are you guys familiar with these devices? I looked them up online to get a description: "Continuously circulates brake fluid through the calipers and back to the master cylinder. Eliminates heat buildup in brake fluid, and prevents brake fade due to loss of brake pedal." Apparently there are three or four manufacturers making them, and I didn't think to ask Les exactly which one he installed. (It was pretty well buried - I couldn't get a decent photo.) Les says it seems to work exactly as advertised, and his brakes now feel as effective at the end of a race as they do at the beginning.

If you follow MGB GT V8 racing in North America, you know that Jerry Richards' car was horribly bashed by a Super 7 at Watkins Glen in September. Until I spoke with Les, I expected Jerry would be all winter repairing it. Nope! Les gave me the full scoop on how Jerry got the body straightened out and a new motor built up just in time for the SVRA finale at Road Atlanta. What an amazing competitor! I need to stay in closer touch with these guys; they continually astound me.

(Jerry has two MGB GT V8 race cars. This is the one I'm talking about; the fantastic one he built from scratch.)
http://britishracecar.com/JerryRichards-MG-MGBGTV8-2/JerryRichards-MG-MGBGTV8-2-AD.jpg

Keith Burnett has reportedly found a buyer for his spectacular MGB GT V8 racecar! Reportedly, it's going to the Chicago area.

Keith's MGB GT V8
http://www.britishracecar.com/KeithBurnett-MGBGTV8/KeithBurnett-MGBGTV8-BI.jpg

Fabricator James Bowler, who built an outrageous MGB GT V8 racecar on speculation, has reportedly found a buyer too. Word is, Don Munoz couldn't swing a deal to purchase Keith's car, so he's snapped up James'. No engine was included in this sale.

James' MGB GT V8
http://www.britishracecar.com/JamesBowler/JamesBowler-BA.jpg

Lorenz Hassenstein has posted his gorgeous MGB GT V8 track day car for sale in our classified ads. Awesome car! I don't the sale is official yet, but I understand another of our good experienced-MGB-racer friends is very seriously considering buying it and converting it to meet SVRA rules. (SVRA limits front brake rotor diameter and also requires rear disc brakes for MGB GT V8s, so I'm thinking brakes would likely be among the first changes made.) I'll keep my fingers crossed, because a full grid of these cars would a ton of fun to watch!

http://www.britishv8.org/MG/LorenzHassenstein/LorenzHassenstein-AA.jpg


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