Oldspeed Legends

What can we say.......

We are back after four days of watching some of the greatest classic race cars on the planet and meeting some of the most famous Porsche werks drivers to ever drive the marque.

Although it was 35deg and we need some sleep, it was fantastic to see some of those drivers once again get behind the wheel of the cars they drove back in the day and take to the track. Believe us, they still drive with passion, way too fast for people on a pension :-)

We got to chat to Vic Elford and ask him how it really was to drive the 917 down the Mulsanne at over 386km/h, he replied " it was a joy to drive and I loved that car, although you had to be 100% committed as it was very unforgiving, you needed the whole road on the Mulsanne straight as it would tend to wander around a little".

Wander around! in a fiberglass car, cm's from the ground at 386km/h, only two words come to mind when describing these Porsche drivers, Balls & Steel.....

We also asked Herbert Linge, is it true about the 1954 Mille Miglia when you were Hans Hermann's co driver driving a 550, he laughed "yes but we were much younger then"

As they approached a rail crossing in the race the barrier came down as the train was approaching, they both ducked and drove under the barrier.

We also managed to get a few new members ;-)

1 René Metge

2 Richard Attwood

3 Herbert Linge

4 Gérard Larrousse

5 Vic Elford

6 Hans Hermann

Lift off........

Gone to Le Mans..........

1

24 Heures du Mans 1971 - The end of an era

During the '71 season the FIA decided to change the sports cars rules, this mean't it would be the last year that the Porsche 917's and Ferrari 512's would dominate the racing.

Ferrari would bring their 512 M spec and in reply Porsche would bring two new versions of the 917, the K spec would have the short tail modified and now ran a magnesium chassis and the LH (longtail) version would receive aerodynamic improvements.

The race started with the new Indianapolis rolling start and the No 18 917 of Rodriguez/Oliver was straight into the lead.

The No 21 917LH of Elford/Larrousse was clocked at over 386 km/h (240 mph) something that couldn't be matched by the 512M, its top speed was only 320 km/h.

The race would eventually be won by a 917k magnesium chassis, No 22 of Marko/van Lennep and the No 19 917K of Attwood/Müller would be second.

The winning 917K completed 397 laps a record distance of 5335 kms, the record would stand for another 39 years, until 2010 when it was bettered by the 3 Audi R15 TDI +'s.

In the 1970/71 season the 917's entered 21 races and won 14 of them.........

2

24 Heures du Mans 1970 - Battle of the Titans

Porsche returned with their 917's , five factory cars were entered and another nine of these flat 12 aircooled beasts by privateers. Not to be outdone, 11 Ferrari V12 512's were also entered.

This was the first time the 917 appeared in Gulf livery of the John Wyer team, it would later become famous in the Steve McQueen movie Le Mans. Much of the racing footage in the movie is actually from the race, shot from the No 29 Porsche 908.

McQueen actually tried to enter the race with Jackie Stewart as co-driver in No26, a John Wyer 917K chassis 917-013, but the entry was declined.

Porsche also entered their new low drag 917L (or Longtall) the fastest lap and pole position went to 917L No 25 driven by Elford/Ahrens, but unfortunately would retire with cooling problems.

The race was eventually won by the 917K No 23 of Attwood/Herrmann, second was the 917L No 3 of Larrousse/Kauhsen and third overall was also a Porsche, the 908 No 27 of Lins/Marko.

Porsche had achieved what they set out to do 19 years earlier, overall victory at 24 Heures du Mans.

3

24 Heures du Mans 1969

Porsche return with one of the greatest race cars ever built, the 917.

2 factory cars are entered driven by Elford/Attwood No 12 and Lins/Kauhsen No 22, a third privateer 917 was entered by gentleman driver John Woolfe.

Both the Factory 917's retired from the race with clutch problems, it was left to the 908 driven by Herrmann/Larrousse No 64 to fly the Porsche Flag.

They didn't disappoint, it was a dramatic finish to the race with the 908 and GT40 of Jacky Ickx repeatedly overtaking each other. The GT40 eventually won by 100 meters due to the 908's brake problems.

The class win and second overall was once again overshadowed by a fatal accident. The 917 of John Woolfe crashed on the first lap at Maison Blanche and he was killed, it was possibly due to the fact that he had not bothered to use his safety belt.

At the start of the race the drivers were required to run across the track, climb in and get it started as quickly as possible to pull away form the grid. Woolfe probably didn't bother with the belt to gain a better start.

This was the last year of the traditional start, in future it would be the rolling start that we know today.

4 Days....

24 Heures du Mans 1958

Porsche debut their new Spyder 1500 RSK

The team of Behra/Herrmann No 29 finished 1st in class (1600) and 3rd overall. The second factory team of Barth/Frère No 31 finished 1st in class (1500) and 4th overall. 5th overall also went to a Porsche, a privately entered 550A driven by Godin de Beaufort/Linge.

5 Days....

24 Heures du Man 1955

Porsche enter half a dozen Spyders.

The team of Polensky/Frankenberg No37 won the 1.5 liter class and Porsche placed 4th, 5th and 6th overall.

This win was overshadowed by the horrific crash of French driver Pierre Levegh driving a Mercedes 300 SLR, due to the fact the car is made partly from Magnesium alloy it erupted into a fireball. Levegh was killed instantly and also more than 80 spectators lost their lives.

The race continued and Fangio/Moss were leading the race in a sister 300 SLR but 8 hours after the crash the official orders came from Mercedes to withdrawn out of respect for the victims.

6 Days....

24 Heures du Mans 1954

Porsche entered 4 spyders in the 1.5 liter class, they were now running the 110hp four cam engine.

The teams of Glöckler/Frankenberg No 40 and Herrmann/Polensky No 41 had bad luck, they both suffered engine failure.

The Belgian team of Claes/Stasse, No 39 managed to limp across the finish line on three cylinders to take the class win.

7 Days....

It's only 7 days before we leave for Le Mans Classic.

For those who are going, something to get you in the mood.........

24 Heures du Mans 1953

The coupes were still fitted with 78hp pushrod engines.

Here you see No44 the team of Glöckler/Herrmann ahead of No45 Frère/Frankenberg.

The team of Glöckler/Herrmann went on to win the class and 14th overall.

Minor improvements

The warmer months are upon us and "Herr Blower" thought it was time for some minor improvements to aid his summer driving.

He's added a Bosch 010 distributor, black coil, a different air filter, a 6000 rpm tacho and he even did a little paintwork too ;-)

Guess he's ready for Spa........

He's Back

D.K. is back from his intelligence gathering.

He was seen entering the workshop mumbling something about werks Carrera's, before locking himself in.

We managed to sneak in today, while he was taking a break. Here's a spy shot of what he's working on :-)

Covert ops

We just received this photo from "D.K."

He was last seen entering a secret location to gather intelligence.

What is he planning now......

Driller Killer

Just fresh from watching 24 hours of Le Mans and with the B.C. Oldspeed Challenge still in our minds, we started looking at the '53 project again.

Remembering our first rule "make it as light as you can"

We decided it was time to let "The driller Killer" loose in the garage and here is the result of a mornings work :-)

Now he's started we don't think there's any stopping him.......

Be sure to check back soon to see what else he's modified.

Spot the Hazet man

The famous Melvan is also part of the OOC and 'one' of Herr Blowers rides, see if you can spot where he stuck the Hazet man ;-)

Somethings cooking

With all the talk of a B.C. Challenge, the R&D department are cooking something up......

Comments & Followers

We received a few emails that people were trying to post comments, but it was too difficult.

We have now activated that anyone can post a comment although it will go through a moderator before it is posted, to stop spam.

Also "followers" has been activated if you wish to follow the blog....

Happy viewing

OOC

Shedding more fat

looks like someone's been busy with a sheet of aluminium over the weekend ;-)

'54 Sunroof pan

With the welding on the pan finished, it was sent for blasting & primer.

Here it is after we just finished the painting.

Now for the front beam.......

Rules & Regulations

We have all been involved with may clubs and organisations over the years.

They all have too many rules and regulations and that is why we only have two.

Make it as light as you can

Make it as fast as you can

All period correct of course :-)

HPD Special update

The screwdrivers have the "HPD special" in the garage for some minor updates.

In their words "it will be at the B.C. 2011 oldspeed challenge" so will we, can't wait for that one :-)

read more about their new Oldspeed project on their Blog

'54's rims

The '54's rims are just back from powder coating, just awaiting the tyres :-)

On line

Our Friends The Original Flat 4 Driver Club is now on line :-)

Going for a drive

Here is 'Der Thundersodder Spezialer' in action, filmed from the rear seat, although there are NO seats in the rear.

We are sure the first time was the last time for the passenger :-)

Shedding the fat

Looks like someone is trying to get a better power to weight ratio ;-)

When all else fails

The only thing left to do is get out the oxygen & acetylene

It's not something that we like to do, but sometimes necessary.

We are busy on the '53's rear end, and when removing the spring plates to renew the bushes we found that the torsion bar was stuck inside the spring plate.

We first tacked a bolt onto the cover plate and warmed it a little so to remove it, (easy to grind off later) then we heated up the the end of the spring plate and we mean heated, it had to be glowing.

Next we placed the spring plate on a block of oak, took a 40mm steel bar and drifted out the torsion bar, being careful not to damage the splines.

Some people say that you shouldn't do this and others say that's bull***t, but sometimes the only way is a little heat....

Oldspeed Cruise

The OOC has joined forces with our friends "The Sechs Volt Boyz" and "The original Flat 4 Drivers Club" to organise an Oldspeed cruise to B.C.

More news to follow......

Green Beauty

Another new car at the OOC

this time it's a Fjordgreen S90, destined to become an all out OOC racer, nice purchase "B"

We look forward to seeing it taking shape ;-)

Now B.C is getting closer it is completely getting out of hand at the OOC.

Everyone is busy getting their s**t together with their cars, there is talk of 46 IDA's, Carrera gearing, 356 Brake modifications, plexi windows and of course a symphony of Sebrings :-)

there is going to be some serious hp in our Oldspeed convoy to B.C. and this will be just the warm up for Le Mans Classic 2012

All dressed up !

Going somewhere special with all those stoneguards?

L-R-L maybe ;-)

Hens Teeth

These things really are as rare as Hens teeth

It is no less a Denzel oil pump cover and return for a full flow application

just what we need for one of our new motor builds

A big thanks to Herr Specializer for finding this one......

HPD Special

Could there be another "New" Oldspeed Racer In the OOC..........

Belt up!

We just got our hands on some vintage seat belts.

Although originally for an aircraft, they are perfect for our Oldspeed cars ;-)

Barn find

After sitting forgotten and unloved for years, this '52 has just been rediscovered

Could there be a 'new Oldspeed racer' in the OOC....

'54 Pan

Now the body is in paint it's time to start the work on the pan....

Now we are sitting comfortably

The fabrication, welding and painting of the first seat frame is finished

One down, one to go......

Sitting comfortably

We managed to find time to test fit the seats in the L-R-L car.

Now we know what we must do to make the seat supports :-)

Home at last

The '54 sunroof is back from paint :-)

Piccolo Diavolo

Something is stirring in the garage......

Wolfgangs in the garage!

Wolfgang Denzel that is..........

The Denzel motor is now mounted to the gearbox on R.C's '52 Kab, nice job :-)

The cold weather is nearly finished now and after seeing this we are more than motivated to get back in the workshop with our L-R-L car.

on the move again

The '54 sunroof is off to the paint shop....

'54 sunroof modifications

Some last minute modifications before going for paint.......