The Fat One

[Steve Holmes]

14315

The Fat One (the car that is, not the driver, Dennis Marwood is still in great shape today!). When the Sports Car Club of American created their new SCCA Grand Prix Championship for 1967, they did so with it combining three different classes: Formula C for Formula 3 cars, Formula B for F2 cars, and Formula A for F1 cars. Following a lacklustre opening season for Formula A, in which only a handful of elderly F1 machines took part, the SCCA reformatted the FA rules, to include stock-block V8 motors up to 5,000cc for 1968.

This proved an excellent decision, as there were already several companies in the US preparing stock-block 5 litre V8 race motors for the SCCA Trans-Am series, and the new FA class provided chassis makers another avenue for which to build cars. But many of the early FA cars were either converted USAC cars, or used USAC design principles, such as those built by Jerry Eisert.

Eisert built a monocoque USAC car for Al Unser to race in 1965, which then became a spare for 1966, before being converted to a Formula A car in 1968. In FA guise, the Eisert was raced by Stew McMillen. McMillen was then invited to New Zealand for the grandly named Monaco International Trophy at Bay Park, on December 28, 1968, where he squared up against the FA cars of Ron Grable (Sceptre HR1), Pierre Phillips (Lola T140), and Rex Ramsay (LeGrand FA67) plus a full line-up of Kiwis and Aussies in smaller capacity. Its not fully known if the Eisert McMillen took to NZ is the Unser car, or another 1965 model.

McMillen qualified 2nd to Grable, but crashed on lap 18. But there were enough people in NZ who liked what they saw, and Formula A, or Formula 5000 as it became known elsewhere in the world, was adopted as New Zealands premier single seater category for the 1969/70 season. With that, the Eisert stayed in NZ, leased by Ian Rorison, who had it rebuilt, and it was raced by Dennis Marwood in both the Gold Star and Tasman Series.

Marwood won the opening Gold Star race at Pukekohe in September 1969, then finished second to Graeme Lawrence in the ex-Amon Ferrari 246T in Round 2. Among his other outings, he also took top 5 placings at the Bay Park and Levin international races, against some impressive competition.

At the end of the season, the lease on the Eisert was not renewed. With Formula A/5000 having become something of a global phenomenon, chassis development improved at rapid pace and the Eisert quickly began to show its age. The Rorison/Marwood combination instead went saloon car racing, with the purchase of Joe Chamberlains 1969 Trans-Am Camaro.

But the Eisert, which was affectionately dubbed the Fat One early in its life, is fondly remembered in NZ, and how could it not be. How could you not fall in love with such a charismatic race car!

[Steve Holmes]

The above is just a quick article I threw together for our Facebook page. The photo is by Mike Feisst.

[jamie]

Steve saw that car at Bay Parke still have a big photo of it, Tell pepole what it is and thay give strange looks Dennis drovr the wheels off it Jamie A

[tweaks]

Looks like a young Dick Bennetts steering the car

Cheers

Lynds

[woody]

Tweaks, Conalgton & Whitton = Metalspray.

[GD66]

Looks like a young Dick Bennetts steering the car
Cheers
Lynds

And Joe Wright pushing on right rear.

[Jerry Entin]

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5201/billeisert.jpg
The Fat One
Steve: The Fat one is currently owned by Bill Wiswedel of Holland, Michigan. It was made by Jerry Eisert for J. Frank Harrison's team to run in the 1965 Indy races. It had a 255 cu in Chevy with cast iron block and heads. It was converted into a F-5000 car for the 1968 season. It had a Colotti T-37 gearbox in it with a rear start shaft conversion.
In it's later life it was converted for street use by two brothers in Nebraska name Wayne and Steve Huntley.

[Jerry Entin]

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/9268/billeisert2.jpg
Rear view of The Fat One


photos: Bill Wiswedel collection

[Steve Holmes]

Hi Jerry, thank you for this. So the car in your photo is the same car raced by Stew McMillen and Dennis Marwood? Do you know when the bodywork was changed?

This explains the confusion from 1968, where McMillen had a 65 model Eisert converted for FA racing, then took a 65 Eisert to NZ, but rather than him taking the car he'd raced in FA in 1968, he actually took another car to NZ. The car he raced in FA in 1968 was apparently the ex-Unser car, whereas the car he took to NZ which was raced by Marwood was apparently not the Unser car.

[GD66]

My understanding was that the Rorison car went back from NZ to Eisert's workshop and remained there until he died.

[Jerry Entin]

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/2653/unserineisert600x479.jpg
Al Unser in 1965 in The Fat One
Jerry Eisert is alongside Al Unser. Skip Hudson tried to pass his Rookie test in this car. He didn't make it and Al Unser was given a chance in it.
Jerry Eisert told Bill Wiswedel that there is only one 1965 monocoque car. The car he has is the one that went to New Zealand and is known as The Fat One.

photo: IMS Archives

[Steve Holmes]

My understanding was that the Rorison car went back from NZ to Eisert's workshop and remained there until he died.

There is some good information on the Eiserts on Allen Browns excellent website, but again there is some confusion here as to how many cars McMillen owned: http://www.oldracingcars.com/eisert/65-67/

[Steve Holmes]

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/2653/unserineisert600x479.jpg
Al Unser in 1965 in The Fat One
Jerry Eisert is alongside Al Unser. Skip Hudson tried to pass his Rookie test in this car. He didn't make it and Al Unser was given a chance in it.
Jerry Eisert told Bill Wiswedel that there is only one 1965 monocoque car. The car he has is the one that went to New Zealand and is known as The Fat One.

photo: IMS Archives

Thanks Jerry, thats a beautiful photo, and also an interesting one. The bodywork looks very similar to that of the Marwood car, but the photos you posted earlier show different bodywork, with more squared edges. Was the body changed after it returned from NZ?

[Jerry Entin]

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4366/64and65car.jpg
The 1964 tube framed car in front and the 1965 monocoque car in back.
Steve: I assume the body work was changed when the car returned. As you say the Wedge type was later type thinking.


photo: Bill Wiswedel collection

[Jerry Entin]

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/268/skipatindy.jpg
Skip Hudson during his Rookie test
The Wedge body was installed by Bill Tempero of Ft. Collins, Colorado after the car came back from New Zealand. It is believed Bill Tempero used the car in USAC type races in the early 70's.


photo: IMS Archives

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, Jerry, these photos are beautiful! The pitlane shot of the two teams cars together is especially exciting. Thanks for posting these.

[Jerry Entin]

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/7593/engineeisertindy600x468.jpg
Engine in The Fat One
It looks like Jerry Eisert used some side draft type of fuel injectors on the engine.

photo: Bill Wiswedel collection

[Jerry Entin]

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2397/eisertwithlights1.jpg
The Fat One in its Street Rod Days

photo: Bill Wiswedel collection

[Jerry Entin]

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7306/eisert10041.jpg
The Fat One in its F-5000 days
This is the Stew McMillan Formula A entry at Elkhart Lake in June of 1968. Stew was from Libertyville, Illinois. This event was called the June Sprints and Stew McMillan won it after the favorite, Jerry Hansen, blew a head gasket in his new Lola T-140.

photo: Bill Wiswedel collection

[Jerry Entin]

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9697/18650186.jpg
The Fat One in the early 70's
This is when it had the Wedge body and also a wing added. It was now owned by Bill Tempero of Ft. Collins, Colorado

photo: Bill Wiswedel collection.

[Jerry Entin]

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5039/eisertwith41.jpg
Al Unser in #96 The Fat One
This was from Phoenix in November of 1965. #4 Don Branson and #46 Jim Hurtubise and #64 Bud Tinglestad
Race was won by AJ Foyt driving a Lotus/Ford. Don Branson would finish 5th with 198 laps run, Bud Tingelstad would finish 6th with 197 laps run. Al Unser finished 17th with 133 laps run due to mechanical troubles. He made a whopping $361 for his effort.


Photo: Bill Wiswedel collection

[Jerry Entin]

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/3228/eisert2cars1.jpg
#96 as driven by Al Unser with off set suspension for Ovals
LeRoy Yarborough drove the #93 car in 1965. When Al Unser drove #96 there was a 255 cu in Chevy engine in it. When LeRoy drove the #93 there was a 300 cu in Chevy that ran on gasoline in the car.


photo: Jerry Eisert collection

[Jerry Entin]

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/5004/dirteisert.jpg
The Fat One in its Dirt Track days
This was Al Unser in 1965 at what was called "Hoosier Hundred". This was a qualifying attempt at the Indy Fairgrounds.

photo: Bill Wiswedel collection

[Rod Grimwood]

This car has a real lot of history, and amazing all the different configurations and tracks it raced on to still be a survivor. Thanks Jerry for sharing all this interesting information and amazing photos.

[Steve Holmes]

Jerry, thanks so much for posting these. What amazing photos! The two that really stand out are of the car as converted for road use, and the dirt track shot. I knew the car had raced on the dirt, but I really wasn't expecting a surface quite that rough. Must have been hell on the car!

And as for the photo of it converted to road use, I knew a few Group 7 sports cars had been converted for the road in the 60s/70s, but this is really taking the concept to another level. Just amazing! Thanks again for posting these Jerry, I've really enjoyed them.

[Grant Ellwood]

That Eisart wasn't the easiest of F5000 cars to drive, really demonstrated the skill and versatility of Dennis Marwood.

[OCTARD-USA]

Though I gather that is not the car that went to New Zealand, this bit about "1964 Eisert Indy Car Serial #1 (http://colinsclassicauto.com/detail.php?car=392)" may be of interest to those following this thread.

[Steve Holmes]

Fantastic, thanks Chad.

[Jerry Entin]

14482
Ronnie Duman also tried the Fat One on Dirt

[neale]

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2397/eisertwithlights1.jpg
The Fat One in its Street Rod Days

photo: Bill Wiswedel collection


How awsome is that a F5000 road car, imagine taking that down to the shops to pick up a loaf of bread :)

[stubuchanan]

Seeing post #21 with Jim Hurtubise reminded me that I should return this book to its owner.

http://s6.postimage.org/u7vgfvjzl/Hurtubise_Herk.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

The cover photo is at Terre Haute, Indiana, a half mile dirt(Clay) track noted for its bumps, apparently. An interesting story which has had at least 3 reprints. Hurtubise, as a rookie at the Indy 500 in 1960 recorded the fastest qualifying (4-lap) time, 2.5 mph faster than anybody else at 149 mph odd. Unfortunately he didn't record it on the first qualifying day so ended up about 19th on the grid.

Hurtubise was a strong competitor for most of the 60's.

I don't imagine cars like the Eisert would have run at Terre Haute, but perhaps Jim Entin can comment.

Stu

[Jerry Entin]

Stu: I don't think anyone could make a rear engined Indy type car with off-set suspension work on the dirt. When Ronnie Duman drove it there seemed to be better dirt type tires on the car then when Al Unser tried it. I have never heard of anyone developing a rear engined type car to run on dirt type tracks.

If anyone did and they would have beat the front engined cars, I am sure that the owners of the front engined cars would try and have the rear engined cars banned.

[stubuchanan]

Jerry; I note that for some reason I called you Jim in my post. Some kind of late-night brain fade on my part, I think. Please accept my apologies!

Stu

[ElCoyote]

And Joe Wright pushing on right rear.

After enlarging the photo I suspect that it is Don Mckay doing the pushing on the rear. Still as handsome today!

[SPman]

How awsome is that a F5000 road car, imagine taking that down to the shops to pick up a loaf of bread :)
Like Bill Clark used to drive down to Tai Tapu in the P3 Alfa of a sunday morning........