Yeah, I wonder if they're a development of the motors used in the factory Dodge Challengers and Plymouth Cudas that raced in the Trans-Am series in 1970?
Yeah, I wonder if they're a development of the motors used in the factory Dodge Challengers and Plymouth Cudas that raced in the Trans-Am series in 1970?
Pontiac, AMC and Plymouth engines in F5000 Autosport discussion
1976 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship season Jackie Oilver gave Dodge their only F5000 victory, at Road America.The 1975/1976 Dodge F5000 unit was a descendant of a TransAm powerplant, a Car & Driver
report says. It had a bore of 4.04 inches and a stroke of 2.96 inches (Chevrolet: 4.00 x 3.00).
Motoring News suggests that the Dodge unit started life as the same motor that was run
in the 1970 All American Racers TransAm Plymouth Barracudas.
The Plymouth and Dodge engines are based on the 273 cu. in. V8 engine introduced in 1964 in NA. These are known as "LA series" engines, a small block. They were used in various Plymouths, Dodges and Chryslers in 273, 318 and 340 cu sizes, all with a 3.31" stroke. The 1971 and later 360 is a still an "LA" but with a longer stroke.
Last edited by Bryan; 03-21-2014 at 02:46 AM.
I will always be grateful for Graham Donaldson. I got to know him while working at Trojan as he was a mechanic for the VDS race teambased in Belgium in 1973.Originally Posted by Steve Holmes
When Graham called me in 1975 in San Diego and asked if I wanted to help at Long Beach I was out the door and heading north in the VW camper in a heartbeat ! I arrived in time to have a meal and be entertained by the antics of Sid Taylor and Teddy Yip enjoying themselves. After that was a long evening of cleaning the car and all piling into a cheap hotel room and sleeping on the floor. The wicked life style of Long Beach at that time was not on our agenda ! We were excited as Tony had been quick from the start of practice but had suffered an ominous breakdown due to a broken half shaft.
This photo shows us as we were putting the Lola T-332 to the front of the grid. Graham Donaldson is on the left, Teddy Yip, Carey ? Ken Hyndman in the grubby clothing, Sid Taylor and Tony Brise who I think looks the least concerned of all of us !
Al Unser signed this photo many years later as he had been very impressed by what Tony achieved this weekend.
Also note Dan Gurney signed the front of the race programme and the unused tickets were because I showed up at the track and told the guy at the gate I was part of the Theodore Team and was running late ! I came back later and found some poor homeless chaps wanted to sleep in my van. (After they had gone to one of the many porno theatres that lined Ocean Boulevard at that time !)
(Ken Hyndman)
Last edited by khyndart in CA; 03-21-2014 at 04:38 AM.
As at Silverstone you will note the easy access that the public had and could just stroll in and have a chat in the shade under the tree !
Graham doing front wing adjustments and Julian Randles checking the transmission with Sid Taylor keeping an eye on it all.
No one knew at this time just how good Tony Brise would be. Therefore there was no crowd around us.
Amazing too that just 2 months after you took these photos Ken, both Graham Hill, Tony Brise, and four other Embassy Hill crew were killed in that place crash in North London. Really tragic.
This is great info Ken, I'm really enjoying this thread.
I interviewed Vern Schuppan last year (for Australian Muscle Car magazine) and there are some interesting parallels with Tony Brise and the Theodore/Taylor team.
Of course Vern Schuppan drove for Sid Taylor in 1974 and moved to Dan Gurney’s Eagle team for 1975 where his best result would be 2nd here at the Long Beach Grand Prix. Dan thought that Vern was slacking off a bit at the end but Vern said the Eagle had no brakes, a fact that the mechanics could confirm when they had a minor accident in the paddock post-race!
Vern teamed up with Tony Brise for the 1975 Swedish Grand Prix replacing regular Hill driver Rolf Stommelen who had been injured in Spain.
It isn’t widely known but Tony Brise was to drive the Theodore/Taylor Lola T332 down under in the 1976 Rothmans International series. Tragically that was never to be. Vern was bought in to replace Brise and went to win the series – his first time racing as a professional in his own country!
1975 was a tragic year for the Graham Hill team as the crash at the Spanish Grand Prix at Montjuic Park circuit was due to rear wing failure and the resulting spectator deaths was a devastating blow to the team.
Graham Hill and Tony wanted Graham Donaldson on their F1 team. Graham Donaldson had been away in the States and he had to find new accommodation now he was back in England. He had to decline the offer to go on the fateful flight to France so he could find a flat otherwise he would have been on board that flight also.
(Ken Hyndman)
Last edited by khyndart in CA; 03-21-2014 at 08:26 AM.
Do you think Graham Hill enjoyed his job? Here he is getting acquainted with one of his fans.
Graham's main concern was how to write a clear autograph without putting his hand on the inside for better support !Do you think Graham Hill enjoyed his job? Here he is getting acquainted with one of his fans.
The other fan seems to be enjoying it more !
Notice how dedicated the rest of the team is and paying no attention to this "Side show" !
Graham certainly seemed to enjoy his time at Long Beach.
(Ken Hyndman)
Thanks Ken. Here is the next one.
Sid Taylor, Graham Hill and Tony Brise preparing to drive.Thanks Ken. Here is the next one.
This photo shows how tall Tony Brise was and this led to some interesting adjustments to the T-332.
The front body work was modified with a bulge to allow for his large feet !(See # 59 photo on nose panel above Theodore Racing )
Then he found the heat at Long Beach was causing his legs to cramp and so we tried to modify the bulge to allow air to
come in and I managed to botch that up and we ended up putting tape over the modification and by the time the race was on
Tony had no problems with leg cramps !
(Ken Hyndman )
Last edited by khyndart in CA; 03-26-2014 at 11:45 PM.
Brilliant! Thanks Ken.
Saturday Sept.27th 1975. Long Beach. First Qualifying Session.
Julian Randles and Graham Donaldson at work along with Teddy Yip in the pit lane on Ocean Boulevard.
Tony is about to go out and show what he could do in the streets of Long Beach.
(Note the previously mentioned specially designed bulge in the front bodywork for Tony's big feet ! )
(Ken Hyndman)
Thanks Ken, just out of interest, is this the pits or part of the track? Kinda looks like a grandstand behind those concrete barricades in the background.
Yes that is the track in the background. It came up the hill on Pine Avenue and turned right onto Ocean Blvd. The right lane of Ocean was divided off as the pit area and Theodore Racing had the pit area closest to Pine Ave. The left lanes of Ocean Blvd were the race course separated by the 8000 pound concrete barriers and fencing.
( I hope that makes some sense.)
Ken Hyndman.
This shows the hard working and intensely dedicated race mechanic, Graham Donaldson, who was very sought after from, VDS, Theodore Racing, Sid Taylor, Graham Hill, Alan Jones, Dan Gurney, Geoff Brabham etc as they all knew the car would be done properly.
In the background watching, is Janet Brise and Graham Hill dressed in 70s style bell bottoms etc.
Now here is a "what if "
Janet & Tony were married one week before I married Judy in 1974 and we talked about that and how after the racing was over in California that they come to stay with us in San Diego and relax away from the English winter before Christmas. Instead Graham Hill wanted Tony back in England for more testing of the "Embassy" F 1 car.
(What if they had come to stay with us instead !)
Ken Hyndman
Yeah, creepy isn't it Ken! Amazing how these scenarios can swill about in your head, wondering 'what if'.
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