Washington State race'n red SCCA 65 roadster

[twpeverett]

First of all, thanks everybody in the forums ection for providing the much needed advice.

I picked up an old SCCA racecar, a 65 Datsun roadster which has been a racecar for 4 decades so I'm told. It was 'born' into racing back in new york in 1971. Ran for 8 years, rested for a few years and then moved to the Mid-West and raced from about 81 to 85. SCCAR mid-west champ in 84.

I bought it near Madison Wisconsin last year and tried to go vintage racing. ran into two problems, blew up the motor during the novice training (too lean, severe predetonation and burnt a hole through #1) and the local vintage group thought the car was too heavily modified to fit into the spirit of the club. It does have fiberglass fenders, bare interior, all the usual stuff from an old racecar.

Fun to drive, well ya! I only put seven laps on her (two at about 80%) but the HP to weight ratio is great, excellent handling, and sounded way cool with the BRE type 'around the frame' header.

Spent most of last race season chasing parts, getting stuff made (pistons), waiting on the machine shop, and lastly challenging my skills to get it to breathe fire once again.

any other datsun racers out there?

Tom Pittsenbarger
Everett, WA USA

--probably race conference at Pacific Internation Raceways in 2012

[zippy67roadster]

There are plenty and a special section here just for racing roadster posts! I am currently building a vintage race car out of a 67 160. Should have it ready for VARA University next January. Welcome to the group!!

[tjp]

Hey Tom, if that car is the one I am thinking of, it was most likely not your fault that you blew the motor: A buddy of mine bought a "freshly rebuilt 1600 race motor" from the guy who sold that car. Everytime he has had that motor on the track, something has failed. Last time out the cam shaft shattered.

You might want to save yourself some headaches and have what is left of the motor you got with the car thoroughly checked out.

Not trying to start any flame wars if the seller of the car (and motor) is on this forum. Just tying to save someone the headaches my buddy has gone through!

Tim

[dld]

Tom,

I just picked up a '69 2000, and it has a header that goes both under and over the frame. Is that the BRE header? I haven't seen this before. The collector is on the outside of the frame rail instead of the inside like stock.

DLD

[dbrick]

Tom,

I just picked up a '69 2000, and it has a header that goes both under and over the frame. Is that the BRE header? I haven't seen this before. The collector is on the outside of the frame rail instead of the inside like stock.

DLD

Sounds like it is.

[twpeverett]

I think it is a BRE header. It was a little rusty so I had some repair work done to it. At some point I'll end up using it for a pattern and making a new one.

Need to work on a few other things first. Namely carbs. Starving for fuel. I've read up on it it some and it seems fairly straight forward. Good Saturday project.

[Alvin]

BRE header


killer B&W photo, welcome!

[dld]

Mine might be a copy, it looks a little different. I was looking at today, and it has had quite a bit of contact with the wheel/tire, and there's a small hole rubbed in it. Not sure what I'll do about that. It has also been welded together, so removal will not be easy.In the interest of just getting it back on the road, I may just weld up the hole, and worry about it later, as long as the rubbing isn't too bad.

David