My latest diversion

My recent work on the Berkeley (sportbike sound) and a visit to Sasco Sports (lots of vintage sports racers in various stages of restoration) has gotten me thinking about trying to find a D Sports Racer such as a LeGrand for use in B Modified autocross or even possibly vintage racing.

My dad was the original owner of a Mk18 LeGrand back in the 70s and I still remember how that Kawasaki engine sounded....let's call it my first sexual experience....

Restoring and working on an old LeGrand would be an interesting project: part restoration, part preparation/conversion/suspension theory for autocross and part cutting edge sports racer technology.

Hmmm. idle thoughts....

B Mod Vintage racer? Love it!

I even think I could convince Kim to try her hand at it...she loved the F Mod car she tried last year.

This will probably not happen right away...both hard to find and hard to fit into my life. Maybe after the Neon? Dunno. I'll keep my eyes open.

Oh yeah, always wanted to build a DSR for road racing, so an equivalent Solo ride would be a lot of fun. There were some beautifully sculpted mini Can-Am style cars built back in the 50's, 60's and 70's that while they may not be great at speed, they look so nice carving around a slower course.

I've been keeping my eyes open for something like that for a long time, but they just don't seem to come up for sale that often. You can occasionally find a fully sorted one for big bucks, but that's no fun.

Coincidentally, this morning I ordered a copy of http://www.amazon.com/Build-Motorcycle-engined-Racing-Cars-Speedpro/dp/1845841239

I've been waiting for a book like this for years.

Kind of similar: I've seen several Formula SAE racers for sale (including here). I was thinking that one of them might make a neat autocrosser.

Or even add a simple body to one and create a sports racer.

Vintage racing is The Bee's Knees....even with a low-rent Spridget like mine.

Woodyhfd wrote: I've been keeping my eyes open for something like that for a long time, but they just don't seem to come up for sale that often. You can occasionally find a fully sorted one for big bucks, but that's no fun. Coincidentally, this morning I ordered a copy of http://www.amazon.com/Build-Motorcycle-engined-Racing-Cars-Speedpro/dp/1845841239 I've been waiting for a book like this for years.

Wish it had actual plans.

http://dsr.racer.net/chassis/legrand/drawings.htm cough

i would LOVE to read articles about you working on this..

Now this would be a sweet project!

http://sports.racer.net/chassis/legrand/history.htm

http://sports.racer.net/chassis/legrand/gallery1.htm

My dad's looked like this:

http://sports.racer.net/images/chassis/legrand/glade_miller/legrand4.jpg

Dad sold it and it later went to Soter Slomski and then Vern Lyle. Now it's in California, I think.

fiat22turbo wrote: Oh yeah, always wanted to build a DSR for road racing, so an equivalent Solo ride would be a lot of fun. There were some beautifully sculpted mini Can-Am style cars built back in the 50's, 60's and 70's that while they may not be great at speed, they look so nice carving around a slower course.

Um, a good DSR will turn some seriously quick lap times. For a while, they were turning Formula Atlantic times.

Per

While I don't have the history you have with them, my (very) short list of "What to drive fast when I win the lotto" includes a DSR Radical...

That would be a cool project. I'd like to have a baby Can Am car but after seeing them the wife says I'd probably get stuck in it, and once the fire dept cuts it in half it would be a waste of time.

She wonders why she spend so much time chained up in the kitchen

Mine told me my belly was to big and I grabbed the unbiased mirror and showed her that big pregnant belly...

I never knew the couch was so comfy.

Per Schroeder wrote: My dad's looked like this: http://sports.racer.net/images/chassis/legrand/glade_miller/legrand4.jpg Dad sold it and it later went to Soter Slomski and then Vern Lyle. Now it's in California, I think.

I know that car! I used to autocross against Vern Lyle in south jersey. If he didnt show up I was FTD with my FMod car, if he did show up it was about 75% that he would kick my butt. If he didnt it was due to mechanical issues. Amazingly fast and fun autcross toy.

Of course the big difference between Vern and I is my car made me fast, his driving made anything fast.

"Dear Per's bosses, this would be execellent magazine material and I think you should buy him one immediately" :)

JThw8 wrote: I used to autocross against ,Vern Lyle in south jersey. If he didnt show up I was FTD with my FMod car, if he did show up it was about 75% that he would kick my butt. If he didnt it was due to mechanical issues. Amazingly fast and fun autcross toy.

I knew I recognized that name...

Gearhead_42 wrote: I knew I recognized that name...

Yeah, when Vern had it it was red with all sorts of aero mods to it. He moved on to a Bowland Boys B-mod car powered by a BIG aircooled VW engine after that. We used to joke with him that he just went to that because of the one or two times my formula vee actually beat him.

He was a very cool guy.

that was Vern's Dragon, which was based loosely on the LeGrand. Vern sold the Legrand to buy the SFR Dragon. Still a cool car.

Per

cool video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0PuH_9JahQ&feature=related

As of last fall he was driving some kind of F-Mod monstrosity... not sure what he's doing this year.

Sorry Per, just funny to run across names you recognize on here

Gearhead_42 wrote: As of last fall he was driving some kind of F-Mod monstrosity... not sure what he's doing this year. Sorry Per, just funny to run across names you recognize on here

You sure thats not still the B-mod car? It looked like a Formula Vee on steroids. Havent seen him in quite a few years though.

Thanks for the clarification Per, I though he had just modded the heck out of the legrand.

Per, within the last few months there was an interesting thread on SCCAForums discussing set-ups and preparation for B-Mod sports racers.

IIRC, at least a couple of the participants were driving LeGrands.

CSR and DSR cars have always been my favorites, too. Seeing Bobsy SR5's, Lotus 23's and LeGrand's at the RunOffs (too many years ago) was one of the week's highlights.

Anyone have any pics of the Dave Causey-built C/DSR replicas of early CanAm Lolas and McLarens?

Per Schroeder wrote: cool video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0PuH_9JahQ&feature=related

Wow, that's a bigass parking lot.

John Brown wrote: Mine told me my belly was to big and I grabbed the unbiased mirror and showed her that big pregnant belly... I never knew the couch was so comfy.

Mrs. Mini:" Honey, does this dress make my butt look big" Minimac: "No dear, it's big all by itself". The garage hasn't been too bad, but winter is coming.