Break the Mold

 

Monterey Historics 2001

 

     What a day it was.  Got up to go to the Marina Autocross, which is only a mile from home since our last move.  Had a good time breaking in my new Yokohamas.  Realized that I really need to drop my rear end a couple inches; I would have yesterday, but time slipped away from me rather quickly, but that's another story...

     About noon, I left the house for Laguna Seca, it was still foggy and hovering in the high 50s for a late August day.  This weather sucks!  Anyhow, about three miles from home, the fog broke and the valley had great sunny hot summer weather - perfect for a day at the track.  

     After parking the 510 in the lot, I navigated directly to the Trans Am row in the paddock.  Earlier in the day, Brian Holloway gave me the G2 (info) on where #46 was in the paddock.  There were a bunch of cool cars, to mention an old Porsche 356 with a cool grid graphic scheme I'd seen in a Eurotrash rag years ago  and some guy standing next to some Hotwheels sponsored Baracuda.

356_02.jpg (16754 bytes) 356_01.jpg (46403 bytes)

 

     At any rate, I found #46 in the paddock - it was around lunchtime.  I got all kinds of shots of the car - details, interior, body and engine (thanks to Les "hood prop" Cannady).

  #46 waiting for me(30870 bytes) #85 Used to be 35(38196 bytes)

Old #35, now #85 was a couple cars down.  Both are very nice cars.  But neither John Morton, nor Pete Brock were to be found.

     I wandered around some, and by the time I came back John Morton was relaxing in the shade behind #46 in the paddock.  I approached him and "troubled" him for an autograph.  I had a cover of an old 1972 Road & Track that has his car leading an Alfa and BMW up into the corkscrew.  After signing it, he proceeded to tell me that the car was getting loaned to R&T next month (September) for a reshoot of the cover.  Too cool.  However, he said that the shoot was to be at Sears Point, instead of Laguna Seca.  

     According to John Morton, #46 is as near original as it was when retired and even has the same paint job as it did at the end of it's career in 1972.  It's sharp.  The numbers and main lettering are hand painted - you can see the brush strokes.  Granted it was stenciled, but the brush strokes show the level of attention and love that the car was given even back then.  

     He also told me that this was the first time since '72 that he's driven the car, or that the car's been track driven, for that matter.  I asked him if it took getting used to after so many years.  He told me that the learning curve was minimal - I think he's been driving 510s on the side ever since, what do you think?

     Peeking at the engines I noticed the heads are V912s.  According to Dean Case (Manager, Product PR, Nissan N.A.), the only real hard part that was changed was the radiator.  However, talking to one of the other corporate guys, he told me that the engines were on loan from a local builder.  He also told me the shocks were rebuilt, and that the exhaust had a couple holes he had to patch.  #46 had a points ignition, while #85 had an electronic ignition setup pushed by an MSD 6AL, a Mallory "super coil", and Pertronix guts under the cap.  Interiors were slick, flat dashes chock full of switches and Stewart Warner gauges, topped with stock dash pads.  Plumbing was different between the cars, in so far as how/what they ran through the interiors.  I expected the cars to be identical in most respects.  Rubber was Hoosier 225/45/13s on the Libres.  

 #46 Front Shot(39338 bytes) #46 Front Shot(31162 bytes) #46 Front Shot(35316 bytes)   #46 Side Shot(33780 bytes) #46 Engine Shot(41875 bytes)   #46 VIN Check your number(13417 bytes) #46 Interior Detail, Fuel line runs thru conduit(37629 bytes) #46 Dash(22276 bytes) #46 Engine Detail(44268 bytes)   #46 Engine Detail(40173 bytes)   #46 Rear End(20011 bytes) #46 Engine Detail(42585 bytes) #85 Trunk Detail, Very cool Battery Mount(37808 bytes) Engine Shot(35232 bytes)

  

     I also had the chance to get a good look at that mysterious black jack point along the rocker of the car.  It's a carved out section right at the balance point, reinforced with 3/16" or so stock.  They stick the jack right in it and raise the entire side of the car - as was demonstrated on #85 as it was worked on.

Jack Point(18286 bytes) Jack Point being used(35010 bytes) 

     Well, this was all too cool, and I had to go home and bring the wife out to see it all.  We got back, and I could hear the cars running from the parking lot - damn they started without me!  

     In so far as the race - it was fast. We showed up just as they left the line, and I spent most of my time running around the track to get different shots of the cars (#46 and #85) on different lengths of track.  I think I got some good shots, we'll know in a couple days. The race was over in under 25 minutes. That was my only beef - the last race of the day runs the fastest cars - they need to extend it at least five more laps, because it's over so soon.  Morton pushed one of the larger cars out of a turn - literally. Turns out it was Vic Edlebrock in a black and gold Camaro.  I got a picture of Pete Brock reviewing the damage in the paddock.  Basically put a 1 1/2" crack in the front driver's side flair - I expected to see a dinged up bumper and grille.

#46 In Turn 5(31049 bytes) #46 Leaving Turn 5(21384 bytes) #85 Exiting Turn 5(38156 bytes) #85 Out of Turn 5 Beginning the Climb(33503 bytes) #46 on the way to Turn 6, there's that damned Camaro(56542 bytes) #46 leaving Turn 5(26736 bytes) Under the Bridge on the way to Turn 6(36107 bytes) On the climb to Turn 6(26627 bytes) On the way to the Corkscrew(38566 bytes) #46 in the Corkscrew - Victory lap(41197 bytes) Victory Lap(33138 bytes) #85 Victory Lap, Notice the thumbs up of fans, even the foreground isn't me(42623 bytes)


     Oh yeah, Morton kicked ass for the under 2.5 cars.  Granted, there were only 5 this year (5 more than last year), but the lead over them is what was impressive. He ran with the middle of the pack overall.  Needless to say, he is an awesome driver, but what he can do with the 510 is amazing, and I know the muscle cars on the track respected the 510s presence.

     After the race, I met Pete Brock - the man responsible for the west coast success of the 510.  Both he and John are very cool guys:  true sportsmen/gentlemen, extremely grounded and approachable, and humbled in light of their success and following.  Both are so down to earth, it makes you feel good to appreciate their contributions to the "cause".  Before I could get a word in, they thanked me for coming and supporting
them. Wow.


Pete Brock telling me how cool I am ; )(27518 bytes) John Morton posing with body damage(46402 bytes) Pete and John kidding about the body damage(38713 bytes)


     The thing I'll probably remember the most is that about an hour after the race, as we were leaving the paddock, I looked back down the row, and as the other drivers and cars were getting packed and dissipating from sight, there was still a group of folks around #46.  It was a great thing to see, because it showed the support and continued interest (even if it is cultish in a sense - but, that's what makes it cool) in the car we love so much. I kid you not - everyone else was gone, but folks were still around #46 - guess it helps that it was the winner (of the small cars).

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