aceaceca As the
Mongoose seems to have highjacked the original thread, " Aceca for Sale in CA " .. .[V]
Thought it best to Copy the "Mongoose" data and set up a seperate thread and let the two subjects run seperately.
Hopefully that meets approval . .. [
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Keith.. .. [
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USA
13 Posts
Posted - 12 December 2010 : 01:41:51 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walt Petersen built the "MONGOOSE". It was one of the early V8 powered AC roadsters. The guy he built it for took driving lessons from Shelby at Sears Point I think it was. He drove the car in those sessions and I think Shelby was impressed with the thing. There is a Hot Rod magazine article detailing the Mongoose. I have it here somwhere but could not put my hands on it. Walt is still about and retains an Aceca. A friend of mine owns the Bristol engined roadster his wife once raced. Walt lives up in Washington state now.
aceaceca USA
13 Posts
Posted - 12 December 2010 : 01:45:37 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I watched the white Aceca with a 2.6 Ford race at Sears Point way back when early classic racing began. The guy driving it was a master. He played that car within inches of the wall at the hairpin turn at the end of the straight away.
Aceca289
USA
58 Posts
Posted - 15 December 2010 : 01:15:38 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote:
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Originally posted by aceaceca
Walt Petersen built the "MONGOOSE". It was one of the early V8 powered AC roadsters. The guy he built it for took driving lessons from Shelby at Sears Point I think it was. He drove the car in those sessions and I think Shelby was impressed with the thing. There is a Hot Rod magazine article detailing the Mongoose. I have it here somwhere but could not put my hands on it. Walt is still about and retains an Aceca. A friend of mine owns the Bristol engined roadster his wife once raced. Walt lives up in Washington state now.
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Interesting bit about the MONGOOSE…I know of at least one V-8 Ace (I believe it was a Buick 215ci) that Walt built for the son of the guy who had the 289 installed in my car. His name was Dennis Snook and was the link to my father’s purchase of my Aceca. I don’t think this was the “Mongoose”, although you prompted me to do some on-line research. I discovered that Shelby did open the “Shelby School of High Performance Driving” at Riverside International Raceway (in Southern Cal) in 1961…just after his decision to quit racing and before the development of the Cobra. I’d be interested in seeing the Hot Rod Magazine Article if you can find it. I believe Walt may have been located in the Southern California area around that time. I will have to contact Walt sometime to see what light he can shed on this story. It is a good idea to retrieve as much history as we can from these custodians of AC history…before it’s too late!
btw - My dad still stays in contact with Walt and informed me that Walt got rid of his Aceca a few years ago (AC engined one I believe). He also confirmed that Walt’s wife (Fran) did race back in the 50’s…in fact “that’s how they met”…as Paul Harvey would say…”and that’s the rest of the story”…
John AC Ace BristolUnited Kingdom
486 Posts
Posted - 01 January 2011 : 19:22:16 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John
Re; The Mongoose
I have a photocopy of a 2 page article published in August 1963 pages 68 & 69 ... "The Mongoose".
A Red 1958 Ace fitted with a F85 Olds V8 coupled to a 62 Corvette transmission, installed by Jerry Scheberies and Walt Petersen.
The five pictures were taken by John O'Donnel.
Please confirm your email address and I will scan and email copy to you.
In the meantime, Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New year
Keith ..
jrlucke
USA
31 Posts
Posted - 02 January 2011 : 01:00:54 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is another thread from Jan 3 2010 around BEX1045 and Jerry Scheberies referring to this same Hot Rod article.
John
jrlucke
USA
31 Posts
Posted - 02 January 2011 : 05:20:26 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Keith's request, here are is the article:
AC Ace Bristol
United Kingdom
486 Posts
Posted - 02 January 2011 : 13:02:05
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John (Jrlucke)Thank you for posting the two page article on Mongoose, Interesting that you live within a few miles of Walt, Maybe it's possible to contact him / visit him.?
Has he any period photos or has he any old documentation that could help ID this particular Ace..
There were a few Ace in the USA fitted with Olds & Buick V8s in the early 1960's some before or about the same time as "Carroll Shelby" launched The AC Cobra.
Tony Bancroft & Tim Isles the ACOC Ace Registrars, have a wealth of historic data on our Aces, But require more information on these V8 conversions, especially what happened to the original AC or Bristol engines and unfinished or crashed/scrapped projects.
Any additional information, however small would be appreciated. Might even help substantiate history on a known Ace or locate one of those lost in time, Which have slipped off the Radar..
Keith[/b]..[]
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Edited by - AC Ace Bristol on 02 January 2011 13:10:24
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