Messages

166

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Some Vintage pics of Racing Aces

« on: February 09, 2010, 22:16:22 »

Jay, I was in Tucson from 65-68 (USAF) and was only aware of 2 Bristols in town at that time (I was fairly involved with the local sports car scene having a XK120 which needed a replacement engine and saw a number of wrecked XKE's). Tucson was sort of a hotbed for sports cars but I don't recall any A.C. engined cars or cars modified with Ford engines.
   
   Both A.C.'s I knew of were wrecked, one from an incident in Riverside which pretty much totaled the car and the other purchased by a friend which had all four fenders damaged in a complete rollover. It was repaired and moved to Philadelphia when my buddy left for Viet Nam. I believe he sold it in PA sometime around 1969.
   
   The Gil Ranney car was at that time based in San Diego (a photo is in Tony Bancroft's book directly after page 92).
   John

167

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Some Vintage pics of Racing Aces

« on: February 09, 2010, 00:04:23 »

The Racing Sports Car site's listing of activity (limited as it is) suggests that the change from CP to DP occured in 63-64.
   
   The photo I have of Gil Ranney's car at the 1966 Spring Tucson nationals still indicates DP (i.e. 68DP).
   
   I also saw this car listed at the RSC site in 63-65 with numbers 64 and 65.
   
   Gil Ranney switched to a CP Porsche 911 shortly after the Tuscon race (1966-67) and I don't recall seeing any A.C.'s after that and don't see any in the races listed on the RSC site.
   
   Interestingly I did see a A.C."Garter Snake" with a 3500cc engine listed at Laguna Seca. That must be one of the 215 CI Buick/Rover engined cars. I also saw a CM A.C. with at 327 Chev engine listed.

168

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Some Vintage pics of Racing Aces

« on: February 07, 2010, 00:26:43 »

Forgot to note that the Racing Sports Cars site shows Pierre Mion racing A.C.'s with several numbers, mostly 59 but also 759 and 159. 59 was used on his 250 SWB and there's a photo of a formula car with 59.
   
   If I recall, the 159 and 759 would reflect another previously registered car at an event with 59 assigned.
   
   Numbers may have been issued by SCCA regional clubs such that at nationals or other cross region events numbers changed.

169

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Some Vintage pics of Racing Aces

« on: February 07, 2010, 00:21:40 »

I think 1970 is a bit late.
   
   While I attended most Northern CA races in 1968-73, I don't recall seeing any A.C.'s in competition.
   
   I don't recall the classes but a little research at VIR raceway shows DP being contested by Datsun 2000 and Elva (probably MGB powered Courier).
   
   With the introduction of the 911, Datsun 240Z and TR6 and with MGB and TR4's being cheap to prepare and putting out about the same power I think the Bristol's days in production racing were about over (those raced were probably getting pretty well clapped out by that time).

170

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Some Vintage pics of Racing Aces

« on: February 06, 2010, 19:03:51 »

Another constant which led me to think the car is the same is the presence of the 62 Chevy in both photos. The color shot shows the car as being red with a white top and in the B&W there is a 62 wagon which appears to have a lighter top. (This indicates the time period is 62-63.)
   
   I don't know SCCA practices but on the old sports car racing site, the same cars seem to have different numbers from race to race and year to year. BEX154 for example seems to have been assigned half a dozen or so different numbers (although the photos all show 48).
   
   Interestingly in many cases the numbers seem to be in the 44-49 range. That car was red (they also had another as both of the Mulls drove in the same race).
   
   I'm wondering if this car is one of those in later years?

171

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / BEX282 is up for sale

« on: February 05, 2010, 01:04:53 »

This time it seems to be real coming from Canepa in Scotts Valley CA.
   
   Interesting history as it once belonged to a well known American auto writer.
   
   I saw a story some time back that his son would like to have it but it's now too expensive!

172

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / BEX1045

« on: January 04, 2010, 00:16:07 »

Zabasearch shows a Jerry Scheberies listed on Skyline Blvd in Oakland CA. It does include an address and hone number.
   
   John

173

428 Frua Forum / Looking for a 289 picture with Steve McQueen

« on: December 02, 2009, 00:27:49 »

Just a little maintenance on his XK SS while filming his TV show "Wanted Dead or Alive" (OR maybe he's cooking lunch!)
   
   The sidearm is a sawed off Winchester carbine he used on this show rather than the normal six shooter. Gave him 12 shots rather than 6 to get the bad guys?
   
   Now I'm showing my age. I believe the XK was in an auction within the last couple years.

174

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Racing History BEX333 (1957-1964)

« on: October 06, 2009, 05:10:56 »

Keith, sorry you didn't get everything promised. I'm in the San Juan Islands about 120 miles north of Seatac. Let me know if I can pick the materials up for you.
   
   John

175

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Nose Profile

« on: May 04, 2009, 05:49:39 »

The Brooklands Motor Company site (http://www.brooklandsmotorcompany.co.uk/entryframeset.htm) has some fairly good photos of the restoration of the Rudd Ace. Several show the profile around the grill area both before and after restoration.
   
   The after photos seem to concur with most of the photos I've accumulated. I'm surprised at how crip the edge is coming down to the mustache over the side lamps.

176

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Rudds 3.5L V8 Ace

« on: October 29, 2008, 03:48:10 »

There was in the early 1990's a similar car in Northern CA having documentation indicating it was once owned by the tennis player Martina Navratilova. At one point it was in a showroom in Monterey and a few months later I saw in on the street in Stockton.
   
   It was painted blue with a white stripe.

177

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / California Photo Library

« on: October 08, 2014, 02:47:40 »

I just found that the Stanford University Library in California has established a very large photo library related to automobiles.
   
   There are not a large number of images categorized under "AC" but in looking at one collection (Webb Canepa)I found a number of early 1960 images at various California venues (I didn't know there were sports car races at South Lake Tahoe and the Stockton race in the rain is pure pandemonium (including Ace #17)!). The only car I identified was the Pellandrini "Beware 1" for which there is a specific topic on the forum.
   
   https://revslib.stanford.edu/?_=1412728707421&f[marque_ssim][]=AC&page=4
   
   John

178

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / BEX 329 For Sale

« on: August 28, 2014, 07:49:41 »

Fantasy Junction in the San Francisco Bay area is offering BEX 329 for sale.
   
   It's pricey but looks like a very nice car and is met to be driven.
   
   http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/1561-AC-Bristol%20Roadster-2.0%20Litre%20Inline%206-Cylinder

179

Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / Vintage AC's for Sale

« on: September 13, 2013, 03:46:59 »

A couple of vintage AC's for sale on Classic Driver:
   
   
   1937 16/80 Roadster - I believe we've seen this one at Northwest US concours:  http://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/ac/1680/1937/190397
   
   1938 16/60 DHC - http://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/ac/1660-dhc-2-seater/1938/120226
   
   John

180

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / Monterey Events 2013

« on: August 18, 2013, 01:00:06 »

In looking at photos from the Concours at Quail lodge this week I saw this light green Ace. The livery, number, racing screen, etc. appears to be the Ace raced by Gil Ranney out of San Diego in the late 1960's (see my photo just after page 93 in the Mclellan/Bancroft book).
   
   Amazingly it seems to have survived as raced 47 years ago! By chance was anyone there and did they get an ID number?
   
   http://shows.autospies.com/gallery/photo.aspx?imageId=185723&galleryId=627
   
   http://www.sportscardigest.com/quail-motorsports-gathering-2013-report-and-photos/6/?nggpage=4
   
   I also saw that BEX 1090 was offered at the Bonhams auction at Quali Lodge.