Talbot Sunbeams in Rallycross?

[toonlad1978]

Hi all, quick question, can anyone tell me if there were many Talbot Sunbeams used in Rallycross?

What years and which drivers if possible?

Many Thanks

[Pinto]

Brian Black had a rallycross sunbeam the school teacher from Amargh that he raced at Kirkistown in 1987 in the up to 2000cc class probably raced it earlier as well.

[AlamakiRX]

1977 lydden hill
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwphoto_kent/942070116/

[chunder]

Ed Colton, Sunbeam Lotus, think it was a converted rall car though as most of his cars were.

Was in the IN Cup in 1987.

there were a few, bu like Chevettes, tehy were very hard to get off the line and always had poor rear end grip.

A lot of good rallycars like that never made good rallycross cars, Drummon tried an Ascona 4009 but it never worked, BArry Lee tried a KAdett and it was hopeless.
For some reason the Escort was always able to survive, maybe coz there was more development in rallycross for them.

When you think back, the TR8 was actually not a bad rallycross car! Though never considered a sccess in rallying.and the 911 was a good rallycross car, and achieved far more in rallycross than it did in top levele rallying over the time it was invovled.

The Sunbeam never took off, and the Chevettes of succuess were heavily modified, Colin Richards for instance using a 3 litre version!

And Lotus wise, the Esprit was far more successful in Dimi's and Brians hands than the Sunbeam ever was!! How bonkers is that

[leonidas]

Have you got a copy of Bill Mantovani's book from the 80s? I think I remember seeing a couple in there with driver details etc.

You building one for retro?

[bigdick1977]

Arild Martinsens version:
http://file046b.bebo.com/16/large/20...110263551l.jpg

[chunder]

Lol, Arilds was a little differemt to a normal Sunbeam Lotus!

[chunder]

Oh and I totally forgot that Dimi used a Sunbeam for a bit I am sure, but might need a slightly old hat fan to confirm that./ I know he ran Escorts too, but sure he ra a Sunbeam before being sensible and dropping it all into an Esprit! Bless im

[toonlad1978]

Thanks guys, the information is very helpful...

and yes, hoping to have it ready for the Retro's next season!

[sashchris]

Your right Chunder, Dimi did indeed run a sunbeam

[chunder]

Toon, for Gawds sake put the rad and the tanks in the boot!

Or you are gonna be drifting not racing!

[v8rob]

John Mackley ran a sunbeam in the late seventies, he used to own jonspeed that I think is now midland motorsport

[rx-guru]

John Smith had a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus for Rallycross in 1979 and 1980, after his black Lois Jeans & Jackets Ford Escort RS1800. 2179cc engine, 258bhp at 7800rpm (max. 8500rpm) and 850kgs I was told by himself for my Rallycross Yearbook 1980.

[chunder]

That sounds pretty competitive Ed

Whatever happened to that car? So light, cant believe that!

I know he ran 911's after, maybe looking for the unfair advantage!

[seniormax]

I have got to hold my hands up, I built a Sunbeam and raced it in 1979.

I couldn't afford the proper production car, so I bought a new bare shell, fitted a 2.0 litre version of the 2.2 litre motor, which I got out of a crashed Jensen Healey sports car, fitted a Minnow Fish Turbo system, having made all the manifolds.

It wasn't a real success, mainly due to me doing it on a shoestring and that engine had a very weak block structure, having said that I did have a good meeting a Aintree, finished around 6th, not bad considering Dummbo, Rushton and co were there..

The bottom line is I should have built an Escort, which I did a couple of years later in the 1600 class....

All the best from Paul Eaton

ps As has been said earlier, John Mackley built the first one to be rallycrossed in 1978.

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[seniormax]

Just some more photo's everybody.

Regarding the engine that I used, the code given to the engine fitted into the Jensen was called a 904 at 2.0 litre ( I am told the problems with this engine were what sunk Jensen Healey ) the proper Sunbeam engine was a 912 and Lotus did a race engine which I think was a 908. The problem was that the liners were just a push fit into the block and were not supported at the top, so they used to move about.

A company called AET circuit raced a 908 in a special saloon and I think they used to get an unreliable bhp of about 350.

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[chunder]

Content unavailable fella

Might be your facebook security settings

[seniormax]

Should be ok now.

[rx-guru]

Originally Posted by chunder

That sounds pretty competitive Ed

Whatever happened to that car?

It wasn't really competitive AFAIR. Dunno what happened to it.


In the starting lists for 1979 (Rally Sport Mag, Rallycross Special) and 1981 (Mantovani/Howard, Rallycross '81) one can find:

1979
#47 John Mackley, Sunbeam 2000

1981
#72 Paul Eaton, Sunbeam Lotus
#80 Mike Harrison, Sunbeam 2200
#128 Paul Haywood, Sunbeam 2200

[seniormax]

Sorry if my recollection on the years are incorrect, blame it on the passage of time.

I had forgotten about Paul Heywood's example.

I also remember that around 1983'ish, the 1600 BDA engine I used in the Escort I sold it to a guy based in Essex who was going to put it in a Sunbeam shell and run it in the 1600 class.

Regards Paul Eaton

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[retrorallycross]

That sounds great, we remember a few that were used in period.... Contact us info@retrorallycross.com or on the telephone, number can be found on our web site, to keep us up to date with your plans or any more information you may find you need. We are always happy to help.

[Neil Duke]

Originally Posted by chunder

Ed Colton, Sunbeam Lotus, think it was a converted rall car though as most of his cars were.

Was in the IN Cup in 1987.

there were a few, bu like Chevettes, tehy were very hard to get off the line and always had poor rear end grip.

A lot of good rallycars like that never made good rallycross cars, Drummon tried an Ascona 4009 but it never worked, BArry Lee tried a KAdett and it was hopeless.
For some reason the Escort was always able to survive, maybe coz there was more development in rallycross for them.

When you think back, the TR8 was actually not a bad rallycross car! Though never considered a sccess in rallying.and the 911 was a good rallycross car, and achieved far more in rallycross than it did in top levele rallying over the time it was invovled.

The Sunbeam never took off, and the Chevettes of succuess were heavily modified, Colin Richards for instance using a 3 litre version!

And Lotus wise, the Esprit was far more successful in Dimi's and Brians hands than the Sunbeam ever was!! How bonkers is that

I think Colin's car was a 3.3,he overcame the stock block rule by adding a one inch spacer to the top of the block,not super reliable.

[Coppertop]

I used to run a Talbot Sunbeam in the Colway Championship at Croft! it was a double drive with my then partner Barry Stewart. We ran it with a Ford Pinto engine.