MGB Where to learn about MGB race cars?

[CurtisJ]

In the mid-1970's, the MGB model dominated SCCA E-Production sports car racing. British Leyland sponsored the Huffaker Engineering team as their cars won SCCA's E-Production championship three years in a row. MGB race cars of this era were more elaborately developed than the 60's era cars we normally see in vintage racing... racing slicks, fender flares, air dams, and lots of suspension modifications. If you're unfamiliar with these cars and curious to learn about the trick details made them so effective against the Porsches, there's a new article out for you. It's a uniquely close-up look at Huffaker design and construction, and also specifically at the immaculate restoration by Hap Waldrop of Eddie Beal's number-9 Huffaker MGB.

Here's the link: Eddie Beal's Huffaker MGB (includes 49 great big color photos, and detailed captions)

Incidentally, this is the <span style="text-decoration: underline">seventeenth</span> in a series of MG articles featured on the new BritishRacecar.com website. You can read them all from here: British Racecar.

 

[JPSmit]

very cool, thanks - and, Hap, Awesome job!

 

[PAUL161]

This Huffaker was supposedly up for sale a while back. Don't know the rest of the story, or if it sold. I think it was old number 11, but not sure. PJ

 

[CurtisJ]

PJ, that photo shows the Huffaker owned by Rick Estes. It's one of the two car's specifically mentioned in the article's footnote which have worn the number 11.

 

[PAUL161]

When British Leyland, as I'm told, specified that cars they sponsored be presented in up to date dress, as in rubber bumpers etc, was a special set of bumpers made to get rid of the weight? Those things weigh a ton, especially for a race car! Hard to believe that the stock bumpers were left on the cars. PJ

 

[JPSmit]

If you check the article, the actual body shell used was a pre '65. Those bumpers are an add on and, I suspect, very light.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

The "single hoop" Huffaker cars were built using early pull handle chassis because they are lighter, and then to reflect the product being currently offered, were dressed up to look like the current models, including rubber bumper with lightened guts and the later dash was fabricated to go in the early chassis, it was all about the factory wanting the current product represented.

While the bumpers were lightened, at the 1987 runoffs I had a guy in a bathtub Porsche miss a shift on me while we were headed into T5 at Road Atlanta with me only inches off the tail of the bathtub. When he missed a shift it was like he threw the car in reverse, I was into the tail end of the bathtub so fast it was unbleiveable, I caved the entire tail end of the bathtub in, and my front bumper was unhurt except for a small scratch, thats even the same front bumper on the car I nailed the Porsche with now. Those bumpers were great additude adjusters, and I was known to use them from time to time as needed

The Rick Estes car pictured above is infact the famous #11, but it has been greatly changed thru it's racing life, coil overs, even flipped at Riverside back in 1987, it would be a easy $100K professional resto to get it back to it's original specs.

 

[TANGARAY]

I bought a poster a couple of years ago at Road Atlanta's Petit LeMans. It is a reprint of the 1978 Summer Nats at Road Atlanta. Bought it because it had a RB B on it. After reading this thread I looked at the poster a bit closer. Sure 'nough Huffaker #11. Great to read the article and get a look-see at the mods. Wished I had been at VIR to see it run. Maybe this year.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

I bought a poster a couple of years ago at Road Atlanta's Petit LeMans. It is a reprint of the 1978 Summer Nats at Road Atlanta. Bought it because it had a RB B on it. After reading this thread I looked at the poster a bit closer. Sure 'nough Huffaker #11. Great to read the article and get a look-see at the mods. Wished I had been at VIR to see it run. Maybe this year.

Cool, that very same poster is framed in my shop
Along with many pictures of me driving the #9 when it was black, as well as framimg of the article done about the car in Classic Motorsports.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

This is my favorite picture of me driving the car, it was my first rain race, and I won, it was a good day

 

[AngliaGT]

Hap,

How about an explanation of the sponsors on the car?

- Doug

 

[bob67bgt]

I know where there are 3 of the American racing Lemans wheels as shown on Haps wet race car. Anyone want 3? Bob

 

[TANGARAY]

Where's the fourth?

 

[TANGARAY]

Hap, awesome pics! My basement shop has all the race shots through the years and all the different karts I've owned, including the yard kart I had when I was a kid that started me down this road. I've started to do the garage w/ MG and sports car art w/ the latest being a Giclee print of a young lady in a '63.

But the steering wheel and con rod look too good to be wall hangers. They should be pretzles!

 

[DNK]

There was a very nice example for sale in Seattle featured in BAT this month.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Hap,

How about an explanation of the sponsors on the car?

- Doug

Well on the car originally was BL, but when black as I raced the car, you'll see the British Motorcars Ltd. that was a local place owned by Mark Passamore, they serviced, sold parts, and restored LBCs,they didn't last long may 3-4 years tops, but Mark was good sponsor, and I appreciate all the help he gave me. The Team Moon racing decal is a local racer fraternity, Team Moon racing have done good over the years with regional championship, divisional championships good runs at the runoffs with a few podium finishes and even some Team Moon guys have done some pro stuff, IMSA, Grand AM and such.