Austin Healy 3000 VS. Civic

Warning-Bench racing content!

So I'm trying to play Burt Levy and am playing around trying to write a novel that has automotive racing content. Problem is, but is both a much better driver and much better writer than I am.

Question-In my book (set in the modern day) I have a rivalry going between some of the old guys with vintage British iron against some of the younger ones with sport compacts.

Is there any rational way a well prepped but still street legal Austin healy 3000 could keep up with a modern modded mid 90's Civic...say something like the GRM primered project car?

I'm thinking the Civic would just eat the Healy for lunch , given similar drivers. Am I wrong?

Also, to be correct, if I have my charactors compete in a hillclimb, both cars will have to have full cages, window nets, firs systems et al...correct or no?

Chris

...and in the book there is no actual road racing...just autocross and a hillclimb. So in an average autocross is where we are talking about the two cars/drivers competing.

Chris

1966stang wrote: Is there any rational way a well prepped but still street legal Austin healy 3000 could keep up with a modern modded mid 90's Civic...say something like the GRM primered project car?

Um, as the guy who owned that car, I should probably not comment. Sounds like a fun face-off, though.

Sounds...... familiar.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-DGMrLGnLg

David S. Wallens wrote:

1966stang wrote: Is there any rational way a well prepped but still street legal Austin healy 3000 could keep up with a modern modded mid 90's Civic...say something like the GRM primered project car?

Um, as the guy who owned that car, I should probably not comment. Sounds like a fun face-off, though.

I'll take you up on that challenge. My '57 100-Six MM is still street legal, full interior ,lights, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84YjV0xnC_Y

Dougie

P.S. I love Burt and have read all his books.........I'll read anything about vintage sportscars.

dougie wrote:

David S. Wallens wrote:

1966stang wrote: Is there any rational way a well prepped but still street legal Austin healy 3000 could keep up with a modern modded mid 90's Civic...say something like the GRM primered project car?

Um, as the guy who owned that car, I should probably not comment. Sounds like a fun face-off, though.

I'll take you up on that challenge. My '57 100-Six MM is still street legal, full interior ,lights, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84YjV0xnC_Y Dougie P.S. I love Burt and have read all his books.........I'll read anything about vintage sportscars.

That would be fun. Unfortunately, I sold the car. It's been replaced with a twin-cam CRX. It makes 157 at the wheels and weighs 1900 pounds. Honestly, for a Honda it's still not that fast. Scott's Type R is way faster.

Either way, an old vs. new face-off always gets people thinking and rooting.

It is a novel and "literary licence" makes a story fun. Accuracy is more like a history lesson.
For example, all the cards are stacked in favor of the Civic but the fuel used has lead in it or something that fouls the little monster's catalytic converter and lets the old 3000 win. Or, each driver gets to choose a passenger for the opponent and a 375 pounder walks up to the Civic at the starting gate. Cheers Ron

I wouldn't sweat the accuracy. When they make the movie it'll be a Viper and a Civic, with the Civic driver as the "goodguy" who has beaten the forces of evil.

They're probably not too far apart, assuming the mods are comparable; intake/exhaust/tires/stiffen suspension...The big Healey will have the edge on torque, the Civic will be more tossable.

Maybe instead of a Healey you could use a Lotus Elan. A well sorted Elan would have a Cosworth BDR...a min. of 170HP. And totally beliveable

Or perhaps a Morgan with a BDR! Never mind...Stick with the Lotus

Leo

Does it have to be a Healey? Or will a Healey look-alike suffice? There was a kit car that was a Healey clone but used SBC/Ford V8 power (builders choice). The name of the kit car escapes me right now. It could be considered period if you like as the kit was from the 70s era.

Saxon was the model name of the kit, but I do not know the manufacturer.

Thanks for the replies!

Chris

If it's going to be a novel, you'll have to race the cars at several venues, to keep the story alive. Short tracks, long tracks, maybe a Solo 1 event at a race track. And it'll all come down to some sort of tiebreaker.

And don't forget to throw in some sort of side story, like a love triangle, or something.

gjz30075 wrote: If it's going to be a novel, you'll have to race the cars at several venues, to keep the story alive. Short tracks, long tracks, maybe a Solo 1 event at a race track. And it'll all come down to some sort of tiebreaker. And don't forget to throw in some sort of side story, like a love triangle, or something.

The love angle is good and there's always the wilily veteran racer who knows all the tracks by heart and can drive them in his sleep or the old crusty mechanic who's mastered all the tricks of "fare play".

wlkelley3 wrote: Does it have to be a Healey? Or will a Healey look-alike suffice? There was a kit car that was a Healey clone but used SBC/Ford V8 power (builders choice). The name of the kit car escapes me right now. It could be considered period if you like as the kit was from the 70s era.

It came to me what the kit was. Sebring, I think it was called. Although Saxon was probably another manufacture.

Both same manufacturer, sebring is a wider car with flares and the saxon looks more like a 3000 without flares.

Trevor wrote: Both same manufacturer, sebring is a wider car with flares and the saxon looks more like a 3000 without flares.

I think this is what you're thinking of: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Seabring-5000MX_W0QQitemZ160394431323QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item255840cb5b#ht_19900wt_1167

Wow! This is probably heresy for this forum, but except for the angle of the steering wheel that's a great looking kit car.

Oh, I see ... it has a tilt wheel.

Since the thread is totally hijacked: http://sebring-mx.com/The_Sebring_MX.html

That's OK, I think Chris has enough of our opinions to go ahead with his novel now anyway. The Healey wins. No need to buy the book.