VSP Sports Racing Cars
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The
Vodacom VSP Sports Racing Car series had a very interesting year in 2001.
The championship was decided over 12 rounds and encompassed a Sprint
Championship, for the shorter races and an Endurance Championship, for the
longer races. There was also the MSA overall VSP champion, decided by
total points. George Ferriera, a new comer to the championship made a
clean sweep of these championships. As usual the championship included a
race within a race, and that is a championship for Veterans, which
championship was won by Daan Nortje, supported by Riaan Bothma, former VSP
champion and WesBank protagonist. A veteran is a person who achieves the
age of 50 or is already 50 in the season concerned. This format of racing
ensures that there is always a battle for one of the championships right
to the end. This year was no exception.
It
was also a year of big decisions and of change. It became evident that the
motors that we were using, Dodge 3.3 litre motors were getting a bit long
in the tooth. Frequently we were breaking crankshafts and valves with
fairly dire consequences. Also we had to source all our parts in the USA,
and we did not like having to rely on getting spares from so far afield,
and also not having any control over the replacement costs. This being
especially so because of the weak Rand. A
bold and daring decision was reached, having talked to most manufacturers,
to buy the new Nissan QX 3.5 litre motors, as fitted to the Paris Dakkar
Nissan, which produced 210 kilowatts in restricted form. We first bought a
“test” motor in order to see how it would fit into our chassis. It was
an amazingly snug fit, and the decision was made to go ahead with the
project, and leave the motor very standard, unlike the Dodge that it
replaces that is very tweaked! First a good parts supply contract was
negotiated and a very reasonable price for the supply of the motors. We
then placed an order for 30 motors from Japan. It
was then left to the technical team headed by Colin Frost and Greg Kanny
of All Round Automotive to replace the Dodge with the new Nissan. This was
to be a lot easier said than done, and by the end of the project there was
a multitude of problems that had been raised and overcome! The actual
fitting of the engine into the engine bay was a synch! Firstly
we needed an adapter plate to attach the gearbox to the engine. Then we
needed an alternator. Then we needed a starter motor, then we needed an
oil pump for our dry sump conversion. Then we needed an ECU for the motor.
Of course the brackets for all these things, and a wiring harness for the
ECU, and an exhaust system. And then at the very last moment a new clutch! Then
we took the car to the track for its first outing just a couple of days
before its first race, a two hour event with Colin Frost and SA champion
Gary Formato at he wheel. We held our breath. Fortunately the car was
faster than the “old” Dodge, and in spite of a small front-end nerf,
finished the two hours covered in glory! So
the decision was made to proceed and convert all the Dodge VSPs, all 28 of
them, into Nissan VSP’s. All the parts were proven, all the brackets
were strong, the green light was on! At
this point the VSP committee committed R2.1 Million into South African
Motor Racing! Writing this article now, 19th February 2002, we
know that we are not going to have completed this ambitious project in
time for the first race meeting on the 23rd February. Sadly we
have had to withdraw from the days events, as a supplier has not been able
to fulfill his contract. Kyalami’s
loss will be Killarney’s gain! Because there will be at least 25
beautiful Vodacom VSP Sports Racing Cars on the grid on the 16th March
2002. The howl of these 25 cars screaming around the Killarney Track will
be something to behold. Bearing in mind that the class is based around
equality of equipment, there will be some fast and furious, close racing.
And this will continue for the rest of the year. For
those who are technically minded:
M
F Fergusson |