The TACH Report: CART to Slow Cars, Goodwood "A" List Congregates, The Latest from Dodge and Mazda
2 July 1998
It's called the "Handford Device" because it was invented by Mark Hanford of Swift Engineering: when the aero-wing is affixed to the rear of a FedEx Champ car, it creates a drag that slows the racer appreciably. In recent tests at Michigan International Speedway Michael Andretti ran laps at 224 mph while Jimmy Vasser turned laps without the Handford gizmo at 234, last year. Everybody in CART thinks it's a great way to slow down the cars and that times like the 240 mph lap turned by Mauricio Gugleman are just too fast. While Michael was testing at Michigan the Toyota CART team was busy at California Speedway where Max Papis, P.J. Jones were running laps at 217 mph. The annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in England once again proved to be the Classiest conclave of vintage racers and racing machines on the planet. Mario Andretti said he had no idea that the event would draw 98,000 and the creme de la creme of the GP racing fraternity. Stirling Moss, Ricardo Patrese, Nelson Piquet, John Surtees, and others thrilled the assemblage with speed bursts up Goodwood's famous hill in a variety of race cars including a Gurney Eagle. The place to be in southern California next October 4 is the ATSC Newport Beach Concours D'Elegance at the Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Beach. Once again Grand Prix Tours will play host and underwrite the private collection tour on Saturday, Oct 3 and Barry Simpson of GPT has a dandy day of collector and race car programs scheduled. For more info: 949 756 0993. The BIG one vintage-wise this coming weekend, is the 85th running of the Visalia Road Races near Fresno, CA, where a dozen pre WW2 race cars (Peugeot, National Pope-Hartford) will race through the park in on Saturday and Sunday. There will be vintage car and motorcycle displays, a Morgan race, lots of Jaguars, and lots of food and fun. For more info: 209 739 0924. In F-1 we see that Jos Verstappen will replace Jan Magnussen on the Jackie Stewart Ford team for the rest of the year. Damon Hill recently took part in the Round the Island YACHT race in the English channel on the yacht Silk Cut straight from the Whitbread round the world race. Charges against Miko Salo for belting a taxi driver in Finland have been dropped. Dale Earnhardt was invited to the National Press Club in Washington June 16 and he spoke to the assembled scribes about racing. In CART, Scott Pruett's second place finish in Portland was his best finish since Australia last year. Honda powered cars have won six of the first nine CART races. Max Papis and Robby Gordon of the MCI team hosted 25 children from the Boys and Girls club of North Portland last week. THE historic car event of the year in the U.S,. Monterey Historics, Aug 14-17 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, CA, is shaping up nicely according to event founder, Steve Earle. Porsche is the honored marque, and you just may see as many as 1000 Porsches racing in the paddock and parking lots. For information: 800 327 7322 Here's the skinny on some of the 1998 cars you just might like to think about purchasing: The swift 626 Mazda four door sedan comes with a six cylinder, 152 ci engine, fuel injected, and gets 21 city and 27 highway EPA. Base price is $23,840, and that includes a lot of good stuff, such as radial tires, power windows, remote trunk/fuel release, and cruise control. The Miata has been updated on the outside, as the headlights are now exposed--as opposed to pops as before. Looks better. The 112 ci four-cylinder 16 valve engine has fuel injection. It gets 29 highway...25 city and it's still a bunch of fun, though the price is now at $23,680. If you want a four door with sharp lines, look at the Dodge Intrepid. A lot of people will be looking at you when you drive it. A ton of room for 22 grand plus. Four-wheel disc brakes, power mirrors, big trunk and 29 highway. It comes with a four-speed automatic trans. Worth looking at, if a well styled family sedan is in your future. Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel