Nurburgring, Germany, 1979- AMC is still dangerous

[Brootal]

That's almost like analyzing some archaeological artifact or something.  mike

Not too far off the truth there, Mike.

I have a friend that works in the restoration department of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra (Nation capital) and they are very particular with their restorations. This particular bloke is a trained aircraft mechanice (used to work for Qantas), but these days he works on any armed forces vehicle from Huey helicopters to cloth covered World War I aircraft.

When they restore something, they are very fastidious in returning the vehicle back to exactly how it was at a particular time. The good thing with the armed forces is that they keep really good records, so they quite often have a full log of all the work that was done.

He told me that they actually get paint chips, embed them in a resin, then saw through it and look at it through a microscope. They can then count the number of layers of paint that have been put on the vehicle! They even 'trace' camouflage patterns by sanding back sections of the paint to find the original (or desired) pattern.

Absolutely NUTS and very time consuming!

But anyway... that's a cool AMC.

[mramc]

There is a very good article published at the time the Nuburgring race was run in a 1979
Automobile Quarterly issue. They also made a very nice 1/2 hour movie on the race. I had a copy made with BF Goodrich's permission back in the day to show at meets. BFG had a number of 16mm movies on AMC in IMSA beating BMW. The AQ issue also had a big article
on the AMXs and Javelins along with the AMX 3 . LRDaum

[Route 66 Rambler]

I plan to obtain the DVD on the race, unless I can get something more raw from you for personal study.    Thanks for the tip on Automobile Quarterly.  This is one of those great stories about AMC's road racing. 

One of my favorites about an unexpected SCCA result, was Jim Jeffords in 1967, in a Rambler American, 2nd place in the National Sports Car Championship, behind Corvette. The way it reads in one account, Jeffords was actually leading for the season win, and had some minor thing that must be watched, like tire, suspension, or oil.  The Rambler pitted to check the problem, found no problem, and ALMOST caught the Corvette for all the marbles.  This is a large part of why Jeffords was chosen to head AMC's Trans Am effort in 1968.

[mramc]

Said issue of Automobile Quarterly is Volume 19 Number 1 First Quarter 1981. It has about
36 pages of photos and information. There is also an AQ article on Dick Teaque and one on Jeffery and Nash. There Is suppose to be a 2 parter on the AMX3 also but I don't have the number of the issue handy. The other AQs I own.You get most of the back issues off AQ web site. If they don't I may have a cheaper source for most of the older issues.
 LRDaum

[RAroadrace]

Hello everyone:


     I am a newby and recently discovered the Heritage Forum while searching for info on Nurburgring.  You may ask why Nurburgring?   Last May (19-20 2007) while at Road America, Elkart Lake Wisconsin working an SVRA event (Sports Vintage Racing Association). I couldn’t believe what I saw.

     In the middle of a pack coming through turn-one of 60’s, 70’s and 80’s American and foreign muscle was an AMC Spirit....no,   an  AMX!  I wasn’t sure at first because of the paint scheme making the car look much longer, of what it was....but it was.    Black, yellow, red, orange and blue...an AMX, a 1979 Spirit AMX!

     As the car approached and went past my station at turn two, I let out a big yeehaw, and signaled to the driver a big thumbs up and wave.  Had to wait for lunch to go into the paddock and find that car.

     While checking out the car I met a gentleman named Mr. Cottrell (Myron), the cars new owner. I thanked him for helping preserve and continue to promote our proud road racing heritage. I checked out the car thoroughly, top to bottom front to back. Myron helped me with the hood so I could see the motor.

      I talked with Myron for almost an hour. He knew the racing history of the car, I was quite impressed, but next to zero about AMC except for the ‘Technical Service Manual’ provided by the seller. During our conversation Myron mentioned he was totally new to AMC’s, so I graciously welcomed him to his new family.

     My extreme interest in the car is two fold- racing, and because I own an 82 Spirit (DL-nicer interior) with the GT appearance and handling paks, rear spoiler and Turbo casts.  I had to see exactly how this car was put together and the differences between it and my 82. I have also worked Tech as a technical inspector (scrutineer) in SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) so I gave the car a complete once-over.

     Seeing that Myron was new to AMC’s I provided him with all the information I could about our cars.  Web sites, reputable vendors and other contacts to help him out.

     After finding the Heritage Forum  last September I was going to contact Myron directly and ask permission to mention him and his car to the ‘Heritage Forum’.  At that time only AMX # 2 was known to still exist and mentioned on the Forum.  All excited I couldn’t wait to break the news to the ‘Heritage Forum’ and the owner of the # 2 car that I knew where AMX # 1 was.  Still alive and on track, RACING! 

     The excellent posts of our other members from this past November may have stole my thunder, but not the thunder from an SRB 304 (Supplemental Replacement Block) with a holly, an R4B manifold, and hooker headers at speed and on track.  Thank You and welcome aboard Myron!

[Route 66 Rambler]

From what I could see in Hot Rod's recent article, Myron has done an excellent job of restoring #1 to its former glory.  I can't wait for the day when Scott and Myron are able to have both cars on the track at the same time.  Am I mistaken, or are both cars in the midwest?  I know Scott is in Ohio, but not where the #1 car resides.  Maybe one of the forays to the Burlington Test Facility would provide an opportunity at some future date to see these wonderful cars side by side.

I'd personally like to see more information on the Amos Johnson Team Highball SCCA/IMSA Gremlin, recently enshrined in the IMSA Hall of Fame at Talladega.  AMC was an absolute terror in the road racing world, which when taken together with their drag racing exploits, really shows the excellent basic design work that went into all of these cars...
mike

[IowaEagle]

Thanks RAroadrace for your great update.  It's amazing that both cars still survive and at least one is still earning its keep for what it was born to do.  Please keep us updated and perhaps the gentleman who owns the car will visit us once in awhile.  I just had to give you a couple "RM's" for your update.

[AMX]

Great story, RAroadrace! Glad you found us and joined up. I have never seen car #1 in person but did receive several good photos from the previous owner in NYC for help with the paint details. I believe #1 is now based in Illinois (?) now so it probably passed within 20 miles of me as it was being delivered. I had hoped to see it in Kenosha last summer but no such luck.

AMX #2 still looks the same as in the pic above, parked on carpet and covered with blankets while I collect parts for its eventual restoration. I plan to get started this summer if time permits. Someday #1 and #2 will be reunited...

[RAroadrace]

 Yes, # 1 AMX is in the midwest. Myron is from Minnesota. I have his business card tucked somewhere in my files but at the moment??  ...I'll find it.

   Minnesota is also the home of another vintage racer and AMC road-race car.  If memory serves me correctly it's a R/W/B  70? 71? Javelin # 9 ??  whom I have not seen for a number or years at the Vintage Races, i.e. 'Historics'  or 'Brian Redmond International Challenge' at Road America (RA).

  Route 66, I saw the 'Brian Snow' driven IMSA Red /White and Light Blue Gremlin this past summer in Kenosha and my jaw dropped.  Quite impressive. I checked the car out head to toe!  All the panels and seams immaculate like fresh out of the box. What I could do to a 75. Here I work at the track, I'm into AMC's, have followed the IMSA series for years, own a Gremlin... and didn't even know they road-raced Gremlins... and raced them in the IMSA Series!  Shoot my foot!

   If you race it in IMSA it has to be tough and excellent basic design work pays off. They had it right, from the drag strip, the Trans Am Series to IMSA.  Too bad AMC isn't still around making short production runs of 96" or 108" wheelbase, made to order... custom little bombs. Line me up, I'd buy another! Sure would give the Corvettes, Mustangs and others a good run on the street or the track.   

   Below is my 82 GT optioned DL at the dealership the day I picked it up. Now you know why I like the # 1 and # 2 AMX's.