The latest addition to BritishRacecar.com (http://www.britishracecar.com/) is an article on the Huffaker Engineering MGB's of the mid-1970's and specifically a close look at the construction and restoration of Eddie Beal's number-9 car. The Huffaker team was sponsored by British Leyland in those years. They won the SCCA E-Production championship three years running... 1975, 1976, and 1977.
Let's hear your comments, recollections, and observations!
Here's the link:
<a href="http://www.britishracecar.com/EddieBeal-MG-MGB.htm">
Eddie Beal's Huffaker MGB</a> (49 big color photos!)
Here are some pictures of the Huffaker MGB & Driver from the 1975 to 1978 seasons
cwn1977_0331.jpg
BLMotorsportsHuffakerPR3MGBSmall.jpg
BLMotorsportsHuffakerPR1DriversSmall.jpg
I love Lee Mueller's 70's haircut!
It's a pity Eddie isn't allowed to run the proper air dam on his car when he races with SVRA. I don't know how much it would affect lap times, but the Huffaker air dam is so "right" for the car.
Curtis.....that's Lee "MOTHER" Mueller to you! ;)
I think I've read this article three times now. Its absolutely fantastic and theres a lot of tricks that can be used on
britishv8 cars. Thanks Curtis
As we're all very aware of those bumpers weigh a ton. Did Huffaker take any measures to lighten them?
I've seen some people cut out large portions of the metal bracing, but even then they're quite heavy.
Also - Does anyone know if they're is a company selling the same flares used on the 9 and 11 cars?
Perhaps someone here has made their own set?
The larger size "Huffaker" flares (like on 9 and 11) can be bought directly from Huffaker Engineering in California. They sell the front flare in two versions: either as a flare that can be grafted onto a steel fender or as a complete fiberglass fender. I don't know what they cost or what the lead time would be if you ordered them. Huffaker's main business is preparing race cars (not selling parts.) If you call Joe Huffaker about flares, please mention the article and that he ought to consider buying an ad... I'm pretty sure the flares on <a href="http://www.britishv8.org/MG/PeterSmith.htm">
Peter Smith's MGB</a> are this style, although I think Peter told me they were bought and installed by a previous owner.
Huffaker Engineering gave (or sold) the molds for their smaller/earlier style flares to a former employee, Steve Lilves, who is incidentally BritishV8's newest vendor sponsor! That's the style that <a href="http://www.britishv8.org/MG/PaulSchils-MGB.htm">
Paul Schils</a> and <a href="http://www.britishv8.org/MG/BrentLancaster.htm">
Brent Lancaster</a> have used.
Here's Steve's contact info:
(http://www.britishv8.org/Sponsors/Lilves-Racing.gif)
I'd like to know more about those rubber bumpers, as well.
I saw the #9 car at VIR last year. Looked like next to nothing for bracing inside of them.
All-
Back in '75 I had 2 of the BL Competition "rubber bumpers" for MGBs. At that time, BL sent a letter to MGB racers telling them that unless they updated (at least in appearence) their MGB race cars they would not recieve any contingency money. These were extremely lightweight fibreglas shells NOTHING like the OEM post '75 bumpers. The 'glas was almost translucent!
We put one on a B we had in our shop and sold the other one. In the past 35 years I've never seen another one..........
Cheers,
Rick Ostman