My new svo race car

[Kendal Coker]

Pat may remember this car from the 1984 Mid ohio Escort Endurance race. Terry McKenna and Bruce Jenner were some of the drivers. I have been trying to get it for several years. I finally got it last weekend. It was last raced at Sebring in 1986 and has been sitting on jack stands in a garage since then. Here is a link to the 1984 race pics.

http://mwphoto-misc.smugmug.com/Cars/SCCA-ESCORT-ENDURANCE-SERIES/1984-MID-OHIO-ESCORT/2636893_3zX3kM

[Chalky]

Wow, thats cool!!!!! What are the plans, Keep it as is or restore it's original livery??? Engine pics????

[mrzw70]

Awesome score Kendall. I'm guessing the car is pretty complete and with your attention to detail will be better now than it was when raced.

[SVO4PWR2]

Happy Belated Birthday !

We missed ya at the Macaroni grill.

More pics please . . .

-RICH-

[Meotchh]

Awesome score Kendall. I'm guessing the car is pretty complete and with your attention to detail will be better now than it was when raced.


Surprisingly it survived Bruce Jenner...

[Patrick]

Surprisingly it survived Bruce Jenner...

Paul Page drove it at Mid Ohio, too. Take a look in the pics, Mitch and see if he looked more like his son 27 years ago.

[Meotchh]

Paul Page drove it at Mid Ohio, too. Take a look in the pics, Mitch and see if he looked more like his son 27 years ago.

Ohh yeah, I have seen plenty old pics of Paul, there is no questioning he is Brian's dad. That's how Brian earned the nick name Halfpage.

[Kendal Coker]

Here is the eminger report from Kevin Marti and the Marti Report. It was a 89 DSO car sold to Ford. It is also a Comp prep. I will try to get some more pics tonight.

[Chalky]

Super cool!!! So how many of the 26 have we accounted for then???

[Patrick]

Hmmm...

Ordered on April Fool's day!!!

(well before Jenner would become a member of the Kardashian clan, meet Joan Rivers' plastic surgeon, or visit his first tanning center)

[Kendal Coker]

Super cool!!! So how many of the 26 have we accounted for then???

I know where around 10 are. There is one for sale in LA next to the airport.

[Mr. Pink]

Nice find Kendal!

[Chalky]

I know where around 10 are. There is one for sale in LA next to the airport.

I saw that over on FEP and if I wasn't already mid-project I'd probably pick it up.

[TheSVOTrust]

SO happy for you Kendal !! I know you said you wanted the Mac Tools Car - but YOU have put so much effort into finding Rare SVO's - this is YOUR car ! This site has changed my attitude on SVO's (mostly rekindled my interest in getting the cars out)

Please consider getting it running - WE can put on a PRO SOLO in Sturgis !

Mark

[Patrick]

^^^ (as in Animal party... TOGA)

STURGIS STURGIS STURGIS !!!

[Chalky]

Kendal should track down the Mac Tools "giveaway car"!!!!!

[Ken P.]

That is great news. I'm really looking forward to my next visit. I'll have to go through my collection of race pics to see if I have any of it in action.

[Kendal Coker]

I also have this race car. Ron Smaldone drove it in the 1984 season. It is not the Nelson Ledges car. More pics of it can be seen here. It needs alot more restoration than the silver one. Ron Smaldone verified it was the car he drove in the 1984 season . It even raced in the Runoffs at Road Atlanta where he was running second when a Datsun 180z hit him from behind and ended up flipping the car. It was repaired but never raced again. It is like the Mac Tools car (not a Comp Prep) but ordered as a stripped non air non power car with quad shocks and leather seats.

http://mwphoto-misc.smugmug.com/Cars/SCCA-NATIONALS/1984-GRATTEN/3937429_BKXvvc

[MikeFleming]

Those are very cool, Kendal!

Thanks for sharing! ( Even though it makes me feel older. )

[Kendal Coker]

Here is a pic of the wreck. He was running second when it happened with two laps to go and the front running car was disqualified for cheating.

[P_Books]

SCORE!
Couldn't go to a better owner.

Show us future pictures of the work you do.

[Becools]

Very cool!! More pics Please sir!@!@!

[JWFisher]

Excellent post! we want to know more!

I'd also like to know the specific differences between the street car and race car - that is, besides the minimum SCCA prep.

Showroom Stock allowed only a few things back then... unlike today it was actually supposed to be stock. But you often found revalved shocks, bushings. Brake pads and tires were a given - and what were used? Are those NCTs on there, for example?

One little trick was to use the Crown Vic cop car calipers, which used metal pistons instead of the gadawful phenolic that came on the SVO. I did this, and the calipers would last the entire weekend and longer. The phenolic wore, leaked, and moved in their bores.

And a little bit of history of the race cars would be great to know. Did he, for example, move to the 85.5 as soon as it came out?

[Kendal Coker]

One thing both of my cars have that I still have not figured out how it was legal is a G-Load brace. Both have welded on brackets with 4 bolts holding them on.

[Kendal Coker]

Here are more of the Silver SVO Mid Ohio Escort endurance car last raced in Firehawk Showroom stock.

[MikeFleming]

One thing both of my cars have that I still have not figured out how it was legal is a G-Load brace. Both have welded on brackets with 4 bolts holding them on. Certainly NOT legal for 1984-85 SCCA SS. Might have been allowed in later years though.

[Patrick]

There were tons of illegal items that got conveniently overlooked in the ESCORT Endurance Showroom Stock Championship. Oh, do I have a list of stories.

[Kendal Coker]

Certainly NOT legal for 1984-85 SCCA SS. Might have been allowed in later years though.

If you look closely at the pic of Ron Smaldons car upside down at Road Atlanta you can see the brace.

[Bob Holmes]

Didn't that brace come standard on convertibles? Can you update and backdate?

Just wondering, I got no idea how all that stuff works. I read the rule book and went immediately to a different class. LOL

[Patrick]

Didn't that brace come standard on convertibles? Can you update and backdate?

Nope. Showroom Stock meant just that. Factory service upgrades were OK if specific to that make model year. Some guys at Mid Ohio asked me if I had spare sets of brake pads because they ran out. I gave them a set. They returned them to me because the pads didn't fit their 200SX Turbo. I went to help and see what the problem was. They had 300ZX brakes on their 200SX Turbo. It's a bitch when you have a 24 hour race ahead of you and not one spare set of brake pads. He was slower than me anyways, even with the big brakes. I got the $500 pole position bonus, but the next guy had really cool cheater big brakes that he couldn't use.

Now ask Mike about the showroom stock oil filter protest.

[TheSVOTrust]

SO happy for you Kendal !! I know you said you wanted the Mac Tools Car - but YOU have put so much effort into finding Rare SVO's - this is YOUR car ! This site has changed my attitude on SVO's (mostly rekindled my interest in getting the cars out)

Please consider getting it running - WE can put on a PRO SOLO in Sturgis !

Mark

Got my sponsor for Sturgis ! http://bit.ly/LnrwCC

Mark

[Raven855]

Got my sponsor for Sturgis ! http://bit.ly/LnrwCC

Mark
I'm going with you!

[stockman1]

I know where around 10 are. There is one for sale in LA next to the airport.what are they asking for it?

[Kendal Coker]

what are they asking for it?

He has sold the car since this was posted.

[stockman1]

Just curious of the market. I missesd those mid 80's races. I was in Yuma testing aircraft and out of pocket. Love to see the old pics and hear the stories. Also missed the mets win the World Series in 86.

[TheSVOTrust]

Kendal should track down the Mac Tools "giveaway car"!!!!!

He did.

Mark

[Meotchh]

Got my sponsor for Sturgis ! http://bit.ly/LnrwCC
Mark

Looks like we need a seperate house, I don't think they would be welcomed in the spouse house:p

[Kendal Coker]

I am pretty sure none of you know the guy in the picture with me but you know of his work. He was the team manager and suspension guru for the Nelson Ledges Prototype svo. His name is Tony Coultier and he now works for Jack Roush. He and Larry Rehagan as driver logged in 1000 laps of practice on the suspension and engine before the race. He also was the team manager for the Mid Ohio cars (my silver one). He worked for Special Vehicle Operations during this time period. He has some good racing stories. I met him through another friend who works for Jack Roush Jr's road racing operation. later Kendal

[stockman1]

Kendal do you work for Boeing?

[Kendal Coker]

I am a nasa contractor. Just happened to have a Boeing poster behind us. I am out of work while our elected officials decide what to to.

[bluemax]

I am pretty sure none of you know the guy in the picture with me but you know of his work. He was the team manager and suspension guru for the Nelson Ledges Prototype svo. His name is Tony Coultier and he now works for Jack Roush. He and Larry Rehagan as driver logged in 1000 laps of practice on the suspension and engine before the race. He also was the team manager for the Mid Ohio cars (my silver one). He worked for Special Vehicle Operations during this time period. He has some good racing stories. I met him through another friend who works for Jack Roush Jr's road racing operation.

That is neat stuff... you are relentless when it comes to this stuff!

[JTurbo]

Very cool....

[SVO4PWR2]

I am out of work while our elected officials decide what to to.

OK back to work.... Our fearless leaders worked it out .... but they be back at it in a few months :avataraFu_BangingYo

-RICH-

ps Ya clean up well ...almost didnt recognize ya :D

[Kendal Coker]

Here are some updated pics of the progress on the 84 Smaldone race car.
6683
6682

[bluemax]

Really turned out great... especially considering what you started with!

What version of graphics are you going with?

[Kendal Coker]

I am having the decals made now for this version.
6696

[Meotchh]

Looking good Kendal, even though it's red :-)

[MikeFleming]

Looking good Kendal, even though it's red :-) Mitch is banned (until his next post).
He knows why.

[JTurbo]

Nice, looking forward to seeing it in the full race trim....

[bluemax]

I am having the decals made now for this version.

I like that version best... in the Road Atlanta race they included the "Ann Arbor, MI" under VARSITY FORD on the rear quarters. I am sure there is some story behind the two schemes.

[rodster]

Here are some updated pics of the progress on the 84 Smaldone race car.

Looks great. :like2:

Sure will be a neat piece when it's done!!

[Chalky]

that's gonna look awesome when done!!! Glad to see work continuing!!

[TheSVOTrust]

Kendal Don't you love restoring race cars where you don't have to use up a set of NOS side moldings? ! Mark

[svono50]

If you make it match the Varsity Ford pic above, you will have to leave off the trim piece behind the rear wheel, but apply some adhesive tape residue :stick_poke:

[Kendal Coker]

If you make it match the Varsity Ford pic above, you will have to leave off the trim piece behind the rear wheel, but apply some adhesive tape residue :stick_poke:

I might fix that part.

[SVOC]

Some great progress.

[TheSVOTrust]

After recreating the stickers for the Mac Tools "giveaway" car (looking at yours) I will do a rerun in white for you of the ones that are on both cars.

Mark
P.S. I have the SCCA sticker done already !

[Kendal Coker]

Thanks,

[bluemax]

Have any recent progress pics to share???

[Kendal Coker]

Here is where I am at now. Still waiting on decals and numbers.
7627

[nysvo]

Congratulation on your new addition to the stable. Nice to see it being saved to see action again.

[stockerbill]

Does anyone have any more pictures of the Mac Tools car?

[Kendal Coker]

Does anyone have any more pictures of the Mac Tools car?


Check with Mark Haas, thesvotrust, he ownes the race car and give away car. He is here pretty regular.

[stockerbill]

Thanks Kendal.

[stockerbill]

Mark (thesvotrust), you have a PM.

Thx
Bill H

[Kendal Coker]

I still have to do the wheels and put on the goodyears but it is almost done. Finally all the stickers are on.
8095

[Chalky]

EPIC!!!! more pics!!!!

[Kendal Coker]

Here is another Ford Logo you might remember from the 80's
8096

[stockman1]

wow!

[bluemax]

Kendal, the car turned out great! Hope to see it in person some day! ;)

[Kendal Coker]

Maybe going to Columbus MCA.

[Ford Builder]

KOOL looking good.

[ccmcelroy]

Looks great Kendal.

[Meotchh]

That looks awesome Kendal!! That things needs to make it to Sturgis for the Mustang Rally Labor Day weekend.



Here is another Ford Logo you might remember from the 80's
8096

[Kendal Coker]

I like that version best... in the Road Atlanta race they included the "Ann Arbor, MI" under VARSITY FORD on the rear quarters. I am sure there is some story behind the two schemes.

I found out what changed. Ron told me he spun and backed into a very large covert at Indy Raceway Park and both rear quarter panels had to be replaced. Guess they added the Ann Arbor then.

[Under Pressure]

That looks great.Now we need some in car video.

[MikeFleming]

Many a racecar has used GOODYEAR stickers to cover up small dents and scrapes in the paint. In the 80'sand 90's all those sponsor stickers were hand installed. Unlike today where every panel on the car is vinyl print wrapped.

[Bob Holmes]

Looks great

[8T6 SVO]

Thank you for sharing Kendal - Not too many people know (or have) the things you do.

[Kendal Coker]

Here is a couple from Barber Motorsports Park and the other with is at Dawsonville (Atlanta) motorsports park.

[rodster]

Great pics of some great cars! :like2: