Marcos Maniacs

Hi Hal,
    I sympathise, as I had to work with a tech commitee with no Marcos 
experience to work with here in the US.

Here is what I found and how we dealt with it.
My experience is based on the 3LV6.
  Firstly , each Vintage organisation has slightly different rules with 
respect to authenticity and race prep. Some require absolute adherance to 
the letter and spirit of period correct preparation while others let you run 
anything as long as your entry check clears the bank.   So, choose the 
organisation which allows you to run the car in whatever trim you decide 
works for you.

Secondly, Ask if you can run the car in 1967 trim. This might bump you up a 
class if you run with a 1600, but do you really care if you can enjoy your 
racing? After all, who would know the difference anyway and no one checks 
Chassis numbers.
I chose to run in a class where the car will be mid pack and competitive but 
not a runaway winner.Some organisations simply bracket the age, ie. 1962 to 
1969, and you can upgrade to 1969 specs as long as it does not give you a 
clear competitive advantage.
Also talk to the tech people abot the fact that you will be running a pre 
crossflow 1600 against TwinCam Lotus Elans and they probably won't object.

Thirdly, Discuss with them the lack of availability of parts and possible 
repacements.For example I replaced the Weber carb. with a Holley 2300 2BBL  
with the same number of chokes. I also replaced the old Zephyr 4 speed with 
a later Ford box as the O/D on the 4 speed is notoriously week under heavy 
use.

Fourthly, Get a tech inspection BEFORE you turn up at your first race 
meeting. I took the car to a meeting before it was completely finished just 
to get a tech inspection. Not suprisingly, some of the things I worried 
about they didn't comment on. However I did leave with a list of relatively 
minor things I needed to change and the comment that it was a really cool 
car and they looked forward to seeing it back. When I arrived for the first 
race the car passed its annual tech with no exceptions.

So the overriding rule is get to know your sanctioning organisation and 
don't be afraid to challenge the rule if you feel it will help in 
reliability and safety. If they are unbending you probably want to run with 
another group.

This is just the tip of the iceberg but give me a call and I can give you a 
lot more background.

Garry Diver

425 442 1851




>From: Meggsief@...
>Reply-To: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com
>To: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [MarcosManiacs] Re: racing snafu
>Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 00:05:10 EST
>
>Hey Guys,
>                 Well I got a call from my mechanic/rules committe contact 
>for
>vintage racing. The rules commitee dosnt know  a lot about the Marcos and I
>am having trouble getting a engine ruling. Now in 1966 (chasis 5006} my car
>came with a 1500cc moter. I have brochure stating that a 1600 was also 
>avail. is
>this true? While I was on the Unoficial Marcos home page  it looked as 
>though
>in '65 ther was an 1800 avail. am I reading this correct? If so are the
>engines interchagable between the two years? I was hopping to be able to 
>race this
>year but having an uncommon car is difficult for the common race official. 
>Any
>help is greatly apreciated.
>Hal
>#5006