John Hamilton Race 544
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John checks in with his modified 544 race car. It sports a B18 power plant, heavily modified with two 42 Weber carburetors, Stahl headers and hours and hours on the flow bench for the head. Engine is good for 12 hours of race time before it needs refreshing, since it turns 7800 RPM. The stock transmission only one season before rebuild. The rear axle is a 4:10 locked unit, modified to take Ford axles and brakes.
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| Suspension upgrades consists of: Front sway bar
and special springs all the way around. All bushings replaced with plastic.
John is using front discs from a 122 with special race pads, and a bias valve
installed to adjust brake line pressure.
John tell us: Bought it in 1963 and used it to get through undergrad
and grad school. I have been racing it for over 20 years. Won the SCCA
East Coast hill climb championship with it last four years. Last race this
year was the Turkey Bowl at Summit Point. We were lucky enough to get a
first, a second (nosed out by an Elan 10 feet from the checker) and a
third in the Enduro. Having more fun with it then anyone is entitled to!
We run up and down the East Coast and get in at least 10 races as well as
hillclimbs when we can. We even got on Speedvision during their coverage
of the Zippo Gran Prix. |
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Thanks John for contributing. I am sure you have inspired somebody to "go racing"! Ed.
