Jim Forno racing early Sunbeam

[sunbeam74]

This person on Ebay had two Sunbeam photos for sale.... they are somewhat interesting.

The first one is, I believe, Jim Forno. If you notice it is a RHD Alpine. According to Jim this was a prototype Alpine which he had specially imported to race. Apparently, the Alpine was already getting poor press regarding it being a "true" sports car so Jim made arrangements with Rootes to get an Alpine on the track as quick as possible.

The whereabouts of this car is unknown but I have always wondered if this RHD Alpine could still be floating around the NY area. I had heard of one RHD migrating from NY to VA but no details on the Virgina owner.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...gename=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123&salenotsupported

Whether it really is a prototype is hard to say. Regardless... it would be a cool find.


This other photo is Vince Tamboru... of course. Neat stuff.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...gename=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123&salenotsupported

BTW< you might have to sign into Ebay to view... since it is a completed item.

 

[65sunbeam]

The first photo is interesting-is that the first documented case of the rear boot lid being used as an air brake in the corners?? Nice find Steve, Eric

 

[RootesRooter]

Any idea of the date of the Forno photo? The earliest road racing photo of an Alpine I've seen so far is in Long Straights and Hairpin Turns, an excellent history of racing in the Pacific NW. A red Series I is shown racing in the rain at Shelton, WA in March 1960.

This person on Ebay had two Sunbeam photos for sale.... they are somewhat interesting.

The first one is, I believe, Jim Forno. If you notice it is a RHD Alpine. According to Jim this was a prototype Alpine which he had specially imported to race. Apparently, the Alpine was already getting poor press regarding it being a "true" sports car so Jim made arrangements with Rootes to get an Alpine on the track as quick as possible.

The whereabouts of this car is unknown but I have always wondered if this RHD Alpine could still be floating around the NY area. I had heard of one RHD migrating from NY to VA but no details on the Virgina owner.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...gename=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123&salenotsupported

Whether it really is a prototype is hard to say. Regardless... it would be a cool find.


This other photo is Vince Tamboru... of course. Neat stuff.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...gename=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123&salenotsupported

BTW< you might have to sign into Ebay to view... since it is a completed item.

 

[sunbeam74]

These images would have been from April of 1960. According to Jim his first race with the Alpine at Watkins Glen. If so, that would have to be October of 1959.

Jim was fairly old when I talked to him but he seemed pretty sharp. He was better known for racing a Porsche 550.

I have some images of George Schmidt Jr. which are early 1960 but I am not certain of the date. They are from Willmont Hills.

Steve