What happened to the Mulholland "King of the Hill" RSR?

[flatspot]

Hi all,
I have been lurking in this thread since the first post, and I figured it
was about time I broke cover. If you go back to LFOT's original post you
will notice that he mentions a friend from work who used to run a z-car
and filled his head with stories of the hill. Well...that would be me.
I was the one who told him about Charlie and his vette (and other crazy cars) and Chris B. and his wild a$$ RSR and all of the shenanigins that went on up there. It was also I who lent him Chris' book. So I guess I have some
responsibility in getting this thread started. Mea Culpa ....he he he ;>)
I ran the hill from 80' until the closures. First in a lowered fire engine
red 75' pinto ( nicknamed by my friends as "the red bomb") and later
my semi-tweeked blue 81' 240z.
I'm going through a family crisis at the moment but when things settle
down a bit I will try and post some of my own crazy stories.
This thread has been great so far and some great laughs and long
forgotten memories at a time when I really needed it so thanks to all
who have cotributed.

[flatspot]

Chris B,
I have a couple of Q,s about the RSR.
In your book, as well as on this tread you have talked about your data/
parts gathering trip to Weisach. I,m curius about the suspension settup data you got from them. Your book didn't detial which european cirquits
the data came from. In the interest of setteling an informal bet I have with a friend, I wonder if I,m right in guessing that, since the car was
being set up for mull. that most of the settup data (minus the "riverside"
gearing) came mostly from:

A: Nurburgring Nordshliefe
B: the Targa Florio (and similar races "Giro d'Italia" etc.)
C: Monte Carlo rally ( and other long range tarmac rallies

Am I blowing smoke up my own a$$ or am I on to something with this.
Please, satisfy a long standing curiosity.

Second Q,
You have mentioned that the RSR is in need of some light resto/mech
work before its road worthy again.
While reading another marque's club page I came opon an idea that
had never occurred to me but makes so much sense it makes you want
to smack yourself in the forhead.
Why not have a TECH PARTY!!!
This is something that car clubs do all the time. The idea being that no
matter whats wrong with your car, there is going to have the technical
knowledge or been through the excruiating pita of extracting widget x
from slot39/b/01/symbyle for boron.
Well, this being pelican world you will find some of the worlds best Porsche mechanics right here, not to mention a whole bunch of guys
with alot of general knoledge about cars.
I'd be willing to bet that you would recieve a huge outporing of help
from the community here, and that people would freely volonteer time
and even parts to get that beast back on the hill.
Consider me your first kugulfischer mechanical feul pump housing
scrubbing volunteer.
Fact is, I'd bet that with the talent around here we could get it running
in a weekend. And how poetic would it be if the work was done by a
bunch of ex-hill dwellers. Except in this case it wouldn't be a marque
club but guys who, regardless of marque, all belong to a somewhat
more exclusive (and reclusive) club.
Well, thats my story and I,m stickin' to it.

[Banning]

Yo Flatspot, first of all in those days the Racewerk was in Stuttgart and the information that they gave me was mostly in the form of Factory Racing Manuals pertaining to the 1973,1974 RSR series. I explained what road conditions I needed the car set up for, I had a couple of photos, and was not given a blueprint but written data that pertained to what was needed. The older factory manuals that related to 1970-1973 rally and sports purposes had great tips on exactly where to gusset the 911 chassis and suspension information. The relevance of solid bushed suspension rotation points. Also the importance of reduced sprung and unsprung weight combined with chassis/suspension stiffness. So the setup info actually came from simple manuals. They had invaluable research information developed by the Factory after years of testing.
Secondly, I appreciate your idea of a tech session, and I would love to have my car running yesterday, and it will drive again. I need some room/time for awhile since my wife became ill. She requires my help and devotion for the near future until things get better. This thread is one of the only things that keeps my mind off of my problems. Participating here has been a blessing. I have an order in which to complete goals, the Porsche will come soon.

[flatspot]

Hey Chris,
Thanks for the reply, as I mentioned, I am going through something
similar right now so I know what it's like. no rushes and all in good time.
Just know that when the time comes you can count on more than a little help from these parts. Like you and many others this thread for me has
been great therapy. Hope everthing works out for you and yours.
Peace

[flatspot]

Chris,
BTW, the reason I mentioned those specific courses was that to me as
a young sports car racing fan in the early eighties it always seemed to me that it was the european "mountain" courses that had the most similarities to mullhuland. Along with mabye some of the big hillclinbs of
the day like frieburg. Amazing (and brilliant!) that Porsche had all of this
(presumably very valuable) data in their regular manuals.

[Jeremy Cottrell]

A hillclimb car would be a great start for a Mulholland racer. Or something like a Targa Florio car. I wonder what would happen if say a 908/03 should show up to the hill one night. It would be interesting if someone else with local knowledge in maybe a Silver RSR, or even a certain Black 914-6 could attempt to keep up. OK, who do we need to call to make this happen?

[lfot]

I would suggest calling the city and blocking off Mulholland for a day/night rally of some sort. Dreaming, yes. But it's good to dream.

[Jeff Hail]

Originally posted by flatspot
Hi all,
I have been lurking in this thread since the first post, and I figured it
was about time I broke cover. If you go back to LFOT's original post you
will notice that he mentions a friend from work who used to run a z-car
and filled his head with stories of the hill. Well...that would be me.
I was the one who told him about Charlie and his vette (and other crazy cars) and Chris B. and his wild a$$ RSR and all of the shenanigins that went on up there. It was also I who lent him Chris' book. So I guess I have some
responsibility in getting this thread started. Mea Culpa ....he he he ;>)
I ran the hill from 80' until the closures. First in a lowered fire engine
red 75' pinto ( nicknamed by my friends as "the red bomb") and later
my semi-tweeked blue 81' 240z.
I'm going through a family crisis at the moment but when things settle
down a bit I will try and post some of my own crazy stories.
This thread has been great so far and some great laughs and long
forgotten memories at a time when I really needed it so thanks to all
who have cotributed.

Did someone say "Pinto"?

[Jeff Hail]

Originally posted by lfot
I would suggest calling the city and blocking off Mulholland for a day/night rally of some sort. Dreaming, yes. But it's good to dream.

"Mulholland Miglia"
I know a great location for the Grandstands.
lfot its truly a great dream.

This is my dream. I can imagine it now.....Not a practical dream by any means since Mul would tear up a 917.....Yes its good to dream..........I remember Chris having the same dream in his book....



I then wake up to the Capitol One commercial "whats in your wallet"? Hum..not enough!

[Banning]

Way to go Jeff. I love how you put a 917 entering Deadmans.(photoshop?) Don't worry about the car, we can re-pave the racecourse before we take the 917 out.

[gostraight]

oh my.....I smell burning oil......who'S that behind the 917?

[Banning]

Better replace those oil return tubes.

[gostraight]

Originally posted by Banning
Better replace those oil return tubes.

I wish it would be that easy.After yesterday's run @ the big Willow thing is pouring oil out of everywhere. I thing even my ash tray leaks oil.

[gostraight]

[Banning]

You have my sympathies, if the ash tray is leaking oil it must be serious.

[Thomas Owen]

A number of pages back Jeff posted some pictures of the Grandstand area. In one picture he says he 'Is facing Bowmont', but looking at aerial views I am not sure where Bowmont is.

Can someone point out where Bowmont is in this picture, and where Grandstands is in the following aerials?

Here is the original picture:


And some shots from today:







When and why was the gate put across Bowmont?

Regards -

[Jeff Hail]

Bowmont (in Red)
Grandstands (Green)


Why did the gate get installed? First it made parking more than two cars impossible. No parking, no loitering. I am sure the racing had something to do with it as many used it as a get away. The installation came after the high point of the racing scene. I am also sure the residents who knew what was going on below put some pressure on and formed an association. The A List of Hollywood's who's who that lived on Bowmont: Jon Voight, Morgan Fairchild, Francis Albert Sinatra, Katherine Hepburn.........Bowmont was THE address to have. Add a gate and it defines a demarcation point for the us and them mentality. Gated streets and communities were just getting started back then. Wouldn't doubt the Manson thing years before still had folks up there paranoid. Gates create artificial security.

Great shot of Grandstands. You can still see the footprint of the original lot which was huge by todays remnant. Today there is a concrete sidewalk and benches to enjoy the view east.

[t6dpilot]

Hey Jeff, I bet that Pinto is just getting passed by the 914. Me, I'll take the #11 car.

I have to say that I have really enjoyed reading this thread over the past weeks - started reading just after lfot's post. Thanks to Jeff, Chris, Dave, CRE, Henry and all the others that have shared their experiences with us. It seems like a lot of talented and now famous (or infamous) racers cut their teeth on Mul. Great stories and I concur that this is important history in the SoCal racing/hotrod culture. This absolutely begs for a documentary to be made. And you are in the absolute best location, right? Mix old photos, vintage film (if any), and interviews with the players. Kind of in the same vein of "Riding Giants" about the SoCal surf culture.

Being an absolute car nut, I am sorry I missed out on the SoCal car scene, since IL is a loooong way from there. I can live vicariously through all of you. Thanks for sharing all your experiences with the rest of us.

Also, question on Mul Dr.... My father and I are going to be at the Monterey Historics in August and will be coming down to Laguna in the Carrera after the event. I would like to tour all the correct spots that were discussed here. Can someone give me the best "self-guided" route to see all the great areas mentioned in this thread? Thanks.

[gostraight]

Originally posted by t6dpilot
Can someone give me the best "self-guided" route to see all the great areas mentioned in this thread? Thanks.

hey Scott,
Derek (lfot) , Dave (slodave), myself,and whoever shows up, drive the Mulholland route every Sunday afternoon. (see Mulholland Sundays thread) If you happen to be here on a Sunday come along.Dereck and I will also be going to the Laguna that weekend.

Radu

[lfot]

And who knows, if you come along, maybe we'll actually take time to STOP and take in the sights as well.