Race Car History, Does anyone recodgize this car? Options

[Charles Freeborn]

Looking for a little bit of history on this car. I bought it a couple years ago. It had been sitting (badly) and needed considerable work.
From what I can gather from the log books it was built in or around 1978 in Ohio and raced in the midwest - primarily Ohio. Since then it's had at least 2 other owners besides me. The car ( & me) are currently in Oregon. I'm not sure who brought it here. cage has been modified since these photos, the suspension upgraded to 5 lug and the original 2.0 has either been worked into what's in it now, or long gone.
I think I may have a lead on the original owner / builder but not positive.
Many thanks for any info.

[GregAmy]

Send me the logbook number off the front, I may be able to find where/when it was originally issued.

I presume you've looked at the back page for clues? Recognize any driver signatures in the entries? Any chance there's a logbook entry for any SCCA Runoffs? If so, get that info to me (year, mostly) and I can look it up.

[Charles Freeborn]

Send me the logbook number off the front, I may be able to find where/when it was originally issued.

I presume you've looked at the back page for clues? Recognize any driver signatures in the entries? Any chance there's a logbook entry for any SCCA Runoffs? If so, get that info to me (year, mostly) and I can look it up.

24-315

Unfortunately the original log book isn't available (to me) it appears to be on book 3 of which i've got 2 & 3 so no data going back to it's origins.

I did get a name and address from the back of the book - did some snooping and have emailed I think the son of the builder. When I've heard back I'll let you know if it's the same family.

It's a pretty cool car - well built. Looking forward to getting it back in shape. Looking at VP2 Class in it's current config. I'm toying with the idea of building a 1.8 and running VP1. It would be competitive in that class, especially if I can get heads built with valve sizes that comply. In VP2 it'll be mid-pack at best.

Thanks!

[Charles Freeborn]

Send me the logbook number off the front, I may be able to find where/when it was originally issued.

I presume you've looked at the back page for clues? Recognize any driver signatures in the entries? Any chance there's a logbook entry for any SCCA Runoffs? If so, get that info to me (year, mostly) and I can look it up.

24-315

Unfortunately the original log book isn't available (to me) it appears to be on book 3 of which i've got 2 & 3 so no data going back to it's origins.

I did get a name and address from the back of the book - did some snooping and have emailed I think the son of the builder. When I've heard back I'll let you know if it's the same family.

It's a pretty cool car - well built. Looking forward to getting it back in shape. Looking at VP2 Class in it's current config. I'm toying with the idea of building a 1.8 and running VP1. It would be competitive in that class, especially if I can get heads built with valve sizes that comply. In VP2 it'll be mid-pack at best.

Thanks!

[GregAmy]

24-315

I'll make some inquiries; that was issued by NE Ohio region. I'll let you know what I learn. - Greg

[Charles Freeborn]

24-315

I'll make some inquiries; that was issued by NE Ohio region. I'll let you know what I learn. - Greg

Many thanks. Silly me - I went through the log book again and sandwiched between the current book and the end of the prior with entries from when the car came here are entries from OH. The entries start in '99 and end in 01. Driver / owner is listed as Joel S Black. There are 10 race entries - most at mid-Ohio. A couple entries have the name John in parentheses under Joels. I believe that's his son. I tried looking at archived results but none of the regions have them back that far online. I can give a list of specific race dates if that helps.
There is a date gap between the last OH race in 01 and 09 when it came here (OR) and started racing again. I don't know what the status was during that time. I've met the fellow who raced it here between 09 and '17. Nice fellow. He broke it a lot. Had the rev limiter set way too high. When I got it the gearbox was toast. Had a welded diff.

[GregAmy]

I sent a note to the Regional Exec for NEOhio to see if he can find info in that logbook number.

I also looked through the SCCA Runoffs Archives and found the attached results; it competed at the SCCA Runoffs 1991, 1994, 1996-1997.

I perused current membership records and do not see anyone with those names.

Somewhere in a box in the basement I'll have event programs and results for the 1991 Runoffs (I raced it at Road Atlanta 1989-1992, then again 2010-2023) but that would be quite the chore to find it...

More info if/when I come across it. - GA

[Charles Freeborn]

I sent a note to the Regional Exec for NEOhio to see if he can find info in that logbook number.

I also looked through the SCCA Runoffs Archives and found the attached results; it competed at the SCCA Runoffs 1991, 1994, 1996-1997.

I perused current membership records and do not see anyone with those names.

Somewhere in a box in the basement I'll have event programs and results for the 1991 Runoffs (I raced it at Road Atlanta 1989-1992, then again 2010-2023) but that would be quite the chore to find it...

More info if/when I come across it. - GA

Huge Thanks Greg,

This is helping to fill in some blanks on it's history.

I'm pretty sure that this is the same family that John Black, several time national champ, are all from. Joel, the dad, has passed away. The races I'd be curious about are the ones that it appears John was the driver. They'd be:
Mid-Ohio OVR Nat -Mid OH - 6/11/99
CAt National (?) Road America 8/1/99
Buckeye Sprints - Mid OH - 8/27-28/99

Again - huge thanks. Don't do digging on my account (my own basement scares me a little..), but should you come accross any memoribilia that might apply I'd be much obliged.
Cheers!

[stownsen914]

I recall the name Joel Black from around the time frames mentioned above. I didn't know him or the car though. Just from perusing SCCA results back in the day.

One thing you might find helpful is that SCCA has a historian group that may be able to help look up old results and maybe even logbook info etc. A few years ago I bought an old E Prod 914 and had no info other than a picture of the car and that it probably ran in the sourtheast in the 1980s. They were able to get me a name and a pile of info on the car. They were super helpful. If you're interested, PM me and I think i have an email address you could contact.

[GregAmy]

One thing you might find helpful is that SCCA has a historian group that may be able to help look up old results and maybe even logbook info etc.

Who's that, I'm curious. I know Donna Stevens does it up here in teh NE for NER, but she won't have records for NEOhio stuff.

SCCA's archives are being sent to the IMRRC:

https://www.racingarchives.org/the-collecti...ction-services/

https://www.racingarchives.org/the-collecti...erica-archives/

The IMRRC and the SCCA Foundation is a good one to put in your estate planning:

https://sccafoundation.org

[Charles Freeborn]

I recall the name Joel Black from around the time frames mentioned above. I didn't know him or the car though. Just from perusing SCCA results back in the day.

One thing you might find helpful is that SCCA has a historian group that may be able to help look up old results and maybe even logbook info etc. A few years ago I bought an old E Prod 914 and had no info other than a picture of the car and that it probably ran in the sourtheast in the 1980s. They were able to get me a name and a pile of info on the car. They were super helpful. If you're interested, PM me and I think i have an email address you could contact.

That would be marvelous. Many thanks. I'll DM
-C

[GregAmy]

Charles, I got back a note from the Chief of Tech of NEOhio Region SCCA:

"The logbook was originally issued to Michael Cyphert as a D Production car. I hope that this helps."


D Production was merged into GT3 in 1984. Michael Cyphert is a well-known SCCA racer and former GT3 national champion.

I show Michael competed at the Road Atlanta Runoffs in a Porsche 914 in 1985-1987, finishing 7th, DNS, and 8th, respectively. His 1985 entry shows 914/6? 1988 he switched to a 924 for three years then went to a GT3 Honda Civic and then later a GT3 Toyota Paseo. he is a member of the NEOhio Region's Hall of Fame.

Michael is no longer a regular competitor and has retired to Florida. However, he is still an SCCA member; if you'd like me to contact him and get permission to give you his info I can do that. - Greg

[Charles Freeborn]

Charles, I got back a note from the Chief of Tech of NEOhio Region SCCA:

"The logbook was originally issued to Michael Cyphert as a D Production car. I hope that this helps."


D Production was merged into GT3 in 1984. Michael Cyphert is a well-known SCCA racer and former GT3 national champion.

I show Michael competed at the Road Atlanta Runoffs in a Porsche 914 in 1985-1987, finishing 7th, DNS, and 8th, respectively. His 1985 entry shows 914/6? 1988 he switched to a 924 for three years then went to a GT3 Honda Civic and then later a GT3 Toyota Paseo. he is a member of the NEOhio Region's Hall of Fame.

Michael is no longer a regular competitor and has retired to Florida. However, he is still an SCCA member; if you'd like me to contact him and get permission to give you his info I can do that. - Greg

Yes please and thank you!

Sounds like this car has an interesting past. It has had some mods done since the logbook photos- cage is different and much of the driveline and suspension have ben upgraded. I'd be curious who did those changes.

Many thanks!

[stownsen914]

Who's that, I'm curious. I know Donna Stevens does it up here in teh NE for NER, but she won't have records for NEOhio stuff.

SCCA's archives are being sent to the IMRRC:

Greg - my contact is an email address with a racingarchives.org domain, so it sounds like it's the same group you know of. I'll PM you the email (not posting here directly in case some spam bot discovers this thread).

[stownsen914]

Sounds like this car has some cool history, including a well known SCCA racer. Good find.

[GregAmy]

Charles, I got a positive response from Mike and copied your charlesfreeborn.com email address to him.

STownsen, thanks. Yeah, the IMRRC is a fantastic resource, I do encourage donations to them.

[Charles Freeborn]

Huge thanks to all and especially Greg. I'm 99.9% sure that the original owner and builder was Mike Cyphert. I've had a very nice and informative exchange with him about the car. He's a stand up guy.
He originally drove it on the street and then did the conversion to a DP race car. The cage has been modified as well as the suspension upgraded, bodywork, engine, oiling, etc but it's the same car. It has some very impressive history with him at the wheel, and then later with subsequent owners. I'll put together as full of a history as I can. Should make for a tidy pedigree that vintage stewards may respect.
Cheers all and once again, huge thanks. Pic is as raced by Mike:

[brant]

Your going to need a smaller motor to run in D production

[stownsen914]

D Prod back then would have been a 2L 4 cyl motor. Spence ding on the vintage org, some will specify that the car conform to the SCCA GCRs from a particular year, e.g. 1972, 1980, etc

[Charles Freeborn]

My goal isn't to take it back to it's "period correct" status. That would be a huge undertaking as it's had the front clip removed, glass parts, 5 lug, big brakes, etc. It has most recently been run in VP2 class here in the West, as well as SB (small bore) in our local Rose Cup series. Our local vintages classes will base off of the VP2 status - which allows up to 3.2L. I have very little hope of being competitive in that class. If I were to want a podium car, I'd source a 1.8, build it properly and bump down to VP1 class. There it would be very competitive - up against the Sprites, 510's etc.
This is it's curr.ent config. Color scheme & numbers will be different, but it's essentially this car: