PINTO Racers Unite
Tired of being on the wrong end of all those Pinto jokes? Lets hear from all you racer that drive the so called "Fire Ball" racer. Lets find a way to get some respect. After all, our cars have been around longer than most of the new drivers. I've owned 16 of them, with 4 being racers. UNITE!!!! After all, "When was the last time you drove a Vega?" In fact when was the last time you saw a Vega? Dick
Senior Member
I saw a Vega ITB car about 2 years ago. I actually saw a Vega station wagon less than a month ago sitting on a car trailer parked at the Sears point racetrack.
I don't race a Pinto but I like them. I'd love to see more of them out there and it seems that they can be competitive.
#37 ITB Capri
Member
Dick< thanks I come from the old school when ITB just started my buddy was one of the 1st on the west coast with his'72 2.0l PINTO Larry Mason one hek of a driver (runs spec racer fords now etc) He had the track record at Willow Springs for years!!!
He later totaled that car at RIVERSIDE but built a '74 2.3l 2.0l what everworked best.
Dick I just had out "79 PINTO (Charile} at California Speedway yesterday Speedtrail USA. Were are just getting it back going after about 6-7 years off!!! what a blast slip silding it around the infield trACK!!! It was my bro in laws is car and it has been loved (feared he-he!} from 1979 on he drove it 100903 miles before it spun a bearing 1979-1984 then sat at his moms outside until feb 1987 when we built it for drivers school. we love it and it is harded to drive than some ITB Rabbits buddys Take care youe FFR Fellow Ford raceer Glenn Laughner congrats Ford 100 Years and still counting
Senior Member
Do they still race GT-P(into) in the NED? Used to see those things all the time at the SARRC/MARRS challenge. Some of them had the letters GTP reversed on the windscreen so the IT drivers could read it when they came up on them.
Go to http://www.motorsportsimaging.com to see the Pintos now running GT-P. Last time I was there they had 27 cars out for a double regional. They were turning qicker times than the Vets in IT-E. No one wants to run with them because there a bunch of animals. Wild racing to say the least. Cars were for the most, very nice. They told me the biggest problem they face is finding rust free cars back east. They run a pretty stock engine, with carb and cam the big differance from IT-B Pintos. They run on a spec very hard slick. Cars would probly be close to running EP if the wanted too. Their haveing too much fun in GT-P though.
Junior Member
Dick:
I just recently purchased an F-Production Pinto. It's a '72, and has also been raced in GT-3 and GT-Pinto in the NE.
This summer, I am going to attempt to install rear disc brakes. If you or anyone else can share any tech on this, I would greatly appreciate it.
Senior Member
Much will depend on which rear housing you will be using. If it is the 6 3/4 in. early housing (smaller axle bearing), go to the 4mracing.com site and ask for "flynbryan" who has brackets to fit Escort discs.
Senior Member
I have a 1980 Mercury Bobcat sitting (forlornly) in my garage. In the early 90s I raced it in ITB in the CenDiv/Det Region. I couldn't get to the very front of the field, but I did alright. I have a few trophies to show for my efforts. I would be willing to sell it to anyone who will actually race it. It may need a new cage because of the material (I'm not sure if it is DOM or ERW--I think it is DOM). It did alright on the tracks with longer straights. I always hated the Pinto jokes, especially since there were only 27 fire related deaths, far fewer than the mid-size GM products caused, and fewer than the side-saddle tank GM pick ups. The car was/is a ball to drive. Let that pony run!
If someone should buy your Bobcat, they should make it into a Pinto as for some stupid reasion, Bobcat must weigh more per the SCCA. Nothing more than a grill and tail lites to change. Put the car on E-Bay and it will sell. Better yet, start racing it again. They are capeable of winning and will out last almost anything in IT-B. Also have the best brakes in the class. Go for it. DICK
Save your time and put the money to better use. If you have a 74 up 6 3/4" or 8" rearend, you already have all the brakes the front brakes will handle. Spend your money on going to bigger brakes for the front. GT-3 will alow this. Don't know about FP.74 up Pintos have about double the brakes of a 71/73. The later brakes can be adapted, but require machine work. Buy the way, Sonny Goldsmith in Phoenix had the fastest Pinto I ever saw, and it had stock size 72 brakes. Can be done. DICK
Originally posted by Tobey:
Dick:
I just recently purchased an F-Production Pinto. It's a '72, and has also been raced in GT-3 and GT-Pinto in the NE.
This summer, I am going to attempt to install rear disc brakes. If you or anyone else can share any tech on this, I would greatly appreciate it.
JOE!
See my posting under Drum Brakes. DICK
Originally posted by Joe Craven:
I saw a Vega ITB car about 2 years ago. I actually saw a Vega station wagon less than a month ago sitting on a car trailer parked at the Sears point racetrack.
I don't race a Pinto but I like them. I'd love to see more of them out there and it seems that they can be competitive.
#37 ITB Capri
TO ALL
Want to make your Pinto / Bobcat faster? Get one of the triangle shape air cleaners made by Edelbrock. You will need the two (2) barrel model. Cut the base to fit the Holley/Weber carb. Pintos carbs are so close to the hood that the air flow is all screw'd up by any normal air cleaner. This change will rase your useable RPM up by 500. These air cleaners are dirt cheap, but finding the two barrel model takes a call to Edelbrock. DICK
Member
Mark, What spares do u have and what would u want for it? These PINTO parts are geeting a bit harder to find. My ITB is a '79 hatchbach the org. dk green mettalic too!!
Thanks Glenn
Glenn!
Go to fordpinto.com for spare parts. All I have is a 80 grill and head lite buckets. DICK
QUOTE]Originally posted by LOBSTA1:
Mark, What spares do u have and what would u want for it? These PINTO parts are geeting a bit harder to find. My ITB is a '79 hatchbach the org. dk green mettalic too!!
Thanks Glenn[/QUOTE]
Member
Dick how mutch do u want for the whole car what spares come with it? thanks Glenn
Junior Member
Bill F.: Thanks, I sent Bryan an email.
Dick: My car already has the larger front brakes from a '74+ car. FP is limited to a 9.3" disc and stock calipers. Rear discs can't be larger than the front, and must be solid. Caliper is free.
Question for everyone:
Do any of the aftermarket MustangII/Pinto suspension producers for hot rods make race-worthy control arms, or does everyone use the stock pieces?
Tobey!
Stay away from the street rod stuff. Look at the mini-stock parts as the Pinto is by far the car they race. That why there getting hard to find. If you want IT-B parts or even GT-3 parts, get to know the local dirt dobers. They throw away lots of good SCCA parts. DICK
Originally posted by Tobey:
Bill F.: Thanks, I sent Bryan an email.
Dick: My car already has the larger front brakes from a '74+ car. FP is limited to a 9.3" disc and stock calipers. Rear discs can't be larger than the front, and must be solid. Caliper is free.
Question for everyone:
Do any of the aftermarket MustangII/Pinto suspension producers for hot rods make race-worthy control arms, or does everyone use the stock pieces?
Junior Member
I'm currently racing a 74 pinto in ITB, I built it in 1984 and raced it until 1992 when I parked it due to tight money problems. I brought back to life in late 2001 and ran a couple of races, and ran the full season in San francisco region. I finished 2nd in the points for the season. And I agree that with proper development the Pinto can run with the best of them.
BARRY!
Isn't old 42 about wore out after 100 races? How do you keep it running and looking so good? How about some "speed secrets" for the rest of us. If you can win on the left coast, you can win anywhere. Take it on a tour and have some fun.I've got room for you in Mid America. Beating those 2002s is so much fun when done in a Pinto. Keep it up! Your still young and winning sure helps. DICK
Originally posted by 42pinto:
I'm currently racing a 74 pinto in ITB, I built it in 1984 and raced it until 1992 when I parked it due to tight money problems. I brought back to life in late 2001 and ran a couple of races, and ran the full season in San francisco region. I finished 2nd in the points for the season. And I agree that with proper development the Pinto can run with the best of them.
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