John Targett's MGB Race Car, Number 612
Owner: John TargettCity: Akron OH
Model: 1964 MG MGB, converted to right hand drive.
Built by: Lloyd Faust
John Targett's MGB
This car was built to be a faithful replica of the factory MG race team's cars of the early 1960's. It was invited to attend the Monterey Historics in 2000, when it was still decked-out with all of its original BMC Competitions Department (at Abingdon) finery including aluminum alloy door skins, bonnet, and boot lid. At that time, it was also fitted with works-style dual (over and under) fuel tanks with a quick-fill fuel cap mounted in the boot lid. The dual fuel tanks aren't used for vintage racing because they lack modern bladders, but all the parts have been carefully preserved and can be refitted. John has driven this car to many victories, including the 2007 Collier Cup Race at Watkins Glen.
Features and Specifications
| Engine: | BMC B-Series, five-main-bearing engine block, nominally 3.16" bore by 3.50" stroke, bored 0.047" over.
Carrillo rods and Wiseco forged pistons.
Custom ground Crane camshaft (from Targett MotorSport).
Titan high ratio (1.625:1) roller rockers (from Targett MotorSport).
Dual HS6 (1.75") S.U. carburetors, prepared by Midwest Motorsports.
Shortie nylon velocity stacks.
Aldon racing distributor with Ignitor module in lieu of breaker points (available from Targett MotorSport).
Crane Cams XR700 ignition module.
MSD Blaster 2 coil.
Internal oil pump modified for improved flow, and with bronze drive gear.
The current engine was originally built by John, but it was refreshed by Mike Kusch. |
| Cooling: | Cambridge Motorsport aluminum radiator. |
| Exhaust: | custom 3-2-1 header. |
| Transmission: | stock MGB 4-speed with straight cut, close ratio gears. |
| Rear Axle: | banjo axle with a choice of gear ratios, Salisbury-style clutch type limited slip differential. |
| Front Susp.: | raised stub axles.
Self-lubricating nylon bushes for the lower A-arm and for the trunion.
800 lbs/in springs.
1" anti-sway bar.
Standard lever arm shock absorbers, with competition valves.
(Note: all these performance parts are available from Targett MotorSport.) |
| Rear Susp.: | leaf springs with centered eyes, reduced from 6 leafs to 4 to soften the spring rate and lower the car.
Traction bars and anti-sway bar, both from Targett MotorSport.
Custom Panhard bar.
Adjustable SPAX telescoping shock absorbers.
Self-lubricating nylon bushes for the leaf spring mounting points. |
| Brakes: | (master) later model MGB (dual-circuit) (front) EBC grooved and dimpled rotors, with stock calipers. Hawk "blue" pads. Stainless braided hoses. (rear) MGB drums, with MGB GT slave cylinders, and Carbotech shoes. |
| Wheels/Tires: | Minilite "SportStyle" aluminum wheels.
Hoosier "Street T.D." P205/60D14 bias ply tires.
(Note: Minilite "MagStyle" wheels are distributed in North America by Targett MotorSport,
but the SportStyle wheels shown in this article have been discontinued.) |
| Electrical: | lightweight lead-acid battery.
(No charging system.) |
| Instruments: | (left to right)
Smiths combined oil pressure / water temperature gauge.
Westach dual EGT gauge (700-1700F, where the speedometer used to be),
period Smiths 0-8000 rpm tachometer (not shown.
The Stack tachometer that's shown below has died, and been replaced.)
Smiths mechanical oil temperature gauge. |
| Fuel System: | ATL 11 gallon fuel cell.
Holley fuel pump and regulator. |
| Safety Eqmt.: | Ridgard racing seat.
Willans six point Cam Lok harness from Targett MotorSport.
Centralized fire extinguisher system. |
| Weight: | 1910#. |
| Racing Class: | SVRA 3DP / VDCA 3C. |
Engine Installation
BMC B-Series engine (nominally 3.16" bore by 3.50" stroke) bored 0.047" over.
S.U. carburetors, prepared by Midwest Motorsports.
Shortie nylon velocity stacks. (Longer stacks hurt horsepower at higher rpm.)
Custom 3-2-1 header.
A later model MGB dual-circuit master cylinder has been installed.
Clever, lightweight hood prop rod.
Cold air induction hose.
Cambridge Motorsport aluminum radiator.
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Front Suspension
800 lb/in competition springs (which are shorter than stock springs) are used in conjunction with lever-arm
shock absorbers that have been rebuilt with competition valves. Self-lubricating nylon bushes have been
installed at the lower A-arm and for the trunnion.
Modified stub axles lower the car an additional inch. Basically, an inch of material has been cut from the
top of the upright, then moved to the bottom of the upright and welded back on. The kingpin is unmodified.
(Note that on John's spindles the original grease shield feature has been retained.)
1" anti-sway bar mounted on aluminum pillow blocks. Heim joints have been substituted for rubber
couplings on the anti-sway bar links, and for the tie rod ends at the steering arms.
All these suspension parts, and aluminum front valances, are available from Targett MotorSport.
Rear Suspension
Targett MotorSport's adjustable rear anti-sway bar is mounted high, behind the battery boxes.
(It doesn't compromise ground clearance.) When racing on a wet track surface, it's helpful to
reduce rear roll stiffness. Note also the adjustable SPAX telescoping shock absorbers.
Targett MotorSport traction bars (aka: "anti-tramp bars") feature Heim joints which are mounted
properly in double-shear at both ends. The front mounting point has two selectable positions.
Note that these superior quality leaf springs feature centered eyes. They've also been lowered and
softened by removal of two of the original six leafs. Self-lubricating nylon bushes are used here too.
(Note: you can just barely see here that John's car has been fitted with a custom Panhard bar...)
John uses an original-style (Mk1) "banjo" rear axle. He selects gear ratios to match various tracks.
Inside the axle, he has fitted a Salisbury-style clutch type limited slip differential.
ATL 11 gallon aluminum fuel cell. / Stiffer spring shackles have been installed.
Interior
Moto Lita steering wheel.
Lucas fuse blocks (3x, 6 fuses each) and turn signal flasher.
Narrow early ("three synchro") transmission tunnel.
Ridgard racing driver's seat. (Made in England!)
Willans six point Cam Lok harness from Targett MotorSport.
Shoulder harness mounting point and other roll cage features...
You can also see the mounting features for the rear anti-sway bar.
A particularly comfortable passenger's seat.
Exterior
Deep section aluminum front apron, from Targett MotorSport.
Relocated bonnet release, and leather bonnet hold-down strap.
Sebring headlight cover, from Targett MotorSport.
Emergency shut-off switch.
BMO542B
Pull-handle doors were used on the earliest MGB's. (These have been re-skinned with aluminum.)
This is a period vent, as fitted to some of the Competitions Department's MGB's.
612
Lightened boot lid bracing. The lid has also been re-skinned in aluminum!
Minilite SportStyle aluminum wheels.
(Note: Minilite MagStyle wheels are distributed in North America by Targett MotorSport,
but the SportStyle model shown in this photo have been discontinued.)
Hoosier "Street T.D." P205/60D14 bias ply tires.
All photos shown here are from June 2009, when we viewed the car at The Heacock Classic Gold Cup at
Virginia International Raceway, or from September 2009 when we viewed the car at The US Vintage Grand
Prix at Watkins Glen. All photos by Curtis Jacobson for BritishRaceCar.com, copyright 2009.
All rights reserved.
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