MARATHON 1800 - A Post Script
- By Michael Scarlett
Looking back on the magnificent Daily Express London-to-Sydney Marathon, one can't help thinking how under-reported the event was.
It couldn't really be helped - a rally or road-race (call it what you will) of that length is pretty difficult to cover fully from every competitor's point of view, yet every runner who got as far as Bombay, let alone Sydney, had some tales to tell.
We went to British Leyland's special tuning department at Abingdon (it really is a bit Leyland now too - amid all those Minis and MG's we saw two of "yer actual" Triumphs) to hear and see a little of the story behind British Leyland's second place Austin 1800 driven and crewed by Paddy Hopkirk, Tony Nash and Alec Poole.
How It Differs
From other rally 1800's, not all that much; from standard 1800's - well quite a bit, like all rally cars. Many of the details are ones first used or else found necessary on 1800's on the East African Safari.
Starting with the power unit and transmission, the engine is bored out 0.014 in. to increase the capacity to 1,845 c.c.
The cylinder head is standard Morris 1800S, that is to say it has a 9.5 to 1 compression ratio instead of the usual 9.0 to 1. A high-lift camshaft is fitted, the valve springs are heavy duty and the inlet manifold is polished and matched. Twin 1 3/4 in. HS6 SU's are used
The two air-cleaners are unusual in that they are joined together by a piece of trunking like Siamese twins. If it looks as though the car has to voyage through heavy flood water, a plastic plug is put in the offside air-cleaner's trumpet intake and a piece of flexible hose is connected to the other trumpet, now the sole means by which air enters the engine. The other end of this hose inhales air from the cockpit, so that the engine room can be completely flooded without water getting into the cylinders.
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Home I A Tale Of Two Cities I How It All Began I The Entrants I The Rules I Timetable I The Route I Their Story I Photo Albums
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ladies I How They Finished I BMC I Ford I Holden I Other Marques I Site Map I Memorabilia I Credits/About Us I Links
