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> The IMSA 914
gms
post Aug 23 2015, 08:08 AM
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After the comment I was reading in the “914-6/904 project begins” thread I felt the need to inform some of the members of this board about the 914s in IMSA or the 914 GTU. I am currently involved in research to write a book about this very subject so I will share some of my findings.

Between 1971 and 1987 there were forty-two 914s built and entered in IMSA sanctioned events in North America. In 1971 and 1972 the cars sported the factory M491 option package or their equivalent built by the privateer. The extensive use of fiberglass in the hood, rear deck lid, bumpers and rocker panels lightened the car while the 911 engine upgrades gave the horsepower to make this car competitive against all racers.

Starting in 1973 the cars had started to evolve into homegrown and sometimes innovative thoroughbred built by Americans with that “can do” attitude. It was not that Porsche didn’t do a great job converting the 914 into a race car it was just that the development done in 1970 was becoming outdated.

Wheels and tires were getting wider and this would drastically affect its shape as the fenders became wider and body panels were constructed of fiberglass. The Porsche factory never constructed a tail or developed any aerodynamic aids for the rear of a 914.so this would become the area of most diversity.

The 914 competed in the IMSA GTU class which allowed a 911 engine starting at a two liter displacement and expanding all the way up to three liters by the end of its eligibility.
There were also some 914/4s that competed; they were allotted a chassis weigh savings for their lack of displacement and two cylinders.

As the handling, acceleration and speed of the 914 were enhanced by these advancements the chassis required more strength, this was accomplished by the extensive use of tube framing and suspension reinforcement. In some cases suspension components were borrowed from the 911 RSR and 935.

Once the cars became firm and fast they needed improvements in their braking capability. As has always been the case the 914 borrowed calipers and master cylinders from its Porsche siblings, a few examples even used aircraft brake calipers.
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rgalla9146
post Aug 23 2015, 12:43 PM
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Great info Glenn
Doug Arnao of New Jersey was a SCCA National Champion in one of the cars mentioned.
He built the car and did all fabrication and development himself.
And, as I recall, was honored for his efforts by Porsche AG
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flyer86d
post Aug 24 2015, 05:49 AM
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QUOTE(rgalla9146 @ Aug 23 2015, 02:43 PM) *

Great info Glenn
Doug Arnao of New Jersey was a SCCA National Champion in one of the cars mentioned.
He built the car and did all fabrication and development himself.
And, as I recall, was honored for his efforts by Porsche AG

Doug started out with a 914-6 with a 2.7 and learned how to drive at PCA DEs. After a few mishaps, the car was morphing into a dedicated track car with a twin plug, 906 cammed 3.2. Over the next winter. He bought a set of tube frame Fiero plans, built a fabrication table in Jim and Kathy Foster's garage, and started welding. By spring he had a race ready 914-6 tube frame car. He took it to a couple of PCA events to sort it out (with a dis approving NNJR board of governors watching carefully). At Summit Point, one of the rear cast Fiero suspension uprights broke launching him through the trees damaging the car. He then converted his old 914-6 into a C production car and went SCCA racing. Over the following winter, he redesigned his tube frame car to use 914-6 suspension front and rear and developed it into a very fast C production car and IMSA car. Dr Frank Juhasz bought his old 914-6 based C production car and raced it for a few years. I remember driving it at Pocano and marveled at how well sorted it was.

Charlie
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stownsen914
post Aug 24 2015, 10:13 AM
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When I was a teenager I saw Doug's IMSA 914 at Summit Point when it broke an upright as Charlie mentions above. I was watching him drive when it happened, in fact. I'd turned my head for a second and next thing I knew it was upside down sliding across the grass. I'd looked at the car earlier that day with the bodwork off. It was the coolest 914 I've seen to this day. He used the Huffaker Fiero plans and chassis parts as mentioned. It had dual A arms at all 4 corners and inboard mounted shocks.

I thought he'd raced the car in IMSA in that configuration, but when I checked recently on racingsportscars.com or one of the other IMSA stats sites, it didn't show up.

After he converted it to run SCCA GT-2, he wons a lot of races with the car. I don't think we won a national championship but did place 3rd one of the years Finch won in his 944. I posted a video of that race few weeks ago over in the Paddock forum. Doug helped me build my own 914 (see sig at left) and I had the spoiler off the old IMSA car on my car at one point. He was definitely a go-to guy for building fast 914s.

I've seen pictures of another Fiero-based 914 that ran Sebring or Daytona I think, I thnk here on this forum actually. I don't know who owned or drove it though.
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gms
post Aug 24 2015, 10:30 AM
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QUOTE(stownsen914 @ Aug 24 2015, 11:13 AM) *

I've seen pictures of another Fiero-based 914 that ran Sebring or Daytona I think, I thnk here on this forum actually. I don't know who owned or drove it though.

It was the Altman Bros, not to be confused with the Allman bros
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Posts in this topic
gms   The IMSA 914   Aug 23 2015, 08:08 AM
gms   There are three cars that reached the pinnacle of ...   Aug 23 2015, 08:09 AM
Jon H.   the illustrious poster with a Playboy Playmate ha...   Sep 4 2015, 09:43 AM
gms   Interesting Facts about the 914 GTU: 13 of these ...   Aug 23 2015, 08:12 AM
RobW   Thanks Glenn Bob Garretson also wrote the forward...   Aug 23 2015, 08:40 AM
GeorgeRud   Thanks for keeping track of all those cars, it rea...   Aug 23 2015, 12:05 PM
rgalla9146   Great info Glenn Doug Arnao of New Jersey wa...   Aug 23 2015, 12:43 PM
flyer86d   Great info Glenn Doug Arnao of New Jersey w...   Aug 24 2015, 05:49 AM
stownsen914   When I was a teenager I saw Doug's IMSA 914 at...   Aug 24 2015, 10:13 AM
gms   I've seen pictures of another Fiero-based 914...   Aug 24 2015, 10:30 AM
GeorgeRud   Dave Finch also did a great job on the SCCA circui...   Aug 23 2015, 12:53 PM
wndsnd   Thank you Glenn, this is good stuff. I look forwa...   Aug 23 2015, 03:08 PM
rick 918-S   As interest in our cars increase and values rise t...   Aug 23 2015, 03:27 PM
RoadGlue   Can't wait for the book!   Aug 23 2015, 06:20 PM
carr914   It better be a Picture Book for most of this Crowd...   Aug 24 2015, 04:48 AM
gms   It better be a Picture Book for most of this Crow...   Aug 24 2015, 11:05 AM
maf914   Thanks for the 914 history lesson, Glenn. Best of...   Aug 24 2015, 05:46 AM
gms   here is a picture of the Altman car taken by Marti...   Aug 24 2015, 11:00 AM
stownsen914   here is a picture of the Altman car taken by Mart...   Aug 24 2015, 11:22 AM
rick 918-S   [quote name='gms' post='2227817' date='Aug 24 201...   Sep 3 2015, 04:27 PM
JmuRiz   here is a picture of the Altman car taken by Mart...   Sep 3 2015, 07:06 PM
Doug914   here is a picture of the Altman car taken by Mar...   Sep 4 2015, 05:56 AM
RobW   here is a picture of the Altman car taken by Mart...   Sep 5 2015, 07:13 AM
Unobtanium-inc   This came today in the mail, it's cool.   Sep 4 2015, 11:28 AM
Mueller   This came today in the mail, it's cool. Ni...   Sep 4 2015, 12:10 PM
RobW   This came today in the mail, it's cool. N...   Sep 4 2015, 12:31 PM
porschetub   This came today in the mail, it's cool. N...   Sep 8 2015, 08:50 PM
gms   This came today in the mail, it's cool. This...   Sep 5 2015, 09:02 AM
horizontally-opposed   That's a super cool model... http://www.forum...   Sep 4 2015, 12:22 PM
Unobtanium-inc   That's a super cool model... http://www.foru...   Sep 4 2015, 12:59 PM
Unobtanium-inc   Last Page.   Sep 4 2015, 01:02 PM
Dave_Darling   Cool story, but what does it have to do with IMSA ...   Sep 4 2015, 02:44 PM
horizontally-opposed   Cool story, but what does it have to do with IMSA...   Sep 4 2015, 03:08 PM
Unobtanium-inc   Cool story, but what does it have to do with IMS...   Sep 4 2015, 09:30 PM
Dave_Darling   It's one of the models in that pic from Europ...   Sep 5 2015, 09:31 PM
dug   Cool story, but what does it have to do with IMSA...   Sep 5 2015, 01:46 AM
dug   This came today in the mail, it's cool. Is ...   Sep 5 2015, 01:48 AM
carr914   Cool story, but what does it have to do with IMS...   Sep 5 2015, 03:46 AM
gms   This is from an email Bruce Anderson sent about th...   Sep 5 2015, 09:00 AM
Unobtanium-inc   You know, I woke up this morning and read all of t...   Sep 5 2015, 02:52 PM
gms   You know, I woke up this morning and read all of ...   Sep 5 2015, 03:29 PM
dug   You're calling us childish for defending the c...   Sep 5 2015, 07:25 PM
rick 918-S   Thanks again Glenn for researching this special ti...   Sep 5 2015, 08:27 PM
Chris Pincetich   Glenn - you da man :beer2: Should be a great boo...   Sep 5 2015, 09:43 PM
gms   Rick & Chris thanks for your kind words   Sep 7 2015, 10:05 AM
gms   I finally have found my very own Altec poster Than...   Sep 7 2015, 10:06 AM
Garold Shaffer   I finally have found my very own Altec poster Tha...   Sep 7 2015, 03:46 PM
infraredcalvin   I finally have found my very own Altec poster Tha...   Mar 23 2016, 12:01 AM
Larmo63   The IMSA information and pictures are interesting ...   Sep 7 2015, 11:23 AM
gms   The IMSA information and pictures are interesting...   Sep 7 2015, 11:55 AM
rgalla9146   I hear Bruce Jennings Speedster has a 906 body now...   Sep 7 2015, 12:04 PM
Unobtanium-inc   I want to clear up a large mis-conception. It...   Sep 7 2015, 12:35 PM
RoadGlue   I want to clear up a large mis-conception. It...   Sep 7 2015, 01:44 PM
ConeDodger   I want to clear up a large mis-conception. It...   Sep 7 2015, 01:45 PM
Unobtanium-inc   I want to clear up a large mis-conception. It...   Sep 7 2015, 01:56 PM
ConeDodger   [quote name='ConeDodger' post='2234110' date='Sep...   Sep 7 2015, 02:14 PM
RAX 914   Then name a f@king price already.....that's ri...   Sep 7 2015, 01:22 PM
Unobtanium-inc   Then name a f@king price already.....that's r...   Sep 7 2015, 01:27 PM
RAX 914   Then name a f@king price already.....that's ...   Sep 7 2015, 01:51 PM
zambezi   Uh... no   Sep 7 2015, 01:28 PM
RoadGlue   I've PM'd Adam. Let's get this threa...   Sep 7 2015, 02:12 PM
RoadGlue   My last message applies to everyone. Move on fol...   Sep 7 2015, 02:16 PM
Larmo63   I'd love to see another IMSA car here restored...   Sep 7 2015, 02:56 PM
rgalla9146   So.... Bought the car from someone who didn...   Sep 7 2015, 04:14 PM
gms   >:D   Sep 8 2015, 05:44 PM
Garold Shaffer   >:D :trophy: I feel a road trip coming on...   Sep 8 2015, 05:47 PM
gms   :trophy: I feel a road trip coming on. :headban...   Sep 8 2015, 05:54 PM
r_towle   Fess up, where is that sled?   Sep 8 2015, 06:08 PM
Garold Shaffer   Fess up, where is that sled? :confused: :shad...   Sep 8 2015, 06:10 PM
gms   Fess up, where is that sled? too far away to tal...   Sep 8 2015, 06:18 PM
Chris Pincetich   interesting front flares... :beer2:   Sep 8 2015, 08:34 PM
r_towle   What is the status of that black car in the poster...   Mar 22 2016, 03:36 PM
gms   Another former IMSA racer back on the track last w...   Jul 19 2016, 07:30 PM
carr914   What Canadian Team?   Jul 20 2016, 04:38 AM
gms   What Canadian Team? Dave Deacon and then Peter A...   Jul 20 2016, 12:17 PM
rick 918-S   Nice!   Jul 20 2016, 07:11 AM
sixnotfour   Mosport 1979 :driving:   Jul 20 2016, 02:42 PM
carr914   :headbanger:   Jul 20 2016, 07:43 PM
carr914   RE: The IMSA 914   Jul 21 2016, 07:43 PM
rgalla9146   Hey TC Where / when was that parade ?   Jul 22 2016, 06:10 AM
vintage914racer   Hey TC Where / when was that parade ? ...   Jul 23 2016, 07:08 PM
Unobtanium-inc   9140430754 just came up for sale on Pelican, ...   Oct 31 2017, 01:42 PM
rick 918-S   Nice fine! Someone should buy this before it g...   Nov 1 2017, 09:37 AM
stownsen914   Ha, that's Paul Resnick's old car. Paul ow...   Nov 1 2017, 12:55 PM
Mueller   Nice fine! Someone should buy this before it ...   Nov 1 2017, 02:53 PM
ConeDodger   One of the most amazing things about this thread i...   Nov 1 2017, 01:56 PM
Unobtanium-inc   One of the most amazing things about this thread ...   Nov 1 2017, 03:10 PM
ConeDodger   One of the most amazing things about this thread...   Nov 1 2017, 03:24 PM
gms   My friend Claus Mueller used to own this IMSA 914,...   Nov 1 2017, 03:30 PM
gms   had the old girl out last weekend tearing $hi...   Nov 1 2017, 04:05 PM
mb911   had the old girl out last weekend tearing $h...   Nov 1 2017, 05:41 PM
Mueller   [quote name='gms' post='2544426' date='Nov 1 2017...   Dec 1 2017, 09:00 AM
RoadGlue   :Qarl: :driving:   Nov 1 2017, 04:15 PM
DM_2000   The car in post 35 is no longer a 914, it is a p...   Nov 1 2017, 04:49 PM
gms   The car in post 35 is no longer a 914, it is a pu...   Nov 1 2017, 05:31 PM
stownsen914   The car in post 35 is no longer a 914, it is a p...   Nov 2 2017, 05:20 AM
gms   [quote name='gms' post='2544459' date='Nov 1 2017...   Nov 2 2017, 09:17 AM
gms   Ben, It was good to see you and the kids!   Nov 1 2017, 08:55 PM
Steve   I thought this Brumos article from an old Porsche ...   Nov 2 2017, 10:21 AM
ConeDodger   >:D Got this one Glenn? Photographer grew up...   Dec 1 2017, 07:04 AM
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