RON CARRICO'S 1970 124 SPIDER VINTAGE RACER

I purchased this 1970 Fiat 124 Spider from an advertisement in the local Autotrader. The car is an ex-SCCA racer that was originally raced in the late 1970's.

The $4500 purchase price included log books and a fairly extensive notebook documenting the work done on the car and its races from 1987 to 1991. The former owner spent a lot of money on chassis improvements. He completely redid the electrical system for racing and added a fuel cell and fire extinguisher system with outlets in the trunk, cockpit and by the carb. In spite of these changes, he was not rewarded with much success. I believe he grew tired of the not finishing races and switched to Porsches but kept the Fiat. However the car languished for about 10 years before it was sold as a part of his estate.

With the help of a knowledgeable friend I went through most of the car prior to running my first novice race, a vintage event, at Willowsprings raceway in Southern California in August 2002. Since then I have raced the Fiat six more times. The car has proven very reliable and won its class on two occasions. It seems competitive with the faster cars in E production class and even fairs well against slower C and D production Alfas and Porsches.

The 1438 cc Fiat engine features high compression JE pistons, a Crower reground cam, balancing and the other usual tricks. Additionally we have switched to a single 300 CFM Holley carb on a reworked stock intake manifold. A Crane electronic ignition was added as well providing a big improvement in drivability. On a chassis dyno the engine produces about 95 horsepower at the rear wheels. But the power band is very flat from 5500 to 7200. Very nice for road racing. As is the 12 quart oil baffled oil pan.

The car is very balanced and easy to drive; with 600 pound Eibach front springs with a 1 inch sway bar and Koni sport shocks. The rear features a four bar set up, with a Panhard rod. The springs are rated at 175 pounds with Koni Sport shocks and no sway bar. The springs have collars to adjust the ride height and set the corner weights. The differential is a locked 4.3 to 1. (Soon to change to LSD-hopefully.) The car now has Hoosier TD racing radials. They last about six race weekends incidentally and when they go off-look out it happens real fast!

I have done a lot of lightening in various places and the car weighs about 1700 pounds. I have also done a lot of work to improve the aerodynamics. I added a very comprehensive tonneau cover and the front of the car is almost completely sealed except for the oil cooler input next to the left front headlight/carb intake.

The radiator receives air from the bottom 12 inches of the grill opening. The idea was to keep as much air out of the engine compartment as possible. The air then escapes out of the holes in front of the small windshield and wheel wells. The radiator has been "serpentined" to reroute the water flow. This resulted in about a 30 degree drop in operating temp.

I have found that although most of the competition out accelerate the Fiat the car has adequate top speed-at least I get to 7300 in 5 th on the banks at Fontana-probably 125 or so. The brakes are stock but good. I use very high temp Castrol fluid and carefully clean and bleed the brakes prior to each weekend.

This Fiat racecar and vintage racing have been a learning experience and as of the end of the 2003 season I know the car is competitive enough to run in the top three or four of the class most weekends. But one source of enjoyment with a Fiat 124 is that almost everyone who comes up to ask talk has owned one and wonders why there aren’t more racing. It seems particularly odd since there are so many Fiats still driving on the streets while most comparable English MGBs, Triumphs and Spitfires are stashed away in garages and part bins.

As a final thought; so far vintage racing is very friendly and most folks think in terms of there being a "vintage bubble" around the cars. In other words no trading paint going into the turn. And when I talk to the other drivers in the under two liter production class, I just introduce myself as the "Fiat guy" and they usually know the car.

Ron Carrico, December 2003