TIFOSITEASER # 70 <SOLVED> 1961 DREOSSI SPECIAL

[Tifosi]

Here's a rather unusual-looking racer, one I don't know if I'd really want to go fast in...but somebody brave obviously did.  Can you name the car?

[Tifosi]

Maybe some of our Northern members will recognize this car...


Dan

[Tifosi]

No guesses yet?  This car was built and raced north of the border, but also ran in the U.S.



Dan

[Tifosi]

Here's another clue...

[Otto Puzzell]

OK - it's a bit slower than a MIG...

[Allan L]

OK so the body is made from an F86 drop-tank, but that doesn't mean I have a clue what it is

[Tifosi]

Although it has an Italian name, it was built in Canada...and nearly 50 years ago.  It's also featured in a current enthusiast publication.  I had never heard of this car until I saw it in that publication...but, I thought some of our north-of-the-border members might be familiar with it.  The engine came from a well-known sports car then in production.


Dan

[Tifosi]

 :bump: :bump:


Dan

[Tifosi]

Still no takers?


Dan

[shamrock]

is it the jabberwocky, run originally by Ian Bracey

[Tifosi]

No, it isn't, but it's a good guess...



Dan

[shamrock]

A REG PHILIPS DESIGN.

[Otto Puzzell]

Is that a Panhard head sticking out of the fuselage, near the front tire?

[Tifosi]

I'm not enough of an engineer to be able to rfecognize a Panhard head, and I don't know  of any input from Reg Phillips; but the car is a terror on the VRRC racing circuit.


Dan

[Tifosi]

Here's another shot of our subject...

[neilshouse]

I think it's the Derossi Special, driven by Doug Elcomb in Canadian historic events.
I can't find any more info about this car apart from it was built from an F86 drop tank but Allan L already worked that one out.

[@re]

Found another picture of it on the VARAC page, but there's no information about it. Got some hits on the Derossi Special on Google, and some on Doug Elcomb, but none with pictures.

[Ray B.]

Neilshouse found it: here is Tifosi's picture on this webpage http://www.varac.ca/Festival/Entries2006.htm
See the file name.

[Tifosi]

I think it's the Derossi Special, driven by Doug Elcomb in Canadian historic events.
I can't find any more info about this car apart from it was built from an F86 drop tank but Allan L already worked that one out.

Neilshouse gets the point.    From a site that I can't access any more[maybe it's defunct...] I was able to gather a few tidbits about this interesting little car.  Ray Dreossi built it in 1961 under Canada Class rules.  It was indeed fashioned from the drop tank of a Sabrejet, and is powered by an Austin-Healey Sprite engine, bored out to 998cc.  I don't know just how successful it was when it was built or who drove it, but with Elcomb behind the wheel, it is a holy terror on the track, setting lap records and almost always finishing near the front in vintage races, both in Canada and in the States, as well.

The car first came to my attention after seeing it in an article in the February, 2008 issue of  Vintage Racecar Magazine, entitled VSCDA Fall Finale.  I don't know just how Doug Elcomb became involved with the car, or what other cars he's driven, but apparently, he's a very astute driver.

I believe Ray Dreossi built about 10 cars over a span of several years, but don't know if they were all Canada Class -spec or not. 

I really just posted this puzzle in the hope that somebody might have more info on the car and the man behind it.  It doesn't appear to be much larger than a go-kart, and has an engine of nearly 1 litre capacity that I'm sure could be tuned to develop at least 75 hp or so; and I seriously doubt that it could weigh much more than 1000 pounds with driver, so it must be very quick.

And I thought the only place for a drop tank was on a dry lake bed...


Well done, guys!



Dan

[@re]

Can you say "crumple zone"?