PZL 48 Solved: Jim Oswald Viper SR-1

[ValkyrieGT]

Tell me about this machine for 1 point.

[ValkyrieGT]

Experts?

[driggy.dragos]

Ford Chassis ?

[ValkyrieGT]

No sorry.

[BERTRAND]

Canam?

[ValkyrieGT]

No sorry.

[ValkyrieGT]

Professional puzzlers know it....so do tell for 1 point.

[fromwien]

VW-powered ex-SCCA-racer

[ValkyrieGT]

Locked for fromwien.

[fromwien]

Dear 'ValkyrieGT' thank you so much locking this puzzle for me, but I am extremely busy at the moment and fear to find not enough time searching further on this car. I only still remember, it is a one-off and has been offered for sale once a time and I've saved pictures and text anywhere on my computer..
Please be so kind and open for all again

[ValkyrieGT]

Available for all to fill in the specifications on this machine.

[fromwien]

Did it compete in the DSR-race-class?

[ValkyrieGT]

Not sure.

[fromwien]

Anything to do with Gary Brizendine and the 'Pop-Rivet Special'?

[ValkyrieGT]

I believe the chassis is the same..please connect the chassis with the current body for the point to be yours.

[fromwien]

Beach Mk 4B?

[ValkyrieGT]

Very close, the chassis has a name & number too.

[ValkyrieGT]

Ok.. a point is awarded fromwien for locating the car on the internet...another point is to be awarded a puzzler for identifying the history of this exact car & who built it.

[ValkyrieGT]

Here is the car I believe...with totally different bodywork & mechanicals.

[fromwien]

Thank you so much awarding me for the done research, but as longer I deal with this vehicle, I mean that the two are not the same. Even the driver's position is different!

[ValkyrieGT]

Master puzzlers fill in the missing history of this little race car & earn a point...I know no further info on the machine...its up to you masters to help me out & give this machine its just do coverage, thank you.

[gte4289]

Master puzzlers fill in the missing history of this little race car & earn a point...I know no further info on the machine...its up to you masters to help me out & give this machine its just do coverage, thank you.

This is the Viper SR-1, a hillclimb racer built by the Oswald family of Pennsylvania and raced by Jim Oswald from 1987-2005. Ron Mann (also of Pennsylvania) purchased the car in 2009 and drove it in local hillclimb events. In July of this year, it appeared at the Giants Despair Hillclimb in Laurel Run, Pennsylvania with driver Mike Kester of Larksville, Pennsylvania.

The images below show the car being driven by Jim Oswald (blue with yellow stripes and numbers 282/082) and most recently by Mike Kester (turquoise with orange stripe).

Upon seeing the recent photo (as driven by Mike Kester), Jim Oswald and others familiar with the car's history commented on what they saw as an unfortunate color change, front end height, and "lack of 2 cylinders," which suggests the car ran with a different engine in the past.

[gte4289]

For comparison:

[ValkyrieGT]

Looks exact..point awarded and thank you.

[gte4289]

Thanks for the point!