[GogglesP]

Not sure if it was good fortune or bad, but I somehow managae to acquire Bob Hourihan's old butterscotch 510 from John Townsend. Car is pretty solid, but is suffering from nearly 20 years of sitting. Also had a small engine compartment fire just before John parked it and the wiring is toast. I have started on the restoration process and if all the stars align I hope to have it ready to run next years POR. I hope to put it back into the shape it was for the 73 POR, big mud flaps and all.

Since my memory is not what it used to be (and it was never very good) I am intersted in any stories, history, data or information anyone might have about the car.


Art Kaser

 

[Foghorn]

Very cool find! Know of any others wasting away under tarps that could be available?

I'm sure Doug Woods will chime in with the relevant facts, but I believe that's probably the car that Bob took to Europe to run in some events with Doug navigating.

Did it come with a FYJIMO sticker or license plates on it?

 

[gravelgeezer]

This is a Brian McMahon photo of Bob and Doug Shepherd(?) most likely in that car.

A 2-23-2008 quote from Dave Weiman:
Doug Woods...ran several European WRC events in the mid 70's with Bob Hourihan in a SSS 510 with the Michigan license plate FYJIMO.

 

[rallydave]

I've got a story I think is about that car, at least a Hourihan 510. Think it was about 73 and POR still started and finished in Alma. Bob rented his 510 to a European, can't remember his name (might have been Jim Callin) and he holed the fuel tank and got the car to St. Ignace. Ralph Beckman and I were drafted to drive the car back to Alma with a 5 gallon jerry can sitting in the back seat with a hose feeding the engine. Must have been the third nite of three nites of rally and we were dead tired.

The Mackinaw Bridge was suffering from high winds and tractor trailers were not allowed to cross. A woman, can't remember her name needed to drive a service vehicle to the lower pennisula but, was afraid to cross the bridge in the wind. Ralph drove her car and I got into the 510 and we met on the south side of the bridge, got together and started driving south when the snow started. It was pure white out conditions on I-75 and we were fighting a cross wind and the lack of site along with lack of sleep and the fumes from the jerry can. Had us switching drivers every 20 minutes or so. Finally got off I-75 and headed to a service at a Total station. Got there before the cars and once they came in asked about snow tires. The common answer was no, snows were necessary as the trees kept the snow from hitting the road and the cars.

We were stopped at the station for about an hour and when we went back to the car, there was at least 4 inches of snow covering it. Somehow we fought the white out and lack of sleep and got the car back to Bob in Alma.

Most difficult drive under aweful conditions I have ever done. Hope Doug chimes in about this car in Europe and especially the 1000 Lakes (now Rally Finland). He's told me some great stories about their travels in Europe.

Unfortunately Bob passed away several years ago, may he rest in peace.

 

[Foghorn]

I've got a story I think is about that car, at least a Hourihan 510. Think it was about 73 and POR still started and finished in Alma.

The Mackinaw Bridge was suffering from high winds and tractor trailers were not allowed to cross. A woman, can't remember her name needed to drive a service vehicle to the lower pennisula but, was afraid to cross the bridge in the wind.

Pretty sure that was 1971 or 1972. I was driving an Econoline service van with bald tires across the bridge that day. Big scary fun. We competed in 1973 POR and the rally started on Belle Isle that year. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure we started in Detroit in 1972 too.

 

[Gary]

Art, I'm pretty sure that I already sent you this link, but just so others can enjoy it also, here are a couple of pictures from the 1973 1000 Lakes in Finland:

http://www.f1-forum.fi/vb/showthread.php?p=1028685

Post 104 shows Scott Harvey's Colt; and
Post 105 shows Bob Hourihan's Datsun.

Other searches also showed that Bob and Doug Woods retired with a broken rear suspension.

 

[Doug Woods]

In 1973, Bob and I did the Scottish Rally, Circuit of Donegal, Nutcracker Rally (in Wales) and the 1000 Lakes Rally in his 510. It had an 1800cc engine and a 240Z transmission and differential.

BTW, my total cost to do these four rallies (European, British, Motoring News and WRC status events) was just under $3,000 Canadian. However, it was my life savings, at the time.

I did my last rally with Bob on the 1977 POR.

 

[Gary]

One more from the 1973 1000 Lakes:

http://www.fotojorkka.fi/1970-2003/...han-Bob-Woods-Doug-Datsun-1800SSS-HXX307.html

 

[rallydave]

Pretty sure that was 1971 or 1972. I was drove an Econoline service van with bald tires across the bridge that day. Big scary fun. We competed in 1973 POR and the rally started on Belle Isle that year. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure we started in Detroit in 1972 too.

You've probably got the years correct as I am pretty sure I drove my 510 in 73 when it also started on Belle Isle. The years run together but, I didn see where Bob drove the car in 73 so probably 71 or 72

 

[orange510]

The Mothers Motors Datsun. I figured it was dead and scavenged for parts.
Bob did a piece on car prep for the SCCA mag. I think. He asked me to shoot the piks for the article.
Colin Malkin was the driver who split the gas tank.

The only time I ever jumped behind a tree thinking the end was near.

Bob at Sunriser 400, Bob said the drivers window did not break because he had it down.

End of night 1 POR

Fred Olds bought the car from Bob and rallied it for a couple years after that. Terry Palmer should have some stories from the right seat.

 

[rallydave]

Thanks for remembering it was Colin Malkin with Ralph in the 510 with the split fuel tank. From the pic, looks like this was NOT the car Bob took to Europe as it was a 2 door. The Europe 510sss was a 4 door and I do remember why. Had to get FIA Homoligation Papers for my 510 in 73 and only the 4-door was homologated. The 2-door wasn't homologated by Datsun and would have been FIA illegal in Europe. Here in the states, the number of doors didn't matter as there were many 510's with 2 doors rallying. It was a lot easier to put the roll bar (cages weren't required) in the 4 door. Had to remove the passenger seat but, it slipped right in and back out when I sold it. Simple, only needed 16 bolts to mount the roll bar into the car.

Times were simple back then. Stock seats, seat belt, etc. and a bolt in roll bar. Rallied in blue jeans and a sweatshirt. Did need helmets but, any helmet was fine.

 

[Doug Woods]

Can anyone (Bruce, you are excluded) identify the co-driver in the photo and say what his regular job was?

 

[jandreini]

I don't remember Fred Olds ever owning the car, but he may have. As I recall, the chain of ownership was: Bob Hourihan sold the car to Garry Henderson. Garry ran a couple of rallies, then sold it to me. We rolled it at '77 20 Stages (at the end of Hays Tower). I sold it to Steve Maynard, who planned to fix the damage & go rallying. That never happened and Steve sold the car to John Townsend, in whose pole barn it has lived until now.

I might add that I really loved this car. It was more fun than any rally car I've been in before or since. Of course, that may be the fog of time speaking, as I've certainly been in some really good rally cars.

A few photos below, with credit to Brian McMahon where appropriate.

Marquette 1000 - Presque Isle Park

1973 POR - Alma

1977 20 Stages - City of Grayling

Marquette 1000 - Presque Isle Park (This photo is the current wallpaper on both home & business computers.)

 

[Bruce Beauvais]

Can anyone (Bruce, you are excluded) identify the co-driver in the photo and say what his regular job was?

Surely, not me. Hard to believe but it's before my time. Bob had already switched to the sexy Volvo 142 when I started.
My memory of the ownership chain is the same as Uncle Joe's. Gary ran the car in the three light trim. One (or two) of them were Cibie Bi-Oscars. Driving lamp on the top and a small fog lamp on the bottom in one housing.

 

[Foghorn]

Can anyone (Bruce, you are excluded) identify the co-driver in the photo and say what his regular job was?

Too easy, Doug, but I can't take credit for the following:

"Geraint Phillips, like Denis Jenkinson, was a lynchpin of reportage in Motor Sport (later Motoring News) and for many his reports from the World Rally Championship were a vital link with the series.
His experience was vast and it should not be forgotten that he was Ari Vatanen's co-driver when the fiery young Finn made his overseas debut on the Rally of Jamaica in 1975.
Whether it was recounting outrageous and hilarious stories in his own blend of Welsh and Swahili, puffing on his trademark pipe or enjoying his second love of flying a helicopter, Gerry was the life and soul of many a party."

 

[Doug Woods]

Gerry was the long time rally editor of Motoring News which for about 20 years was the world's "rallying bible".

He had a wicked sense of humour. Here is an example from the Criterium du Quebec in the late 1970s. Totally politically incorrect these days.

Gerry and I were spectating at a jump on a stage where the cars got about three feet in the air. Night time was closing in and it was starting to get cold. I mentioned to Gerry that it was getting cooler. No comment at all from him as we looked down the road to see one of the works Mitsubishis with a Japanese driver approaching the jump. Just as the car was floating above the ground in front of us, Gerry said:

"Yes, there is a little nip in the air".

 

[orange510]

Fred, alias 'Bankshot' bought the 2door Mothers car. That's why the pedigree didn't mesh.

Doug, Didn't Bob call Fred from Europe to pull an engine part, (cam maybe?) because he was having trouble location one over there?

 

[orange510]

I knew I had these somewhere. Part of the Sportscar article was reprinted in the POR Program. Hope it helps in the restore.

 

[johnhuebbe]

First, a comprehensive first aid kit; and in addition to the usual items I carry a book of matches, water purification tablets, and a Chapstick

Matches and water purification tablets? Were people stranded out in the woods overnight where survival depened upon having these items?

 

[Bruce Beauvais]

Matches and water purification tablets? Were people stranded out in the woods overnight where survival depened upon having these items?

I think the original story appeared in 1974. Sweep vehicles weren't as common until later. Ham radio wasn't around yet so no easy, fast way to track cars and car counts existed. Rallying for 16 to 24 hours did. Endurance rallies such as the Trans- Canada weren't all that long ago. Getting stranded was a distinct possibility.
Two stories come to mind. We were going to spectate an early morning stage on day 2 of POR '74. Somewhere near AuTrain, I think. We waited and waited and waited. No cars. The sun came up. We finally heard an engine coming. Big excitement- opening vehicles! Lights over the hill! Up pops a school bus. That's how we found out the rally had been shut down three counties away.
While not a competitor story, it's related. Doug Shepard was Clerk of the Course. The event was either POR 75 or the Marquette 1000 ( NARA '76). Doug has borrowed someone's Datsun 510. It was RHD and allegedly fitted with a U20 (2.0 roadster) engine. While doing a final pre-check, the car broke down. Doug and co-driver broke into a cabin for shelter until someone came looking for them. Or so the story goes.