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Author Topic: The Bagheera racing heritage ...  (Read 19803 times)
Spyros
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« on: August 23, 2009, 01:52:46 pm »

Sorry to have to start this new post but I realised that the racing story of the Matra Bagheera is rather unknown.

I hope to develop several chapter of it :

- The Mobil economic run
- The world rally championship (yes ! )
- Privaters
- Newcomers

Let me start with the world rally championshiop heritage.

Years ago, I published a summary of this on my web site : http://www.matra-bagheera.com/Plan/Bagheera/Racing/racing.html
So, in 1976, 1977, 1978, a Bagheera was engaged in UK in the prestigious Lombard RAC Rally !
In 1977, they tried (and succeeded) to broke their car on the awfully difficult Acropolis rally
In 1978 and 1979, they went to Iceland for the 1000 tracks !
And in 1979 and 1980, to Portugal.

But who where they ?

Francis Chopy & Roland Therond
One was a racing journalist but I have to find back which one.
Roland has founded an oldtimer insurance group : Retroassur

What car did they used ?
At least 2 : A serie 1 and a Serie 2. Specially developed by Matra with thinner gauged chassis and plenty of cutting. (If I remember well there was no boot.

Some pictures :

See my web site : Ihave to realized that a Polish guy copied several pictures without understanding who is what, so beware.

 
What about their victory on 1978 french tour auto ?
Well I mighthave been overenthousiastic when I wrote this and ... several stupids copied my mystake.
Actually they finnished at the 11 position
They got a class victory only, running under the 1300 cc limit


... to be updated  Cheesy
« Last Edit: October 17, 2009, 03:23:32 pm by Spyros » Logged
Anders Dinsen
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« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2009, 03:07:11 pm »

Excellent, Spyros! Thanks for updating us Cheesy
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1982 Talbot Matra Murena 2.2 prep 142
2017 BMW i3 "Charged Professional" 94Ah

Used to own:
2001 Renault Matra Grand Espace "The Race" V6 24v
1997 Renault Matra Espace 2.0 8V
1987 Renault Matra Espace J11 2.2
Lanng
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« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2009, 07:22:36 pm »

You forgot this pic. Smiley - I just found it google´ing the web for Bagheera racing:

The filename is BagheeraBoyer3.jpg if that can relate to any team name.



Also there is a few clips on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_dzVCHeH54 - Its a Murena; but still Smiley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng7i5eHx0VU&NR=1 - After the Porsche drives off; Its a Murena in the lead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvoaSdpZu_Q&feature=related - A Bagheera!

/// Lanng
« Last Edit: August 24, 2009, 04:49:07 am by Lanng » Logged
Lanng
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« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2009, 04:50:11 am »

Can anyone see the attached picture from my post?

/// Lanng
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Anders Dinsen
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« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2009, 07:13:51 am »

Can anyone see the attached picture from my post?

Yes. But attached photos are only shown to forum members. Links and inserted images are shown to everyone.

/Anders
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1982 Talbot Matra Murena 2.2 prep 142
2017 BMW i3 "Charged Professional" 94Ah

Used to own:
2001 Renault Matra Grand Espace "The Race" V6 24v
1997 Renault Matra Espace 2.0 8V
1987 Renault Matra Espace J11 2.2
Spyros
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« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2009, 08:11:03 pm »

You forgot this pic. Smiley - I just found it google´ing the web for Bagheera racing:

The filename is BagheeraBoyer3.jpg if that can relate to any team name.




No, I don't forget anything.

This pic has nothing to do with the factory team in the world rally championship.

I know this picture very since I was the first one to publish it on my web site.

Now it has been copied, stolen, 1000 times and nobody knows what it was about.

This is one of the pictures of the car of a privater in regional french rallies.
It was discovered (in a pile of picture) and sent to me by the husband of the daughter of the pilot : René Boyer

I'll talk about this in another chapter, probably next weekend
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andyowl
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« Reply #6 on: August 26, 2009, 09:52:15 am »

I purchased this picture in the late 1970's and was told that it was from the RAC Rally of 1977 (maybe the one we saw while spectating in Grisedale and which started our 30+ year love affair with the Bagheera).

Andy
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Spyros
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« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2009, 11:45:24 am »

So, some news.

Therond and Chopy have been running with 2 Bagheera and (at least) 1 Murena.
The first Bagheera was a Serie 1 (AM75 probably)
The second, the "confiture Boin" already illustrated is still to be seen in Romorantin museum.
It was an AM77 model of begining of 1978.

It had been homologated as GR4.
As far as the engine preparation is concerned, it was very limited.
- 1290 cc engine
- Same Camshaft profile as the first R2 : type 3555
- 2 DCNF 40 carbs
- Same valves as origin (no bigger size)
- A Devil 4 into 1 collector and exhaust (I have some docs somewhere explaining that the devil  was actually lowering the power)
A total mesured power of 99 BHP was mesured
For the gearbox, some comments where made that with the available power, a limited slip differential wasn't needed.
The only modification there was a 16/65 unit was used.

The weight was down by 150 Kg and because of this they used the smaller brake servo of 6 inch in order to avoid blocking th wheels

I'll send an email to the main preparator. We'll see
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Anders Dinsen
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« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2009, 04:26:52 pm »

Interesting, Spyros!

As far as the engine preparation is concerned, it was very limited.
- 1290 cc engine
- Same Camshaft profile as the first R2 : type 3555
- 2 DCNF 40 carbs
- Same valves as origin (no bigger size)
- A Devil 4 into 1 collector and exhaust (I have some docs somewhere explaining that the devil  was actually lowering the power)
A total mesured power of 99 BHP was mesured

That is indeed a relatively cheap tune. Engine was chosen to be below 1300?

They must have done a good deal of headwork and used racing components, but otherwise the engine appears to be not not too much in focus?

I'm not sure what you mean by the cam profile. Is that similar to the one Politecnic currently sells?

I would have thought they would have gone for the DCOE carbs insted of the DCNF as they are better suited for racing (easier to work on on the track) and would have allowed for longer intake horns, but at least they went up to the larger 40's from the Bagheera's standard carbs.

Your comment about the exhaust is also interesting. I'd like to hear more about that.

Quote
For the gearbox, some comments where made that with the available power, a limited slip differential wasn't needed.
The only modification there was a 16/65 unit was used.

The weight was down by 150 Kg and because of this they used the smaller brake servo of 6 inch in order to avoid blocking th wheels

Then why use a brake servo at all?

Quote
I'll send an email to the main preparator. We'll see

Interesting!

/Anders
« Last Edit: August 30, 2009, 04:30:03 pm by Anders Dinsen » Logged

1982 Talbot Matra Murena 2.2 prep 142
2017 BMW i3 "Charged Professional" 94Ah

Used to own:
2001 Renault Matra Grand Espace "The Race" V6 24v
1997 Renault Matra Espace 2.0 8V
1987 Renault Matra Espace J11 2.2
Spyros
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I'm a real donkey!


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« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2009, 06:25:56 pm »

They must have done a good deal of headwork and used racing components,
Nearly no headwork, standard components ...

Quote from: Anders Dinsen
I would have thought they would have gone for the DCOE carbs insted of the DCNF as they are better suited for racing (easier to work on on the track) and would have allowed for longer intake horns, but at least they went up to the larger 40's from the Bagheera's standard carbs.

Why would it be easier to work on ?

I'll show you an inlet manifold I have for DCOE's. (would also suit 1600 cc) If you mount it, you can barely change the plugs. Longer intake horns, no because the space is limited, + the links if they are below the carbs ...

DCNF 40 are a piece of cake to mount.

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Anders Dinsen
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« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2009, 06:52:44 pm »

They must have done a good deal of headwork and used racing components,
Nearly no headwork, standard components ...

Hmm... at least that makes it cheap to replicate.

Quote
Why would it be easier to work on ?

Because you can change the jets on the DCOE's by just removing the jet cover. Same with venturis: Just pull them out. With the DCNF carbs you have to remove the top lid of the carb, risking damage to the gasket, fuel spill etc. So it's not that easy when you are on the track or at the rally, whereas the DCOE's are so easy to work with.

Quote
I'll show you an inlet manifold I have for DCOE's. (would also suit 1600 cc) If you mount it, you can barely change the plugs. Longer intake horns, no because the space is limited, + the links if they are below the carbs ...

DCNF 40 are a piece of cake to mount.

I didn't think of the plugs! Well if you don't need to do much tuning, the DCNF carbs are quite ideal then.

/Anders
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1982 Talbot Matra Murena 2.2 prep 142
2017 BMW i3 "Charged Professional" 94Ah

Used to own:
2001 Renault Matra Grand Espace "The Race" V6 24v
1997 Renault Matra Espace 2.0 8V
1987 Renault Matra Espace J11 2.2
Lanng
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Its complicated...


« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2009, 12:12:57 pm »

Ohhh, keep´em coming! Just love reading this thread!
Any pic. / diagrams of the issues with the DCOE vs DCNF carbs?

Best regards
Lanng
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Anders Dinsen
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« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2009, 06:44:25 pm »

Any pic. / diagrams of the issues with the DCOE vs DCNF carbs?

Well the DCNF is a down draft carburettor and was original fitment to the Bagheera. It was also used in Ferrari 308 and many other cars. A very good carb for a sports car! Bagheera used a 36 DCNF, but a 40 is also available. The number refers to the size of the barrel and puts a limitation on the largest possible primary venturi possible. A 40 will allow more air through in the top, but on a small engine, the low end may gasp and suffer from poor emulsification of the fuel.

Due to the way the DCNF is constructed, jets can't be changed without removing the lid of the carburettor complete with float and fuel hoses. That's not a problem on a road car, but on race cars, you usually prefer the tuning possibilities.

Here's an exploded view of the DCNF. Jets are no 8, 14, 18. You have to lift the cover #1 to get access to them. The float 12 is attached to the cover.



DCOE carbs are sidedraught and are available in 40 and 45. They are side draught and fits horisontally on the engine. This takes a good deal of space as can be seen in the photo album here which I have made documenting my own DCOE project on my Murena 2.2:
http://gallery.dinsen.net/v/biler/Matra/technical/carb/40dcoe/

As you can see, the Murena engine room does not leave much space for the airbox, but still allowed me to fit 39 mm intake horns. The 2.2 Murena has the spark plugs on the exhaust side, but the Bagheera engine has them on the intake side - meaning they will be covered by the manifold and carbs. As Spyros suggests - not particularly service friendly.

Just some pictures

I love the first picture, particularly the expression on the drivers' face! Grin

/Anders
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1982 Talbot Matra Murena 2.2 prep 142
2017 BMW i3 "Charged Professional" 94Ah

Used to own:
2001 Renault Matra Grand Espace "The Race" V6 24v
1997 Renault Matra Espace 2.0 8V
1987 Renault Matra Espace J11 2.2
Spyros
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« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2009, 03:30:58 pm »

Guy's

I'm sad to have to take the decision to remove the pictures I posted over here.

Without request, one of our forum member decided to copy them on the infamous Matra-Passion forum.
The person is a "moderator" over there  Roll Eyes

Apparently basic requierements of politeness are totaly unknown to them.
If you know him, you can congratulate him for the very demanding work of making a copy/paste.
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andyowl
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New exhaust "straight through" - good sound!


« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2009, 10:04:51 am »

Thanks anyway for sharing your pictures with us!

It is a shame that courtesy was not used when borrowing them for other purposes.

Andy
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