The All E-Body Web Board - AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE

GURSAVSKI Global Moderator Posts: 218 Gender:	Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE Reply #15 - 08/14/05 at 10:49pm Yes.
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arminator

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Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE
Reply #16 - 08/15/05 at 7:37am

Quote from GURSAVSKI on 08/14/05 at 5:54pm:

The Hemicudas were initially raced in Europe as a factory team. ECURIE CHRYSLER FRANCE, headed by Henri Chemin, competed in various race groups in Europe to promote the Chrysler-Simca vehicles available in Europe. THE SIMCA-SHELL CHALLENGE was a race series that further promoted the Simca cars. The Hemicudas were loud, fast, and quite a spectacle at the race courses. They were very fast and powerful and this, obviously, contributed to their success in hill-climb events. The prevailing thought in Europe, as well as in America, was "Race on Sunday; Sell on Monday". What better way to attract the racing public's attention than to present flashy fast racecars?

The 426 cid Hemicudas competed against 427 cid Camaros and 427 cid Mustangs in some of the race events. Yes, they were among the largest displacement engine sizes that raced in Europe at that time. To the best of my limited knowledge, privateer Hemicudas were entered in European events as late as 1977.

Attachment: 1971 Ecurie Chrysler France publicity photo. (Henri Chemin wearing white jacket, passenger side of the Barracuda.)

So it is all about business not racing.
How many Cudas were in Europe? (here on picture with Chrysler team i see 1971 cuda, at spa24 is a 1970 cuda)
....and how many races did Cuda win in Europe and what races were those?(if you know)

Thanks again for your help

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GURSAVSKI

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Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE
Reply #17 - 08/15/05 at 10:14am

Not true! (I guess you haven't noticed, ARminatoR, but racing IS business--- not only in this country, but all over the world. Sometimes you need success in one in order to be successful in the other.)

Not counting AAR 50231, in Europe there were, at a minimum, at least four and PERHAPS as many as many as ten different Barracudas that raced in hill climbs, road races, and road rallies. Shocked

There were a number of successes through the years. (Perhaps some of the 1971 Barracudas wore 1970 grilles?? Wink

)

(I don't pretend to know all the victories and races the Barracudas participated in. I have done some research and there were class wins at the Magny-Cours, Monthelry, and Albi road circuits and hill climb wins at Poilly sur Serein, Tancarville, Andelys and Chamrousse, to name just a few. I have trouble with the translations-- embarrassed

--most of my research material are French and Belgian racing periodicals from 1971-1975.)

If anyone has compiled race results from the European competitions or has more information on the Hemicudas in Europe, you are invited to share that information here, if you wish. Grin

Thank you for your interest.

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arminator

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Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE
Reply #18 - 08/15/05 at 3:21pm

I know racing is business, but i didn t know that hemicuda had so much successes in Europe. What i knew was that at lemans they didn t manage to finish with hemi engine, at spa they get 27th place again with hemi.......If they used a 340+6 engine (which is smaller and still have enough torque and horsepower to leave competition behind) they could be much better.

I thought they raced with hemi just for the show, just for business(to sell cudas and other Chrysler vehicles).....as you said they are very fast and powerful so they attract the racing public. I mean hemicuda was always a drag racing car, not car for turns and handling.

But if hemicuda realy get success at all those races, i take these words back.

GURSAVSKI you could do a webpage about Cuda racing in Europe....with all informations and pictures. I see that you know a lot of interesting things about Cuda and its racing. It would be just great to have a webpage about that.

Sorry because i am asking all the time, but i am very interested in Cuda racing.......
What were other cars that were racing against hemicuda on these races that you are talking about?(Magny-Cours, Monthelry,....)
Did hemicuda ever race with a porsche in Europe?

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« Last Edit: 08/15/05 at 6:18pm by arminator »

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GURSAVSKI

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Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE
Reply #19 - 08/19/05 at 5:59pm

Yes, I agree. It would be nice to see a webpage dedicated to the European Hemicudas. They definitely had press coverage as far as race results, articles and photos. They were moderately successful in their racing efforts and had a dedicated following of fans.

Unfortunately I know very little about them, but I am still learning. I'm hoping that someone out there on the world-wide-web will have more information and photos and, perhaps, post them here.

I'll look through the limited race results I have acquired, and soon, I'll post the other information that you asked about.

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GURSAVSKI Global Moderator Posts: 218 Gender:	Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE Reply #20 - 10/20/05 at 10:25pm i'm still working on accumulating and compiling race results for the European Hemicudas. Here's a photo of one of the Hemicudas competing against a Porsche at the 1972 Dijon four hour race. (Thanks to Le MOC!!)
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arminator YaBB Newbies I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 21	Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE Reply #21 - 10/22/05 at 2:33am This is really a great photo!!! Thanks man!
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GURSAVSKI Global Moderator Posts: 218 Gender:	Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE Reply #22 - 10/22/05 at 2:38am Another Plymouth (Chrysler) versus Porsche skirmish.
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arminator YaBB Newbies I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 21	Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE Reply #23 - 10/22/05 at 2:42am Porsche owned Where did you get all these great photos?
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GURSAVSKI Global Moderator Posts: 218 Gender:	Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE Reply #24 - 10/22/05 at 2:59am I've "borrowed" them from Le MOC. Their members have posted the above great photos and a few more. See attached: Jean Francoise Morel at 1973 Hautefaage hill climb competition.
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GURSAVSKI Global Moderator Posts: 218 Gender:	Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE Reply #25 - 10/22/05 at 3:30am 1972 Avril Hemicuda (part 1).
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GURSAVSKI Global Moderator Posts: 218 Gender:	Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE Reply #26 - 10/22/05 at 3:31am 1972 Avril Hemicuda (part2). WHOOPS!!
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arminator YaBB Newbies I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 21	Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE Reply #27 - 10/22/05 at 3:32am nuts happens
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GURSAVSKI Global Moderator Posts: 218 Gender:	Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE Reply #28 - 10/22/05 at 3:34am 1972 Hillclimb--J.C. Geral Hemicuda, First place, Group 1.
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GURSAVSKI

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Re: AAR CUDA RACING IN EUROPE
Reply #29 - 11/11/05 at 7:26pm

We're in luck!! Le MOC--the French Mopar Owners Club--has posted web pages dedicated to the 1970's Ecurie Chrysler France Hemicudas. This very nice set of web pages has many fantastic photos, along with descriptions of the cars, drivers and the race events. (You'll need to translate the information unless you're fluent in French, however.) The guys who put this collection of photos together are very thorough and are very knowledgeable of their subject. They've done a great job!

You can see these pages at: http://www.mopar-owners-club.com/f_racing.html

ENJOY!! Grin

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