[Russell Sheldon]

In response to my query (on the SCI board) as to the release date of Slot.it's Porsche 962, Maurizio Ferrari replied:

"The Porsche 962 (in the 'Blaupunkt 1988 3rd Le Mans') will be the next release after the P956 NewMan (about to hit the shelves) and the P956 Spirit of America (which will be out approx mid September).
The 962 moulds are ready since a long time ago."

That's great news Maurizio, thanks!

As a matter of interest, for those that don't know, Porsche wanted to race their 956 in the IMSA North American series but it was deemed illegal because of its water-cooled engine and the fact that the drivers feet were positioned ahead of the centre line of the front axle.

Porsche therefore built the 962, an "IMSA version" of the 956, using the air-cooled 935 engine and with a longer wheelbase, placing the driver's feet behind the front axle line.

The 962 first raced in the 1984 Daytona 24 Hours, driven by Mario and Michael Andretti. It qualified on pole, alongside the all South African Kreepy Krauly March 83G of Sarel Van Der Merwe, Graham Duxbury and Tony Martin (soon to be released by Revell-Monogram).

The 962 retired with engine and gearbox problems and the Kreepy Krauly car went on to win the race. Kreepy Krauly is a South African manufacturer of automatic swimming pool cleaning "robots".

By mid summer Porsche fitted a 3.2-liter injected turbo 935 six-cylinder engine and the larger engine, along with short tail bodywork, turned the 962 into one of the most successful racing cars ever.

Porsche built a great many of these cars -- 962-001 through 962C-016 were works chassis and 962-101 through 962C-177 were customer 962's, so there were literally more than a hundred liveries or variants of liveries that could be reproduced.

With kind regards

Russell

 

[Mo55man]

Did you say over 100 liveries or variants. My wallet doesn't stand a chance. I suppose with the plain white version being produced it would be possible to re-produce them all.

M

 

[monquispot]

after Porsche ceased production of the 962 various other groups began to produce the car. Holbert Racing, Fabcar, Chapman (aka Lola), Joest, Thompson, Richard Lloyd, Kremer, Vern Schuppan, Shapiro.

not all of the above produced complete chassis, some took what Porsche had done and went far beyond. total number of possible liveries is likely beyond counting. aside from WEC and IMSA nearly evry country with motorsports had a national prototype series.

Likely the most interestin 962 variant are those produced by Richard Loyd Racing.
We should all hope Slot-It will tool up for the late generation 962s.

 

[GBMark]

I have been looking forward to the next Slot.It 956 releases for some time but to hear that the 962 is just around the corner is great news.

......and the fact that Revell-Monogram is doing a March 83G is icing on the cake to me.

You almost wonder if RM are conciously doing the March in the knowledge that the Slot.It 962 will be a huge seller and most people will add the March to their collection as a race partner to the 962.

Whatever the case may be we will soon have an ideal pair of racers from two of the best slot car manufacturers out there.

 

[Xlot]

Aesthetically, certainly yes - performance wise, I seriously doubt !!

 

[Intergrali]

thanks for letting us know and not jumping on the I know something you dont know nar nar na nar nar bandwagon

good news but I still like my racer

 

[BEEJAY7]

Agree Xslot...The Revell will be much superior unless Slot.it sort out their chassis.

Regards

Alan

 

[calvin]

You're saying that a Revell slotcar can beat a Slot.it?

Maybe your slot.it had a dead motor...

 

[BEEJAY7]

Yes Calvin I am, on my track with my cars

 

[TSRF]

QUOTE The 962 retired with engine and gearbox problems and the Kreepy Krauly car went on to win the race. Kreepy Krauly is a South African manufacturer of automatic swimming pool cleaning "robots".

Actually, I was present at this race at Daytona as agent for our racing company, servicing the wheels and driver safety items needs for the teams we supported, that included the Jim Busby/BF-Goodrich Lola-Mazdas which won their class and the works Toyotas GTU, one of them driven by actor Gene Hackman. The Kreepy-Krauly March took the lead almost immediately and was never headed. It was clearly superior to the works Porsches in that race. Holbert himself had shown that the March chassis was a good prospect by dominating the previous season with the CRC sponsored car. Sarel van der Merwe drove a flawless race, avoiding all pitfalls and pulling a clear and decisive win in this most grueling race.
As an addendum, I have used the Kreepy-Krauly pool cleaner and it has kept my pool clean for the past 15 years with never a failure. A great, if noisy (it makes a clop-clop-clop noise when operating) device, with only one moving part, due to a hydraulic engineer's genius.
Regards,

Philippe

 

[PeteN]

QUOTE (TSRF @ 19 Aug 2004, 19:34)Sarel van der Merwe drove a flawless race, avoiding all pitfalls and pulling a clear and decisive win in this most grueling race.
I was very impressed with Sarel when he drove our 962 (Bayside/Havoline) in the 1989 24hr race. This was the race which had to be stopped for several hours late at night bacause of fog. Just before the race was red flagged, most of the cars had dropped well off the pace due to visibility issues, but not Sarel! He only dropped a second or 2?!? We were catching the leaders at an amazing rate and might have actually won (instead of 4th) if the race wasn't stopped. But it was probably for the best, the visibility was about 40ft! I still don't know how he could do it, maybe his rally experience?