Welcome to the Opel Motorsport Club The Opel Motorsport Club is celebrating its 36th year of dedication to the preservation and appreciation of all German Opels, with special emphasis on models imported into the United States. We are headquartered on the west coast and have chapters across the country, in Europe, as well as members in Canada and Mexico. Membership benefits include subscription to this, listings for parts and service suppliers, the Blitz index and tech tip index (1985-date), free classified ads (3 per year), club items, a member roster, owner support and activities, including meetings and our annual picnic and car show. Officers This Issue President: Paul Kaman VP/Secretary: Matt Newman Pages: 52 Activities: Gil Wesson Words: 6955 Treasurer: Dick Counsil Illustrations: 43 Blitz Editor: Mike Meier Print Cost: $9.12 Web Master: Richard Kavadas To Join OMC: Write to Contents OMC TREASURER Official Club Business...... 1 Thirty-eight Years of Opeling ..... 41 c/o Dick Counsil 2017 Ballot ...... 2 Tinyvette ...... 42 3824 Franklin Street 2017 Calender ...... 3 Tom’s Kadett...... 43 La Crescenta, CA 91214-1607 The Photo Album Project...... 4 My Twice-built Targa GT ...... 44 Bianca...... 5 The Work Horse...... 45 Membership Dues: Big Red ...... 6 Zooms Just Fine...... 46 Regular: $45 ($47 via PayPal) annually. Bill Ward Racing ...... 7 The OMC Library ...... 47 Black Opel...... 8 The OMC Mall...... 48 Online: $20 ($21 via PayPal) annually. The Brosnan Opel GT ...... 9 The Business Page...... 49 Conrero Opel GT Tribute...... 10 Check or money order (US funds only, made Effie...... 11 payable to Opel Motorsport Club) Éire GT...... 12 Elfie ...... 13 PayPal to [email protected] Father then Son’s “Little Orange” . . 15 Include your name and address information. First Car...... 16 Fuer immer Manta A!...... 17 Meetings: Green Heaven...... 18 The OMC meetings are as announced, at GT Love Taken to the Xtreme! .... 19 varying locations. Please consult the OMC Incognito ...... 20 Blitz calendar or the OMC website to find out The Last Drive of the Season...... 21 who is hosting the next meeting or event. The Lightning McGT...... 22 Luxus ...... 23 Maisgelb...... 24 The Blitz Mary Ann...... 25 The Blitz is the official publication of the Mira ...... 26 Opel Motorsport Club (OMC). It is published Miss Opel...... 27 four times a year. Circulation is limited to Murphy...... 28 club members and prospective club members. Old Smokey...... 29 Opel Omega 3.2 Auto...... 30 The Blitz is copyrighted © by the OMC. Opel Rekord Olympia ...... 31 Articles, photographs, drawings, technical Orange Monster...... 32 tips, and other materials appearing in The Oscar ...... 33 Blitz may not be reproduced without the Phoenix Racing ...... 34 expressed, written permission of the OMC. El Presidente...... 35 Views expressed are not necessarily those of Princess ...... 36 the officers or members of the OMC. Project OpelBee...... 37 Spirit of the Lakes ...... 38 Sweetheart ...... 39 T-Ray’s GT ...... 40
Cover Photo: Between the luscious red of Keith Ory’s car and the flowing lines, the Opel GT has a body to be admired. Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz
issues, totaling, including this issue, 190 pages, an Official Club Business average of 47.5 pages per issue. We budgeted for 45 pages per issue.
About This Issue The Ballot – In the past the ballot was inserted into the Ever since to became editor of The Blitz I’ve wanted to do final issue of the year. Since going with MagCloud for an issue about the Opels people own and drive, or race, or printing and mailing we have not been able to insert the I guess, live in. Finally, this is that issue. In late 2016 I ballot so two years ago we sent the ballot and a survey put out a call on the OpelGT.com forum for a photo of out as a separate mailing, at a cost of about $150 plus two and a few words about everyone’s cars, and in return I’d days work. Last year and this the ballot is included in the give them a whole page in The Blitz. In the January issue issue, saving us time and expense. of The Blitz I asked our members to do this for their car. I even ask perfect strangers, via our Facebook page, to The table below provides a summary of the club’s participate in this. At that point I started to worry that I financials. It shows that the balance at the beginning and might get more submissions than OMC can afford to put end of 2016 are: in a single issue, but it all worked out and for this issue we have photos submitted by 39 people from all over January 1: $10,140 North America and even Ireland. December 21: $9,446 Change: $-694 2017 Ballot This issue includes the 2017 ballot where officers are Our only expenses this year were The Blitz and basic elected, surveys performed, etc. The ballot is only for the office expenses. Publishing The Blitz accounted for officers for 2017 but we’ve included space for comments 99.25% of expenses. and suggestions and to update your contact information. 2016 Membership Report 2016 Treasurer’s Report Richard Counsil provided a very nice breakdown of The table below summarizes the club’s financial activities membership in terms of PDF and print subscriptions, how during 2016. Major expenses, such as The Blitz, are listed dues are paid, and of course our membership count. in their own columns. Space prevents me from including all this number in this issue (They will appear in the next issue.) but to The Blitz – Last year The Blitz went to a quarterly summarize, overall membership dropped from 157 in publication, reducing the frequency of publication but 2015 to 142. Eleven of the 15 we lost were PDF maintaining the roughly same yearly page count, keeping subscribers. We gained four new members, all requesting costs about the same. This year we published four regular the print edition of The Blitz.
Summary of OMC’s Financial Activities in 2016 Income Expenses Month Membership Revenue The Blitz Other Expenses Opening Closing Dues Subtotal Expenses Subtotal Balance Balance Jan $111 $111 $1,218 $3 $1,221 $10,140 $9,030 Feb $558 $558 $0 $0 $0 $9,030 $9,588 Mar $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $9,588 $9,588 Apr $1,174 $1,174 $1,136 $27 $1,163 $9,588 $9,598 May $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $9,598 $9,598 Jun $556 $556 $0 $0 $0 $9.958 $10,155 Jul $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $10,155 $10,155 Aug $661 $661 $1,150 $3 $1,153 $10,155 $9,663 Sep $216 $216 $0 $0 $0 $9,663 $9,794 Oct $197 $197 $1,296 $3 $1,299 $9,794 $8,711 Nov $535 $535 $0 $3 $0 $8,711 $9,246 Dec $200 $200 $0 $0 $0 $9,246 $9,446 $4,142 $4,142 $4,800 $36 $4,836
October - December 2016 Page 1 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Comments and Feedback 2017 Ballot
Every year, at the end of the year, members are asked to vote on officers for the following year. Below is your ballot. Please print (PDF version) or photocopy (print version) it, mark your preferences, and mail it to our vice president/secretary, whose name and address are given below. If you prefer you can vote by email using the email address listed below.
The deadline for voting is January 30, 2017
Mail your ballots to:
Matt Newman OMC Vice President/Secretary 275 Parliament Court Lawrenceville, GA 30043 or email your votes to:
President Optional: Update Your Contact Information G Paul Kaman and Preferences G Write-in First Name Vice President/Secretary G Gil Wesson Last Name G Write-in Mailing Address Treasurer G Dick Counsil G Write-in
Activities G Write-in
Editor G Mike Meier G Write-in Phone
Membership Roster Preference G Full, include my name and street address G Partial, include my name, state, and country G Basic, list only my name
Page 2 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz
July 2017 Calender 6 - 9 Climb to the Clouds, Mount Washington Hill Climb, Gorham, New Hampshire. 8 Deutsche Classic, Oley, Pensylvania Here is your 2017 calendar of Opel events along with 12 -16 The Maine Event (Loring Timing Assoc.), motorsports events that inspire us plus a few that Loring AFB, Limestone, Maine members of OMC will be participating in. TBA The Tacoma Meet, Tacoma, Washington 29 - 30 Arse-Sweat Apalooza (24HOL, Tinyvette, January Phoenix Racing), Thunderhill Raceway Park, 2 - 14 Dakar Rally, Argentina – Bolivia Willows, California 28 New England Opel Club’s Cabin Fever and B.S. Meet, Walpole, Massachusetts August 10 OMC ballots and survey are due 11 - 13 Opel Nationals, Nashville, Tennessee 14 - 20 Monterey Car Week, Monterey, CA March 12 - 18 Speed Week, Bonneville Salt Flats 24 - 26 Texas Mile, Chase Field Industrial Complex, 26 - 27 Pacific Northworst (24HOL, Tinyvette), The Beeville, Texas Ridge Motorsports Park, Sheldon, Washington 25 - 26 Sears Pointless (24HOL, Tinyvette), Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California September 1 - 3 The Harvest Event (Loring Timing Assoc.), April Loring AFB, Limestone, Maine 6 - 9 Charlotte Auto Fair, Charlotte Motor 15 - 18 World of Speed, Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway, North Carolina 21 - 24 Charlotte Auto Fair, Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina May 22 - 24 International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, TBA NorCal Opeler’s Gold Country Fun Run/OMC Springfield, Illinois meeting 30 - 1 Button Turrible (24HOL, Tinyvette), 19 - 20 Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals, Buttonwillow Raceway, Buttonwillow, Carlisle, Pennsylvania California 20 - 21 Vodden the Hell Are We Doing (24HOL, Tinyvette, Phoenix Racing), Thunderhill October Raceway Park, Willows, California 31 - 3 SEMA, Las Vegas, Nevada 27 Isle of Man (runs through June 9) TBA Opels in My Yard, Colfax, Indiana November 28 Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis International 14 - 18 Baja 1000, Ensenada, Baja Mexico Raceway, Indianapolis, Indiana December June 2 - 3 Arse-Freeze-Apalooza (24HOL, Tinyvette, 3 - 4 Europatreffen in Sevenum, NL Phoenix Racing), Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, TBA International Opel Festival and Picnic, Perris, CA CA. 15 - 18 24 Hours of Le Mans, Le Mans, France 18 New England Opel Club’s Opels on the Lawn, Larz Anderson Museum’s German Car Day, Brookline, Massachusetts. 19 - 25 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Pikes Peak, near Colorado Springs, Colorado
October - December 2016 Page 3 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club The Photo Album Project So all this leaves open the question of next year. Should By Mike Meier we do this again? Should we do something maybe a little different? I’m thinking that I may offer each member a This project started last January with posts to the full page again, maybe more, for photos of their cars and OpelGT.com forums asking for submissions. It was also a back-story to go with it. The requirement this year that announced in the following issues of The Blitz and even photos be cropped square made things difficult for promoted on Facebook. In the end we had 39 submissions people, so maybe next year we can go with something from the US, Canada, and Ireland, showing a range of less rigidly formatted. Think about it, let me know what Opel makes and models. While I both dreamed of and would work for you, and get those photos and stories feared that everyone contacted would send in a photo, all ready. 150+ members plus friends on OpelGT.com, Facebook, and elsewhere, I received more than budgeted for in this Ultimately, I’d like to produce a coffee table book issue but not so many that I’d have to roll them over into showcasing classic Opels. I haven’t worked out the the next issue. So, I think this was a success. details yet but it could be an OMC-only book, or something broader but still focusing on classic Opels, To be honest, this was yet another one of my devious perhaps even including some of the museum pieces in attempts to get the membership to become more active in Rüsselsheim. I’ll have to check with our treasurer to see the club. I figured an unapologetic appeal to pride and if travel money is available to send me around the world vanity might do the trick. ( I guess it did, because now taking photos of gorgeous Opels. not only did I get too many submissions but several articles based on them are now being prepared. So again, I think this project has been a success.
Screen shot of my folder containing all submissions. This turned out to be a big project, totaling 308 files and 1.32 GB of storage.
Page 4 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Bianca
Alex Zaychecnko’s 1973 Opel GT ran out of fuel. She's a '73, the last year for the GT, and A work in progress, Bianca has a taste for the finer things I hope to get her all dressed up in her original Jade Mist in life, such as high-octane fuel and pricy parts. She's got green soon. a bi-polar personality, the joyous drives and twisty-corner-taking tempered by the frustrating, swear-inducing repairs. She's never let me down though, as a daily driver, I've only had to use AAA once: when I
October - December 2016 Page 5 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Big Red
Kenneth Richards’ 1972 Opel Manta Rallye in the L.A. area. She currently has 80,400 miles on her. My love affair started in April of 1971 when I bought my The engine has been rebuilt to 2.0 liters and has lots of first new car, a Jade Green 1971 Opel Manta Rallye power, lots of stuff replaced with new, and many good ordered from Braley Graham Buick on Fulton avenue in condition original parts. Recently I finally fixed all the Sacramento, California. I wish I still had that one. I oil leaks so she is ready for spring cruising. purchased this 1972 Manta Rallye on BAT (BRING A TRAILOR) in April of 2015. It originally was sold new
Page 6 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Bill Ward Racing
Bill Ward Racing’s Bonneville GT Bill Ward campaigned this car at Bonneville for over 20 years, bringing home a total of seven land speed records, all of them for 200+ mph runs. In 1989, with driver John “Rocket Man” Paxon at the wheel the car completed a 265 mph pass.
October - December 2016 Page 7 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Black Opel
Dick Knorr and Frank Kinney’s “Black a GM Atlas Vortec inline 6 which initially dynoed at 380 Opel” a 1970 Opel GT hp. In 2012, with additional tuning, 445 hp at the crank, The team from Summerland, BC started work on this car additional aero, and nearly 1,000 pounds of lead in the in 2000 and two years later ran it at Bonneville, car, Frank earned his red hat with a 208.9 mph (average), completing a 156 mph pass. In 2006 the it ran a 185 but capping an 11 year quest. That record still stands. destroyed the motor. They returned in 2008 powered by
Page 8 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz The Brosnan Opel GT
Patrick Brosnan’s 1973 Opel GT At the beginning of a beautiful summer day, in the warm glow of the rising sun at Riverside Park in Janesville, Wisconsin.
October - December 2016 Page 9 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Conrero Opel GT Tribute
Gil Wesson’s Conrero Opel GT Tribute Italy. Back at home again it was shown at the Legends of Gil’s tribute to the Conrero Opel GT was completed in the Autobahn and other events. The car is powered by a 2010 and debuted at the Concorso Italiano and the 30th 1992 2.0L 16-valve engine mated to a Getrag 240 5- Anniversary of OMC at Lagnua Seca. Since then it has speed transmission and a 1968 Kadett Rallye rear axle toured Europe, been displayed at the Opel Museum in (3.67:1). It has sway bars, 1975 big brakes in front, Koni Rüsselsheim, participated in the Old-Timer Grand Prix at shocks, a fuel cell and roll bar, Recaro seats, and a Momo the Nürburgring, and competed in the Targa Florio in steering wheel.
Page 10 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Effie
Alan Brattesani’s 1971 Opel GT 2.2L. EFI. Getrag. Fun.
October - December 2016 Page 11 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Éire GT
James Clark’s 1971 Opel GT find at the time. I took ownership of the car 3 years ago It was on a trip to San Francisco in the late eighties when and am slowly giving it a rolling resto while keeping it as my father found this car and brought it back to Ireland. It standard as possible. It is one of about 5 road going GT's was egg shell blue with pink mirrors but luckily he saw in Ireland I know of and attracts lots of attention past this as the motor was good and body was solid. wherever it goes as few have seen one before. It is When he got it home it was resprayed Opel Sovereign regularly on the road and makes an appearance at a Silver which was closest match to original paint we could couple of meets and shows each year.
Page 12 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Elfie
Bruce W. Butler's Award Winning 1970 GT The car is named after the original owner, from whom it was purchased in 2013. After two years of restoration efforts, the car was returned to its original form and is shown here at the Greater Andover (Kansas) Days Car Show, 2015.
October - December 2016 Page 13 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club A Father-Son Project
Joe DeBattista’s 1964 Opel Kadett to all of the car’s past owners. Joe traded a 1990 VW Cabriolet for this car. It had been sitting since 1985 but was complete and the engine ran, The car has been well-received at shows, has brought so game on. Joe and his dad took night classes to learn home a number of trophies, and is driven daily. Joe finds paint and body, and with the help of some friends were it much more fun to drive than any of his hot rods, and able to restore this car to near-original condition. They delights many people who see this odd, forgotten, thin tin left the top of the driver’s door as they found it, a tribute can of a car.
Page 14 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Father then Son’s “Little Orange”
Greg Nicholas’ 1972 Opel GT Indiana. I drove the car occasionally with the intent of My dad purchased car new in 1972. He was working and getting it restored. A year and a half later the restoration sent my mom to Indianapolis to pick one out. She picked started and 2 ½ years after that the car was completed. I this one as it was an automatic. I drove this car when I have shown the car at many car shows, always fun to talk got my license. Eighteen years ago dad asked if I wanted to people about it. The highlight though was trailering it it and I immediately said yes. He had moved to Florida from Indiana to California for the OMC event August so we drove down over Fall Break and brought it back to 2015, great time.
October - December 2016 Page 15 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club First Car
John Christensen’s 1970 Rallye Kadett survive to this day. It had been in several serious This was John’s first car, purchased when he got out of accidents but each time was repaired and returned to the the Army and was starting college. Commuting and roads. Then, with about 250,000 miles on the clock, it dating on a motorcycle just wasn’t working out. The got retired, sitting in the yard until John’s wife weighed elephant-Opel tug-of-war commercials sent him to the in. In response the car got fully restored and later entered local Buick dealer. Sporty, with room for five and getting in Hot August Nights, shown at the Sacramento over 27 mpg it was a great car. It was, however, lucky to Automobile Museum, and displayed at a Reno casino.
Page 16 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Fuer immer Manta A!
Irfan Berk’s 1974 Opel Manta business. Eventually he brought it over where for the first Irfan purchased this car in Germany when he was 19 time it experienced the heat of an Arizona summer and years old and for years drove it everywhere, in sun, rain, endured the insults of 55 mph speed limits. And sadly, it and snow. It joined in the fun within the German Manta didn’t get out on the road much. Then a wife’s ultimatum community, going to shows, cruises, and other events. got things going again and the car was restored, getting The car remained in Germany for some years after Irfan the silky black paint shown here, and it is once again moved to the US to start a performance motorcycle parts getting out to shows.
October - December 2016 Page 17 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Green Heaven
John Boespflug’s 1973 Opel GT Of all the cars to come to John’s Tacoma meetings this was the one he admired most. Then in 2014 the car was for sale, at the Tacoma meet, and that meet was on John’s birthday, so he gave himself a present.
Page 18 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz GT Love Taken to the Xtreme!
Gordon Payton's 1970 GT"X" eXtreme GT ever! The car was originally modded to resemble a Ferrari Dino, then left unfinished, neglected, and gathering dust for 20 years. Gordon resurrected this project car and took modification and customization to a whole new level. A 2016 Nationals winner, he continues to upgrade and modify his creation with the goal of making it the most
October - December 2016 Page 19 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Incognito
Tom Suppan’s 1973 Opel GT I never named my car, but have considered "Incognito". I bought my GT in 1975 because I was tired of unreliable No ever seems to know what it is. sports cars. I made the right choice. The Opel has never let me down. I kept it all these years because with a curb weight of two thousand pounds I felt it had a ton of unrealized potential. Thanks to all of you who kept the dream alive, I now have the car I hoped to.
Page 20 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz The Last Drive of the Season
P.J. Romano’s 1972 Opel GT I built my GT as a tribute to the GT’s racing history, therefore flares, lowered and 285/40-15 tires on 10” rims.
Other details: 2.5 engine, dyno-ed to 181HP, Getrag 5 speed, Quaife LSD, electrical power steering, custom air conditioner.
October - December 2016 Page 21 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club The Lightning McGT
James Bartz’s 1971 Opel GT to the time he visited Cars Land in California. It was than The car that would become the McQueen GT came to that the inspiration hit and before long this car would James as the shell of a former racer car. Over the course become the McQueen it is today. Reactions to the car at of 10 years it would get a Mazda RX/7 rotary engine and shows, or just driving around, have been very positive recently a Miata engine and transmission, front coil-over and entertaining, both for James and for the kids who see suspension, disc brakes, and a BMW independent rear the car. suspension. James auto-crossed the car for six years, up
Page 22 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Luxus
Jeff Widder’s 1973 Opel Manta Luxus resided in Illinois and Wisconsin since that time. This is a 42,000 original mile survivor car, with original paint, vinyl top, and most of the interior. The photo was taken at Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station on Historic Route 66 in Dwight, Illinois.
The Luxus was sold new in Decatur, Illinois, and has
October - December 2016 Page 23 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Maisgelb
Paul Coombs’ 1967 Kadett came with the car dates from May 1967 for an Opel Pre-purchased in the USA for West German delivery, dealer service call totaling 5 Deutsche Marks! If only this Kadett was picked up brand-new at the Frankfurt you could drive away from a car dealer today for under airport, driven around Europe, then transported by sea to $10. NY harbor. Owned by the same family for 49 years, this daily-driver received an engine rebuild and interior refurbishment in the 1990s. Paul’s favorite receipt that
Page 24 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Mary Ann
Charles Goin’s 1971 Opel Kadett This is Mary Ann, my Kadett. The name comes from the fact that the GT is the Ginger of the Opel world, and my girl is a four door sedan, a good family car if you will. But one with a girl next door attractiveness about her that still catches more than a few guys eyes at a car show.
October - December 2016 Page 25 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Mira
Kyler Norman’s 1970 Opel GT rebuild. This photo was taken on December 22, 2014, Kyler’s 19th birthday. His family had bought him a set of OGTS window louvers and a heater control valve so he put them on Mira and went for a drive out to the country. It was a cold day, but the sky was gorgeous for pictures. This was only two days after he had completed his 2.0L engine
Page 26 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Miss Opel
Cameron Earnshaw’s 1970 Opel GT Except for my two-year stint in the Army between '74 I bought my GT– which the lady next door affectionately and '76, the GT was my only transportation for most of calls "Miss Opel"– in Point Loma, California in 1973 for the next ten years. It was the car I dated my soon-to-be $1,600. At the time I was 19 years old and the GT had wife in, the car we took on our honeymoon, the car my 29,000 miles on the odometer. It was the first car I daughter came home from the hospital in and the car she owned that wasn't a "beater", and I was extremely proud learned to drive in fifteen years later. of her.
October - December 2016 Page 27 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Murphy
Matt Schinelli’s 1969-70-71-72-73 Opel GT very convertible. This is the “Yellow Baron” you might of heard about, the car whose travails and ultimate rescue were documented Matt and his son Luca are now loving a car that if not for in the OpelGT.com forums and whose stories were told the caring and generous efforts of Charles Goin and in the pages of The Blitz earlier this year. This is that car, Gordon Payton might have been dumped back onto no longer yellow, and no longer bearing the disgrace of Craigslist for some other flipper to disgrace even more. hideous adhesive chrome strips, but still very custom and
Page 28 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Old Smokey
Seamus Clark’s 1937 Opel Kadett It is a real step back in time when you sit behind the The first Opel Kadett model produced by Opel under GM wheel, turn on the ignition and press the starter pedal on ownership pre-WW2, production ceased during war and the floor to kick it into life. It is rarely driven in its never recommenced as the assembly line was in East retirement but it does make an appearance at the local Germany and the Russians took it over. It was brought to Opel owners club meeting every year here in the west of Ireland from the UK about 30 years ago and is one of few Ireland. surviving RHD cars produced.
October - December 2016 Page 29 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Opel Omega 3.2 Auto
James Clark’s 2001 Opel Omega over here. This photo was taken on the shore of Lough Rebadged and sold as the Cadillac Catera States-side, this Talt in County Sligo. was Opel’s last RWD car produced for the European market but with considerably more success in Europe. I have owned this car since 2004 and the 3.2 V6 has never missed a beat. The Omega was usually sold with a 2.2 in- line 4 in the Irish market making this one a bit of a rarity
Page 30 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Opel Rekord Olympia
Ed and Millenda Thomas’s 1961 Opel Rekord Olympia Bought from first owner’s son. Almost all original with only 34,000 miles on it.
October - December 2016 Page 31 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Orange Monster
Troy Moore’s 1968 Rallye Kadett museum in Rüsselsheim, a lap around the Nurburgring Troy met a German couple at a car show who suggested Nordschleife, near miss being part of the Old Timer he take his car to Europe and tour Germany. About the Grand Prix, and participation in a big car show in time he decided to go for it, he got married, so the tour Zandvoort. ended up doubling as a honeymoon. The trip ultimately included Belgium, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and of course Germany, including a tour of the Opel
Page 32 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Oscar
Zep and Lucas Brattesani’s 1970 Opel GT A mostly stock 1970 Opel GT, Oscar is a California car driven by Lucas and Zep Brattesani. After residing in Chico and San Francisco and participating in local Opel events and yearly fun runs to OGTS, the GT now cruises the streets of Arcata and the back roads of Northern California's redwood forests.
October - December 2016 Page 33 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Phoenix Racing
Rob Ferris and Michael Pendley’s 1971 Opel obscure marques, finally ending with the Baby Corvette. GT Three years later Michael presented Rob with a non- Picture an evening of brandy and cigars and a discussion running Opel GT as a birthday present, and a year later of what would be the most fun, and cheap, track day car. they were racing it. Well, a wheel fell off, but they fixed As this went into the early morning hours the options it and finished the race, and being their first race, was a degenerated from Corvettes and Trans AMs to more big deal. They returned a year later and ran much stronger, but retired the motor. Will they race it again?
Page 34 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz El Presidente
Paul Kaman’s 1972 Opel GT I dare not touch a thing on this one. I hope it holds 72 GT. 2.4 motor with a Getrag 5 speed. Air together until I can figure it out. conditioning. Coil over front suspension. The fuel injection is a mystery to me. It's not a Bosch L Jetronic. All I know is it's supposed to be a "racing" fuel injection (‘cause it's got no cold start spritzer). I've got no clue how to work on it. I can muddle along with a Bosch, but
October - December 2016 Page 35 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Princess
Don Michaelson’s 1974 Opel Sport Wagon for her. Then heaven forbid she suffered a little body “Princes” is always wanting more. She had a perfectly damage and to make it up to her I got her some sexy fine 1.9L motor, but she had to have a 2.2L, and what flared fenders and a set of 13x8 Rota wheels. She was Princes wants, Princess gets. It was the same with her happy again, for a while. Now she wants to be lowered, transmission. She wanted, and got, a Getrag. Then she and get a RallyBob intake, 4-wheel discs, coil-overs, and wanted Recaro seats, and a Momo wheel, and she didn’t a roll bar. Yes, she’s my Princess. like her flabby old console anymore so I customized it
Page 36 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Project OpelBee
Michael Bohe’s 1970 Opel GT here in Phoenix, but when you’re hit with 'Opelitis' This journey started in early June 2016 when I found nothing else seems to matter. We can now enjoy her this OpelBee on Craigslist. She hadn't been on the road for 20 winter and couldn't have done this without the support of years. What was going to be a project over the winter the Opel GT forum, Kyler Norman, and Gil at Opel GT became 5 months of sweat, learning, and tears getting Source. I couldn’t be a prouder owner! OpelBee back on the road. It was not really a good time to start a project, with temperatures already in the 100's
October - December 2016 Page 37 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Spirit of the Lakes
LSR Performance Group’s Opel GT/Berkeley the car in the back of a speed shop, desperately in need of SE328 Land Speed Racer repair, which it received, and has since run at ECTA, El Back in 1997 Ron Benham, the Smokey Yunick of land Mirage, and Bonneville, topping 244 mph at Bonneville speed racing, grafted the rear of a 1957 Berkeley onto a and earning owner John Staiger a red hat. The plans at narrowed fiberglass version of the Opel GT’s nose, and that point were to take to car to 300 mph and come home used it to set 16 land speed records. In 2006 LSR found with a blue hat.
Page 38 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Sweetheart
Max Peterson’s 1973 GT improvement projects including tachometer, horn, Max got his Sweetheart shortly after his 14th birthday in brakes, carburetor, header, exhaust, and countless 2012. The PO had brought the body and engine back electrical gremlins. Max suffers from early onset opelitis, from the grave, which is not a bad place for starting a car but when he heads out with his Sweetheart, it is reliable project. Max first gutted, preserved, and rebuilt the enough to return (most of the time). interior. Following great guidance from the opelgt.com forum, Max has tackled four tireless years of
October - December 2016 Page 39 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club T-Ray’s GT
Terry Todd’s 1971 Opel GT but now has 168,000 miles on it, all new poly bushings, The car was purchased in 2000 with 88,000 miles on it, torsion bars front and rear, new carpets and interior an almost original, rust free CA car except for paint and panels, seat covers, etc. It is a joy to commute in, turning a Weber. It had one working brake, bare headlight wires, lots of heads, and has led and participated in many vacuum, exhaust, head gasket, and tranny leaks, NorCal Fun Runs. deteriorated suspension and torque tube rubber, and a shot interior. It is still in a state of continuous renewal
Page 40 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Thirty-eight Years of Opeling
Keith Wilford’s 1971 Opel GT Kadett Wagon, and a 1975 Ascona SportWagon along Keith known as kwilford on OpelGT.com where he is a the way. Thirty years and some extended pauses later, his moderator, bought his 1971 Opel GT back in 1978, original GT is well on the path to a full restoration. He is painted it as a silver anniversary Corvette tribute, and it looking forward to seeing it back on the road in 2017. was his daily driver until he parked it in 1986 for some “freshening”. He also fixed up another ’71 GT (shown behind his GT) for his wife Myrna and had a 1968 1.5
October - December 2016 Page 41 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Tinyvette
Mike Meier’s 1969 Opel GT Sacramento and San Francisco International Auto Shows, Alan Brattesani and Mike purchased this ran-when- has been displayed at the California Automobile parked 25 years ago field-find for $200, and nine weeks Museum, has been in of the Monterey Car Week shows, later had revived it and were racing in the 24 Hours of and it has made the 1,500 round trip to the Tacoma meet. LeMons. That was back in 2010. Since then the car has Yes, it is street-legal. competed in 29 races and logged over 16,000 race miles. It has also run at Bonneville twice, been in the
Page 42 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Tom’s Kadett
Tom Wallis’s 1970 Kadett Rallye The car is a real treat to drive and I can't take it anywhere I bought my 1970 Kadett Rallye in 2010. It had a without getting thumbs up. I hope to have the interior and replacement engine in it but also came with the original paint finished in 2017. 1.9L engine and transmission. I had concerns about the replacement motor so I rebuilt the original and swapped engines. Front and rear springs, all bushings, ball joints, and tie rods were replaced by me and my brother Tim.
October - December 2016 Page 43 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club My Twice-built Targa GT
Craig Roberts’ 1971 GT Long Island via Times Square. Even in NYC the car got Over 10 years ago I drove out from NYC to attend the a bit of attention. The car was well received at the 2005 Opel Nationals in LA where I learned the car was Carlisle show, a few other shows on Long Island, and at for sale in the UK. It was a Targa built in Germany that the Nationals in Charlotte. It was severely damaged in had a 2.4 liter FI engine, a Getrag 5 speed, and even a route to the 2010 Nationals in Monterey, was repaired, back seat. After the deal was made the car came in to the and brought to the 2015 Nationals. It is currently garaged Port of Newark where we picked it up and drove back to at my winter home in Surprise, AZ.
Page 44 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz The Work Horse
James Clark’s 1992 Opel Frontera 2.4 CIH also at the weekends when I throw a kayak on the roof. For all those wondering where the 2.4 CIH engine they I took a spin to Enniscrone pier in County Sligo one running came from, it was probably from one of these. stormy day when this photo was taken. I believe this was the last production of the 2.4 engine by Opel and countless numbers of these are broken just for the engines. That will not be happening to this one though. I use this most days to get to and from work and
October - December 2016 Page 45 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club Zooms Just Fine
Roy Moulton’s 1969 GT some very nice women. Like the woman in Carefree who This is the only 1.1L Opel GT in Cave Creek AZ! posed for a photo by my car, or the lady at the Tatum st Actually it's the only 1.1L gold Opel GT pretty much any Ranch Car Show who presented the award for 1 place in where I go. But I digress. Restored in California and Sports/Exotics. And can't forget the cowgirl at the retired in Arizona, this car is now making the rounds at museum where this photo was taken who gave me a big car shows in the greater Phoenix area where it has happy hug. Opeling in the desert seems to have its perks! received many complements as well as introductions to
Page 46 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz
The OMC Library “Opel - so wird er schneller: leistungssteigerung am Opel Ascona, Manta, Kadett, GT : (1968 - 1972)”, Gert Hack: Motorbuch Verlag, 127 pages, 1972. OMC does not have an official library, but we are keeping a list of books and other items that deal with “Opel Wheels to the World”, Karl Ludvigsen: Automobile classic Opels as well as Opel (the company) itself. Quarterly & Princeton Publishing, 112 pages, 1979.
“Nur Filegen ist Schöner”, S.W. Lukas, K.J. Hause: Verlag Video Jungjohann, 1985. “Opel GT, Driving the Dream”, El Dorado Productions, Mike Siegel, 2008. “Das Grosse Opel GT Buch”, Wolf Dieter; Walter Günther: Heel Verlag GmbH, 144 pages, 1990. Books “Opel GT - Gold Portfolio, 1968-1973", R.M. “Opel GT Projekt 1484", Etienne Henrion, Stefan Müller: Clark:Brooklands Books, 172 pages, 1996. Podszun GmbH, 191 pages, 1997.
“Opel GT, Ultimate Portfolio, 1968-1973", R.M. Clark: “Opel Ascona - Mit jedem Kilometer wächst die Freundschaft”, Brooklands Books, Ltd., 200 pages, 2007. Peter Kurze, Rainer Manthey: Delius Klasing, 112 pages, 2011.
“Opel Manta, 1970-1975", R.M. Clark: Brooklands Books, “Jahrbuch 2012 - Opel” Ltd., 92 pages, 1997. Eckhart Bartels, Rainer Manthey: Podszun GmbH, 2011.
“Opel GT Motorsport, 1968-1975", Maurice Van Sevecotte, Detlef Kurzrock, Stefan Müller: Petrolpics GbR, 2008.
“Opel Kadett GT/E”, Antonio Biasioli: Editrice Elzeviro, 144 pages, 2010.
October - December 2016 Page 47 The Blitz Opel Motorsport Club
to Original GT stock exhaust. Also comes with 2½” bolt- The OMC Mall on collector. Bruce Baxter, Missoula, MT 59802, 406- 728-9327, [email protected]. Will ship for the right price. Classifieds For Sale; for an Opel GT – Revolution aluminum OMC Swag wheels (4). 13x6, 3 inch backspace. For off-road use These items used to be available through OMC. Is there only. $200.00. Sport lowering front spring with poly any interest in them today? bushings. $125.00. Lowering front spring based on a Corvette composite spring. For off-road use only. Window Sticker, OMC Logo, 6" x 3" ...... $X $50.00. Shirts (specify sizes) Priced as indicated, I will split shipping costs with the T-shirts...... $X purchaser. I will sell all items for $300.00 if all items are purchased together. Hats, OMC logo...... $X
Contact Gary Murph at [email protected] Coffee Mugs...... $X
For Sale – 3 Opel GT's plus many parts. Driven Reprints of The Blitz ...... $2 summer's only and garage kept in Ohio for over 30 years. Details at http://www.opel-gts.info/ – Davis Scofield CD-ROM (past issues of The Blitz) . . $Coming Soon! Header – Long, 4-tube stainless steel header for 1900 Opel GT or Kadett. All good, solid pipe. This header fits the GT frame perfectly. One dimple in the No. 1 pipe to go over the motor mount. Currently welded to the reducer
Page 48 October - December 2016 Opel Motorsport Club The Blitz Opel Centerfold Submissions The Business Page Could your slinky, sultry, shiny, sexy Opel, boldly if not provocatively posed, under seductive lighting, possibly be centerfold-worthy? Is your Opel one of those few that Advertising in The Blitz “everybody wants”, one that sets a standard for beauty and grace, one that gives all other Opels hope while Classifieds: Up to 50 words, plus name & phone, and a making all other marques bitter and jealous? Well, we single photo. want to see it. Everybody wants to see it! Send in your best photo of the car, one that is suitable viewing by 1 Month $6.00 3 Months $15.00 children and full page landscape printing, along with a 6 Months $23.00 12 Months $39.00 smaller photo of you with the car, along with the car’s (3 free ads per year for members) back story, the personal version, not your build diary. And don’t forget to provide your car’s vital details, Business Ads: (Subject to change) including “Best Features”, “Turn-ons”, and “Turn-offs”.
Half Page $35 for 1 month Copyright Policy on Submissions Full Page (Temporarily Unavailable) Your submission does not become property of OMC. We Insert $120 for 1 month want to encourage people to tell the world about their Business Card $60 for 1 year Opels and the fun they are having with them, so if you Back Cover (Temporarily Unavailable) later manage to convince Road&Track or Grassroots Motorsports or others to publish your story, we don’t Send ad copy and payment (payable to Opel Motorsport want to get in the way. We do, however, need for you to Club) to Blitz Editor. grant us permission, in perpetuity, the use your submission in OMC projects and publications, such as Article Submissions The Blitz, posters, banners, reprints, books, post cards, We are always interested in receiving articles, photos, videos, on the web site, Facebook page, calendars, etc. club events and news. Submissions can hand or And obviously, you must hold the copyright to your typewritten, or preferably a common electronic document article or photos, i.e. be the creator and have not such as ASCII Text, WordPerfect, Open Office, or transferred the copyright to anyone else. Also, in this Microsoft Word, Publisher, or Works. same spirit of openness, if another publisher wants to reprint your submission (article, artwork, or photo) we Illustrations: Drawings and photos are also welcome. will contact you to make the proper arrangements. Please submit these electronically using a common file format and with sufficient resolution to look good Contacts at OMC printed, minimum 180 dpi, ideally 300 dpi. Membership Info: [email protected] Deadline: We can usually accept submissions up to about two weeks before our mailing deadline. Advertising, letters, and submissions:
Photo Opel Submissions Opel BLITZ Editor For Photo Opel submissions we are looking for great 515 K Street photos, not snapshots, of Opels and Opel-related subjects. Davis, CA 95616 USA If you have such a photo, and you either took the photo or own the rights to it, by all means send it in. If selected it [email protected] will appear in an upcoming issue of The Blitz. Please note that your photo will be printed at roughly 6"x4" and we will we need 180 dpi minimum and ideally 300 dpi images.
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