Ginther Racing Porsche 914-4
CAR: 1971 PORSCHE 914-4
Motor: Harold Broughton and John Caldwell, Ginther racing 1.7 liter type IV motor
FUEL: Race Gas
Transmission: 901 with ZF limited slip
Ginther Porsche Page
Click Here to see the 914-4 restoration images.
History
In 1972, Jo Hoppen, the director of Motorsports for VW and Porsche | Audi, approached Richie Ginther (Former Formula One driver and mechanic, sports car racer, and Pan America winner) to prepare a 914 for the 1972 American Road Race Championship, and to develop a kit and an article to help club racers build a competitive car. Ginther, and his ace mechanic Harold Broughton, built one car taking their knowledge from their C production 914-6’s raced by Elliot Forbes Robinson and Alan Johnson.
The car was finished just in time to make enough national events to qualify for the 1972 E production run-offs.
Races entered prior to the American Road Race Championship.
The car recieved a lot of notice on the West Coast. While receiving some quick medical attention in Northern California at Garretson’s, the car attracted a lot of interest from local racers, and sparked the creation of several copycats the following season. Porsche goal was for the team to document the car enough to make kits for other racers to follow in hopes of strengthing 914 sales.
Panorama
Porsche had an article published in the 1972 Panorama discussing how to build such a car. Ginther sold parts to several teams to create copy cat cars. Bill Yates took over Ginthers stock and sold the wind screens and suspension item for some years.
Images of the Car from Porsche Panorama 1972 (how to guide)
The 1972 ARRC
The car arived at Atlanta the week before the American Road Race Championships. The team had three cars, and EFR, the driver, was competing in three classes—CP, EP, and SuperVee. In practice, the car and driver immediately proved they were in the hunt but the real proof came in qualifying. In qualifying the car broke the track record and was seconds faster than the field.
In the race EFR simply pulled away in the rain-soaked race. The rain was unexpected—so unexpected that the team hastily placed the rain tires on right before the race without any measurements. This would become an issue after the race. EFR ended up winning by a huge margin. After the race, and after Richie, and Elliot received the trophy and accolades, the car was disqualified because the rear track was a quarter inch too wide.
SCCA Official Race Results
Here are images of the car at Road Atlanta 1972
Images of the car during the race
Note the tiny rain tires
SCCA Sportscar Magazine February 1973
Here is the article that ran on the ARRC in February 1973 with a view slanted in Ginther's favor.
Races entered prior to the American Road Race Championship.
The car then transfered ownership to Pete Sones who negotiated to buy the car at the ARRC. Pete had a “Holman Moody” roll cage installed and was unable to match EFR’s speed, which led to EFR coming out to drive the car. EFR drove the car and sure enough, it was slower. EFR felt that the car was too heavy due to the rollcage.
The Car at Road Atlanta in 1973 with the New "Holman-Moody" Roll Cage
Kendall
The car was then sold to Mr Kendall in Florida, who raced it in SCCA and we believe changed the color to blue. Kendall then sold it to Pete Denton in Florida.
Pete Denton.
Pete Denton used the car for PCA time trials. We bought the car from Pete.
Frank Racing
The Frank Family club raced the car from 1989-1990 in SCCA regionals.
1999 PCRRC
An image of the car at the 1999 Pacifica Coast Road Racing Championships, with Trevor driving.
In 1991 we started restoring the car. And now Vintage race the car in Northern California
Thunderhill 2000.
Click Here to view a movie of the Ginther Car at Thunder Hill >>
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