I'm in Las Vegas NV USA , also known as sin city. No you would think things are quite liberal here but actually it is quite the opposite . We are a conservative rural state. I too incured the wrath of the local police. I was driving down the road breaking in the GX motor and well the numbers and roll cage were to much for a police woman and she had to pull us over and hassle us.
Now with that said I do not test on the road. I do drive spirted (about 40%) but nothing that could land me in jail or risk other folks on the road.
As far as making your car competitive well most newbies couldn't win regardless of the car - has to do with track time not talent.When I took my 1200 to Drivers School I had $1800 U.S. in it , doesn't get much cheaper. Now mind you it had a bone stock engine and I battled for last place on race day but it was fun.
Poeple always say I'd like to go race but I couldn't in a car that slow. Well I tell them my motto about running slow cars "it's faster than a set of bleachers"
Now of course my mind set is differant - when I road raced bikes I ran the 125 GP class which is not exactly popular in the states so I learned to ignore what people think.
Any race car is still way more fun then you could ever have driving on the street , so just get your car race legal then worry about it being competitive later!!

Tom Grossmann
PS we call the car the Pokey , due to it's accelration and it being the same color as Gumby's side kick

Ok guys here is one for you , as an organizer of Rally events and a vinatge roadracer I have cause to post on many sites. Today on one of the Subaru sites was a post by a 17 yr old who just totaled his WRX trying too hang a corner late at night. Am I just getting old (40) or are young guys more concerned with a cool looking car and never bother to figure out the basics of driving.
Now let it be said that I drove/rode like an idiot; 85 MPH down gravel roads in moms Pinto , hanging on ramps in the rain. Also there was the lovely riding technique on my RD350 of sliding into corners using the pipes to unload the rear tire just enough to dirt track her in then just about the time the thing tried to high side I'd wack the throttle wide open and snap the bike upright. I once ran the 1200 I race now across a narrow curved bridge about 90 mph in the rain.
It just seems like these guys aren't interested in learning car control , those of us on the sites that do race constantly recommend track days but seemingly to no avail.
When I raced bikes we refered to these types as Zooty Boys - I.E. a fast bike makes you fast.
This site is a perfect example I've yet to read any posts about folks totaling there 1200 on the open road , plenty of you admit to driving briskly.
So is it we all learned to drive the 68 hp wonders and they kept us out of trouble or maybe it's the fact that the street racer type would never be seen in a 1200? (their loss)
Tom Grossmann

PS ok I've vented now

For the brakes check out an american company called Wilwood , they make a caliper called a dynalight , it will fit over the standard 1/2" non vented rotor. You will just have to make up a mounting plate. The calipers are $130 U.S. This site also has the mod to add 280Z calipers. On your motor you can use the A14 valves in the standard head and use weber 32/36 DGEV carb

Tom Grossmann

I'm in Las Vegas and I have two or three pairs , I assume you want the script style.

Tom

on the Surface they do not apear to be much of a car but once you flog one you realize they are fun lovin little cars - I sold mine (dumb) while I was playing with a 150mph sports racer. I recently sold the sports racer and bought the 1200 back and have been happy ever since.

Tom Grossmann

ok enough with the insults - Steven you asked a question as to why and you received a couple of very valid reasons.
As far as the Triumph still in biz and Americans buying them up you are correct if - they are called Mazda Miata's
BMC et al put themselves out biz with mis-management , poor engineering and products rushed to market. A read a ton of Brtitsh car magazines and they are brutally honest about the decline of british sports cars. In fact a good deal of what went on in the British motor industry in the mid seventies would land people in jail under current SEC rules
Face it the Japanese knew what they were doing , the money shelled out for a TR6 , Spitfire or GT 6 would buy a 240Z. And lets face it Americans did buy a whole lot of these. British cars have a wonderful soul but frequent maintence intervals , compared to Japanese cars and there is lies appeal of both.
So here's an idea hook up with a 1200 guy and go for a spin and then take him for a ride in the TR - you will both be surprised.

Tom Grossmann

Steven you asked why the Web-site; we do not think the 1200 is going to be the investment of say a TR6 , AC cobra or a Duesenberg. You are correct the 1200's were econo-box tin can hunks of Poo disposable Japanese cars.
Now with that said prior to discovering the 1200 about 1984 I had my heart set on one of three cars: Porsche 356 , Frog eyeed Sprite or a Mini. I had driven all three and was saving my pennies. At the same time a friend was selling his old car ( a 1200). Well a fellow Motorcycle racer buddy bought the 1200. One night we were headed to a favorite hang out down a 3 or 4 mile dirt road and travleing at a suitable stupid pace for 23 year old males. We were howling with laughter , the thing was a scream to drive who cares if it only went 85 mph. Even better it stayed together. (do you really want to pound down a dirt road in a sweet TR6?) I mentioned winning H-stock at autocross with the car , I let a friend drive the car during fun runs. He commented the car surprised the hell out of him because it was so much fun. He owned two E-types , a Lotus Europa , a Lotus 51 and a MGB E-prod Racer at the time.
I have this theory: a Bugatti type 51 is a awesome car but how many people will ever get to experiance one. Compare that with the Model T , (voted car of the century by Classic & Sports Car) the Model T intrduced thousands upon thousands of people to motoring.
So back to the 1200 , think of it as the Model T of 70's sports coupes crude but effective. Think about it you can buy a decent one for under a grand spend another $500-$1000 more on improvements such as a bigger Radiator , good seats etc. and presto you get a fun unassuming little car that will cost next to nothing to keep going.
Years ago my car got it's 15 minutes of fame when it appeared in the Feb 94 issue of Road & Track. I asked feature editor Andrew Bornhop why my car , he said when he and his wife were dating she had a 1200. They drove all over California with the car and he commented what fun liitle car it was to drive , this from a guy who has the opportunity to drive the finest road cars made.
So think of the 1200 as the Model T end of the spectrum. Now you may find the TR-6 to be a lovely car , I do as well , but if I were a Jaguar C-type owner I mght wonder why someone bothered with the TR?
The 1200 offers a lot of Freedom of ownership. At my last race I had to take to the dirt to avoid t-boning a spinning car due to the idiot in front of me drivng way over his head , we laughed about it after the race. Now if I had nearly damaged a TR or 356 I wouldn't be so cordial with my fellow competitor would I - in other words the fun factor goes away doesn't it!!
Now Generation X was raised on Japanese cars , so do not be surprised if 1200's do become collectable. I personally don't believe it will happen but who knows.
So one more time; 1200 = cheap to keep fun little sports coupe. No more , No less

Tom Grossmann

PS I drive a varity of really awesome cars as a sometime race drivng instructor , oh and the Lucas electrics on my BSA never gave me problems either.

Ok Steve I will spare you the flaming as you do have a valid question; The cars did run hot , over 4500 RPM sustained use. A three core radiator will fix this. They are boomy inside no doubt. Yes the valve seals and guides go at 40k but so what the car still runs.
Seeing as they weigh 1500lbs they handle quite well. I used one to win H-stock at local Autocross and turned faster times than I did with my friends Sprite.
I can build a race motor for less than $1000 try rebuilding any motor for that. A basic rebuild on say a TR-3 would run $1200. I did my 1200 motor in 1989 , the thing sings to 7800 RPM's it is still in the car.My buddie is a Triumph vintage racer and he digs my old 1200 , he wishes his car were that reliable.
These cars have as much race history as your TR6. 1200's have racked up C-sedan , GT-5 National Championships at the SCCA Run-Offs. Also at the SOLO II National Championships H-stock , H-stock ladies and D-street prepared have been won in 1200's. Also look at GT-5 entry lists over the last 20yrs the two most popular cars are 1200s and Minis.
So to sum up; They are fun to drive , will take a pounding and are dirt cheap to own , in other wiords they are lovable muts.
We would probaly ask why you would own a TR6 - the buy in cost is high , it has Lucas electrics , doesn't like the desert heat and parts prices are twice the cost of Datsun stuff. In fact I sold an extremely fast D-Sports Racer because I had more fun Racing the 1200
Tom Grossmann
PS Steve if you ever in Vegas we can make arranements for you to drive mine at a local Autocross , they are a much better car than you remember.

A-14 from a B210 or A12A from 210 , that's what we folks in the U.S.A use.

Tom Grossmann

With any handling problem the first thing to ask is under what condition does it understeer , turn in or exit. are you turning in under power or do you trial brake into the apex. Does the understeer build progerssively with the application of power?
I do not Know your driving experiance level but I will assume you know the basics so here are a couple of things to check
If the new shocks are softer than the car is likely to understeer more than it did before.if the shocks are adjustable you could try stiffening them up. Be advised if you crank in to much rebound damping the car will oversteer on entry , the rear end will jack down in long bumpy sweepers and cuase some really goofy handling. Also check the tire pressure - air is a spring and what ever end of the car is sprung more stiffly will break lose first , not to mention if you've over inflated the front tires they will be crowned and have less rubber on the road. I would check the alignment , to much toe-in will definetly cuase terminal understeer. I run the H145 LSD in my racer and have never had a problem with it bieng to tight , over course a binding LSD would make your car undesteer same as a locked diff.
I would do the basics - check the tire pressure and alignment and make sure no parts are worn - LSD suspension etc.
On a Final note if you don't trail the brakes into corners try the technique in an parking lot before you put it to use on the road as it will make the car oversteer. ( I'd hate to hear you backed your car into a tree!!!)

Tom Grossmann