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This is part of the ItalianCar.net archive - go to ItalianCar.net now NEWS ARCHIVE
Historic Maserati 250F to appear at Winton race day
There will be a rare opportunity at this year's Classic
Winton, Australia's premier historic racing event, to see the Maserati
250F driven by Sir Stirling Moss to an historic victory in the 1956 Australian
Grand Prix in action on the race track on 27-28 May 2006.
Following its display at this year's Australian Grand Prix,
marking the 50th anniversary win, owner and driver Peter Giddings has
kept the car in Australia specifically to take part in the Winton event.
Far from a museum piece, Maserati 250F chassis number 2501 is a regularly
used and, as ever, it will be driven hard at Winton, enabling spectators
to see what has made the 250F a legend.
"I have done more miles in this car over the past
30 years than Maserati ever did," explains Mr Giddings. "In
fact, I have worn it out three times, as we have carried out a complete
restoration of the car three times to keep it in perfect racing condition.
It looks, sounds and goes now exactly as it did when Sir Stirling Moss
took the chequred flag 50 years ago in Albert Park and I looking forward
to putting it through its paces at Winton in this excellent event."
The Winton Classic will take place the Winton raceway, 200 km north of
Melbourne, on the weekend of 27-28 May 2006. Further information on the
event is available from http://www.austin7club.org or by calling Noel
Wilcox 03 9318 5000, 03 5428 2689, 03 9318 5888 or 0413 702 558.
MASERATI 250F CHASSIS NUMBER 2501
The first public appearance of Maserati 250F (#2501) was in October 1954
at the Paris Salon. #2501 was whisked off of the stand during the evening
prior to the last day, and was driven at the Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona)
by Stirling Moss. #2501 was fitted with the first of the new non louvered
1955 body design, setting a pattern for the car throughout its factory
team car life. Thus practically on each and every appearance from 1954
to 1957, #2501 incorporated factory updates.
During its factory team career, #2501 was driven by Fangio, Musso, Mantovani,
Godia Sales, Moss, Perdisa, Villoresi, Behra, Bonnier, Menditeguy, and
Scarlatti, with podiums by Musso (Bordeaux, Naples, Syracuse, and the
Dutch GP), Behra (Rheims).
Moss (now Sir Stirling Moss) achieved an outstanding podium place in the
German Grand Prix, followed by the memorable first overall in the 1956
Australian Grand Prix.
Upon the dissolution of the Maserati racing team at the end of 1957, #2501
was rebuilt as new, renumbered as #2523, and sold to the only female Grand
Prix driver of the time, Maria Teresa de Filippis. Subsequent to de Filippis'
appearances at the Syracuse, Monaco, Belgian, French, Portuguese, and
Italian Grand Prix, #2501 (#2523) was once again campaigned by Scarlatti.
Subsequently, #2501 (#2523) ended up in the hands of New Zealander, Brian
Prescott (via Ross Jenen). Extensively campaigned during the 1961 - 1962
seasons, Prescott achieved three first places at Levin in April 1961.
Via Leon Witte of New Zealand, #2501 (#2523) ended up with Cameron Millar
in the UK, who completely restored the car and fitted the engine #2522.
Engine #2522 achieved first places at Goodwood and the Monaco Grand Prix,
together with a third place at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1956 driven by
Stirling Moss, a second place at the 1957 Pau GP driven by Harry Schell,
and a third place at the 1960 Buenos Aires Grand Prix driven by Munaron.
Campaigned extensively in historic racing by Millar, Christopher Mann,
and Keith Duly, Peter Giddings acquired #2501 (#2523) in 1986, and has
since chalked up over 18 wins and many podium placings in events throughout
the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Peter Giddings
THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE 250/F1
Engine: In-line six cylinder; 84mm x 75mm = 2492.5cc; compression ratio
12:1; 1954 - 240 bhp @ 7200 rpm, 1957 - 270 bhp @ 8000 rpm; aluminium
alloy block; dry cast iron liners; dry sump; seven main bearings, plain;
steel crankshaft with six pins; steel connecting rods; double overhead
camshafts, two valves per cylinder; single plug; weight with clutch and
bellhousing, 197 kg; Marelli ignition; three Weber twin choke 42 DCO3
carbs; standard fuel mixture, 50% methanol, 35% gasoline (usually 80 octane),
10% acetone, 4% benzol, and 1% caster oil. The V-12: 60 degrees between
banks; 68.5mm x 66mm = 2476cc; twin plug ignition; three Weber 35 IDM
carbs; 310 bhp @ 10,000 rpm.
Chassis: chrome molybdenum tubular frame; front suspension,
parallel unequal wishbones; rear suspension, de Dion rear axle; Houdaille
rotary vane shocks; brakes, Maserati aluminium alloy drums with two leading
shoes front, single leading shoe rear; Borrano 16-inch aluminium alloy
rims; aluminium alloy bodywork; clutch, Maserati single plate; gearbox,
four speed in unit with rear differential; ZF limited slip differential.
Measurements: wheelbase, 2280mm; front track, 1300mm; rear
track, 1250mm; overall length, 4050mm; overall width, 980mm; overall height,
950mm; curb weight, 630 kg; fuel capacity, 200 litres; oil capacity, 20
litres
Tyres: front, 5.50 x 16; rear, 7.00 x 16; Pirelli Stelvio
Corse
Significant developments:
" December 1953, prototype makes first appearance at Modena, crashes
" January 1954, first race race appearance
" January 1954, Juan Fangio wins GP de la Republica Argentina
" June 1954, Juan Fangio wins GP de Belgique
" August 1954, oil tank repositioned to tail behind fuel tank, which
is now heavily riveted
" October 1954, revised bodywork; revised plumbing for the rear mounted
oil tank
" April 1955, first use of Weber 45 DCO3 carbs
" July 1955, first appearance of five-speed gearbox on Roberto Mieres
car at Aintree
" September 1955, first appearance of the 250F streamliner
" May 1955, Stirling Moss wins GP de Monaco
" June 1956, new bodywork appears on works cars
" September 1956, Stirling Moss wins GP d'Italia
" December 1956, first appearance of the 'lightweight' cars
" January 1957, Juan Fangio wins GP de la Republica Argentina
" April 1957, first appearance of the V-12
" May 1957, first appearance of the V-12 with five-speed gearbox
" May 1957, Juan Fangio wins GP de Monaco
" July 1957, Juan Fangio wins GP de l'Automobile Club de France
" August 1957, Juan Fangio wins GP von Deutschland
" September 1957, revised V-12 appears
" June 1958, first appearance of a 'Piccolo' car
" July 1958, first race appearance of a 'Piccolo' car
" December 1959, only race appearance of the Tec Mec
" November 1960, last appearance of the 250F in the World Championship
©
italiancar.com.au 26/04/06
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