Unknown Heroes 24h Le Mans 1970 Porsche 911S
We all know the winning Porsche 917K Porsche Salzburg #23. Most would not know who came second or third that year. The Porsche 917L Martini Racing Team #3 driven by Gérad Larrousse and Willi Kausen finished in second place. Helmut Marko and Rudi Lins came third with the Martini Racing Team Porsche 908/2LH #27.
24h Le Mans 1970 - Sieger Porsche 917K #23 - weniger bekannt, viele Porsche 911S von kleineren Teams, die am Rennen teilnahmen. |
But there were several Porsche 911S participating in the event. Private entries with little hope for the big success. All off them displaying unique and compelling liveries. Unfortunately, these cars were not as well documented as the ones entered by powerful companies or racing teams. It took some time to find some reliable sources in order to recreate the liveries with logos from unknow companies that went out of business some time ago. Modelers like myself are not historians and do not necessarily have all the resources and contacts to retrieve the desired information. Still, some of the 911S have come to fruition. Even thou they are only h0 slot cars with all the drawbacks, they recreate some of the spirit of these days.
Here is a teaser - the #65 Porsche 911S Hart Ski Racing Team Claude Haldi / Arthur Blank.
Slotcar Porsche 911 S Hart Ski Racing Team (CH) #65 Claude Haldi (CH)/Arthur Blank (CH), Result: DNF Sponsors: HART SKI / METALLOSA SA / Esso |
Slotcar Porsche 911S Custom AFX Porsche Carrera |
Porsche 911S Le Mans 1970 Hart Ski Racing Team Claude Haldi (CH) / Arthur Blank (CH) |
The name of Claude Haldi popped up frequently during research. It became obvious that Claude Haldi, a Swiss driver, had entered the 24h of Le Mans on serval occasions with little success. And to my surprise I had made some of these cars into slot cars over the years.
More Porsche at Le Mans with Claude Haldi
Porsche 934 Schiller Racing (CH) Le Mans 1976 #69
Slot Car Porsche 934 Schiller Racing (CH) Le Mans 1976 #69 Claude Haldi (CH)/Florian Vetsch (CH), Result: DNF) |
Porsche 911 Carrera Porsche System Engineering Ltd #47
Slotcar Porsche 911 Carrera Porsche System Engineering Ltd. (D) Le Mans 1973 #47 Reinhold Jöst (D) / Claude Haldi (CH), Result: DNF) Sponsors: MARTINI RACING |
The 911S was made from an AFX Porsche Carrera. Front spoiler had to be reworked. The rear spoiler was removed. And the rear bumper underwent subtle changes. The rear-view mirror had to be removed. It looks like a lump, not much of a mirror. After reworking the body on all of the 911S, base coat was applied, sanded, another layer of base coat, sanded and painted. Custom decals for all the cars had to be designed and printed. Details painted, fog lights added on some and the right rims mounted to the chassis. The front wheels mainly feature the Fuchs inserts by Custom FX.
This is an earlier Porsche 911S from the 24h Le Mans 1970
Jean Egreteaud (F) #59
Slotcar Porsche 911 S Jean Egreteaud (F) #59 Jean Égreteaud (F)/Jean Mésange (F), Result: DNF) Sponsors: Esso |
Porsche 911 S 24h LeMans 1970
Le Mans 1983: Claudi Haldi mit Angelo Pallavicini, Peter Sauber und Marco Vanoli (Foto: Jimmy Froidevaux/Archiv Zwischengas.com). |