1966 Beach SCCA Sports Racer

History

If you are not familiar with Beach Racing Cars, please check out the excellent coverage of this American racing car company, and the formula and sports racing cars that they built, at Beach Racing Cars. For more specific information about the Beach Mk4 sports racing cars please visit Beach Mk4.

This Beach is a Mk4B Series 2 car. It is chassis number 106. The Beach was originally delivered to Dave Clark, Jim McGee and John Girdler in the U.S. Northeast in 1966. The car was powered by a Fiat Abarth 1000 c.c. twin cam engine. 

In 1968, with Girdler behind the wheel, the Beach won at Watkins Glen. It won again at Cumberland, Maryland. At VIR Girdler and the Beach claimed 2nd place. These results, and others, would lead Girlder and the Beach to claim the SCCA Northeast Championship for 1968.

These top results qualified Girdler and the Beach for the SCCA American Road Race of Champions (“ARRC”), also known as the SCCA Runoffs. The race was held at Riverside International Raceway. Girdler and the Beach finished on the National Championship podium in 3rd.

In 1969, Girdler was back with the Beach. They won at Lime Rock. They won at Bridgehampton. They won at Virginia International Raceway too. Again they won the SCCA N.E. Division Championship and qualified for the ARRC. This time the race was held at Daytona. Unfortunately, they were eliminated, along with Terry Lustig and his Bobsy, on the first lap. 

Thereafter the history of the car was unreported until 1991. However, when the Beach did appear in 1991, it still had the same livery that it had when raced by John Girdler all the way back in 1969, albeit with some wear and tear from the years in between. The car was still owned by one of the original owners from 1966, Jim McGee. So it appears McGee retained the Beach from its original purchase in 1966 until at least 1991.

By 1997, Richard Kresch owned the Beach. He retained and raced the car through at least 2003. He was very competitive with the car as evidenced by his lap times at VIR in 2000 where he and the Beach were fastest overall in Group 1. 

Thereafter the Beach was acquired by Ben Sinnot.  Sinnot raced the Beach through at least 2011. However, by 2019, it was Kresch again behind the wheel. This time at the Empire Cup at Lime Rock. There he and the Beach finished 3rd behind a 1965 Elva Mk7S, and ahead of 16 other cars including a Lotus 23 and a Lola Mk1. Those cars sell for many tens of thousand more than the offered price for this Beach.

Approximately five years ago, the current owner acquired the car. However, he has not been racing it. Instead he has elected to enjoy the car for testing and track days only. During this time the Beach has continued to be professionally maintained by a pro race shop in Arizona  The Beach was last on the track in 2024. 

For more period photos and history of chassis 106, please go to 1966 Beach Mk4B, Series 2,, chassis #106

Description

This Beach was originally powered by a Fiat/Abarth 1000 c.c. twin-cam engine. It is now powered by a Fiat 850 c.c. engine that has been bored out to 903 c.c. The 100 h.p. engine is equipped with a PBS head and intake. Fuel is fed through a pair of Weber 40DCOE carburetors. The gearbox is a Hewland 4 speed. 

These Beach Mk4 sports racing cars competed for many years with a variety of engines from 700 c.c. BMW engines up through Lotus and Alfa 1600 c.c. twin cams. You can have a ball racing a fendered, lower horsepower, lightweight sports racer while improving your driving and focus on maintaining momentum. They are also a blast to drive. If you want more power, you can always later install a 1600 Lotus or Alfa engine and move up in class. Or you can leave it just the way it is and still run right at the front in Group 1. All options are on the table, and you can have fun racing the wheels off of it in any configuration

The Beach will come with a considerable amount of documentation. The documents  include copies of articles on Beach cars from Road and Track as well as from Victory Lane magazine. There is also a copy of a Beach 4B sales brochure from August, 1966.  In addition there are various documents and photos relating to the car’s history as the 1968 and 1969 NE Division Champion. There is also a photo of  John Girdler in the Beach in 1969, and Dave Clark in the car 30 years later 1999. These documents also report that Girdler raced the Beach at Cumberland (1st), Watkins Glen (1st) ARRC, Lime Rock (1st), and  Bridgehampton. They also state that the Beach was originally delivered to Dave Clark. So if you like history and documentation, you will enjoy delving into these records. 

Oh  yes, the Beach also comes with body molds.

This Beach is a great looking, great performing, sports racing car with significant championship-winning history at a budget price. What’s not to like?

All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.

(c) 1996-2025, Motorsports Market. All Rights Reserved.

Photos

Video

Questions, Comments, Offers?

Please Contact Us if you have any questions or comments, 

or would like to make a non-binding offer.