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 was the owner of the Beach. He retained and raced the car through at least 2003. Thereafter it was acquired by Ben Sinnot, who raced the Beach through at least 2011. Then the car was sold and raced by the next owner in the U.S. Northeast before going to the current owner about five years ago. Since then, the Beach has been continuosly professionally maintained. The car was last track tested in 2024, and currently resides in Arizona. 

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.

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.

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